The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-08-29 00:00:00

merit_
Davis, Mr Herbert Hodges, Mr Hill, Mr C. Bamford, iaawnialel,thatiine:4aet,ltetehaaaer
toatfhfatuhaleeta.2l2.srtsJhdualifylacarthlasnLetair
Mr Jamieson, Mr r Nlutford, Mr Hayman,
Mr Matthew H.Tilley, Barnes,dr T. S. Biggs, NU Cockeratn,
jun., Mr W. l'artniter, Mr Cox, Mr Marsh, Mr G. requisite.
ovenants for their protection and remove if
*.thrhilt:yrvoTurrtaloownrdillosfhni
Hawkins, Mr W. Tilley, Mr I'. Rogers, Mr F. Read, fte:!•eif. P. ...ki
Mr H. Damon, Mr Vatcher, Mr T. G. Bryer, Mr J. the memorial and to
I: KEA DWI to propose the adoption of
embrace the opportunity to make
Guy, Mr 11. Groves, Mr W. l'. Eakins, Mr Ilossei, a few remarks as to his reason for taki the chair on
Mr L. Gregory, Mr F. ih,ljand, Mr White, A r a previous occasion, lie went there like many others,
Wright, Mr I'. NVablen, Mr .1. R. Ceoper, Mr Brown, he to, al. what there was to be said ; and, in Lamipliance
Mr Stroud, Mr Jeffery, Mr Gree kf. Mr 11. 11"g11.• with the wishes of those present, be took the chair.
Mr Fenner, Mr Dibben, Mr Russell, Mr .1. Rowe,
eldi he had no right to (1 g oso (A
Mr F. Seward, Mr L. Tilley. Mr Etans, 31. r But he hail been t
IL , Voice; "What for l-) Because he had RO . recently
Longman, Mr M.. Lock, Mr Baker, Mr 11. Dean, Mr 1
- • roine into the town. But, be that mit might, he con-
C. Read, Mr A. l)atuon, hlr .1. Hazel, Nlr. Hayward, ceived it to be the duty of every inhabitant to do all
Mr Ward, Mr Gramby, Mr Gould, Mr Dyson, ke. in his power in defence of the interests of the place
Close upon eight --which is the hour at which public in which he might reside-- (hear, hear)-and, therefore,
meetings fixed for half-past seven always commence in he certainly thought that on that occasion lie was not
Dorchester-the Rev. H. Everett, the rector of out of place. He wished also to my that, as regarded
Holy Trinity, who was announced to preside, ascended the number of those who attended the meeting, he
the platform and took the chair. It would be super- believed they were as many, if not more, than on the
fluous to say that much cheering evinced the present occasion • and, further, that they represented
popularity of the selection of president of the meeting, the most influential ratepayers of Dorchester. (Hear,
men came Mr. G. J. Andrews, Rev. H. P. Itaikes
hear.) Ile would also &ill that the reason why more
(chairman of the previous meeting), and Mr. Davis' signatures were not put that evening to the petition
and Mr. Hodges, two of the Council who don't agree was because of the numbers of those wwwo,
who
with the majority, and as each took his seat to support wished to sign, which caused many to withdraw under
the chairman he received a warm recognition. the belief that it would be 12 o'clock before they
The Rev. 11. EVERETT, in opening the meeting, said would be able to get to the table. That meeting was
he took it that MR a rule a chairman's duty was an held to express the opinion of the ratepayers-not so
easy one-simply to preoide at a meeting, to hear much, he thought, upon the question of the trees as
other people speak, and to try to heel' fair play the reception of the memorial from the town by the
However, before he commenced those easy duties he Council. If it had been read with respect he did not
would like to say just one won' with regard to Ids
~o believe the meeting would have been called. (Cheers.)
taking the chair on that occasion, lie had been Im Ile thought when they looked at that row of trees on
very plainly and freelythat he had no business to do so Beggars' Knap --honoured by the name of scrubby-
- (laughter)-that it was not his linos ince to mix him- they usoild stand on their own merits and in his
self up in local wpabliles. He would infinitely have 1 ble opinion they would agree that it was not so
preferred not to have omnpied that position, but much a question of the trees as whether or not the
there were times when one must put onesown feelings opi ii i, ma and the wishes of the majority of the rate-
into Itoe's iowket. Ile would much rather have otayed payers were represented by the gentlemen whom they
away, but he thought it incumbent ms,n him to be sent to the 'I own Council. 0 'ries of "No.") They
there and accordingly he was there o.do the best he knew very well 1n,,,, experience that there were
could and to express his own iii,' • Wheeno- two ways of settling that question. One rested
First id all he Mast make a request to them, although, with their representatives themselves the other
perhape there WAR 110 need to make ouch a ',commit, with thisue by whom they were elected. It was
but he would beg of them that night to let them have not for him to say which couree would be adopted, but
no angry words, nioleclamation, and alaive all no pemon- he felt that the question concerned the interests of the
alities. (Cheers.) He had always noticed one thing town and ought to be looked at in that way, and not
when he went out in the country -that the noisiest from a private or a personal point if view -(hear,
brooks were always the shallowfst-(laughter) -awl hear). No one was infallible ; all were liable to err ;
when he heard a man using est., strong language, and but when we do err, he thought we ought to have the
pouring a volley of abuse at its opponents he sail zuanliness to come forward and own it -(tremendous
that man was either deficient in brains or he had got applause).
For himself he had the deepest feelings of
a very weak MAW to advocate. (Much laughter.) respect for every member of the Town Council, per-
Nothing Was ever done in this world by abuse. They oonally ; but all regards their wisdom out dioplayeol in
had met there as they knew perfectly well to iliocuas the this matter, that was quite another thing-(laughter
acts of, and the course taken by, the Town Council. and cheers). When he read the accounts in the papers
With regard to the gentlemen of the Town Council, a and the conversationo which hall taken place at their
great many of them were his own personal friends, meetings he must say that though he had so recently
men whom he greatly respected and whom he mai come to Dorchester, he certainly felt rather small,
honestly and conscientiously he did not doubt had especially when he remembered that those accounts
every one of them been acting and voting according as nail gone forth to the world, With the chairman he
his own judgment and his own conscience told him wouhl ask them to refrain from personalities, lint let
was right. (Hear, beard lie believed all would every one who wished it, calmly, and as he had is right
admit that, and be thought they ought to say at once to do, express his opinion. If they thought the Town
they believed those gentlemen were acting at, they Council of Dorchester did not represent the opinions
thought right. (Hear, hear.) But, there was an old and the wishes of the majority of the inhabitanta, why
saying which many a them had learnt in their Latin should they not oay so-( ear, hear). lithe inhabitants
grammars as boys were wrong let them own it; if the Town Council why
"Nemo mortalium omnibus horis samt" let them dio the same, and the meeting that night would
which he would translate to them as "no one at all give them an opportunity to come forward, and do so
time* is perfectly sane and sensible.- (Laughter.) manly and nobly. (Cheers.) lie moved the following
We had all hail moments such as these in our lives. resolution All, they knew, had made very great mistakes in their -That the memorial of the inhabitants, ratepayers, and
lives, and if they hail to go over them again they would others to the Lords of the Treaony. not to allow the
act very differently in a great many things. All knew Corporation to grant a building lease of Lot St nor any
there hail been hours when they hail been neither quite leases of any lot of Beggars' Knap without their contain-
sane ~or quite sensible, and he believed that even so ing reservations of trees and stipulations for their pro-
, august adopted, signed lu • the
a body as a Mayor and Corporation was no li.ftion and renewal, now read, be. ,
exception to a rule so inevitable. (Much laughter.) 1 on behalf of the meeting and tranainitted to
r.theirralrolships." '
And he believed that on this occasion they hail made Mr. IL Dususeg seconded. Ile was in hopes that
, very grave errors, and that many of them if they had their last meeting wiuuld have oatioli.l all parties, and
the last year id their corporate lives to go
(over
placed inatten4 on an amicable boding, and that they
again would not act and would not speak mite
would have seen a termination of this little paltry
as they had dime. (Cheers.) Now the iubject of unhappy question. These hopes, however, were alas
the meeting was G. send up to the Lords of the fidlacions, awl they were now again call.' together to
l'reaeury, a counter memorial to that which hail been express their "'Annum'. He must say at once he
sent up by the Town Council. 'l'hey all knew the never attended a meeting in which he took a taore
circumstance* lif the question as well as himself-how
heartfelt interest. He thought it now behoved the
that an enquiry had been held, and an answer had inhabitants to speak out their minds, and to the
been sent down from the Lords of the Treasury, which purpose. They dal not want this continual calling of
he must say, speaking individually-he might be meetings. (Hear, hear.) It did not increase the
utterly wrong- seemed to him to be a plain, sensible, „ism' feeling which ohould exist in the town. (Hear,
and simple answer. (Hear, hear). For one, he was ?
ded the representations iif the
delighted when he RAW that answer, bet2l"Be near.) He conten
a° memorialists should have been received with every
he thought "here's an end of all this miserable bad consideration by the Town( ouncil, emanating as they
been going on so long. N
feeling, and the unkind expressions of it which have
did from these who placed them there. Many
Ve shall now forget and of them, he believed, would conscientiously do their
forgive. The angry speeches will lemma of our minds, duty, hut when they saw them erring on a point of
and things will go on comfortably" -(hear, hear)-ani owl, vital importance an the destruction of trees
this seemed to him to be the object of the authonties in
was a
framing their answer. It Was n which could never be replaced-and what would
notorious, there posterity say of them, for they must not look only to
sad dispute and they sad " now let AS try to settle it their own generation-it behoved them to call them
ea amicably as we can," and the answer he believed
to account. (Cheers.) The property in question
was sent down in that spirit Now, they now instead no more belonged to the Corporation than it did to the
of their Council accepting that answer, they were ratepayers- gentlemen whose money had bought it
determined to proteot against it. They had held a
They all had, he hoped, an individual interest in the
meeting-an account of which bail appeared in the prosperity of the town, and a great many outside the
newspapers and they had determined to send up a Council had mins than those build°, or at any rate
memorial, begging the Lords of the Treasury to
one would think ,0, from the way in which they had
reconsider their answer, that was to say the question
shown it,. (Hear, hear).
was to be opened over again. Ile was one who .
\Merman Gasfue asked if he might be allowed to
attended the court of enquiry held in that nson by
oa a few words.
Mr. Clutton, and it re4ly seemed to hint -awl he sat il ,
ic ( HAIRMAN : Certainly, Mr. Galpin. (Cheerio).
there more than hour-tliat the whole might just as
well have been hell in double I)iitil. Rut what Mr. GAI.CIN then made a lengthy and vigorous
struck him ao strongly was that nothing wax said defence of the action of the majority in the CounciL
about the feelings and the wishes id the Ile 'aid he fully felt the force of ?u r. liaikei'm wish
inhabitants. (Hear, hear.) For after all it really that everyone would come forward manfully, and if
struck him that this was more or less a they knew it to be is, aVoW that they were in error.
question of sentiment Here in this peculiar .441 Now, he was there manfully to avow his belief in the
to tine tit the most pleasing of its katureo was course the majority of the Co until had taken, and as
arnrn,x'lated with RR trees. (('heers.) As they knew, he he had been ‘ ery personally alluded to in the matter
(the speaker) was not brought till there -in fact, he WAR he bail felt it to be his duty, for he WAS never
almost a comparative stranger-yet he already felt a :ishameil to meet his fellow townsman, to state
very great
affection for those trees, and he would do to the meeting the reasons for the course
eth• •he•ul I to the best of his ability to preserve he had whirled.
n,,. im, LO ( (Cheem.) Ile wished to
anything
and that, he believed, to be the islunden duty endome all that the Chairman hail said relative
of -ry me. (Applause.) They would admit the to the deldralsility of abetaining from all immune'
Time': &Lind' were actuated by good motives. One allusions, or anything that would tend to disturb the
friend id his hail said to him -Just think what a g•sol feeling which ought to exist. (Hear, hear.) He
6 .l thing it will be in 99 years. (Derisive laughter.) wanted really to know what it was the ('ouncil had
As if he (the res, speaker) cared a rap about what was .I.one at their loot meeting that was so detrimental to
going G. lie .line in ..e.l years time ! (Laughter and the interests of the town. The l'reanury letter, which,
hear, hear.) Then, they sail, it was the right thing no doubt, hush been read by all of them. told them
to do, for the ratepas ars ss • • •ould be benefited to the they were to dispose ..i the land for building purpuses,
extent tif Home
1:20, 1.30, or I:50. l'hey (the rate. and that if isoisible the treed obould be preserved.
payers) said" We are ready to wave that benefit, and, Now, in the pniposition nuule by the Council to offer
not only that, but ready t.o put our hands in "us the land for building purieses, they left entirely with
pockets to save the trees,... (Nluch applause.) Yet, the purchaser the preservation or otherwise of the
as far as he could gather, the Town Goalie, ' .1 still trees. (I "roans and hisses.) He knew he was address-
adhered to the idea that it was their bounden duty to ing an unwilling audience, still he thought he was
look at the matter in a financial point of view ; lint he "'l'lre'siml an all'lleare "f Englishmen. iSubeidence
contended it was a ques ti ,if sentiment and twit: - of the intemiption.) Ile only asked them to give him
should they have one of the main approaches to the it fair hearing, for he hail come there to show them he
town rendered hideous or retain an exceedingly nice W 41.4 not ashamed of any course he had taken. He
row of trees. Let them look at what had been done. ivied.' have liked to have taken them through the
Let them look at the wall. Did they ever see such a whole libitory id the pnicaseilinge, but it would occupy
thing in their lives as that wall. (Hear, bear, an :1 too •li time. This land was offered by the Duchey
laughter.) A friend sail to 1 • when lie ~,it out of for sale in the Sallie manner as a great ical more had
the train the other day " Upon my life it husksto me been solul -without any reserve, and it would have
as if time • pl was being fortified." Was it to be been occupied by all sirto of building* long before
wendereil at! They lied a horribleahideous 10fts wall thus; but the Council believed it to be their duty to
-(laughter)-staring them in the fat*, when, on the secure it, in onler to have the control over it, for the
other hand, the grounds might justly have been labl ',unwire that the building's upon it should be not only
out with some little reganl to tante. Then, it ap. an ornament to the place, but of the character so much
peered, there was toi be i n the other side of that wall needed. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Andrews, in the memorial,
f villas and from what he eathereil, as lon- had made the allusion that probably many years would
a raw
n ' and, •
straightr• afl pass before the land was occupied. Now he should
as they were plan in a me that ono
the Council wished. Now, he thought that a mistake ; like to ask the gentlemen present, a great many id
whom were building hinnies in Dorcheriter at time pre-
case and if the members could not see that such was the
sent time, whether it was not a fact that where they
It wait for them to show them where they were
venni* What did thise members tell them -that had four 'mimeo to let they hail 40 applications for it!
11 heard a gentleman oss a few
they did not represent the feelings tif the enajority of fifears hear 4 --e • Y , years,
the inhabitant*? (" No, iii'.") But lie could assure a - . . ,
s• with reference to :ionic hinnies he was finishing
1 1 1 •• that time only &Mundt) lie ia. was that he displeased
them it wao no. 'l'lley saiil yon two or three may
who!, it, Ind the majority of the people don't. Now, time numbers who apidicil for theca. What, then was
he maintained, from what he cuulil gather-although, il if the Town C unt.2l ' ' the natural iity
is,
in. . _ o
.1 ?-That they
of course, they (sunlit not tell very steetirately unless "1".01.1 l'"'k alter. terial preopenty iif the town
Aeon:anted oath its requirements (nun their youth
the place were polled that they did represent a very
'i I ti, look forward to the Itu toavail
large majority of the inhabitants of the place. (hear, "I'• they la. • I .• ‘.l re..
it-es of ever Illell Of -round ano to get
hear.) It had been said all the fuos hail been made by thein'e , . ,
.I.yal.
..„.,
such'RhOUla
a few people interested ill the matter. Ilio friend g'""I "I"'"lantla' . lu^' erected, a"
there (pointing to Mr. G. J. .tnilrewo) hail been told s
•ive labour and employment to the working
that the reaaiiii of hio action wax lie lied souse build- ela"ei, (('heer., and a ler 0 • •
V • "II 1 Row a end the
south nide ! ) Don't let them be led away with the
ing land of his own and he wanted to um, that first.
idea it was not a queolion id importantie. Were they
Now he (lid not think that right. Some one mind stir
taw' still Ito they hail for the laid Lcntury, or were
in a public matter, and he was sure he hail only the t" "
interest, the welfare, Alla the beauty of the town at.t. ' they i t 1, 1
they to take that pool is,n wy 0,-,,
4 ' ":%. ar%oan.
heart. (('hears,) What they ought to do was to show improving sounty town. (Hear,_ ear) •ry rtly
40 or 50 thousand poun•Ls would be laid out there by
by their memorial to the Lords id the Treaoury that ,
the majority id the ratepayers were very naiad. 1 e new barracks Ought they not
(..sernusent out i
_y ,
therefore to give all the advantages they could
opposed to the scheme, and that was what they pro-
posed to do that night (Cheere4) bur the mt i • 0 louses, rather t tat this
'll. 'I Lim, f Ithan h
land should remain unoccupied and useless? He
Mr. G. J. ANDREWS then, at the request of the . ..
contended the ( ouncii were (loin- the best
Chairman, read the following petition which it was
'hey mild for the interests of * the to
propoaed to send up to the honk of the 'Treasury : - tanil that alone had ' fl 71);
in uenced him in the course wine
"To the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's
"Tress he hail taken in the matter. (Cheers.) If they choose
ury.
"The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants, rate- to regard it as a personal question, he would tell them
payers, and others of the borough of Dorchester adopted that he was in the unfortunate position of being an
at their meeting of Ir..th August, 1870, sheweth,-That the iiwner of land, which would have to be brought for-
Town Council of the borough of Dorchester, at a meeting ward for competition, but he would be ashamed to
held on the 17th day of August last, passed a resolution, advocate anytliing that might be of advantage to his
of which the following is • copy :-"That this Council, own knees at the expense of the town. (Hear, hear.)
having carefully considered the reply of the Lords of lier lie had in, hesitation in saying they hail been influenced
Majesty's Treasury to their memorial fur leave to lease
eo. i with , ,h.,,,ire to 1 ' .
the northern portion of 'Beggars' Knap ' for building he'Y ' «u that which, they believed to
purposed, and also Mr. llutton s report accompanying it,
be the best bur the town, and he challenged any inili-
again repeat that in proisring to aPProPriate the whole xidnal to show him that in the course of his public
of such portion for building they have been influenced dillies, during a period of 25 years without intemiption,
solely by a desire to promote the best interests of the where lie aiuhl put his finger upon anything he hail 'line
inhabitants financially and otherwise : and that, while that hail notbeenotraightforward. (Applause.) He was
sMunathisifigjwith.tlic opinions or( ilizuiarin .lat with the there to' give them an aceonnt of liio stewaniship, and
lletti°ot:hsearrtlinanirtlti I 'Zr "I.'
'fholit ...I.:*.' In.a.tal 2, thety 'co:l4ltre'olr °im:i lie WAS not :w m. ha' to do MO re . The was not tune
the opinion express.' by Mr. Clinton in his report, that single fact in conination with the step lie had taken
it should not be allowed to interfere in the profitable that made him hesitate for one moment (Cheers.)
disposal of the laud, and consider that any restrictions on He was there to avow all that he had done, and
any lessee against such removal, if lie should deem it for githough of course he was sorry to hear they did not
the advantageous !Ole of the land, would amount prac. approve of it, he believed they would give him, and
hit-ally to a prohibition against any building whatever t f
i lose who thought with him, some ereslit for honesty
and prevent the benylicial result winch Mr. Clutten is 01 „f rim..., Meat hear.) Ile did not mean
opinion the Council's propoal would secure to the
borough; and further, that this Council is of opinion 'hat they • ' 1 I h II
G. say t ey were right ani t mot em wrong. e
that the prohibition intiniated against leasing Lot 2 is gave the iimoisition credit for having done what they
altogether unnecessary and inexpedient, as the Council lielieved to be their duty, and he claimed the same
desire to maintain the avenue of trees on the Weyniouth- for himself. With regard tithe remarks of the Chair-
road, and while accepting their lordships' ilecioion as to Mall, he believed he hail hit the 'Joint when he said it
Lot 1, this Council desire respectfully to ask from them wasa matter of sentiment; but he (the speaker) was
a consideration of the question as regards Isot 2.' That at opposed to sentiment when the real interests of the
such meeting ten members of the Council were present, inhabitants were concerned ; and a few trees could not
that six only out of the sixteen members of the Comm'
1 allowed to stand 'n the • f 'al ail
vantage..
u . i way o material ai vantages.
voted for this resolution, three voted alpinist it, and one
declined to vote at all, That such resolution appears to What, were thisie few trees when they remembered
your ruenuorialista to proclaim a per4stent intention .111 the noble avenues they had, a.nil which no one WAN
the part of • section of the Council to act in deliberate more anxious to preserve. (Intemiption.) He was
opposition to the expressed wishes of a large majority of quite prepared to answer all remarks written or ex.
the inhabitants, and likewise to the decision and seem- pressed with regard to, his own line of conduct, and he
mendation of your lordships as communicated to the left it to them if they thought the isiurse which had
Town Council in Mr. Law's letter of the 21st July last, to been ado ,tea WAR for the benefit of time
etown, not to
the Mayor. That on behalf of 4i number of highly , ._.
.1. t t „
respectable and inlluential inhabitants and ratepayers "41.4% ';‘43' "". .g any gentleman could point out
w' o felt the vital iniportance of securing for the town any uninnoness-like mirk a proceeding, he would be
time possession and control of the northern portion of happy to listen Go him, and to Ave his remark. every
" Ueggars• Knap" an otter in writing was inaile in June consideration. (A Voicg : " ),swn with the trees,
last to take a lease of it fur gi years at an annual rent of mid tip with (12 houses.- I 'heart) He would tell
CM, and give it up on reaseuable terms Amnia the thcm candidly that, as long as Ile sat in the
necessities of the town 14. require. This offer the Council t ',omen neon, he would art upon his own individual declined. That the aggregate ground rents ao stated by .
I, nt. (Hear, hear,) B •f • ' •4
the COUlleil on the lots of which your lonbiliips have 111' ^me • ,iut i .\ 1113)01'10% or even a
4sitictioned the sale 4 ..... uuted to x:k.: 14•:. only. '
rim, t quarter of those who sent him into his seat would
experience in this town has thew ii that it is
soh proltal•Ily i stand up and say that they wished him to resign it
ears will elapse before the whole of the I. will .: he would .1.. so. It was not a 'WTI,OIIIII illtereat that
our memoriatioti consider that All ' • liate reutAl of kept him there. lie Was only anxious to do what lie
£3ll a year with power for the Council to obtain I could for the town, and AM long as he was there he
persuasion of the laud ou reasonable terms is both w,mbi act rpm his individual judgment. Ile went
financially and otherwise Inure beneficial to the town than •
into the ellaMber uninfluenced and unbiassed d alienating it fur an absolute term of 1111 years. That your ,
t,
tt i e ‘,„,i the
honour of I 111. ' an
" memorialists consider that if the lease lorop*.ed by the "'a- a- '1 "'"lo •mg a seat there
Town Council contained reservations of, and awe:tants he would tell them candidly-and let there be no
for protection of the trees it would in no way interfere mistake -he intended ti he so. Mr. Balks, had
with an advantageous use of the land nor amount asked them to come forward and avow their error.--
practically to • pro
m hibition against any building whatever.' ' Nil.. Itnists :If in error.
Your memorialists therefore humbly your lordships
that
you
will
enforce
you decision
a.
stews as expressed —As their Chairman had said, no Oman was at all