The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-09-03 00:00:00

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

A meeting of the Council was held on Monday:
the members present were the Mayor and Alderman
Manfield ; councillors Galpin, Bennett, Ensor,
Firm& Aldridge, Stanton, and Bishop,
The CLERK reported the result of his negotiations
with Mrs. Harvey and the late Mr. Thomas
Bennett's executors for renewals of the lease* of the
promisee held by them under the corporation. The
Council accepted the terms recommended by the
Town Clerk. But, besides the amount to be paid for
renewals, the quit rents in each instance are to be
raised from £1 to /5 per year.
Mr. PROUD stated that be perceived an exhibition
of a notorious character was announced to come
into the town in the course of a few days, and he
wished to ask the question whether the coureit
considered it was desirable such an exhibition should
take place within the borough. He alluded to
Howe'll and Cushing's Circus, in which it was said
Tom Sayers would appear. -Mr. MAN7IILLD and
Mr. STANTON said they had thought ot going to au
him. --The MATOK thought it was not a lealtiOn for
the Council to take oognuiance of.-Mr. ramp said
he simply asked whether the Council considered the
exhibition should take place within the horough was
desirable- The MAYOR considered that whether
it was desirable or not, it was not • matter for
interference as between the public and the autho-
rities. -Mr. PROUD said that if the Council thought
it desirable for Tom Sayers to come and exhibit his
brutality, he had nothing ferther to say in the
matter-Mr. 11•NVIILD thought it was simply a
question which reeled individually with the members
whether they would patroake it or not. He did not
think they were called upon to give an expression of
opinion publicly on it.- Mr. PROUD thought they
did not clearly understand his question. He would
ask the Mayor if his attention had been officially
called to the subject, and if so, whether he thought
it desirable for the brutal, he might say degrading,
exhibition to take place-The Mem' thought
that it had only been brought before their notice by
advertisement- -The CLIME said the proprietors of
the circus employed Tom Sayers and another to go
about with them, and their putting on the boxing
glues and sparring, formed a part of the entertain-
menta.-The lif•you said he had not been applied to
in reference to the affair. If his permission were
asked, he should give the hest answer according to
hill judgment.. He certainly had no desire to per-
mit amusements of an improper kind, but he dig not
not think it right to interfere wit', innocent amuse-
menta.-Mr. PROUD had no wish to interfere with
amusements of en innocent nature, but this was a
eery uncommon affair, and was certainly not calcu-
lated to elevate one, in any proper sense of the
term.-Mr. MANTIILD: Why, it is called the
" Noble art of self-defence."-The Mayor said that
that in those towns they had visited, it was declared
that nothing of an improper character took place.-
Mr. Humor said the Mayor had stated that he knew
nothing about the exhibition coining, but from the
reading of the bills he saw on the sea ttras no
eriperimon exercised as to what bills were posted?-
The CLIME said the parties who wanted bills posted
went to the bill-dicker, with whom the agreement
Air posting took place-Mr. &linop thought the
pictured posted up exhibiting this "Noble art of
self-defence" had not a very elevating tendency,
nor were they such as many parents would prefer
their children to study. For his own part he thought
them, stuck as they were shout the town, very object-
iambic-Mr. GALPIn thought that with regard to
bill sticking there ought to he some supwrision.-
Mr. CURTIS said that where the MX% of the printer
did not appear, he showed the bills to the Mayor
before he ponied it- -Mr. Brum. would certainly
not have permitted these pictures of Howe's and
Cushing's affair to be posted.-The Mayoa said he
had had no application on the subject. -Mr. Fame
thought that notonly ought the Mayor lobe asked for
permission to stick bills within the borough, but
also that no exhibition. should take plane without
his permiision. -Mr. SIMON thought the Mayor
would he quite justified in having these bills
covered.-Mr. GALPIN referred to the acrobats who
exhibited in the streets • short time since. Their
performanes was disgusting, and horses wee* liable
to be frightened and cause groat injory.-The
M •TOK and lie gave them permission to perform in
the streets in the first instance, but he refused to
give them an extension of time when they applied
for it.- Mr. GALTIN said there was a good deal of
opposition feeling in the country in regard to the
matter introduced by Mr. Freud, and he thought
that the better way would now be to let things
remain as they were. In all future cases be thought
the chief magistrate should be emenited.-Mr.
Hisao, considered the pictures highly indecent -
The CLERK said that the plea of the party was that
the men did not go through all those attitudes, but
that the pictures were exhibited to draw people to
the circus--The bleyolt would like to ask the Town
Clink whether the pictures were of that nature
that if seen exhibited in a private window
they could be seised.-The Tow" CLIME:
Certainly not. You might destroy those posted on
the boards. -Mr. GALPIN thought that would be •
very imprudent course to adopt. Mr. Curtis had
told them there were but three now exhibited, and
if they were to destroy those three, some people
would get it into their heads that persecution had
set in, and they would see the pictures exhibited
in private windows four-fold to what they now were.
-The MATOIL said that if anything were exhibited
about the town that by Act of Parliament was pro-
hibited, he would at once exercise his authority in
the matter, hut be did not feel he should be justified
in interfering in the present case now so far as it
had gone. Beim, however, the exhibition takes
place, he should require to see the proprietor. -Mr.
C•LPIN said it would be very bad policy to suppress
an exhibition, unless, indeed, it were very
bed, after the bills were out, and therefore bethought
in future it should not be left to the bill-sticker, but
that the Mayor should give his 'suction before bills
were distributed.- Dr. A unions thought that great
credit was due to Mr. Frond in bringing the subject
forward, and so manfully stating his opi-
nion. It would no doubt be of benefit
as to proceedings of • like nature hereafter.
In the present instance, as the matter had gone so far
he thought the better way would be to take no
notice it.-Mr. PROUD said that prise fights had
nearly died out till revived by Sayers, and his going
about in the manner be did had a very bad ten-
deocy.-After some further discussion, the subject
-droPPOI-

Doan or Vaaarii.
The Irarthoia riporiatlSazillosoo or a

grrest number a nuisances, among others, belonging
tl Mr. James Yearsley, and a person named Rowe,
who had reoeived previous notico. —Mr. Srawros
moved that in all cases where persons did not remove
their nuisances after receiving notice they should he
summoned.—Procoedinp were ordered to be taken
accordingly. It was also ordered that Messrs.
Mason and Co. should have notice to remedy • very
great nuisance said to exist, arising from the smoke
caused by the fire that drives their steam engine,—
Some other business °fan important character having
been transacted, the meeting separated.