The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-12-24 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

REWARD TOE MESITONIOI7II fienvicria—Tbe services
of William Cross, chief boatman of the Bslashes
detachment, and four of his brave crew, have been
rewarded by the Lords of the Admiralty with the sum
of £25. for their gallant exertions in saving the Break.
water steam tug "Ocean Bride," on the night of the
Ist inst.
Panne Petearrioxe—The terror of Fenianism has
reached even the quiet little island of Portland. The
proateat precautions are taken to prevent any atteMpt
heing made to rescue the prison. rs confined within the
prison walls. In addition to the usual force on duty
there is • night sod day guard of the 2nd detachment of
the 13th Regiment., who patrol the precincts of the I
prison. The loyal inhabitants of Portland 11.tter them- I
' selves that no safer place of custody could ponsibty be
found. They have not yet lost their intuitive know-
ledge of rosnicions characters snen they see theni, nor
lost all claims to their traditional reputation for keeping
, • bright eye upon strangers who are either beggars or
trepans Every vessel is boarded as soon as it comes
Into the roads, end the coast guardsmen watch seer, I
vessel that bears any resemblance to what • Fenian ship
might be supposed to be. The St. George and
Boseawen ars also here, so that it would be
✓ite safe to lay odds against • Fenian invasion.
FATAL ACCIDENT TO • ODEVICT.—H. N. Howard,
Esq., bold an inquest at the convict prison on Wedges-
day on view of the body of Alezander Ma'Pherson, aged
32, a convict under sentence of five years' penal
servitude. Deceased was revived at the prison on
July Sid. 1N66, an.' an Monday morning last wait
engaged in Wert Quarry in breaking • stone. Near
him a crane was being used with • stone upon it, which
was intended to be placed close towhee. deceased was
working. The wind was high at the time and eased
the jib to go round quicker than was anticipated. A
shout was raised, but despite the effort* of these at the
scans, the chain streak deceased on the lower part of
I tbe back, and knocked him against the stone. A
epeeist gave evidence that the accident was purely
meidentaL The demised mu taken to the infirmary
at onos, where Die. Blake, and Nicholson used every
ISeerkioth giving him brandy mud wine, but be never
rallied, and died about five hours after the accident
I from internal and external injuries. Verdict" Acciden-
tal death."
AN ODD PSEFOILMANCI AT THE CONCILT ESTABLISH-
MENT. —On Sunday week the Bish,ip of Salisbury bold
his annual Confirmation at the Portland Convict
Establishment. Divine @trete, was performed in the
chapel in the morning, and his lordship preached an
excellent sermon from St. Matthew, chap. iii., ver. 2,
"Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
A choir consisting of 90 or more of the convicts rewire
instruction in singing twice a week, and these lead the
congregation. Among the convicts occupying the ,
eastern division of the chapel could •be seen the
' notorious Wiliinm Hempel A marked improvement in
his health is at once observable, and. although his face
' wears a sad expression, he &mean more room), iled to
big fate and his present uninteresting occupation of
stitching honks, and no convict bears a better prison
character" than the great forger. At the conclusion of
the afternoon service 66 prisoners were confirmed. most
of them young men, and one could not help remarking
ithe apparent devoutness of the catechumens when
receiving the Bishop's blessing. The Fenian eonvicta
I now In prison, 16 in number, ramie, spiritual instruc-
tion in another milldinc, and it need scarcely be added
that the utmost preceations are taken day and night to
any surreptitious oommunication reaching
I them, and as in additional safeguard sentries are placed
at different points round the establishment, and
telegraph wires have been laid from the prison to the
barracks on the Verne, so that any outbreak could be
instantaneously communicated.

PORTLAND LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH.
An adjourned meeting of this Board was held on
Thursday afternoon, Mr. B. &riven presiding. Present •
Messrs. B. Collins, R. Lan% W. Gibbs, B. Comben,
A. Boriven, W. White, W. Comben, IL B. &riven, E.
Pesree, and J. C. Lana

THZ OR AX? NOWIT.

The Clerk stated that he had written to Sir Charles
Gore for a copy of the acesounts relative to the grant ,
money, and the publication of them, as well as the ap-
pointment of one of the Board as trti.tee in the room of
the late Mr. Heath. In answer to this request he by'
feceived • reply to the effect that the Act of Parliament
in reference to Lotal Board. did not confer any power
to deal with the matter But he had no objection to
send • copy of the amounts' furnished by the Trustees
for 1866 to the Steward of the manor of Portland, and
also give permission for them to be inspected and copied
by any person interested. Being at Dorchester he had
waited on Mr. Symonds and founa he had not then re-
ceived the account But this morning he had received a
letter from Mr. Symonds, informing him that the ece
counts were to be had from Sir Charles Gore. together
with instractions to allow a copy to be made for the
bent fit of the inhabitants. This be considered very
satisfactory.
Mr. A. Seriven was of the same opinion, and moved
thot a copy of these amounts be made, printed and cir-
culated throughout the island.
This was seconded and agreed to.
TR. WATER SUPPLY.

The Chairman said that the oommittee appointed to
investigate the wells throughout the Wend met on
Monday afternoon, and they invited Mr. Holland to go
with them nod see if the tank at Fortune's Well wen
made in ...mordants with the plans and speeilicietions.
They found it was not. But still they thought that if
Mr. Linhato would deduct £5 from his bill, they would
allow him to flnisii the tanks and trough at Maiden.
well He hod Fines seen Mr. Linham. who had oousesited
to snow the £5 from his bill of £4B 16c, and would
complete the work by the ltt of January.
Mr. Richard Limo moved that the report be adopted.

Seconded by Mr. B. Collins.
Mr. A. &riven objected to this mode of doing basinesa.
The work done by Mr. Liebe.= should be properly
valued. He would more as an amendment that the
report be not adopted.
Mr. W. White seconded.
Mr. A. Scriven inquired whether the Board could ao-
cept a contract at one meeting, and annul it by • majority
at another meeting.
The Clerk stated that if proper notice were given, any
resolution passed by this Board could be rescinded by •
majority. Bat a contract being once entered into,
could not be annulled except by the content of the con-
tracting party.
HI suavrroa's ncruss.

The nest subject was to consider what were to be the
duties of the Surveyor, and what orders should be given
tc him.

The Clerk said the duties of the Surveyor were given
very explicitly in the conditions of the advertisement
tor • surveyor.
It was, however, thought advisable by the members
that the surveyor should make a report at every meet-
ihe, stating what was done and what required doing.
The Surveyor came before the Board and received
neenesary instruetions. He stated the roads were in a
disgraceful oondition ; and on the proposition of Mr. B.
Comben a new scraping machine was oidered to be pro-
cured, and the roads near the Railway station be put in
order.