The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-09-01 00:00:00

WYRE REGIS.
PRoPustal

A gentleman liviug in Wyke parish on Almost 3r.1,
wrote to the rural sanitary authority of the Weyinoat
Union, begging to call attention to the exist mce of an
open and pestilential drain which ran thrmgh the village.
and which had no doubt largely to do with the fever that
had existed there for so long a period. and requested they
would take immediate steps to do away with the nuisances.
A meeting of the vestry was therefore called ea Thursday
afternoon last, in compliance with a request from the
rural sanitary authority. The meeting Hai adjourned to
the schoolroom, where there were present -the Rev. 11.
r. Pigou, rector, in the chair, Col. Swatlield, Mr Petty
Hooper, Mr. Arden, Mr. (Mad!, Mr. It. Keeping, Mr. F..
Knight, Mr. Shirras, kc.
At the request of the Rector, who stated that the meet-
ing had been called in consequence of • letter from Mr.
Hare, clerk of the Board of Guardians,
' Mr. GeSHELL said the churchwardens and overseers had
not felt disposed to call a meeting : he had therefore done
so, to give the parishioners an opportunity of expressing
their opinions, and Ile thought he should now be free from
blame, as it could not be said anything hail been done
without the pariah being called together to see what was
advisable. Ile read the letter from Mr. Hare, stating that
at a meeting of the rural authority, on August I. a letter
(coin CoL Swatlield had been read. (This was the one
referred to alt-tee.) The condition of the weir pond bad
also received the attention 'of the authority, and it was
evident something must be done, and that promptly, to
remove the nuisances which were capable of seriously
affecting the health of the inluiliitanta. The authority
suggested that a vestry meeting should be called to consi-
der the means of removing the nuisances, and generally to
consider the drainage of the village.
Mr. Rowans's maintained thero was no nuisance, and
it would be far better to give a water mpply than drain-
age. There ought to be a properly constructed tank and
pump, as at Portland.
Col. SWAvriELD said that his only idea was to make the
parish healthy.
Mr. KNIGHT said both Col. Swatlield and Mr. Arden
had in their fields some drains which ought to be covered,
and he should like to see them carry this out at their
own expense.
Mr Ft. KEEIING did not believe there was • healthier
place than Wyke, and this proposed outlay Hai quite
uncalled for. Mr. Nest brought forward the tnatter some
years ago: but the ratepayers opposed it, and he hoped
they wtruld do so now. The nuisance from the weir pond
could be easily remedied. If the drainage were carried
out, they would be taxed as heavily as at Weymouth till
they could not remain ill the village.
The itecroa had looked over the parish burial register
for the last seven years, and he found the average deaths
in • year of the population (1,15 e was Pt, or about 15 or 16
in • 1,000. lie must certainly protest against it being said
Wyke is an unhealthy place. For 20 years he did not
recollect one single came of low fever.
Mr. ARDEN said he should object GI the parish inter-
fering with his fields.
y

Mr. iialf HOWiR thought the meeting ought to be
very much obliged to Colonel Swaftield for having brought
the matter forward. If he hail not other people would,
and they would have been compelled to drain, whereas
now they were able to meet and ventilate the matter. If
they did not remove the nuisance, others would do it for
them, therefore let them bear their trouble with a good
grace. The expense would fall on the portion of the
parish outside the borough of Weymouth, and in many
cases upon persons who would receive no benefit what-
ever (ruin the drainage.
Mr. MIDI?, thought the experv.es would also fall upon
the people within the borough
The Itacroß had been informed they would not
Mr. KISPINO proposed, Mr. HOOPLA seconded,
and it was resolved, that the meeting be adjourned for a
month.