The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-25 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL

FRIDAY : Present, Mr. Alderman Ayling, Councillors
Lambe Walker, Vincent Charles, I)ennis, Ayles, Ayles,
;an., Thomas, Drew, G. Eliot, and Wallis.

bL4I.NT'S 6LIPWAY.

Dr. DREW said before they commenced the busibeaa ol
the meeting. he had a matter of personal explanation to
make touching a matter which wee discussed at %air last

meeting when his name was very roughly handled, and
remarks made which ought not to have been made in his
absence. It was touching Besant's slipway. That had
been under consideration by the Board fur upwards of six
months, and if the Corporation bad the means, he dared
say they would have bought the property, believing it
would be beneficial to the town. Since November let,
when he came into the Council, this matter had not been
disriissed, so that he was not in • position to know what
had been done in the matter; but having occasion to
require one of his steamers to be sent up on some slipway,
he naturally began tolnok out forone, and thought of the ono
in question ; but having heard the Corporation had been
in treaty about it, he went to the TOWR Clerk, because
he would not do anything which Was not straight
forward, and asked him whether the Corporation were
going to buy the slipwaj or not, lie replied ' ',o; they
have no funds to do no. He (Dr. Drew) afterwards saw
Mr. Ayles, who offered him the slipway upon such
advantageous terms that he immediately closed with him,
awl he thought it was • new doctrine in the commercial
world, for a person, if he saw an advantageous offer, to
first run to his neighbour and ask him whether he WU
going to buy it or not, lie should not do so, and, as •
member of this Council, had not sufficient good feeling
towards the town to throw up the interests of the large
company which he represented, because 11 little town
improvement., not a red benefit, would be made to a
certain piece of property. The town was endeavouring to
make a yacht place of Werraouth, and there was a yacht•
iug club here, yet there was not • single place upon which
a yacht could lie pulled up for repairs. In the hands of
his ceimemy, this slipway would be made respectable.
Mr. THOMAS said there was Mr. Aylea's slipway for
yachts.
[Jr. DREW said Mr. Ayles's slipway was almost always
full, so that in case any extra work should come into the
harbour, it could be placed on the new slip, lie had felt
himself bound to inake this explanation, an he considered
smile of the remarks which had beeu made were mat
uncalled for. _

The Tows CLERK sail, so far as he was concerned. Dr.
Drew must have forgotten the occasion. Ile might have
asked him at some time about the Corporation buying the
slipway, but upon the occasion to which he now referred,
he did not ask whether the Corporation were going to boy.
Ile said "Can you tell me who is the purchaser of Besant's
slipway I I have heard, within the last day or two, that
Mr. Ayles is the purchaser; I want to know about getting
a gridiron.'
. . . .

: My recollection is exceedingly good. and I
utl quite ready to add to what I hare said • deposition on
oath. I am quite satisfied the Town Clerk's memory is
not so good as mind, for I am quite certain be does forget
things at times. The property will be quite as much an
advantage in our hands, as if it were in the hands of the
town.... . .

Mt.. WALKER uid he had always given it as his opinion
that it would be better for the property to be in the hands
of a private company to make use of than for it to be in
the hands of the Corporation.

BILLS.
On the passing round of the bills, Mr. LUNDIE called
attention to some which he considered over-charges,
inentionang that pencils were ehar,ted at al. each. Others
hal not the orders attached, and after a good deal of con-
versation it was resolved not to sign any bills for payment,
but to return them to have the order attached.

TUE C 2,120 LOAN.

---
The seal of the Board was attached to the mortgage of
the rates for this loan.
TUE OUTZR NUL

Mr. VINCENT asked whether the committee appointed
on this subject to meet the landholders had any report
The Tows CLERIC said more than nine-tenths of the
mortgages were in the hands of trustees under marriage
setdernents, dr., and. therefore, they could not be parties
to the money being borrowed.
Mr. THOMAS said the only way to do the work was from
the harbour fund.

Mr. VINCENT VMS afraid of the effects of a gale on the
harbour, unless something were done.
Mr. LUNDIE also urged that something should be initi-
ated for carrying out the outer pier, and repairing the
pile-pier.
Dr. Daiw said nearly three months of the municipal
year were gone, and yet since he had been back in the
Council he had not seen • single thing of importance done.
Mr. LUNDIL referring to • plan for carrying out the
outer pier, said that plan was drawn in Ik7l.
Mr. THOMAS: Yes, and, unfortunately, the quay wall
fell down, and there were no funds left after It was
re-built.

Dr. DREW said he dared say there a ould he no ditti-ulty
about meting the work done and paying for it gradu illy
with interest on the balance while it remained unpaid ;
they would have to pay 5 per cent..
Mr. Thomas thought it might be made secure by drop-
ping stone.
Dr. Dar.w: That could be dcne for i5OO, and your
harbour protected.
Mr. LUEDIE pressed that the work should he done under
proper Inspection.
It was proposed by Mr. Viscittre and seconded by Mr.
THOMAS :—"That • lulu not exceeding .E. 500 be laid out
in extending the outer pier with rough rubble atone,
according to plans to he prepared by the Surveyor, and
that tenders be invited for depositing the SAIIIC at per
ton. including all expensea"
Mr. RYLES TeTT cordially supported the proposition,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. %Vahhts te.ked whether it was the intention of the
Board to commence at once, advertising for tenders f
This matter had been before the Board so long that he
woe "mite tired of it.
Mr. VINCENT said he was also.
. .

—.......—
It was understood, however, that the work would now
he proceeded with.

The Surveyor's report on the pile-pier stated that this
structure wax found mu,;ll the same as last october.
Some of the piles are rotten, the sheet piling rotten, and
the stone filling in several places removed by the sea.
Dr. MILEW said this would cost many hundred pounds;
there was no immediate hurry, for the pier was just
likely to stand another year. They could take advantage
of the earliest time in the autumn to commence.
Mr. (I. ELM' asked why they should not do the repairs
now, bides,' of letting the pier remain, to get worse?
The SeRVIKTOII, being asked, said the work could he
done in three months. He recommended it to be done
with stone before, and he did so now.
It was suggested to call the Pile Pier connuittee together,
with a view to the repair.