The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-09-11 00:00:00

THE I.OcAL BOARD AND THE PUBLIC LAMM.

To the ?Mltor.

Ax a ratepayer the premix° held out Ivy the Vigilanee
party at the Lest election of membeno of the Portland
Local Board—that they intended to lessen the expenditure
tn the Island—was rereived by me with great satirfaetion,
and the reports of the meetings have been watched with
great care to no see In what manner they would carry out
sueh promise. I remarked in particular that Committees
were appointed (one in particular) a finance committee;
lout from enquiries niaile I find that no business whatever
har been dome by this committee. No report has appeared
of the meeting held on Thursday last ; but from states
menta that are made by member. of the lloard, I under-
stand that some of the party have at leneoh hit 11,,M a
on...arum to eseon the expenditure, viz. : " Unless the Gag
Company will ALM -even the lighting inst..' of NiX
at the tame price a. lag year, the lamp. are net to he
lighted," and, to my sorprise, the finance committee
' brought forwarol no -tatistics to prove the resiamialdeneee
of their demand. (Me member elated that real+ were
cheaper, and that ether eoniminies had lowered their
prices in conrequenee ; but he might have added that
when colds were up the prices were rebel, but no
difference war male at Portland. Taking the piddle
light. on the hill, I hare reboil:it 'ol the length of main to
be about 4,100 yank, soul in 01.0 or two placer the main is
placed on loath side% of the street. This would give in
round numbers one public lamp for each IGO yards of
main. I have queted there tiguree to show that the
price charged for public lighting at Porthind would never
pay any company whilst the place is about halfolightal
In other towns the lamps are &Neff .10 or 50 yards apart.
Then again the outlay, owing to the enernieus leneth el
main, must have been very heavy. However, I hope a
member of the elm. aim party, via, the company, will
m not accept the ters of the Boarol, will call a special
meeting of the Karol for the purpose of resoinoling •
newiluttoon, the latter part of which never ought to have
been passed ; or failing that, a public meeting of the
ratepayers ehould he called. 'The It intend having •
water 'imply for Poi tland, and the knowledge of what it
coats for pipes excavating, am, will then be lorought
home to them. It Wag to 1,0 regretteol that pour
reporter woe not present at the meeting, ar I understand
that one member in particular was very partial too the
oapreao Robbing the Perish," " Snakes in the
Grouw," rte. P ortland II Very fond nicknamer, trod I
have known people named after Oilier they inoloolgu in.
Ar a ratepayer and a coo n41.111110' I earnestly hope that
11,,, "Progrerr with Eeetioniy" party will hirbot oon the
bonne being %Wiled, and such exprerrionia used at their
Illeotiropl them that titter them
should be compelled mm. .01,0tAntiato Aillor for it.
TIM Bowl can 11,010 r hay,' the 1.1,1001 ito,l centblence of
the ratepayers until this ir done.

Yours truly.
Pitosmast.

portbunl, Sonbinbor sth. 1,377.
(It i iiioinvenoitit to report tneetinus hold on our
ptp,li.hing night, :eel, begi.les that. tho "negro" wonl,l 14
a gawk oltl. A .tuntatary of remitte. AA they appe:tr in at
toinotel.ook, ought to nreful; but this the IlSo.tra Mete.
Lost Thor:ibis it was moo thso usually ittconvouisut to
attend this Ward.— ED. Dm)