The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-02-19 00:00:00

THE WEYMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL AND
THEIR EURVRYOI.

When. moose fivecind.twenty years sines, •
charlatan published • " weather almanack," par.
porting to give infallible predictions "foci" or
"fair" weather for every day in the year, the only
person who is said to have profited by the pre-
sumptuous publication in qualities, was a shrewd
cynic, who made up his mind to read "foul" for
every one of Mr. Murphy's "fair" days. and "cold"
for every one of his" warm" days, and found him.
self at the sod of the year to have been tolerably
carrot* in these calculations by the rule of contrariety.
On the same priociple most be interpreted Mr.
Alderman Eliot's remarks when, at the first meeting
of the present financial year, that gentleman moved
the appointment of the several committees for carry-
ing on the business of the corporation. In richly
poetic diction, he congratulated the comma on
"The good time coming," having at length arrived.
The discordant elements had been removed, and
pewee and ooseord woad ohassetrlis their proceod-
logo. This harmonious, "happy family," had but
one object in view, they would ill pall one way,
and great prosperity would be their future reward.
Now we have only to reverse the meaning which the
worthy alderman's language implied, and we shall
have • correct picture of the Weymouth Town
Council's proceedings at every meeting since that
address was delivered. The proverb say." there ii'
• skeleton in every home." Happy the dwelling in
which there is only one. The Council chamber
seems to have, not one, nor • few only, but a who»
museum; some mrefully slat up, some in glass
eases, and some dangling from the ceiling. Bat men
can cooceutrat• their ideas only on one thing at a
time, and the osteology at present under examination
seems to be the Town Surveyor, who, it woeld
appear from • remark by Alderman Devenieh
on Wednesday, has cured the Colwell more
trouble than all their other skeletons together.
He jumps up behind the Mayor's hares—if he
happen to passes one—when he takes his ride
abroad. He pursues Mr. Pitman during his web.
ins moments, and in his dreams by night. He is
the Bangui, of the Corporation mess, and pats
" ratebsn• in their porridge amid halters in their
pew." The Town Council have • very strong im-
premion, especially so for as their servants are cop
corned, that

" There's nothing so beams • man
As modest stillness and humility"
But Mr. Lowman is • remarkably strong-minded
man. He bolds to the dicta, that
"Jo,. Azad it certain that whatever day
Makes eisa • elan, takes 101 l his worth sway."
To the pertinacity of Peter Pebbles be unites the
obstinacy of Andrew Fairserrios, and that glorious
determination to act as he may please. We do not
put ourselves forward as the spologista of the Sir.
veyor. The Mayor ought unquestionably to be sup-
ported in the dignity a his Aloe. It cannot be
tolerated that the Chief Magistrate of the town
should be bearded by a servant of the Corporation,
nor most employen submit to be defied by the em.
*yid with impunity, oho all rule and government
is at an end. If the Council direct its theirs con-
trary to the best interests of the borough, that is
the fthlt of the rebel:layers, who smith pay for their
folly for patting the wrong 111011 in the wrong places,
, sad who have it in their power to rectify their error
at future eleotioos. But for the time being, proper
authority meet be maintained. Neverthelem look-
fag at the subject in all its bearing, we amnia help
'hiatus( that the Baryweve beam aimed
agaiast quite as much es be bee sinned.
No man in his assess can believe that be intended
wilfully sad deliberately to imply that the Mayor
wee a liar. There has been much mthootioeption on
all sides. He may have construed Acts of Parliament
the wrong way; but viewing the subject from an la.
partial point of view, it appears tons that his object
has been the vindication of his own conduct, rather
than impugning that of othas, and in doing so may
have employed terms different from what he intended.
His ideas as to what is necessary to be done may be
far too expansive for the ideas of the majority of the
inhabitants of Weymouth; but he has performed
some excellent work, and if the corporation would
supply ball with the thututy, we have no hesitation
in saying that he would make it a model town for
every other in the kingdom. It is no detriment to
his fitness for the office from which he hae been
temporarily suspended, that there are persons who
will not tender for work under him. Every isan is
douornoil of his duo, and all mart admit that the
Surveyor will see work conducted under his super-
vision, properly carried out. He may be too particu-
lar in adhering to the letter of • contract, for aught
we know, but the corporation has before now ex.
paided large mms is doing work a second time,
because it was not done properly at first. • vast
amount of ill feeling has been engendered from cit.
cuinstances which,to us. appear trivial in themselves
The Sor-eyor unquestionably is greatly to be
blamed. He appeared westing in prudence, so fez
as regarded his own interests, and also in moped to
the Mayor end Corporatioa when called upon to
apologies for hie conduct in the Council Chamber
Bet there are other things which lie farther back,
over white the surveyor has no control, that must be
remedied before the Akira of the town will be con-
botod otolstroity to the best intim& ci the O
ItakitaAt Mi. 49 W." OW VIVO be. she..

DOT lip from thistles." We shall return to this stab
-
jest again.

Doacisarrut Ifircutu Colts NI taitirr,
February 16.—The fair baring been held here on
the 14Lb, at which time the usual business of the
week was transacted. We consider the market to-
day nominal, and will now give the tune of the trade
on the fair-day. There was an unusually large at
-
tandems at the Corn Ezehange, especially in the
seed trade; amongst those who were present we
noticed many new faces, and some amount of bal.
nese seemed te be peasinig with them, but people
(very properly) prefer buying their seeds of the old
established dealers in their own locality. In the
wheat trade there seemed to be rather more activity,
but not sufficient to raise the price. The barley
trade bad. and prices generally a shade lower. Oats,
beans, and peas in fair request, at late prices.