The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-08-22 00:00:00

DORCIIHMTER TOWN COUNCIL.

BEUGAILS. KKAP At:MM.—Piton/MTh AND PKOTEAT,L
A special meeting of the Town Council was 1161
on Thursday last at the somewhat unusual hour of
four o'clock ; and there were present —the Mayor (Mr.
A. Finson), Alderman Galpin, Councillors ][o4lepl,
Burnett, Devenisk, Gregory, Burdett, F. Lock, V.
Slade, T. Bennett, and Mr. H. Symonds (acting
Town Clerk).
MIL G. AMMO:WM.4 APPLICATION.
A letter was read from Mr. G. A. Andrews asking
for a distinct answer to his offer to rent the northern
portion of Beggars' Knap at a rental of 1:10 per
annum. It will be remembered that at the last meet.
ing the 110uncil decided to acknowledge the receipt of
Mr. Andrews's letter, and at the same time passed a
resolution that they considered their own 'mussed
more beneficial in a pecuniary point of view than that
pointed out in Mr. Andrews, s letter. This acknow-
ledgement it seemed Mr. Andrews did not consider a
definite answer.
The MAYOR thought the conclusion to which the
Council had arrived was sufficient to show Mr.
Andrews that in plain language his proposal had been
declined. He appeared, however, to want "Ye.." or
"No."
And that in the way to answer a letter, Bahl Mr.
GREGOUT.
A reply had been cent, the MAYOR returned, in
accordance with the rcsolution of the Council.
And that was sufficient, wasn't it, Mr. SLADE
wanted to know.
Sufficient for ordinary men, said the Mxvou, butlif
they had an extraordinary one to deal with. why.
Perhaps, it would be nexesxary to say "we decline it.
Which would Lice been the better way, Mr.
GREGORY continued to affirm.
The :Hatton remarked the offer had never been
entertained.

Ile was quite right theae, Mr. Ifol.GrA said, but
that was no reason why it never should he.
Mr. BENNETT remarked all this was a waste of time.
In order to pave the way for them to go on with the
work n the agenda paper, Mr. Brvirrr proposed
that a reply be sent to the effect that the Council
begged to thank Mr. Andrews for his letter ..1 the
2:lnl of June, hut as they felt it their duty to consult
the interests of the ratepayers, whom they repre-
sented, they begged te decline the offer therein
containe.h

Ilus was seconded by Mr. SLADE.
Mr. llor)Gva sarcastically suggested to Mr. Burnett
that be should enlarge upon laix resoluti 111 l , awl state
what advantages the interests of the nkterayers would
derive.

o which Mr. ItunNErr replied that remained to 1.0
ROM (" Hear, hear," from Mr. (regory.)
Would he move an amendment, the MAlolt
Certainly it, Mr. lloilllFSS said; he didn't want to
,leer all the ground again.
And Mr. BENNrrr expressed a hope he wouldat
The motion wee then lit awl carried, Mr. Iludgial
and Mr. I iregory voting against it.

REPORT oV THE t;ZNERAL I'IMPUNES

..
This report was read as follows : The next 1111.iiiCI. tO 10e elm.iderra was the answer
" Your i*. 0000 inittee, in scconlance with a resolution of to be returned to their Lordship: in reply to their
the Council pasmal at their last meeting. have taken into
e ''''''''''' ' Ishilticifliem.lw. knowledgiumit and its receipt, which
consideration the lin:pos:11 of the Northern portion of the
Beggar's Knit', site into lots for Wilding l.url.ulus and
had Ikvii sent, wad not considered by Alderman
now beg to lay before the Council for their approval and
adoption the accompanying 1.611 for the arrangement of l :aims sufficient. If it was the intention of the
the land in question, which lIIIA been Prepared by the Council to carry out a Out differing from their
Borough Surveyor, under your committee's instruction. -- recommendations, then he thoiefht they were bound
As will be seen by such plan, a footpath of uniform width in courtesy to point out the difference between their
of lift. is pro ,
and to
i,et
leiwnadee:althe olig the a
he NortniTr" bl. in_.rhdut Lordships' prop-whiting
and what they themselves
of the lan
might consider to he best for the interests of the
town. With that object he endeavoured to frame
Surveyor has also been instructed to remove so much of
the ridge of soil forming the westeni end of the proposed
building site, as will procure a width of 3&t.--your *northing which ho thought ought in some measure
Committee, have given the necessary instructions to the to be mb qited, giving a distinct answer and setting
Surveyor, respecting the entrance gate, and line of the forth their own reasons and where they differed from
new fair fleld.—Directions have also been given for the I thein. In doing no he was only desirous of doing
what he believed to be right, and as some explanation
formation of a path, along the eastern side of such field
between the trees and the boundary wall, for the
if those differences of opinion which had been pushed
accommodation of foot passengers, and of this your
Cemmitte, trust the Council will approve. so far that a gentleman had been sent down from

London to decide between them. He proposed
'That this Council, having carefully considered
the reply of the Lords of lier Majesty's Treasury to
heir memorial for leave to lease the northern portion
r,f Ilevars Knap for boilding purposes, and also Mr.
Chitton's report acrximpanying it, again repeat that
in proisming to appropriate the whole of such
portion for building they have been influenced solely
by a desire to promote the hest interests of the
inhabitants financially and otherwise, and that while
sympathising with the opinions of many, and ale°
ith euggestions of their Lordships for retaining the
trees on the lots other than those on Nos. 1 and 2,
they concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. Cluttnn
in his report that it should not be allowed to interfere
with the profitable disposal of the land, and consular
that any restrictions on any leas( e crainst such removal,
If he should deem it for the advantageous use of the
land, would amount practically to a prohibition
against any whatever, and prevent the
beneficial result which Mr. Chalon is of opinion the
Council's 'proposal would secure to the borough; and,
further, that this Council is of opinion that the
prohibition intimated against leasing Lot 2 is alto-
gether onneces,otry and inexpedient, as the Council
desire to maintain the avenue of trees on the
Weymouth-road, and while accepting their Lordships'
decision as to Lot 1, this Council desire respectfully
to ask from them a considerrtion of the question as
regarrbi hot 2."
Mr. Davextrot seconded the resolution with much

pleasure.
To Mr. CREGORT it seemed Mr. (lapin not only
wanted to mat down the trees on 19 lots, but also thee@
on 1 and 2.
The ALDERMAN said he would not reply to personal
observatiom. lie would reply to his worship that
they did not propose to interfere with the limes.
Neither, Mr. Beam Err nor Mr. F. Lock COMM see
the necessity of sending the reply. They thought a
correspondence might arise which would take up a
long tune.
It was simply to show their lordships why they
could not accede to their suggestions Alderman GALTIN
had in view.
, Mr. StAnt: expressed his opinion that it was a very
rood resolution.
The hIATOR would also support it for he thought it
very important. lie would ben., glad to see the trees
stand as anyone, but they were of very little use for
they gave neither shelter nor shade. He WU not at
all satisfied with the simple acknowledgment, which
was carried the other day.
Ile would not waste their time Mr. GRIGORT said,
by proposing an amendment, for it would not be
earned, but he could not help thinking there was on
the part ef certain members of the Council, a fived
determination to destroy the trees against all the
remonstrances, the entreaties, and the wishes of nine-
tenths of the inhabitants.
Mr. HODGES WOlll4 quite admit that the resolution
was consistent with what had been done before, but as
he, like Mr. Gregory. was for the retention of the
trees be of course could not vote for it.
The resolution wa, then put and carried, Mr.
Ho ' dges Mr. Gregory, and Mr. F. Lock again repre-
senting the minority.
There was then a di.pute as to whether the Lords of
the Treasury should ot should not be favoured with
the—to them no doubt highly interesting --information
m to who voted for, and who voted against the
resolution, which came to nothing, and the Council
shortly after rose.