The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-13 00:00:00

limos'.

Mr. FALWASSIS moved "That the Superintendent of
Police of the Sherburne divieion be authorised •nd
empowered by the Court to act as an assistant reliev-
ing officer for vagrents for the Sherhorne Union. Mr.
John Goodden unaided the motion, and urged that
frequently the relieving officer could not be found,
w berate
people could always find their way to the station-
house. lie nrpd the adoptida of the motion, as be
believed one of its effeeta would be greatly to reduce
vagrancy.-11r. Calcraft said it WSI something new to
Learn that the police omild always be found when
wanted, as the general opinion was that they Were
never at the right plain at the light time. Ife objected
to the motion on the ground that he thought the police
were already invested with eufficient authority, end
that enough work was thrust on their heads if it was to
be done well. They not only had the duties to perform
originally intended, but lately they had had a great deal
more thrust on their shoulders by the New Gems Law
Act. On • show of hands the motion was carried by •
majority of 36 to 14. The Police Instector of Lyme
Regis was subsequently appointed to a omit/a office for
that borough.
Mr. FLOTEII moved that :—Whereas, the Visiting
Justices of the County Lunatic Asylum of this
county have reported to the Court that the stun
of 1.36,01.10, previously ordered to be and sine,
raised by this Court for the purposes of building.
New Pauper Lunatic Asylum at Charutinster, in this
county, is only barely sufficient to build but not to
finish the saute, and that the 10111 of f:5,000 will be re,
paired for the purpose of furnishing and completing
and rendering the new &xylem, in all respects, fit and
ready for the reception of lunatics, and for making,
laying out, and completing the offices, outbuildings,
yards, warts, outlets, grounds, land and appurtenances
of and for such Asylum, and everything necessary for
the opening of snob Asylum :—lt is ordered by this
Court, in pursuance of "The Lunatic Asylums Act,
1863," that the said ram of £5,000, for the purposes
aforesaid, be reined by • further mortgage of the rates
of this county, at a rate of interest not exceeding £5
per cent, per annum ; the said principal sum of £5.000
to be repaid by instalment', similar to the 1.36.000
borrowed of the Sun Fire Insurance Cowpony, subject
to • clause for paying off the seam or any portion, not
being less than one-fifth thereof, at the end co the lint
or second, or other current year, upon notice being
given to the mortgagees for that purpose. The motion
on being seconded was unanimously carried.
Mr. FLOTII also moved that as soon as the New
Pauper lennatio Anthem, at Charminster, in this county,
is finished, and the Patients are removed therein, the
Visiting Justices of the Aryl= be authorised and
empowered by this Court, with the previous 'Consent
of one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State,
Under his hand, to sell, either by public auction or
private contract, and subject to any condition, all and
singular the mansion house, building., lands, and
premises known as "Forston Asylum," the same
having been found unsuitable, and not required for the
purposes of an asylum for this county, lied that the
money to be realised frown the sale thereof, be applied
' in carrying into execution the powers and purposes
of "The Lewitt* Asylums Act, Mr.
, Sheridan did not mows an amendment but he
end that it was greatly to he desired that the eagle of
' the lam Mr. Brown who took so prominent a part M
county in behalf of their lunatic paupers, shottld be
handed down in connectiog with their Lunatic Asylum
for peer.—Mr. (lembeirtge, addressed the court in •
ei miler strain,and urged the postponement of thequeetion
to • future meeting.—leord Shaftesbury end the chair-
. man also urged that the notion should be withdrawn
for the present with • view of ascertaining whether •
measure could not be adopted for retaining the Forsten
Lunatic Asylum in the hands of the county, and devote
if to the purpose of an Asylum for the clans -ho could
not be received as pauper lunatics, but where they
might receive all the advintages of an asylum
at the bare charge of maintenance. Mr. Flom then
I withdrew his resolution.
Ttlit Sitw HIGHWAY ACT.

Tbe Clettehts mid they were now some to the most
Important beano* of the day—the consideration of the
New Highway Act. A large number of petitions were
here presented Preen various parishes and districts in
the county, praying not to be krolaght under the opera-
tion of the Act. —The noble chairman, who appeared
to be labouring ender • very ill state of health, then
gave an elaborate explanation of the New Highway Act,
and combatted the whole of the objections that had
been raised against it. He maid that it had been con-
sidered best to raise the larger question Ant, as that
embraced the smaller, but if the larger question was
opposed, then the smaller would be considered seriatim.
The larger question was, to outsider the propriete of
dividing the whole county into Righerey districts,
the smaller question" Were, as to constitutiatg
the pariehes of the Cerne Dirision, the parishes
ot the Wimborne division, and the perishes of the
Stanninster division, into Highway districts. The
blame, if any blame was to be attached to raising the
larger question, must be ittriboted to hire, as Reding
that three divisions pf the county hid given notice of
applying to come under the operations of the New High-
way Act, he, after having' conversation with several
magistrates, thought it would be well to raise the question
as to the feeling of the whole county on the subject.
When be took the liberty of saying • few word, to the
Grand Jury, at the last sessions, he was obliged, from
the state of his health, to confine his remarks thistly
to the new Amenunent Act although he, hod been
desirous to speak of the new tiligheray Ant, because it
was perfectly deer to him the the magistrate, of the
epunty would not do an act in opposition to the feelings
ol the ratepayer+, and they would desire that the rate-
payers, before they sacrificed their feelings, should
take time to consider what the law really was, and en-
deavour to inform themeelres upon, end .undentand
the new orteua, and he believed that if the Highway
Art had been folly expounded at the last quarter
sessions, a considerable amount of misconeeption would
have been unveided. There could be
te than nothing much un-
fortunate the (hive pegitions that had taken
againn thy Act. Its had bls attention eel ed first to
the principle of centralisation it was supposed to cen•
tam—the taking away from the ratepayer§ their control
over the espenditure of their Own mosey; whereas it
wee preeisely the retsina (Hew, hear). the geese mass
a the men of this county, and at other earn of
England, had been eaceedingly desirous that county
boards should be established for the porpom of check-
ing the county rates. This Act was a great step
in this direction' because the money expended in the
parish would be controlled by the waywardena
elected by the parish or district, and instead of being
put to the expense of employing • surveyor, who, by
the order of two magistrates weld repo* oh their
made, they would ender the new Act have the peach-
Rob of • body Of elected ratengen and waywardens to
See that Only what was reasonable should be done
In the parish, and to direct that the work should be
surveyed and properly carried out; thus taking sway
from the magistrates the power, and substituting the
jurisdiction of the ratepayers as • cheek upon the exer-
cise of the magisterial powers. But why was anything
of this kind wanted at all! Because there is no unitive
power to make the wayerarden do his duty (hear hear.)
Ile is liable at present to be fined foe neglecting his
duty, but beforea !Initiate-ate con set, some ohe must
iay in infoimation against the weywarden. People,
howerer, are slow to do then things; neighbours do
netlike to act thus to neighbour'. A man, perhaps,
drives over a rough road, but after he gets to the ead
of his journey, it is less trouble for him to go home
quietly than to prefer • complaint against the way.
warden for neglect of duty. But if wayward.. ni were
elected by their parishes, supported by such justices!
as chose to attend, tbey could babe the peeve of
directing their 'nervier to report on the road whet It
requires repair. But the surveyor was to be paid, as
some persons imagine. • dreadful salary, and at • great
expease to the pari)hea and district. Let them inquire
how the syetem worked where it had been tried. In South
Wales, some years since, a precisely similar Act to this
was brought into operation. Before this the roads
were such that for visitors or inhabitants to pass over
them in eomfort was out of the queetne; indeed, in
many plies' they ',Mild scarcely be celled roads. Turn-
pffie road, were then established, but "Rebecca" set to
work and knocked down the toll-gates. Parliament
then interfered, and the system under dis-
cussion was adopted in South Wales, the
efteet being that their roads were. pet lb excellent
order, and at very small ',avenge!. He had a pamphlet
before him, which stated the expense at something less
than steaming in the pound for the officers employed
to carry it mit. (Hear, hear). The expenn of keeping
the roads in repair was also to materially dintiniebed
that the men of !eolith Wares applied to Parliament a
fats years since for a similat Act, and this system bad
been so euccessfully in operation in both North and
South Wales, as to induce the Legislature to pass the
present Act. He perceived from one of the papets
that morning, that • gentleman in this county mewed
to imagine that 2a. 6d. in the potind was to be charged
upon his little perish, whet, the roads were in beautiful
order—whieh he had pat in order, and kept in order—
and tow he was to be charged 2s. M. in the pound,
which would be £125 out of his pocket ; that be was to
pay for other parishes, where the ratepayers had failed
to maintain their roads in order. elaughter.) Now if
this gentleman had got to pay for the roads of his
neighbours, be agreed with him that it would be
eiceedingly hard, but what was the fact? He would
pay nothing whatever towards repairing_ the roads of
the district to which he was attached. He wpuld pay
his alime of the officers' interim, which would be his
contribution to his neigishottr's "ammo, as well as his
insurance that his own reeds vial be kept in repair.
(Hear, bear.) The gentleman who made this state-
meet evidently could not have studied the Act of
Parliament, otherwise he would have seen that his con-
tributions would be marvellously small. He must hays
failed to read the clause which shows the quota he
would have to contribute towards the eatabliihment
charges, would be calculated on the expense incurred
by him during the throe next preceding years to the
pasting of the Ant, as that he who fancied be
would have to pay £125. in all prcbability would pay
about 2.. a year, as an insurance that he would get good
roads, and his contribution towards his neighbours'
roads being mat in • proper condition by • competent
enrveyor. (Hear hear.) It would appear also that those
who have studied the new Act have not studied the
old Act; brogues they assert that their rites would be
2s. 13c1. in the E, or £llB,OOO for the purposes of the
• 2e. 64 in the E was a feature of the old Act
itself where 2'. 6d. in the E was the m•sireum, and the
new Act had followed the rune male. But under the
old Act their rates had not been 2a. As il2 the E. At
so one time had their rates averaged much above 44, in
the E. But on this point be wished to make a remark.
In one mai of this county the material for roads is re-
unite* bad, and laid on in the worst possible manner.
The moment it was drawn from the quarry it was
Placed on the road, before it had been allowed to Income
nomparetively hard. Therefore, if a surveyor was
employed, he would collect material on a proper
systeeri, and pot it at the side of the road to become
loosened for use. He could not imagine that any one
would really think they ought to leave the roads to
eery well-intentioned, but very ineompetent way-
wardens. (Hear, hem). He would now trouble them with
• few Mitres on this question, and lie could not believe
that if they had been made known at the last 'onions,
they would have saved much unnecessary alarm,
and if he had not been so feeble in health
at that time, he should have plead them before
tbe grand jury. According to the parliamentary
returns, the total expense of the roads in the county of
Dorset was £16.700 per annum, which was leas than M.
in the pound; sd. in the pound, according to the
County rate, would give £17,7311. therefore a five-
penny rate would leave us about EI,OOO in 4and.
What did the nienty new pay for Wanes! Probably

it was about DWI lent year, therefore the difference be-
tween firepenee in the rued and the actual expendi•
lure. adding ibidP.sl now paid, would give about
£l.500; that would exceed all that could possibly be
required for payment of treasurere',surveyors',and clerks'
salaries in this county. If for nearly that stun of
money they Could get their work well done. he would
ask any magistrate, any workman, Or occupier
of
the large tenant farms of this county, whether they
were prepared to say, that in the ease of roads. they
were not to do that which in their owp bagmen they
Wet. /tilt, to do—to ØtPractice and Science to-
gether. Applause). They woad get practical men—for
what after all is practical knowledge? What is •
practical man' A man who undertakes to do what be
knows how to do. (Heat, bear). Therefore he appre-
hended they would rather this expense of C 16,700 should
be spent by a man who knew how to spend it usefully,
than entrust it to men who, no doubt, did their best,
but bad neither Use skill, nor could give the time to do
the matter aright. (Applause). He saw • waywarden
the other day, and talked him what he thought about
the Act. He said be should like to keep the manage-
ment of the roads In his Own bands. He (fis lordship)
said " You must recollect, under this new Act, you
will have it, as you are quite sore to be elected May-
warden, as you are guardian, and you will have the
power of economising the system ; you will have the
opportunity of knowing what the surveyor proposes to
do, and if you do not approve of it you will have the
opportunity of giviag your ref " The raywarden
replied that his roads were in beautiful order. He (the
chairman) &rented as far as the part of the parish the
witywardea occupied, but whet had he to sly to tbe
mile and a quarter, be (his lordship) had to drive over
so carefully for fear of breaking his springs? The way.
warden confessed that was a bad road enough, and he
was going to put fire him on it. But, he replied. "It
you had put • surveyor there last winter, be would have
told you by a little management you would only have
spentabillings where you will now have toes pend pounds.'
The ertywar4en hal an interest in the parish when he
first goes to live in it ; naturally looking to what roads
he is likely to use, his first object was to pot them in
repair, and nobody could oppose him, for he was Limo-
nite and irresponsible. But when he became a member
of the Board he has • responsible surveyor to whom he
can make his complaint. But suppose the waywarden
to be • gentleman about to leave the district, having
little interest in the locality, he neglects the rods,
knowing that if summoned before the magistrate it is
cheatur to pay a small 6ne than to be celled to pay a
large contribution that would make the rolls a benefit
to himself and those who succeed him. There was no.
thing under the presort system to oblige that way-
warden to expend his money in keeping the roads in •
good state of repair. This new law allows a board .4
eleeted ratepayers to control the expenditure of £16,700
in the county. The county rate expenditure, according
to the last sheet, wee something about £14,000.
Now what was their practice in expending this
sum? They took the greatest possible care. '(hey
employed a most skilful s yor for the county
bridges and buildings They were as careful as possible
Cot to spend anything more than was absolutely DOOO3-
Nary to comply with the Act of Parliament. If a
hoard was required to cheek them in this metier,
surely a board of ratepayern eras requisite to superin-
tend the disbursement of this £16,7W for the purpoce
of the road.. (Hear, bear.) The course he would take
the liberty of advising the court to adopt would be as
follows :—They •hould determine, if they thought fit,
to divide the county into highway districts, and then
decide, as a prima facie principle, to apportion it
either into poor law die/seta, or magisterial divisions,
as might be thought best. If they were pleased to
081 to this, he considered thee the right, the graceful,
mid the just course towards the ratepayers of the
county would be to take no further steps in the matter
at present, but that an opportunity should be afforded
the county of reading and connidering what had been
uttered in court. He would then recommend that an
adjourned session be held at the end of January, at
Blandford (which he would he able to attend), at
which court any pariah objecting to he inserted in such
highway district should be heard. Then if the court
saw it was not convenient lkod impedieut that such
parish should be attached to the district, they would no
doubt exclude it. Then the course being no far clear
the sessions should be again adjourned to February, by
which time there might be an opportunity for any
parishes that were in doubt to make up their minds
upon the subject. Then the aame process having been
gone over again, a provisional order might be made
which would be laid before the court for final conside-
ration at the Ilichselusa• Becions of this year. Hie
Lordship then proceeded to say that in a parish
where til, Owner and the meanie, were one, they
would be wrong to include such pariah, bockats they
might ha., their roads esthete femme, as there was
• particular clause which defined the mode he which
such parishes were to be provided for. He con-
sidered that if the court endeavoured to meet the
Wishes of the county in mine such way as he hail
mentioned; they Would do then best (or thb whole body
of ratepayers, and at the same time glee it to those who
required it, • skilled man at • small expense. They
would do violence to no man, they would defraud no
man, and oppress none. (Loud applause.) He would pro-
pose that the county be divided into Highway District. ;
they would then see what the wishes of the county
veep...(hear, hear.) . .

,
Lord tine/Tient:6r seconded lie motion.
Nt. ridtotoexii•ON read the Ist section of the new
Act, which staten that no rate of more than 10d, in the
pound can be levied at any one time, and that 2a. 6d. is
the maximum of the rate to be levied in a year.
The CHAIRMAN explained that under the old law,
provided the justice's sent a peremptory order to spend
money (for under the present syatem they have power
even to aides roads), the way-wardens must pay a rate
of 2..fk1, for the roads. Me did opt believe any board of
elected •sywardens would expend to that amount. lie
believed the board would take care nothing wee done to
force them to incur an expenditure of 2a. 6d. in the
pound ; wherkmi, under the present law, nothing could
prevent it if the magistrates gave an order to that
effect. A parish in the eastern part of the county had
to finish an excellent new road, but before it was cont•
pleted, a piece of old road passing down a deep water•
course wan indicted at these ...ions. The old road
was intended to be stopped when the new one was
finished, but until the old rued Was atomised, the parish
was liable to repair it, bet from a fortnnaLit confliction
of circumstanoes judgment was not given. But what
would have been the judgment? Mr. Yeatnian's vote
on the cue was that the least sum be could or ler the
parish to pay on that nucleon road would be C5llO, and
be believed they must go to the expense of 1:1,000.
What would that parish have said if the court had
ordered them to pay tlOOO to repair a road that
was good for nothing. (Hear heart. Mut it was ill the
power and sometimes in the interest of the magistrike to
order such • inun.

_
Mr. Fborza was sure be expresed the feeling of the
court when he said how mush they were indebted to
their noble chairman for the interesting and full 'dor.
:nation he had afforded on the subject, and the great
labour his lordship must have undergone. (Hear, hear.)
He (Hr. Floyer) had been a waywarden for twenty-one
yeats. and !octet coffiess to it little Indisposition to find
himself superseded, and was somewhat loath to agree
to the introduction of the new Act. The road in his
district had been gradually improving. and he was very
mullions that some little time should have been given
for the consideration of this great and important
question. Lord Portman had given them so full and
interesting • statement, that it was desirable it should be
weighed fully , by the county, and hit could be arranged
in any way that this able statement should pus into
the hands of the ratepayers before the court came to
a decided conclusion, he considered such • course would
be advisable. Ile wished to know whether in be case
of any pariah objecting at the adjourned sessions to be
included in any district, that objection would have
to he raised on legal grounds, and whether it would
be open to any parish. supposing the ratepayers did
not like to be included in • district, whether the
court would thirik it desirabls to •sempt that pariah
from the opetation of the law? if so there would he diffi-
culties, as there must be in carrying out great questions
of this kind. The difficulty would be this; if a surveyor
was appointed for the whole district, and many parishes
dropped out, the burden wohld be increased to the
district.
The CHAIRMAN said if the parish could stale that
it. roads wets in good order, and it did not desire to be
in the district, the magistrates could exclude it, but
they would have to coruMer whether it would be worth
their while. When once the Quarter Seseiona bad flied
• parish in the district no one could take it out except
the Quarter Sessions. Therefore it was quite right
they should deal as delicately aa possible in including
any parish that did not wish it. Supposing • district
was shorn of its fair proportions by • number of
parishes remaining out, the ch•rge would then be more
burdensome. The wisest course then would be to take
the surveyor of the neighbouring district for their
surveyor—for instanee,the Blandfordidistriet might unite
with Wimborne in employing the same surveyor, thus
diminishing the coat of salary to each.' Thus throe or
four unions might aree to employ one surveyor. In
this way Hr. Harris, of Sornersetahire, haul brought
the roads into • good state of repair, at • marvenouely
I small coat. The surveyor of the Northern part of
Dorsetehire had stated that he would undertake the
whole of the roads of that district upon the existing
rate according to the last Parliamentary return, mad
would contract to save 25 per cent, upon the expendi-
ture of those rates. (Hear hear).
CALCIATT thought the subject required volatile-
Mon, and moved an amendment that the question be
adjourned till next sessions.
The CHAIRMAN then said the original question was
that "it is expedient the whole county be divided into
Highway Districts." To this an amendment had been
proposed "that the further consideration of the ques-
tion be postponed till the adjourned session."
The amendment being put, 17 declared in Its favour,
and 39 were for proceeding at once.
The Ciaremcmr then put the original question for the
division of the county into Highway Districts.
The voices in favour of the propmition were • large
majority, and it was declared carried.
The Cnazamax then asked whether the meeting
preferred the Magisterial Divisions, or the Poor Law
Unions?
Mr. IL K. Smirk proposed that the Magisterial
Divisions should constitute the Highway Districts.
This was unanimously agreed to.
The court then broke up, with the understanding
that at its rising, the Sessions be adjourned to the Tow/s-
-hall, Blandford, on the 28th of January.