The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-12-01 00:00:00

71,12 SHINGLI AT TRI BILL.

The CLCILE read some oorrespondenoe which hod
taken place, in conacquence of the Crown having served
him with a Entice of their intention to proceed against
the Board foi taking gravel from the Bill. Tho Govern-
ment though' the Local Board ehoold have con.iiderod
whether the had the 'right before doing what they
had done , but intimated that if they would
undertitke n.t t, repeat the act, and pay £5 for royalty,
proceedings would not. be premed .

r Mr. Ar."iciticgs said this commonable land near the
810 wee the droperty of the inhabitants, with the proviso
that when stone was quarried half the tonnage should
be paid over. The question raised was a great and
Important one, for this vim almost the only place
reserved for the quarrymen of the island, if they were
out of work, t obtain • living at.unless they emigrated.
There had been no dispute of their claim or, title, until
Mr. Binhard Luo's time, when it was agreed to pay
the oompensation. The Board ought to put their
shouhler to the wheel, for what right had the Crown
more than anyone else, while the Hoard had possession
of the soil? If they threw stone into the sea, or used
it themselves, the Crown bad nothing to do with it.
He I o?ril the Boord would maintain their rights, and
send in • claim for the £7O paid in error, and enter
proceedings to that effect.
Mr. LLIIO reminded them that the charge was not for
quarrying stone, but taking gravel.
Mr. A. Scaiwg• said they could clear away what they
liked and take the atone afterwards.

Mr. LANO WOllll like to ask their clerk whether they
could take the gravel or cot?
. .

The Cutim urged that. co they were a young Board
they should avoid litigation in any form. To fight the
action would cost MOO or £3OO and he considered it
most unwise. If the land was commonable land of the
Wand. they had a right to remove the gravel ; but if
Crown lands they had no snob right. Thus the
question to be decided would be was this Crown land
or commonable land ; but he did not recommend them to
contest It.

Mr. A. Bottum would rather give up 000 than the
right.
The CURIE explained that if an individual were to
let this pm, he would lose his right ; but snob a cession
would not bar the right of the Board.
Mr. B. &RIVES thought they could do very well
without the gravel ; nod he urged that they should pay
the order their foreman to take no more, and thus
prevent litigation.
Mr. GIBBS differed from the Chairman. When
taking the gravel was first proposed, he moved an
amendment that none be taken; but the Board were
almost unanimous that the question should be tried,
and now, as the point woo whether the land was eomnion
or belonged to the Crown, he would appeal to them all,
whether it had wit always been common, and dealt with
am such. _

Mr. A. SCUM! From time imniemorial.
Mr. GlBlii said that under the Queen's grant every
Inhabitant had • right to quarry this land. The
matter was of so mush importance that, as • young
Board, he hardly thought they should take upon them•
selves to sanction the payment of the £5, without
having • public meeting of the inhabitants. None of
th.laselvea would be likely to go there to quarry stone;
but some of their children might, and he considered
that by paying this they would give up their right,
and many of their privilege' had been already taken
from them. The privilege now claimed by the Crown
wax formerly shared by lord and tenant alike, and if
they paid this £5, they were at least entitled to one
half. There was a sum of L'2,000 left on hand which
strictly belonged to the inhabitant., and he thought
they should be called together to decide whether they
would have it divided or use it to defend their rights,
and he hinted that would give some employment to
Mr. Howard—(a laugh). Alter taking the gravel, they
ought not to give up their Tight..
The Cutu suggested writing to the Woods and
Forfeits to the effect that the Board was informed and
believed that the land at the Bill was commonable
land: but if the Commissioners could satisfy the Board
that it was Crown land, they would instruct the rlerk
to pay the EA
Mr. A. Bourn thought the Clerk should insert that
the land from which the gravel had been taken has
always from (tine immemorial belonged to and been a
privilege of the inhabitants, and therefore it is not
Crown land but commonable lend.
Mr. B. PIAUI believed that the gravel would some
under the head of stone. If they each took it himself
or deposited it in the sea,the Government would demand
nothing, but if the Board hauled it into Weeton•street
for the roads, they were charged. He would never give
up one inch of a right ; but he would take their clerk's
advice as to avoiding litisation.
The CLIME then reeds resolution whioh he had drawn
up, ineorporating Mr. A. &riven's suggestion with the
offer of the Board to pay ES royalty if the band was
proved to be Crown land—which Mr. GIBBS proposed,
Mr. A. 80111,7111 seconded, and the Board unanimously
tarried.