The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-09 00:00:00

DORCHESTER GAS COKE COMPANY.

On Friday the half-yearly general meeting of the
shiu-ehelders of the Dorchester Gas and Coke Corn-
was held in the Towuhall. The attendance was
not very numerous.
The CHAIRMAN of the Diewrrotis (Thomas
Coombe, Esq.), opened the business by calling upon
the secretary (Mr. Odes Symonds) to read the notice
convening the meeting.
The SECRETARY than read the
DIRECTORS' REPORT.

In presenting their second half-yearly report, tho
Directors are happy to be enabled to congratulate the
Shareholders upon the satisfactory position of the Com-
pany. The plant is now in good working order and
repair, and the returns to the present period are such,
that the Directors feel justified in certifying for a divi-
dend of ES per cent, per annum, which will place the
undertaking in the position of having paid on an average
£5 per cent, per annum from the commencement. Your
Directors are of opinion, that it is not safe at present to
contemplate any reduction in the price of gas. They
believe that much of the difficulty and embarrassment in
the former conduct of the concern, arose from the
omission to keep a sufficient working balance in hand,
and from neglecting the consideration of the due main-
tenance of the works in perfect repair. They recom-
mend that the buena= be carried on for the ensuing
year at the existing prices, and they trust that a con-
tinued prosperity will awaits the supply to be furnished
at • lower rate hereafter, although they cannot too
strongly impress the need of caution in making suck
reduction. The dividend may be paid within ten days
after this report has been adopted. Pursuant to the
tones of the rules for the appointment of directors,
Dr. J. P. Aldridge and Mr. A. S. Melon will now retire,
and are eligible for re-election. The auditors for the
past year, Mr. Edward Monday and Mr. Robert Davis,
also now go out of office, and are eligible for re-election.
The reduction in the number of Directors has been
found to result in • more uniform attendance, and to
facilitate the transaction of the business of the Company.

The CHAIIMUN moved that the report be now
received and adopted.
The Maros of Dorchester seconded the proposition.
Mr. W. Bi.soa mid on looking over the balance
sheet he noticed that the total receipts and expendi•
tare for one year did not appear in so many figures;
there was the account for the half year only. He
suggested that for the future, and to improve the
published statement, the yearly account of expendi-
ture and income should be made apparent.
The CHAIRMAX asid that the recent alteration in
the rules made at a special meeting provided for
: balf•YearlY nmetinfia, and hellyearly reds in the
amount& Rule 22 set forth that the directors
should make a rest in the account' of the Company
on the 31st of December, and the 30th of June, awl
at each of those periods a certified and clear state-
ment of the affairs of the Company should be printed
and sent to the shareholders 10 days before each
half yearly meeting. The Chairman added that
Mr. Slade would have no difficulty in arriving at the
information desired, as the balance had been brought
forward from the previously publisked statminent.
There was no rule authorising yearly statements to
be made, but the dividend was declared once a year.
Mr. SLAPS reiterated his suggestion, and the
report was adopted.
The CHAIRMAN said that after • vote had base
taken upon the dividend, Mr. Slade would have an
opportunity to any alteration in the
accounts. The raPou:sn then moved that
dividend to the extent of 8 per cent, on the capital
be declared.
Mr. SLa De seconded the proposition, and it
passed ii in. roe.
Mr. C. NI miss movod—That Dr. A hiring° and
Mr. A. S. Mason be re-elected Directors Thor
gentlemen bad hitherto given satisfactiou, and he
(Mr. Maher) was wishful to give them another trial
in office.
Mr. Flamenco Birettxrr wended the resolution,
and it parsed unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN mid the next business was to
elect two auditors, as Mr. Edward Monday and Mr.
Robert Davis retired, but Demo gentlemen were
eligible for re-election.
Mr. F. Bx•Nirrr moved the re-election of the
auditor. retiring, and the proposition parsed unani-
mously.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the meeting was
open to hear any motion from Mr. Slade.
Mr. fiLLDI °beloved that he did not submit any
resolution on the subject he had introduced, but
aNsalY =grated what he coaosived to be an im-
provement In theshitecoest of amount/.

The CHAIRMAN explained that to carry out the
suggestion would materially add to the cost of print-
ing, as two columns throughout the whole of the
accounts would have to be ailtleiL Perhaps thu
butteg way would be, as the question could not
arise before this time next year, for Mr. Slade to
draw up a copy of the accounts as be thought they
ought to be presented to the shareholders, mid send
the documei3 to the directors for their considera-
tiim prior to the next dividend meeting. The dif-
ference in the cost of printing might then he ewer-
tamed, and the directors might determine to adopt,
or recommend for adoption Mr. Slade's alterations.
Mr. tits DB acquiiseed, and moved a vote of thanks
to the Chairman, and to the dirocturs, for their past
services.

The manager and collector (Mr. Taprell) was then
requested to withdraw, and
Dr. ALPHtpoz bore testimony to the very efficient
services of that officer during the past year, and said
the thanks of the shareholders were due to Mr.
Taprell. He accoldingly moved a vote of thanks to
Mr. Taprell.
The CHAIRM•N seconded the motion.
_ _

The MAYOR, premising that ii—w—as—the opinion of
several gentlemen that a substantial rovignition of
the manager's efficient services should be made, moved
that a gratuity of £lO be granted to Mr. Taprcll for
his zeal and Assiduity. . .

Mr. F. BENNETT sc.‘contled the popes:Ll.
Dr. Abnitirni: said the success of the business of
the Gas Company was entirely attributable to the
good management of Mr. 'Falwell, and unwed as an
amendment that the manager's salary be increased
by XIII a year.
11r. G. 11. DAV!S Anollded the amendment ; hit
it was lost and the origibal :notion pasred.
Mr. T. If. S.trbl: iusrnrc,l wlnthcr it would
not be de:h.:ell to appropriate one or tws per cent.
on the whale capital out of the surplus in Inuit' as a
reserve fund and invest the money in Consols? If a
start were made in this matter it would probably go
on during the future. At present, in case of emer-
gency, the Company were obliged to borrow money
or to issue fresh shares—which " ruination" to
the old shareholders.

The Cuxiiim.is replied that there was no doubt
that a gradtidly accumulating reserve fund would be
of great advantage to the Company, bnt this year
they had put by :1 per cent, to pay edT arrears.
The ble, on remarked that in tho balance in
hand the shareholders Lad commenced a reserve
fund. Ho quite agreed in the desirability of Laving
a permanent reserve fund, but Lo thought they multi
not this year do more than they had.
Mr. SAUNDEID; said he had carefully investigated
the figures and concluded that one per cent, could
this year be spared.
Mr. SLADE would second Mr. Saunders if a reso-
lution were proposed. Great expense might shortly
be incurred in the matter of gasometers, and one per
cent, on the capital would yield £bs, which would
leave an adequate Wince for carrying on the busi-
ness of the company.
Mr. SAL:mixes moved—That a sum of one per
cent, on the capital of the Corepany(J:6,soo) be set
aside from the balance and invested in Consols as a
reserve hind, in the names of the trustees.
After some conversation, during which the
manager was consulted, and it was stated that the
balance would be reduced by the contemplated
reserve to £3lO, and that the present quarter would
yield about 4500. _

The CHAIRMAN suggested that the resolution be
modified as follows :—That a sum of one per cent.
on the capital of the company be set aside from
the balance as a reserve fund, and that the Directors
place the same on a deposit note, having power to
resort thereto in ease of necessity.
This was agreed to, and the meeting separated.

FINAL REPORT ON THE DORCHESTER
DRAINAI;E AND WATERWORKS.

(From tile DORSET COUNTY CHRONICLE ,/
Thursday, August 4th.)

Mr. ARTHUR WHITRHICAD, engineer to the Local
Hoard of Health, has funiished the subjoined report
to the Coronation upon the Public Works of
Drainage sad Water Supply of this borough :

To the Mayor and Toast Council acting us the Local
Board of Hcaith for the Borough of Dorthester.

Gewmcmcf,—Tho "Public Health Act, 1848," hav-
ing been applied to your borough in consequence of the
attention of the General Board of Health having been
directed to the state of the mortality of the four parishes
of All Saints, Saint Peter's, Holy Trinity, and Fording.
ton, which, according to the Registrar General's returns
for the seven years ending 1850, had exceeded M in 1,000,
I had the honour to receive your instructions to prepare
a survey of the borough of Dorchester in the month of
December, 1853. _

_
The survey was commenced, carried on, and completed
not without considerable difficulty and hostility on the
part of some of the inhabitants, and it received the ap-
proval of the General Board of Health and of the coun-
cil on the llth September, 1854.
Reports on the water supply and drainage, bearing
date October 27th, 1884, were then presented by me to
the council, suit my reports, plans, and estimates hays
ing been submitted to, and after a personal examination
of the ground with the plans in hand by the Government
Inspector, approved by the General Hoard of Health,
they were adopted by the council, and the necessary
funds for executing the works were raised on then:verity
of the rates.

The difficulty of obtaining a source of water supply
under the limited powers of the" l'ublic Health Act,
1848," prevented the commencement of the works till
June, 1856, during which interval the prices of labour
and of materials, particularly iron, rose considerably,
rendering the original estimate of DCA inadequate Lir
the proposed works; the original estimate WUS further
increase,' bye large addition made in the quantity of the
public .ewers, at the remit] an end at ion of the Government
Inryieotor, whereby the private drainage works were
lessened and a proportionate expense added to the cost
of the public works.
In June, 1.4:4, after long negotiations with the Duchy
of Cornwall, advertisements were issued, inviting parties
to tender for sinking a well for the water supply, and
for tile erection of a high pressure steam-engine, which
might hare been used, first for the tomporary purpose of
keeping the well dry for the well-sinkers, and, subse-
quently, fur the permanent work of pumping the water
supply.
The well was commenced by Messrs. Paten and Co.,
the well-known well-sinkers of Watford, under advan-
tageous terms. but the erection of the dram engine was
delayed, under the circumstances fully Anted in my
letter to the council, dated July 901. 1857, a copy of
which letter is appended to this report and marked A.
Water was reached by Messrs. Paten and Co. in
December, 1856, and, on my making application to the
council for temporary steam power to keep the well-
sinkers dry, all further work is recorded by the clerk of
the works to have been postponed sine die, by a resolu-
tion of the council of the sth December, 1856.
in the mean time Mr. Paten died, and the work was
not resumed under the new arrangement till July, 1857,
when, as the engine question still remained unsettled, •
temporary engine and pump were hired to pump the
water during the progress of the excavations.
This resolution of the council, and the conflicting
inrenundences which impeded the settlement of the
engine question, added considerably to the expense of
procuring the supply of water, and I distinctly fore-
warned the eour.6l that delay would involve them in
increased expenditure. The sewage works proceeded
with the water works, and considerable difficulty was
experienced in laying the main sewer, caused by the
prevalence of strong springs along the line of the cut-
ting, and increased by the of persons who, on
more than one occasion, flooded the works, and caused
considerable damage, as well as injury, to the con-
tractor.

After the main sewer was laid, notwithstanding the
precautions taken, which, at the time, appeared very
satisfactory, • considerable quantity of water forced
itself into the work in its course through the common
meadow, and during • large portion of last year, and
throughout the winter, the large Ikaly of water rising in
the common meadow, often exceeding the capacity of
the sewer, was rapidly and suooesefully passed through
he entire length to its outlet into the river Fromm below
Stanton's mill.

I wish to draw the attention of the council to this,
because I think it affords • convincing proof that the
main sewer is folly capable of carrying off rapidly the
town drainage which will fall into it, for the quantity of
the drainage can never equal the quantity of the water
which, for many months, has been passed to the outfall.
It became necessary to re-lay the wet portion of the
main sewer intersecting the common meadow, and this
has been succesefully done with 18-inch stoneware pipes,
set in cement, with a nine-inch relieving stoneware pipe,
laid by the side of the larger one, about 15 inches above
the level of the bottom of the sewer, the two pipes
being equal to the sectional area of the 20-inch sewer.
I may here state that my reason for recommending
this arrangement of two pipes was based mainly on the
difficulty and uncertainty of procuring W-in. stoneware
pipes sufficiently thick end well burnt throughout their
thiekusese to remain permanently sound in such wet
ground.
I examined this relaid portion of the main line of
drainage on the 13th of June last, and I found that
after paring under four large streams from 25 to 70 feet
wide, and through a soil for a distance of nearly a mile
fall of upright springs, the depth of water flowing
rapidly in the 20-inch i sewer at the point where it moos
to receive any further town drainage near "Little
Britain," alter deducting the quantity discharged by the
street gratings, was five inches, and, although water
Inds its way into the sewer between this point, which I
regard as the outfall of the town drains, and its outlet at
the river Frome, it will not affect the efficiency of the
system of sewerage you have adopted. I have no doubt
that if proper care is taken in carrying out the private
works,—and the council must not forget that the whole
meccas of their scheme is dependent on the care aiel
attintion bestswed on the arrangements under which
private works will be carried out,—the Dorehester
sewerage will prove one of the most successful works
of the kind undertaken in any town under the powers
of the " Public Health Act, DOS." Driving and boring
into the chalk for water is generally anuneortain mode of
procuring a water supply. It was the only course open
to the council wider their powers, and, although backed
by the valuable opinion or Mr. Itawlinson, I had taken
the beet means of informing myself sat,, the distribution
of water in the chalk formation round Dorchester, I
entered upon the work with considerable anxiety.
The means adopted have, however, proved very me-
ceedul, and the reports which have been furnished to
me and to the Mayor, by your contractors, Messrs.
Winter and }fosse'', within the last few days, chow that
during the present dry season the well is yielding fully
double as much water is the town can consume.
The reservoir having been completed for many months
when the engines were see to work to fill it I found that,
mainly owing to the want of moisture to the clap, there
was considerable leakage. The floor has now been !s-
-taid, and your contraetore, Meares. Winter and Homey,
data that the leakage DOW amounts to half-an-inch in 12

hours at a depth of 6 feet. and 4i inches at a depth of
16 feet in 12 hours. I bcg. to recommend the council to
keep the re,ertior tided for mom time, and I think that
this comparatively smell le.tkage will be reducaal, and by
ote.ervatom any ilefeet will be detected.
. . . . . . .

The work. included in the vicious contracts have been
now couipleted. and I bag to upend to this report •
statement of the cost of the public works of sewerage
and water supply. That coat has no doubt been in-
creased by the excessive price paid for the site of the
water works, am well as by tin:suspension of portions of
the works a high alumni have been first executed, but
even Ili it statute it will bear comparison with the Gust of
similar works executed in any :own in this country un-
der the powers of the " Public Health Act, INS." and I
think that thu council may cougratulate the ratepayers
and theuiselves on the liumicis. stab:intuit which I have
now to submit.

I be to ay that the works are now in a state to be
inspected by the Government inspector, and that, &II in
the case of railway inspection ty the Hoard of Trade, I
shall be ready to pay immediate attention to any recom-
mendations or suggestions which may be made by him,
with the object of rendering your sewerage and water
works more complete and bettsx adapted to the require-
ments of the borough.

f remain,
Gvutlemen,.