The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-08-23 00:00:00

BRIDPOBT.

THE "Seca."—The largest screw-steamer ever in
liridport Harbour is the • Saga" from Bergen. She is
at preseut discharging an immense cargo of hemp for
some of the principal manufacturers in the town.
Ties CEOPS.—ite.ping in this district is now almost
in full swing, but the sharp showers during the week
have done much to delay progress. It is earnestly
hoped that a period of dry weather will set in, for in
that case the harvest will be a successful and profitable
one. All kinds of grain give promise of good average
c.ro pa.
1 HREATENING A DUEL —At the Borough Police.
court, on Wednesday, before Dr. Hay, M.D., and Mr.
'l% Edmunds, John White, a well-known customer,
and flax-dresser, of East-street, was charged with
threatening Mr. Edward Norman, knaloid of the
Duke of Wellington, East-street on the Lith inst.
Complainant said defendant followed him down the
street, and ttirestened to do for him within a month,
and have his sign down to the ground. He denied
abusing defendant's wife. Albert Norman, eon of
complainant, corroborated, adding that defendant
swore and was abusive. Defendant declared he limier
saw complainant The Bench required defendant is
bind himself in £lO and a surety of in to ki•el• the
=for six months. Mr. hiarqrie consente,i ba
for defencianL
ANOTHER " INPROVEMOCT " MegriNu.—Something
decisive was arrived at, at the special meeting cif the
Local Board held on Monday night. At the hour for
holding the meeting (7.30), there was such a paucity
of members that the hope of obtaining a quorum was
well nigh abandoned. At length, after a reconnoitre
of the town, just sufficient to foruc a quorum was
obtained. The following were pr, scut at the opening
of the meeting i.—The Mayor (C. Edmunds, Esq.),
Aldermen A. lteynolds and J. Beach councillors—
W. Knight, J. Hommel!, J. H. Dunham, KG.
wood, and T. Edmunds, W Gundry, Est. (Cleric),
and Mr. F. Cooper (Borough Surveyor).—The Mayor
•
referred to the following resolution adol'ted a • the
meeting of the 26th nit.:—" Having heard the report of
the committee appointed to carry out and collect the
monies for the NVeat-etreet Improvement, this Board
is of opinion that a* the ratepayers at a public meet-
ing in the Town Hall, consented to and recommended
the work to be carried out by private subscriptions
and not by rate, recommends that a public meeting of
elm ratepayers, of Bridport be ciillod to receive a report
of the committee and determine how the deficiency is
to be met, as this Board appointed the committee on
the recommendation of that public meeting." In
accorCnce with that resolution a public meeting of
ratepayers was held when the two following re.olu-
tierce were passed. First, "Thai before this meet.ng
arrives at any decision, the town should be thoroughly
canvassed." Secondly, " That the Local Board
should appoint another cormiiiitee to solicit subscrip-
tions."-1 he Mayor remarked that this was an
important matter and. one that should be sett ed as
promptly al possible. The surveyor that morning
had received a letter from one of the creditors appl c -
for hie nroney.—Aldertnan Reynolds con-idered that
the Board should form itself into committee. In this
instance they were distinctly assured that the
oicuamittee had no authority to spend the money of the
rate, and they had *gad the credit of the Board
without any authority whatever. He did not think
they could call the money from the rate. He would
move 'that this Board form itself into committee in order to solicit subecriptii me," thus they would have
the interests of the lioard, and his object was to
embrace the former oommittee.—The Mayor thought
this would take the matter out of the hands of the
former cormnittee.—Mr. Gundry then fully es-
plained their position as a corporation, and point...a
out the misapprehensions which were often held with
regard to the appointment of committees.—,Mr.
Knight considered that if a thorough canvass of the
town were made, and the subscribers were assured
that it should not come out of the rate, the money
would be easily raised. Other members held this opinion. After some further discussion, Alderman
Reynolds considered the legal point would turn upon
the fact that the Board had given no authority for
the expenditure.—Councillor Knight then moved
"That the town ba thoroughly cativaireed for sub-
scriptions, for the purpose of paying off the debt on the
Nest-street ImprovenrenL"--Seconded by Mr. Holm-
wood, and carried —Alderman Reynolds moved "That
in order to give effect to that resolution, the Beard
form itself into committee for the purpose of collecting
such subscriptions." Seconded by Alderman Bearish,
and carried.—Councillor Knight said they had better
give a guarantee to the subscribers, lir he thought
the people would never trust them (the Board) again.
Sutton, AOCIDEET.—A labouring man named John
Brake, of Fetminster, met with • serious accident on
Friday last on Mr. Albert King's farm. at Ryas
Intrinaica. It appears that Mr. King's men were
cutting a field of wheat, Brake bAse with the
machine. Some rabbite were turned out of • clove,
and on a gun being fired by Mr. King, the hones were
frightened, and Bake, who was endeavouring to turn
a rabbit for hie master WY caught by the madders.
It was at first thought he was fatally hurt, but we are gat:essay that, under the care of Dr. Turner, of
he is programing favourably.