The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-12-25 00:00:00

BLAB DFORD.

Otis CHAnines—Thu different charities usually
distributed at Christmas have come this year at a
time when the severity of the season has made them
more than ordinarily valuable to the poor. The
usual 511 tons Of Coal so pplied by the fund collected
from inenibers tithe church have been supplemented
by additional grants, and private charity has been
no less active in meeting those cases of want which
a temporary cessation of labour has made more than
ordinarily numerous.
FATAL CASE or SCALDING. —A little boy about
two years of age, son of Blanchard, a bricklayer's
labourer, died on Wednesday last from having drank
boiling water from the spout of a teakettle. It ap-
peared at the inquest held on the body that the
mother had gone up-stairs in the afternoon. an‘l left
the deceased with another young child, playing in
the down stair room, and that the deceased child
hail, in the absence of the mother, drank the boil.
ing water from the spout of the teakettle resting on
the bob of the grate. Mr. Spooner attended the
child, but the case, hopeless from the first, terms-
natal fatally on the day following the accident.
V EST R Y !dn.:vs°. —The ratepayers aasesubled on
Friday last at the Tuwnhall, to examine the accounts
of the inspectors of the public lights, grant funds
for future expenses, and appoint Inspectors in the
place of those annually going out of office. The
meeting likewise assembled to revise the fees of the
Burial Board and to elect members in the place of
those recommended annually to go out of office.
The members going out in both cases being eligible
fur re-election were reinstated in office. The se-
counts of the Inspectors were brought before the
meeting in an unsatisfactory state in respect to one
or two minor items, and after a prolonged attempt
to arrive at something like a satisfactory balance, all
order to meet future expenses was agreed ou, and
the balancing of the accounts left an open question
till the next annual meeting. No other business of
any importance was transacted.
'

Cushamss MARl:rt.—The rage for fat has given
way to that which the cook can drew without Waste,
and the consumer eat without disordering his
stomach. Mr. Dominey provided this year such a
dresaable, yet Christmas assortment of meat that the
epicure might have bad his " tit bit," and the
economical or poor man his profitable joint or coarse
Int. The Devon oxen and Devon heifer grazed by
Mr. Faripiharson,--especially the latter, which took
a first prize at Sturminster,—wert exceptional spoci•
inenoOf good grazing, and with a capital Hereford
10-ifer, fed by Mr. Harding, of Durweston, Mr.
Farquharson's prize Southdown wetheres and others
grazed by himself and Mr. W. Coate, of Hai:amnion,
his show scarcely needed Mr. J. Hector's fatted
calf to make it one of very rare excellence. Mr.
Frampton's display was no less remarkable for
superior beef and mutton, and, combined with the
well-loaded stalls of our country butchers, to give
to our meat market that characteristic of general
excellence for which it is widely noted. Mr.
Richard Dominey's prize pig of sixteen score, fat-
tened by Mr. Coate, of Hatumoon, was • wonderful
pig, though not able to tell his letters. This rapid
and wondrous animal.development wan but
months 01,1, and had only been confined to the sty
two months previous to being exhibited at the Stur-
minster. show. Our usual bountiful supply of game
was wanting, but in all other respects "ur market
'cis plentifully supplied with the looked-for vareties
of Christmas time.

BLANDFORD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this excellent society was
held on Saturday last. Premiums were awarded to
upwards of 1110 farm labourers and servants, to whom
also an excellent dinner, consisting of the roast beef
of Old England and plum puddings, was given
! with a supply of goo(' ale, at the Assenibly-rooms.
' The members met in the afternoon for the appoint-
; intent of Die committee for the ensuing year. The
society, we are happy to find, is still in a flourish-
ing condition, and the only complaint if the
secretary, Mr. Itne, if such his remarks might be
called, was, that the subscriptions due in January of
each year were seldom paid before December. The
dinner took place at the Crown Hotel, and was
served up in Mr. Eyers' usual and well.known style
of excellence. Every delicacy of the season was
placed on the table, the wines were of the choicest
vintage, and all attention was paid by "Mille host"
to secure the comfort and convenience of his guests.
The proceedings were greatly enlivened during the
evening by sonic of the members of Mr. Ejers' far-
famed band playing a variety of tunes, and by some
excellent singing. About sixty of the agriculturists
of the district and principal tradesmen of the town
were present, among whom were C. Hambrim, Esq.,
! who presided on the occasion, the Bev. Lord Sydney
G,slolphin Osborne, the Hon. W. H. B. Portmad,
! M. l'., the Hon. Maurice Portman, W. Atlye, Esq.,
E. T. Johns, Esq., W. H. Atkinson. Esq., the Rev.
J. Watts, time Rev. C. Woodcock, the Rev. J.
Bolton, and Mi.mars. J. Matthews, J. Ainsworth,
John Gibson, It. Brine. R. Fowler, H. F.mkes, W.
Fookes, It. Fookes, S. Oakley, J. Cobb, V, It.
Watts, G. Keynes, John Ford, jun., W. 11.
Abbott, James Burgess. J. S. Tett, John Keynes,
Joel Roper, George Harding, J. Rawlins. R.
Lewis, j. Garland, IL Blandford, S. Pond, C.
Flower, James Forrester, &c., &C.
The cloth having been removed,
The Citnismas proposed the rinual loyal and patriotic
tonsts, which were received with enthusiastic cheers.
The Cfintawnx nest gave "The Health of the Bishop
and Clergy of the Diocese," with three times three.
The Rev. J. Wins acknowledged the compliment.
The occasion for which they were net was one which
gave the clergy the greatest pleasure to promote. It
had been asked, what are these trifles which were
bestowed upon the agricultural labourer.. They were
to their labourers whilst the Victoria cross was t the
soldier • though trifling in thetnselves, they ware certifi-
cates oillionitur, and were esteemed by them with pride
and satisfaction. its was pleased to find by the prize.
list which he held in hi, hand that this year no less than
104 labourers anti servants had received prize• from that
association, teat of 207 candidates. He thought this
was a very great thing—that so large a number
were deemed worthy to be placed in competition, as it
showed the kind of is &sentry they bad to deal with in
this district. As this was a tiers' cold season lie trusted
they would all do all they could to help their poorer
neighbours. (Cheers.)
The Key. Lord OSBORNE next proposed "The Arniy
and flecent events bad thews that these two
services deserved all the preine they could possibly
bestow upon them, stud however great the diffieulties
were against which they bad had to contend, they had
overcome them all. According to the existing state of
China, the only way of dealing with that country was to
come to an open war, and this being done. there was
now, lie hoped, a chance of peace. Our army had boldly
marched upon Pekin. Who would have thought two
years ago of such an event happening! He felt that
our army suit navy deserved the highest appreciation
of their valour that we could show them. In times
past much had been maid of the largeness of the French
antic, and it appeared to him that thins hail I lonic Eng-
hand • great deal of good. Now they were talking of
the iron•plated ship which Napoleon had built, but lie
did not think we need feel greatly alarmed on that score,
for, depend upon it, Etighind would not allow herself
to be left behind in the iunrch of iloprovementn, but that
we should ever have as good ships; and manned with as
brave • race an the French could send forth. (Clieent.)
At tho time they met lent year, they had just got through
what people termed a crisis. The %flair CAUSeti a great
deal of thought and perplexity, on account of the small-
ness of the English army and the vastness of that which
the French possessed ; hut events had shown that Audi
was the loyalty of the English nation that the Queen
Inch only to say that she w•rited to have an army, and a
Inst of volunteers came forvosrd, who increased in nun,
bent, mid were perfecting themselves in discipline and
drill tinily. He congratulated the Blandford corps upon
having appointed the chairman of that evening as their
captain, arid concluded by proposing the toast he had
named, coupling with it the names of Colonel Adye, as
a true representative of the British Army, and Lieut.
Johns, an the repromntative of the Rine Volunteer..
(Cheers.).

Colonel ADTE, in acknowledging the toast, said that
when he entered the army 20 vears ago he heard it
remarked that England was not -a militia nation ; but
he now founii,that not only was the nation • military one,
but that the volunteer load mihiiis cmrpii were attain-
ing great proficiency. He had no doubt that the volun-
teer movement would be of incalculable advantage to
the country, and that being soldiers themselves they
could wore fully appreciate the services of the regular
army. He could aaeure them that the soldiers, after an
engagement, looked not so much to see what the
Ga.wite sahl, not what they hoped to obtain, but what
did their friends at home think about them. We had
but a small army in China, but as John Bull had his
lied, in the China shop, he trusted that he would
kick up his heels and usake the Celestials pay smarUy
for their perfidy. Ile felt very etrorgly on this ques-
tion, SA Captain Parke was a !Amnia friend of his;
they had served together abroad, and he knew him to
be a brave and gallant man. He trusted that no peace
would be concluded with the treacherous and savage
barbarians till Lord Elgin had • sure guarantee that for
many years to cows as similar to those of which the