The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-05-06 00:00:00

THE TOWN COMMON.

A LIVELY /ABATING.

A public meeting was held at the Wo.king Men's
Club on Monday evening to take into consideration
what nouns to adopt in order t assert n claim and
right to the land, known by the Borough Records
as Meloombe Regis Common, under an order of the
House of Comm 'cm granted April nitl, 1653, when
they appointed Dannis B 'ad, J. Brown, J.
Trencherd, Fops., and Colonel W. Sydenhato,
members for the borough, as Undoes for the common
for the town, so that the rights on I interests of We
inhabitents should be secured, on account of pertien at
that time ettempting to dep•ive the people of their
right in the mold common; also to choose committee
of ratepayers to examine int . the unsatisfactory state
of the borough lessee and town property in general.
There wee. large attendance.
Mr. WALLIS eat.] 'hie we. him first appeerence in
public since his domestic calamity. 'I this meeting
would have been called long In f .re bad it nut been
for that. Toe Ileyor and Corporalon ha I been
approached in this matter by Mr. Mudge in a most
manly way, and invited to attond this meeting, fie
was very glad to find they had woe alderman there—
Mr. Alderman Thome.. He we.. gentlemen who
would always look after the Internet% of the public.
As they desired this meeting to be for the
good and benefit ..1 the town, it behoved every
man who bed an interest in the we 11.,.
of the town to be present. When Mr. Mudge wrote
to the oop wallop, he distal by the public papers
there 11411 only one gentleman in ths C mnoil who
responded to it, end that was Mr. 0 artis—(applause)—
and as he was manly enough to open his mouth in
that c amorete hodn be had very greet pleasure
in calling upon Mr. Curti,. Ii take the °hair. (Loud
applause.)
Kr. Coins said he thanked Vona 'sty much for
the honour they had conferred upon him in asking
biro to take the chair. He took a greet interest in
this question, but he should he very much obliged if
they wool I call up's. Mr. Brown or Mr. Aldermen
Thome. to take the chair, who knew more about the
que!tion than he did.

II" I° 1643' nn"rue Sir Frederic Johnstone had
nut diluted the pithiU yet, but alter
• certain ouobr of pant be wuuld be
able to s .ap hii Miters at them. and turn them out.
He wool I a w ito iato it, and first be would
edl their nit •ution to • atationent lo tha B..rough
Betio cif, obich eh iwed that in 1775 • pjaosl 'owl
on lb. was leased to Miss B. Thorns (u 9
y•ai a. i hat would moan fall in.
Aideiman Ttliatts salt that wag York-buildings.
It had fallen in, but bad been re-leased.
Mr. W•tua .ma that lease was .old (or 000 by the
Co. parstio to Mr. Barlin.t. of Both, and it bad been
onder-1-..1 by hint to Mr. Far well for POO. Toot
w. • go id profit.
Mr. MUDGE said that was another lostarios of the
Corporation allowing leases to slip tbrouih thnir
hands. _ _

The Caelailas asked Mr. Mudit• to canine him-
self to the fact., then they might put it together in •
Lueineso-like way.
Mr. Cummins said he did not wieh to interfere with
Mr. Mudge, who had interested himself itt • good
w.irk, but he had brought forward a lot of leases of •hich
the L r I. Commimionere of Her Mejestyis Treasury
had moot' ined the renewal. At present they were
going let' • lit of old documents whizli =mat
ithlng, and did not give thorn the slighted idea
of what was being done is recent days II
‘lt. Mudge came to hie Aix, be would Mow him
thot a lot of them leases had been renewed by con-
sent of the Lords C misdonom With respect to that
piece of laul deecribed as the .4d timber pound
(where the sat -r originally fl tired). by the old Perk
H ,tel, there La i been dicumions from time to time
auto whether Sir Fredetic Jobmtinie had a right to
it. He knew nothiug giving him any edam to it, and
he bad heard that the late Mr. James Flower, who
took on iatermt in Corporation matter", reelected any
attempt ti putting feiming around that portion of the
property. Mr. Thomas could tell them more nbout
that thao he could. With reference to their Common
tight. he thought they would fini their Common
rights bad been s .I.i by meta. He thug t they
ought, one and Ali to try and find some informs ion
about it. He would do his beet, and give them any
info,mation he could. (Applause.)
Mr. Wattile asked if he could give him any infore
motion when an Act of Parliament was passed
sanctioning the sale of the land.
Mr. tIMAILIM mil it maid u it be done but by the
0.30•411 L of tire brie C unnilseionere of the Treactity.
Mr. Nroong odic incisors opiiii in ha I been token
on the eubject, and It was th•t if no special Act of
Perliament had been obtained they bed their C ,mmon
rights there.
Mr. CHAIM= asked if anyone in that room Wl• in
• position to prove that the Internet' of the Commoner*
had not been bought.
Mr. Wattle asked how it wait the Records f the
Borough did not alma. it. (Applause.) They had
been plundered, and be could point his finger where
the Corporation had stolen atom the town. (Ap-
plause.)
Mr. MMus finished his speech by referring to •
little bit of Cui potation property in Silver-street., now
in poesemiou of the Mayor. who held the le/AM, which
fell in, he believed, that year.
Alderman Tionia, in answer to • Jail from the
Caelitigme, sail with regard to that property on 'chi
Bt. John's4erram and Grange-road wore built, when
Mr. Flower was Mayor of the borough, the Park was
• waste. He remembered seeing Nir. Flower bringing
• piety of men to knock down a Is ce which had been
erected by Mr. Walsworth. That was all he knew
about it, but he had brought the matter on several
°caesium before the Town C Amid. (Applause.) lie
had new men any record, and did not know If any
exietei ; but he hied • recollection that some arraage•
meet was made when land was taken for the present
bridge being built, and there was some exchange of
land for rime few feet et ground in front of Johnstone-
row. He -lid not believe the Johnst me estate had
any claim ti the property. (Applause.)
The Mayor then entered the room, ani was greeted
with applause. The Chairman offered to vacate the
chair In hie layout-, hut the Mayor declined.
Mr. WALLIS t•eit ad.lroootol the meeting. He
would aity • few word, about the Chapelbay inipmve.
meat. That was going to cost them a great deal more
than they expected.
The CHAIRMAN said he thought it would be much
better if Mr. Wallis kept to the matter before the
meeting.
Mr. Weida, a-intim:tint, said when the Clispolhay
improvement was finished it would be an improve.
ment. lie sbcold like it, se* another imptuvement in
one of the approaches to it-dwell. In Govedmie
there was a piece of property which belonged to tbe
Mayor, but instead of planting myrtle or jmaamine
there he had allowed two clothes propel t be erected
there--(laughter) —and on which were hung shirt. and
other linen. (Renewed laughter.) it. thanked Mr.
Mudge for the manly way in which he brought the sub-
ject of this meeting before the Mayor and Corporation
As far as Greenhill was concerned, It we. always •
place used as a common executi .ti ground, and they
had had aright to that ground fir yenta. but now they
found that groan-I had been railed in by the repro-
mutative" of Sir Freleric Johnston.. With regard to
the common that extended over the D ,rcheeter-road
on both sides, but priocipally on the east side. mil to
the Preston-road, end he found that the lady who con-
tested the rights of this common laud advised her eon.
Is-law to re.inqaish the claim towards it. Mr. Wallis
then traced the history of the common in the same
manner m Mr. Madge, and pointed out that if they
could get back this comic oi it would go far
toward. lessening the rates and taxes which
were crippling the tow.. (Applause.) lie ureed
them to do their best to get back the come
mon to the town. It behoved every man to pat his
shoulder fr the wheel, and do his beet to regain it,
and he b6lieved no one was more desirous of doing
this than their present Mayor. (Applaueed With
retard to the Park &tate. ta Johnotone Rotate had
not the slightest claim to it. Toe question was—what
were the hest means to recover this property ? With
regard t Greenhill. be should say—Go and pull down
the Nom.
:T.he. CHAIRMAN We cannot advise that.
_

Mr. Waute said he had been deputed to ask Mr.
Curtis to take the chair. (Applause.)
Mr. Coatis said it seemed to be their wish that be
should take the ch or, and therefore he bowed to their
wish, but at the name time he had to acknowledim the
matters they had before them were not a o well known
to him as they shoul I be, but there was no one more
anxious than he that the rights of the property of
that town should be secured to the inhabitants of the
town. (Applause.) Having ma lithe., few remarks
he would tall up us Mr. Ms Igo to give them th se
particulars which be had so ably c 'netted. (Ap-
plause.)
Mr. M moot, who was greeted with applause, said
it was a little more than 12 months ago they met with
reference to the charities of the town, and the result
01 their labours in that matter thty were now waiting
anxiously—the report of the Charity Commissioners,
' It appeared the Charity Commissioners took a long
I time to do • very little work. The basis of the
' charities was identical with the basis of the borough
property, and there was very little dlference between
I that and the matter they were met to consider.
'1 The property at prompt In the hands of the town
wee not one quarter @officio, t for Ike neoeseary
expenditure. Pis found that the property they bad
a right to, but which they had not got, would go a
long way towards lessening the rates. If they had
this Common Land they wool-.l only require a very
small Local Board Rate. He would first go Intl the
Common Lead, which every one had a right to The
second part would be the town property which hod
not been leased, but alienated from them by some
means; and thirdly, he should take the leases of the
borough, which were in • very had condition. and be
thought it would want • severe remedy to make them
right. Reading extracts from the Borough it c
and the will of Itlthar,l Scovell, who was
' Town Clerk of the Swoosh. 1644-72, Mr. Niudze
stated that the common land consisted of land now
known as the loorcbester-road. It was common land
which had been known from 1210, when it was in the
possession of the monks of Cern*, and he found it
always belonged to the town of Weymouth. But be
found that there were then, as well se now, land
grabbers. They were no more particular them than
hey were now. (Laughter.) But they had then men
who looked out for the rights and interest, of the
people. ( Ipplatme.) Hs tion•l !het one. Lady Mary
Hastings, laid claim to the o ohe tbuei. Common,
and that the Corporatioo readatcd it. Lady Mary
Hastings, when on her death bed, advised her son to
glee op litigation, and a committee was then
appointed to examine lot, the matter. After • time
they wane i the common rights, and in order that these
rights should be properly secured to the p.yple,
trusteed It to their He tbiniAt
of Ohs common ought t the r.,
hut it atopeare.l one of their M. I 's - • Air
Frederic Johnstone—was the true, e of the
lot for himself. Why should they, having • cola.
mon right in this land allow one lodiviiinal to tall*
all the rents and profile, ant live in luxury whilst
they lived on dry bread. (At-planar.) Thsy would
go and claim their rights to this CAllttlon into the
Home of Commons, and no ORM would soy nay to
them. (Animus.) Lot them insist two,, their rights
4eleg restored, and no longer held from th. on. If Sir
Frederic Johnston., who was the holder r I hie hied,
lual a right and title to it let him show it. l's pplarmed
When the Government took the commoo I nde in
Portland they bought n ,t the rights and interests of
the CM1(00120,S. If Sir rt. 10140 Johnstone heal a right
to hold this land to himself, ought he not to have done
the same, or hls for fathers? But they ,0,1 I hod no
trace of such having been done. Only 99 yearn ago
they found that the Lord of the Manor id It clip de
roadie escroachments upon this property', and the
C rporation ordered it to be SlSlStini. If this bad been
privsite property the corporation wild have had
nothing to do wish It. If an Act of Parliament had
been obtained (and this land could only be t•atuferred
by Act of Parliament) t deprive them of their rights,
it must have been obtained long since then. Ile
thought they ought to stir and see their richte were
secured Tinder the order of the House ot iromeee,
dated 1622. (Applause ) • They °tight n t to rest
quiet until all the town property was ee. r .I.t. He
was not one to be beaten down, and he ho orl he had
the Boirsh spirit in him, never to know when he was
beaten, (Loud eppleose.) With regani to the pro.
Piety not hissed, but alienated from the borough, the
iret be should bring to their notice warn the land cm
which was now built st. John's-term*. (Applause.)
There were those who remembered when water used
to low, and yachts used to "lay up" there. This
properly wee net leased. but taken posses ion of by
the Jot... Moue Estate. They mond not lay any blame
to Sir Frederic Jobeetone. Weems. this IF&S done
before be knew anything about it, therefore they
I would not lay anything) to his *barge. But if they
found him in illegal possession ninny property of that
town it wee Muir duty to see it was brought back for
the rights and interests of this town. (A2lnatteed It
was Mete duty to is. if the Johnston* Estate had a
' right sod title to this property, and if not to bring it
back to the town. There were people living Is this
temp who remembered when it was patine property.
They all knew when water Sowed it beloosred to the
town. Then there was another' Oess of property just
opposite this, which Si, Frederk Johestooe had now
enclosed—that was Greenhill Gardena There were
mislay present who knew that was never enclosed
until a few years ago. Si:Frederic Johnstone had no
right to melon this, fee he found that this land was
IA to Mr, %motley fee 2a Per manna by the OwPwae

ICJ Frelric Johnstone
had • right and tole to his property let him show his
documents. (Applause) A. laz so tha Irate. wen eon.
(tenni. ha found that Sir William Palteney grant. it,
o irporation for 500 yews a lease of land extendong from
the King's Stotts. to Ito, Bath.. op, n the condition that
no buildings were to he erected on it. H. should like to
ask if that lease had teen avended 101 With regard to
the Baths. he wanted to know why the right of way,
which had always been permitted through the Baths had
atoPPel. ant they had not t or regular right!
(Loud applause.) He els, wanted to know how it was Vile
almatiouetse had been diched away from Its poor
(Applause.)
A Voir,: They are doing worse things now.
The : Lot sa—
lt, Mathis : You hold your tongue. ((slushier) You
shall have your oar p aad by.. Go bout. and how.. your
supper. (Renewed laughter.) We have hat to pay ten
shfilinge for the room. I want to have a right understan ir
ing why the Bathe hare been let to the Mayor by Sir
Frederic Johnstone, who bade mu by them Ins way which
no man knoweth. (LaustA tr.) Now, Mr. Mari, you know
more about this matter lb in I do, therefore you can glee
us snore xPlanstion &butt it. (Applanor.)
The Cllalltata asked the Mayor if he would like to
address the meeting in any way I
Toe Karma: Precintly.
Voices: Now, now.
The MATO. said as it appeared to be their with to hear
hial 'peat, he should bo wantlng in his duty
if be remained silent. In the !bet place he thanked Mr.
Mudge, and those with hem for the way in watch h• had
brought this subject forwar 1. H. thought thy deserved
their commendation. The Mayor then went en to meek
of Vie charity queation, and said that b• thought it would
have been much better if they had postponed this
meeting until they bad received the report 01 10. Charity
Cimmiesiosers, but he hoped this meeting would time
the commissioner to rend down hie report. As regards
the Baths. he ehould be most pleased to give them any
information about them Some heaths were down on the
Q lay, and they wets taken •here they now were. The
top part of the building was used as a Mechanic,'
Institute, and a Mr. Bugling l.as.i it He (the May, r)
took off the lea, in consequence of his leaving. Ile
could not see that his holding the trews was in any way
antragootetic to this meeting. A. 10th. common lands, it
was thrir duty to as. to it, but be mart Jima to bra, in
mind that it was not the present occupier, or owners who
were to Manse, but their ancestors.
Mr. WiLLtli asked Um Mayor if he c mid sir. In any
information in railaat ti the Alteahousea Coull h. give
him any information .by the passage through the Baths
Wa shut to lb. m
. .

eladd he bad taken the law from M.
Bd'lniti but he did not know .nytiiinit st,nit enytbinit
el•IL
_

--
Mr. C. If tans aabl ho eou .1 colt their Mt ntiun to aa
obstruction too My r had in Weymouth. When
he t elk that team of 'Fisumas Darling. the John.tune set 44
got it f • him cm the unieret mding to doe. should be
closed and the puhlic denial the rirht of way which they
had had from "time itninemorial." If that war not so,
he want.d to bow why he had clowd the doors sod
deprived the public f their right of way 1
The MAYOR said there were two outdde doors, and
these were shut soot iitsin hour. If there woo • right
of ie.,' he should bo very rlemerel to go Into the molter'
,
ha was not *ware thee.. w • rigrbt of way there. He bad
dune no•loin gI.. dorlee Lb. goalorc of their right of war.
Mr. Htites mild he won in the Town Council when S r
Festiva J 4.0.1000 aiike4 to put railing. round
Grosobill, awl he enterer they gore him was—" We orri•l
slow roa so put • reilioc. but n..t roe the debt
of way." Bat rah t had he done) He had drat
ph up • her ti.r 'nth which p.ople cools( squeeze
nest he put ups gen. and then • lock, and soot they
would ha locked no; altogether. Teese were two of the
great .t eac.oschmente be hod known of—three two
ri h.. of wey. not they t.l been d. no be Sir Frederic
'11.4 h. and 11•. II iward. (Applituee ) The extravert.
once of the Town C 'until duetne the loot fnisr or flee
y•••ra was diet/ea-40. Terming we e riven fr.m ho.'.,
sod those who had manes .1 to get t..gether • Hills
PrOPeitr wen. slit rine, sod throos,h wtat
" perpetual or,. rit••••taree. •)
The 1311.111.11 an tte report of 41. Cr vity C
sos stone,. 00-ild not tooth the intim trie,tion bet, re
them thel night They would beet no.hin4 *Oh re.p:at
Ora= land and property which was not coo'
meted with charities. The C .rporat'on were the trustees
and suerdians of the public property, and be thought
May should In the nio.t m. t oodles!, bmioesitlike, and
extmostive at inner ascertein when, Male property had
in , and If it wizs recovereble it was the bounion duty
of the Corporation to recover it (Loud applause)
The following reaolutione were mimed, and the meeting
tornaleat.d.—" That • petition he got op, signed by the
Mayor not Corporaticu mid the inhabitante geoeraliy, to
the Haus, f COMIOOII% praying the House to call upon
Sr Pretoria Johnetene t I show why ho took and
received the rents, is.e.a, sod profit., of the Corecnon
I,tnd. in Cent ev,ntion co, toe • nor of the Hope. In
Ma, when they were • Trn.t in the common rights of
toe town.' "A?., to rho m • number of ratepayers to
form • c.iinni ten ti vii.rk in connection with the
Council in this matter."

eorresponatnct.
To tk. Amor.
Sir,—My attention wee called to a letter to your
paper this in3rning signed "Hopeful," respecting
oboap trains to Wetm,dath. Hs speaks of shilling
fares for one dsy and to has, 100 rwles for his money.
Cheap that. %Ve think it cheap to get a run and
back to Br ght m for 4.. during the summer; but
what I thiok would he • grader boon td Weymouth
would be gising L mdon folk the option of returning
by any train. We do not grumble &heat the fares—
soma its, or 124 —but think of the Cm., ; some may
want It, but others do not. We mast leave London
say fietordsy morning, but there'. n returning before
the llond•y wssk —Len day.. Many of na can spare
three or four .13yr, en I would like to come down, but
the thus is kil,ing. we can't spars it.
I don't think Wsymo•ith people would get much
out of your shilling visitors,—l am, sir, your'',
A.B.C.
London, April 28.

PORTLAND. THZ LATE MR. H. SCHBEIBLA
NATAL—On Tuesday morning H.M.S. Hercule', Kr. J. B. Lan:down. who. on behalf of the Postal dei-
gn trdtibip in the Itoad., l. ft for Portstuouth for her PloYes of Loadon and tb• rovisces, lately forw.rded a
o be placed on Lb. coffin of the late Kr Schrether
.
Inaanuala.. 'sat' bkw la ex Ptctild be away abwwt al"Lfiiiibtotrit. be. received from A. &Met C insul at Liabon •
I.itA, In eateh he debit—' I hay, much pl.a.ure
A asiv.t. or CON VICT4. —OO Thurelay
6 6m611 ga"li aegaaint,l2B lOU thst the haautiful wreath, Nat be the
id con•tcts a:mad ha the Wand, and Won odneedalf letter carrier., we ro°'fres the C Isom Witise
26 c.n•ic s arri•rd fr..m Por..m uth. yeoterday alteroooo (April 19.11), in an ad... Table .t .t. of
Naw Goes/Leon AT THE —On Tuewley the priver.atlon, and bee b.en Weed 111.
.day on the
muieweit)TNlPVliVaHl Esti'dt'llfroishm. St,c.,britaib,:rT.:oApel.
pos.:L.lu.
chapla nat LiOnn, w!,o 41.:—" The body will prohabir
144,111'111 Prte.n, near Ch•thaot. b. ••irt nb nod slip for ft al.nd to-morrow (Apr!
Tiot EOCLIAIMITICAL ENcrlNT.—Tbe onaulry int I Additional eubsortptions hay. boa thrwarded to if,.
various charge. preferred by the p .riehioners of 81. Laaviaa from a number of large town% with the
John's against the Incumbent R iv. 'T. A. (Ittley, request that another wreath oz., be in readinses to be
was resumed at the Christ Church Achoolrooat, Wei- pieced on Kr. Ittedirellwir's coffin when it reaches Otis
mouth, on Tuesday and We Itie.day, when it was v -
farther adjourned until the 1911. inst. The inquiry,
ae on the pr occardoo. was goile private.
Ten SOLDfs Ea' INSTITUT& —Another of the popular
Unwed& for which this in.titate I. getting famous
will take place this (Thursday) events, under the
management of Kr. ht. Clair. Colonel E. A. Carey,
of the Che.hire Regimes., will r.sids
Filit AT EASTOIII.—Ou Wednesday livening. shortly
after eight, it n.e discovers I that • lire had broken
out on the branch I mnis....l \lr. If. Rudest!, draper,
at Easton, which was managed by sir. Andr.ws.
The fire wee dimootowel alloniet immediately after it
bed broken out. and. cocheneen.ly, with a number of
willing help.r. the fir* w.• woo eatinguirhed, but not
bef.ire some amount of damage was committed. The
origin of the lire is supposed to be a detect...a flue.

imultn.