The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-10-31 00:00:00

£LDIERNICIeS GOWN&

Before the business of the meeting the shabby state of
two Aldermen's gowns was mentioned. An e.timato by
Mr Fook., had been obtained, and it appears that abJut
Di los, would be required, for their state was something
disgraoefuL
Mr. WALKZR could not vote for the outlay.
—•-.. . . . .

The .it-a To—r resolved to give separate orders for the
repair of each gown, aa he can give orders to the extent
of .C 5.

THE PARK keens.
The special Imeinese before the Board was to consider
the questions of the repair of the roads, and the drainage
of the Park.
Mr. Morean's estimate for the repair of the Park reeds
was x.5.1e.
The Nevelt said that, in accordance with the IlearTs
resolution, he had taken the earliest opportunity of calling
a legal meeting, ter the purpose of considering the Perk
question, and the notice had been drawn in accordenee
with their wishes so este include everything in connection
with the Park—the roads, suit the drainage. Ile meet
say he regretted on so important an occasion that no few
were preeent ; he hoped they should have had a full meet-
ing. However, they hail met, and before going int., the
matter. ho wished to state the poeition from whirl. he I
regarded this matter. There were two queetions—one
respecting the drainage, the other as regarded the waking
of the roads. A.. to the question of the drainage that ens
one, the expense of which must inevitably fall upon the
ratepayere, and which in lessee° should do so. There
was, previous to the Board having anything to do with
the drainage of the Park, a system of drainage which
some persons, Mime, thought efficient, and there was no
noubt that the placing of the dam across the Back eater
interfered with the drainage of the Park by that system,
and the Board, having p4med that dam, were in duty
bound to provide an efficient plan of drainage. The
question of the roads was quite • distinct one. Priesd
facie, it was the duty of the owners of the Park to have
the roads put in repair. The Mayor then referred to the
Act relating to this matter.
Mr. WALKER asked whether the Act was in existence
when the I'erk was laid out?
The TOWN CLZRK rept:ad that he should say so -in
The MAYOR continued that supposing any question arose
as to the ownership of the roads in the Park, he reminded
the Board that at the time the routs were made, the
greatest care was taken to prevent them being made
Public property, and also to keep them private property.
A certain course ought to have been adopted to compel
the Local Board to take these roads; but at the present
time there was no doubt they belonged to the owners of
the l'ark. There was • question whether the Board had
done anything which exonerated the owners of the Park
from the duty of putting them in repair; but at the pre-
sent time he believed from the Town Clerk that they had
not actually done such a thing. Ile wished the Board to
go into the matter of the roads repair perfectly indepen-
dent of the legal question. Let them decide what, for the
good of the town and the inhabitants of the Park, was the
bast to be done, and then afterwards let the legal question
be raised. They might serve the ordinary notices upon
the owners calling on them to put the roads in repair, and
in default of it being done, they could do it themselves
and then call upon the owners to pay; and the question
was whether the Board could enforce payment upon these
private individuals. He asked them to approach the
matter simply from the point of view as to what should
be done for the good of the town, leaving the queetion—
who waste bear the expense—to be considered afterwards.
As to the subsoil drainage, the expense of that must fall
upon the ratepayers of the town.
Mr. SNOOK replied to • supposed statement of Mr.
LunJie at the last meeting, that the owners of the Park
hod not supplied watercloseta, and that they ought to be
compelled to supply them.
Mr. Letthin begged that he might not be held anewerahle
for all that was said in the newspapers.
Mr. SNOOK asserted that not • house was unsupplied
with water-closets of an ordinary character.
Mr. Lorena asked Mr. Snook to read the Surveyor's
report—" Out of Itet pan Closets, to only 26 can he given
the name of water-closets." That was what be said, and
what he meant,
Mr. WALKER, passing to the main question, said the
whole affair was optional, the Local Board may do certain
things; therefore the entire reeponsibility was thrown
upon the Board of instituting proceedings. The Mayor
had raised the question about the owners of property,
hut the owners of the land were not ratepayers in the
Park; they shirked the entire question, and the rate-
payers in the Park, the large majority of whom are not
owners, who are the sufferers, and yet it was their money
that is collected from them, it is they who are claiming
that something shall be done—either that their money
shall be refunded, or the Board shall do something for
them, and it was just and rewediable. Ile felt they had
been robbed for the last 10 or 15 rears; the money taken
from the Park hail been spent in every part of the
borough, except in the Perk, am( when they asked for an
act of justice they were told they mast comply with
certain things—which isie.uit they must go on for 10 or 15
years more. The legalquestion had always been mixed,
and said Mr. Walker—. Upon my word, I have felt as if
the lawyers were the greatest curse in our couctry—that
If we could get them out of the country altestethet we
could examen common sense. Other and laughter.) ' We
have been told we cannot do this and that, the law etepe
in and prevents us, and so the same idea conies in agath
met again, until we breed a row down here, awl' have a
revolution and hang the est" Other and laughter.)
The hi VIOR .inite agreed that it NU most unfortunate
be- the ratepayers in the Park, but it was the ditty of
those unfortunate solicipws to have pointol mit to thew
o ho went into the Park the question of the roe&
When a i.erson builds on property which eoes not Abut
on a highway. the question of the rowls is meet
nionetrous, and any contractor before he taken a lease
would say "how about the ones r The people who had
gone there had not raised the question earlier, and it was
because they had not that thee were in this state. For
the Bowel to repair them would involve them in an
illegal act; they had no rielit to go and take nioney hem
the general ratepaeure pockets to repair the Park reels.
Hew would it lie right to a.,k the ratepayers, say op the,
other side of the water, illegally to pay for thew roads?
The persons in the Park theineelves ought most certainly
to have the rowle put in repair. To do so, Mr. Morgan
estimated, would reet £5,142.
Mr. WALKER asked whether Mr. Morgan had excluded
the channelling, paving, and curbing already done t
Mr. Monnee said his estimate was as low as it could be,
and it took Ranelaghderrare at 3011, wide instead of 351 t
The MAYOR continued that, supposing the 5.5,0110 of
the ratepayers' money was spent, the present owners and
occupiers would be much henelitted. Would it not be
added to the value of the houses in the Park
Mr. SNOOK faked if it was necessary to pave the
portions of the paths or streets abutting which no houses
were built 1
Mr. MORGAN replied it would not he policy to do that.
The MAYOR : Mr. Morgan adda that we could not accept
the marls until it is done.
Mr. WALKEIt : Then we are to remain in the game con-
dition ; If the owners of the Perk ask us to dolt, we
must de it
Mr. SNOOK said some of the preperty would not pay for
the cod ef doing the work.
Tim MAYOR replied that if the reede were made the
value of tee property then would tiny for it.
Mr. WALKER end the town had ,one into the Pork,
dug up the Street", and left them in a disgraceful
condition.
Mr. WAL'.I9 nuderetoo,l from Mr. Walker that he only
wanted the repair of the roads done in a temporary
winner, end not to pot the town ti an enormous expense.
If the leord had laid tbemselvne open, they should
either be obliged to do it themselves or to make the
owners do it ;tit was quite s.
lie-titer the occupiers to ask for
this boon, and if clinkers would make the roads passable
he tamest thought they should put them on the reads.
The MAYOR said if they had done so much, and still
went on to do more, the effect might be that the, ones of
the renter Wight be put upon the Board. He would go

with Mr. Walker for putting down clinkers or any
reasonable repair but he asked the Town Clerk it they
had made themselves liable. The Town Clerk said they I
had not done enough at present; but if they went still
further, the question was whether they should not
put themselves in that position.
Mr. %Yaws asked—Were the Board responsible now? I
The Tows CLEIK said they had not done anything to
make themselves responsible.
Mr. I !HAULER bad only one object that everytli tic should
he ,lone in a Iciral manner. It WO beenoaiil tkat he was i
doing all he e,ohl_to retard this work.

Mr. WALgn: -tiU.r!U-are.

•
Mr. ratut.Es : I 41.1 net interrupt you when you were
etwakit: 4. 110 continued that if be had done anything to
retard i!, it s,-a4 with the view of keeping the Board in a
p-sition, awl he was very glad he hati. When he
Fai IL ...Uhl cost 1:7,000 to put the Park road, in repair,
he 101 l hi. estimate on the eost of Cl.D.Prier Itanela.M
Te. rare. them as a B vo.l rail itpon the owners to
mvps- " We insid on your .king
se. But, while the!, had teen taking about the roadk,
there Was the question ii tir driinage.
.The .Irains to all

In! ents mid .purpose- hat been preyed 410LN-teal 4U-i
believed that cenunentiously, and before they laid out the
large sun., he asized what was right, if they were going to
put down new drains t It r would be placing themselves
in on unfair p medical awl wasting the ratepayers' money.
Ni. : I should eel:, Mr. Mayor, that the Park
ratepayers are not taxed any more.
The 3leetut : At the Saints than I suppose we must not
ask the Dorchester road people to pay any snore. The
Mayor explained that one idle of the place belonged to the
Turnpike trustees, and nothing had been spent on it by the
Local Beard. It was true a contract had now been drawn
up; but for the last II or l 5 years, while the Park rate-
payers had nothing done for them, the people on the Dor-
chester road also had 'milling spent for them. As to the
llglitiug, the Park had far mere lights according to it its
rateable value, than the leorehester road people had,
according to theirs.
Mr. SNOOE said the Dorchester road people had good
roads and good drainage.
The MAYOR said they happened to, by their position;
but the Corporation had not spent for them.
Mr. WALKS& : It is a villainous robbery.
Mr. THOMAS asked whether the Board would be liable if
they did a temporary repair.
The Towx CLERK said it would be very dangerous,
though he was strongly of opinion that something should
be done. The question was whether the difficulty could be
met by allowing the owners of property to take material
and use it, but not to admit the Board's liability.
Mr. SNOOK suggested that notice be given to the owners,
and then the Beard should do the work.
The Tow:, CLERK asked whether the Board was pre-
pared to earry out either of the Surveyor's schemes of
drainage of the Park, or was it more prudent to wait for
the Board in London I If he might be allowed to make a
suggestion, let them take the last advice England could
produce as to what they should do for this poor unfortu-
nate town ; then when they had theirplanolo it, and corn.
plete their drainage for ever. Ile stated without the
shadow of a doubt, that within a month they would have
another communication from the Local Government
Board.
Mr. SNOOK : Is it not In consequence of the advice of
your surveyor not being carried out that we are in this
nicest What Is the use of calling for further advice when
the advice you have received is not carried out
The MAYOR, for the purpose of having something like
business before them, suggested putting Haniwick-street
only in repair. If they did that, they would have one
really good street leading right into the middle of the
Park. and if it were pulled to pieces by the drainage, he
should lie pleased to pay his proportion towards putting it
in repair. That road would become the property of the
town.
Mr. Vlegrerr said it was a great mistake to suppose they
were going to destroy the road by putting down drains.
He asked the Surveyor.
Mr. bledulyx said not entirely. At all evade it would
not interfere with the footways.
Mr. CnsßLes Ibiving taken one street, would It lite
said we have taken the Park
The M STOlt : Oh dear, no. We should take that street.
Proper notice would be given, and we should be compelled
to take that as a public street.
Mr. WALKER: You may do it.
The MAYOR: We should be compelled to do It.
Mr. WALKER: I don't take it SO.
Mr. Cuaitegs : Could you grapple with the drainage of
the street whilst doing the road.
Mr. Moaotx : Oh no: but there would not be much to
do because the drains would cross that street.
Mr. Tnoisas thought they should consider the repairs of
the reads, to make them passable, so that people could
get to their houses with some degree of -comfort, and
leave the drainage until they could adopt a syttem. Money
laid out on the drainage might only add to the
expense. It was remarkable that after the excessive rains
they lately had, there was flooding—a contrast to the
complaints in a previous year.
Mr. WALK ea : We have had an overflow this season.
Mr. Timets: At all events, we may safely leave the
drainage out of the question now. Ile did not believe in
the destruction of the roads. As Soon as they were dime,
the gas and water companies would pull them to pieces
again. Let them at on give notice to the whole of the
owners ; they had been talking long enough.
In answer to a question, the Towx CLERK said " reason-
Ode notice" waii such a time as would enable them to get
eerts, men, and material,
Mr. Weggea : If we were to du the repairs now, we
ideal have no guarantee that the Boanl would take
them.
Mr. Vieceve surcuited putting down 'one hundred
lemli of he eel, and letting the owners use It.
Mr. Seam; aek.el if the Board could do a temporary
repeir, notice that it Wa.4 to be completed.
The Towe ee.see : If you do any part yourselves, you
niill4) vu'notiee.
Mr. .IYer.eneav asked if, after notice had been given,
ter , the II aril iiiede the roads, would they not he able to
have A Inn in the land
The TOWN 4;1.E.:K! eabl Yes, if they had allowed the legal
ro: rse iif ; but the owner, mud have throe
in. 11. ti.,
Mr. „trLESIWRY thought it wonlil be exceedingly unfair
to heel a rod ever any IMO'S heal. The difficulty had
arisen freed the Giant allowing houses to be erected at Ats
elevatien they ought tee.
Mr NVALEER -aid that had nothing to do with what the
new driii oleo hed diem for them.
'Elie Melee: Lei a von' grave euppicion that when the
mule were maile, they were not made eceenling to the
pl tie:en:illy ietended ; but that they were it huts. foot
short of it.
Mr. CMARLKS hart bean' the pees were eat off one foot, ,
Mr. WALKER : That d:ies not bellies out of our difficulty
now.
Ile MAYOR: It siletrs the additional difficulty the town
is Mecca in now.
Mr. Watneit : We have some doubts about it: we can
believe it or it'. there i- another side to the question.
Mr. Grim r.o aske.l euppoeing the notiees were riven and
the proper en seulure carried out would not the owners of
the land not built upon be liable I
The TOWN CLERK : Yee, in proportion to their value.
Mr. Cuoves : Then why not carry out the plans I Ile
believed the buildings would les erected, and would pay
the ownere of property to make this outlay at once. The
Board oneht to call on them to make the reads.
The blevoit said the question wise whether the roads
wenlil net have to be pulled up, whereas if they did
Hari wiek-street only, that would only have to he pulled
up in cues of new drains being laid.
Mr. Geoveei said if the needs were to be broken up for
' the perpuee of laying the drains, then they must be put
in repair at the expense of the town. Let the work be
I done at once.
In answer to Mr. AYLESBURY, it was !said the owners of
Property adjoining the roads would have to pay pro raid,
I ay.-outing to the extent of their frontage, towards the

exrileigggis asked the Town Clerk whether it would be
dangerous to aim out Mr. Walker's suggestion for
temporary repair of the roads.
It wag answered that it would endanger the Board
being held liable for the whole.
Mr. Demsis asked whether it would be as dangerous to
begin making the road in Hardwiek-street
The TOWN CLERK sail: No, it would not.
Mr. MONIS asked would that meet the WildiCA of people
who live in t.lheliusfonl-street and the other streets I
. .

.
They would still cry out that the Park was left untouched.
He thought the Board should call upon the whole of the
owners to deal with the question in s broad and business-
like manlier. He quite saw the Park contained a nui-
eance, and they ought to remove It if they could. It was
said the Park people ought to have something for the
rates they paid, and every gentleman around the Board
was willing to give them the best they could for the
money. But would they be satisfied with 11 or 15 inches
of water under their houses I Let the Board do *owe-
thin t—ilo illegally, and do it at once.
The MAYOR said if the Beard arrived at the decision to
put the whole of the Park roads in repair, they could call
In the question of a private improvement rate, which
would enable the whole to be done. Ile believed it could
be m:vle a charge upon the land there might he sonic
difficulty as to the buildings to be in future erected on the
land, but that could be got over.
Mr. CHARLES WU very alllkals they should not throw
a lot of money there. He had had to do with
mb=ing up new rowbf, and knew something of the
' expense of making them is good as new. He asked Mr.
Morgan whether it was not possible to bring the Park
drainage to sense point so that somebody could deal with
it. He should he sorry for the Park people to say "You
are anxious to retard things; but he maintained that the
interests of the whole of the ratepayers moot lie looks! to.
Mr. Moariatt said they must either treat the Park alone
or as a part of the general scheme of the town. If the
Park was treated alone a part of the outlay must be
wasted, if the general :scheme of the town is carried out.
The whole of Itmelagh-straart must be re-laid.
Mr. Leania was extremely deeirous at the last meeting
that some schenie should be carried out. But if they
could not carry out what they wished without rendering
themselves liable for the whole expense, they must bow
to that decision. Mr. Howard had stated that any rata
made to carry out improvements in the Park might he
refused, if the proposal to lay not ,ClOO, he pm:ruined.
must be censistered abandoned. But, he aahl it with a
gnat deal of re.:ret, they could not light a difficulty in
the alospe of law, and t how to it. As to the question
whether they should carry out Hardwick-street or the
whole of the roads, his opinion certainly was in favour of
the whole plan—of the notices beingsurvel and all neces-
sary steps being taken to enforce on the owners of the
property the repair of these wadi!. And if houses were
let under all these difficulties the increased value when
the roasts were repaired would rehabilitate those gentle-
men in a short time. If any gentleman would propose
the larger scheme be would he happy to hold up both
hands for it; and, though they might suffer somewhat in
s the laying dawn the drains. it would not be to. dangerous
extent. Ile regretted that the lesser and more immediate
sH,erne emilel not be attempted.
I Mr. AYLESBURY sail the Park question ought to he
grappled with. If they were ti, spend elff,isei it would he
better to sle that, in enler to remedy it, than to lave Ruch
report.: es appeared in the i.sperr. Let them 40
seinothieg rasher than boll up that Mishear which other
waterine el vseg were too apt to maka the Most Of. The
town weal I he in pecket rather than have such reports
Mr. Wstaelt "That the Surveyor be itednicted
to prepare dam' awl specifications for tiacin4 in proper
repair the role and pathways of the Park, and that the
Team I btrt Iv 41411 F-tad to give the neresiary noticed to
thee , carry the .eon,, hit,' effect."
It was ask. .1 "Will Mr. Town Clerk give us bid word
th•,t delay .11,11 be e“: 11 ed y•
The Tows CLERK : No: it must depend upon the
hilEvoyor.
Mr. THOMAS decuided, and the motion was carried
unanimously.