The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-09-20 00:00:00

Mr. BISHOP said the tame would apply to the road
wren the walk.
Mr. Coons remarked that in • defile of 10 yards it
wee much easier to avoid • 001/ision than in one of 200
yards.
Mr. T. BINIIRTY said there were two other roads to
pI out of Wollaston field.
Mr. COOMBS: I want • third.
Mr. FROUD asked to be allowed to speak.
The MAYOR said though burgesses had a right to
attend, they eould not speak there.
Mr. Fecund remarked it was for the Council to give
him permission or not.
Mr. BISHOP asked that the memorial presented by
ratepayers and inhabitants be read.
Mr. SYMONDS read the memorial, which was flamer.
°wily signed, and asked the Council to maintain the
walks in their integrity.
Mr. DEYENISH said his son signed the memoriadheing
told that they wanted to cut down four trees! What
the memorialists protested against was cutting down
the trees.
The MAYOR said the full extent of what would be
done in that way would be to take away a limb from
two trees.
Mr. F. BzwNrrr : If you tako off the head you'll
soon have to take up the roots.
Mr. CoOMRS: In ten years time all the trees will
be gone.
Mr. BISHOP said the Inhabitants bad signed the
memorial, and they were the persons interested.
The MAYOR: There should not bs any misconception
about the matter.
Mr. BISHOP: There Is no misconception; the prayer
of thc memorial was that the walks be not interfered
with. Ile wished to acknowlegde the advise given by
Dr. Aldridge not to show temper—lf ever he did so be
should be quite open to the reproof of Dr. Aldridge or
any other person.
Dr. Armamos : I only said don't make it • personal
matter. . . . . . . . . .

Mr. BISHOP hoped that advice would be taken by
everybody. He (Mr. Bishop) repudiated personal feel-
ing—he abominated it. He was exceedingly grieved
to find that in the matter of maintaining the integrity
of the walks he bad to differ froin gentlemen he should
have been glad to work with ; but he conceded to them
the same good motive that actuated himself It was
said the proposed road would be a great public improve-
ment? Would it promote the comfort and enjoyment
of the memoralists to cut the best walk ILI the town in
two? Would it make it more useful in the preserva-
tion and restoration of health? for Dr. Aldridge would
bear him out that median' men often advised their
patients to take a few turns in the South walk—they
must not walk in the others for they were too
exposed. It was at first proposed to take
doww two trona, and if that were not done
the road would be very narrow, and modern Jebel',
whether good or had. would not be able to turn the
sharp angles with safety. When the Wollaston estate
was planned there was no road set out, and be did not
see any necessity for one, for, so far as he could judge,
that part of the town was better prnvided with means
of access than any other. There were two roads from
east to west, another by the old candle house, and a
fourth by gallows hill. What neoessity was there for
another? The coarse proposed was in opposition to all
their former policy. Ever since he could remember it
had been the aim of the corporation to preserve and
improve the walks. The lady who formerly lived in
Mr. Bennett's house wanted to drive her carriage across
the walk to her front door, but the cleaned would not
allow It. Three or four years ago a man Vr 111 fined far
backing an omnibus into the walks. That he believed
was at the instance of the Corporation.
. . .

Mr.-SYMONDS : I think I wiz the oomplainant per-
sonally, on the ground of its interfering with my poulio
sight
Mr. COOMBS : That is no objection to making a
legalised road across the walk.
Mr. BISHOP submitted it wu a legitimate argument
as showing how jesdously the walks had been heretofore
guarded.
Mr. Comte said he did not attempt to destroy the
comfort and enjoyment of the inhabitants, and it was
unfair to pat it in that way: he believed what he pro-
posed would be for the public benefit.
Mr. BISHOP I differ in opinion with you.
Mr. COOMBS : Differ in opinion with all my heart,
but don't accuse me of eeekiog to destroy the comfort
of the inhabitant..

Mr. BIISHOP said he felt that would be the cense-
(peace of making • road across the walk. Four years
ago Mr. Justice By'.. took • walk in the avenue and
saw • bill offering • reward for the detection of persons
who had injured the walks. He mentioned the matter
in his charge to the grand jury, and said he hoped the
walk. would continue to be preserved, for they were a
credit and an attraction to the town. He trusted that
the perpetrators of any injury to them would he found
out, and if they were brought before him he should
mark his sense of Bach delinquencies. The walk, were
planted about 150 years ago at great cast of care and
trouble ; they had been preserved until now. and he
trusted the Council would not oonsent to their beauty
being impaired in any way, but that they would be
continued in their integrity for very many yearn to
come. He proposed that the road across the walk be
sot made. _ _

Mr. 11rnrcry seconded.
1)r. A Lnutrgie explained tbat he did not impute any
personal feeling to lie. Bishop—he thought there was
no one more free from it, but he was desiroul that the
rinestion should be con.idered solely on its merits, and
that no formality should interfere with the reeding of
the report. If it were neeevary to have another roan
from the Wollaston fluid estate he considered one same
the walk would be prtferable, and not so dangerous to
children as • carriage drive by the side, but he sort str.ct
that in dcference to the memorial, the) question should
be postponed. . _ .

Mr. Gatrig said he came to the mooting prepared to
vote against having a road across the walk in deference
to the opinion of the inhabitants who had signed the
memorial ; but having heard the arguments on the other
side, and seen that an effectual road could be made
withoot destroying any trees, and that if any injury
arose the whole could be replaced in twelve months, he
should support the resolution. lf.l thought the
Council were bound to proviie reasonable access to
tbe Wollaston field properly.
Mr. VERNON said he had not heard a single argument
to satisfy Lim there was any necessity for a road across
the walk. The one now proposed vu exactly the same
width as the commencement of the road laid out by
the side of Mr. Longman'. premises. Another crossing
would be an additional danger for children. He
thmight it would he a great pity te make the road, and
it Ira+ at "triarce with the feelings of a large number of
the inhabit.snts.

Mr. ANDALIVi said no doubt the Council must do all
they can for the CODY( nienoe and comfort of the inhabi-
tants ; and, granting that it wu desirable to make
another rotd out of the Wollaston field, Pe only
question was where it should he—along Ino yards
narrow, dangerous, and linpasssble after night, or, 30
feet across the walk? An a matter of common sense
ard having regard to the interests of the town, he add
the answer most be in the affirmative. Ile felt that
they were bound to pay attention to every nv•morial
brought before the corporation by ratepayers or inhabi-
tants—(hear, hear)—treat it with respect, and give it
every consideration; but if the memorial was signed
under almisapprehension of the facts, surely they should
not allow them to remain uninformed on the subj•mt.
Tie was entirely opposed to the taking down of a single
tree either immediately or prospectively. Of the two
roads he thought that across the walks was the best.
The other would be impassable at Dish', and would
have to be fenced all along from tree to tree; while the
only inconvenience that could arise from a crossing
in thewalk would be that himself and a few others would
have to squeeze through some iron bars, but he hoped
any inconvenience from that might be avoided, lie had
never heard any complaint of the crossing n^ar Mr.
Bennett's, yet it might be that there were oil maps
which showed the walk at a time when there was no
road there.
Mr. BlanOP said he had looked at old maps, and found
a road there. _

Mr. Attriggwe oontinued that no one complained of
that road: but, be added, pray &fillet anything I say
alter anybody's opinion—(laughter). He thought the
matter tad not been put befdre the memorialists in the
way it had been brought out to-day, or they would have
not objected to crossing the walk.
Mr. SLADE as one of the oldest inhabitants protested
against a road being made across the walk.
Mr. Magma said be concluded from the discussion
which had taken place that a road across the walk woul I
be the least of two evils, and he should vote for it ; but
he should not consent to the taking down of any trees.
In reply to Mr. F. Bsruirrr,
The SURVEYOR said to make the crossing 25 feet wide
swo trees must come down—there were 18 feet between
the two tree": - . . . .

The MATOZ supported the resolution AS the course
which was best for the interests oE thp to wn.

_ .
Mr. Ritmo. replying, Laid croasing the walk had been
Amen by souls gentlemen as the least of two evils, but
he would have neither of them, for he did not ae..any need
for another road. Re also urged that cutting the long
walk weld lead to the abandoment of the upper portion
a. a pn.inotado ; and he furth,T protested acaind it as
the beginning of the end of the maintenance of the
walks.

Mr. Comm deprecated a certain amount of personal
tore which had been introduced into the discussion.
This was not • matter in which he need be charged
with ceasing to &insult the comfort of the inhabitants.
His opinion was not to be upset because a number of
persons had aigned • memorial, and some of them at
least without thoroughly understanding what was pro-
pmed. Do let him have his opinion in peace and quiet-
ness. Mr. Bishop. eimplained that the integrity of the
walks was destroyed. Why did he not think of that
before they laid out the Wollaston Field for building?
The levelling of the field had opened the walk to the
north and east, destroying its sanatory advantage,.
Haying made the property productive, they must riot
deny the people gathered there reasonable access. It
WAS one of the diemlyantagas of modern progress that
sa the population and area built upon increased, so
must they make sacrifices for the convenience of the
new corners. But he argued that the objection mined
to a road across the walk was more a seutiwental than
a practical grievance, and he anticipated that in a few
~, nth., when all became socustomed to the arousing it
would not be in any way fit to be objectionable.
Mr. GALlntt : It Is distinctly under.tood that no trees
are to be taken down for the purpose of forming this
road. moles. • further anplioation be made to the
Council?
Mr. Coouna: Dietinctly ; It was not contemplated to
cut down any tree ; before many yearn were passed the
trees would cut themselves down, and then some re-
arrangement might he made; he would as soon commit
a murder almost as kill a tree —{laughter).
Mr. limner : But they will all die.
Mr. t'oon nit : Certainly ; and so will you;
Mr. : But they will die out of the course of
nature.
Mr. Coouna : I shall not kill them.
Mr. Histme : I'm quite Pure you won't.
The divisien was then taken.

For the nmendm, nt voted. Mr. ili+hop, Mr. Bennett,
Mr. F. Bennett, Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Slade; for the
resolution, Mr. Coombs, Mr. Calpin. Mr. Lock. Dr.
Aldridge, Mr. Devenish, Mr. Damen, Mr. Andrews ;
Mr. Coomb's propo,ition was therefore carried.