The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-11-29 00:00:00

Carropottrna.

ROAD MATERIALS CONTRACT AND THE
WEYMOUTH CORPORATION.

We have received the following etatetmot from
Mr. .7. naiads Brown in reference to the subject
brongittabiert before ;be Council t
The received for the whole of the materlels,
were of the t wing amounts
C e. d.
Foot ... 1,019 11 8
1,018 2 6
Jeety and 800 ... 844 11 8
Brawn S. . ... 839 7 6
It will be observed that Mr. Stephen Brown Ls the
lowest and in 11000Itia000 withall that is mail, just,
and lair, the Council should (if it accepted either of
these tenders), have accepted his tender, sod not that
of Masers. Jesty and Son, which is a higher one. The
Council in the protection of the ratepayers' interests
were bound to accept the lowest tooder, and my Inter..
Non le to show that they did not accept the lowest tender,
and did not therefore properly protect the ratepayers.
The specification under which tenders were sent in,
contained words to this effect "That the antlhotity
shall be at liberty to swept the whole or any Portion
of any tender," and the Council, in carrying this Into
effect, should have accepted the fallowing :
s. d.
Jsety sad Son, lowest tender for Moreton 244 13 4
and Binoombe gravel .. f
Brown and Son, lowest tender for flints— 566 13 4

833. 6 3

And the Connell, in acceptleg • tender amonatisit to
044 lle. 8 1., take from the pockets of the ratepayers,
impreverly, • Num of £2l 94. Why should they do
this Not only will the ratepayer, be thus unduly
charged, but an Nilotice Is done to • contractor, and
the mean and righti attaching to the asceptaleoe of
the lowest tender are:deleted.

I have endeavoured to show at the commencement
of my statement that, on the whole, the tender of Mr.
Stephen Brown woe the lowest; but that under the
specification and condition of tendering, the tender of
Memo. Joey and Son for a portion, and of Mr.
Stephen Brown for the other portion of the materials,
should have been seeepted. and that the ratepsyers
would have had the benefit they are entitled to throwis
public tendering ; but another spirit prevailed, and the
ratepayers will not receive that
I have not allotted to the hauling of the materiel, for
contend that it has nothing whatever to do with the
question. The Corporation are under • contract
extending some years for all the hauling they require,
end it would not be honest to this contractor for them
to give any portion of it to anyone else, neither would
It be honest to the ratepapers to rubjent than to a
higher charge than the contractor (Mr. Green) obtains.
In regard to this contrast, I have endeavoured to do
only that which Is properly and fairly due to the rata
payer& Your newspaper report will doubtless show
to some extent the result, and the aonompseying
correspondence will &leo show that it was through no
fault of mine that • wrong was, oerheps, inadvertently
done is the matter. On the 20th October last (the
day after the Council had posted the resolution here
referred to) I wrote the Tows Clerk is follows
Feeling certain that the Corporatioe yesterday were
under some nalensdendending or misepprehession in
regard to the tenders for road materials, and that In ova
sequence the interests of the ratepayer@ were loot sight
of, I, in their hehalf. beg to give you notice that It is my
Intention at the next Council Meeting to make •
statement and move a resolution respecting the
matter." Not receiving any reply. I, on Oro 24th,
wrote to the Town Clerk again as follows—" In refer-
ence to my letter to you of the 20th, regarding the
larders for road materials. I bog you will put upon
the agenda raper of the next Council Meeting the
followlnor matter :—To take into consideration the
advisability of reminding a resolution of the 19th of
October, accepting the tendor of Messrs Jesty for
ened mstelais, retch tender being contrary to custom
and to the ratepayers' Interests. To consider a
statement, &e." And In the ouzo heter f also loom,
°I have by my letter of the 20th instant, and by this
letter of to-day, written you fie early as possible, In
order that no forward or prorreseive steps may be takes
by you in reflect to any tender until the &montane of
such has been duly c finned by the Council." I received
a reply from the Town Clerk on the 16th, in which he
acknowledged the receipt of my letter, of the 20th and
24th, and, In reference to the notice I had given him,
he wrote, " I wish to draw your attendee to the fact
that it is not customary tor put anythise on the agenda
paper for the meeting of the Council held on the 9th
November ; do you still, therefore, &dr* that the
mottos as sent by you then he pieced thereon, or will
you leave it until the follow's' meeting I may add
that the contract with Messrs. Testy and Son had bees
executed by themselves and sureties prior to the
receipt of your last letter." Your readers will doubt-
less note the lest paragraph of the letter joie (looted.
The November election intervening and their being DO
seosesity for an imneedlate reply. I did not write
all answer till the 3rd November. when I emote
the Town Clerk as follows t—" In further reference to
my letters to you of 20th and 24th ult., and in Poole
to yours of 26th, I have to request that yen will be
kind enough to carry out my wishes OA expressed la
my letter on 24th ult. I have no desire to ciseh with
custom. but the Interact,, of ratepayers (whom only I
claim to ropreeent) leave me no choice so far se I
know" The matter mentioned in my letter of 24th
October came before the Council at their meeting of
9th November. and was adjourned for onesiderstfon at
the next meeting, the Mayor requesting the Town
Clerk to take no further stem in the miaow till after
that meeting. The remit of this let meeting's knows.
It wee there stated that the Councoll'were legally bound,
hc., to M• 11111.. J'e.ty and Son. It was &len, I think,
there shown that the Council had done • wrote thine,
and bed 'nodal:eel the rateneyert in an uncalled for
manner, hut, as it was rime legally, (so it was stated) it
could not be undone.

kftnazow Itances.—The Re.. G. Boehm Metriot
miuslonary. la *lnducting nightly Ilerride at Badges
Chapel this week.
Tan BIG Guns for the Verne ars on their way. the
last Dews of theta bele, that one Is at the foot of the
iscHne. while the other has about 900 yards lead.
Youmans. —Liset•Oolottel Godfrey Twin, 8.A.,
bas hem sponisted Lieet-flolowl of the let. Hants
Artillery Veleateera (which lade& our Poetised
corns). sloe Colossi Largos Owee,retired.
Pies WASIIIID ABHORS. —LW Friday • lumber of
fflreisp.looklog pikes were weabert ashore in Omit
01111 V, whiA gave the ansof yowl employment as treys-
dieters. The estomea apt-eared tl have bade is the
water a ormelderabie time.

_
CAPTAIN Baelumew. R.N., inspecting captain of
training ships. visited the Boetswen on Pridey. and
insprotod the ship's rigging and fittings, and the boys
.4 to their gunnery. wawassehip, Ike. We believe
Capt. Bradebew is the gallant officer, who. whoa
fetnrsioi b•••••" 04 fr'm • lasi voiork ea bowing
tbs Isaseinla &easter, sailed haolc to South Aides,
sod loaded s welcome fehitotemonof for our hoed-
proud Itoopo.