The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-07 00:00:00

BLAND FIORD.

SCHOOL-EXAMINATION.—TI2e National Schools of
this town—boys, girls, and infanta—underwent
their annual examination on the 20th, 2let, and
22nd ultimo, by Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools,
the Rev. W. W. Howard, when there were present
for inspection 101 infants, 74 girls, and 135 boys.
The official report as to the state of the schools will
not reach the managers till another month; we
anticipate, however, a most favourable report con-
cerning them.
FIR& BRIGIADR.—The members of the Fire Brigade
held their second annual meeting on Saturday eve-
ning, at the Three Choughs Inn, where a
bountiful supper was provided at the expense
of their worthy superintendent, Mr. J. Barnes,
agent of the Sun Fire Office, who alsa pre•
sided on the occasion. The vice-chair was taken by
the foreman of the brigade, Mr. C. Will., and the
l'hcenix and Atlas Offices were represented by Messrs.
John and Willem James. Other agents were una-
voidably prevented from being present The cloth
having been removed, the usual loyal and patriotic
toasts were drank with all due honors. The "Army
and Navy" was ably responded to by Mr. J. H.
Bartlett. Messrs. I. and W. James responded to
the toast of the Fire Insurance Offices. The health
of the Chairman was warmly received, and in
responding to it, said he most sincerely thanked
them for tbeir kindness, and was exceedingly
pleased with their attendance at practice, and
the promptitude they exhibited at the call
of duty. He then entered into full details of
the origin of the Fire Brigade, and the obstacles that
stood in the way of its formation. He was, however,
most thankful to say, that notwithstanding the
obstacles, a fire brigade was no longer a thing talked
of, but an established fact. (Cheers.) The toast of the
"Local Board" was then given, and a hope expressed
that that body would always endeavour to keep the
eneines in good working order. To this toast Mr.
R. Han nam, superintendent of the engine, responded.
We must not forget to mention the name of T. H.
Bastard, Esq., whose health was drank with due
honors for his very valuable gift to the town and
the public in general, namely the newly-erected
pump in Damory-street,which was not only an orna-
ment but a source of refreshing comfort to the weary
and thirsty traveller, and also s great boon in case of
are. Other toasts and sentiments followed in quick
succession, interspersed with a few songs, and a
very pleasant evening was spent. There were two !
candidates for the vacant situation in the brigade, !
Mr. H. Hannam, and Mr. J. Shorto ; the first-
named being elected by a large majority.

SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY.
The fifth half-yearly general meeting of this company
, was held on Tuesday,2Bth February,at the Crown Hotel,
' Blandford. Thecbairman of the company,the Right Hon.
Lord Rivers, presided, and the following directors and
shareholders were present Warry, Esq., (deputy
chairman) and Messrs. Clarke, R. A. Read, F. G.
S,essor, T. Porch Porch, W. C. Fincham, M. Kemp.
Welch, E. Mullett, E. 0, Spooner, R. R. Harvey,
Walter Swayne, James Farnham, Rev. J. Penny, S.
S. P. Davis, J. Hominy, G. NeaviTenny, G.
Zeynes, J. Lindsay, J. Ford, R. Byers, C. Pond, H. T.
rFisher, S. Hicks, frc.
The advertisement calling the meeting having been
,lead by the secretary,
, The noble CHAIRMAN said, before he proomeled with
the general business and moved the adoption of the
' report, be wished to make a few remarks on the in-
correct way his observations at the late special meeting
were reported. It was very immaterial personally to
him what was reported; but as regarded the interests
Of the company, it was most important that the state-
ments he made as their chairman should be correctly
given. His lordship then said that the error to which
'he referred was this—that he was reported to have said
that their company were about to make a short line from
Bverereech to Shepton bfallet, to join the line which the
North Somerset were abont to make. This was in.
correct. What he stated was, that the sanction of the
shareholders was asked to an agreement entered into
between the two companies, by which the North
Somerset were to make the whole of the line,
and their company undertook to work it for a
period of 21 years from its completion, between
Bristol and Everorsech, at a per centage of the
receipts. There was another error to which he wished
also to refer, and that was--it was stated that the Bill
now before Parliament, asking for powers to make this
extension had been thrown out by the Standing Orders
Committee. Such was not the case. The Bill had
only bean referred back for the correction of some few An aged couple has just died at Trowbridge, whose
trifling mistakes. Most of these objections had been united ages amounted to 191. They had lived together
overruled, and the remainder of the disputed points in wedlock for more than 70 years. The old lady had
would be considered on the 7th of March, and he had only been a few miles from the town during her whole
some right to express an earnest hope and belief that life time.
they would succeed in their object. His lordship then NARROW ESCAPE OF HER MAJESTY—On Sunday,
proceeded to speak on the report, and stated that it the 26th ult., her Majesty had a moat miraculous escape
would have afforded himself and his brother directors from being oruabed to death by the falling of a huge elm
very great satisfaction if they could have come before tree in the Home Park. Her Majesty was taking an
the shareholders and declared a dividend on the 5 per airing on her favourite little Scotch pony, and proceed.
cent. debentures or preference shares. This they could ieg through the tall avenue of elms at Windsor known
not, however, do, but he hoped before long they would as Queen Elizabeth's Ride, the pony being led by a
be enabled to declare a dividend of 2i per cent, on such gillie, and a groom following at a short distance, when
, shares. But though they could not declare a dividend fortunately and providentially the servant observed one
lon their preference stook they had a balance of of the large trees falling immediately over her Majesty.
£7,462 4s. 9d. to carry to their revenue account. The The groom called out loudly, and her Majesty, made
first most important paragraph in the report referred to aware of the danger by this timely alarm, escaped being
Highbridge, and they would notice that a very great crushed beneath the tree by a few yards only—Court
increase in the trade had taken place there. A short /marmot.
time ago he went down to Highbridge, and in company AWFUL S HIPWRRCR. —Loss OF 550 Tdvats.—On the
with the manager went through the stores, and he was 12th of January a Chinaman, much bruised about the
very much gratified. At the same time he saw the body, presented himself at the Shipping Office, Singe-
necessity of additional accornodation being given. The pore, and said that he had left Swatow a fortnight
manager informed him that for want of that scoomode- before in a large three-masted schooner, with 550 other
Lion a gentleman connected with the iron works had passengers. On the night of the 6th, he said, at the
' been obliged to defer a large order for the conveyance entrance to the Straits, barely thirty miles from Sings-
of iron. He (the Chairman) looked to Highbridge as pore, the vessel going at full speed, dashed against the
the most important station on their line, and without light-house rock,: a moment afterward& she fell back,
consulting his fellew-directors, and he hoped they would filled rapidly, and sank in deep water, with all hands on
excuse him, (Hear hear), he ordered an additional board. The man, who believed himself the only
orane to be erected there. Some looked forward to the survivor, got hold of a small piece of wood, on which he
time when they would get to Bristol, but for himself he floated a whole day and night, when he was picked up
looked to Highbridge as the keystone of their succesa by some Ebb fishermen and brought to Singapore.
He quite agreed with those who were anxious to open This story, so fearful in its details, was scarcely believed
up direct communication with Bristol, and trusted at first, but fatal confirmation of it arrived a day
that the North Somerset Bill would receive the afterwards from the Dutch resident at Rhio. One of
sanction of the House. He saw no reason why the orew of the ill-fated ship, • Swede named Christensen,
it should not. The next point in the report re. was picked up and brought ashore at Rhio, and his
ferred to the Bill introduced by the Burnham Tidal story was the same as the Chinaman's. The vessel was
Harbour Company for powers to construct docks at the Ilaraburgh, three-masted schooner, Canton, bound
Highbridge. He trusted they would be successful, for from Swatow to Singapore with 550 Chinese passengers.
though they were not directly concerned in it, yet there The Chinaman that reached Singapore and the European
was very little doubt their line would be greatly bens- sailor, now hi hospital at Rhio, are the sole survivors.—
fitted by it. The chairman then referred to the Straits Times.

I Sierior,