The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-07-12 00:00:00

THE BACKWATER BRIDGE.

The Weymouth Council, on Menday afternoon, met the
deputation front the Bldg. and Builling 0 immittee of
the County Magistrates, with reference to the remit or
»construction of the Backwater Bridge. Among those
Present were : —The Mayor of Weymouth (R. N. Howard,
Tull, Mr. Alderman Ludt., Captain Bamboo. Colonel
Steward, Captain E. W. Williams, Mr. Alderman Thorne.,
Iforifffit:tia, Outs» Foler, Mr. Welker Kr. IWO. Mr.
. Mr. Dennis, Mr. Snook, Me. } Mr.lamas, r. 41.
ham, Mr. Graham, Mr. Brown, Mr, Wangle, lb. Robots,
Mr. Alderman B lot, Mr. T. B. Charles. Kr. Parke, Mr.
Wallis, Mr. Alderman Gm?. a, Mr. Fluke (Clerk of the
Peace). Mr. Pally MOOpar ( town Clark), Mr. Violater
(county surveyor). nod Kr. Morgan (borough surveyor).
The Town Cling Oar. Trill Sooner/ Scot read the
correspondence which had taken place, which ocusphicled
with • distinct statement that no monetary a/Mien» '
meld be given by the borough authorities.
1 The Itairolt. haring introduced wetsl of the county
1 gentlemen to the Town Conneillon, remarked the
I magistratee had the interests of the whole county at
' heart haying no fancy for isny
the- perticular part; but they
hid met the Council with idea of arranging_ what
could be done with riferenee to the Seekwater Bridge.
At overlent it was no a:edit to the town or grthaunty
being in • most dilapidated condition, The itseti
emir' be repaired. or • new bridge erected, and
ques-
tion was whether we cannot bane a beitet bridge r.an
the present one. His Wonhip also pointed out there are
owners of land on the other side of the Backwater, whou
lend will be greatly developed, and they will be greatly
beneatted, if there is • new bridge.
Mr. HANDILO raid it was most desirable something
should be done to the bridge se soon as possible, and it
bad struck the committee that the present structure was
hardly such as would do credit to, or meet the require-
ments of a rising town, at be wee henry to sty
Weymouth is. There is land on the other ride of the
water' whieh will be largely builtover, and it is desirable
that the Wiled over the Backwater shall be the) best
we can obtain. Whim ig•setne upon the county to
repair, it was the committee's duty tat represent to the
Conch of Quarter Sessions that it well only necessary to
repair, they were not in • position to rebuild, sad more
especially aa the difference between the cost of repairing
and building a new Wise is very large indeed. But it
struck them that gentlemen interested in Weymouth and
in the other side of the Backwater might summit • plan
*hereby arrangements could be made between the emote
authorities. the landowners, and the borough of Wey-
mouth, to have a bates torte.ge, and that It Would be best
to defer repairing till after hesti,,,g jj the heir nub had
any plans to he incorporated with the bountY'Plsga NO
delay had taken place on the part of the county: and be
regretted the lean' from the Council arrived so late,
because if there had been • little more time the bridge
would have been commenced almost at once; but in
consequence of receivMr the latter only just before the
Sessions were opened, there was no time to make arrange-
m.,...mta_.a, • and they must throw themselves upon the
ty of Weymouth not to take action assiort them
19:7 ill' deike
Mr. Curt» asked t Wu tg.eiti az? delay ton the Council's
iar
d partßil v!. !Ida
they
oy
received said the
romanrVeter 'tillietttebetifewtr Jgullane.riTh;‘aal
letter wok away the chime • of arvi.t.nce from the
borooth authorities: but be did not know why the chance
of a.sistanee from the landownern shoat! be Icel.. Lithe
Court of Quarter Sessions £2,910 use mentioned as the
sum to be spent on repair, and they might to to .0,000,
but certainly not to a very large min in addition.
of itprAoldre_rmtlii:ieTapttonas said If c,ictifrmtyfgwbtaggfclveasgoeum 1
the_latad. • ' . _ .

... ........
—Mr. Haglltto stated the c„-, ; of a new bridge wool I be
.C 12,000
Mr. NAPOLI said the question of • new bridge will have
to he grelnded with agate. the repairs would hot only a
short time. Whilst a ...olden bridge would , illy lest
about 20 rears. an Ton structure will last 60 or ft years.
Mr. Hausa° said it was very probable before thst
time the bridges and mainroads would be placed on some
othor authority, or owing tithe development of the Place
soros cojnAuy• will deal with the whole of the Back-
. ,
water, " "
Mr. CHARLES sale nethiy,g like /00 • year would keep
that strut tare in repair or mo,g` 'Ma ni 'Mauro the cnty
would put. He bad kept the soma ts' of the Iteraterr
Bridge, and from the expenses the skareholdere savor
got one penny of interest or of their capitol, and the
Bridge is now a very rotten strati tore. They would go on,
b. beligre4l, putting new ham and at the and would be
In the same poslinn SI now; they would not only PLY
f-'. rebuilding the bridge, Ant be in the rams position in
20 years' time. A wooden bridge is only suppmeod to last
16 year:, sod, although rather more than 20 years have
efspeut and t4l one still remains, it is because thonsands
of petinds herb been laid not in keeping it up for the
eg, re years. He Should tdly be clad to um the county
put up a good etructure there. for Clay mot. prepared to
lay out a greet deal of money. ' - 1 , •
03.
a angwar VO ti GRAHAM,
eiuo the bridge cost dldd • year: Abe
.
I ollttiler finbygribed 41,0100, Colonel Swale •
• go au di, Ilut 94aere: brat the whole of the tostabst was
gaten 6 p,_brod Use of tbelupsggi Pti3Obe. one as returned.
and hi.. ibareboldati bad to lay out alOre of tbei capital,
and restored 6 peony.—flo anew,; to Holonal
&raison°, Mr. Charles said the orteltal boat wig Yuri'
nearly in 000.
Mr. LUatni happened to be one of the unfortunate con-
tribute.,; shersholdtra they were not. for they never had
any scrip. It IVY • private speculation; the Corporatiou
and the town at large had nothing to do with It, said it
would have paid; but unfortunately Um.. Wain OM. bare
was throws opus to the public. NW War would not 2'olBo

over the rickety !structure. then it fell upon the oonki-
hut art to iterate and th, whole of the money received was
a'aeorbed. He reiret• at that the c iunte shoold hose to
undertake • wetter which they would not willingly bare
undertaken. though he was very glad the t had °°t to
rerair it. He read with interest the discussion which took
place at Dorchetter, when the objection was that, with the
depresowat ate of the agricultural lot rest, it wee very
tuhneforbrtiudngaet.eththeymwalcienetavaerpyptutlit,
ttine
struct hion there are teens not al lather agricultural,
%trot
,coresuudaty
itonimt
;aibuntatiint
Weymouth for inatance, that cont.ibute largely towards
the c ha,y rate; the policy of only repair ng seemed to
hima
buverilydineat
short-sightedth vr.one..itf
low
yawc rouldiatrimbort.ow.e
for n d
apreed over onumber of year
C optoin Haggai( said it c mid only be extended over 14
years.
Er. I.UnDig continued that if only repaired, the brides
will conat•ntly require repair. and toe idea that the
Government are abut to davits, sow, scheme for taking
bridser off the counta's haode, ho considered too far nit;
the brat way would too to carry out • new bridge. The
town itself he. no funds availeblo and Colonel Beraffield
and Lot,' I.cties,er, who had inveigled their money in the
present Backwater Bridge are not likely to put their hands
in their pockets seal..
The Mayon said al men of busin se the county gentle-
men coed u.it be generous ; they wall avoid spending what
eNiVrhi•ctehterf
otro
ithea:ledwaanterw.
abtarirldgneot"ogrepair,
the Council for advice on that point. But if • new bridge
is
they not
wouldc "
ritio . Yt
were built, the landowners cat the other side will be
benefittel, people will come into the town and spend
money, and the town arid he thus ha netitted. They there-
fore asked theth to consider the point over, and see if they
could meet them in carrying out this improvement. The
landowners must be ml, Gime whose land was now
developed into building laud, and, though sold not long
ago at ogricultural prima, is now sold at building prices.
The next question would be what more to make. If the
Council's letter had &relied earlier, there would not have
been time to c Hasidic the questioo over; hut now either
the question of ways and means, r of pans for a new
bridge can be considered, and be eugge•ted that plans
should now he c iosideret. and, if they benefit, then at
another meeting wave sod wean'. There was no urgent
wets. ty for midair* as to cause rapidity of action without
duo caution. H the county on. veyur anv plans to lay
before thena Ev.ryooe wee ready a,d anxious to help
forward the aniprovetu it
Mr. (.31aRLIdl asked whether if the town •'l.wid the
bank ode to be kept uo limier than was absolutely
nee,s•ary. tht e lanty • ould nit get rid of the onus of
rettairinu the bridge.
Mr. 11•1111110 and N.t. If they indic.ed the county, the
Indictment would takes year, and by that time the bridge
would he done.
Mr. Alderman ELIOT c-ylially supported the blot
thrown ,•ut by the Mayor. lie abou'd be very oorry indeed
af the nivting ended cab Vie do ,r closed against the
improvement of the bridge. It w old be advisalola chit to
proceed with goo great repldity. bu, to consider whether
we cannot meet tha county authorities In some way. It
would be to ,he advaitege of the county, of the land
owners, and of the towu to haves .me improvement there,
and it was not inairerib's to meet the county in doing
something. If allowed t me, they might arrive at WWII
plan eaherebv this great .Ivantaga may accrue.
Mr. 110emell said the gentlemen of the county have bad
the burled thrown upon them to repair, after two
unsuccessful attempts to throw it on the town: it now
b teams their par: to see a proper atructure across the
Backwater, or such repair as would afford proper swam.
modstion. The Cirporetion have no money for the pur-
pose, anal he could not underetand bow, by delay, they
could be put in • better positicm. The county gentlemen
do not want t • bi led betray. mad Gil town does not want
them to be imported on, by supposing there is • means of
contributing to the laridg.. A straightforwithd. Mon
underetanding would be fey letter than allowing things to
loon and teed to suspicion as to each others' hones y. We
have no funds, and con coerce DO funds; the duty of
repairinr the structure is the county 'r, and if they 'bought
£lOO a year would suffi to to keep it in repair, h • told them
that though closed Iron hoary traffic, It coot SOO a year
aa a lo t bridge. The county had fought the Council
twice and tonal blame to them; hut the duty is DOW the
atonty'a. and we wish t ern joy of it. (Applause.)
Mr. ROMAN. with regard to the word "suspicion,"
was quit a sure everyone in that room was abater) sus-
picioo. The bottle had gout against the county; but no
one could read the patters without knowing that philan-
thropy abounds in Weyoteutta—baughteri—they did not
know what means the C omeit had of exciting that
philanthropy, and would rather have a MirOnOtent Biagi)
If it could be erecied without doing the county any harm.
The people who now one the reeds and brides. are those
who do not pay for them. ant if a law were muted, that
Mr. Itobens should repair the bridge, he wool i take care
to keep btoaself cell within the four corners of the law.
The county magistrates had an idea that the iniquitiue
law will stoat y be altered; were they then justified in
laying out a large sore of money in • DOW bridge! But If
they knew any mean• wbfreby en improv.rnent could be
made, this would be • fins feather ter Weymouth, and
would to them no harm.

Mr. Calms said it MU not • cueat'ou of philanthropy.
Had they any money to devote to this laudable object, or
ant means of obtaining It?
The NATO& leplied we bare DO moue? ;,but SO have
me ins t iet. c an aid, beciuie we have land adjoining.
Mr lnoMas feared the county gentlemen would carry
away a false impression if eked for ; there was no
means, though it bad beau souested we might put the
bridge in the Iniiiiovemtn Scheme, which would improve
one of them wit of the room.
Mr PARKS said the pulse of the county had been
sufficiently teet d. Unites money weld be got out,ide,
there is no hope of having more than repair.
Mr. Caesium: Tb.rs is no chance of the Ceporation
ob,a.ning ill. mousy.
The MATOR, in answer to a remark, said there was a legal
way to get the gooney. if the bridge were • town improve.
went.
Ur. C011Y111: °Add we lygally petit In as stoma improve'
ment set:army 1
The Meech: I think it would be legally done; but Ido
not think the fftling ~f th • town lain laooor if it.
Mr. WALLIS recommende.i the repairs slnuld he done as
soon as possibly, nit to en fangrr life. We have an
Improvement Scheme in contemplation which we shall
never be able to carry out. The county would get no
money out of the U aporatioo.
Mr. De.NOTO cathered the county are determined to
vend a, little money can ymible, they could not lag out a
stogie penny of the town's 610103). aed only the owners of
land near can help the coutyy. Ti..tigh be should like to
, bury the hatcher, tb. c minty autborities put it that if the
town would takes friendly ca.e, they would not proceed
furiher : yet Vas c had pot the town to the expense
of two .clique. The C ruined would do nothing but offer
advice.
Mr. HAIM° was afraid he shitild leave with the
impression that nothing remains but to go on with the
repairs, and the county of Dorset will not thiok of
summing the work. It may be advisable to delay the
repair for • month, as something may turn up. As to the
conduct of the caw, it was entiryly friendly, all the feels
were admitted,' but if the coenty had liked, they could
have heen much More huts% . .

"760-1/NCI-L1,01: The lawers would like to have a friendly
caw Ilse this every day.
Mr. °novo pointixi out that a footway is very much
needed; the numbers who go over the bridge are very
t.
The If aroa said the Council Dave land on either side,
by which they can render resistance and shoi ten the bridge
itself._ . . .

.1.6: THOMAS said the waterway would be a queetion for
the Bad of Trade. . . . .

olond ST6WaID did not think much would be gained
by eontimung the diecusso.n, aud moved a Tote of thank'
to the Mayor aa chairman.
This wu seconded. aDd carried,
The meeting titeh dispersed.

THE DORSET MASONIC CHARITY.
The first antival meeting of the Committee of this
Charity was held at the Masonic Hall, Weymouth, on
Monday last, and amongst • fair attendance of mem-
bers were the M.W., the Deputy Provincial Grand
Master C. Hambro, Captain Hanhant,
Bros, Burt lohairmanj, and E. T. Budden, Sec. It
was arranged that the Finance Committee be taken
from one .1 two 'Aiment lodges, and be changed
yearly, so that the whole province is repreoented io
the matter. The Belief and Assistance Clominittee
will b formed of one member from each lodge. Bro.
Sec. reported that the subscriptions already paid
amounted to 2988 11s., thus formed—from 27 donors,
not masons,E3ssllo.; P.l l.ft.P.G. kl ,Deputy P G.M.
and P.D.P.G.M.,Z300; Locig-ts a,rl Itrethren,E33l Of
this latter amount 10 L sires lot I voted £lO4 1-. 6 1. ;
151 Brethren had give in donat One, £192 10,.; sub-
scription, Remount to £34 8•. 6d. ; a sum uf 9s. Bd.
for !thereat male the to al funds £993 Or. &1., to which
had i,‘„r been added fusilier donat.ous, £2 10s.; and
may be adds hereafter promised), 2838.. Ab at
mo had been invested, he brokers acting through
the great firm of Hambro, Bros, charging nothing for
commission. There would soon accrue Baum of £l2 18 .
for ioterest, making £l9 7s. 8,1. available for the
objects of charity. Preliminary expenses came to
about £2l, and it was decided, after a great deal ,tf
discuostoo, that this should be defrayed out of capital,
and not out of the intreest, which was then left intact
tir charitable purposes, and • grant of £5 was made to
the first object presented to the Lodge. The W.ll.
and Brethren of All Uinta' kindly provided luncheon
for the Committee.

Never, APP.:annum& —3urgeou H. S. R. Sparrow
to the Sowswisn, lice 0. B. Brown to the Flirt.
ROBIRT GILES AIM CO., of Portland and London,
*perry praprietwa, &A, have dissolved pa tne. ship.
PoBll.4—Letters will be collected from the box at
the r .ilway !station on Sunday evenings at six o'clock,
which we heir will be a grestc c nrenlecoe.
' H. N 1.4. Boscewne.--Oommander Bosanquet has
been appointed t *named Captain Evans in commend
of the ',reigns sbip, and will take his poet on Saturday
next.__ _ _

A V•.Luitraer RATS Of one penny in she a has been
made by • vestry meeting of St. George's for paying
the ex,wcwes incurred in rep tiring the pathway in the
Bari •1 Ground._ . _

A GKRMAN Coavwevg, the Niobe, Captain Sattig,
arrived in Porland Roads on Wednesday evening,
ivith naval cadets on board. She exchanged salutes
with tlie Roscawen. and left on Thursday for Cowes.
' Dit!?•4 or I Winow's SON.—Young Mr. Samuel
t Score, 461sitermsther, on lioard tie. Th andtter,
II ' wioned in the Mediterra 2 nesn, died on the tb tilt„
and was buried on shore on the following dar . The
young man was the sole support of his mother, who is
a widow, and has lost seven children after they had
gr mn to adult aze. Mr. Score was shortly coining
borne on a pension, having served 21 years.
PRIZI '`Harrlivo —A det tchment of about a cl, can
nf the 14th Regiment, under command of Captain
Robinson. attended the prix. rifle mee.lng et 11,own-
down, Portsmouth. last week, and ware an fortunate
ea to secure several:pm:to—Private Kelly, 10s. ; Sena.
Forrest, 5.. ; Private Deane. £2; Private Cooper. Li;
Bergt.•Major Lowing, its. lid.. In the officers' Com-
petition Captain Robinson won the first prise, • silver-
mounted dressing case. . .
_ .

14m Rearmr.w.—Captain and Brevet-Colonel A.
F. de B. HXIM to be Major, vice 13revet-Lieur,.
Colonel W. Young, retiring on a pasoinm Lieu;. G.
G. Dalton to be captain, vice R. W. Richardson,
retired on half-pay. Int. V. R. Rae to be captain
vine Dixon promoted. Second-Lieut. R. P. Adam to::
be Ileutenint, vies Rae,
M.S. Bosom's. On 71hureday 247 of the
Boecawen boys arrived from Plymouth by special
London and South-Western train. Immediately on
their going on board, the ship was placed in quarantine,
and none of the ship's company have been allottred on
shore. We understand that representations have been
made to the Admiralty, and it is expected that by
bi-etorrow (Friday) the restriction will he taken off.
Two Mu DROWSID ?ROY THE HISCULEIL —A
correspondent of a Hampshire contemporary writes :
"Qn 'Saturday, June 25, as the First Reserve
Squadron *ere leaving Copenhagen, an onfottinste
accident occurred 4 board the Hercules, by which,
unhappily, two liver were Inst. An ordinstry seaman,
Jame. Law, slipped off tbe bolts' davits on the poo
side of the ship, end. striking against ono of the pro:
Looting Porta, tall into the WSW appirently stunned,
Four men gallantly dived Into endeavour to save him;
one, a young wan, named Algernon P. Purchase,
reached him, end WM probably groaned by him, for
neither of them aim to tho mews :pia Bough
was mad, for thew, but without avail.

Goon Tenetaay.—An invitation for last Friday
w.. PI given lately to tho Good template of the 14th
Regiment and the Ar.illery stationed at the Verne for
a coffee supper in connecting' with "Hope of Way.
mouth " 'Age, Weymouth. Twenty-five accepted,
went to Weymouth in Mr. ilsncock's two-horse
busses, and hvi a very pleasant evening, for the Wey-
mouth Lodge entertaieed them very hospitably. They
had a nice drive back, returning about haßpast 10.
BIICHAIL DAVITr.--In the House of Commons on
Thursday night Mr. J. Cowen enquired if Michael
Devitt could not be removed from Portland to the
prison at Kilmaintieni, with other, of his countrymen
arrested under the Coercion Act. Mr. 0' done
replied that Michael Devitt ha I heel • convict at large
under license of the Crown, and that nowise had been
revoked. Devitt was a tried prisoner, but the persons
aoprehended in Ireland were not tried prisoner., and
he did not think the Government would undertake to
place tried prisoners exactly in the same position as
those who weie untried. He WWI informed by the
Secretary for the Home Department that on amount
I of the date of Devitt's health he had received special
iedulgence, and he clii not learn that Davitt had made
au.y c ,mpteint. of his treatment.
Tit ii Ithaxitvx Suugniton. The First Reserve
Squadron, under the command of the Duke of Edin-
burgh, which wal expected to arrive at Cronstadt,
arid not make its appearance until Tuesday next. As
at present arranged, the fleet will be met at the
entrance to the outer roads by the Russian steam
'frigate Olaf, and welcomed to the port of Cronstadt.
I The Olaf will take out pilots for each of the Engliah
viessela, and her capt oin will present to the commanders
charts of the roads, showing the anchorage assigned to
the Hercules and her consorts. Owing to the great
dranght of our ir inclads, the ne-rest ship will be
stationed at a distance of nearly five miles
from C rinstadt, bit a steamer will be placed at
the disposal of the fl et during its stay, in order to
facilit its oommunic Mon with the shore, while to the
Duke of Edinburgh will be offered the use of one of
the Imp,rial ya:hts.
A Livetr 51thisexa.—On Wednesday the Rev.
Josiah Jutaum, of London, preached the seniversary
sermons at Fortune's -Well Wvleyan Sunday Scho
morning and evening, and in the afterno addrevaed
the teachers snd ocholars on Sunday teaching, making
it very intsresting with @ploy anecdote., and in the
evening the chapel was crammed. On Monday night
there was a public meeting in the chapel, presided
over by Mr. John White, chief warder at the Prison.
and addresses were delivered by Messrs. C. Gibbs, F.
Flew. aud Rev. .1. Woodliffe, and for an hour the Rev.
Mr. Jutsum eacheined the attention of Ws conings.
don to a very interesting *di:fres., full of lively
anecdotes. On Wednesday the children had their
annual treat. The Wesleyan Ennday School had their
treat on Wednesday as err • nged, although there were
great leers in c insequence of the tremendous lightning
and rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
About 250 proosesied through the Underhill district,
headed by the handsome silk banner, and otter
banners and Bags we e borne in the procession. Mr.
T. Flew, superintendent, led them, misted by the
teachers, and it would have been made pleasant had
the minister' been able to attend. The children
sweetly sang—" We shall Meet on that Beautiful
Shore," and other hymns at various halting-plecise, and
afterwards marched across the Common to the school,
where they had tea. The evenine cleared off very fine,
and they returned through the village, and went to the
Naval Ground, where, by the kind permission of
Captain Evans, they enjoyed themselves with merry
sports.
ODDIIIILLOWS. DISTIUCT MINTING.—The half•yerar
meeting of the Poole District of Oddfellows was held
on Tuesday afternoon at the Portland Arms Inn,
under the presidency of Provincial Grand Master,
William Stone, supported by the Deputy-Grand
Master, William Sharp, of Poole. The corresponding
-ecretary, Bro. W. Norton Western, and about forty
de'ezates were present. The district balance sheet
was passed. It was resolved that two delegates should
be sent to the A- M.C. at Cardiff. The following
members were nominated to be sent :—Messrs. Western,
Thiselton, Stone, Elliot, Hounsall, &Ackland, Old,
Chives', Sharp, Orist, and Clark. For the office of
Grind Master, D G.M. Scarp was nominated, and for
the office of Deputy-Grand Master of the Poole
District, Messrs. Pella, Thinker°, Keynes, Grist,
Gtoves, Baker, Tanner, Nesbitt, and Pickard were
nominated. In conformity with the 17th District
Rule, one of the auditors retires every half-year.
P.P.G M. Old (Dorchester), was appointed in the
room of Secretary Nesbitt (Blair ouch. 'That
bodges be allowed to fix their own charges for
initiation, but in no case shall it be less than 2s. 61."
It was resolved by a first reading that these words
should be added to the scale of initiation fees in the
District Rules. The officers of the lodge were
empowered to purchase new regalia for the district
officers, the regalia to take the form of a chain and
isOge, instead of the old.faehionesd nollars and aprons.
The C.S. of the district (Mr. Western) was wirmlsi
congratulated upon being placed on the Commission
of the Pesos.