The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-03-18 00:00:00

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4. . .
urged;upeal..l. the clktistian churches to cast off their
supintnessisnd indifference, and to enter more fully
into tkis great enterprise. More labourers, more
fundsi mase energy and mat were needed, and he
appealed most earnestly to every member of the
church to apply themselves to the great work. A
collection win made at the close in aid of the funds
of the society.
ATfl EL. AM PION. --T EMP lin ANC IC SOCIETY t
The msnua pablic tea in cenneetion with. this
society wiui held: in. Athelhamplon schoolroom on
the eveuink of Tuesday, - Marsh 4t14 It :botrig
highly suitable leather, numb* of people came
from a lone distance. genie orour ?fiends kindly '
volunteered for the occasion to form a braid bend,
which "discoursed sweet music" during the tea and
at the conclusion of the meeting. The public meeting
was opened by the President, the Rev. H. B. Miles,
who gave out a "TensperariceiHymn," and sfterwurds
delivered a few appropriate remarks. Ile then
requested the secretary to read the report, from.
which the following sentences are extracts.
-Although all ivas not-beau- done that might-have
been done towards the promotion of temperance
principles in our neighbourhood during the past
year, some of the best friends of tbe Immo having
been occupied in the promotion of other great and
important works, still, however, we hash not only
kept our ground, but made a certain, though steady
advance. The number of pled mentioned 1
in our last report of bona ft i members
was 115; the number of similar members,
at the present time 138,, being an increase 1
of 23 members. Two meetings have been held
during the ,past year in the Wesleyan Chapel at
Tolpuddle. Both were successful, and the agreeable
number of pledges taken was 16. The offspring
societies from our own, namely, hillhorne and Whit-
church, are in a flourishing condition—Whitchurch
highly so. We wish to take no Credit to ourselves
on this account, rather let "all harmer due"
be paid to those self-denying and devoted
individeals who planted the temperance flag
in those places. Our Baud of Hope is yet but a
bud of hope, which may yet, we hope, expand
into a flower. We are pleased, however, to be able
to state that several young hopefuls, the first enlist-
ments 'to out' head, still remain true and faithful '
amidst the many -temptations to which they have
been exposed. The Society is now represented by
a committee of 13 persons, some of whom have been
recently elected in consequence of the resignation
of two members whose loss we deeply regret. The
finances of the society are now in a very satisfactory
condition, a balance existing in the Treasurer's
hands.—Mr. Shave then addressed the meeting.
giving interesting details of the gradual develop-
ment of the Whitchurch- Temperance Society from
its unity to its present 200 members. Mr: Shave was
succeeded by Mr. Snook, whose remarks were
sensible, humorous, and hearty. Mr. Hammett, of
Tolpuddle, detailedhisexperienoaof te4.4allsin, end
being a person who works very hard hi:4h mentally
and bodily, his testimony is highly valuable. lastly,
Mr. Gregson's speech may be described as cool,
highly interesting, occasionally witty, and when
necessary, thoroughly caustic. He gave a thrilling
anecdote or two, stating the circumstance which led
him to adopt Total Abstinence principles, and
properly divided people into two classes, namely,
drinkers of alcholic liquors, and non-drinkers. This
classification provokes the ire of some individuals,
because we suppose of the undesirable company in
which they-find themselves. At the conclusion of his
lecture Mr. Greven gave the Temperance melody,
"Throw down the bottle," in this.. chorus-of which
the audience lustily joined. Mr. Gregeon is an highly
acceptable speaker. We heartily wish him the
success be deserves.—Communicated.
BL AN DFOR Di ROM ERPST CENTRAL AND
DORSET RAILWAY COMPANY'S BILL. —The Board of
Trade have presented to the House of Commons a
report on this bill, by which it is proposed to
amalgamate the Somerset Central and the Dorset
Central Railway Companies. The report states:—
With respect to the proposed amount of the
capital of the new company, viz., the aggregate
amount of the respective capitals of the two com-
panies, it is to be observed that, as the Somerset
Central Railway Company have been authorised to
create shares to the amount of £50,000, for the
purpose only of taking and holding shares in the
capital of the Dorset Central Railway Company,
it may be a question whether the sum of £50,000
should, for the purpose of amalgamation, be included
in the capitals of both the two companies, as %v.:4d
seem to be the effect of section 12 of this bill.
Section 52 will have the effect of making applicable
to the Dorset Central- Railway, the scale on tolls,
rates, and charges authorised for the Somerset
Central Railway."

SHERBORNE.---Rume CORPS. The annual
meeting of this corps was held at the Townhall on
Monday evening, the 10th instant. The chair was
taken by G. D. W. Digby, Esq., who was supported
by R. R. W. Baker, Esq. John Goodden, Esq.,
Sir W. C. Medlyoott, Bak., E. Benthall, Esq.,
T. Ffooks, Esq., Rev. E N. Henning, etc. The '
chairman having briefly congratulated the corps on
the commencement of the the third year ,of its
existence, called upon the honorary secretary to
read the report, which we regret to say shows that
the corp is unfortunately nearly £3O in debt, but
this we have reason to believe will be soon liquidated
by subscriptions already received or promised. On
the proposition of It. B. WI Baker, Esq., seconded
by Sir W. C. Meddlycott,—lt was resolved, in con-
junction with other corps in the county, te petition
Parliament for farther assistance. A voie of thanks
to the chairman concluded the meeting. The
members after.vards adjourned to the King's Arms,
where they were entertained at the expense of their
officers and under the presidency of their
worthy Captain a very pleasant evening was spent.
The Government drill instructor has just arrived,
and we hope soon to see the 7th Company of I). R. V.
in a state of efficiency, second to none in the county.
POOLE.—BRASS BAND CONCERT.—OR Monday
evening a concert was given at the Townhall by
Harman's brass band, who performed in really
first-rate style a number of excellent and attractive
compositions, among which may be named the
"Overture to Guy Mannering," "The Red Cross
Knight," "The Heavens are Telling," "Hallelujah
Chorus" and variety, of marches and popular
dance-iiinsic, of which latter the " French Artillery
Qnadrille" was honoured with an encore. Mr.
Harman, the energetic leader of the band, deserves
a large share of public support for his efforts in
behalf of their gratification, and the musical skill
and talent displayed by all the performers on this
occasion was of a degree which could hardly be
excelled by the most noted band in tlile county.
We are sorry the attendance was not very large,
but we trust the inhabitants will in other ways
recompense Mr. Harman for the expense and
trouble he has bestowed on the object of maintain-
ing_ a good band for the town.
MLECTION OF BOROUGH AUDITORE.—MeERTS. B.
Moores and H. Selfe have been elected borough
auditors for the ensuing year. Mr. George Hancock
Gutch has been chosen as the Mayor's auditor.
CONFIRMATION.—The Lord Bishop of the Diocese,
on Tuesday morning, held a confirmation service at
Parkstone church. The Right Rev. Prelate held a
similar service in the afternoon at St. James's
Church in this town.
LENT SERVIOEB.—A course of appropriate sermons
will be preached at the parish church of St. James,
on every Wednesday evening during Lent, by the
Rev. E. P. Blunt, of Lytchett Minster.