The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-02-08 00:00:00

DORCHESTER TOWN COCNCIL

A meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday last.
when there were present—The Mayor (Mr. A. Isusonl,
Aldermen J. Galpin and G. Curme, and Councillors J. F.
Hodges, G. J. G. Gregory, M. Devenish. \V. Slade, T.
Bennett, W. Burden, F. Lock, and Dr. Aldridge.

TIER FAIR AND MARKIN' GROUND.
Mr. GREGORY drew attention to the plans for the laying
out of this ground. He advocated the portion which was
lark purchased of the Duchy of c wnwall should be
included in the fair ground, instead of being used for
building purposes. If this were done and a retaining wall
built .round it, the present line of beautiful trees leading
to the station would be preserved. That view, he said,
was adopted by all whom he had consulted on the matter.
Alderman cuunx objected to this strongly, and urged
that the Council should confine itself to the site of the
market ground as originally decided upon, lie thought
there could be no second opinion, that If a respectable row
of houses were built there, they would not only have a
good approach to the station, but they would denve what
would more than doubly recoup them for the original
outlay. It was stated there were to be two or three
handsome hotels to be built in that quarter, and if so it
was advisable they should have a nice row of houses
fronting them.
Mr. Degooar was convinced there could not be a worse
site.

Mr. Darr-sten advised the Council not to be precipitate
In their consideration of the matter. He sugaceteil that
another set of plane should be prepared for the observa.
tion of the public, and the frequenters of their tuarketa,
who were quite as competent as they were to form an
opinion upon their requirements.
Mr. Honore believed the only houses they would get
there would be those of a character which they desired to
do away with.
Alderman GALPII protested against any further delay
In the matter.
. . . . . .

so
Mr. Gar.noav proposed :—it is desirable that in the
appropriation of this gnsind to the fairs and market',
not to devote any portion to building sites on the northern
aide : but • portion of the ;mound be reserved on the south
as • site for slaughter-houses, if re luired.
Alderman (41.1• IN moved an amendment and candidly
confess.' that in doing so the object he hail in view was
that they should proceed to take Motile steps at once. Ile
moved :—it is desirable that a portion of the land last
purchased of the Duchy should be laid out for building
purposes, and that it be referred to the General Purposes
Committee to take the necessary steps to arrange such
ground, and any additional quantity if required, for build-
ing purposes, wid that they he empowered to sell the
trees, and have plans prepared for the °Kering of lots for
sale on terms to be arranged hereafter.
Dr. ALDRIDGE seconded the amendment With regard
to the eligibilty of the site, he knew that previous to the
land having been purchased by the Council, many applied
to the Duchy to purchase it for that very purpose, and
the Council bought it much to their chagrin and annoy-
ance. In the interests of the town he slid it would be
exceedingly wrong if, having spent that sum of money,
they, instead of deriving a return from it, threw the
ground into a field which everyone admitted was quite
adequate at the present time for every purpose.
Mi.Cthr...ma. tutsantheAl th.t •toer the @subject
he equally had the interests of the town at heart—(hear,
hear).
The amendment was then put, and with the exception
of Mr. Gregory and Mr. Ilodges, every hand was held up
In Ha favour. It was consequently declared carried.

TIIE OLD TOWN HALL
A conversational discussion are relative to plans laid
011 the table by Mr. Norman, the Surveyor, for the con-
version of the Ohl Town Hall into Surveyor's (Aces. The
further consideration ‘1 the 'natter was adjourned until
Friday for the Committee. It is proposed to form a new
entrance.

WILFUL DAY %GE:

Mr. GREGOIn asked tho Mayor if his attention had
been called to the damage done to the treei in the North
Walk. He suggeated • reward should be offered for the
discovery of the offender.
A water rate of 10,1.. and a general district rate of
Ii SmE, waa recommended and agreed to.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RIFLE CORPS.
The annual meeting of the membersof the 3rd D. KN. was
held on Monday evening in the Drill Hall, Prince's-street.
There was a muster of about 40, the corps being under
the command of Captain Hodig,i, Battalion Quarter-
master-flergeant Newman being also present. The muster
roll haying been called over by Send. Dottiest,
sili=llMXigg, addressed the corps, and observed it
d him great pleasure to meet that evening—the
occasion of commencing their seventeenth season. He
had to address them upon various topics, and he would
begin by calling attention to the volunteer force generally.
He was pleased to announce it was in a very satisfactory
state, for the returns made up to October 31st showed the
total strength to be a little over 161,000, of whom 1611,709
were enrolled as efficient& Of the latter, 145753—0 r
seven.eights of the full compliment of efficiente of the
entire force—were present at the inspections. With
to the certificates of proficiency, 4,706 were held by
Ireacafici rs and 19161 by sergeants that. he thought, spoke
very well for the force. The percentage of efficients was
93,16, or, in other words, out of every DM men in the
volunteer force 1/1 efficient& Considering the great strain
put upon the volunteers by extra drills and camp atten-
dances, besides other matters, the whole force was now in
a satisfactory condition. Reviewing the proceedings of
the corps during the past year. Capt. Hodges read the
financial statement showing the receipts to he :—Balance
last account, £1 se. 91; subscriptions, £57 13s. 6d.: officers'
fees, £9 ila; entrance fees and deposits, Lit: capitation,
EIV 10s.; use of targets. £2 7s. 64.: war-office for drill
instructor. £l9 19s. ammunition. .ClO 15s—total,
=7 Os. 5.1. The expenditure is as follows :—Sergeant-
Instructor, ; bugler, £10; rent, £l5; Wimbledon
fund, £5; challenge yam, Li; uniforms and equipments.
£76 lar. 10d.; head-quartera, XII Ills. ad.; rail-fares
and horse-hire, .CO 2s. 6.1.,• ammunition, .ClO 10. i. ;
markers and buglers, .Cll Ills. 6.1.; deposits returned. X 4
printing and advertising. £7 2a. 11.: band expenses,
tief 3a; incidentals, .t 9 17s. 3d.; balance, Itia
Id.—
total, .IIZO Os. 5.1. The following showed the posi-
tion of affairs for the ensuing year : Balance brought
down, 164. .• cavitation money, payable April,
1576, £ll9 —total. £ll9 16s. Due for clothing.
£74 16s. lid.; surplus. XII 19s. sd.—total, .Cll9 16s. -Id.That spoke very well for the corps, and the long list of
honorary members and subscribers ought to give them
encouragement for the future. Last year the number of
efficients Was rie out of 67 members; only one man was
returned non-efficient—Daniel Taylor—and that was for
not having done the class shooting. That showed the
force to be inn good state. He was sure they would not
forget their entertainment at Brideberel on their return
home, and he would thank Mr. Williams once more for
his great kindness towards them—Oscar, hear). He must
refer also to the loss of their late captain, he had alluded
to the subject before and could not help doing so again,
such a good captain an Mr. Coombs MU for so many years.
whose retirement, he was eertain, they all deeply regretted
_These heart 11.winling his own (Captain Hodges')
position in the corps, he felt how difficult it was to follow
In the footsteps of Mr. Coombs as a captain: however, he
should he his best, hoping to receive their kind co-opera-
tion and support in order to keep the corps in a proper
and efficient state. Another point he would mention was
that they were about to loge the services of their old
colonel, who was to be succeeded in the command by
Colonel Steward—an officer who had been with the batta-
lion • long time and who thoroughly understood his
duties and the requirements of the force. Colonel Steward
knew well how to manage the battalion' from his long
experience as a soldier he was well qualified for the posi-
tion he now held, and this being his first year as colonel
In command of the regiment they ought one and all to
render him their most cordial support. Adverting to the
prize rifle shooting of last year, Captain Hodges remarked
a very liberal prize sheet was presented, the competition
being grind; they certainly had the good (anima to he
largely and substantially patronised, awl for the handsome
prize* offered thee ought to be ven• thankful. Prize rifle
shooting was • great enemiragement to volunteers, in-
ducing men to join the force. Another matter—one of
serne onplestiantnews -to which he might allude Was the
breaking up of the band —their band, which, as they well
knew, WWI at the bwit camp the subject of much praise.
He was very sorry indeed that the unpleasantness had
occurred; it had Mien brewing for sonie little time, and
perhaps it was as well it came out. He could not help
Loping that out of evil good would come. for Mr. Wellspring,
who was fully competent for the task, was at present
mewed in re-organising the hand, and he (Captain
Timm) believed when it was wanted In the summer it
would be found to be very good. About 17 men and boys
were in the course of training: the corps might the
fore look forward to have as good a band as before
_(applause). Captain Hodges then referred to the diminu-
tion- In the strength of the corm, caused mainly by the
breaking up of the hand. At present the corp. was
below the minimum. .11e urged serious attention to this
matter, esteeming the hope that in the course of a month
at least 20 recruits would be obtained, and that the
strength of the eorpe would he increased to 60 at the
least. Captain Hodges mentioned the name of Mr.
Arthur Williams had been submitted to Colonel Maned
as sub-lieutenant. and. after referring in high terms to the
proposed new officer, stated he should wait until he was
feeetted, when he (the Captain) would like the corps to
aim with him. After he had referred to other points, the
corps was dismissed.