The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-06-08 00:00:00

Somtrottsbire.

TAUNTON. - We have to record the death of
Francis Popham, Eaq., of I3agborou,gh. The deceased
who had been a great sufferer for some time past,
died on Friday morning week, at his late residence,
in the above-named parish. He lived to a good old
age, and was the oldest of our county gentlemen.
He was s magistrate for the county, and for some
time, though not recently, Chairman of the Somerset
Quarter Sessions. For many years he sat as Chair-
man of the Board of Guardians for the Taunton
Union, in which office he was succeeded, • few years
since, by It. K. M. King, Beg. In his vigour the
deceased was • rather active county mon, and gene.
rally took a prominent part in movements connected
with the representation of the Western Division of
the county. In politics he was what is usually
termed a Tory of the old school. We believe that
he met with an average share of approbation as a
public man, and as a private gentleman his demise
will, especially in the immediate neighbourhood in
which he generally lived, excite a feeling of regret. ,

Binegar great horse and cattle fair was held at
Binegar, near Wells, on Wednesday. As it is one of
the most important fairs of the kind held for many
miles round, it excited intense interest amongst
horse and cattle dealers from all parts of the country,
of whom there was a very large attendance. Of
horned beasts there was a very good show. There
was a splendid herd of oxen, exhibited by Mr. Har-
vey, of Devon; and • fine lot of well-conditioned
heifers were also offered for sale by Mr. Gibbon and
Mr. Brown, of the same county. There were esti-
mated to be above 2,000 head of horned cattle, and
upwards of 1,000 horses, at the fair, besides
several pens of sheep and Jambe. At the commence-
ment dealers were firm, at high terms; but as busi-
ness advanced there was • slight relax, and a large
portion of the stock changed bands at moderate
prices, viz. :—Horses: well-breds, £5O to £100;
balf-brede, £2O to £5O: cart horses, £lO to £45;
' cart (mita, £2O to 450 ; nags, .XlO to £5O. Amongst
the horned stook prices ranged pretty freely. For
yearlings, £4 10a to £lO each was asked; ditto bulls,
£lO to £l2; and many changed bands at that figure.
For milch cows with calf, from three-year-olds up.
wards, £lO to £lB were asked, and, in many in•
stances, received. The sheep, too, went off at a
good figure.
WINTON•SOPIR•MARX. Rook Shooting. On
Monday week Mr. Grossman, of Wood Spring Priory
Farm, near this town, with his usual hospitty and
liberality, entertained a large party of his friends,
gentlemen, and yeomanry of the neighbourhood, to
enjoy a day's wren of rook•abooting at his rookery,
on the above farm, and although the weather was
very unpropitious a pretty large party assembled,
and not being discouraged by the weather (the rain
pouring down profusely) commenced shooting, and
there being some crack shots among them, they had
very good sport, killing upwards of one hundred
birds. After the day's sport was ended, the coup
pony, consisting of about 40, sat down to an excellent
supper, and was most kindly and hospitably enter.
babied by their worthy and respected host, whose
liberality is well known and appreciated throughout
the neighbourhood, The evening was spent in the
utmostlarmony conviviality, and good friendship.
The usual and 'local tomb were given and duly
responded to and some excellent songs were sung,
which added greatly to the enjoyment dam evening,

Tii WVATNER Ann TIIN CROPA. —Ths past few
days of delightful warm weather hare been pmdno.
tim of li Valli deal of good, About this neighbour.
hood the time ars now everywhere in full Tollap,
and the pasture. are making astonishing progress, so
much so, that, to UN a common expression, "we
eau almost ifs the gnu grow." Ths fruit tress are
everywhere laden with an abundanoe of magnificent
blossoms, and there is every reason to believe that
there will be one of the bast apple crop. that we
have had for many years ; in hot, vegetation of all
kinds is going on at a rate that will rapidly rufike to
to make up for any backwardness which the late Gold
and inclement weather had induced. The grain
crops are looking splendidly i all tram of the
yellow and pinched condition, which had in places
begun to be observable, having nearly. If not entirely
vanished. The earlier sown wheats ars wonderfully
strong and vigorous, with a thick plant and heavy
flag, whilst the later sown ate also "coming along"
most satisfactorily. has and beans are het improv.
Ina sines ths rain, as are mita and barley. Potatoes
are likewise looking well, and there is reason to hops
that this year the disease will not be so provolone ae
formerly. In fact, the present appearanos of all the
crops is most promising. All that remains now to
be wished fors a fine summer, to convert that pro.
miss into a golden performanoe,
RAILWAY AOCIDINT, —On Friday morning an
limb:lent occurred to a man of the name of Gooney,
whilst working on the line, near Crawkerns. Gooney
was standing at the heading of the tunnel when some
earth wagons passed on and jammed him between
them, breaking his shoulder. Mr. Morse was soon
In attendance, and we are glad to say that he is
doing well.

CHARD SOCIETY JOB THE EMPLOYMINT OP
ADDITIONAL CURATES IN POPULOUS PLACER—A
meeting of this society was held in the Townhall, on
Thursday evening ; the Rev. Henry Thompson,
M.A., vicar of Chard presided, and the Rev. John
Ray attended as a deputation from the parent
society. The meeting having been opened by
prayer, the Chairman called on the Rev. H. Bell
Thompson, 8.A., the local secretary, to read the
report, which showed a alight decrease in the remit-
tame from Chard this year upon that of the previous
year. It also set forth the great spiritual destitution
of several places now soliciting grants from the
society, owing to the increase of the population,
chieffy from immigration. The whole increase of
the population of England was stated to be at the
rate of 200,000 annually. The adoption of the
report was moved by Montague Ruddock. Esq., and
seconded by the Rev. J. W. Ward, M.A., mourn•
bent of Ruishton. The Rev. Rodney D. Palmer,
8.A., incumbent of Broadway, moved " That the
condition of this country, as regards a large and im-
portant part of its population, is such as to excite the
deepest apprehensions in every thoughtful and
Christian mind; and that the true remedy for the
spiritual ignorance and negligence of the people is the
increased ministrations of the clergy." The Rev.
William Marshall, Vicar of Ilton, seconded the
resolution. The Rev. John Key moved, " That
this society, desiring to effect its objects by compe•
tent and legitimate means, is worthy of all con&
dance and support." This resolution having been
seconded by the Rev. H. Bell Thompson, the thanks
of the meeting were proposed to the Mayor for the
loan of the Townhall, by George Mason, Esq., and
seconded by Mr. Bendley ; and, after the blessing,
the meeting separated.
STOKE ST. GRECORY.—Gratifying Presentations.
—On Thursday the parishioners assembled at the
sohool.room, Stoke Bt. Gregory, for the purpose of
uniting in a spontaneous mark of esteem for the
Rev. R. W. Moor, the respected perpetual curate of
the parish, and to offer some token of regard to the
I Rev. Mr. Coleman, the curate. The form of the
I testimonial in each case was that of a silver salver, of
exquisite workmanship add chase design, supplied
by Mr. R. Webb, silversmith, Taunton. They
bore respectively the following inscriptions i--" Pre.
minted to the Rev. Richard Watson Moor, by the
parishioners of Stoke St. Gregory, as a grateful
acknowledgment of his faithful services amongst
them during a period of 29 years." " Presented to
I the Rev. James Coleman, by the parishioners of
Stoke St Gregory, as a grateful acknowledgment of
his faithful services amongst them." The gift, were
, acknowledged in a suitable manner by the rev. pa.
demon.