The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-08-08 00:00:00

WHARFAGE DUE.

The MAYOR said the Council were called together
to consider a very important matter, both as regarded
themselves and the interests of the town generally.
They were met to consider a communioation received
from the G. W.R. Company as to the propriety of
bringing in force the Bridge and garbour Acts
of 1847.

Mr. Alderman DEVI...NISH said that on the 30th of
September, last year, a committee of the whole
Corporation, consisting of 16 persons, met, and
passed a resolution instructing the Town Clerk to
forward to the Secretary of the G.W.R. Company a
sttedule of the Harbour and Bridge Acts. It was
then cotufidered desirable, if the Great Western
Company would con Sent to them, that they should
be put in foroe. He was requested to write& private
letter to the Secretary informing him that the Town
Clerk should forward him the Act of Parliament, and
after a very lengthened correspondence Mr. Grierson
came to Weymouth and met the Council. Heater.
wards addressed a letter to him (Mr. Devenish) in
whieb he promised to lay the matter before the
notice of the directors, but what the result of that
was he did not know. Last week however, he (Mr.
Deveniah) reoeiled a letter from him, stating that
the railway company would be most happy to have
an interview with a deputation of the Conseil on the
matter. The interview was fixed for yesterday, but
he did not like to take any steps in the matter
before °pushing the Council on the subject.
Mr. Poniacitsir thought there would be no
difficulty in arranging terms if the company adopted
the Act.

In reply to a question Mr. Alderman Daviturmi
said the bridge tolls would have to be re-imposed
because the shipping Mlle would be so low.
Mr: Rtiot was of opinion that if this Act were
brought into operation £l,OOO or £1,200 per year
would be reeeiVed from shipping, but then the tolls
upon the bridge would have to be reimposed. The
question was which was beat for the interests of the
town,
Mr. AYLING thought the gees* Western Railway
Company would do all they could to promote the
interests of the town and increase its trade, and if
such were the case the revenue of the town would be

increased.
After elothe desultory conversation, the MAYOR
read some statiitiarespeeting the Portland steamers
as also those belonging to the Channel islands,
showing the amount which mob paid for harbour
dues.

Mr. DRVENIBII WY of opinion that the only effect
which would arise if the Act were brought into
operation would be the general increase of the trade
of the port,
Mr. RoMutTe remarked that he had no hesitation
in saying that if the harbour dues were reduced that
instead of 100 tons of cosh being brought here there
would be 1,000. Hendee this the trade of the town
would be greatly improved. Sometimes he spent £5O
in purehaang provisions for • ship, and if more
entered the pott than at present of coarse there
would be more money spent, and the town would
be benefitted thereby,
The MAYOR said the eontemplated alteration
would bring in £1,200, and give satisfacition to all
partial.
Mr. TROMAR considered that if the bridge tolls
were re-imposed it would canes great dimandaction
in the town, and it was contrary to the spirit of the
age to stick up • toll-her in the centre of a town.
Such • thing wootild be very unjust, after having
taken off the tons, and would prove a great incon-
venience to persons living an the other aide of the
water. He however, admitted that the wharfage
dues were List ex.:waive,, but thought the schedule
of tolls might be amended.
. _ . . .

Mr. DIMINIEIR asked if the Company carried ottt
the Act without re-imposiug the bridge tone, whether
Mr. Thomas would have any objectioa then; to
which he replied in the negative.
. .

Mr. POTHECARY said thaTeven if the tolls were
re-imposed the traffic, to Pertlead, which was the
principal source of income, would be diverted as
soon as ibe railway was opened.
Mr. Davarimn said he was fully aware that it
would be a eery unpopular thing to re-impose the
tolls mon the bridge, and the railway company
though, so lac
The Maxon said there wee one species of trade
which wee sure to come to the town, and that was
Somerset coal, which would be exported in large
quantities to Cherbourg, which at present meld not
be done because the tramroad was not in working
order. Some Frenchmen had been here to look at
the place, bnt shrugged their shoulders at seing no
tramroed.
some conversation followed, and the matter
WIN ultimately settled by Alderman ELIOT pro-
rting, and Alderman AYLING seconding a MOO-
uion to the °Sect that a deputation, consisting of
the Mayor, Mr. Deveinali, and the Town Clerk wait
on the Great Western Railway Company to arrange
the carrying into operation the Act of 1847, 10 and
11 Vic., with the understanding that the bridge tolls
should not be re-impoeed.