The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-10-06 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

A tneeting of the Council was held on Monday. Pro-
eine The Mayor; Councillors Dampish, Andrews,
Frond, Bennett, Bishop, Aldridge, Davis, Mason, and
Lock
The question of Mr. Fsisor and the Town Council
niortitapird to the payment of tolls was again brought
. . .

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The Maros read the first resolutioo, of which Mr.
Andrews had given natio., via, "That certain by. laws
of the Council, together with the schedule of rents,
piwarage, tolls, and deed; sealed at • meeting
of the Conned on or about the 7th of January, 1850, be
produced and considered, with a view to decide whether
it is desirable to make any or what alterations therein."
The question of Mr. Andrewe's right sa a corporator
to inspeet the muniments and books belonging to the
Council was again disowned.
Mr. Armors asked the Town Clerk if he luid re-
wired his letter of the 3rd October, when the latter
replied in the affirmative. and read the following :
Dorchester, 3rd October, 1863.
Dun BENONDII,—As I bed by UN agenda P6Por of
the Town Council several motions relative to the now
vexed question of tolls, will be disdained at the meeting
on Monday morning out, will you be so good as to
produce to me there, for the purpose of enabling me,
as • Corporator or Councillor. rightly to discharge my
duty, the seven.' charters of the borough, the books of
wiry of minutes from the year ono thousand three hundred
and four, the several Town Steward's account., and the
paper' laid before counsel, Mr. Webby, I believe, with
his opinion on the subject of the Council's claim on Mr.
Enloe, auctioneer, and any other papers you think
would throw light on the subject.—l sin, yours very
truly in baste, G. J. irmassirs.
G. Symonds, Req., Town Clerk.
The Tows Clue stated that he could not produce
the papers and documents without the consent of the
Council.
Mr. ANDREWS wished to piece matters fairly before
the Council, and in support of his claims referred to
various authorities where it was shown as a principle,
"That members of onrporations have the right to in-
ipict the miouments and books belonging to their cor-
poration, is instanced by the caw of Re. Fraternity
of Hostmen in Newcastle, Strangers Reports,
1222, where the Court held 'That every member
of a corporation has a right to inspect and take
copies of corporate books for any matter that
concerns himself, even in a dispute with strangers,
and even where a Corporation is • plaintiff for tolls the
Court grants leave to the defendant to inspect their
books as of course.' "The Municipal Act, sth and Gth
William IV. cap. 76, provided for the better regulation
of Corporeal:we, and left the charters and Local Acts us-
repealed, except where inconsistent with that Act." It
was held by Mr. Judge Patterson that that Act did not
create • new Corporation, so that as there was nothing
In the Municipal Act which took away the Corporation
right to inspect deeds and documents, that right now
existed as fully as it ever did.
Mr. Div-Rime said he should have to vote on the
subject. He had heard out of door' that Mr. Andrews
was retained by Mr. boor to resist the payment of the
tolls. He wished for Mr. Andrews to inform him
whether he was not retained as the legal adviser of Mr.
Moor in resisting the tolls?
Mr. Agnsinwa replied that the tams question was put
to him at the lark Council meeting, to which he should
give the amine answer as be did then.
The ILtrol urged the Council to avoid personal
remarks- The question whether Mr. Andrews was
sngsgsd by any individual did not beer upon the case.
He claimed his right as a corporator. The coulee what
other people thought was calk foreign to the matter.
The caw must be decided upon hit rights al • oorponitor
alone, and not if he was retained by any individual.
Mr. Mason centered he should like to tee evidence
upon which the Council rested their claim for tolls,
and not rash blindfolded into the matter. He had
heard nothing yet.
Mr. Dawaxise said the Mayor and Councillors
Ooolebe and Hodges were deputed by the Council to
Investigate the matter, and Lid their report before the
stating that they believed the demand for pay-
Ws= tolls to be well founded.
The CLARA thee read the report of the contleittee, at
entered upon the minute book, when it appeared that
Yr. Mason was priest at the meting of the Council
when the report was presented.
ANDREWS eastisigi that be mild not do