The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-08-22 00:00:00

THE nE(i.:Aits• K NAP CONTROVERSY.

If the reader refers to our report of the last Town
Council he will probably INperience a ,ympathetie
feeling f relief in seeing, that if we cannot writefisois
in regard to this wearisome squabble, we have at all
events enteml upon the beginning of the end. A
courteous breaking of lances no doubt lends
piquancy to promedings generally of a somewhat
solemn character; lint when this degenerates into
al t liblbh attempts to pick holes, and is continued
meeting after meeting, ths public begin to get
nauseated, and a body which above all others should
maintain its self respect, is apt to acquire a notoriety
upon which it cannot congratulate itself. No doubt
we could put our fingers upon half-a-dozen other
places in the West where the municipal authorities in
the tone of their discussions have far exceeded the
Town Council of Dorchester ; but foeilis dertovis, and
there is no knowing to what a level we might have
arrived. Therefore we think it is a matter for con-
gratulation, both to the Corporate body and the town
Itself, that hut little more remains to be said upon
the subject, and that the angry feelings which have
been excited on either side may F.H.11 be relegated to
the records of the ;gist. In common with most
people we would gladly have seen the trees preserved
—the Mayor himself expreased the same feeling at the
last meeting—but it is utterly imiewsible a row of
trees should be allowed to constitute an insurmount-
able obstacle in the way of the improvements of a
town. That the erection of a class of villas, of which
the middlemian may be enabled to avail I self, is a
necessity the newt ardent opposer of the scheme
cannot ignore. That it will be a financial benefit to
the town, an impartial gentleman, who pickets I:50
for some six hours work, has advised "toy Lords." In
that they have acquiesced, although they recommend
if possible the trees should be ..pared. The Council of
themselves do not priqeeie to cut them down, but they
leave it optional to the purchaaers uf the leases. Now,
then, is is chance for threw intense lovers of nature- •
and it is really astonishing what a number have
suddenly declared themselves so to be—to purchase the
leases themselve:4 and to retaiuthe trees.

The wa): which the queltion Ji.e.7l;een dealt with

--
throughout demands a word. To Us it seems that
beaten, the minority have indulged in a vexatious
badgering of their opponents. Take as a case in point
the letter which contained the offer made by Mr.
Andrews—and in that gentleman the parties in
favour of the preservation of lithe trees had as able
and earnest an advocate se they could wish. What
was the complaint of Mr. Gregory and others ?
the Mayor had not laid it before the Council, prior to
handing it to Mr. Clutton. But what were the facts?
It arrived on the very morning .4 the enquiry, and
if the Mayor had chosen to have kept it in his pocket
until the next meeting, the Lords of the Treasury
would never have had it brought before them that such
an offer had been made. Mr. Antlrews himself called
for it, and it WM not until then the Town Clerk put
the document in. What, as Alderman Galpin
emphatically asked, would have been said if its pro-
duction had been declined on the ground that it had
not yet been before the Council, to whom it was
addressed? Such puerile attempts at finding fault are
self-evident, and naturally induces the consideratitm,
are there no arguments that can be adduced, and no
one capable of laying them forcibly before the public.
To torn to the si o ect of affairs utsid C e the ounciL
There cannot be a ould but there has been a strong
Popular expression of feeling against the razing f the
trees. How it should have inanifested itself so
vigorously is a question that would puzzle most to
answer, but certain it is that such has been the cage.
But a reference to our pages will show that that
expression has received the most careful considera-
tion and been thoroughly well weighed. The May tr
undoubtedly received an ovation —and here we use the
word in its proper ',mine, although metaphorically—
at the Farmers' Club Dinner; but post-prandial
utterances are not for the most part to be taken as
very deeply meant, and this will apply equally to
the cheers that greeted Mr. itodge,. and Mr. Gregory,
the doughty champions of what some may consider
the rights lif the people. Men who take a popular
view of a question are sure to he heroes in
the eyes of the ispulace -witness the Keighley
Guardians. These gentlemen are undoubtedly in
favour, and if what they have done is to be measured
by the rule of a certain sect' of public opinion,
they are ileservedly sit., bit we know they.
would be the first to admit their ~riponents had
been equally honest in the course they had
Immo]. 'no nr it appears, and we are sorry
to have to say it, the greatest offender against
good taste anti decency has been .sir contemiwary
the Chronicle. The spasmodic attempts it has inade
to Ito stnart in connection with this iluestiou would be
laughal tie were it not that there is something sad in a
paper hitherto distinguished by its dull reapectability,
suddenly taking to Billinsgate anti throwing
mu.l. Had its articles have been distinguished Ity
either wit or argument line would hare grumbled.
One can forgive the sting if the lash is neatly handled ;
but when a paper descends to sneering at a man's
head.dress it shows that its morality of argument is
at a very low ebb indeed. To associate an Indian
helmet with Mayorial duties, anti foimmid upon it an
abusive sneer, is about as logical am if we were to con-
. . . .

tend that to' appear in pUblic, accompanied by a
dilapidated "gamp," rendered a man unfit for the
duties of an Editor, or that an adherance to a
"swallowtail " disbarred him from the respect and
esteem of his fellow-citizens. What right, we should
like to know, has the Chrooith to impute to the
Mayor, Alderman (hula, Mr. Burnett, and others,
a pig-headed olndinacy Surely, those gentlemen
have an equal, if not a greater, stake in the
interests of the town than those who villify them.
Let them be right or wrong in the decision they hail
row to, we maintain—and having heard every discus.
shoi we are in a position to judge--they have
arrived at the conclusion they love after honest,
•• _

patient, an,l conecientiom comideration. It hag not
yet been proved to be wrong as Mr. Burnett
time will
.show." .ftntl, until it Khall. have been

clearly and diatinctiv olenuMstrated to he "a wretched
error .4 judgment,' we believe all right-thinking
people will give the Council credit for having done
what they were firmly convinced was for the benefit
of the town. The remark that the Mayor may consider
himself the most unmailar no that ever Is:eluded the
civie chair, and the of being turned ,ut. of the
. . . . .

Council lo;rie.l at other memben,,ihey ei,a; well &ffonl
to re4wr.l
.with txostetallot. We helieve the 1110 A

election will again KV thoec enLlemen returned to
their seats, „edi the Grworioa chant of disapproba-
tion, which has been so loudly rhormsed, will prove
to be as misdirected as leserved.

In reply to Mr. GREGORY, the MAYOR said it Was
pmposed to form the path on the north side, by lower.
log the ground.
The SURVEYOR then produced his plan, and Mr.
G stoma his compasses; and the latter having made
several minute observations, declared 40 feet had been
taken off lots 1 anal 2 from the original plan, which
wa.s al., produced. Subsequently he reduced the
amount to 20 feet: but
The SultvEro It. who said the original plan was a rough
one, declared there was no difference between the
plan he then I:null:cc' and the one sent to the
To a- ury.
lie would like to see the plAn sent to the treasury,
Mr. GRESORY said.
Mr. SLADE Kupposea they luel got it up there?
That WAR MO, the Sreveroe
'limn he would likes vopy, Mr. GREGoRr remarked :
awl subsequently that gentleman was told he could
probably get is " tracing ' by writing for it.
Then a multitude of questions were put, and
answered as they have been before—ad nauseant.
Mr. honors elicited the ground-rents would realise
L':l2 10s., thus showing a gam of only £2 10s. on Mr.
Andrews's offer.
Mr. Gasoonr followed up with the remark that
if they accepted Mr. Andrews's offer, they would also
have a right to the ground when required.
Mr. F. LOCK wanted the trees preserved at all
hazard,.
Alderman Gat.rts said if they attempted to put
any restrictions on the rights of purchasers, why they
might as well give it up altogether, for they would
only he laughed at.
If he were a purchaser, Mr. BENNETT said, he would
do what he liked with the trees.
The plan of the committee, Mr. 'tomes sail, made
no reservation, and that he would admit to be sensible,
for it was plain if it were carried out the trees must
some down.
In reply to a Councillor, the MAYOR said the build-
ing line would be 26 feet from the present frontage of
the ground.
Upon that Mr. SI.AI DE drew a pretty ffirtitre, which
we hope will be realised. He said, 'Then people
will have little gardens in front, with an iron railing,
anal we shall make a nice thing of it."
A long anal desultory conversation ensued, as to the
sort of houses to be built. It would appear from the
explanations given, that it is not to be a line of houses
holing off into perspective, the last a twin brother to
the first anal all the others; but, subject to certain
regulations, parch:were are to be allowed to build
according to their fancy. Two of these regulations
are that no " seas 1111 l e" trwle or isublic.house busbies.;
is to beau-rived on ; whereupon Mr. GeV:MeV said then
they might have arapery or grocery establishments.
The 51avon resmwked he would justas soon livenext
to is draper or a grocer as a— . (Hi* worship did
not conclude the comparison.)
It was then propoaed by Mr. DURDIN, and seconded
by Mr. lletreerr, that the report of the general
purposes Committee be adopted.
Mr. GREGGRY followed with a protest. lie, before
the resolution was carried, protested against the
recommendations of the Committee being carried out.
They had to bins all the appearance* of an evasive way
of reauoving the trees. It was true the report aid not
say the trees were to taken away, but they were going
to cut Gft. of the land away clone to them, and they
would of necessity cut away their root., anal what
result coula there be but that they mud come down.
If they were determined to build there—although he
would much rather see the land reserved for other
purposes, why let them pass a resolution to that
effect but let it he sonic. other, that should not
necessite tie cutting down of the trees. An long as
that was included in the scheme he would oppose it in
every possible way. No doubt many unkind, and
unjustifiable remarks had been made on the opposition.
lie himself had been told that he had been legally
advised. (Interruption.) Anal a gentleman at the
last general purposes Committee meeting, told him
that he ( r Gregory), hal been specially commissioned
to get cup all the opposition anal noise. He would like
to know if he thought he was remunerated. (Further
interruption.)
Mr. B. um:err : My dear fellow ,you are only taking
up our time for nothing.
That gentlemen was not there on that occasion
or he woad.' have asked him the question ; and he
wand.' In so on the next awca • .
I lie must really keep to the question the MAYolt
told him.
For his part, if they could not preserve all the
trees, he wonlal like to see some endeavour made by
which, if some Kix 'Sr seven of the worse looking—or
scrubby, as some people called them--of the trees were
sacrificed, the others might be preserved ; and there
was really no reason why, if the houses were kept
back, they ahould not be. There were many instances
In the town where this plan had been adopted. Let
them look at the houses of 1)r. Aldridge and Mr.
Damon. Those residences had been occupied ever
ainee his recollection. Let them then give it a trial
anal put up the lots subject to the preservation of the
trees, and if they could not sell them, why they could
then put them up again.
Ilow many trees were removed, Mr. BENNETT
asked, from the front of Mr. Sturt's building at the
bottom if South,-street? To this Mr. GREGORY
replied none, but Mr. ileeeerr maintained there
were two or three fine ones taken down.
Ultimately Mr. Gut:cone proposed and Mr. HODGES
seconded an amendment that the report of the coin-
mitteee, as it did not contain any conditions for the
rtaservation of the trees, be received. hut not adopted.
On being put, there vote," for it the proposer and
seconder and Mr. F. Lock, the other Councilors
hadaling up their hands against it. The resolution,
on being put, met with an exaetly inapposite fate, and
was consequently carried.
'rho Mavant then proposeal that the Town Clerk be
instructed to take the necessary steps to offer the
northern portion of Beggars' Knap for sale at terms,
anal according to the lots propored.
It was cmtenaleal hy Mr. Bueserrthose instructions
haul been already given; and a talk about "reserve"
prices followed.
Alderman G.tf.ete considered it would he better that
matter should be left in the hands of two members of
the CounciL If it csme before the whole Council it
might AS well he advertised in the papers ; at the same
time—in answer to suggestions--he positively declined
to be one of the two.
Hid Mr. Galpin, Mr. ligeoenv wanted to know,
pretend that there were any more powers of secrecy
attached to a certain one or two member* than to the
rest.
Turning his back upon Mr. Gregory and addressing
the Mayor, Alderman Gatrie declined to answer
questions which tended to excite unpleasantness and
remarked there was is tendency among some people to
say things which ghoul.' provoke discord at every
meeting. He would, please God, go front that meet.
in,g without being irritated. If the matter were left
solely in the hands of the Tanen Clerk he himself would
be perfectly satisfied.
Ultimately the Mayor's proposition was seconded
by Mr. F. Breserrr.
Previous to its being putt to the Council Mr.
Holkate requested to be allowed to say a few aupple-
ruentary warts, ana this coarse was acceded to by
his Worship.
Very sorry was Mr. Holmes the trees were going
to lee sada, but the Council being determine,' upon
the sale, it seemed to him it became a very Kennel
consialeration as to the preaervation of their rights in
the fair gra, 1111 l 1 and the public revenue derived (nen
it. The Council were poesewsors of the whole of
Beggars' Kuala, aud they were about to sell one-third
of it, anal that one-thin] there waa no doubt was the
moat valuable portion ad it, as it wail that situate
menet the town. But, let them profit by experience,
I take care that in doing MO they did not injure the
juridic interest in regard to ',neat.: sale grounds.
rhey had, unfortunately, already had to uphold their
rights to those revenues in the law courts at a coat, he
was sorry to nay, of elm ; anal he thought it was a
matter worthy the consideration of the Council that
,luring those terms of 99 yearn those rights were
not infringed upon by private enterprise. It
appeared to him that purchasers of these lota would
be entirely uncontrolled, and a man might purchase
four or five lots, and might establish a market ground
of his own upon it. (No, no.) He contended it
was very possible their land might be used for the sale
of agricultural productions, machinery, live and dead
stick, and that at present they coubl not protect them-
selves from any such sweeping measure. Ile therefore
proposed for the consideration of the Council as
follows :—" That inasmuch to the intended fair anal
market-ground will he appropriated to the exhibition
and sale of agricultural live and dead stock, horses,
wool, implements, machinery, and other merchandise
for agricultural use. it is essential for the protection of
the interests of the Connell, and the preservation of
the revenue of the sail fair anal market ground, that
the leaxes of the land adjoining anal now proposed to
be aold should contain a covenant forbidding the use of
such land for the exhibition or sale of such live and
dead stock and other merchandise, the sale of which
will be provided for in the intended public fair and
market granand."
Alderman Gm.eus asserted his belief they were all
:dive to the interests of the town ; but he hardly
thought there was any necessity for the resolution,
for it had been expressely atated before any sort of
building curial be erected the plan 1111 l st be submitted
to the ll' 1111 l ;at the same time' as he woe mansions
au the rest that nothing aletrimental ohu,uulh hex done to
the fah gra 1, which they haul established at so
great an expense, be begged to second the motion.
. . . .

It was then put and cartie,l unanimously.
Nlayor's motion was also carried, 11.1 r. }lodges,
Mr. tiregory, and Mr. F. Lock soting againet iL
The fact that the Council meeting had been called
at the unusual hour of 4 p.m. was, in Mr. GREGORT.B
ojdnion, typical of the haste exhibited in other direc-
tions and ler those circumstances be would, if they
wou1:1 allow him, make a proposition with regard to
the fair gr I. }le would like to see the whole of it
go on with the same speed and haste aa the northern
I,ortion, and he proposed, "That the Surveyor be
.. ,

prop..
instructed immediately to prepare the details of the
plans, sheil4, kc., proposed to l,e erected in the new
fair and market ground. in order that tenders for the
RAMO may be speedily obtained...
The mattery,:ts not on the agenda paper the MAYOR

remarked, hut Mr. liveurr said there was no objec.
Lion and he would second it.
The Msvort 41 not himself object, he would be eery
glad to see it being got on with.
The moluthm was accordingly agreed to.
A proposition that the Surveyor should be sent to
inspect collie of the hest of the pro% incial markets
bef.,re preparing his plans was negatived.

THE DIR11:4 QE THE THEASURV.