The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-04-21 00:00:00

DISORDERLY PUBLIC NEETINO.

mIjoITINIIENT or TIIE

A /*Mkc meeting, tette les! ii, avronlasiee with a
request submitted to tile Mayor, was held at the
utuidliull on Thursday evening. Alert/ether alto n
110 persons were present, Mr. Robert Gaiikell:in the
chair.
Among the membere of the Corporation were
Messrs. Is. .•11, Welsford, Hibbs, H II
and and Lanning. The general public were represented
by Messrs. C. J. Freeman, 11. Rolls. .1. G. }tolls, L.
Clarke, H. Men..,., H. Baker, B. Parsons, C. Targett
J. E. Russell, R.Danion, S. Jackson, N. Ltrew, .1. It.
Cole, W. Purchase, R. Gale, J. Williams. J. Jeana,
Nlerrett, R. Fowler, G. Chalker, W. Row, Guard,
H. Hayman, L. Bartlett, W. Grant, C. Reed, ke.
The posters announcing the meeting stated that it
was called "T.' consider the decision of the Corpora.
I put it; respect to the filling in of the Hartford Timber
Pound, and also the granting of a lease for ILI years
to Meier.. Betts and Company for a spoon in the.
Backwater he the purpooe of mooring their timber,
, of equal area to the preeent timber po 1111 l I, at a
nominal rental 14 1:3 per year. This nireting has
been convened for the purp..se of obtaining the
opinion of the public as to the justice of the Council's
decision, as it was stated in the Council-chamber,
'That the town generally was in favour of the NUM.
being done. Every person who has the welfare and
interest of the borough at heart is respectfully
requested to attend. as the public are not fully
acquainted with the facts of the case."
The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by explain.
big that he had been prevailed upon to take the chair
because it was thought desirable the Mayor should
not do so; also that be should remain temparatively
, meutral in rtutiect to the matter, because he knew
little or nothing respecting it. He particularly
impressed upon the audience the necessity for
discuseing the falsities., dispassionately and to avoid
personalities. They had a Corporate body whom they
' had the power .4 electing, and if they did not approve
of their doings they had the option 11 displacing theni
and putting other men in their places. (.1. Votex
" Rather a serious question ; you will get worse, not
better...) He thought those persons who had called
into account the proceedings of the Corporate laxly
ought to be able to show very satisfactory grounds for
the cower they had taken. (Applause.) Fete what
lie had read in the newspapers, he must say this meet•
log looked very notch like trying to lock the doe after
the steed was stolen. If he was not mistaken, the
Corporation had adopted the terms offered, and he
supposed the agreement would be carried out with the
representatives of Messrs. Betts. This was his view
.4 the case. He was not acquainted with a single
individual who did not consider the filling up of the
timber pound to bee deeitable thing, but he did not
fancy that was what they wished to fi6t that night.
The view, he thought, intended to beleought before
them was thia—that, though it was • desirable thing
to be done, there were ways and means for accomplish-
ing such an object which would have proved
Prejudicial to the ratepayers than the plan adopted,
(Applause.) Of course people varied in their views AK
to I the best means of accomplishing these ends, and he
slitied this meeting bud uo other object-- (a Finch::
would have been Il if it had not been for
the dam ")--than lirect e attention of the general
public to the concerns the Corporation, and if it
led Ilium to take a more lively uttered in their pr. •
emdinge probably some bract; aught arils heal t

meeting 'lasing been till. s.tpishopse, and a YOWL
" They put the dam, and they shoul I take i, snit
again. 1 His op'nion w 'here had bees two schools, I
"(thought at work in Weymouth-one composed
these who believed in a rigid economy which W.W.I I
reduce the taxation of the place. and tend to r.'in',Se
the ier which attached to it by imbuing people to
hve The other school held that by niwking a
lavish eapenditnre they might improve the tan and
afford objects of interest and 1111 l melees to the s
whop mime then., ir,ling that lov.pir a.. lid not 0 .teet
the .'stn e‘pettl.e of a few knouts in taxes, HI that
wen. emit++l to partake of the enjoyment and
plearnire. of - I Inremipti.ab hisaes, mid cries of
Sit down.-I He was not pledging himself to either
view of the verae, les stated the fseling in the borough.
As haw as they halted between rlro olirn6lll.l he
thought they were not likely to ac-ompliah mull, and
the senni"lr they adopted the one line of policy or the
other, having a wise reduction in their taxation, sir av
increase.) and judicious expeaditure 00 as to make the
place newt- attractive and bring reol.le here, the
better. ( A pplainie. I
A Voice : " I think it was decide I to have the
vaind lined up. What do we e-ant ti mine here fir!
You may talk fie two hours, we a-ill not give In.
Mr. LOVELL p.e to make a few remarks, las wa.
frequently intemipted. He said : Before. snaking any
attempt to lay this matter before you and
eries " Bosh-) I shall ask Betts and Co's men. if
they nenain in the hall, to give us attention (hisses
and erie• of " pay rates as well as you") - ti. give
le, the atrenti in which we expert and demand, or rlsw
very likely we shall Imp to use mean., to obtain it.
Hi... And n11.11..rAl disorier.s Mr. Chairman, these
men are in the employ of Rms and Co., and we must
me them out. (Renewed hissing.)
VIIAIKM.VV: Von pride younielves 111.41 being
Englishni, don't you!
A VOWK: What, sir!
Ti..' Cn illOtte pride younielves upon being
Englishmen. don't you!
Voices: We do.
The CHAIRMAN Ts there anything an Englishman
valises mom than liberty!
A Voice: Englishmen were never bought yet.
The CHAIRMAN : If you value the liberty which
liehaurs to Englishmen, give a fair field and hearing
1.. every speaker.
A VOlen : Take the dam away. You put it there
and cauaisl a nuiaturx: to the Wren, and it is your
plaCi•t Cle4lll it ''iii.
Mr. Lovett : William Bailey, I ask you to
111 i.vsesi and intern:ll4m.)
Mr. Lovett.: Mr. Vickers-, will yin, please keep
order. It is your duty lam a member si the
('ouncil. (Ironical cheers.)
Mr. WALLIA : I appeal to the inspector 14 police.
, Mimes, rte.) I sin sorry your masters have sent you
here. It shows their case is a had one. A robbery
't.. the town has. been carried out in the most bare-
faced manner. (More interruption and hissing.) Mr.
Vickery, allow me to tell you— (Hooting.) If you
hoot us down tonight you may depend we will have
' another meeting at Cooke's Room, where we will have
, a fair hearing. (Hisses and groans.) I call upon
Mr. Vickery ti keep order.
Mr. IrOVKLL : Mr. Vickery, I ask you this quiation
--have you any charge of this building whatever !
, (Intemiption.) lam not speaking to you, you don't
know how hi behave yourselves. Mr. Vickery, I
, appeal to you and ask if you have charge if this hall !
(Ilreat disorder.) Cannot you answer the question, it
' is an English 'ins'? If I ask you to put these men
' out I say it is not English. (Confusion.)
Mr. %VALLI+. : Mr. Vickery will not ..pen his
m,eit h. . - .

~........
NI. : Mr. Chairman—Before holding this
31 tig i
.;:i.glliiterall
tsi:;llL4l.'it'st.l:l Isit.i.i wouldli be a
st.wisytstrirarucaitis"ll. rA a
very weak one. Chi account ef that this iii..l
t.. you, Mr. Viekery. and I drew vanr t-entuus
. the peoph• who would ..el.llpy tie 11.11 i
1.46114 y.. 11 if Wr 'lid led get a proper hearing it lv. iii
only put law to the trouble ef asking th.• ratepayer* to
attend a unsling at another place. whun ti.'.. lii
will not 1).• allowed to come there. Ifisse • aml
"-it 4..wii,- "Ant up,- ite.l I stm d a I..rd.sing
ftaiiey. If you have anythist4 to say yoa tun de
... in a proper Mitlitier. I ant here on iudutit uf my
o.lllltrYlll.lll to tell the simple truth, which I have
been deputed to proteti, and tipliold, and give as a
stewanl to deliver up my charge. I say we will not
have it. Anil unless this matter is laid bt4nre this meet-
ing in a straiglitforwani English nianner it will only
pot the stipiortors ..f the project to the trouble of
getting a bill printed and Illiteltltieft iiVer the town,
giving all ,weoniit .4 the affair from .*. iiiiii eneeni.mt t..
the I Hiss,".:, anti cries of " Sit Mr.
luirtiuti, I stand Is•fore you with mingled ihisseS
and internildimil feelings of regret and idle.itn..
With regret, because this matter W A. 11.4 • it ItA within
the walls .1 the I7h.tnilwa• in SI n lenceir.tble
manner. Miser. and i With iileasure that I
ant able to report to you the 1111111111iT in which thns..w
four gentles:aim have pr.weeded in the matter.
I Further ilisonler.l
'Fite f'llaiaw.t)i: iilll. osit. You are
nig your employers' interests by bringing this nutter
' tip in this outrageous manner. I littemijition.)
Mr. I.OV/41.1. attempted to make further renuarks,
but was pn•retitecl owing to such in.. a.." Sit ibiWIC
1 t;.. Minty,- ite.
vr. W.‘LLIS then endeavoured to whim.o the
meeting, but his voice was completely drown..d liv
the disoraler which prevailed.
The CHAIRMAN : if we. cannot olitain a hearing for
Mn. Lovell I will vacate the clAir mid dissolve the
meet ing, and let the rtsumnaibility Mont )4,11r shoulders.
13.1.plaitse, hear, hear, and a VoicE: "We will come
another night.")
Mr. Liivt:u.: H.* it tindenstood, gentlemen
I Further disorder.)
Mr. W.ILLIS: Thert. will Ile another 'meting held
on this matter.
()wing ts. the tatatinwala and di:stmt.:wild diserder
tlie nits-tang was brought to an abrupt termination,
and those who had taken a prominent position in the
irrugulariwoceedings gave cheers for Messrs. !tett.
and Co.
Wt. have heti, informed that if Mr. !dive!l hail lone
'seed • resoltition ctinilenitsing the course !garotted
the Coriseation in the matter id Hartford.terrace
timber ism's' the billowing amendment would havt.
lien ottl iiii itto+l : -"That inasmuch am the ratepayers
.1 Weymouth and Ateleombe Regis having lonAted
considerably by the rlredgings .4 the harls sir living
deposited on the land near the i)ashoitse during the
Istr. Mayor's term office, anil that the agreement
entered into with Betts and Co. will get rid .4 a long
standing nuisance, together with • great town im
pmvemesit costing the ratepayera a arm fractittn, the
action of the Tot ii Cuttotetl destwvis the unaniumata
support of tin' loan."