The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-01-14 00:00:00

11,. W. Gibbs: How much of the rate hsui been eel.
looted?
The irk:Cl The rate was for £530. &nd r/66 has We°
consoled.
Mr. W. Gibbe : Why has it not been collected ?
The Clerk stated, in reply, that the collector had been
ill, and hneine been made in the
collection of rates involved the eollector's riallirm on the
poorer elms...; this seeesaitsted tbo performance of •
'noel greater ernount of work than formerly, and had
ind4o4 the collector • short time Wore to give in his
resignation.
Mr. W. Gibbs: Is the Wants, to be loft?
A Member: In oonsequence of the pa bill—
(laugh r).
Mr. W. Gibbs: Row long since this gas bill was paid
The Clerk t In Dominber.
Mr. W. Gibbs: When was the rate made?
The Clerk On the 11th September.
Mr. W. Gitib.: Th.t is a period of three months,
and most of that time bad elapsed before the gas bill
was *A. It oannot be the payment of the is. bill oat
of the rate that bas made mrsons refuse to pay the

collector.
Combo What notice does the collector
yecj,,ipg bare he commences calling for the rate?
the Clerk He is to collect it forthwith.
Mr. B. Cnenben : The same as the Board of Guardians
..„‘" their affairs; and if the eolleoter does not get
in the rate within a retain throe, be berms responsi-
ble for it. Not only the inhabitants of the Island, but
many of the members of this board had not yet been
riled open by the collector. The oolleator of rates
gljonld be requested to get in the rate forthwith.
Mr. B. Collins did not suppose that persons did
refuse to pay the rate altogether through the gas bill
being rid. He had been informed that any rat payer
co••ld appeal ag.inst the rate on account of the gas
bill being paid oat of it, the board having no authority
to pay it.
Mr. A. &riven thought that as the rate was made in
Septembet, it might have been all collected in October,
and that would have been before the was bid was paid.
Mr. B. Collins raid the gas bill bad been several
times before the Board, and the public 000ld pretty well
goers what the remelt of it was to be.
The Clerk : You have msde the nib in due legal
form. If by millibar of the parish chose to appeal
easiest it, be might do so, but that would not prevent
them colleetiog the rate.
Mr. W. Gibbs enquired whether all properties were
ratei alike?
The Clark replied that all the rates were made from
the poor-rate honk.
Ur. W. Gibbs said when the oolleetor called on him
on the 30th Drember be wee rated M. in the E on all
he poreseed—dind end all. He male enquiries after-
wards and found that land should only have been
rated nne-foorth, and he would be glad to have the
money refunded hiss which he had paid in errs.
Did not believe that five persona out of 100 bet thought
all properties were equally rated; had they thought so
they woold not have had a Lori Board.
The Clerk reminded the gentlemen they were some.
what out of order. The question was the appointment
of • Finance Committee.
Mr. IL Pearce moved that the committee consist of
the whole board.
Mr. A &riven seconded.
Mr. J. Hine mired as an amendment that the tom.
mitre consist of five. Seconded by Mr. B. Collins.
On being put to the vote the resolution was carried.
TH2 TRUSITUDI AND Till GIANT souse •0•12.
The subject was to consoler the published soonnts
of the Trustees of the Grant Money, and decide what
ster should be taken th• reto.
'I be clerk read the following paper for Mr. A. Seriven,
who was too unwell to undertake the of reading it himself
—The abatements of the boors of the grant money
which los been published under authority jristifies, as I
think, all the snapicions whir in the discharge of my
duty r • member of the Lord Board, as &ratepayer of
this Island, and as a Portlander, I have fit riled
upon to cast upon the management of that fund; for •
more extraordinary document se • recital of the deeds
of Trustees, charged with the disbureement of • lirge
sum of money annually for the benefit of the whole of
the inhabitanis, could surely never be conceived. Before
noticing the nature of the items in the statement, let
me eargratelete the Trustees on the hand...3mo balance
they atisay• contrive to have in hand—no lees • gum
than • thousand pounds. 'This is • very pleaaant•mount
to have for contingencies, and I tope they will be
willing to devote it, or as much as may be required,
for providing the inhabitants with •good and convenient
supply of water and light, which are the two principal
thirsts required for the benefit of the inhabitants of this
island. We find the first item is £173 to Portland
schools for the arrears of bills, two other items add I:40
more, making £213 paid to these schools in the year. ,
This is rtonishing. If the sehoole require all this ,
help, there must be something grovel,' hert in their
management, and if they do not need it, it is injustice
to the inhab tants so to spend their grant money.
Who is to blame! As to the schools I was told the other
day by a member of the school committee that they
are self supporting. Then we have churehwardene
bills to the amount of nearly E7O, but that the Trustees
recently explained was to prevent the levying of a
ohareh•rate. Wbethir this is • right atep or • wrong
one I think the inhabitants ought to have a voles in
the matter, before it is paid nut of the grant money.
But it Gannet be said that giving £35 towards a new
organ at St. Johns' Church is justifiable on that ground,
furl have no doubt the great majority of the inhabitants
hove never been in the ehorch, and I am rsther afraid,
indeed, almost sure, that the churchwardens' bills
include many thing. which could not be included in a
legal church rate for instancy., the lighting, cleaning,
pew opening, bud playing the organ: and the unfairneas
of applying the money to tree purposes is the greater,
when we remember that but • very small number of
our inhabitants attend church, being far the moat part
Weal yans or members of other directing bodies. Yet
I find that no payments have been made to them to
aapport their place. of worship. The Diaperary has
had £2O, and I think it is • proper outlay, noVeithagen.e.
inc some faults in the management. Nest I find £3O
is espended on two Court lost dinners This seems an
excessive awn, for so few hours lost to those who attend
it, and the invitations being recrioted to so small •
circle. In my opinion the money would be spent
much better if devoted to providing either water
or light. Then there is £2O for varioos repairs.
The account is oonatclerably larger than we are
aecnaterm-d to pay for such an amount of work
at Portland ; but, perhape, a Weymouth man, should
be allowed • "pull" out of a job, when the money cornea
out of the inhabitant.' grant money. But I very much
doubt the right of the Trustees to meddle with such
works, for they are now all in the jurisdiction of the
Local Board. 1:300 has been paid to relieve the rate-
payers. Thin appears on the face of it, to he • capital
mode of benefiting the inhabitant., but when we re-
collect that by rah a course, the stone merchants and
own. rs of property, who principally reside out of Pont.
land, share in the relief thus given from the inhabitants'
grant money, it is seen at ones to be an improper pay-
ment. Then there is RIO 7e. 2d. to C"illram Stacey,
printing petitions to Lords and Commons, and RI 10a.
for the man who carried the address for rignatores.
Truly the Truster are very libe al with tan inhabitants'
money ! The rest of the statements is made up of pay.
m..ntA to people who are In distress, or who are about
to take trios to various parts of the world. As to the
former, I take it that the Trustees have no right to sot
as relieving °Seem in dealing with the grant money.
There is relief provided breach by union poor•rste,thosigh
I doubt whether the Guardians would think it right to
give El for cards to get a child into an asylum, or £5 to
help • man to buy a horse. But the other payment are
inexplicable, unless all the people named were given the
money to leave Forbin& for Portland's good! What
are those keine ? 10s. in going to Australia, El to
assist daring • journey to the Dutch. £2 10a. in going to
Liverpool. El on receiving an appointment, Di on
....nig, a' in g to America. I have rapidly gone
through the statement, being very unwell, and, having
done so, I ask you, do you think that by the spending of
the grant money, in paying each sort every of those
items the will of her Majea,y the Queen bee been
executed, tememberieg that every farthing of the
money was and is intended for the benefit of the inha-
bitant. generally, and not for • few individual. Yo•
moat oonclode with me that the grant money is very
largely diverted from its proper recipients, and that we
ought to spare no efforts to get it expended in such •
manner that the whole Inhabitants of the island may
be benefited. With these remarks I leave you to
diens& and decide what stops shall be taken in reference
thereto.
Mr. R. Lasso: Can we do anything in the matter?
The Clerk, No, the Trustees have full power over
the mom,.
Mr. B, Collins If the trustees have full power over
the money, they Can do as they like with it.
Mr. A. &riven took it that it was the duty of this
board to protest against the manner in which the (rent
money wrss expended, and then call • public meet-
ing to ask the inhabitants whether it WM with their
sanction that the grant money was to be used for
porpors of emigration, and enabling the Trustees to
sr as relieving officers. Re probated against the
money being squandered in this manner. Why did not
the Rev. Mr. Jenour apply and have £5OO out of
the rant for the purpose of converting the Jews--
(laughter).
Mr. B. Pearce: And go to—(renewed laughter).
Mr. W. Gilshe though. the matter should stand over.
Very recently the Rey. Mr. Hogarth hard pledged his
word to do his utmost to obtain £lOO or £2OO to waist
us in the gas affair. and he rola be Pony to doubt that
gentleman's word. H• told Mr. Hogarth that the
feeling raised about the Truster would not be allayed
noises they came out bandmmely in the waterer gas
supply. He took it for granted they would do so.
Get the gas and water done with, and there was no
doubt the trustees would pay for it. .
Mr. A. f3criven said he should like to know what Mr.
Howarth's promise was worth when they knew that the
other Trustee was opposed to gas?
Mr. Gibbs said he bad no vision to doubt Mr.
Hogerth's word.
Mr. W. White thought something from the grant
mousy should be devoted to the relief of tb• poor.
£lOO worth of blankets and £l.OO worth of coals
might be benelldally distributed amongst the poor
inhabitants.
Mr. R. Laws : At the last vestry meeting you pro'
tested against the payment:of bills by the grant money,
and the very parties are here now wanting the Trustees
to. upend the grant errantly in public work.. [Mc. W.
Gibbs: I rise to order.) At the vestry meeting it
was proposed and seconded that the bills be paid. when
Mr. A.. &riven proposed, and Mr. B. Pearce monocled
that the bill should not be paid by the Truster, and
now you want to force on the public a 'aerate whirr they
cannot pay. At. the meeting before last we had •
letter from the Trustees, In which they said they had
not confiders enosigh in the board to pay In by

money.
Mr. W. Gibbs: I did not beer Mr. Mogartb say any-
thing of the kind.
Mr. R. Ltna : You came to the vostry meeting mit of
a vpirit of opposition. (Cries of "We her, nothing to
do with vestry meetings,' and uproar). Five or sir of
you eombined together not only to ounce. the
Churchwardens' bill, but to remove the Church-
w.irdenc its well; and that by men who newer mune to
illo church twice • year. It eannot make mach
d fference to you who is oburchwarden.
Mr. W. Gibbs said be did not refer to the late vest!,
meeting ; he only stated what Mr. Hogsrth had
mid to him ha the preemies of others who were there.
Mr. B. Conaiwn objected to Mr. R. Lano's staiement
that a"rttill rartiew wanted to force • church rate upon
ichabitante; • rate could not become a church rote
tuatd it woe peened at • vestry. HA mush queetioned
whekbes e 'Welt eehe weld be escried at eli,