The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-01-04 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

PRoxicrriox.—Major Hickey, deputy governor of
Portland Convict Prison, has been promoted to the
governorship of the Convict Prison at Dartmoor.
ST. GEORGE'S CHURCHYARD. —We understand that
the churchwardens intend repairing the walls of
this graveyard, making • more respectable entrance,
and putting the whole generally into better order
than of late.
IMPROVEMENTS.—The Local Board have been
putting in order the road at Straits, and it certainly
is a great improvement, and a satisfactory instance
of the judicious way in which the ratepayers' money
is expended by the Board.
FORETHOUGHT OF THE LATE CAPTAIN MANNING.
—On Christmas Eve, a number of tickets for beef
and other comforts suitable for the sewn were dis-
tributed to tbs usual beneficiares of the Castle, the
late Captain Manning having made the required pro
vision for this purpose before his death.
WORKING MEN'S READING ROOM. —The committee
of the Portland Educational Institute, Easton, have
made great improvements in the old parish school.
room at Straits, the use of which they obtained from
the Local Board. They have expended about £3O or
£4O in fitting it up with mate, tables, /cc., as •
reading-room.

Tellt—CoAL GIVBN BY Tin TRUSTille.—OnChristinas
Eve about 120 bushels of coal given by the trustees of
her Majesty'. Grant to the poor people 'top o' the hill,
were distributed by tickets by Ow assaistance of the
Rev. D. Hogartb, and Messrs. E. Pears*, C. Horde, and
R. Lane. On Monday rnd Tuesday about 160 bushels
more, provided from the same source, wire distributed
below the bill, by the assistance of Meagre. G. E.
Andrews, and Fullwood Milledge, churchwardens,
Messrs. Flew, W. B. Seriven, and James Mabey. One
bushel was given to each family, and wu very thank.
fully received by the poor.
A COURAGROUB POLICZNAN —On Tuesday afternoon
four marines belonging to H.M.S. Achilles were
repotted to the police at Portland as having broken
their leave. P.S. Freeman, P.C. Cooper, and P.C.
Young, soon apprehended two of them at the Welcome
Stranger, and one was quickly marched off to the
stationhouse. As P.C. Young was bringing along his
men, he was suddenly assaulted by two other marines,
who attempted to rescue their comrade. Though his
enemies were three to one, Young fearlessly held on,
when the fellows took off their belts and began besting
hint about the head, and pulling hard at the prisoner
to get him away. Young managed to draw his
truncheon, and held en his prisoner manfully, suffering
himself to be pulled nearly 40 yards towards the
railway station. In the meantime the sergeant and
Cooper peronived the struggle from the hill, quickly
lodged the man in the cell, and started off to reinforce
tleir comrade. As soon as the cowardly assailants
saw the numbers would be equalised they decamped,
leaving Young still holding on his prisoner, who was
soon secured. The other two 'marines got away towards
the Ferry Bridge, where they took boat and escaped
to their ship ; but as the police believed
they knew theta well, a warrant was
sought for their apprehension. It is much to
he regretted thst violent characters should be
allowed to wear their belie, on shore. If they get into
trouble they are almost sure to use their belts, and time
a constable who only does his dirty is liable to receive
severe injury, which might be avoided if the belts were
left on board. Young had • nasty cut on his right ear
(row the buckle of the belt, and lost some blood, before
help could arrive.
THE GRANT MONEY: HOW TO USE IT.

We have received a long letter from Mr.
Abraham Winter, of the "Live and Lot Live."
High-street, Portland, on the above subject.
Adverting to thequestion of trusteeship, he intimates
that be has little hope of any benefit flowing to the
inhabitants, let whoever will be appointed, unless
the mode of dealing with the Grant is altogether
changed. And this is his notion of how the money
should be applied :
If the Grant Money were properly invested, I think
the interest of it would provide an Annuity Fund, from
which every needy man of the island after he reaches
60 or 65 year of age, might receive Ma or seven shillings
a week for the rest of his days, and for unmarried
women or widows, on attaining such age, 35, or 3a. ext.
per week as long as they lived : that there might also :
be a hick Fund established, from which those who were
rick or met with accidents, might have relief. Then
Woad of our old people going to the Union bow when