The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

THE !AIRPORT RAILWAY.

An important meeting of the Brkirk, Bailwey
Cotnpanyj wet held in the Company's rooms at Brii'.
port on Tueeday. There wee a large atModanee of
shareholder'', amongst whom We observed our mei-
lent borough members, T. A. Mitchell, end K. D.
Huilgion, Egg". The meeting wee an adjourned one
from lett month, to enable our repreeentativm to
negoeiste with the Wert Western Railway Company
so -that, If 'visible, inure advantageous terms might
be arrived at for working the line. It will be re-
membered, that the °marital' fur the completion of
the line when fret projeoted amounted to £115,000,
but owing to heavy engineering difficulties at Wither.
stone, this oust hoe been 00000 ded by more than
.1110,000 the whole of the preference) shares allowed
by the Ant of Parliament have been taken, but there
still exist considerable liabilities and, it west,, obtain
money to meet these debta, and to secure a better
method of working the line, that the negoolations
with the Great Western Company were commenced.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. T. Legg) briefly request adthe
honourable members for the borough to inform the
meeting of the result of their oonference with the
Great Western Railway Company.
T. A. MITCHELL, Esq., M.P., stated that in pur-
silence of the expressed wish of the shareholders at
their last meeting, he had, with his oolleague Mr.
Hodgson, procured an interview with the leading
authorities of the Great Western Company. They
had met the chairman and secretary, and in come-
qttenoe of the interview they were requested to give
diem in writing the nature of their requeet. They
bad therefore proposed that the Great Western Rail-
way Company should work the Bridport Railway for
21 years, keeping it in order and paying all working
, expenses for 50 per cont, on the gross receipts. That
the Bridport Railway Company should apply to Par-
liament for powers to enable them to raise £15,000
as preference capital to meet existing liabilities and
to complete the unfinished parts of the line. That
the Great Western Railway Company should advance
.43,000 for pressing liabilities, to be repaid by the
preference shares. That the Bridport Railway Com-
pany will engage to expend £4,000 towards the re-
pairs of the line including the £1,600 named in the
paper of the sth of June, and in the event of the
Bridport company failing to obtain the necessary
act to raise the preference capital, the Great Western
Company were to be protected by security on the
line. The Great Western Company refused to work
the line as proposed for 50 per cent. on the gross re-
ceipta, but would do it for 55 percent., and with re-
gard to the expenditure for repairing the line, they
would not be limited to £4,000, but wished the line
to be put in thorough repair before they had anything
to do with it. The difference, therefore, between
them was between the charge of 50 per cent. and 55
per cent., and the confining themselves to the out-
lay of £4,000.
JOSEPH GUNDRY, Esq. had heard the lucid expla-
nation of Mr. Mitchell, Cut still he required further
information. He wished to know the probability of
the outlay required to put the line in repair before it
should be banded over. He could not conceive why
a line which had been so recently constructed, should
already require so much to be laid out to put it in
repair. (Hear, bear.)
K. D. HODGSON, Req., M.P., thought the differ-
ence between 50 and 66 per cent, was not extrava-
gant, or that it was SO great a difference as to cause
any material consideration. They had tried to limit
the present outlay to £4,000, but the Great Western
Directors said they had entered into an agreement
with their shareholders that they would not advance
money on branch lines, so as to run a risk of hues;
they would not, therefore, undertake to repair the
lino at a fixed sum, nor would they limit themselves
to any amount. The line had been examined by Mr.
Lane, the engineer of the Great Western Company,
and &poi his report it would appear that a further
sum was necessary of £7,000. There would be a
neommity of laying out about £3,000 to increase the
strength of the rails laid down. Extensive draining
was necessary at Witherstone, some cutting's required
repair, which altogether would make up the sum
already stated.
Mr. B. Fox thought the South Western Railway
had undertaken to work the line from Basingstoke
to Salisbury at 47 per cent
K. D. Hononon, Erg., M.P., replied that the
line named by Mr. Fox Wee much longer, and there-
fore the expense of working was proportionally
less.

A. Myrogni, Ea., M.P. thought they certainly
ought to get it for 60 per oent, And -he had on daunt
if they had mime to terms with them Wrenn the
oonstruotiou of the hue Obey would have Agreed to

Mr. Ronan?. I No doubt of it. and for lon than
that. _

RIADIR thought their representatives had
done their beet in thur negoolations with the Great
Western Company, bob still their report Wei un•
satiefactory, espeofally that portion which proved our
new line to be in sueh a " rioketty" state. He
wished, too, to know if it we. true that the directors
had been served with a writ for £3,000
11111 CHAIRMAN I Quito true.
Mr. ROAD'S I I have no doubt that Mr. Matthie•
son has found the railway much to the fntereet of
himself and oolleagus, and could perhaps account for
what Wee to him the inexplicable outlay,
Mr. Mcrrstneox wee quite prepared to explain
anything in the proper plea, but wished to confine
himself to the bummer before the meeting.
Mr. ReADIR °amended that in his opinion there
had boon an enormous outlay which might have
been prevented, and how people could go on and
conduct business in such a slovenly manner he we.
at ilou. to oonoelve.

Mr. Marmites explained that he had oontracted
for a certain class of work, for a oertaia sum, but
other works of a diffirent clam had °Dm' under hls
operation, and Mr. Wylie had out down his acoounte
ea mutth as any man in the world «mid do. That.
had been some false eoonomy no doubt with the
directors, for much opium hie wish the permanent
line had been oonstritoted of matarlAs too for
the wear of the Great Western Railway. It was
economy in Ike Int initinost but in reallty it was
no economy at all. He thought with Mr. Baader

that a consulting euginaer would have been of ail.
vantage it would for certain have prevented the
insinuations Wadi respecting him and hie cella& pue.
If they had hail • consulting engineer they would
have had no occasion to be there, and ha thought it was
really indispensably necessary that they should have
the opinion of either an eminent engineer or lawyer
respacting what they were about to do.
Mr. OUNDIIY could (MUM Mr. Reader he WWI
quite wrong if he supposed they had never thought
el engaging a consulting engineer ; they had made
arrangements, but they bad declined them for the
oosts were so enormous ; and secondly having a cu.
suiting engineer might in some measure be taking
the responsibility from themselves, which they did
not deem desirable. He thought, however, it was
necessary that they should at once coins to
terms with the Great Western Company. lie con-
sidered a stipulated per centage the beet for mutual
interest, and lie advised they should try it. In
order to facilitate the business of the meeting, he
would propose "That Messrs. Mitchell and ilbidison
he authoneed to conclude an arrangement with the
Great Western Railway Company for • working
agreement, on such terms ae may appear to the
former fully necessary for raising the proposed pre-
ference capital; that Messrs. Mitchell and Hodgson
be required to call in the assistant* of a tirst-class
engineer to survey the Mae, and to obtain the best
professional advice on the terms of their agreement
with the Great Western Railway Company."
Mr. B. Fox suggested that a person be appointed
to survey the line, and efforts be made, after ascer-
taining the expense, to get the Great Western Com.
puny to put it in repair themselves for the stipulated
BUM. _ _ _

The report of Mr. Lune was here read on the
nature of the outlay required.
Mr. MITCHELL said as to the money, the Great
Western Company Will lend it to the Bridport Com-
pany for them to lay it out. He was, however,
happy to say that the traillo was increasing monthly,
being as follows :—January, £199 ; February, £158;
March, £157; April, .C 195 ; May, £193 ; June,
4128.

After some conversation,
Mr. Porn seconded the resolution proposed by Mr.
Gundry, which, after much disciumnon wu, with •
slight alteration in the wording, carried unani-
mously.
Vote, of thank. to the Chairman and the members
concluded the proceedings.

inquest was held on
Saturday evening week, before Mr. 0. Symonds,
ooroner, touching the death of e man whose name
wee unknown and whose body was found that
morning floating in the Backwater, in a very
emaciated condition. John Denman vu the drat
witness called. He said I lam s lighterman in the
employ of P. Dodson, Fag. Thia morning about
halm* six I wee in a boat proeutling front
Mn, Weisford's pond sorra the Backwater. I saw
something flouting neer the stone tunnel, I went
to it and saw It vu. man. I put • rope round it
and hauled it ;whore, I sent to the police, who MAO
with a stretcher and tarried it away. —P.C. Me
Mahon said ; In consequenee of what I heard I went
to the Baskwater (at the look of the Crown Hotel),
I brought the body to the Union, Ido not know
the man at all, —Mr. Alimpeon said I Between 11 and
12 o'clock I nilpotent the hotly. I immediately had
the body Direfully stripped, I should think that IS
bed been in the water from seven to ton days. I
examined the body minutely, and Gould nut &cover
any evident signs of elitism* previous to eultmerslon,
Henry Bailey said' I live at Weymouth. I have seen
title body and the 'Moth's, I know him perfectly.
His name is Edward Hewlett, of Sutton, He lila
been in the pollee at Portumnith, lie wee limn a
married man, His will died there roar or live
months ago, And lies left two children. I heard of
his return to Preston about a month er I saw
him MU Saturday night, shout seven or eight o'clock
In SI, hlary;strout, I spoke to 111111111111 shook hands
with hlna. I believe he went Into the Whits Hunt.
He apimareti perfectly sober, He had coins from hie
work M Porilimul, He worked at the brvak water,
He seemed to be In good thin* I think be is shout
112, The Jury relented- a verdict, of "Pound
drowned,"
Thtee sermons were preached in the ohurah of the
Holy Trinity on Sunday last, in aid of the guilty
fir promoting the employment of additional uurates
lit populone plias, by the Men William Henry Toy,
MA,, one of the secretaries of the society, Collec•
Sons were male after each sermon, Un Monday
evening a public meeting was held at the Bethnal
sehool•room on the Chapelry, in aid of the same
society. Severel clergymen aliiressed the meeting,
which was numerously attended,
CIIANKIL INLAND& TNLIOLIPAPIL-4114140 exertions
are being mode to complete the new line of tele.
graph to the Channel Islands before Her Majesty's
departure for Cherbourg, It was expected that the
cable connecting Jersey and England would be laid
down on the 29th ult. The Electric Telegraph Coin.
pauy are erecting a new wire from Soutilampkm to
Weymouth to meet this cable. The landing point
of the able on the English met is the Hill CI Port.
land. Underground wires extend from this point to
the Soutli•Western 'dation at Weymouth, whence
they proceed on the company's poets to Southamp-
ton. Telegraphic communication with the whole of
the islands will be completed, and the route opened
to the public early in August. The rates for mee.
sages will 1,. very moderate—vie., 3s. for 20 words
from Southampton and Weymouth, and tis. from
London. There , will be offices at Jersey,
Guernsey, and Alderney. The contractors for the
cable are the well known firm of Newell and Co.
The following is an extract from the report of the
directors of the Electric and International Telegraph
Company issued on Friday last :—" An independent
company (with limited liability) has been formed to
afford telegraphicoommunication between Weymouth
and the Channel Islands, and the line will be com-
pleted before the end of this month. An arrange.
ment has been entered into for the working of this
line by the company and for the transmission of
messages in this country, from which the directors
have every occasion to expect a considerable acces-
sion of traffic. They have agreed to subscribe to
this undertaking a sum of £4,200, the whole capital
of £30,000 having a guarantee of six per cent, from
the Government. To this arrangement the direc-
tors request the concurrence of the proprietors."

A VALUABLE HATBOX.—On Saturday week, when
the mail steamer Express arrived in Guernsey Roads,
en her way from Jersey to Weymouth, to land and
embark passengers, a gentleman named Blenkinsee,
dealer in watches, residing at Birmingham, came on
board, to proceed to Weymouth, and among his lug-
gage he had a hatbox containing 40 gold watches,
worth £4OO, which he placed near the funnel on
deck. The inconvenience attending the landing of
passengers in the reads caused considerable bustle,
and just as the Express was about to start, he disco-
vered that his hatbox and watches were miming. He
raised an alarm, and on inquiry, one of the sailors in-
formed him that a gentleman who came from Jersey
and landed at Guernsey, left the boat with a hatbox
answering Mr. Blenkinsee's description. lie then
asked the captain of the Express to put back, but he
declined doing so, as he had the mails on board. A
steamtug happening to be near, she was signalled,
and upon her coming up, Mr. Blenkinsee got on
board and returned to Guernsey, where he put him-
self in communication with the authorities, and found
that a gentleman answering
_the description given
had started in the steamer Metropolis for London,
which left Guernsey immediately after the Express.
Mr. Blenkinsee then hired a special steamer to con-
vey him to Weymouth for £2O, and immediately on
his arrival telegraphed to the detective department,
Scotland-yard, on receipt of which Inspector
Whioher made inquiries, and ascertained that the
Metropolis had not arrived in the river. He sword.
ingly despatched two experienced officers, W. Smith
and H. Lookyer, to await her arrival, and on her
reaching the Custitni.house quay, about five o'clock
In the afternoon, they went on board and began to
'can the passengers, but nuns of them answered the
description of the gentleman given by Mr. Blenkin.
see. They, however, noticed a hatbox among the
luggage which no one appeared to own. They-kept
It in view and searched the ship, but found no one
secreted there. Afterwards, however, a lady and
gentleman returned to the ship, and made anxious
Inquiries fur a hatbox, but they did not mention the
hatbox in question. Mr. Blenklnsee arrived and
identified the hatbox, and on opening it, to his great
Joy, he found the whole of the with:dies in the 1141110
state In which he put them into the hatbox. It le
but right to add that the gentleman who took the
hatbox in mistake is I highly respectable person,
and had been to Jersey on mount of 11l health,

Tits Aluesua.—Tbe mumum oomtnlttes have now
admitted the public to gue and muse upon their
labour., They have the room over the Wilts in St
Mary.street and On corridor between that room and
the resdlntroom of the institution. On entering
the oorridiir, to the right hand them is a MO 61
snail:mu' of natural hnitory, contributed by W.
Thompson, Beu„ with tropiood bird" and Australasian
animals. A MO oositeluing loins geologlual aped.
name presented by W. A. Brodie, Iteq,, and a yew
beautiful corals. In the next Nee we find an al.
*lament of Mar fish, of every Mee and variety, all
found in the immediate vicinity of Weymouth.
Near these, we observed the head and paddle of an
lebtlyoseurus, found In the lies of Dorset. Following
this is an usotimesit of lirltiah crustaoes,
tributed by Hobert Damen, Bet., in a very beautiful
mate of preservation and of infinite variety. Mr.
Lumen hu alan preaented the museum with a
splendid assortment of British manual, chiefly from
the Weymouth omit. The arrangement of these
mese shows that a great amount of time and labour
has been expended upon them, and they exhibit a
thorough knowledge of thou branch.' of solenos
Paimillig to the other side, we And Mr, Damen he.
also tontelbuted many rare and valuable pologioal
remelns, beginning with the non•fossiliftrou rooks
and passing onward with the silurian, the mountain
Ihneetone, and the coal metteurve, in whioh depart.
meat will be found many very curious specimens of
plante, embmoing °steatites, ferns, stria* ilte.
Afterwards we see the Devonian and Ka". The
next that attroota our attention are the ammonite.
Itsllaria, showing the air clambers filled with
tryst... Maid carbonate of lime, from the Dorset Iles
There is Mat section of th• Nautilus poutpillus
to illustrate the structure of fossil nautilus and

ammonite. Wei then find a magnificent specimen of
the pentacrinus briareus which was found in the
blue lim at Lyme Regis. There is also a stalactite
from Portland deposited by J. Cootie, Esq., and •
present by the Name gentleman of a specimen of the
Cyeaditea Megalophyilus from the dirt bed in the
island of Portland.

Stmanoast. —A Prise.—ln the competition for
the sewerage and drainage of Aldershot, limits, for
which there were many competitors from London
and the provinces, the first premium of seventy
pounds has been recently awarded to Mr. C. 8. New-
man, late engineer and surveyor to the Local Board
of Health, Hull, and now partner in the firm of
Messrs. Poole and Newman, land agents, surveyors,
and engineers, of Sherborne.
Sherborne Green Fair on Monday last MIS well
attended, and supplied with about 1,000 more sheep
than the fair of the week before. Lambe sold freely,
the best at from 20s. to 245. in their wool; fatsheep
at Bed. to 7d. per lb.; and ewes from 255. to 295. A
number of choice rams, from the flock of Mr. Lucas,
of East Coker, were submitted by Mr. Palmer, and
knocked down at prices varying from £2 10s. to
£2O. Sixteen two-teeth pure South-down rams, the
property of Mr. Tett, and bred from "The Chain.
pion." the winner of 10 prizes, and hired of Janice.
Harding, Esq., of Waterson, were submitted to sue-
lion by Mr. Itossiter, and were sold at good prices.
the No. 3 sheep being disposed of to Mr. Gifford,
after a spirited competition, for 13 guineas. There
was a good show of horses, which sold at £35 to £4O.
The hest store pigs, 255. ; ditto in high aondition for
grazing, 40s. a head. The wool trade was slack and
somewhat lower, but good tog was in demand.