The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-01-12 00:00:00

00UNTY POLICEMEN'S DUTIES.

Mr. WILLIAMS fancied notice Would be necessary
before the Court could accede to th, appointment of a
police superintendent to be inspector of lodging-houses
as had been the case at Blandford. There was an appli-
cation from Wareham for the superintendent to be ap-
pointed inspector of nuisances, an office requiring a
man's whole time. _

Mr. CALCRAFT, M.P., thought the magistrates could
not appoint a better person than a policeman, who had
nobody to please or displease, to perform the duties of
nuisance inspector. At Warein the occupation
would not take a man's whole time.

Mr. WILLIAMS was lure t would in.Doraheater.

The CHAIRMAN was of opinion, and he was supported
by the opinion of the editors of the Jiatice of the Peace,
that the county police could not be employed in the
duties of inspector of weights and measures, inspectors
of lodging-houses, or inspectors of nuisances, but only
as the Police Act declared in matters "connected with
the execution of that act." The editors of the Justice
of the Peace said they saw no wrong in police acting as
inspectors of weights and measures provided they were
willing to take upon themselves the duties gratuitously.
Mr. WlLLiass said neither of the offices proposed
were for hire or gain. Police had been employed in the
way described in ocher counties, and the Secretary of
State had not restrained them.

Mr. BEYMER, M.P., said if the matter mild be die-
poled of in it. legal aspect the expedieney of the propo-
sition might readily be entertained. Knowing the sub-
ject would be dimmed to-day he had written to one or
two gentlemen respecting it, and to Bir William Heath-
cote, swell-known magistrate in Hint.; thatleame4 gen•
gamin declared he could sae no harm in or doubt
about the legality of employing county policemen as
inspectors of weights and manna. It we. a worse be.
neltaial directly and indirectly to the eounty, and one---
not being for hire or gain—against which there was no
lepl objection,
ia
Mr. URCHIN quoted the opinion of Mr. Commissioner
Bare, the editor of the Juotioo of it. roam, approving
of county polio. as inspeotors of weighta end memuree.
The learned Commileioner said, that being an aloe
which Inuit be executed gratuitously it could not be
forced upon policemen as a matter of duty, and it WU
competent for the Clourt of Quarter Bearions to appoint
any person to the Milo if the chid constable approved
there could be no objection to appoint policemen, In
Devonshire the polio" were weights and Immure" in.
speolon, and adopting tide 0041111 WM one way by which
a aavinueould be effected.
Lord PoivrnAn thought the point had better be tome
to at once, The report just read embraced two matters
for consideration—the appointment of a police imperils.
tendent to be inspeetor of lodging.houses at illandford,
and the appointment at Wareham of another polite en,
perintendent AA !mutter of nuisatioes, With regard to
the Diandfoni appointment lie (Lord Portman) was one
of the milpett who appointed the °Meer, There was a
very full bench, and they were decidedly and unanl.
mouldy of opinion In the appointment' because they held
that thip man who impeded listengliouses might, If a
polleetnin, be fulfilling police Who at the Same time he
woo sitting aa such Inspector, Time noble lord then
moved the ratification of the Illandford Appointment,
He (Lord Portman) should oppose the appointment of a
pollee euperintendent to he inspector of 11111114M1/1 ea
intimated with respect to Wareham, bemuse he thought
It an ofilee which ought to be fur him or gain, and ought
to be paid kV,
Mr. PAIRIV II ARROW Neuwied the motion,
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion.. follows That
in the opinion of thin Ocurt it it expedient that the
pollee conttables of thia county be appointed inspettom
of lodginthousei, no extra retnunuttion Ming paid for
lath Quint".
The motion wet Affirmed,
Mr, CALCIUM?, whilitt admitting the utility of
impute" of lodging•houem, meet say that familia"
of animus" were Wiwi*" very weftsl and deldrabk, and
it wall an munition ANA somebody ought to take upon
himself , thereby tarrying out the work effectually. Me
(Mn, (alash) wee of opinion, too, that none were more
proper than the pollee fur undertaking the ofithe of in.
"motor of nuisanoes. In the ease of Wartham the
ouperintindent of polite had willingly come forward to
do the work, and, as a public oilleer, it wee fitting nth
a man should be appointed. The lion, member a000rd•
Ingly meted that the pollee be permitted to talco the
duty of inspector of nuisancese upon themselves under
the same oonditions MI those mentioned In the lad rem.

Ut FARRIS wended the motion. The objection
of Lord Portman that persone should be paid for per.
forming the duties of nuisance inspector ought not, he
thought, to weigh unduly with the Court. If policemen
came forward to do the duty gratuitously that Court
need not carry their generosity so far as to form mum.
aeration upon them.
Mr. WILLIAMS did not think such an appointment
would be applicable in all parts of the county, portion.
larly in such places as Dorchester, Weymouth, bland-
ford, or Bridport, where it would be well nigh impossible
for the police to undertake the work. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN asked the chief oonstable if he could
spare the men for the work referred to?
Col. Cox replied that at Wareham where there was •
popuiation of but about 3,000, the superintendent might
undertake the work; but in other town, the impenn-
tendents of divisions could not have the requisite time
at their disposal.
. .

Mr. FARQUHARSON said, because the Wareham super-
intendent was willing to take the office the principle
should not be adopted all over the county. (Hear,
hear.) Wimborne and other places had just as much
right to ask it as Wareham; and he, for one, would
therefore oppose the motion. Perhaps the officer at
Wareham was • good sort of man who did not mind
putting his nose into such matters, yet he (Mr.
Farquharson) thought it did not constitute any part of
such an officer's duty.
Col. FREESTON, M.P., said the inhabitants of
Weymouth contemplated appointing an independent in,.
vector themselves.
Mr. CALORAIT, M.P., thought his recommendation
was a course not likely to be abused.
The CHAIRMAN put the motion, and 7 only voted for
it and a large majority against it.
The report and police rate recommended were then
paused, with the exception of the £26 to be expended on
the Sherbonre lockup.
The CHAIRMAN said, in reference to the proposed
alteration at Bridport, the superintendent of that
borough, Mr. Samuel Hooker Champ, who had been in
the service 29 years, 26 as superintendent, had applied
for compensation.
Mr. FOROMER said the officer had not yet been re-
moved. The application acoordingly stood over till
the next sessions.

COUNTY LOOKUPS.
Mr. ELIOT brought forward the motion, postponed
from last sessions, and of which notice had been given
by Mr. Frampton, that the Court do order that station
houses and strong rooms, or either of them, for the pur-
poses of the county constabulery, be provided in such
places of the county as the Justices present shall think
fit, and upon such plea as shall be approved by one of
Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State; and for
that purpose that a sum not exceeding £20,000 be bor-
rowed for the purchasing of lands and tenements, and of
building such station houses and strong rooms, or either
of them; and that the future police rates be charged
with the amount of each loan and with interest thereon,
in manner provided by the statute 3 and 4 Via, cap. 88,
and of the other statutes in that behalf. Mr. Eliot re-
marked that the contemplated outlay included Dor-
chester, Wollaston House, £4,000; Beaminster, noo ;
Blandford, £380; Shaftesbury, £200; Wareham, ;
Wimborne Idinater, £2OO ; Crenborne, £270; and sites
had been found at Sturadneter, Oerne, and Sberborne.

Lord Porrwstr said a great many questions were in-
volved in this matter. First, as regarded Wollaston
House it was mixed up with a proposition relative to the
militia; and in connection with that Earl Digby in 1854
made • presentment and upon which nothing had been
done in the ensuing sessions, which presentment, there-
fore, was nowinoperatire. As to a presentiment being
made by the present Lord-Lieutenant, the Earl et
Shaftesbury, from a conversation he (Lord Portman)
had had with the noble Berl, the result of which, how-
ever, he was not at liberty to mention, he thought •
course not far different from .that pursued by hlitaself
in the/ county of Somerset 'would be followed is this
county. If rightly informed, he (Lord Portman)
thought a very.gool sitncoald be found St Dorchester
elsewhere than Wollaston House for police purposes, at
a much less cost, and one that the chief ooeble would
very much prefer. .
WS. WILLIAMS : I very much doubt it.
Lord PORTMAN : And with reference to the amounts
mentioned to be expended in the several divisions, he
was inclined to tbink they, were not the total earns but
only the first purchase money. The L'6oo at bearninster
meant, he thought, the price of • hoboes gad site, and
not the cost of lockup accommodation.
Mr. WILLIAMS said it was for the complete purchase
of • hones.

Lord PORTMAN : At Blandford gm was to be paid
for • piece of ground. ' New hi did "mit .siven know
where the ground in question woo; but he had heard
that a fitting rite could there lis , attained at • ,leee ONN.
Ile thought the Court eholdd ,takil opinion of
the Bench in each divisien
ett
pi Mr. WILLIA*I : None inter.
have been
taken without 00 inietien the dwiai°9l.
Lord Rosman : The ousoun'ts . against the
several towns could net giver poli Aft tlfsbrit.etert,
I, and, therefore without going into the i ,it ap-
peared to him 'that the matter prfui ggta . Court
in the right way to do buries's. . ,
L.A0,1 . timated
before, with regard to Etherherns ssind, o it woo
smatter whsch ought to be gone itisto ; but do let the
rf.
Court prooe in A, pinefteel wag gad ' t UV", a second
lunatic) asylum busing. over agunt. , e would humbly
suggest that instead of voting ,1111)- , isaialump in the
dark, the Cowl might to bow • little more about how
the money was to he spent. 'ft was a serious question,
and a necessary 00w; and, manly as.men of business,
they ought before getting the mateg get their plan
sanctioned. .

Mr. Emor said the Police Committee had acted with
the county surveyor, sad open that officeoes estimates.
The total expense of the proposed biildin *odd be
about £18,700.
Colonel BINGHAX urged the claims of the militia to
proper accomniodation, and the great inocareniences to
which the men were now put. lie was not able to put
one single act into effect.
Mr. Emir then moved—That a sum net exceeding
£lO,OOO be granted for the purpose of parabasing sites
and erecting suitable strong rooms and lockups, except-
ing Wollaston House, at Dorplteatsr; ,fpr the tl/10 of the
county police; and that the PoEoe and 4ding Com-
mittees act in conjunction in the matter and report at
next sessions.

The potion was affirmed.

Lord POSTMAN moved—That the Mice Committee
consist of the following Jestinow—opelnkdrivision—
Mr. Frampton, Mairmen ; *Jain, , .-Goodden,
Mr. G. Maned, Mr. Lambert, Mr. it .
Mr. laminar, Colonel Iliritigiting,,Xt. Gantry,
Bernell. _
The motion wairaffirmed.
,
urancroas (it *ram* 4.itb:siusl7sze.

.-. Bower;
(,and Mr.

~ .
Kr. H. Wit,m,ms, -pursuant td Dotage, Stored " that
the duties of the inspector af Weights geld measures
be transferred from the present Mspecters t 4 the super-
infendents of the county poiice bn and shut, tbe end of
ths currentyear, lone* 11$04 j, end tha,t allowance
of MO be spade annually out eif the 0110.1 ft stock to the
treiwurer et the county constabulary to corer the ex-
pease' actually incurred by such county constabulary
. .
mPoiteuktt seconded the proposition, By the pro-
posed arraugement £.300 per annum woukl,be saved to
the county; and it wee isenne whul had been adopted
in almost every musty where oottigy pollee had been
introduced. -Six new standards would be required in
addition to the three already belonging to the county,
and this would involve an outlay of some £4OO.
Colonel Cox, in answer to the Chairman said, about
eight hours • week would be devoted to the work by
each superintendent of division, and the transfer
would require no additional force.

The Cieinuart, in putting the motion, dwelt upon the
inadvisability of the step, and suggeeted that the Clerk
of the Peace should send an official letter to Sir G. Grey,
asking if the charge could be safely and consistently made.
The resolution was then passed, but the annual allow.
anal for actual expenses wu, on the suggestion of Lord
Portman, allowed to stand at what the chief walkable
should send in.

Lord PORTMAN remarked that there was a want of uni-
formity of practice among the different divieions of the
county in reference to the allowance to constables. In
some divisions magistratesimagined that the word "con-
stable" wu not to be converted to that of 'police" in
others that "police" warn a subetitnte for" constable."
In some divisions accordingly the allowance of 21. Bd.
for attendance was made, is. for serving the summons
and mileage, while in the others it was not so made.
Now, awarding to the standing order each division
should make the allowance, because it made RO distinc-
tion between the " poliwf_Aud the " constable." The
money was still returned to the county thougli by a
roundabout way. Ile therefore begged to sey that the
terms were synonymous—police meaning constable and
via vont.

TEN PORTLAND 0013011111.
The CHAIRMAN said he had received A latter announe.
lag the death of the coroner for Portland. According
So the statute when e coroner died the coroner for an
adjoining district could rightfully stop in and act for the
vacant district co that no great public inconvenience is.
suited if the appointment were not Ailed for several
months. But the Court should molder that Portland
well very different now to what it was lb years book—
population and saltines had groatly hoorayed. The
Court might elate a coroner immediately, or they could
resolve that a petitiou should be presented praying that
such an alteration should be made in the coroners
trice AA alteration of eiraummteneel rendered adviseble.
HOOHIM how near trains and steamers made Portlsnil to
Dorchester, it NSA a milts, for oonskleration whether
or not that, island should not be incorporated with the
Dorchester district end If step' wore not at ones taken
by the Court the inhabitents ef Portland might *cleat
coroner upon the Lord Cheneellor'e order, and ea fru.
trate the intentions of the Court,
Rev, Mr, TINFLIIR thought the union of the die.
trietedeeirable, and the present. suitable opportunity for
drooling the incorporation,
Mr. 11, Wihhi.ins thought it would be convenient if
Portland were added to the Dorelieeter districtt_and
pleas such is 14Iton 'Cheney, a few relief from *Mr
port, added to the Arldporl distriel,
The CMAIRMAN then moved a resolution to the eflket—
that in the opinion of this Court It Is expedient that the
&Riot Of division o Portland, formed for the einieution
of the office of coroner,
of
now 'dud 5,,m and 'oll.
dated with the dletriet of Dorelieeter iilitirjertition to
her Majesty in Council be forthwith , humbly
desiring that the said ineorporsti sesomplialied
and thai it Is further ordered that gush petition be taken
Into cionlideration at the ensuing sessions 'wording to
the statute made and provided,
The motion was affirmed.

WMIIOIIIII 1111P0SICATOST solloole
Mr. J. C. MANSE, Mid he had pewpesad si report re.
Resting the Reformatory Nehool al Mtlborne RC
Andrew, which, though not p.ohsot ileoletly, wee to a
sertain extent a bounty Instils - The reZwhish
WA sea voluminous, he we not at RNA o hour
read di length, lir, Hansel, wove, qvone Of
WO portions of the Intending document, Al present
there APO 14 boys in the sehool, of whom 0 have been
sent by justime of the Enmity 1_ and if the remaining b,
3 have been admitted from the Ofietle Howard (York.
shim) and Hampshire Refortnirriek by mithanift.
Several appliektions, upwards of I int, have been made
by Pu m ttees pf the etropolitan an provinolal taunt for
the admission of boys whose mess they represent to
urgent, but which tlie eommitteis refused, Al B is their
wish to keep it as much erosible a lately establish.
mint, and to confine the Weldon to shore caws only
which hive been dealt with in the county. The wahoole
are sayable of receiving eight more boys. The expense
of the buUding ham been el,Orte, ends debt of BIM only
remained. The report stated that it will be highly con-
timely, to the intends of the school if the magistrates
in aimed all easel, commit juvenile offenders for not
less than four years, especially sa the period can be
shortened by applying to the secretary of State. It
is also advisable that boys should not be sent to the
school upon the first conviction or for trifling offences
The attention of justime was called to the importance of
imilating upon some payment being made by iparents or
step-parent. of boys sent to the school. By the Act
20, 21 Vie., o. 58, the mode of proceeding with regard
to contributions Is the following :—When a juvenile
offender is sentenced by is juatioe at petty sessions, such
justice, at the time of miming such sentence or within
fourteen days thereof, max issue • summons c:alling upon
the parent or step-parent to appear before them; and
after examining into the ability of such parent or step-
parent, may make an order for the payment of such
weekly sum not exceeding five shillings, as shall seem
reasonable during the whole or any part of the deten-
tion ; and in every cue in which such sentence shall
be passed by any Court of Assize or Quarter Sessions,
such Court shall direct any officer of the Court to cer-
tify the same to the next meeting of justices in petty
seasions, for the distriot or town from which such offen-
der shall have been committed, and to make an order in
the same manner as above. Also, in cam no latch order
'hall have been made, it obeli be lawful at any time
during the detention of ouch juvenile offender, for any
two justices, having jurisdiction in the district where
the parent or stop-parent of snob offender resides, on
the complaint of any person authorised by the Secretary
of State, to take proceedings and melte an order ae
above stated. There in also power given by the same Act
to remitor increase the payment, and to enforce the same.
The report was then laid aeon the table.
Mr. WILLIAMS said it himpened sometimes that a boy
sentenced to the reformatory school was deelined by
thE manager of the institution, and thin' escaped • term
of, punishment the delinquent would otherwise be
subjected to.
Mr. MANBIL thought Mr. Williams considered refor-
matory schools in the light of plums of punishment.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM mid the theory of reforma-
tory achoolswasent that the objeotoonteinpliMed by them
was punishmentbat, Awes • reformation of the character
of the juvenile offender, So ao injustice wan done to
a boy who had been ordered to be imprisoned fore week,
and, though sentenced to a period of confinement in a
reformatory, not admitted to one; the lad was punished
by preliminary imprisonment:
Mr.WlLLisice looked opens such institutions as places
of mmithment in one light, for *boy ordered to be im-
prisoned for • reek sotto paris time or five years its,
reformatory would be prelmblY seeliceeed to three
mouths' imprisonment if the ' knew that the
' reformatory school would not receive the offender.
Mr. FAMILY{ inquired if it would not be well for
magistrates before sentencing boys to the reformatory
to communicate with the managers of the institution and
ascertain if the youthful dehnquente could be admitted.
The matter then dropped.
A second court for the trial of prisoners was ordered.
Capt. I). Elainer,lLP, sad Mr. Ride Dram qualified
an new magistrates for the coakity.
The Court retie &WM" milie Mix O'slelic, ,

( The remainder of as tegitOWMoit W00P144
ix Foga