The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-10-03 00:00:00

BRIDPORT.

AXCIIINT OILDRIL OF FORISTER2I. A tea meeting in
connection with Court "Star of the West," of this society,
took place in their New Forestere-hall,Char's Mead, on
Thursday of at five o'clock. About 190 persons
of tea. Some ladies of the town kindly gave
Icays to help the funds of this benevolent society. Mrs.
J. . Stephens, Mrs. S. Whetham, Miss Robinson, Miss
Rails, ec., kindly gave their support and presence at the
tea. At half-past seven an entertainment took place in
the hell, consisting of dissolving views shown by Mr. J.
T. Stephens, with singing and music at intervals between
the views. The latter consisted of "The History of
Robinson Crime," at ter which were shown different
pictures of the town and neighbourhood. Mr. Cherie'
}amends acted as chairman and lecturer, of which duty
he acquitted himself in a very able, humourous, and
creditable manner. Songs were sung at inters-ids by
Messrs. C. Powell, Draper, Foster, and Mrs. Cook. Mr.
Powell also gave some readings in the Dorset dialect,
greatly amusing the audience. The musical portion of the
entertainment was by Kiss Foster (piano), Mr. J. Foster
(lit violin), and Mr. Cook (2nd violin). The premeds of
the tea and entertainment are to help defray the expense
of furniture for the new hall.

A GALLANT YOUNG LADY.

On Thursday Miss Isabella Spencer, daughter of the
head master of the Tavistock Grammar 'School, was
jiresented with a pachment scroll recording the thanks
of the Royal Humane Society for her courageous con-
duct in recently saving the lives of four boy!, and
assisted in the saving of a fifth lad from &owing on
the coast near this town. Miss Spencer, who had only
attained her sixteenth year, was bathing at Watchet
on the 21st of July last, and, on hearing screams com-
ing from an adjacent cove, she gallantly swam round a
projecting ruck, when she found several boys in a
dangerous Nekton, the in-flowing tide every moment
rendering the chances of their escape from drowning
more difficult. She was the only help at hand, and
fortunately had the courage to give it. Four of the
lads were rescued by her_i and she was instrumental in
saving the life of a fifth boy by signaling a boat
distant about a quarter of a mile from shore. Two
of the children, who had been hemmed in by the
advancing tide, failing to reach the spot whence the
others were taken from the water, were drowned
These facts being deposed to at the coroner's inquest,
the jury recommended that a record ol them should be
sent to the Royal Humane Society, whose recognition
of the heroic services of Miss Spencer has taken the
form already mentioned. Nor have the inhabitants of
Watchet allowed the occasion to pass by without show.
log how highly they appreciate her bravery. A public
sasktipllon was organized, and with the fund thus
raw/ a handsome gold locket was purchased, locks of
the hair of the four boy, Mita Spencer rescued have
been woven together and fixed IL the locket.

EMIGRANTS TO QUEENSLAND.
QUUNIIIAND Govgarmrsr °Friers,
32, Chasing Cross,
London, 25th September, 1876.
8114—A paragraph having appeared in the flail,,
Telegraph, of the 22nd instant, representing the
Inability of Emigrants to obtain employment in
Queensland, I deem it right, for the satisfaction of
the relatives and friends of those who have gone out
to the Colony, to give publty as far as practicable to
the following observations in reference to the matter,
and I shall, therefore, feel obliged by your giving this
letter a place in your columns.
The last advice. from Qneenaland announce the
arrival of the ship," Roxburgshire," which anchored in
morotoi, Ray. on the 30th June, with 2464 emigrants,
and on the 6th July, the Brisbane Courier the leading
paper in the Colony, says :—" Of the 244 ii statute
adult Emigrants, ex " Roxburgiihire," admitted into
the derslt on Friday last, there are now remaining
221. 13 of whom-3 single girls and 5 married couples
—are still open for engagement. The whole of those
who have left the depAt have not been engaged here,
27 having proceeded to Ipswich and id to Toowoomba
in search of engagements. Considering that this
batch followed so closely upon that hy the "Windsor
Castle," they may be considered to have cleared off

very well.
Add to this fact that during the quarter ended
march last, the entire Emigration to Queensland was
about 4,000, of which only 1,653 were from Great
Britain.
No better reason could possibly be given for assist-
ing the latter number to Emigrate to Queensland, than
that 2,347 persons acting on their own judgment,
attracted by the inducement. I dered by Queensland,
went there from the other Colonies at their own
expense, evidently showing that in the almost universal
depression which exists everywhere, tiueenidand has
suffered in this respect as slightly as any.
A cxyrespondent, whose letter is now before me,
under date July last, states :- -"The country is steadily
going a-head. Farmers in particular have an excellent
season. and the usual sight of shipping lucerne to
Sydney is to be witnessed here. Every steamer takes
a full compliment of fat sheep for that market ; 3,000
were shipped to-day in one steamer, and steamers
leave every day."
There is no use in disguising the fact that some per-
sons will be disappointed in going to the Colony, and
may not find suitable employment, especially at first,
but from the most reliable s mrces, I am quite enabled
to contradict the statement in the paragraph alluded
to. For particular classes if labourthere may be some
temporary want of employment, but the large emi-
graUon to Queensland from the neighbouring colonies,
which is chiefly of the working people, chews that any
depression there must he slight indeed.
I would further point out that, in the paragraph
referred to, no mention is made of any place, nor is
any name or date given by which the accuracy may be
rested.
It will, I think, he conceded that the circumstance
that a very large proportion iif emigrants going to
Queensland are nominated for pastimes by their
relatives or friends in the Colony, affords the most
conclusive evidence that the alleged difficulty of
obtaining employment has no foundation in fact.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
THOMAS HAMILTON
Secretary.