The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-04-12 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

A meeting of the Town Council took plane on
Monday,when the following members were present:
—The Mayor; Aldermen Envoi% Coombs, and
Galpin ; Councillors Devenish, Davis, Bennett,
Andrews, Look, Hodges, Aldridge, end idasun.

TIM PROPOSED- CORN RICH•NOL
The Tows CLERK read the following report from
Ike Committee of General Purposes respecting the
erection of • new Corn Exchange :
" Report of the Committee forOwser.d Purposes to the
meeting of the Council on Monday, the 11th day of
April, 1864.
The Committee,in pursuanosof the resolution of the
last meeting of the Council, have gone into a considers.
tinn of the scheme propounded by Mr. Alderman Rumor,
for the erection of • new Corn Ischange at the beet
of the Townhall according to the plan submittcd by

him.
"Whilst fully sensible of the importance of the
improvement suggested it has not appeared to the
Committee that it would be generally satisfactory to
the corn meichants and others attending the markets
to be deprived altogether of the use of the presrnt
Enhance, or that it is generally understood that they
would be so deprived.
" It has appeared to the Committee most important to
preserve the .it. of the present Illobange for market
porpoise, if thought advisable,and on that account they
have resolved to recommend to the Council the appoint.
ment of a Special Committee to ascertain bow tar it is
practicable to obtain more spew for its enlargement,
and also to inquire into, and if necessary, inspect the
modern market buildings, so that in any enlargement
which may be made ben, every accommodation which
experience has suggested may be provided.
"It has not been overlookedby the Committeethat in
carrying out any such plan as that suggested by Mr.
&sir, an outlay of • considerable sum of moony will
be required, not only in the 'constriction of the pro.
weed new building Itself; but in the displaitemeste and
alteration. which would necessarily arise tberefrom ; And
It dues not appear to the Committee that at the present
moment the borough fund of the Council is equal to
meet such an outlay, though it may be aided to some
ranall extent by means of tines for the renewal of leases
01 corporate property On which laves have already
dropped.
" A suggestion has been made for the grant of • limas
of the site b-hind the Hall to • Corn Exchange Building
Company, but before that question could be entered
into it could be necessary to have a proposal on the
subject rubninted to the Council in • tangible form,
in order that it might be carefully considered in all its
important bearings."
Mr. Erma complained that a portion of the
report was not correct. He contended that the
merchants and millers generally attending the
market had expressed their satisfaction at the
prospect of obtaining • new Corn Exchange. He
also complained that only one reference had been
made to his propositions for raising the means for
the erection of the building. Hs suggested three
popositions. The first was that the Council should
grant • lease similar to the Wollaston Field lease
upon • ground rent, and that a company should be
formed for building the Exchange. The second
proposition was that the estimated cost of the
Exchange would only be £6OO, and he should be
prepared to get a tenant for the Exchange at
£4O a-year; but since the last committee meeting
he had received an application from
another pereon offering £6O. His third pro-
position was, that the Committee should not
touch the Corporate fuels at all, but that money
should be taken up; and be recommended that the
Council should keep the Exchange in their own
hands, for he believed it would pay them 10, 15, or
very likely 20 per Gaut. In this opinion he con-
sidered he was borne out by the new Corn Exchange
which bad been built at Oxford, and in support of
which he road the following extract :
"A year ago a new Corn Exchange, designed by Mr.
& Leckham, architect, of London end Oxford, and
built by Mr. Dover, of the latter place, was opened for
business and for accommodation. Light, ventilation,
and pound, are not surpassed by any similar building in
the kingdom. The , Corporation of Oxford provided
the aita as well as the budding, and leased the use of it
one day in the week for 31 years, at an annual rental of
£125 per annum to ths farmers and dealers who formed
a Limited Liability Company under the title of the
Oxford Corn Exchange Company, Limited. With a
view to enure the rent, they took powers to raise the
sum of £2500, in 500 shares of £5 each, and made one
call of fia pershare; and there is every reason to believe
that that will be the only call that will ever be made on
the shareholders. Mr. Joseph Plowman, secretary to
the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society and Oxford
Farmers' Club,was appointed manager of the company,
and he has so managed their affairs that the directors
have recommended the declaration of a dividend of 10
per cent, out of the first year's prolita, after having in. I
coned considerable expense in providing the necessary
books of the company, a ire-proof We for their sorority,
a clock for the Corn Exchange, and other items which
will not moor again but em meets of the company.
The disasters also roiamensnded the reduction in the
rent of corn-stands and desks from3guiaeastolguisese
per annum, sad the effect of this is that ton additional
stands are already applied for. The second year cow
seined on Saturday tut, when on the very Snider ten
new annual subscribers were enrolled, and 196 day
tickets were paid for at the door. The directors are
about to lot the walls of the Corn Exchange for
tising; and that additional source of income, as well as
the iseressad demand for yearly tickets and stands, hold
out every promise that the dividend next year will be
doubled. lb* attandanos of farmers and dealers ram,
from 450 to 500 every week, and the number is gradually
Increasing, Prievously to the opening of the Oars Ex-
change, the attendance at the corn market was aboutloo
a-vreek. As corn exchanges are springing up in nano
parts of the kingdom these facto may he useful and en-
eouraging •' and if others set about It with the NM
spirit and ability as the Oxfordshire farmers did, then
is no reason why they should not be equally samesefal.
Mr. Eamon continued, that if the Council could
obtain • site upon which an Exchange could be
erected, which would come within their means, be
would gladly second any with scheme. He was set
opposed to the adoption of the report, but only to
the claws which stated that the therthante were not
favourable to the SAM& RS maintained that they
were must desire= to have • place in which they
could transact their business without having to rash
into the streets. He would not move the adoption of
the report, but at the same time be would request
that till! Committee should at once ascertain what
SUSS could be chained, and if they weld summed In
obtaining oth that they should that employ ea
architect to ;alma some plan, and that the owe of
the building should be laid balers the Council at
their next eneting. Bid is the event of their failing
to do so be should preen bis motion to the mass el
Us. °aural.
Mr. Cowes thought that any ashen* which would
pleas the Cora Exchange out of the control of the
Council ought not to be entertained. Mr. Br ar's
plan was one that offered the beet entelitide for the
present Exchange at the lent expense, but there was
this difficulty. If the pa, was adopted, and the
market still continued to incireen, they cut away
the groomed for making any extra entioneds-
tion ior the public, and then the Council would
have to go and parches* other lead to carry
their market to He thought the bon course
to be pursued would be for the Committee to
endeavour to ascertain what other sites could
be found for the erection of a Corn Exchange, and
whet mesa could be raised for so doing. If the
question of expense moot stand before
then Mr. Knave's scheme had his approval;
was falt that the exigencies of the asse reciutel
further outlay, thee he thought the conunittee
look out • site suitable for that purpon. He
the present Exchange could Doe be mode
fur the requirements of tbe market, but was se
opinion that Mr. Ideeet's 'ohms was the beet OM
weld be had for the money. He moved that the
m be renived sad entered upon the minutia
report
FSOUD SOCOOded the propositioe.
Hr. ANDIUMS. after 'skimp this Council if they
understood whet they were doing in onanimauely
allowing the report of the Committee to be renived
and entered on the minutes, said be did Intell dank
it was advisable that they should let the control of
any bldirrw which was pi" up go out of their
bands, Mew parties might have views and
intermits which might be e.rely opposite to then
of the Column. For thine reasons be thought they
had better keep the building in their own hank&
He therefore proposed that the report be nat
resolved and entered on the saimitie In its present
sista
Mr. Gams, after • few preliminary observation%
mid that the attention et agrioalthriets having ,
rested spoil what they considered • better place for
business, and having had conversation with them
upon the matter, he thought it woad be a great
disappointment to them if the Osesmil were to pews
the othisel over ; and a hawed then to wen no
trouble or expense to seeemplish it in the meet
amanita and arestnal meomisr. Then was • peel
*eolith to Mx. kisses sceris•—thsh the amr