The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-11-10 00:00:00

THE DAMAGE TO THE DAM.

A special meeting of the Local Board was held on
Tuft{lay, to confer with Sir John Coode, respecting the
condition of the dam, which is partially washed away.
It was stated by Sir John that it would cost about WO
to repair the dam, and £75 to till up the holes made by
the rush of the water. In addition to thia the con-
struction of a weir was necessary, and that would
increane the total outlay to about £2,500. Questipned
as to the cause of the damage he replied he was satisfied
that the dam was designed `• more than strong enough
an to the apecilications being faithfully carried out, he
said that was the question. There was a defect in the
puddling, but he "could not apportion the blame"
between the resident engineer, the contractor, and his
agent carrying out the works.—Alderman Howard
suggested get rid of the dam. —Sir John said it would
coot £2,500 to remove it. —Mr. Robens said "none but
idiots" would think of removing the dam, He con-
sidered it had kept the place sweet, and propueed this
new expenditure be carried out. Mr. Webb reminded
the Board of claims for cconpennation in consequence of
the dam to the amount of 1:3.000 or L',4,000.- --Sir John
said he had a strong opinion on that subject which he
could justify at the proper time. —The new Councillors
declined to vote on the subject, and the motion was
not seconded. --The Park question was revived. Mr.
Walker and Mr. Charles pointed out that one or two
drains in the Park are Ift, to lift. above the level of
the strsets, and that if the street levels be raised the
floors of the houses will he put under water. Sir John
said the draina„le of the town was surrounded with the
greatestdifficulties, and gave no hint of meeting the
case of the Park.
Mr. liellENA proposed and Mr. TIIOII/4 seconded that
Sir John be requested to survey the state of the Park and
report thereon.
Air. WEBB asked the Town Clerk how much of the
0.5,000 was left.
The TesyN C111.1.K did not know.

Mr. Alderman Emor said about £1,700.
Mr. WEBO : Then we shall want another loan of £lO,OOO
to pay for repairs and the mistake' that have been made.
Mr. THOMAS : You have no right to presume that.
Mr. WEBB: lam afraid of law.
On the suggestion of Mr. Losing, it was agreed to call
• special meeting for to-day (Tuesday).
A correspondent 4inging himself "A Learner"
wishes to offer .orne proofs of sanity in those who
think of removing the dam. He says—" We think
the dam was—

A dummy expedient to conceal what should have been
removed, offensive mud.
Expensive; it cost £10,000:
Ineffectual; the stench was smelt long after the dam
was erected, and it has been necessary if ten to expose the
mud nine.: . . .

Dangerous; it altered the currents, scouring one, and
silting another place:
Vexatious : it limited the navigation, confining it to
times when the gates might be opened:
Wasteful ; it took away part of the power of a valuable
mill:

—lirthealthy ; it prevent@ the drying of the Park at low
tides, by keeping a mass of water clme at hand, always
above the Park level.
. .

Ve think the darn—
Tempts to litigation. It interferes with the right. a
'illicit it is niost.ditheult to settle the value:

Draws on further expense. It has cost £5O for a sudden
emergency ; that cost was immediately increesed to
.C 1,001.1 and there was scarcely time to think of that
before it was increased to 32,5011 required to repair, and
for work about the Dam.
We think its removal would—
Save at least £2,3110 for compensation, As much has
been already offered on the Council's part
Save the fear of several lawsuit.:
Save .f.. 500 the surplus which the repairs would cost
above the coot of removal:

Restore the Harbour currents as they were before:
Remove the vexation and hindrance to navigation:
Make plain the need of removing IIUiINUICCiI instead of
hiding them:
Prepare the way for the deepening of the Backwater.
and enlarging of our trade at the back of the town:
Provide material for improving our half-ruined piers:
Get rid of the necessity for onloying an engineer who
"cannot apportion the blame for the injury to his
work.

WANT OF CONFIDENCE IN SIR JOHN
COODES RECOMMENDATIONS.

A very large meeting was held at the Concert Hall, on
l'riday evening last, to consider Sir John Coodds recone
inundations with respect to the Backwater Darn. After
the discovery that Sir John Goode himself stated that
£2,*10 or £2,500 would be required to repair, and to con-
struct a weir in the Darn, many ratepayers received with
great caution. not to say suspicion, the statements made
by Sir John and on his behalf, and a requisition was
presented to Mr. Alderman Milledge, Deputy Mayor, that
• meeting should be called. Mr. Milledge courteously,
and for a reason of etiquette, declined, and the Concert
Hall was engaged. About WO or 1,000 men were
present, including Messrs. J. E. Russell, S. Webb, M.
Manley-, E. Devenieh, Dr. Simpson, B. Seymour, J.
tanning, R. Walker, J. F. Robens, Col. Akers, Col.
Jepson, R. :Felton, J. Persons, B. Parsons, H. Phillips,
Staples, G. Russell, H. Russell, It. Thomas, J. Fowler, J.
Inner., T. 'Williams, W. Dennis, .I..t.reen, Bartlett, W.
Jol, Abbott, Geo. Wickens, W. R. I'. Jeffery, C.
Jeffery, &c., ac.
rpon the platform were—Mr. R. Gaskell, Mr. Urquhart,
Mr. T. S. Wallis, Mr. Freeman, Mr. C. Beale, Mr. J. Rolls,
dc. Mr. Caskell was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said : I do not know, gentlemen that I
can more appropriately address you to-night than as
" Brother Ratersavera," for the subject of this meeting is
one which especially touches the pockets of us all. I wish
briefly to refer in the first instance, to the position which
I occupy an your chairman this evening. I regret very
much that it has not fallen into other hands to preside
over you on this occasion. When the gentlemen who
waited upon rue to request rue to occupy the position
which I du to-night, asked me to till this place, I told
them candidly that I thought some one of more standing
in your borough, and with a greater stake therein ought
In occupy such a position. But I trust that in the course
of this evening, ahould I make any remark which is not
perfectly accurate, I shall he the fleet to thank any one
who will set me right—(applause). I have no wish to
appear before my follow townsmen to mislead them in
any single respect, in reference to the question we are
about to consider, and I trust you will Pardon soy short-
comings of my own is, reference to the conduct of this
ineeting--(appLause). Having thus briefly ;helloes's' of
inyeelf, I wish now to refer to the ceuilim which have led
to this meeting being held in this room. As I told you
before, I thought some one of more position than myself
;Mould appear as your chairman to-night, and I suggested
that, as this was • subject essentially concerning the
inhabitant., of this borough, and as the Town Hall was
the property of the ratepayers of this borough we ought
hi have the use .4 the Guildhall—Guar.) An I Arid suggested
that they should get up a requi‘ition to the Deputy Mayor,
asking him to preside on this occarion, and grant the use
of the Hall. This is a copy of the requisition which wee
presented to the Deputy Mayor:
" To Jaime Deputy Mayor—Sir. We the
undersigned, Ratepayers and householders of the Borough of
Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, having read the recommends.
anis of Sir John Comic, respecting the Backwater Dam,
earnestly ropiest that you will call a Pubic meeting of the
Ratepayers in ,odor that an expreesion of opinion may be
obtained and conveyed to the meeting of the Town Council
which take. place .0. Tuesday next"
(Signed by a number of respectable ratepayers).
Now! beg to call your attention to the reply which Mr.
ltilledge returned ;
" 74, Bt. Thontas-street,
" Weymouth, November 5, 1874.
" Gentlemen,-1 hog to memo you that I ant at all Mum most
anximui to meet the wishes of any of my fellow-townsmen ;
but 1 cannot at this time comply with your request. There
will be. new Mayor appointed on Monday, and as t am acting
as Deputy-Mayor, 1 think It would be a want of courtesy to
the gentleman, whoever he may be that Is eppeinted onMonday. I also Mei curtain you *ill notbe prejudiced In any
way by the delay, am gentlemen, yours felthfully,
J. lintraos
Mame Dennis and Belle
Now eeutlemere. I will just read you from the printed
placard, the object that is set forth —"to consoler the
recent proposals of Sir John Goode." Now doubtless
there are few in this room who have not read or heard
what the proposition of Sir John is. Briefly embodied it
is that we should spend something like £2,500 additional
in placing a weir Upon the Dam, and repairing it (hear,
hear), and thin expenditure not to be final(hear, hear, and
applause). Now, gentlemen, if you will allow me, we will
take a brief retrospect of the proceedings in reference to
these drainage schemes. For you will remember that
some years ago, the town became alarmed as to its
sanitary condition, and an eminent engineer was called in
to &deka on the subject I allude to Mr. Hawkesley—
(hear, hear). and Mr. Ilawkesley's plans were being carried
out. I believe I an, correct in saying, during the
mayoralties of the late Dr. Tizard and of Sir. Howard.
Then, at a subsequent period, when another gentle=
was in office, an impetus wig given to the desire thet
borough should be
ma
thoroughlinmelt sanitary. When the bmnall
pox made Its appeanuice e • , that naturally
alarmed • great many of d inhabitants, by Its rapid
soread, it was determined subsequently to call in
! further advice, and the Town Council of this
thought it advisable to take the opinion of Sint
Goode in reference to the sanitary condition of the town,
and hqw to improve it a you remember there were
fi number .4 plans is to whet he proposed to do, cleposited
in the Town Ball for the inswtion of any of the mittsi.
perm. I was the Teee-bell tAlipi ',hem
mom was invent. I suggested to bilis. end I have nay
swerved from the opinion I then expressed, that it Was
imperative on the Town Council to take the collective
opinion of the ratepayers of this borough on the plans
—(applause.) It is true that you have the power of
rug your representatives in the Town Council, but I donut
assent to the proreaition that the election conveys through
the Town Council the opinion of the ratelayers of this
borough upon any special question. And why t Because
there are in many other influences brought to bear upon
your municipal elections than the mere fact of the ques-
tion of the slay that is before you. I need only refer to
the diligent exertions which were made by a medical man
no's' retired from practice, to bring up a vast number of
those who vets.d, f do not eer inlProperly but out of a feel-
ing of gratitude to hlto tor nhl(giUonwpk, they ft, ly wider.
These sante Whitened pervade the whale of the bercuithilit
varlotte degrees, and therefore you con scarcely my thee
the return of any section of the community to the -Town
I Council repreeente fairly the feeling of the borough upon
any single question. It was upon these grounds that I
I tried to imprea4 insm the Mayor the deslral4eness of
I having a public meeting. But he met me by ',eying "You
',tad hue4atcht4 meltiplicite of opinions that ss,u would
be ton.pletely coat:too, a1.4.)%14 amLia l,hv to ideas et
last to the selection of some special agent to carry out the
work." There would. I think have 'seen some advalltagic
free the cosine I recommended, you would have elicited
from the vast number of men who aro acquainted Mitll
the tides of this Harbour valuable opinions, old then and
Adhere who would have been able to furnish information
with reference to the curreuts of this Harbour more than
any one elm. But Sir John Goode WAS selected as the
special adviser of the Town Council --(Vows:: "Sole
'dame) ") -and what were Sir .lohn ream ; if
an, not ruislaken, the reale fumble of his elan Yeas thd
pumping station. (In that pivot hung all the rest of Ills
*rheum. 1,1., not like, because I aui no enginoci, to say
it was injudicious ; but an eminent eneineer whom you
had in your employ previously had drawn out a etaternent
as to the examivation windu he made of the laud in the
surrounding district, and he had come to the conclusion
that there was no land lints' suitable for the carrying out
of irremtion, 1 believe it is pretty patent to teo.t pemele
that tAe lana tonna here is of .o teumems t charaCter
that it wonld be very dillieult indeed to pump the mass .4
sewage which flows fromthi.o town on to any Of that lima
within reasonable distanee, without meeting a coneidera-
aide cempool, which would be a nuisance whereyer it wa4 Ttpumi auggestienß from' elmorvatletta wade by Jr.
Hawkeeley, I believe I aiu correct in baying, were e1a,..1
before Sir John Goode fur his inspection, and yet, not-
withstanding this, the sole pivot on which the whole of
his thing terwed was to carry out what Hawkealey had
said was hupractirable. hir John's plan was to buy land
on the other side of the Backwater, that land was pox-
clia4ed, I believe, at a cost of something like VW a
pumping statism was to be erected thereon, the Weymouth
sewage wus t.s be conveyed there by an intercepting sewer I
and the Melrembe Itegm sewage was te be conveyed .10,4
the present Dam. This was, 1 believe, presented as one
of the main uses of the dam • it would enable them to lay
oltaugtonlyes for manning the sewage norp!a, much mon) '
' than in any other way in vim it 0%04 pm

"'din hisevrtomlmn eandaidationtionsWan"embanSirkieej°llnntot Goode
ectheanilizeaf,_lCaci_elnoseeutgi_ninunthip..b:.e...d...pat.ii.....ied.trti
of the Backwater from the au Works to opposite the end
of Boot-lane. I do not believe I have unfairly stated
what were the recommendations of Sir John Goode as to
the sanitary improvement of this borough. Now, how
have these recommendations been carried out? Take, for
instance, the tVeymouth sewage. First your sewage was
conveyed down to the bottom of the street-I do not know
what Ili the name of the street now for they have changed
them so-(A Voice, "Trinity Hoed) well it was opposite
Mr. Ayle s shop, at all events. And what was done with it
there? Was this embodied in the recommendation of Sir
John Goode, laid before you in the Town Hall? (Voice:
Austin strainer." They had, on the recommendation of
of some one, I do not know whom, • strainer put down
there. (Voice: "Rowland Thomas •)-(Langliter). Who-
ever it was who recommended thatstralnee I believe that
the man who did it did loin all sincerity-the. point -
, OrOlcg : "l:800 throw away • -the point! wish to keep
you to was this : it was not embodied in the recommen-
dations of Sir John Goode laid before the ratepayers at the
' cci:::linahair74..-..(by.cdritthiAavvtellt;::ily:itridthihieniimnewAimitrtivs.ngothicetletwadia:t.viher.todßoelseu:roj:ll
It into • bakehouse") hter.)-It is really a iterious
' question for the borough which lam considenng, gentle-
man. This was the first portion! alluded to in Sar John's
scheme. The dam was carried out: but the purpose for
, which the dam was said to be necessary-in order that the
, bumping station might he erected on the other side of the
Backwater-was suspended, and the pumping station has
never been erected to this day, and if one may judge from
, the remarks of Sir John Cook at the last rueeting of the
, Town Council, he would recomtnend the ratepayers not to
' tit stall! Then again take that etelankinent which
' Sir John Coo& recommended should be plared from the i:as
Works to the bottom of Boot Lane. This is of and with
' the rest ,• additional expenditure has been incurred-(A
' Voice : "Got to pay for the gravel ')
-and I wish to show
you that none of Sir John Cootie's schemes have been
effectually carried out. Inhabitants of Weymouth! I ask
emolumentt. you
h, l ahaini e
tgwnhhya-hotiularea h afford
nui,nwowthturireLoemerit visitors,
itoi.
inioth.rtefs,estti
eitherht n,:tsdmthl rylor)sof..tilihrnregteiiontri:tuttetheiwtr:74ec,.s.,e,..iuro:NJA:inniy:f-
Coode's schemes. I should he sorry to say that the north
portion of the Backwater above the Dam has not been
improved-Mout : " Yea that is quite correct: one of
the finest thin,* ever was done,")-(termen VOlre3:
"Turn him out, Order.) But what is that improvement
owing to? Is it owing to the erection of that dam? Or
Is it more owing to the conveyance of the sewage to its
present exit In deep water? men again look at the state
of the Backwater below the dam,. and I confidently, state
that Is no better than before, if it is not worse. There
was ample evidence afforded at the meeting we bald on
the other side of the water at the time when the fever raged
so seriously there that the smell was so obnoxious. The
postmen, of all others, bear testimony
is frequently so Ind that he is obliged to stop his nose-
(VOICE: 'How about Tommy Walls? "-laughter). I
want to turn your attention to the most important Point
in connection with the erection of the dam, the silting up
of the Harbour. In all civilised communities, where they
had such advantages; as you have, instead of seeking to
narrow that accommodation, they seek to enlarge it, and
where they have such • splendid area of water, they
would try to encourage men of energy to come and make
oufsethoaf
that, what
the Backwateara.rd,oanyanodudledraiovreu
hanategaid,n,
ci,:irtiaounthinnalpenagoto,piheewHthoiarthkhosothinlatYruewteonsuHidthmltcp!foeioluyurfrant hthduemfnanloir:vaoterilulainlPeldusbrtctoithaelfrctetthau:denidn
tradvdariepthr
ofopfthlacewiasti:ace_Vi.wlessdihr
riedpeinonnueuadrefses.4linreetteionn.hicehesappithii
most important branches of trade you posses-if you are
of your
e"yuoveu;
ir:tra:ouedrokerilanltowrwnh:UtErelrdsfelefesuunmedtotouiithnroyiluepp.r:i.entewnthrbkisluit;Nebiti.
to place a weir thereon and to repair. damages. Now, I
am no engineer: but I ask, supposing Sir John Coode,
instead of having his agent to fill up the spaces between
the piles with clay, had filled it up with a good concrete
wall, would this have been required ?-(no, no). Well,
the dam is in • horrible state apparently, and the blame
seems to be shifted from one shoulder to another, till
there is no telling who is answerable for it-(Voice: Take
it away). Sir John Goode says that. his employl was an
engaged-that he was so fully engaged with the superin-
tendence of the laying of sewers, that he could not be
fully engaged with the superintendence of the dam. But
I will be bound to say that Whateley Eliot could in two
minutes have written an order to the contractor that the
clay should be peddled properly, lute it would have been
done. Then again. there are others who want to lay the
blame on our worthy townsman, the town surveyor, and
to say that he did not exercise that due vigilance he ought
in reference to watching the percolation of the water
through the dam, and reporting it in time to prevent the
state it has got to now. Well, but supposing anufou
had built • new structure, had placed a man in c of
that house, warehouse, or anything else, would you have
expected that man to have seen that the founds.
dons were wrong ?-(Voice: "He oould not go
down ") Then again, I ash you, If that weir
is an essential part of this system of drainage
and n to the dam, why did not that great
man, Sir J n Coeds, propose it in his original plan?
-(hear, hear). Why is this weir left to crop up subse-
quently as an afterthought 1-(Voice : Because he didn't
know any better). Well, gentlemen, the pipes which are
to convey the sewage to your pumping station, according
to his recommendations are to be removed, indicating to
my mind plainly the intention to abandon the pumping
scheme -(hear, hear). And then, in order to make you
more agreeable to the abandonment of it, he stated that
the erection of the pumping station in some town or
other, un-named, because he spoke from memory, had cost
something like 1:8,000 or n,uoo, and that the annual
expenditure which would be required to conduct the
pumping operations would be from Ville to £7OO • year.
So, if you take .0.1), the lowest of his calculations, and
estimate that you get money at LI per cent., that
is equivalent to a capital outlay of nearly .£20,000-0:14:1
Now, gentlemen, you see thus given up by Sir John
mast of his original recommendations, and, as I eonsider,
the main pivot of all, the pumping scheme. You have
the pipe, in the dam to be nnuoved, and all the money
thus invested to be wi:dhas.hiti;;:ited:iit
...f.::),t:.4.f y;dr:iii.oinuuneutotrtit,liiiioia,teac,, vi:.,...ifothe.u.,:iiip.wthiuni:htri.i.ndteriao,dieddami....lo,:muftwi.tofhooue...t,,i...ug....f.airilziai.t,ice,:inLeoz,:isreitexpecuoueuthelteredlilii......t.ofv4::ttgau...tirutoidwte,:in,tumakret4ltf4,:wg:hiwiar,ans,;,,ch:ic:o;uitalydtaTe: i
unless you have a putuping station, is not required, you
arn
oat
pt
re
worse
have a strainer laid down, permitted, and not effective,
you have increased expenditure on the enbankment over
what was originally proposed-(hear, hear). Now I ask
you if having all these failures, before your eyu, ywi .u.
still disposed to place confidence in Sir Jehn Ooode (No, no, no, no!) I for one agree with the wisdom of Burke's
caution to political reformists, not to tAe upon the. the responsibility of any detailed scheme of legisla-
tion maces they can present it from the seal of authority%
Therefore as we aye not likely to present any plan of our
own from the seal of authority, I would foam:intend the
gentlemen who are to speak not to make any detailed
suggtstion. I would ~iiiiply suggest that if the channel
had been narrowed, so as to cause a scour, and the Dahl
ballkS had been removed, all that was necessary would '
have been achieved. In the further conduct of this meet-
te
uth:inbilimriltei..inniegil!:kiitrpe,,ctotoencbdir:,..,liga.:nr.iitb-ittimre,dnitnd:e,ohlviieihqbrig,ano:haatiPet,thomeniet.liofrotifisifleiof,
ii.t3tuo.rtortitanhiyho:inik,rbieeholhaeiihse :lri...th
promise the latter, as be WM not aceuainted with
as a citizen of Weymouth, that the arteittiestion,, haa
very dimly dawned epee his eited, an
ilad A very
, last summer ht, had to aputrophise it by name, when the
etliuv:it arising from it was too strong for his nostrils.
ir
eral
ttio.,kwantir._,..undi7idnefiliti:h.:eiciiiitivigatioll 1:;:i. rii.tnawdedthnlwm°are,maeokneuall,itin7,enali..":trocou4hllYtllies,li,:lirilit.i..e'Ytr'.
caused
tplacethwmhbeeyth. ehadthruc:nama;thfieaante::Andnyhad'ei:dewxim:enbee'ud:an:::g"'htroantlerqthayth*uth:etnsHeiacrracaneretutwpui:ra:'"ftaaaat;:7:ucais°tuc°trdhk"rgwiat:terlfttutha.T:t:tco:itaWisthlsheYmw::d:i.t.e:aatt:rw:rixiutlkaXL;ith;n:ai.tt-
* one of the most fashionable
say that
sail
cotftplahlacituiniideliminustair..Engunt,,iiflhatilteihucd:.taanbbeoßadeuihigs.tpiiri:.:ynhht,e:felt
044
without
i:.,..._
grave consideration, he Wad rot jegtiliea , Pro . en'
o( the vivarium of thth.heeonuTeeldostiton:gbly He had e oitidAtoa I
ad
speaking of it. He had had conaiderable experience in
.fiaathdre'thony Igk'fip...loug,)ti..:et.)tir.r°.of ;.:11:4.II:re.).eep.:::;:i.:4..,elszot4yefcamniid httliepoebehice,viieiPlioillusedheitcnetaitandthitideetari..eiredi
jiydocuw....inatltsf
rtrosdliwc",,,,esoti.hpeahrf'l.o,rusir4lll:.
mwenhistionpreseed to-night,
Stout
behe believed it was ,1*ai..c...-°,l,l,'n'e essi'"
ebdihadanginesoteutbn°bSi.uunStlfrequAyewnanc.rutttaieelnmine:iniedn:ent doctcrlsh
.o.:l4latitahrijtvelght.''of
might take a hasty
_ziavey'Of the pitiWen heavily feed'
prescription with Ai iltße satidactory raestl ae.iii:derib,,,le .1,
done Ly tar John WWI, in the Present . - 'IV
thaatrtickwhltitnnit(ratheu"speakert
hia)beasena
~,,,ntaattLoi cam,,,m0uu144'.......
and had been attended by s, -lasysia.ZA"under • "'en
whom he found di him no good, tr. it was but conunon se &all ohi m-(applause Therefore they had ,- r.--tits:ta.,*
held good M e present case, thee 6:if ---- ------'.,.....,.....
schemes first proposed, and then as
ind useless coot to the tswor 11/4*,4. enormou
entering into Hie tiotaiLS or . '
en.tl4
Own part, in
part of the
questioe, lie would not propos, Aoo eme whereby
:hi qt:r teethe lost ee the tewn. ~,Tif throw Awl money
amatillcouhangenl64iutt:ith:lf":„,:.llaiw.d.miii*".....,7otidue:p.l."...:l4y.:.,:,„;.,„:„:th:e-d;h::Lewbe:aatHhtttolled:°e:°°l4Proaret:oseilels-n:
nt(L,
IaTZLi-likratin* Ho w 044 nun nunZ
strengthened his bends- be—ttee than an expression of opinion by a ineotin, of aa. ----
at large. So he thought there could net be people rs 1 prudent time than the present, when new blood heal' 'C. infused into the Town Council, to gi • an e br.,..-jin,-,--3
opinion on this subject. Ile thereforeemoved --- ".
jeljeohlleccebarPth.emdot4"neeeriw4ehlwt..inargec'EhnlU*eni:errTttYMehadtereofnm"d'hust:roll6l'itPnideP°gweenartuilanh"bueptiiitlst ithsli7c;oli,nn:'-'-gtilienitoe'lll'Ainhy-eluhluidthiadoy...n.:
nigthon4;:onlkly%-idth:ll'"nnw*telt:thloilsge,r.l,Bacthhadliktongwaftunteroftirthiinea,tteriLi7eitc"nrasiulda::::
cou.W.:ii
mouth ; therefore it was in n....... 0 rincolit
wa
,:jhue,ria,trrn:pearetlrethre 1::ltfore them tialnahi.
di.,„..forothea)stemweorowasgoilturiutntooint
in
them that
he ri
e:g at" abouttwe Li
i It Is
it. il 'hail
twelvemonthybe e 4 :g
al.
ria''
:di: 5,
i t a n"
as soon as the dam was put up
=Ace, and he could
it:,
.d..t1:1,
eerm.
hi
et . wouldhnl
denntiotrekile
againstttllificig isfl
them
th,lut
es
T. eel
eiss
ilarliatolisiin"P:„...b:hrmA:okniii4:,,layace.:la.iksis.itoiet;isitcanhi::ouncia7ondiutet'e,e,mioazeitiefsuleuTlE:;:„..h.dinett:iheer,4l;l-ww.williso,"%oris",B6:ein:hl'eat'llybiwunsen4ec‘lthr freaki:4ll7:inielnirrhitc'i26lh.tods:thhtsPle:f k37'''etiet'rit°l:eti..tirsibur°,,tice:iwill,roe-::::1:1.4:1:
..)lia'64rytekl:::44dilil'auise,tor.eatitsn:thenni7l;iit,i'llo-1. all the scandalous bit. a
Vestilt
vii Cal Wattle 1,0 am,. 'N0v,....., he asked those
that the fev„l of that ils:('entatian). Ho "D'awk"U"l
Back-
water being so how, II "' the Mend around the Bart-
h, ought to low..!,tinin, therefore, he (the speaker thought
to the position ;,...".s:cete Innatest slue to make it suited
defied any nwill.ei it wu placed. He said, and he
dredFod from hie
... saw Ii&UR there that they had
maid It &Anted
kneading' Ah but they ceuld not knead
sl"ne° into clay. And ' eh
the sitauawffrimxirhpuent aneue:ital. cath.tinerei.ltewwUlo7l:::::diSietedirrieijt'aolleilht:nti
conTi
cw;*agwlainirthAeithootleel,,d. him d
,th.fa,....t betifocree„...hetzna,lett it. he
I:ea, the Corporation iii,:n w,ge cii the work. It had
n so eesz iint.o., And If the ratepayers paid .eg,g9o oe
Una laukl flat keep it up.--(Volos : We will not
risy it either. —(appwass). He would ten them the greed
ilttnilko tits Corporation wadswas AM VIP 414 "

£2,000 or £3.011 in /egging the very best of th
But they nevterwopunitt i-tzarto.a.anna
spend
second thishoewresolteouliludthtiaoetn,mumant:pat
petition ;
uld
ability in ttrercogait,
did his hest, only it had turns. ou
already failed. Should he tell them that that road the
Corporation had put round by the gashouse bad failed I
4thtoeres
to
ogentlieman who undoubtedly
Yopulald tall st°theTzli what hada
prifis,i,,ledhel
would
gdoainup7
as
nut
ad
id of
suffering would they not be put to ! He therefore
up—
(laughter gi
we drainage
tmr ert hiv and slipping
fp sewage
dbePip an gr
applause). eW Yloni t
de. wasinS a nh
thiso altogetherwy.AsbnadurdwhAtt,
ey
aesonded the resolution. As all these things have failed,
they would submit to the Town Council that they might
come to Dome decision that will satisfy the ratepayers -
(apples's.).
! The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, for which
, apparently about** hands were held up and only one
could be seen against. Mr. Gasketl therefore delared the
resolution carried, with one or two exceptions unanimously
, --(great applause.
A Voice: How about the swans I
Mr. Faitiguse sohl he had been asked to propose the
next resolution, but he wished it had been put into more
; able hands than his, as he was no speaker. But he
thought in this case Um facts spoke for themselves. After
the maguilicient works Sir John Curie had undertake;
the very satisfactory state of our drainage, our beautiful
Park, and our everlasting Dam, he asked them the simple
question "Are you satisfied ? Are we still to allow the
Town Council to employ a man, when the large majority
of the ratepayers think him incompetent to undertake
the work r" He (the speaker) had often examined the
. dam, and as far as he was able to Mitre, it WIS an utter
failure, with the exception of the inipmvenient of the
upper part of the river. He hail collected • few facts, , which might be interesting to some of them-0'01ot:
The "idiots" won't pay for it" As to the construction of
the Dam, the piles in the centre are filled with clay, out-
side of which on each side is • mass of rubbish, consisting
of mud, taken up from between the piles, road.scrapings.
ashes, etc., upon which is placed rubble, and upon that,
the stun, block.. The inassivelooking piers of the back
gates are merely stone shells, filled with rubble, and are
certainly not solid enough. As to the cost they had been
given to understand it Waa abOU t £lO,OOO ; but they might
ie surprised to hear he bad ascertained that it was nearly
£13,1100,. The contract price was .Cll,aun, ar.d by the
third condition of the contract, no extras were to be
allowed, and yet he believed he was correct in saying thee
the extras were over OA?, making in all £12.700, vritimen
the repairs-(hear.) Thirdly, as to the time allowed be
building the Dam, the contract was dated June 21, 1e72.
and the work was to be completed in eight months,
Instead of which it WWI not finished before November or
December, PM73-nine or ten months over the time
allowed. There was • penalty attached to the contract,
If it was not completed in the time specified, ea follows :-
23rd condition "If the contractor should fail to complete
the work specified and shown on the drawings, within
the period named in his tender, he shall pay to the Local
Bowl the sum of .CIO for each and every week during
which the work remains incomplete, after the expiration
of the contract period." Now 40 weeks at £lO, made
.ClOO, which he believed the contractor had not been asked
I for --(hear. hear.) Foitrthly ; as to the present condition
, of the dam; the contractor was bound to keep it in repair
for three months after his contract expired, during which
time men were continually employed raising the stones
which had sunk down, and they Seem to have been afraid
of the gate giving way, for they propped it up, and when
they left, what lollowe,lf The prop was taken away, and
the gate began to fall to pieces ! The mud on each side of
the piles is washing away, and the stone blocks are fast
sinking to the bottom-(hear, hear.) As their chairman
had said it would be best not to give any opinion as to
what course should be adopted, he would not say anything
about the remedy-(Voicri: "Take it awar.") He would
therefore conclude by moving the second resolution "That
• copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to the Mayer.
Alderman, and each member of the Town Council."
Mr. C. BEALS trusted they had had quite sufficient
explanation, from the gentlemen who had spoken. )'tint.
log that things had been going on in a most reckless
manner, he begged to second the resolution.
This was carried as the first by about nuo to 700 to one.
Mr. A. Dtexis moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
Seconded by Mr. J. G. ROLLS.
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the compliment, and the
meeting separated in the most orderly way.

PORTLAND.
THE FORTUNE'S VEIL 111 MOVEMENT. —A meeting of
the committee of the Local Board was held on Tuesday
afternoon, near the church. The conimittee viewed the
footpath, and decided to remove the stems whieh now
project into the path, also to lower the footway. We are
very happy to learn that Mr. Lana and hire Read
amicably agreed with the Board that the latter should
remove the steps inside their respective premises. We
beg to compliment them on their public spirit, for no
doubt they suffer lotus inconvenience in the alteration of
what Lou remained there se long.
VISIT (IF THZ LORDS OP THZ ADM I BRITT. —COI Battu,.
day a party consisting of Mr. Ward Hunt, M.P.. first
lord, Admiral Sir A. Milne, Sir Massey Lopes, Lord
Guildford, and Mr. Shaw Lefevre. visited Portland Reads
in H. Ns. F.nchantress. On arrival a salute was tired
from H.M.S. Royal Alfred. My lords inspected the
lloscawen, H.M. training ship, and the Royal Alfred,,
H. M. coastguard ship, and a number of coastguardmem
from the different station. in the neighbourhood, who
had assembled for the purpose. The distinguished party
left Portland for London by the 4.20 train.

CE.B.NE ABBAS.
PROLIFIC PARIINIK—Mr. G. Hawkins, of this place, last
week dug a parsnip measuring considerably over a yard in
length.
CEang TCR.NCIILE TINUST.—The Cerne gates are taken
down, and the roads are now the ljueen's Highway. The
amateur bell ringers sigualined the event by several merry
peals.
Poura, Monday. Morose Capt. J. Mount-Batten.
WiWain Tievopros, Hear!, Light and Itiekani Sala.., three
tramps, s.te chanced with destroying their clothes km Cern*
Uni so. Prisoners were admitted on Saturday Wight and by
!smoky morning had every article of their el, .thaw neatly torn
into shreds. Committed for 10 days' hard Latium.