SUMMARY OF WILLIAM HANN'S QUESTIONING AT THE BRIDPORT HIGHWAY BOARD MEETING, 23 Oct 1867
The Board had had maps produced of the various parishes in their area showing what were regarded as highways (with their measurements) reparable by the parishv waywarden. These had been distributed to the parish to invite comment. After a few minor queries were attended to the meeting moved on to the parish of Askerwell where Mr Bishop the waywarden had complained that a stranger had produced the map and that it was inaccurate and incomplete and that the parish wished for a new one to be produced (even at their cost). They also thought that the waywarden should have been consulted, though it way pointed out that William must have had somebody to accompany and guide him
After a disputed path included in the map was determined to be a highway, William was then brougt into the meeting for questioning, initially regarding the measurement of a path from Mr Tucker's to Fryingpan Lane. He was asked by Mr Elswood on behalf of the parish who had told him to measure it as advised that he had been told by Robert Scadden, an employee of the Board's surveyor. When it was pointed out by Mr Elswood that he was only a labourer, another Board member advised that Scadden had an intimate knowledge of the parish. William advised that as he had guidance from the Board surveyor's staff, he had not needed to consult the waywarden. The path in question was also deemed to be a highway.
William was the asked who had instructed him to do the work, to which he replied that it was one of Mr Cox, the surveyor's men. The Chairman considered that what had been done had been done exceedingly well and that the money paid for the 359 miles was very small. This was agred by Mr Elswood. William then left the room and a letter from him was read out by Mr Pope, chairman of the finance committee in which he requested additional payment as the 6d per mile fee agreed meant he was actually out of pocket. Mr Pope agreed that it was a really large job that had been completed to a first-rate standard and that theremuneration was so small William ought to have an additional allowance.
The Board chairman thought that having agreed a cost William should stisk to it, but Mr Trenchard said that when the contract was made nobody knew the work involved. Although the surveyor had rold them it could be done for 6d per mile, he apparently had tendered for the job at 9d per mile. As it was an extraordinary case he thought that an exception should be made as the work had been completed to a much higher accuracy and standard of penmanship than it was thought likely when the contract was made and this 'reflected the highest credit' to William. The Chairma agreed
Mr Trenchard then asserted that it was ridiculous for William to involving the waywarden as William was not familiar with the parish and had no idea where he would be from one day to the next and with other eventualities it would be difficult to make an appointment. Besides the surveyor's men were more than competent. He agreed that contracts should be binding, but due to the ignornace of the task involved at the time he propsed a further 1.5d per mile be paid. As although (as the Cairman pointed out) payment would have been £9, William had to pay 2s per day to labourers to move the chainused to measure.
The motion was seconded by Mr Pope, who suggested it should be a further 3d per mile. Mr Elswood proposed an amendment tha no additional payment should be made as he regarded it as nonsense that anybody would blunder into things he knew nothing about and make a contract in the dark. It was Williams fault and at done at his risk. Although the work was done well and deserved mire money, he thought it would be a bad precedent. Mr Wright seconded his amendment which was lost by 7 votes to 11.
Mr Trenchard then proposed paying William £11 5s to measure the whole parish again. William was then brought back to the meeting and advised of the Board's decision and again commended on his work by the Chairman who also said that the Board would be 'happy to provide a testimonial' [reference] for him in future. William agreed at a date to be arranged with Mr Bishop