The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-01-15 00:00:00

A FEW JOTTINGS BY A "CASUAL
OBSERVER."

The old year has pound away, and is now almost
forgotten, but a few of the events which happened. •
few of the things which were begun and are not yet
completed, may not be deemed "too stale" for a
few comment' upon them.
All hail with satidaction the vast extensions that
have been made in our buildings; our borders have been
cinni.lerably wi lane!, many handsome villas have
been ere tad, and a number of dwelling houses. But I
have failed yet to s re the Women; Mev's Corm: ea
it being monstrous for anyene to argue that dwelling-
herr., rented at ZIG or EN heeldee rates and tax., are
withie the range"( the man who earns from 201. tone.
weekly. What is stAU wanted is small hou.eis to let at
from 1.1 to £lO per annum; the capitalist who would
erect a number of th.ee would prove himself • real
philanthrophist, and confer a lasting benefit on ear
working chisisea, That the higher rated cottages
were eagerl,y taken I admit, but how are the rents
realised in many Caged (not all) by two or three
families dwelling under one roof! or by the best rooms of
the home being sub-let. That these higher rented
house, were required is true, as were also the many
magnificent villa, which have so recently "sprung up."
around the town, many more ,if which we hope to see
erected—villas which will speedily be taken, and, we
trust, by "good" families. In the town many improve-
ment, have been effected. notablyin High West-street.
Foremost here is the large house, offices, and cellar'
erected for Mr. T. S. Biggs, wine and spirit merchant,
premien which to the outside public may appear
sonsewhat small, but on examination prove to be of
surprising proportions. A slight deacriptim may not
be out of place here. Entering in High Went-street,
are very commodious olices,whers is transacted • by no
means limited business, for Mr. Bigge's gentlemanly
and courteou, bearing has won him many friends. As
we pass int, the arched melte below we are first
shown the apparatus for lifting and lowering the
numerous casks of spirits and wine, quite • simple
contrivance, which • lad may work, without danger,
in lowering the heaviest weights. After thin we pus
through cellar after cellar 'stocked on every hand with
wines and spirit., of the choicest vintages, and
ti count the thousands upon thousands of dozen*
of bottles that are arranged in the most
compact manner would be the work of consider-
able time. We are gradually led on through the
various vaults, the contente of the numerous depart-
ments are explaine& and we are surprised to find that
we are at last into the old premises formerly occupied
by Mr. Biggs, adjoining the Antelope yard. The
premises are of the molt elaborate description ex-
ternally, are a great ornament to the town, reflects
immense credit upon the builder. Afr. G. J. Ili.
Gregory, and we warmly commend the spirit of the
capitalists, who bring About such welcome improve.
melds. Adjoining these are the premises soon to be
occupied as the bank of Mestere. Eliot, Pearce, and
Co. It is feet approaching completion in the hands
of the lune builder, and will be a most substantial and
noble edifice. Higher up in West-street the dilapidated
Premises of the County School have given place to
handsome dwelling-houses, and on every hand we find
signs of advancement. But all this is principally the
work of private capitalists.
Now a word as t our public works, and the rate.
pours' 'some. I must leave out of the question the
great Government works at the Barracks, and confine
my remarks to the borough affairs. First upon the tapis
comes that much condemned and much abused New
Fair Field. Now, air, I should like to find the body of
gentlemen who would be able to provide • public place
with which everybody would be pleased. True, the
tel I is rather open, but there is ample acoommoda-
thin, and thou who take the "fat' from off the
beasta and sheep they dispose of, can hardly expect
drawitespr our comforts ift • market ground. The
Corporation appear to have lone !Aar best, and the
"storm in a teapot," has. I hope, settled down into •
dead calm, and trade will go on briskly. A. to the
Bye-laws being strictly enforced, as far as compelling
all sallies to send their stock to the new field I am not
le a position to make any remark.. But I trust, as
• poor ratepayer, the Council wid pew., and consider
well their position, before involving us again in a
costly and tinentiafactorg law-suit.
This briegs me to the Begg.u.'e Keep, over which
there has been so much hubbub and uulesa talk—but
which I hepe now will be allow, I to take a very lig
" nap." —The agitation on this question seems • o have
died out, and I heartily commend those gentlemen in
our Council, who, having had many years residence
here have the interests of the town at heart, and are
anxious to improve it in eve 7 possible way, in the
noble stand they merle in their effort to bring about
the demolition of the "few scrubby tree." on
Beggar's Knap. I should like to ask how many of
thou who took part in the agitation, and objected to the
demolition, would now advocate the restoration,
were it possible. .1 the "scrubby trees" which
formerly formed admirable clothes puts for washer
women. I firmly believe nine-tenth* of them would
be in favour of taking down the retaiiied clomp, and
thus throwing open one of the fineu building sites in
the borough. If my memory serves me (I was very
young then) there was a great hubbub over the
Wollaston-field Estate, hut who, now, would prefer the
rough state of years ago to the present Not one!
And thus is proved that the improvements carried
out by our Corporation have been real and lasting
ones. I do not say they (the Corporation) are
infallib'e, and I may yet have to complain of some of
them, but for • long number of years they have been
gentlemen who have done their very best for the
borough.
Whilst on the subject of the trees, I may be
pardoned for salting why so many of these on the
Bridport-road have been enclosed. lam told land on
either side oh the road has been purchased by private
individuals, for building purposes, and they have no
doubt the right to endues it, but I have yet to learn that
the trees were sold, or that any person has a right to
enclose them. Is not this another of those little en•
erouhmenta which so frequently occur? I like con-
sistency' but is there any in making a hubbub because it
is intended to carry out an improvement by removing
a few !!scrubby" trees, and then for the principal
agitators to fold their arms and sit quietly down,
whilst the others are gradually enclosing trees which
are an ornament and attraction to the town. I have
heard a lot about certain gentlemen having the
interest of the town at heirt, I hope they will now
show it, and wee to it that these trees are not
destroyed. Rumours are &dot of the intention to
build Lt4C business premien in the neighbourhood
of the encloaed trees. I sincerely hope the latter
will not he destroyed t • mike roOM for the
former. The newly elected C uncillor. have •
grand opportunity now of making themselves
thoroughly popular by "moving" in this matter.
And now this brings tr.e to the bust and most
serious item in the borough affairs—the drainage
and water supply. That these must be dealt with
all will admit. Our water eupply has been for
years one ef the hest in England, but there are, with
new extensions fresh demands, and proper arrange.
ment• must be; nude to meet these extra demands.
No one can object to the extra outlay necessary to
pro, ide for the increase, and I trust our Council will
be unanimous in making such alterations a, will
entirely preclude the possibility of our being again
left without a eutlicient supply of water. If neoessary,
I, as one ratepayer, would say procure a new and
more powerful engine. Our town is fairly healthy,
and one way of keeping it so is by • thoroughly good
supply of pure water.
And now a word as to the drainage—the most
serious item of all, which threatens to involve no In
ruin.mus expense, and rates which will be thoroughly
unbearable. That something must be done I readily
admit, but I hope it will not he dose reckleady, and
regardlese of the expense. I glory in Mr. Alderman
Galvin. in the noble stand he made at our resent
Council meeting against calling in Sir Joseph
Basalgette to survey the town and give his opinion on
the matter. Who is Sir Joseph, and why should he be
called in in preference to any other gentleman. Is it
bemuse he. " Sir " Joseph What'. in • name ?
Cannot those gentlemen who would call in "Sir
Joseph" learn a lesson from the experience of a neigh-
bouring town. There they called in a certain "Sir
John" (a, no doubt, very eminent engineer), and
he gave a scheme for drainage, • report was sent to
the Local Government Board, and much talk took
place on the matter. What is the result Mr.
Hawbesky, another Cit., Is called in, he makes a
survey, and then, under the plea of raornutiosat,
gnome, he consults "Sir john," with the re•ult
that he makes a report confirming in a remarkable
wanner the plans of Sir John Goode!! If lam wrong,
Mr. Editor, I must be pardoned for having misunder-
stood the reports in your columns from time to time.
Fee the final result I must refer you to the reply of
the "Board above," In your list week's issue, in the
wares of which I read

--77h7 (Local -(overnment) Board have had Mr.
Bowknots?' report (which !appears to relate only to the
subsoil drainage of the Park) under their consideration :
hat neither this report nor the other documents forwarded
'pith your letter appear to the Board to show any sufficient
reason why the wheme of Sir John Goode. for munping
and clarifying the whole of the sewage. should not be
carried oat."
This is the result, submisdve ratepayer ! and had
Sir Joseph not been kept out of Dorchester by the
plain outspoken exprewtons of "Mr. Gilpin and his
blowers" (qu,ting somewhat the language of your
wormy contemporary) we should no doubt In a few
years have found ourselves in the saw, state. Mr.
Galpin and others advocated open compedtioo for a
plan for disposayd the sewage. I humbly ask, is this
even ne . We have a thoroughly practical
Surveyor to Mt. Norman, a gentleman trholtas had
moat experience. Cannot he give urn a e•Mme_
go farther. Is it $ fact that be Ma • scheme by
igkich be can and will decently &woes 01 oar
wrap, and with profit to the town? " That may be.