The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-08-28 00:00:00

THZ RATING OF POLICE STATIONS, ITC.

The CHAIRMAN remiaded the Court that at the last
Quarter Sessions he was desired to communicate with
the Secretary of Sete on the subject of the rating of
police stations and other county building., to amertsin,
if possible, the opinion of the law officers of the Crown
as to the liability of such buildings to be rated to the
relief of the poor. He had written, but the Secretary
of State declined to take the law officers' opinion, became
It vu a matter they (the Court) might fight themselves.
He wrote a second time, hoping the Secretary of State
would excuse his doing so, because it was a matter
affecting every county in England, and reniinding him
that probably the opinion of the Crown law offieers
would be • sufficient guide for them all. But the
answer he got yes : You must fight your own
fight, and, if neceessry, go to the Court of Qiieen's
Bench." That seemed to him to be fiat .1 to any further
effort in that direction. He then asked the Clerk
of the Peace to communicate with the Clerks of
the leveed counties adjoining on the subject
Hants, Wilts, and Devon, sad he tbok Somerset him-
calf. He had • letter from Sir William Mike, the chair-
man of the Somerset Quarter Sessions, who said that he
Ind • conversation with Mr. Justice Bylm upon the
gagster), and that leaned judge seemed to bold—es one
who had given &dyes to the House of Lords—that suck
buildings woe not liable to be rated, and upon that Ettr
William said they were dete.nniesd to fight out the
question, lithe Hite stations, he. in Somerset were
rated. He (Sir William) quoted the opinion of a certain
number of judges to the Court of Appeal, but the Court
did not act altogether on that opinion. He had looked
at the judgment of Lords Westbury, Chelmsford, and
Cranworth, and he ow nothing to save them bat certain
words made use of by Lord Cran worth. Be said:
" Possibly these police courts, ha, ma g be con.
adored to be government property, and. if so,
may not be rateable." The judgment itself ap-
peared to him to be quite decisive in favour of the
rating.
In answer to • magistrate, Colonel Cog rudd at Der.
cheater the polioe station, the gaol, and the county hall
were proposed to be rated, sod- the% besides be had only
hairdo, Beaminster police elation.
The CHAIRNAN suggested that the Chairman of the
Assessment Committee of the Dorchester Union should
be requested to write to the Poor Law °Steers asking to
be advised by them ethetker they were right in assessing
the polies stations and other county buildings, stating
the county it." 4 dispelled to dispute it, and no doubt an
aurae, *mild be given. Should it not, however, then
they must take counsel's opinion or appesl
The Rev. C. W. Madame mid no doubt that was the
right stodge extend% but be had no doubt whatever
but that the Poor Law Board would advise the Assess-
ment Committee to rate. each buildings.

The Cumulus said if that were .o the matter could
then be laid before eounsel to advise the county what to
do. But be thought they were not quite ready yet to
present a ease. It was very likely that the Poor Law
Board had taken an opinion on the subject.
It wee then agreed that the Clerk to the A MIMIMent
Committee of the Dorchester Union should be comma.
Muted with to the end his lordship suggested.

SALMON FIERRRT DISTRICTS.

The CLERK OF TIJOI PIICII ad le fore the Court a
oertilleate (with • map attached) he had received from
the Home Seerolary, terming the river From, into •
fishery &strict.
.

On the motion of Colonel Mitierth It vssa resolvod
that notice be mutt to the Clerk of the Peace for the
town and oounty of Poole, desiring the justices to
appoint three of their number as • fishery committee, and
that at the neat sessions three magistrates of this county
be appointed to form with them • joint fishery coin.
mittee for the river Frome adds*. situate In the
counties of Dorset and Pools.

—FoCieTsi:g-t-h:-rl7e-r -Avon fishery dlstriet4 Colonel
limiest. said that the initiative in forming • colaulttee
was to have been taken at the last Plante quarter
sessions, bet be lersint It was then forgotten he now
proposed that the Clerk of the Peace apply to the
justiers of Haiti. and Wilts requesting them to appoint
three justices at their next session respectively, to form,
with a like number to be similarly appointed at the
next Dorset sessions, a fishery committee for the river
Avon, situate in Hants, Wilts, and Dorset.
Notice was given on behalf of C. J. T. Hombre, Esq.,
of • motion at the next sessions for appointing the
three Dorset justices for the Avon district.