HAMPSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.
These sessions commenced at the Grand Jury Chamber of the County Hall, at Winchester, on Monday, when the following magistrates were present:—Viscount Eversley (chairman), the Earl of Carnarvon, the Hon. Sir H. Keppel, K.C.B., the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, Sir H. B. P. Mildmay, Bart., Sir E. Hulse, Bart., Sir G. Burrard, Bart., Sir N. Bycroft, Bart., Mr. M. Portal (judicial chairman), Mr. W. B. Simonds, M.P., Mr. J. B. Yonge, Captain Hugh Berners, Captain R. Purvis, Rev. T. Best, Rev. C. Dodson, Mr. F. J. E. Jervoise, Mr. W. W. B. Beach, M.P., Rev. L. Bigg-Wither, Colonel H. H. Fane, M.P., Mr. W. Benson, Mr. W. Everitt, Mr. N. B. Smith, Mr. W. W. Bulpett, Rev. J. T. Maine, Mr. T. Chamberlayne, Mr. G. S. Booth, M.P., Mr. A. R. Naghten, Mr. G. Atherley, Mr. B. W. Carter, Mr. J. B. Carter, M.P., Mr. C. Castleman, Mr. W. T. Græme, Mr. F. J. P. Marx, and Mr. W. H. S. Stanley.
A second court was appointed to be held, and Sir John Simeon, Bart.,M.P., selected as the chairman thereof.
THE COUNTY FINANCES.
The report of the Finance Committee was read, which stated that the expenditure during the quarter had been 7541l.13s. 4d., and that a ¾d. rate would be required to meet the expenses of the ensuing quarter. The committee also recommended that a ¾d. rate be made for the purposes of the constabulary. The committee further recommended the Court to authorise them to advance, out of the Police Superannuation Fund, the sum of 2300l., which, upon the recommendation of the Visiting Justices, at the last Midsummer sessions, was ordered by the Court to be borrowed for the erection of gas works at the county prison.
The report was ordered to be received and adopted.
THE CATTLE PLAGUE.
The report on the cattle plague expenses was read. It stated that the treasurer had received, by a ¼d. rate ordered at the Midsummer Sessions, 1550l. 6s. 11d., and that the expenses incurred since the passing of the Cattle Diseases Act of 1866 had been 706l. 16s. 7d., leaving balance in the treasurer’s hands of 783l. 10s. 4d. The total number of diseased animals reported in the county since the commencement of this disease is as follows:— Attacked, 54; killed, 18; died, 28; recovered, 8; healthy animals killed by order, 7. There had been no appearance of the disease in this county since April last.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The committee were appointed as under:— Chairman, Mr. Melville Portal; ex-officio member, Viscount Eversley; Alton, Mr. E. Knight; Andover, Rev. Thomas Best; Droxford, Mr. J. H. C. Wyndham; Fareham, Mr. G. Long; Kingsclere, Mr. John Lindsey; Lymington and New Forest, Mr. N. B. Smith; Odiham, G. Sclater-Booth, M.P.; Petersfield, Mr. J. B. Carter, M.P.; Ringwood, Admiral J. E. Walcott, M.P.; Romsey, Rev. T. H. Tragett; Southampton, Mr. J. Bernard; Winchester, Rev. J. T. Maine; Isle of Wight, Mr. T. M. Leacock.
THE COUNTY PRISON.
The visiting justices reported favourably of the general health of the prisoners, during the past quarter. Three of the third-class warders had resigned. The committee hoped that the gas works would be complete before the end of the present year.
A short discussion respecting the expenditure at the prison took place.
The report was then received and adopted, and upon the motion of Earl Carnarvon, a report of the chaplain, showing the good results which have followed the adoption of the present system, was also ordered to be printed.
THE SALMON FISHERIES.
Col. H. Hamlyn Fane, M.P., moved that three Justices of this county (Viscount Somerton, Sir Edward Hulse, and Mr. W. C. Esdaile,) be appointed to form, with the like number of Justices of the counties of Dorset and Wilts, a joint fishery committee for the Avon Fishery district, in pursuance of an application sent to the Clerk of the Peace from the county of Dorset, 28th and 29th Vict., cap. 121, secs, 7, 8, and 9. There were two reasons rendering this desirable:— First, in order to raise the necessary funds for improving the conservation of the river; and secondly, that the Act of 1861, although a step in the right direction, was by no means complete. The motion was agreed to.
ADDITIONAL POLLING PLACE.
Notice having been given to the Clerk of the Peace by ten inhabitants and registered voters of the northern division of the county, that the Court would be moved to make a petition to her Majesty, representing that the number of polling places for the northern division of the county are insufficient, and praying that the parish of Aldershot may be declared a polling place for the said division of the said county (6 and 7 Wm. 4., cap. 102, secs. 1 and 2).
Mr. Beach, M.P., moved accordingly. Aldershot had, he said, greatly increased and was increasing. The 130 voters had hitherto had to go to Odiham, but the new claims were expected to make about 160, and as Aldershot was no longer simply an agricultural parish, it would be manifestly inconvenient for tradespeople and others to go so far. If Farnborough, Cove, and Bramley were joined to Aldershot for this purpose, it would accommodate some 250 persons whom it was unfair ask to go so far as they now do.
Mr. Sclater-Booth, M.P., having seconded the motion, it was carried nem. con.
THE COUNTY CONSTABULARY.
The report of the chief constable was read. It stated that the cattle plague regulations contained in the various orders in Council and the orders of Court of Quarter Sessions had been strictly enforced by the constabulary. 226 persons had been summoned for breaches of the regulations, of which number 151 have been fined. The chief constable recommended that an additional room be provided as a day room at the police station, Gosport. He also requested the direction of the court as to what steps he ought to take with reference to the demand made by the Secretary of State for War that the police station at the camp be at once made over to the general officer commanding at Aldershot.
Sir Henry Mildmay said that the Government appeared to be quite unaware that in consequence of the great amount of criminal business at Aldershot, the petty sessions at Odiham every fortnight were removed alternate fortnights to Aldershot, whose inhabitants were dissatisfied, and sometimes refused to prosecute because they had to go so far. It had since been found necessary to hold sessions weekly at Aldershot, and if this demand of the Government was carried out it would be a matter of necessity for the magistrates to sit again at Odiham, which he thought would tend greatly to defeat the ends of justice. He begged the Court, therefore, to consider the advisability of endeavouring to get the Government to alter their decision.
The Chairman said that this subject had always been one of great difficulty. There was no doubt the Government wanted this place for an important purpose, but the premises the Government offered them instead were of such a nature that the Government inspector would not sanction their use as a police-station, and even supposing they were adopted only two men could be placed there. When Sir George Lewis was at the War-office there was an understanding between the county and the Home Secretary that in consideration of the extra number of policemen the county placed there, the Government would provide house room for them—only a perfectly fair arrangement, as it seemed to him (hear, hear). If the general commanding at Aldershot took these premises he did not know where the magistrates were to meet, the lock-up would be unsafe, and there would only be accommodation for two policemen. As they had the advantage of having a Secretary of State with them he suggested that a deputation should wait upon the War-office and Home-office, and see if they could not make some arrangement. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. M. Portal thought the county had been hardly dealt with. They kept a considerable force of police there at the request of the Home office, and these premises were built expressly with the view of accommodating the force. It was difficult between the two departments —Home and War—to know what to do, but if the police were turned out it would be a question whether the county would not withdraw their men from the district, or at all events consider whether they were bound to keep an unusually large number of men for the safe custody chiefly of Government property—if the Government refused them any assistance. Or if the necessities of the place were such it was a question whether the other ratepayers would not very properly complain, and ask that a special police district, with a special rate, should be made for it. Dozens of letters had been received and answered in connection with the question, and the only way he saw to a satisfactory solution of it was an interview with the authorities.
Mr. Sclater-Booth thought that one step had been gained by the War Office admitting their liability to provide some substitute for the place now occupied.
Earl Carnarvon felt himself in a difficulty, but thought there could be no question that the case ought to be considered, and a full and frank explanation made to the War Office. He thought that if a small deputation were to see General Peel and Mr. Walpole, and talk the matter over, they might point out that the contemplated change would act disadvantageously not only to the county but to the War Office, and thus some result might be arrived at. He should be happy to what he could in the mater of a viva voce explanation.
The Chairman thought there would eventually be but one solution of the question—namely that the Aldershot district of the county would have be placed within the metropolitan police district, which would be advantageous in many ways, and as well secure efficiency as relieve the county of a great responsibility and difficulty.
The Chairman, Earl Carnarvon, Sir H. Mildmay, and Mr. Portal, were then appointed a committee to confer on the above subject.
POLICE PAY.
In the absence of Sir W. Heathcote it was ordered that the select committee appointed at the last Easter Sessions to consider the regulations issued by the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the pay of the constabulary, be empowered to postpone their report until next sessions, and that it be an instruction to the said committee to enquire into all circumstances connected with the pay, allowances, duties, discipline, and present condition of the Hants police force, and to compare the same with those of other police forces, so far as they find it expedient, and to report their opinion generally in connection with the recommendation of the Secretary of State; and Lord Northbrook was added to the Committee, having been at the Home office when the regulations were issued.
The court then adjourned.