The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-16 00:00:00

BL I.ND FORD.

BOROUGH POLTCS, May B.—Before the Mayor and H.
Durden, E•q.—George Robins was charged with being
drunk and creating adisturbancein the public streets on
Saturday, and was fined 53, and costs.
INDUSTRIAL EXKULTION.—We understand that the
plane of the committee are now matured, and that full
particulars will immediately appear in handbills and
advertisements. In addition to features already
mentioned, we are informed that the exhibition of wild
flowers will be open for competition to the neighbour-
hood as well as the town of Blandford, and that vocal
and instrumental music by Mr. Edwards and the
members of the church choir will add a pleasing attrac•
tion to the gathering. The articles of native skill and
industry consist for the meet part of specimens of
plain and fancey needle-work of every description; they
also include cabinet-work, models, basket-work, artificial
1 flowers, drawings, and sundries too numerous to
mention. At the soirees to be held each day a great
I variety of valuable articles will be lent for exhibition,
including drawings and engravings, microscopes, stereo•
scopes, specimens of natural history, philosophical
apparatus, curiosities, Its. The proceeds of the pay-
ments for admission, after defraying necessary expenses,
wit be dist/Dilated in prizes amongst the exhibitors.
COUNTY COORS, May B.—Before E. Everett, Esq.,
judge.—There were 40 plaints entered, only seven of
which came on for hearing—The Baron Hambro at.
George Fudge.—This was an application to recover
possession of • cottage. The only reason assigned by
the defendant for not complying with the notice to
leave was that he could not get another house. Mr.
Gibson, steward, stated that notice was served in
October last, but they had allowed the defendant to re-
main till Lady-day. His Honor inquired if any rent
was due, to which Mr. Gibson replied half-year's rent,
£2 10a, but they gave up that.—Order for possession
in 14 days.—H. Foote. Walter W. Lowman.—Claim
£5 %I.—This was an adjourned case from lest court, to
allow time to the plaintiff to complete the work for
which the claim was made. Defendant admitted part of
the account, 58. ad. and £3 53., but stated that the
other charges in the account were included in the con-
tract. which was to put up complete • staircase for the
above sum. Plaintiff stated that he never contracted
to find the wood for the wainscoting to enclose the stair-
case, and that he had taken down an old staircase, and
put new pieces to support the joints.—After a patient
hearing of the case his Honor ruled that 4s. Bd. and
Is. 2d. must be disallowed, and gave judgment for Is.
together with £3 12s. 81 into court, and allowed costs
on £3 19s ad.—JUDGMENT summoNa.—Charles W.
Millard at. James Foster.—Plaintiff stated that he had
not received any money, or heard from the defendant,
and in answer to his Honor said that the claim was for
the sale of pepers.—His Honor : Then be sold the
papers for you and kept the money.—Plaintiff : Yea
His Honor : That is a case of fraud.—Order 21 days'
imprisonment.

Bru D.R.V.—WIEHLT SWICEPSTAK6B. —On Monday
the Bth a party of the Blandford corps met on the Down
to compete for the weekly sweepstakes. They were
divided into two parties—Mr. John's and Mr. Grove's.
the latter was victorious. The ranges were 200, 400,
500, and 600 yards.
200 400 500 600
yds. yds. yds. yds. re
Lieutenant Johns - - 14 3 9 0-26
Mr, Atkinson - - - 15 11 10 10-46

E;;I;;;;IiilLout 16 -6 -6
4-37
Private Bartlett • • • 12 11 7 0-30
„ Moore - • 11 11 8 0-30
„ Nesbitt - - 13 14 9 11-47

Sergeant Groves- - -12 12 7 14-48
„ Green - - 15 12 10 5-42
„ Harfoot - 18 6 9 7-40
„ Richards - • 18 10 10 0-38
„ Elms - - 17 16 11 2-46
„ Cook- - - 14 6 0 222

233
BZVIRI Siotta.—On Monday night this town
was visited with • fearful storm, which commenced
with lightning shortly after 10 o'clock, and in-
creased in violence till between two and three o'clock
on Tuesday morning, when it burstforth in great fury.
The lightning was very vivid and continuous, and rain
fell in torrents. We understand that the neighbour-
hood around was visited in • similar manner, and that
at Wimborne the storm was terrific. The only
casualties we have heard of are the destruction of a
'heap and • swan, the latter the psoperty of Mr. Drax,
M.P., of Charborough Park.
Tsarina/ion Fstinver..—On Tuesday afternoon the
annual tea festival of this society took place in the
Assembly Rooms, kindly granted for the occasion by
the Rev. J. R. Quirk. We regret to state that the
committee of management were not so well supported
as could have been desired, the company being but
limited. The room was ornamented with various
mottoes, and presented • cheerful appearance. An
excellent tea was provided, and the company were enter-
tained with music by Mr. King's quadrille band, which
considerably added to the pleasures of the day. The
public meeting commenced at 7 o'clock, the chair being
taken by Mr. G. Curtis, of Poole, who in opening the
proceedings, expressed the very great pleasure he
always felt in meeting with his temperance friends at
Blaadford. He remarked that he signed the pledge
27 years ago when he was • moderate drinker, and had
continued stedfast to it. He felt it to be his duty as a
Christian man to do all he could to remove the curse
which blighted his country. He could well remember
those first days of the cause, when it was so ably ad-
vocated by James Pears and John Cassell. The former
in one of his speeches predicted the time when the last
drunkard would be taken round as • show, feeling in
his mind convinced that as soon as the Christian church
beoame.

convinced of the truth of the temperance
doctrines its members would one and all join its ranks.
Hit he overlooked the vast amount of opposition which
would arise from interest, prejudice, and custom. These
t had greatly retarded the progress of the movement.
He urged all who professed Christianity to regard
total abstainance as a sacred duty which they
owed to themselves, their children, their neigh-
, bourn, and their countrymen at large, and ex.
pressed his conviction the days of =titanium
peace would not be enjoyed till the curse of strong
drink was removed. Mr. Gatehouse then sang a
melody, after which the band played • set of quadrilles.
Four of the of the Band of Hope children then sang
temperance piece in a very pleasing manner. Mr. Fee
pointed out that social meetings like the one they were
then holding were things unknown until started by the
temperance reformers, and observed that many kad had
cause to rejoice in consequence of the advantages they
had derived from such meetings. He then referred to
the Chairmen's remark respecting the public exhibition
of the last drunkard. The first drunkard we read of
was a preacher of righteousnesa, and it might be that
the last one would be one also. The cause was a
righteous and a good one. He had tasted, he believed,
almost all kinds of intoxicating drinks except 'eider,"
hut the only time he was tempted to take more than one
glass was when he wee in Savannah, where he took to
glasses of Hellands gin. He then declared he would
take no more, and though some people would have it
that teetotalers were weak-minded men, he thought it was
no proof of weakness to make • resolution and to keep it.
He then proceeded to show that strong drinks were not
necessary to enjoyment, but, on the contrary frequently
marred pleasure, and told a humorous anecdote in
support of his argument, which provoked much
laughter. The Band then played another time followed
by • melody by the Band of Hope children and after a
quadrille—" The Wedding"—played by the Band, the
Chairman made a few remark; on the evil influent* of
drink as shown by some in his own neighbourhood.
Mr. Gatehouse sang "The Drunkard's Child. A polka
by the band, and a melody by the children followed.
The Chairman being obliged to leave called upon Mr.
Lawrence to preside. Mr. Fes then gave another
address, is which he proved by rtference to Government
statistics, and the evidence of Lord Shaftesbury, that
out of 24,207 inmates in our public asylums when the
last census wet taken six out of every 10, or 14 624 ot.
the above number were drunk-mwie kaiaks. He also
cited the statement of Roland.lkirdon, a kteotrer aka
magistrate who said that out of 67 persons tried by
him 64 Wtle committed through drink; and also cfr
Mr. Charles Buxton, who had 500 public horltes in
London, and yet declared that fully 5000 homes were
made desolate by strong drink. The speaker maintained
that no reformation would be complete unless based
the temperance movement. The proceedings were soon
after brought to a close by the band playing a selection
of manic.