The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-09-09 00:00:00

WAD'S FROM THE ROCK.

It is most important that • pure supply of drinking
water should at all times be available, and the agitation
respecting the cistern at Fortune's Well Is not without
foundation. In partaking of a cooling draught, it
th makes one feel uncomfortable at the thought of whet
germs of disease we may be swallowing down. The
complained of could be easily remedied. Some
time ago when a complaint was made, it was found
that the fountain was tainted by a cesspool draining
into it ; after it was remedied, an official of the Local
Sanitary Board reported on the supply of water,
stating what was neotasary to be done to keep the
supply pure. That report came before the Board and
WM tabled, and by that act they brought upon them.
selves a deep responsibility. Had the recommendations
of their officer been adopted, all complaint would
doubtless have been prevented; but as it is now, it
must assuredly result in an enquiry by the higher
powers, and in that event those reports now lying snug
amongst the archives of the Board will have to be
forthcoming. "Prevention is better than cure." Give
us pure water, and with our pure bracing air, we shall
have a healthy population and a low death-rate.

The duties of the street watering contractor have
been light this season on account of the rainy weather;
but there have been a few dusty days, and we think
that as the committee had a good neat-egg from the
general rate, they might have instructed their
contractor to extend his perambulations, for there are
other dusty thoroughfares "under hill" besides
Fortune's-well. We anticipate a larger available
balance to carry forward to next year.

" It is an ill wind that blows no one any good." The
fleet of yachts that sought the shelter of our roadstead,
apart from its being • pretty eight., brought • lot of
visitors to the town and large demands in the
victualling line, which our tradeemen were well able
to supply.

The strong gales and heavy seam which we have
experienced of late, added to the wreckage washed
ashore (amongst which were several carcases of oxen)
made us almost think that we had been somehow
transported into the month ,d November. Clad in
winter garb, the visiliors to the seaside have climbed
our pebble ridge, defied the buffeting of the
unfavourable elements, gambolled on the beach, and
whilst soaked with the briny element have tried to
think that they were enjoying • summer holiday near
the calm blue sea.

We are pleased to find that, in spite of all the advents
circtuudances, this year's horticultural show hen been
Ito good. Owing to the continued minx, and disease.
it was feared the chow would be a poor one, but persons
able to judge give it an their opinion that a better chow
has never been held on the Rock.

A person named Scarnpton, who was recently a
convict at Portland, but who has received the Queen's;
pardon, has been giving his experience of prison life,
through the columns of the prem. It appears he made
a start at Pentonville, where the close confinement
WIN not to his taste, he was removed thence to Brixton,
and here he seems to have been in a somewhat more
congenial atmosphere, the officers treating him with
some consideration, and as man with man. After •
brief stay at Brixton he was removed to the seaside,
and at Portland he appears to have received, according
to his account, anything but kindness from the official..,
the Governor personally coming beneath his ban of
displeasure. Whether the charges be makes are true
or (alas, we are not in • position to say but with
sixteen hundred prisoners it is utterly impossible for
the Governor to individualiae the Innocent from the
guilty, in his dealings with these men of every grade
of society and crime, and every disposition of tempera-
ment : he can alone be guider( by the standing rules,
although there are circumstances; doubtless under
which he might show some fellow.feeling, and yet not
lower the position which he holds.

A contemporary state. that the Hornsey murderess,
who hes been reprieved, is to be sent to Portland. If
this was true, there would be one solitary female
prisoner on the Bock. Ours Is & mak prison and she
will not travel so far south as this.

On Sunday afternoon, our town was thrown into a
ewe vonaerment, o.i.€ to picquets of the 32 L.I.
perambulating the streets. On mquiries we found they
were searching for two culprits, who, whilst the main
body were at morning service had broken into • non-
com-officer's room and carried off some Ello odd
belonging to the be:ad. Far and wide the search was
continued until the evening, when they were
apprehended in the distant village of Cpwey, and
escorted back to the Citadel, the observed of all
observers. Pending their trial by district Court-
martial, I trout their meditations will lead to good
malts.