The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-11 00:00:00

MAIDEN NEWTON.

EnmitraittuVirg.—On Monday, Tuesday and II ednevilaY
evenings, a series of entertainiuenta were given at the
schoolroom here, to crowded audiences.

OATTISTOCK.

NEW YzAa's Day AT POLTIMORE. —On Saturday night
Lord and Lady Poltsinore had a select party to dinner,
and afterwards entertained them to some charade per-
formances, an which the noble Host and his Lay were
the principal actors, supported by the lion. Copplestone
Rampfylde, the Hon. bliss Ramfylde, and Miss Mollie.
E. A. Guest, Esq., being a great guest at the mansion,
gave between the various piece. some very humorous
readings and sang comic songs, to the great amusement of
the Company. The whole thing ass done very capitally,
and the noble Lord and Lady, with their usually kind
consideration tot their poorer neighbours, invited them Ifi
sufficient nurnbors to fill up the drawing-room where lh.
performance was held. About one hundred were present,
and all were entertained to supper before leaving. E*'eq
one was highly gratified, and hearty hopes were ecprease
that every good blessing would rest upon the heads an
family of this noble and ancient house which has ea.i.
in this plane nearly MO years—and as Prince the historian
suYks 'God grant it may long continue."

WOOL.
Ox Friday last • very interesting lecture on " Past and
Present Artic Exploration" iess delivered in Wool school.
room by the Rev. E. D. Trotman, Rector of Langton
Matravers, in aid of the funds for rebuilding UMWIe
church. The attendance was very good indeed, considers
ing the inclemency of the weather. The rev. lecturer
began by showing the advisability of reaching the North
Pole, how er-ientific research and Natural History would
be benefited by it, and above all, how God's hingd.ua
would be extended, so that the earth 'night be full l the
knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea. Mr.
Trotinan believed England VMS a chosen instrument in
God's hand for spreading Ills Kingdom, and that it was
by His will this expedition had now been sent out. The
lecturer gave an account of Arctic research from the
middle of the sixteenth ceatury, showing how the British
and Dutch had both endeavoured to find a way W
India by means of the north east passage. The Russians
had made many attempts to roach the Pole from the west
of Siberia with dog sledges, but had always been un-
successful owing to the hummocky ice. Our efforts up to
the present time had been devoted more to discoeel
of land in these regions rather than finding the Pole
With the exception of one little island discovered by iii,
the Germans. Austrians, and Americans had approached
nearer the Pole than we had, though now there was every
reason to believe that we should be the first to reach the
Pole. The lecturer gave many very interesting sketches
of Esquimaux life, which created much amusement. The
description of the Espuimaux mode of courting, ant the
way in which the women would sell their babes for a
common needle was very amusing. A sealskin dress. al
supplied to the crews of the Albert and Discover,' wee
exhibited, and created much interest Mr. Trotnisn
illustrated his lecture by views of the Polar iegion,
Esquituaux life, awl also by some splenditl diss4ent4
views which included portraits of the ships, otli.ers and
crew, ac., of Die expedition. Mr. Arthur 'Doles, in the
unavoidable absence of the vicar moved • very hearty you
of thanks to Mr. Trotinan for his lecture, remarkinz how
interesting and instructive it was, and that we owed a
great debt of gratitude to Mr. Disraeli and the (*.lwo."'
tire Government for equipping the expedition. This WM
heartily endorsed by the audience, and the ineeting was
concluded by all joining in the National Anthem. The
Wool choir sang several patriotic glees, the audience
joining heartily in the cho.rua of each one. Amongst the
glees were " Ilearta of °air, "Rule Britannia" "t 1
bless the Prince of Wales. The meeting broke up about
10 o'clock, every one feeling that they had spent a mod
pleasant and agreeable evening.

WABAH.AX.
0:1 Monday evening last a public tea wea given le all
the aged people above 60 in Wareham, by 111 r. and Mn.
Crocker. The tea, which was laid out in the tastefully
decorated schoolroom of the Wesleyan chapel.
attended by nearly 200 persons, who enjoyed riSht
heartily_ the good cheer so liberally provided for thew
The tables being cleared a public meeting was held. Pre'
aided over by Mr. Crocker, when addresses were delivered
'
by the Revs. H. Scares (Wesleyan), W. DensMau flo,A'
pendent), and Messrs. Croaker and Famed/. Afterward'
a card with a suitable motto was presented to each eel°ee'...
as a memorial of the meeting. Great POMO due W
and Mn, Crocker for their measonable benevolence.

FIRE AT TIIR GOODS STATION.
The goods stntion of the South Western RailwaY be"
was completely gutted on Saturday evening last lii V,
erection partly of wood and partly of stone and upon tne
employes leaving work on that evening, it was OW.
ently all safe. Between eight and nine however. • Pease'
by noticed a light, and upon examination discov
. ered till
to be in dames. lie at once gave an alarm and the
vrn engine—s piece of mechanism about as effective ss s
garden engine—and a large number of townspeoPle Cs"
quickly engaged in endeavouring to quell the amid,-
aorta were ineffectual, and the piece was burnt out in
shouts
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