The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-07-04 00:00:00

DORSET MIDSUMMER SRSSIONS.

The Quarter Sessions for the County of Dorset
were commenced on Tuesday lag, when the civil business
was transacted in the Grand Jury chamber, the following
magistrates being present :
The Right Nom LORD
Mr. John Ftorsa, M.P., Deputy Chairman.

Hon. E. Ashley. M.P.
Sir W. C. Medlycott, Bart.,
Colonel Astell
Colonel Bingham
Mr. J. E. Bridge
Mr. A. W. Banker
Rev. W. J. Goodden
Mr. C. Sullen
Mr. G. H. Bond
Mr. J. Batten
Captain J. Mount Batten
Mr. J. H. Calcraft
Mr. 0. 0. Churchill
Rev. C. J. Glyn
Mr. J. R. Cox
Mr. G. D. W. Dishy
Mr. W. H. Evans
Mr. H. Frampton
Mr. A. Foster.
Rev. J. H. Austen
Mr. J. J. Farquharson
Mr. J. F. Feininger.

Earl oillc-hester
Hon. E. H. T. Digby, M.P.
Mr. H. C. Goodden
Mr. J. P. F. Gundry
Rev. C. W. Bingham
Mr. J. R. P. Goodden
Mr. C. S. Glyn
Mr. J. W. B. Hawkesworth
Mr. K L Kinderidey
Mr. B. Littlnhales
Mr. J. M. P. Montagu
Captain A. E. Mansel
Mr. C. J. Parke
Mr. E. Pearce
Mr. M.
Mr. R. (1/1. reititeward
Mr. J. B. T. Tatchell-Bullen
Mr. H. Williams
Mr. E. W. 'Witham'
Mr. K A. Wood
Mr. G. Warry
Mr. R. Williams, jun.
Rev. G. V. Garland

--
The Marl 01 Ilehester and the Hon. E. 11. T. Digby,
qualified at these Sessions as Magistrates.

PlU110!t itArowr.

Mr. H. W. Wl LLIAM.S—;;;;;a thisr;ort
The prioon was inspected and found all correct. No mm-
plaints. The accounts of last quarter were examined and found
correct The following tender for the ensuing six months
were opened and accepted : —Heyward for meat—Necks and
ohms of beef, it ; balcbrans and butts, ad; beef suet. Sid
Holland and Hayman for ran—Best house coal, £1 8s ; good
Bedrock, 18s 7d. Hurdle for cheese—Per ton, LI 14a. knew
for groceries Oatmeal, ItsEcescitirt. ; meal, 18. pp.
cwt.: Scotch barley, 44s ; ; soap, LI fis ; melt, Is
ad9d ;
split peas, 7s per bushel: pepper, 181 per lb. ; starch,
4d. ; bre, 104 Criminals lee custody—Males, 09; females, 0
—total, 00. In the InArmaries—lfales, 2 ; females. 12.
On tail for trial at Serious—ln custody for trial at summer
mein.— Kahn, ; females, 1, nor on ball for trial at the
samisen Number of prisoner committed this quarter. 149 •
same quarter lest year, 110. (screwed of committed. thli
quarters, 39. Disbursements this quarter. £770 18s 2d ; run
quarter last year, £7Ol Os 4.1 ; Maras of disbursements this
wrier, 1.119 184 10d—total maintenance coat per heed this
quarter, 10.81.1, last quarter, Se 61.1 ; increase of maintranoe
cost per bead per week Ws quarter, 11 3.1. £I7 13s only has
been received this quarter for tits maintenance of navel
prisoners, as against £4O 10s for same quarter last year.
00YO1elliler PILIS01!5 FILL
_

The CHAIRMAN said if the Court desired to know his
opinion be would state it—farmlands.) The cast to the
county of Dorset during 1875 for the Prison was about
£2,498, the average for the last 7 or 8 was about £2,000 •
year; but crime seemed to be diminishing in the country
and they might expect not to have to spend such a large
sum in future years--suppoeng it were Auk they would
have to spend pm the prisons. The bill assumed
the value of a al in the prison as 1:120, and at that
rate their capital in the prison would be rather over
1:20,000. The proposal was to take away that
capital, and if the prison costs n,5010 a year and the,
Government took upon themselves that cart it would be
giving them something like 101 per cent for their money.
It would do the county no harm for their Government to
take that capital and give them 10i per mit The present
charge upon the county rates for the expenditure was as
nearly as possible fin the A and that they should save.
But all pensions chargeable on the county rate the county
would have to pay, so that if their excellent Governor
thought proper to retire after one years' more service, he
'meta get the pension for one year's service from the
Government, and for 19 years' service from the county,
and that must be deducted from this 10 per cent The
arrangement would be probably satisfactory in a money
point of view; but he did not know whether it would be
satisfactory to the magistrates that the visiting justices
should cease to be the authority in all gaol matters. As
an old man, he was attached to local government,
believed it to be the thing of all others—tedrea
• young man he was advised to give his attention to local
government, that would enable a man when be took his
place in the House of Commons, to be some authority, as
their friend on the right (Mr. Floyer) was-4Pplans4
The ratepayers might say they did not care about local
government; they cared for three farthings in the A and
If so, be had little doubt the Parliament would take the
ratepayers' view of the question. But he warned those
people who agitated for the diminution of local taxation
that they could scarcely get it without losing local
goverment.
Mr. FLOTZI did not look upon the matter simply as •
financial question; the question was—is local manage-
s° far set aside bythe bill as to make it desirable that it
should not receive cordial and unanimous support
He must say that his own impression when the bill was
brought in and read, was that it invaded local government,
and he had very grave doubts whether he could support
It. A great deal in the bill was no doubt very good, and
the facts as stated by the Home Secretary were no deubt
very strong ; about the number of useless prisons, and the
uniformity that was desirable. At the same tune be was
no great believer in absolute uniformity; it was sort of
mirage, and if there were to be great sacrifices for the
purpose of attaining it. he should be satisfied with a
modified uniformity. His doubt was whether the good
pert. of the bill could not be obtained without sacrificing
local government He was told that the visiting justices
had so little real authority that it was not worth preserv-
ing, but with respect to his good friends, that waa • point
on which he totally differed. He looked upon central
control with local management as the very best system
for the country, in that they had firm authority combined
with constant supervision. Twe deputations had waited
upon the Home Secretary, and from the pretty full reports
In the Timis newspaper, it appeared that the clean sweep
which the smiler clauses of the bill werethonght to make,
or the powers of the visiting justices into the hands of
the Home Secretary, Is not to be the system brought about
by the bill, but the visiting justices are to be left with
substantial power. If they were not to be left with
substantial power, he did not think the position of local
magistrates was one which his brother magistrates would
like to undertake. He should not like to be looked upon
as being concerned in the management of the gaol, if
when he pointed out certain thljigs, the Government
inspector should come down and say "I differ altogether
from the visiting magistrates, and I am the authority, I
will have it all altered." Mr. Crass says the appointment
of the officers, with exception of one or two will be con-
' tinned is their hands and if the ;imitate of the
m in such that they can admWster the gaols,
witactatints
at and credit to themselves, he should be most
anxious to support the bill. He always held that central
control with local administration was the best for the
institutions of the country, and that system of assistance
from the State, as settled by the late Sir Robert Peel, at
the time of the abolition of the Corn Claws was a sound
system, and might be carried further. If he thought he
saw the sacrificing of local management in the hill, • step
to the abolition of the power of those living in the
country, he should oppose the bilL But still if he could
me that local management could be preserved under due
limit, but still Ito substantially that it could be carried on
honestly and (Aden*/ by the local authorities then he
should be mast happy to amid in making this a good and
useful MB.
Kr. Fautricie said it •PP•srodi to km • very Mid and
useful bill.