The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-08-17 00:00:00

TUNA L 110(11KTY.

The MAYOR asked the Town Clerk to reed a letter
from the Seoretary of the Bath and West of England
Agricultural Society.
The TOWN CLNNI said he had received an intimation
that hie eommunioatesurfreen 4111 e Nano% relative to the
holding of the soolety'm 1800tneeting in Doohester, should
he laid before the Bath and West of England Agrioultu•
ral Society. He subsequently received a letter from the
Secretary of the moiety, Henry St. John Maul., dated
Auguet 4, 18, Pulteney•street, Bath, stating that on the
81st ult., it wee determined that the matter should be
entered on the agenda paper, to be con Adored on the
28th instant. The meeting would he held at Waghorn's
Kailwey Hotel, Taunton. at 11.40 on Saturday, the 28th,
when the Bath and Weld of England agricultural
Society would be happy to reeeive any communication or
deputation from the Doroliester Town Council.

Mr. ANDRRWS said he had also received • letter from
the Secretary, stating that at their last meeting Mr.
Jonathan Gray had placed a letter from him (Mr.
Andrews) before the meeting and also a communication
he had addressed to Mr. Andrews • and the secretary
was directed by the Council of the Agricultural Society
to convey the asanrance of their full concurrence in all
the contents of Mr. Gray's letter. Mr. Andrews then
read the conditions particularised in Mr. Gray's corn-
manication, and which were placed privately before a
former meeting of the Town Council. The terms were
1.-2800 to be paid into the treasurer's bands by the let
of August, 1869. 11.-16 acres of approved grass land
with a good supply of water brought into the field, the
land to be capable of digging to the depth of three feet
without rock; a plan of the land to he sent, 40 feet scale
to the inch, on or before August 1, 1859 • the land will
he required from the 211th of March. 1860, to the let of
July, 1860, at the abaolute control of the society, free to
the society from any charge for rent, damage, dos. ; and
the society will not be answerable for any holes in the
land for posts or otherwise. 111. —Approved trial
grounds for steam ploughs, harrows, drills, .kc., guaran-
teed to the society at so much per acre. and which tl.e
society will engage for within a week of the exhibition.
IV.—A supply of wheat for threshing machines at so
much per hundred sheaves delivered. V.—A supply of
barley and straw at so tnuch per ton delivered. VI.—
A supply of vetches and clover cut fresh every day and
delivered at the different sheds in the yard at so much
per ton. Vll.—A supply of the beat hay delivered at so
much per ton. The land approved for growing crops for
trial at so much per acre—for the purpose of trying
reaping and mowing maohinea, An. Vlll.—An approved
and large dry store, approved by the society, and not
to exceed £l6 for the twelve months and the fortnight,
which the society will
nay for immediately after the
close of the meeting. The communication added that
the money expended was great, but the return to the
town would be likewise very considerable.
Mr. STANTON asked what Mae agriculturists whom
this matter especially concerned thought of the subject?
Mr. AND2II9I replied that the Agrioui4ural 8°4447

were anxious to have the Bath and West of England
Society visit Dorchester,
Mr. HODGES thought the invitation of • deputation
should be responded to. There wan • very general
opinion in the town that the 1860 meeting of that ii.
portent society should take place here. The deputa-
tion, with the assistance of Mr. Andrews, the secretary
of the Darehester Society, might be composed of mem-
bers of that Agricultural &minty, and of members of the
Town Council, who should attend the meeting at
Taunton on Saturday week and endeavour to secure the
visit of the Both and West of England Society. There
seemed nothing in the terms but what might be com-
plied with and aceomplished, and such a deputation
might be empowered to comply with oert•in conditions
desired by the society. By such an interview • period,
perhaps • month, might be obtained during which
the society would be satisfied to receive • guarantee for
the coin required.
Mr. GA LPIN thought the proper way would be to
open communication with the imanager of the business
in some town where the sooiety had held it. meeting.
The sum needed would perhaps be ELMO.
Mr. LOCK said that although the matter was a county
one, it ought to originate with the Council. The ooin.
inittee suggested might consider the possibility of obtain-
ing the means asked by the Bath and West of England
Society.
Mr. ANDRILWIL after some discussion, proposed the
following resolution : Letters having been received from
the Both and West of England Society relative to their
holding their meeting in 1860 at Dorcheeter, resolved
that it is desirable—if the funds can he obtained for the
purpose—that much meeting shall be held accordingly.
Mr. GALPIN seconded this motion.

Mr. Sranrost proposed an amendment—That as the
funds of the Town Connell are altogether inadequate to
inset the expellees required by the Agricultural Society
to hold their meeting in Dorchester in 1860, that pre-
view' to their owning to any decision on the subject
it will he Bret desirable to ascertain what waist/nee, in
pecuniary way, is likely to be °honied from the agrioul-
turista of the county.
No one seconding this amendment It fell to the
ground, and the resolution passed, Mr. Curiae and the
Mayor not voting.
Mr. Homes moved—That a committee of this
Council be appointed to confer with a committee of the
Dorchester Agricultural Society, and others of the agri-
cultural body generally, for tlie purpose of ascertaining if
sufficient mains may be expected to be obtained for hold.
Mg the meeting of the Bath and West of England A griaul-
tnrel Society In this town in the year 1800 ; and that
such joint committee be authorised to send edsputatlon
to the Council of the Beth and Went of England
Society at their meeting at Taunton on the 28th instant
to confer with them on the subject.
Mr. ERROR, in seconding the resolution, thought it
would be a disgrace to the town if every effort were not
made to obtain tile visit of such an important society.
The motion wee serried, but neither Mr. Curtin nor
the Mayor voted.
The MAYOR said that he thought it Wee perfectly
understood that the Council could not go to the rated
inhabitants of the town for any part of the expense of the
Bath and Wed of England Soolety'e visit, and he wished
to record this. He therefore propoud—That as the in-
habitants of this town have been of late heavily taxed,
this Council pledges Itself that the borough funds shall
not be taxed for any expenees incurred by the Bath
and West of England Society'. meeting in 1860.
Mr. CURII6 seconded the motion.
A sharp conversation hereupon took place. Mr.
Ensor thonglit there wee no power to use the
borough funds for such an object.—Mr. Look did not
think it deeirable to put such a resolution on the books ;
there was no borough rate, and while he should stand
nic for all unnecessary public expenditure, if there were
surplus funds In the Connell's hued, the Council could
not do better than anbeeribe such money for the purpose
in question.—Mr. Hodges was sorry his Worship had
thought proper to bring forward the motion, as it raised
the notion that supporter,' of the preceding resolutions
intended to meet the expenees of the society's visit by
public rate; he hoped every expense would he volun-
tarily met, and should vote against laying out for the ob-
ject a single farthing of public money.—Mr. Galpin
could not understand why such a motion should be put,
except to convey the imputation on the inembers of the
Council of an intention to come upon the public fund*,
yet no member had uttered such a suggestion ; it WAN
reflection lie considered disgraceful, yet he held that the
resolution ought to be put and carried—Mr. Stanton
said the cost of plans for the Royal Agricultural Society
caine ont of the town funds.—Mr. Devenish explained
that when he said "we should bear the expense" he had
no idea that the town would be called upon, and wee
startled at Mr. Lock's observation.—Mr. Bishop doubted
the desirability of passing the resolution as it was never
intended to add a farthing to the town rated through
trying to get the moiety to cone here ; certainly the
price named WAR enormous, but even with that condition
there was doubt about the Society coming to the town.
—Mr. Clime considered it to be outrageous that public
fiends should be so applied, and yet Mr. Lock, while
objecting to the motion, said he would give what surplus
funds the Town Council had towarda the object.—Mr.
Andrews did not see that the resolution conveyed any
imputation, and thought it desirable that it should be
adopted, for then any gentleman interesting himself in
the matter would from the onset understand he could not
come M the Council for a penny ; yet lie believed the
Council never had any intention to tax the borough, and
he could not forget that while there had been a good
deal of trouble taken about the Royal Agricultural
Society comh.g here, there were then expenses incurred
which he did not think persons would have incurred had
they fancied they could not omne to the Council for re-
payment, and the Council had refused the applications of
gentlemen for the refunding of such expenses. One
item for plane, after being bandied about from meeting to
meeting, was paid for, audit caused a great deal of talk to
a great many people, who made observations thereon.—
Mr. Hodges stated that at the time alluded to gentlemen
paid their own expenses for twine going to London, and
the small sum paid by the Council wag for measuring the
town. . .

The MAYOR, in reply, said his object in proposing the
resolution was that it might be known to the rate-
payer' that surplus or any funds which were public pro-
perty could not be applied to the purpose of
meeting the demands of the Bath and West of Eng-
land Agricultural Society. The economists had all come
out declaring that they would not tax the town ; but
there wan a precedent—such expenses were paid (Mr.
Hodges and others : "Only for meosuring the land"),
by the borough, and Mr. Look hod mid that if then:
were any funds available it would be desirable that such
shou'd go towards the expenses of the visiting society.
Ali he (Eh* Keyorl wished was that it should be known
to the i nblio, Ind that hereafter, on Any member now
elwent moving that the public fund,: should he touched,
he would find thin resolution on the books. One gentle.
man WI gone so far u to say that if such a motion were
passed it would be a reflection on, end disgrace to, their
whole body. People had certain bloom about what wow
:roper or improper, but be (the Mayor) hoped thAt
nothing would ever be done by any member that would
be a diagram to them, his merely proposed Ohio
motion, however disgraceful it :night be, that the pub•
lie funds might not be touched, end not only that the
Council might know that hut that the whole town
:night know it also. He did not think it was diegraoe.
ful to have such a rtoolution on their minute books
and hoped every gentle:non who thought It a dlegrish
would give it a direct negative.
Mr. Look said, I think you did'nt quite understand
the observation Mr. Ensor tumle with regard to the
word " disgrace." He made that oheervation-
-- • • .

-
The Marna i You are fighting the air. You may ex•
plain bid cannot make a palish.
Mr. OALPIN, to Mr. Look i I don't wish you to de.
fend any remark' of mine.
It was explained to Mr. Look that Mr. Oalpin and
not Mr. Enaor tumid the word in (motion ; but

Mr, Look continued standing, end observed that he
would exploin what illinfielf had sold. He would not
vole an extravogotit stain of puhlii funds for the pop
pose nomod, lath hoped parsons so sensitive about upend.
log a cinch sum on title oeoaolon, would be inure careful
About other ex pious. Lost year there was an eotimate
of 12400 for street off,iirs—(CrWs of "Question," amid
which Mr. Look sot down.)
The resolution mooed nom, erne, Meal,. Diminish,
Donne, Andrew., Hodges, and Manton holding op their
hands.
Mr. Look then moved the appointment of a eliminates
of the Council to oppolot the deputation, ho,—noming
the Mayor, ileum, CoomN, Ewen, Oalpin, Look, De.
vinish, and Hodge'', which woe agrood to, the Mayor„
however, withdrawing his TIAIIIII, It was generally on.
deritacel thet the deputation to Taunton would pay their
own expensoe.
This oonoluded the basins., of the mating, and tho
Town Council then resolved Itself into a