The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-07 00:00:00

tsbf rt.

SALISBURY.
THE NEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
On Wednesday last a public meeting, (convened by
the Mayor,) of the owners of property and ratepayers of
he city, was held in the Council Chaniber; for
the purpose of ascertaining the opinion or the
inhabitants on the proposed scheme adopted by the
Town .Conneil for the establishment of a grammar
school. For some time past, and indeed ever nines it
was known that the Town Council was about to
petition the Lords of the Treasury to sanction the
scheme, a very decided opinion in opposition to it has
been shown by a large number of the ratepayers, and a
few weeks past this opposition took a practical form in
the drawing up of a counter-memorial praying the
Lords Commieeoners of the Treasury to refuse their
consent to it. This , ouster-memorial, by permission of
the hfeyor, having be n placed In the COUTO il Chamber,
and also taken round the city, more than 600 signatures,
or nbout two-thirds of the ratepayers affixed their
names. The opposition having thus practically been
brought before the notice of the Mayor and Corporation,
a resolution was passed that a public meeting should be
°ailed in order to discuss the question, and to get the
sense of the inhabitants thereon ; but previous to the
meeting being hel,i a printed notice was issued request-
ing those who had signed the counter-memorial not to
attend, and the consequence was that out eta body of
nearly 1,000 ratepayers only about 150 were present,
and the meeting which was summoned for 32 o'clock
did not commence for a full half-hour after. The chair
was taken by the mayor (R. H. Rigden, Esq.), supported
by the ex-mayor (J. Waters, Esq ), Alderman Kelsey,
and several members of the Council. The Mayor
having read the notice convening the meeting, pro-
ceeded to give an outline of the various resolutions
passed at council meetings with regard to t e proposed
school, which he stated divided itself into two parts—
lot. The restoration of the Grammar School, and 2nd.
The seheme itself . It was, however, only with the first they
bad to do. The second was in the hands of the Charity
Trustees, with whom, he believed, they had every
reason for confidence. Fie then proceeded to atate that
so far batik as the year 1369 the Town Council of Salis-
bury undertook to provide a free grammar school for
the education of children of poor tradesmen of the city,
and that up to within a very recent period such school
had existed. The premises, however, were in such a
-state as that no master could live there, and therefore the
Charity Trustees were desirous of founding a school on
a new basis. The Town Council were therefore under a
pledge in this matter, and they now sought by the
disposal of a portion of the city property to establish
such school. The Mayor then referred to the opposition
to the measure, and after expressing a hope that the
discussion would be carried on calmly, and with good
temper, proceeded to read three letters' the first and
second from Alderman Hussey and Mr. Phillip Coburn,
in favour of the proposed scheme, and the third from
Mr. 'l'. J. Blake, in which that gentleman very strongly
condemned the delay in calling a public meeting, and
suggested that instead of dealing with the matter by
the selling of the city property, the better way would
be to found a grammar school either by shares or by
voluntary contributions. The Mayor concluded his
remarks by expressing a hope that the arguments
adduced in favour of the scheme would convince those
present that the Town Council were desirous to do all
they could for the welfare of the city, and invited free
discussion on the subject.
Mr. STYLE said he most willingly came forward to
take his share in the objects of the meeting, and he
believed when the ratepayers of Salisbury thoroughly
understood the scheme to which so much opposition was
now given, they would highly appreciate it. He then
pointed out that it was the bounden duty of the
Corporation to establish such a school for the children
of the poorer classes of tradesmen, and in accordance
with that belief he moved, "That it is the duty of the
Town Council to find and keep in repair a room for a
school-house at their own charges." This contract they
had entered into more than 300 yearn ago. They did
not undertake it for a limited period, and therefore
they could not shake off the responsibility. He then
noticed that as regarded education, Salisbury had gone
back, and that ignorance was the most ezpensive charge
upon their rates. It was true that much had been done
by the establishment of parochial schools in the city
for the poorer classes; but whilst this was the ease, but
little had been done for the middle classes, and the
consequence was that the children of their small trades-
men were in point of feet even not so well provided for
as the chindren of the workmen they employed. Many
small tradesmen were unable to give their children that
education thy ought to receive. Parochial schools
were all very well for them till the child became
nine or ten years of age; but then the parent
of such child would be glad to send him to
a better school but had not the means. By the pro-
posed scheme this would be provided for. Mr. Style,
after expressing his regret that the meeting had not
been called before, proceeded to point out some of the
many advantages children were deprived of by not
receiving a good edui.ation, as the civil service, and ap-
pointments in India, irm. Fie considered it was only
trifling with their feelings to object to spend about
£2,000 in building a school. The plan proposed was a
plan based on truth, in the interest of education, and of
right, and he begged of them not to throw it over.
The speaker then proceeded to remark on the money
part of the question, and after giving an outline of the
way the Town Council proposed to raise that sum' he
said that a rate of id. on the whole rateable property
of the city would meet the lit quirementii. This outlay
would soon be returned to theme, as nothing would tend
to reduce their rates so much as educating the people.
Mr. Style oonclithd his remarks, of which the above is
only a mere outline, with thansiug those present for
their patient hearing.
T. WATERS, Esq., (ex-Mayor,) seconded the resolu-
tion, and said be did BO from a conviction that it was in
accordance with the deed by which the school was first
established. He then expressed his regret that a
difference of opinion was entertained in this matter,
and said that it was with a view of hearing the opinions
of their opponents, so AS to bring about a feeling of
unanimity int this matter that he moved the resolution
for a public meeting to be held. The only object the
Town Council had in view was the welfare of the town,
and he was very sorry to End such extravagant state-
ments put forth as had lately appeared as to what they
were about to do. It appeared to him most strange for
any one to suppose that the Town Council would do
anything opposed to the interests of the ratepayers. He
was glad to see that the advice put forth in one of the
bills not to attend that meeting was not acted upon.
Certainly if it had it would have been anything but
courteous to their worthy Mayor and the Town Council.
As he had previously said, he considered the statements
put forth were very extravagant; but the general body
having no other premises to go upon came to an opinion
upon them. Now the reason he wished that meeting
to be called was, that an opportunity might be given to
the ratepayers to bear the other side of the question,
and thus be enabled to judge for themselves. Mr.
Waters then referred to the remark he made respecting
"pressure from without," and said that by that expres-
sion he did not mean anything offensive. His idea was,
when they elected persons to represent them in the
Council, if they bad not confidence in their wisdom and
in the uprightness of their conduct, the fair and
honourable way would be to turn them out. The Town
Council had given this subject a most attentive con-
sideration, and he was still of opinion that the decision
they had come to was the right one. He, therefore,
most cordially seconded the resolution.
The MAYOR having inquire I if there was any counter
proposition, Mr. GODDARD proposed that the memorial
, to the Lords of the Treasury for their sanction to the
scheme should not be presented. This was seconded,
and after a short delay
Mr. ATKINS said, that an his name Was attached to
the countereneinorial, he would like to state his reasons
for so doing. He wished the meeting to be called so
that they might be better able to understand the nature
of the scheme proposed. He quite agreed with Mr.
Style that a grammar school was required in Salisbury,
and that it was a fact that, as regarded education, they
were behind other cities and towns. He, therefore,
would give his hearty consent to the forrmatiou of a
grammar school; but he certainly had objections to the
scheme proposed, and these were divided into two
heads—lot, Financial, and 2nd, Ecclesiastical. Mr.
Atkins then referred to Mr. hiiddleton's statements
with regard to the financial part of the scheme,
and contended that that gentleman's opinion
was well worthy of consideration. He (Mr.
Atkins) did not, however, understand much about
alienation of property, and" terriers." That he must
leave to others, but it was the ecclesiastical part of the
scheme to whieh he chiefly objected. It was not up to
his mark. He certainly WAS for having as master
of the school a university man, but he went beyond
that. He wished the school to be founded upon a broad
liberal and catholic basis, and the religious training to
be founded on the Bible and the Bible alone. Though
he did not come forward as the representative of any
party ; butes A member of the noncomformist com-
munity he was fully aware that the opinions as he
expreieed wire stared in by thew.—(Mr. Atkins remarks
were loudly cheered.)
Mr. FISHER then mitered into an explanation of the
financial tart of the question. It was the intention of
the Council to sell the whole of their property—only so
much of the reversionary interest as would buy the Belle
Yee estate. . _ _

Mr. COATES also spoke in favour of the scheme, and
combatted the argument that by better nianagn went of
their property, they would get a £lOOO a-yenr instead
of £250. The property had been 1 an.ed out, and it
Would be years before those leases ran out. Almost
every one was in favour of a grant mar n.chool, bu t the objec-
tion was that the property of the ratepayers should
be used for this purpose. He did not see why it should
not. Mr. Coates then referred to the proposition of
a proprietary school, the otnjection to whieln he raid
was, that there was no certainty regarding such schools,
but a grammar school was a thing that would last.
A. proprietary school would not benefit smell trades-
men.
The MAYOR said that it WAS proposed to aporopriate
£1,600 for the purchase of the Bello Vile estate, and
the other 0,000 fur the erection of the hoe, sod no
part of the city pro; ern could be a dil without the
sanction of the ',oda of the Treason. He then
explained that tho reason why tine subj. ct was not
brought before a public moetieg before the memorial
tine
et hsechweamt:en, oitioa
rrrawraestihi
ea tatwbaerree
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as
it
rwriasch portTea,retiodnwatos
until he was waited on, and rn qii. stel to allow the
counter-memorial to be placed in the Council Chamber.
Two or three other parties then addressed the meeting,
and at the close the Mayor put the amendment and
the original motion, the latter of which was carried.
The other resolutions which were in favour of the
scheme were also carried.
A vote of thanks to the Mayor war then prop-Bed,
and carried amid acclamation.

BOROUGH Pgrrr SFASIONS, Monday, February 27.—
Before F. Attwood (chairmen) and T. W. Gilbert,
&qrs., William and John Beckenham, two boys, were
charged with stealing knives, value 155., the pro-
perty of Mr. Neesham. cutler, Market-place, and Hugh
Brine with receiving the same.—Emma Newham said
on Tuesday last, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, she
was in the shop when the younger prisoner came in and
asked the price of some knives, which were in the
window. He said they were for his mother. The other
prisoner remained outside. After he bad left she
missed the articles, and on the following evening they
came again, and having suspicion, she gave them in
charge.--Sergeant McGough said on Wednesday evening
last the prisoners were given into his custody, charged
with stealing knives. They said they had them from