The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-10-09 00:00:00

gratusponinna.

M.R. HOWARD AND-THS DOROHKSTSR
TOWN 000NOIL.
To the Editor.
Dees filr,—ln the report of the meeting of the
Dorchester Town Council, whir& appeared in this
week's Trirgreae, Mr. Hunt, • member of that Council,
speaking on the Drainage Scheme, is rePotiod to have
said, mentioning my name, "That I, as solicitor to
the owners of the land, knew the same was indispens-
able for the scheme, and wanted to put as extortionate
price upon it, and that the Dorchester Town Council
was right in segos they were not made the victims of
extortion."
Ever since the purchase of land at Loud'. Mills has
been pendieg between my client and the Town Council
of Dorchester, 000saionally those gentlemen, or their
official, have thought proper to make personal attacks
on myself. Hitherto I have treated snob attscks with
silenoe or contempt, as I consider " personalities "
should not be Indulged in between business men.
I think Mr. Hunt should state what he considers
an extortionate; price I Also, if any pries has been even,
by whom, and for what amount? I am not aware that I
have given any ; everything has taken pie» in writing.
Don't lit him be misled by other persons' views of the
correspondence, but read the letters for himself, and
If he likes, so far as I am concerned, can publish them.
It has been truly said, and in this instance I am very
pleased to say it is the case, "Letters speak for them.
selves." If Mr. Hunt bad read the correspondence,
I don't think he would bars teed the above language.
My silent has only this one piece of land in all the
neighbourhood; no other property adjoining. It I.
one meadow of about nine arras, and let to one tenant
as • gram meadow, formerly let at £6O a year, but
Gino, the depression in agriculture it hoe been, and Is
now, let at £5O a year. My client, living in the north
of England, ha', from the first, simply said—" Buy the
' whole ;' I cannot consent t, the sale of •
part of so small a piece of land; when divided
the remainder will be of little use. Make use
a reasonable and fair offer for the 'whole,' and I
will entertain it." Surely there was no extortion In
this? Who so situated would but have said the same?
If this had been done there would have been no need
of legal proceedings.
The only offer or Ist mation the Dorchester Town
Council haa mad* for the purchase of ar ooltelt has
been "one thousand limn& l"—in my opinion
ridiculous, and had not the appearance of bone
Atka Like offering 10s. for a good sovereign, and
expecting to get it. The man must be very simple if
he expected to get the sovereign for the 10.4., or if the
man parted with the sovereign for t-ie 10#. he must be

• lunatic. It was felt to be so absurd that the
thousand pounds was neither socepted or adopted,
and no price girtn and no other offer he. been made
other than a sum of money for " • part," which has
been refused. If the Town Council of Dorchester
persist in their determination to purchase • " part "
only, they must pay for it. They know their own
affairs bast, but 'should have thought it would have been
oonsultieg their own interests if they had purohmed
the whole and dispoeed again of what they did not
require foe sewerage purposes, and, if necessary,
obtained powers so to do. This, however, may be •
one-elded view on my pert; time will speak for itself.
If Mr. Bunt ham any of his own or should
hear at any freehold land, returning • rental of
1:50 a year, likely to be gold for one thousand pounds,
I shall feel grateful to him if he will inform me, ea I
ant sure I have many clients who would gladly
purchme I Nor would I charge him or them with
miring an estortionate prioe if they refused such an
am—Kindly publish this letter, and oblige yours
truly,
R. N. HOWARD.
Greenhill Home, Weymouth, 5h October, ISO.