The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-07-05 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH BACKWATER BRIDGE.

The Chairman of the Committee ( HA mute) had
1. ,or m tions on the agenda paper with regard to this
bridge. siL.
I.—That a stim not exceeding £3,000 be granted
toward. the work+ necessary to he carried out in the
eepwati.ni of the Weymouth Backwater Bridge.
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2.—That it is dealt ahle that such a Palm be carried
by mortgage. pursuaut with the provision of four and
tire Vir , c. 49.
3.—That the county surveyor do forthwith prepare
1;:ilis and specifications for (1) a new bridge, and (2)
r 'mono mg, by widening the present bridge.
4.- -That the Clerk of the Peace do procure tenders
tor :ode works.
TI e Orrery-Cushman said no doubt the Court as
morr•WlitiSS the county in the matter of this bridge be
-tens I at the earliest possible period for traffic' 11111 V
that the decision bad been arrived at, in the Superior
r..tot of Appeal, that the ounty wan babe for the
maintenance and repair of the bridge. Within •
fo- altar judgment was given the coinmittee
directed their proper officer to write a letter to
the Weymouth Authorities inviting their co operation
zed consideration SS to the stops that it would be
net desitable to take for the repair of the bridge.
That letter was written, as he, lied said, about a fort-
night after the judgment was given, so that certainly
no ttme was lost by the committee in taking the course
that they thought courteous' to the Weymouth Author.
;ties. ns well as proper on the part of the county.
Thet letter was written on May 31st, but no answer
ASA received from the Weymouth Arab, rifles till three
dses ago, /Sow, be was not at all saying that the
weymonth Authorities delayed the matter unneces-
wiry, or longer, than it wag fit and proper; but, at
any rate, he was not wrong In pitying that the delay
was not on the part of the committee as representing
•-ine county. That was quite clear. Al the lett •r was
may received three days ago, it was obvious that they
'Load not take any step in conjunction with the
authorities of Weymouth in so short a time. Still, he
was ,A.mogly in favour of some kind of a conference
being held on the matter, in order that some joint
action should be taken by Weymouth on the one part
and the County Authorities on the other. Referring
I' the cost, he was of opinion that it would be advis-
able to raise the money by loan, in order that it might
he spread over • longer time, an I fall more equally
upon the present and the future ratepayers. 'Faking
rth these matter' into consideration, therefore, it
ectined to hint absolutely necessary that the matter
should stand over till • future day, whether at an
adjourned Swill in or the next Michaelmas Sessions.
The Committee would be able ro report to the
Court the wishes and the proposals of the tVeyruouth
Authorities, and what, in view of tho.e propeala the
Committee would recommend tl.e Court to adopt in
regard to the repair or the re-building of the bridge,
Mr. HAIIIIIO then moved "'that the net
empower the Committee to c infer with the Weymouth
Aothorities on the matter and report at the next
lielajOSS."—This was carried.—He then moved "That
it bean instruction to the Committee who ere directed
tr meet the Corporation of Weymouth for the repair
id the Backwater Bridge, that they are not to enter-
tain any proposal for wideniog, altering, repairing, or
doing anything to the bridge which would entail upon
the county • larger ex penliture than would be required
to put the bridge in • state of repair." His object in
moving this was not that he should not like to see a
tine stone or iron bridge commie the Backwater—for
there was no place he should like ti see improved by
go el bridges more than Weymouth—but that in the
present state of agriculture they ought to do everything
they oould ti keep the rates as low as they possibly
• I. and put SA small a charge upon the ratepeyen
or they possibly could. At the net, 'iessiona they
would find a very large mum .1 money would be
riciiiired to meet the contingent ex.eoess connected
• the roads, and he did not see why the county
should be called upon to g• 1 to a larger expenditore
thin was alrolotely necessary. (Hear, hear.) £2,200
would put the bridge in • thorimah Slle.o of repair.
The Committee would have great pleasure in meeting
the Corporation of Weymooth, and they would go
down with their bands very much strengtherred in
their course of &Akin if they were to receive some
'such iwtruction XS he had euggested.
Mr. osollo2 B°! secandea the resolution. lie
thought alga best thing they could do was to make the
best of a ihml job. It would take L'2,200 to put the
bridge int.:lir! state 'if repair, and he should
certainly Mr. Hambro's motion wag the easiest
vs. out of the difficulty.
The Driorer-Citahmax thought the mot'on • very
novel aut. Ile did not think it would he • wire
economy en the part of the county t the expen•
diture so that the bridge should not he put in a
thorough state of repair. Of course Mr Hamhro well
knew the opinion of the Court as to layint out • large
aum of money in the erection if a new bridge.
Mr. H. F. YILAYMAN: Would it not he envie able to
offer the Weymouth authorities the £2,000, and let
them add what they like. (Laughter.
Mr. PRAWNS was opposed to tee motion, while Mr.
13 hilt)ntrrox thought they were attaching too
-'rest importauce to it.
Lord ELDON said he entirely agreed with Mr.
ifembm in not wishing the county to run lot. any
„Deiete,eary expense ; but he thourht he had gained
his eseient in having ascertained the opioninne 01 the
alonet, and he thought he would be willing to with.
straw Isis ourtion•
Mr. Llediesto at once consented to the motion being
withdrawn.
Mr. H. B. Itlions.rran read the report of the Visit-
ing Committee.
COUNTY LIIPFXDITCHE.
The report of tie Finance C quinit err was emit by Led
Eirson and stat el that the taammithe having examieed
the peewer'. aeontota for the ',list quartos, found the
osownsts have ant motel to .14,145 0.. ; whilst the
receipts had teen as follow.: ha'ance In treasurer's
hands at Lady Day. Alias 12.. ; a county rata et .ne
farthing in lb. .0 paid at Ester Swain. e his% £l.l 417 s 101. ;
ftnes and I.e. reosived In wirlittoo, Cain Ils 80.11:
order for balf-year to 31. st c -ruler, 1820, £ltsi U.. .14. •
front itroadmoor Lonat c ilDruro on see omit of Chark;
uhnisie•, a criminal luost c, .I:l—nsakiog a total rsesipt
of £134 Or. lot. ; after deducting the above mentioned
flvfinsors, .C 1,1415 Or. LI., there was • Matinee of
£1.07 lia 91 evadable for the morrows of he coming
..inarter. The committee recommendel a enrints, nf
eae pearly In the poen& amounting to .C 4 565 it.. 11. to
be ordarell to be paid one week before the next quarts'.
seestons."
Lord ELDUN said hews. sorry to say that the time
hr a arrived when they would have t i meet a very
heavy expenditure, on account of the main roads
laming teen thrown upon their hands. This year, he
was sorry to Ray, the expenditure on that account
would be El 000 nii ra than last year. A considerable
sum had been added as the cet of the removal of the
mow, but in some counties the liability of the c runty
authorities had been disputed. The Committee bad
feared that they would have t make a lird rate to
meet the extra expenditure, but they had taken
a sample* view, ant were going to endeavour to meet
dhe expenditure with a rate of Id. in the E.

then