The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-02-26 00:00:00

W EYMOUTH.

ST. Jones CUURCB.—Sermotts were preached in
'St John's Church on Sunday week, in aid of the fund
for the payment of the salary of the organist and
•aub-organist, and £l5 raised.
'Talent' CllETHCll.—Colleetyinol were made at the
pervioes in this church on Sunday week towards
defraying the expenses of the recent alterations. The
choir, for the first time, wore surplices on this
occasion. The offertories amounted to £l2 fis. 9d.
M. so ChittlXit'a LICTORZ.—W• are requested
to state that the use of the room woe aooorded
gratuitously by Mr. Loos. and by inadvertence Dr.
Smith omitted publicly to thank him. in • note
written on Saturday to the Preis his words are :
*' Dr. Smith much regrets his having inadvertently
omitted to thank Mr. Loos from the platform as
also to Mr. Thomson, of the Royal Library. for the
gratis printing." The benefit to the'Sanatorium Will
be to the amount of £3B 4s.

THZ charge against Captain Fall', of tam stesmship
Brighton, for having titled to assist a Preset ship
distrees • few days Moos during his swans from
Weymouth to Guernsey with the mails, having
undergone • complete investigation at Jersey on
Thursday, before the board of directors and savorsl
oials of the English and Fres& navy, the chair-
man, Mr. Bishop, oddment's Captain Falk, said
"Y an leave this oourt of inquiry without the slightest
stain upon your character all a British milor or •
•humane man."

Boaouon Perry Stsstown, Toesday.—Beforstb•
Mayor, J. Ayling, and E. Bayly, Esqrs.—The man
Wallia, who was charged last week with assaulting his
wife and ordered to appem today to he bound °eta,
again appeared. Mr. Howard said Wallis had been 14
years in the army, and discharged upon • pension.—The
wife said she did not wish to used him to prison, she
wonld be mitten% for him to go at large upon his own
recoinistnoe.—Not being prepared with the meta be was
4.ken below, to see if some friend would advance then,
and if forthcornmine then to be bound over in hie own
geoognizanee.—The late master nf the Hero, William
Marshallsay, again appeared to a summons charged with
non•payment of &seaman's wages. It had been twit»
adjourned and Mr. Howard now appeared for defendant.
The complainant mid the captain gave no reason at sll
why he discharged him. IFla said he had sines j deed •
ship, drawn a month's advance, but was not able to join
on aooount of sickness. He had, be said, since repaid
the money advanced—Mr. Howard, on behalf of the
captain, said the complainact, with others, NA linked
themselves together to prevent the vessel from sailing,
and was therefore not entitled to his wages-fl.
Mayor said there was no evidence to support the de-
fendant'a statem ask, therefore the judgment must be
for oomoolooot,--Milliam Bow, of Trinity-plma,
WM summoned for allowing the contents of • mow.
•cesspool to over Sow and soak therefrom, after pollee
given. The inspector raid he believed the oempool had
been emptied but it was full main, and so it would be
SPiO.—.l.l HAWS". to Mr. Welefoni, who appeared for
defendant, the Superintendent said the drain 00111.1 be
carried to the main sevrer.-11r. Wel•ford said be had
hem told that it was impossible to matte water run up
lilt. He had an sppointment with the surveyor at half•
neat twelve, to sea if it could not be rersedied.—Ad-
joutned for a fortnight.
• .

Scarictooe.—At the Polies Can't, on Saturday
week, before the Mayor and J. Ayling, Beg., James
Devil and Richird Howard, two private' of the 58th
Regiment, stationed at Portland, were charged with
'being at the hack of Belfleild.terrsee, Wyk. road,
fox an unlawful parposs.—P.C. Dalamest on Satur•
day morning about two o'clock, was on duty in
'Love-lane. Ile beard a noise, and went towards the
sound. Found the two prisoners at the bottom of
Love lane. Ile went down High-street, and found
that two shutters had been taken down at
No At With Sergeant Brine be went in
seen* of the prisoners, finding theta at the back
of Bettielel.terratia. The gerden-door of No. 6
wee open, which bad been securely fastened at
one o'clock.—Sergeant Harvey said be went to
the garden at the hack of No. 1, Belfleld-terrsoe,
taking with him the prisoners' boots. He found
footenarks of two men, and the prisoners' boot.
exactly clorreepoodecl. He bad no doubt but that
the footmarks were made by the prisoners. —The
Rev. S. H. Fleming acid be lived at No 1, Belfield-
terrace. That morning he found the garden-door
open and footmarks of two men in the garden. The
door had been bolted inside, and the garden wall was
eleven feet bigh.—P.C.Mabon said on the previews
Wedoseday evening the prisoner Davis wee loitering
about for one bour-and.a-lialf late at night —The
defence wee that they both broke out of burro*.
early on Thursday morning, had been to Dorchester
/air the asme day drinking, and scarcely knew what
they were doing, and that they went up there with
the intention of getting to the guard-room of the
Ferry Bridge, and by mistake got to the beck of the
Terrace. They were glad the police took them into
custody, so as to have a little rest —Taking a char-
itable view of the cam, they were discharged but
cautioned.—The Rev. S. R. Fleming remarked that
be wee happy to testify to the efficiency of the
police in this town. Upon several ocomions he had
Sound them, in reaped to hie own premises, very
vigilant and watchful—The Mayor said be was
pleated to bear Mr. Fleming make the remarks, as
some persons entertained an Idea, very erroneous be
considered, that the police did not do their duty.
Re maintained that the police did their duty very
estialeatorily.

GAS CONSUMEB.S' COMPANY (LIMITED).

A erowded meeting was held at the Guildhall on
Monday evening to consider the position of the gas
question between Mr. Burdoo, the proprietor of the
eld works, and the new company. The Mayor (J.
Timed. Req.), occupied the chair.
The KATO. in opening the proceedings sold he was
glad to observe that Mr. Burdos had given notice
of his intention to redrew the price of gas to is.
thus giving I% relief to the extent of la. per 1000 feet.
There bad elm been inserted in the papers an advertis•
meet oalliog epos Mr. Burtice to giro some imamate
for the due performance of his promise. In Lie
capacity as chairman, he was not there to enlarge upon
matters, but would sail upon Mr. Thomas to enter upon
the real business Cl the meeting.
Mr. THOMAS said if he was asked what the position
of the qamtion between the new company sad Mr.
Banton MIA he should answer "Ii was as it use to
w,"•''—(laughter).—Tbey had to deal with • man
most esteemed Marl 0011a0Ct, such 111 HMO
as in his (Mr. Thomas') experiewee be had never
not with, a man who ha forfeited bin word.
He had written down ociorereatiose with Mr.
Pardon and he had al.° oommitted to paper the oon•
tnidistioas oti continuously made by him. On several
mosoloas, as they were aware, the question as to the
better 'apply of gm had been agitated, and that about
twelvemoetbs sines it took a moat imporfeal aspeet--•
mew company was formed. Before that meeting be '
wrote to Mr. Bardon, tailing him that the mooting wee
about to take plans, and esteemed • hope that be would 1
be prepared to offer nose tionsilimmy to avoid
further irritation and ill-feellog. probably
resolled his letter I. reply H.told them that the
pries of gm wee as cheep sell ought to ; that they
were too p.aor to marelmse his work.; and that If they
wont 00 with their opposition he was prepared to spied
a large amount of money to defeat them. They lame
• loglightion the reception these staterowits met with,
God du spirit they raised, and deservedly so; for a eaaa
however lisinbk be est did not care to be trodden 1
down—(appleues). The bear might sit down in his
northern den and hurl defiance upon them in the south,
bat all would fall harmless upon them if they only
stood united upon this question. Ile (Mr. Thomas)
woo.d not detail the labour this company had had with
Mr. Bardoo, for they bad in all their transairtiooo
worked and given publieity. They desired that their
fellow townsmen, es well as the shareholders, should he
made acquainted with their etiodocit, sad be ebln
fee the cheaters, that they had been actuated irlitrli
iart
me motive—the good of the town—(applaner). They
bad not sought to wrench from Mr. Bordon his valued
work., but, on Use sootrary, hod mode the fairest offer
WI mold, and be maid eel, weeder that • man of
gab experiewee as Mr. Bardoo, tuba of drawing the
town into hostility, had not oostiod their lailoosob

Rash had hem the steps Mr. Bard°, had takes, pates(
h•thaadsatiatnari.maaradstoryfrawnhstiidnlpautiontaillioln:tinisiTsaaaaq.uessucestronnri,wungerentilanr"talliti.eindvatimea:,
be given, or they verdd be a company no more ; and
wthiethootents
any member of the community might have wound up
ruithoriWtyitoth atahaebaaCorirptdr:tae P kirely, at dl2'd®.
and
the got isle
• good position—s position whieh they meant to hold
in spite of whatever Mr. Burden might think, until
they meld me justice done to the town, or else be math
mistook the eharseter of its people—(applaule). Mr
Barden, in a letter, had said be erkked to sell the works.
as it would enable him to get rid of Mr. Church, but
they had refused to allow themselves to he an instru-
ment of torture to any indivi heal. They simply wanted
justice dome to the town. There mu an article of an
exceptional nature. It wss not one whieli they could
get at theit butchers' or bakers,' for gem meld not be
got at any plass. Here was • monoply which most be
dealt with in an exceptional manner. Mr. Bardon had
' said "Let this oconpeny go cc, as then I shall have •
greater hold upon Mr. Church." He &limed Invited
this comma, to go on, and said he should not oppose ,
them, It wee for them now to judge how far he had
kept his word, and it would be for them to judge
whether be would now keep his word ; it would be •
new feature if be did--(losd applause). They know
parliamentary proceedings had been taken but who did
they think hat been the opposer of the standing orders?
Who memorialized against the Bill? Why. William
Wharton Burden. Mark It! He was the man who
opposed them upon standing orders, quibbling upon
the threshold of the Home of Commons, not daring
to come in to meet the question upon its merits.
(hear, hear). He would Ant tell the meeting what Mr.
Palgrave, the examiner, said, for be ism present and
heard him, that lilt was not " frivolom objection" he
wanted to know what it was. Mr. Palgrem was obliged
to make his report to the House of Commons upon the
standing orders, bet be (11r. Palgram) said he could me
how the mistake bad arisen—it was from over caution
—(seolause). He was sere Mr. Penny (the gentleman
who had prepared the plan.) had devoted .11 his
energies end abilities to the eubject but the backwater,
as they were aware, was • place undefined. Ho sup-
posed no one could tell, for there was no iorlistioa of
it on the ordnance or oetish mePtithe definite bins.
daries of the parishes of Meleorobe Regis and Oedipal*.
In oomeepeenee at this uncertainty, • "No. I" was
placed oat the pleas of the backwater and also m the
piece inteeded to be taken for the peep**e of the works.
Although that error had arisen, the Company had
given notice of appeal from the examiner to the Com
mitten of Weeding Orders, before whom they should be
called upon to attend very shortly, and the object of
this meeting was to strengthen their hands by going to
the Home of Commons sad showing the Committee that
the town had not been eurprised nor deceived in the
place reelected for the new gas works. Boob a step
would materially streoethen their heeds, as it would
show the interest taken in the town on the question,
and he should feel pleased to enswer any question those
preeent thought proper.
Mr. J. E. Romeo said it seemed clearly understood
that they had been platted in their present position
through the fault of Mr. Burdett. The company bad
acted in perfect faith towards him, end had every reason
to suppose that when he told them he wag ready to sell
his works he meant to do so, and b.-Levine as they
naturally wouhl what was told them by •person occupy-
ing a respectable position in emiety, they had been
proceeding in their mom under the impression. that Me.
Its rdon would perform the promisee he had made to
them when the proper time arrived. Now Mr. Burden
coolly turned his back epee:there. That I eing so, it
was for them to understand what he meant by the new
position he had taken. Mr. Burden had said he was
prepared to reduce the gin to 4a. 6d. per 1000 feet, lithe
em company refrained from going to Parliament But
what guarantee had they that M. Barden would not
robe it to 61. afterwards? He possessed an AM of
Parliament which pve hint power to charge 6% per
1,000 feet, and if the New Company stood oat of the
way there were no counteracting powers to deal with
him. Who could say the offer was made to good faith.
sines in the unfortunate intercourse which they had
been obliged to hold with him he had made such profes-
sions to them, that they could no longer put °madams
in any assertion be might make—(applauee). Bet
there was mother thing. Supposing Mr. Burden were
to act in good faith and reduce the pries of gas 1. 4'. 64.
what kind of light would they have? The het of
Parliament under which Mr. Burdon had his works,
only authorised him to give 10-medle gas. That was
not enough, they wanted 14-eandle at the lowest, and
thee quality the New Company would give the town.
The earns of complaint was not so ninth the price,
although they were paying • high rate, but as to the
quality. The article was had and be had heard people
seey that they had been obliged to have • candle as well
as pa. Another important element in the patio%
was that it was nerieesery to have the lighting of the town
In their own hands. Supposing they more to take Mr.
Burden at his word and say they would take /Li at
4s 61., what guarantee had they for the fulfilment of
those things which were absolutely nee...eery for the
town Unlike the waterworks, they had no dimetors
to which to appeal for redeem Supposing Kr. Bandon
should let his works spin to another lessee and they
went to this lemma He meld say "look at the Act of
Parliament, I have nothing to do with von; I shell
give you what I please." That is the parities in which
the town might be again placed, if the New Company
retired from the field. The New Company sould and
must succeed if the town sustained them. Mr. Hardinn
had no more power to shot them out from the
rights they sought to obtain if they were deter-
mined, than he could exclude the light of the
sue. if they were but resolved in their course
Mr. Burden must give may ; be Gould not stand
against the town. He might he a man of great capital,
which ha WWI, be might bean obstinate man. he (Mr.
Robots) did not my he was—(bear, hear) —but if he had
any regard for his own interests -and from what be
(Mr. Robes,) knew of hioa he had sufficient Penes to
know what his Interests were, be would not be long In
yielding to the determined efforts which the town
might put forth. What were those efforta. If they
listened to him they would bring this matter to an issue,
(the bulk of them had already done it,) let every gas
aonsumer in thetown agree to sustele IWO*, Company
in their efforts to proenee gas at • lower pries and at •
.igher illuminating power.
Mr. J. DIM proposed • resolution to the following
effect :—"That the gas consumers of Weymouth regret
the New Ose Company should be put to any delay,
expense, or inooovenienee by the frivolous opposition
of Mr. Barden to their Bill in Parliament; that they
further declare that they hare no confidence whatever
I. Mr. Berdon'e proposition to reduce the pie) of ea.,
milese the same be secured by some material guarantee'
and they further hope that unless Mr. Barden give,
such security, the New Company will continue its
utmost exertions to procure ter the town cheaper and
better gas. This meeting pledges itself to afford every
assistants, to the directors to obtain the *Meets for
which the New Company was called into existence, and
that the chairmen rip this resolution on behalf of the
meeting, and forward • levy of the Name to the Select
Committals to whom the Company's BM is referred.*
Mr. J. Lowell seconded the rerdoticie, and in doing
go
alluded to Mr. Birdon's perverseness. The question
was in their own hands, and if they supported the new
Company, it vroeld be ridiculous to suppose That Mr.
Barden would carry out his threat of keeping up his
gas works.
Mr. R. N. HOWARD said when be entered the room
he did not Intend to say anything unless he foetid per-
sonalities indulged in. He did not wonder at the
townspeople of Weymouth meeting together when the
question to be dim:reseed was cheap gas. He should
blame any man if he did not try to get an article as
cheaply es he 051314. At the rams time he coula not
help thinking that the name of Mr. Burden bad been
brought forward more prominently thee it might to have
been—(no, no, and question). He said, "Yes," and he
would tell them his reason for saying 11.—(confusion).
After claiming the same attention as bad been accorded
to the other speakers, he asked them to look at the
question seit stood. First of all a notion had gone
abroad that 11r. Burden was • very selfish man. Wm
it not NUM motives that brought them torother that
evening —(voican no. no, and uproar). Did not the
mommirs of gas want • cheeper and betlee is-lisle?
Was not that all for themselves. As far mite. Burden
mu confirmed them me works bad been in exishmes for
some Ilan. When the works were !darted there was •
strong opposition against Mr.Bardon. Until lately there
had been but few complaints, Mr. Burden had laid out
• large amount of capital, and he would give the new
company credit in saying that they met him in • Midi
of fairness when they offered to buy his works. They
had treated him fairly exempt at the last. Although •
technical objection had been mimd to the bill he (Mr.
Howard) did not think the remit would prevent the
company obtaining their Act Mr. Burden at present
had not had time to reply to the laat letter from the
new company. Complaints were made some time ago
from this town to Mr. Burden, and whet did he do?
He tried himself to get up • company in the town, and
called upon some of the Want emesumen to take
shares, Negotiations went no bat the objection, which
stopped it were the AM of Parliament then In existence
end the desth of Mr. Burdoe's London *elicitor. The
shares were offered to the townspeople—(a voice Bosh)
Some one said " Bosh" but it MIA no' the lees true.
The meeting wee called, the Company mu registered,
and he meld produce the whole of the arrangement, goo*
through. Mr. Borden had been treated with too much
personalty. He (Or. Howard) did not with to propose
and amendment, but he thought they ought to take out
of the resolution any remaik of • personal nature in
reference to Mr. Burden, who he said, had carried
out all hotted stipulated save in one regret, myths be
would sell the works at a valuation. He had now '
offered to reduce the prim of pa, and they then asked
for • material guarantee. Let them wait for an answer.
and if be did not offer that guarantee, then let them if
they pleased indulge in pereonaltim
Mr. THOMAS s.id they had heard the endeavour to
whitewash Mr. Berdon, and be hoped his solicitor had
done it to them satisfaction—(laughter)
Mr. J. J. ROLLA then entered upon some remreks to
which Mr. Howard and Mr. Robens offered some ob-
sweatiest..
The Mayor then pat the resolution which was married
amid great applause.
A new of thanks to the Mayor was thee proposed,
and acknowledged. The Mayor explained the mime of
the error which had been broeight shoot by an excess
of csatioa.
Several signatures were then received to the petition.