The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-01 00:00:00

from the exterior of the wall on the one side, to the
exterior of the wall on the othir, and the sae.e under-
neath the gallery, ke.
Mr. SEALY ilid not agree with the report. It would
seem from it that the church was in a very dangeroua
condition, but whether it was so, it was not for him to
say. He thought it could be advisable to get some
architect, who should examine the edifice, and say
whether there was any &anger or not, and from what
cause the noise proceeded they heard on Sunday. They
would then be in • position to say whether it was
necessary to have the iron bars stretched across the
church. He did not know that it would be necessary,
and he should be very sorry to see it introduie
should like to have Mr. Knowles or Mr. Down to report
on the matter. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the
noise was occasioned by one of the pews giving way, on
account of more than the ordinary number being seated
there. He really did not think the affair was very
serious, and he considered it would prove very satisfac-
tory if his suggestion was adopted. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HAYWARD said that on Monday morning Mr.
Knowle and Mr. Danger, from Wembdon, had visited
the church, and that they had failed to discover any-
thing dangerous.
Mr. Barrels thought the affair had been misreprio
irate& Those who were sitting in the front of the
gallery on Sunday had said moat positively that they
felt a movement under them. Regarding the noise as
canoed by the moving of • panel was nonsense ; what
occurred, occurred with the beams underneath. That
there was nothing in the circumstance was • mere idle
tale, and the affair ought to be very carefully watched.
With regard to the iron ben across the church, he
should adrise Mr. Sealy to read the report more care-
fully. He would find there would be no iron ban
visible across the structure. There would be no more
than two bars, one would be let into the aide well, and
the other placed under the principal beam'in the aide
gallery. It required professional men to see if there
was anything further in the matter. As regarded
the bill, he did not think it had been got up with any
discretion, and utiles" something was done he believed
the congregation of Trinity Church would not come
&Pim
Mr. Alderman SMITH said, though he had been • con.
stant attendant at the church, he was not so much
alarmed as Mr Batten. He believed the noise originated
from the forcing down of a seat in the gallery, and
it might be repeated again. (Mr. Batten Perhaps you
will be good enough to show us.) With reference to
professional men, he should not give up his common
sense to the whole of them in Bridgwater. ( Hear, hear,)
He had attended the church for twenty years, and he
believed every one of the defects pointed out had existed
from that time. He deprecated the use of iron, arguing
that the very nature of the metal itself was sufficient to
prohibit its introduction into the church. The exami-
nation of a church was • thing on which any semi-archi-
tect would fatten. It was one of the finest things in
the world for them to get such an order. He would
ask who instructed Mr. Hutchings to survey the struc-
ture? and he would also ask who was to pay him' and,
further, whether they had entered into any contract
with him as to the cost? His experience showed him
that persons who employed were often surprised when
their bills were sent in. He thought that all they
wanted was to restore confidence to the parishioners.
(Hear, bear.) He begged to propose that the report be
not received.

The motion was seconded by Mr. HAYWARD,
The CHAIRMAN said he found Mr. Hutchings in the
church when he came there on Monday morning. As
to the expenses, that was a matter which would have
to be conaidered. Then who was to pay them? They
knew they could not levy • rate. (A voice: Why not')
He had thought it Wee his duty to call them together,
to take into consideration what steps they should take,
as he aid not like his congregation to be alarmed, and
prevented from coming to church.
Mr. HATWARD said he had been connected with the
church a great number of years, and be believed that
the cracks alluded to had existed a very long time
indeed.

Mr. MOLg remarked that it had been uked who
employed Mr. Hutchings' When he mune to the
church he saw Mr. Hutchings and Captain Bridges.
Captain Bridges had asked him to emu down, and he.
as one of the churchwardens, had requested him to
survey the building. That report had been given. He
only replied in answer to Mr. Smith's question.
The CHAIRMAN said as Mr. Hutchings was the
builder, he was acquainted with the several beams and
rafters.

Mr. 811 ALT retracted his suggestion. es be had been
informed on reliable authority that the gallery would
bold a resiinent of soldiers..

Mr. WINTERBOTHAM thought the resort ought to be
taken into consideration. Those who were in the seat
of danger on Sunday sat still, but all the other people
appeared to be running for their lives. There was
some false flooring in the gallery, but it had not been
touched. They seemed to have examined every place
except that one isomer.
The CHAIRMAN : I would ask, is the meeting of
opinion that we ought to have done nothing at all in the
matter ?

iiIULT thought the meeting wu very properly
called.

1111% WIIIITEIBOTHAN : Uniting you take up the seats
you will never find the muse of the noise; and until you
and it you will Dot gather together your congregation.
Hr. Swan said he opposed the report for the purpose
of raising a diseuesion—there were many men competent
in the church to give an opinion. Although he had
given his, he chould lake to hear the ideas of some one
else. He bad perfect confidence in the stability of the
church, and be should come there with as little fear as
he was possessed of at the preeent time. (Hear, hear.)
He could not egress with Mr. Winterbotbam. He did
not believe the noise was ocemioned by any defect in
the structure of the gallery, bot from aback seat
situate there.

The CHAIRMAN then pot Mr. Smith's motion to the
meeting, that the report be not received, and it waa
carried.

Mr. SMITH thought they could now have perfect con-
fidence in the church; and that from the examination•
made they would ootne unanimously to the conclusion
that none of the cracks and defects in the sacred edifioe
were new. He considered it advisable to peas a re•olu-
lion expressive of their confidence, which should be sent
forth to the public.
Mr. FORD did not think they would restore confidence
either to the town or oongregation generall7 unless they
gave them POTS idea of the canio of the now on Sunday
evening. Ile considered it advisable to move the floor,
and see if anything had given way underneath, and that
would at any rate prove they had done something.
The CHAIRMAN said that some of those seated below
stated that the sound proceeded from near the organ
loft. One man sitting there was asked whether he had
beard the noise, and he said he had, and fancied some
one had dropped their umbrella.
. . . . .

It was eventually resolved theta committee, consisting
of the Mayor (J. Browne, Esq.), Mr. Beaty, Mr. Simmons,
Mr. Ford, Mr. Smith, Captain Bridges, and Mr. Win-
terbotham, should be formed, who, with the incumbent
and churchwardens, should inspect the gallery, and
report thereon.
A slight discussion then arose as to when the investi-
gation ehould take place, and whether it would not be
advisable to call another meeting on the Saturday
morning.
A vote of thanks was proposed to the rev. Chairman
for his impartial conduct, and to the Mayor for his
attendance that day.
The committee subsequently determined on investi-
gating the matter at once, and went into the gallery,
and searched in right earnest. The perseverance proved
triumphant, and the following is seep, of the report :
" The Committee appointed this day to examine as
to the cease of the noise in Trinity Church on Sunday,
report that on removing a small portion of the door
in the gallery, on the north side of the organ, they found
two small joists at one of their extremities without any
bearings, and that the noise was occasioned by the
yielding of the floor, which was thus insntßciently
supported.
"The Committee also report that the joists which gave
way are not those of the <marital gallery door,but appear
to have been subsequently placed there to support a false
floor erected upon it.
"The Committee are sati.fied that there is no MOS
for alarm as to the safety of the fabric."
The meeting then terminated.