The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-15 00:00:00

Somersttshirt.

Y FOY IL.--TowN reovxmmers. —Tbe ancestral
homes of England ! What visions of happy memory
do they recall to the mind! Memory loves to linger
at thy hospitable portals, Yeovil, and join in mirthful
drlights with thy sousand daughters,and brotbersand
posters; to converse with thy fathers on themes of
"the olden time," or gaze on thy mothers, old and
feeble, yet fair and gentle as Madonna of Raphael.
In these days of steam and electricity we hear much
of eocial and political progress; nor are we at a km
to find illustrations how these are attained. Whether
we look it nations, or individuals, we find the
aphorism confirmed that Rome was not built in a
clay, nor Carthage annihilated by a single blow.
And as it is with nations—as it is with individuals—
,. it is with cities and towns. The picturesque town
of Yeovil, regarded from a commercial point of view,
pommies many advantages. Being surrounded by a
fertile agricultural district,and being likewise the seat
of • large manufacturing trade, it offers temptations
most inviting to those enterprising companies who
are ever ready to anticipate the requirement' of the
me. What other town of the size of Yeovil pommies
its railway accommodation? W bat better structurecan
be found in the locality than the noble edifice whom
Cothic pinnacles beautify one of the principal
apprnaChal to the town' We refer to the South.
Western and Bristol and Exeter Railway Station,
which has commanded the admiration of all beholders,
. . . .

....
at the enterprise and public spirit which twined such
• material addition to be made to the picturesque
aspect of the place. As we have already said,
Yeovil has the good fortune to combine within its
limits& manufacturing and an agricultural population;
and on all public occasions the manufacturer meets
the agriculturists—the two pillars of which support
the prosperity of the country. Agriculture has been
called the backbone of the nation, and it must be left
to some one with more ingenuity than ourselvea to
invent a fitting appellation to that mine of wealth—
the manufactures of England. With its improving
market and its growing internal trade,is it eurpriving
that Yeovil should he beged with railways? But
while we thus enlarge on railway advantages, we
would not forget the various town improvements
which have been and are being carried out in all
directions. Reckleford within the last few years
has become quite& village, and has become one of the
most thickly-populated parts of the town. It is a
healthy locality, and presents a picturesque aspect
from New Summer-house bills,whence the wander-
. . .
"

ing eye overlooks its noble terraces—thanks to our
worthy townsman, Mr. Bide. The unsightly toll.
home on the Newton.road has been removed, and a
. _ . .

more suitable one constructed farther from the town.
Mr. Poen has erected Noma aubstantial and genteel

•
residences opposite the new station, which are an
ornament to the locality. Mr. Ridout, • person
possessing good speculative qualities, has also adorned
the entrance to the station with some neat buildings.
In Middle-street they have gradually been improved,
more especially one—Mr. Curtis's—which from it,
dilapidated stucco on the outside has often sugge-,,,,,i
to us ;crave doubts as to the tenantable stab-. et the
tonsorial dwelling. Mr. Belben has ope..etet
sive furniture show-rooms on the r • tetei„
occupied by Mr. Styles, ooach-br• , whilst th'e
latter gentleman has erected s. eesanient place for
carrying on his business. „wet. to the railway
station. Emerging Middle-street into the
bm"lsh. the i'...etreelt with the handsome front.
lil","! Mr. .t, rill Asses shop, which equals many esta-
l'am. "it' in our larger towns; whilst Mr. Maggie
Prennrai add to the attractions of the borough
e"...rance,liaving being altered to a tasty design. The
old structure adjoining Moors. Hannam and Gillett's, I
where it is said the first sheet of the Western Flying
.Pciet was printed 126 years ago,has been annihilated,
and we anticipate seeing some good premises shortly
erected on the site. Wine-street is undergoing
important alterations, and we hope the time is not
far distant when it will be considerably widened.
One of the greatest ornaments, however, which come
under the head of "town improvements,"
is our new town clock. It has long been
needed, and the execution of the tower,
which from the Corn Exchange looks exceedingly
hiurasome, has been carried out by Mr. Chant in
fiArt-rate manner. The shops of Mr. Vincent—
"the Yeovil bazaar"—and of Mr. Singleton, in
Silver-street, likewise present a greatly improved
appeanuice, and are pretty and unique. Opposite
,these are St. John's (7hurcb, with its old grey
'tower. The church is • beautiful structure, and
accounts of it have from time to time appeared in our
columns. It is indeed • standing monument of the
. benevolence and. Christian zeal of the. parishioners.
. . . .

The churchyard, too, is being prettily altered,
though some have an idea that it will be too public
if left as it is, and have suggested the erection of
low iron railing. On this sullied, however, testae
differ; but we would strongly urge that if an iron
railing is decided on, there be no gates. Mr.
Albert Edwards, of the borough, has planed • neat
frontage to the tailoring department of his estab-
lishment, which is pretty in design, and nest in
appearance. Any one acquainted with the old-
fashioned dwelling, which formerly was part of the
office in which our paper is conducted, must re-
cognise the improvement made by Mr. Loader, by
the erection Of the present. elegant premises. Such
. .

is a summary of or graduartownr improvements,
1111.1 we could till a column were we to dilate on
every alteration now being made. On our cemetery,
almshouse, and new schoolroom, we have before re-
ported, and which every observant eye must have ,
from time to time admired. But Yeovil has not
risen in a day, and progress has not come upon us
like a thunderclap. Yeovil has risen under the in-
fluence of progressive conservatism, and yet in spite
of the contradiction, it appears determined to flourish
under the auspices of free-trade. Such is Yeovil,—
a town !possessing as remarkable characteristics as
are to be found in any place in the kingdom ; and,
under the able direction of the men who conduct the
immense trade of the town, we hope it will still
continue to prosper, and
i ultimately be one of the
most thriving and populous place* n the West of

England. -
BATIL-Civic Busgorr.-We learn that on the
16th instant, the Mayor of Bath, (Jeron Murch,
Esq.,) will give at the Guildhall, in that city, a
banquet on an unusual scale of liberality and grandeur.
The invitations include, with the members for Bath
and the elite of the citizens, several of the leading
men of the county. The Lord Bishop of the diocese
is likely to be present, as are also Sir Edward
Bulwer Lytton, and other literary celebrities.
CASZ Or Szannixo.-A labourer, named John
Spencer, was on Tuesday charged before the county
magudrates at Weston, with stabbing Edward
Phipps, of Southstoke. The prosecutor was at •
beerhouse in the village on Monday night, and on
the prisoner coming in, Phipps said to him, "You
are no man to go home and ill-use your wife."
Prisoner told him to mind his own business, and on
his getting up to go pushed against him. Prose-
cutor then caught hold of him, when the prisoner
put out his hand, and Phipps felt something cut his
face on the left aide. A large quantity of blood
flowed from the wound, which, in the opinion of
Mr. Lawrence, surgeon, was not a dangerous one.
It vu an incised wound on the left temple, about
an inch and a quarter long, and going down to the
skull. The prisoner was taken into custody by P.C.
Chant, who found in his possession a knife, with
blood stains on the blade. He was committed for
trial at the assize.
THZ CHURCH-RATE 111 BATHRICIC PAILISH.-A !
public meeting of the ratepayers of the parish of
Itsthwick was held on Tuesday evening, at the
Parochial Schoolroom, for the purview of considering
the question of the pew rents at the parish church,
in connexion with the church-rate. Mr. Alderman
Hunt presided, and it appeared from the statement
of the chairman, and the explanations of the church-
wardens, that the trustees were bound by the Act
of Parliament, under which they were appointed,
to appropriate the pew renta for the re-purchase of
the pews sold at the time of the building of the
church. Mr. Deck, against whom legal proceedings
have been instituted for the recovery of the rate,
expressed himself satisfied, believing that be and
others had been acting under • misapprehension ;
and he likewise offered to pay the rate.
Terrelogial..-On Tuesday, the Rey. E. Wynne,
who has just retired from the curacy of Walcot
church to enter on the ministry of Percy Chapel,
Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-equate, London, was pre-
sented by his late congregation with • purse con-
taining 100 mvereigns ; also, a silver egg stand,
-with salt and pepper castor, from the inhabitants
of Hat and Feather-yard; • glass sugar case, mounted
in silver, from Hooper's-court, with • ladle from
Trinity-square -three of the poorest places in the
pariah; a dozen table and dessert spoons, in
mahogany clam, from the teachers and scholars of
Waloot Sunday schools; besides • handsome time-
piece, which acoompanied the 100 sovereigns.
TEMPLE CLOUD.-Pnrry ficssioN.-(Bisfore
W. Savage Wait and W. B. Naish,Faqrs.)
Parsons, of the George Inn, Nettlebeidge, in the
parish of Midsomer Norton,was fined £l, and U. 6d.
oasts, for keeping open his inn at unlawful hours.
A second offence was also proved against him, for
which he was fined ISA. 6d., and 7s. costs. —Henry
Hill, of Chew Magna, was fined el, and £1 costs,
for an assault on John Doveld—Thomas Field was
fined fie., ad Se. 6d. costs, for drunkennsezat West
Harptree.—Thonise Simmons and A brahant
Gregory, of Midsomer Norton, were committed fer
three months for violent and riotous conduct.—
James Lewis, a noisy drunkard, of High Littleton.
was fined (ts., and 5.. gd. costa, or seven days'
imprisonment —James Parfitt, another of the
noisy drunken fraternity of High Littleton,for • like
offices, was fined 54., and Si. fed °Ms.—James
Edwards, 'hookas r, of Farenborough, Demented to
an order in beatardy being made upon him of 2e. &-
week, and wets, as the putative hither of the
child of Betsy Love. -Mark Lane was also
ordered to pay 2a. a-week tower& the maintenance
of the illegitimate child of Ann Fawksa -t3arsh
Danford, otherwise Hale, a ocovicted thief, was
committed for six weeks, for stealing three brushes,
the property of John Kelly, at Compton Martin.
---The miss of Dung against King, for unlawfully
taking • large quantity of timber from a wood at
Compton Martin, was adjourned by consent el the
solicitors. For the complainant, Mr. Bertram, of
Bath; and Mr. Mogg, Temple Cloud, for the dam.
dank

EIREPTON lIALLET.—PrrrT Bnazoss.—(lidore
P. Clerk, Foq., and Captain Ernst.)—Joseph Treasure,
who did not appear, Was sunimoned by George Naisb, a
blacksmith, of West Pennant, for taking away a dog
from him, and unlawfully detaining it. It appeared
that on the 26th ult., as defendant was returning
from the coal pit with a load of cools, he met the crow
plainant at Downside, who claimed a dog belonging to
him, and used force to get it from him. He took the
dog away with him, but had since returned it. —Fined
2.. 6d. and costa. —The defendant was then charged
with assaulting the complainant in obtaining the dog,
for which be was fined !is. and costa—William Ifeale,
contractor and repairer ,1 the rood between Wells and
Shepton, node the Wells Tornpike Trust, summoned
Mr. Jonas Rau, of Conmonibe, for riding on his horse
on the public causeway, at Darshill, after being told not
to do an, on Friday morning, the 27th ult.—Fined Is.
and costa—Mr. Rugg then brought a charge against
Heals of threatening to assault him at the time he re-
quested him not to nde on the public footpath.—Defen-
dant amid he only put up the rake with which he was work-
ing to show the complainant he ;as not to ride there,and
did not offer to strike hi ni. —The Bench inflicted • fine of
641. and costa—Mr. John Gans was charged by Mr.
Solomon Child, both of Croacombe, with riding in a
cart, without reins, in Church-street, at that place, at
seven o'clock in the morning of the 26th ult.—Defen-
dant denied the charge, saying he was hauling manure
In. different direction the whole of tto day, and was
not near the place.—The case was dismisses:L-Iw°
Moody was charged by F.lixs Cory, servant to Mrs.
Sewn, of Wetherell, with indecently assaulting her on
the evening of the 26th ult., when she wax no the road
at Boxbueh.—He was fined LI and mate, or SU weeks'
Imprisonment,
A PPOINTIIIIIT or Rszarvixo °pmts.—At the
meeting of the beard of guardians on Tuesday, Mr.
Edmund Leversedge, of Taunton, and formerly of
Nunes', was elected relieving officer and registrar of
births and deaths for the Evercreeeh or No. 2 district
_ . _

of the fihepton Mallet onion, vacant by the death of
hfr. Briae. There vrerel3 candidates. _

HOLIDAY.—The principal tradesmen of
this town have agreed to close their shops the day after
Christmsa-day. which will thee give their employ&
three days with their friends.
A GOOD EIAMPLIC—CorporaI Gina has generously
given a silver cup to be shot for by the members of the
15th Somerset Rade Corps, con toicai of respect for his
brother volunteers: The contest will
_corns off on
. .

Tuesday, the 22nd inst., at the butte, at Mo:dip.--lics
Is an example worthy to be followed by other non-com-
mix/tinned officers.

WESTON-SUPER-MARE.—Comerr Court —lle
)—The - I
fore C. Saunders, req., Judge. )—e County Court
at
on Thursday. There were between 90 and 40 be.
plaints on the list, and some hell-dozen
.Inono,s
after judement.—Many of the eases were andefended,
and of little interest. The following
were
important :—Brock e. Hodges.—D.:,'„u:ritutil" om:rt:
recover Eli 13s. Id., alleeed to
oettnextth
ra wptrikntdiffo,nee
builder and oontractor•-. -of
in the erection of • hce..., tor defendant, a railway
Porter. of ITegt4".. er_A-4dare.-11r. Clifton was for
Olin", Mr. T. ‘..ettiih for defendant. The question
turned on wbifetter the building, • water-closet and
cietelde the balsa, was extra to the original
"ultra'', en which number of witnesses were examined
(.11 ...Ott sides ; tod also whether • receipt given by
'entintiffes clerk, in full of all demands, was intended to
tipply to the whole of the works, or only to the con.
tvett, leaving out the extras—His Honor gave a
verdict for the defendant.—Twitt r. Stabbins.—ln this
action plaintiff, the administratrix to the estate of
Alfred Stebbins, sought to recover the sum of Ell Is.
from Patience Stebbins, the sister of Alfred Stebbins.
—Mr. Bailey, instructed by Mr. Ralph Chapman.
appeared for the plaintiff; the defendant conducted
her own ore The claim was for £4, balance of Aix:cunt
on the sale of two heifers, and £7 Is. for keep of some
sheep. The defendant pleaded that she had paid all
she owed to her brother Alfred during his lifetime, and
called her brother Samuel, who had witnessed the pay-
ment, but she had no receipt as between her and her
late brother. They had not thought it requisite to
have such receipt. The plaintiff had no evidence to
rebut this testimony, and • verdict was given for the
defendant, . . . .

LeICAL Ugrog. —The concert to be given by this
society this week promises to be well and fashionably
attended. Nearly all the tickets are taken, and re-
ferring to the plan of the room we find the names of
the leading families of the town and neighbourhood.
The programme is well chosen, and we anticipate an
evening's entertainment of the most delightful charac-
ter. The concert_ is to commence at seven o'clock,

owing to the length of the programme.
WELLS. CHRISTMAN HOLIDAY/A—The principal
tradesmen of this city have given notice of dosing their
several establishments on the Monday and Tuesday
following Christmas-day, to give their assistants and
others in their employ an opportunity of visiting their
homes and friends at that festive season of the year.
10tH (Wsu SON [RSV VOLUNTIZIR An
Adjutants parade was held on Monday, when about
30 members were present, and, owing to the weather
being unfavourable, were only put through the manual
and platoon exercise. The captain expressed • wish
that the members, now that them was only one drill in
a-month, would attend better, which we hope will be
well responded to on the 4th January, 1864, the first
drill in the new year.
COUNTY Pouts Orrice, Monday, December 7.
(Before J. C. Somerville, Esq., Captain Giles, and
E. H. Clerk, Emil—William George Chappell Coate,
of the Railway Inn, Meare, was summoned by
Mary Gifford for assaulting her. There being also
• cross summons, Mary Difford and William Difford,
her husband, being summoned by Coate for assaulting
him, the magistrates decided on hearing both cams
before giving their decision. From the evidence of the
woman it appeared that she went to the Railway Inn
for her husband, and that when outride the house
Coate pushed her &rebut the wall. This was admitted
by him, but he alleged that be did not do it until the
woman had pulled his hair, which was the charge pre-
ferred by him against her. Coate was fined Is., and
costs 135., the other sue being dismissed.—John Court
was summoned by George Higgs, for stealing some of
his potatoes. Complainant has so allotment of land
somewhere near Wedmore, from which he had dug his
crop of potatoes, putting the same in • heap, and cover-
ing them with haulm. The defendant was observed by
a witness named Elisha Willis, to come to the heap of
potatoes, lift the haulm, and fill his two pockets with
potatoes therefrom. The evidence of the complainant and
his witness being conflicting as to the time the potatoes
weremissed, and the time of their being stolen,the Bench
gave the defendant the benefit of it, and dismissed him,
at the same time telling him he had had • narrow
escape, and cautioned him as to hie future conduct.—
John Adlam, a young farmer, of Wookey, for whom
P. H. 0. Reed, Esq., appeared, was summoned by
Mary Davis, to show muse why he should not contribute
to the maintenance of her illegitimate child, of which
he was the putative father. The girl having been
asked if she had any evident*, and replied in the
negative, tbe Bench dismissed the came.
INQUENT.—A LOCAL CELERRITT.—An inquest WM
held at the Swan Inn, Dinder, before BllnfOn Fry, Req.,
coroner, on the body of George Baker, aged 63 years.
The evidence given allowed that some six months agm
deceased fell into the Pelee, most. in this city, and
afterwards walked to his home, at finder, distant about
two mile*, in his wet clothes, which brought on an
attack of illness, and for a period of four months he was
attended by Dr. Purnell, but during the last two
months he had been without medical attendance. On
Saturday night, the sth inst., after having had •glass or
two of beer, at the Swan Inn, he returned to his
lodgings, and went to bed, complaining and
saying he should die, and at two o'clock
on Sunday morning he expired. The jury
returned a verdict of "Died from natural causes."
The deceased will be better remembered by our readers
by the eoubriquer of "Blind George," and was well-
known for his ability in going to the different shop. in
this city without assistance. It is said that one night
he acted as guide to a person who wanted to go to
Bristol, who found to his astonishment on his arrival
there that his guide was blind.
WRINGTON. —ESTR•ORDINA RN GLIM —.Deming
the past week, not a hundred miles from Wrington,
two or three wicked shoemakers having got possession
of the head and neck of a fine oock pheasant,
manufactured a plump and well-porportioned body,
and having attached it, Owed it in a bag, leaving
the head and neck protruding from the mouth of the
beg. One of the party then posted off to the shop of a
dainty-loving tradesman, cautiously exhibited the
head of the bird, and, with a knowing wink, offered
it as " a bargain" for 2s. The tradesman knowing
the man to be "a game 'on." and not expecting
"gammon," tipped over the coins, and quickly popped
the dainty prize out of the reach of prying eyes,
beneath the counter. The shoemaker, money in
hand, hastened off to his companions to tell of his
succor, and drink the health of the purchaser.
Singular to relate, about two hours afterwards, the
tradesman's wife sent for the wife of the man who
had sold the bird to come and pick it, when to their
utter consternation and dismay they found nothing
but old rags, shreds of leather, kri.
BSIDOWAT ER. —Cou wry Colter. —A sitting of this
Court was held on Friday, before C. Saunders, Esq.,
judge, when there were about 100 new plaints entered
for hearing, and • few adjourned came and after judg-
ment summonses. The Court which was appointed for
nine, did not sit till nearly ten, and the whole of the
business was disposed of by half-past eleven. There
was not • single case of public interact.
CHURCH Or ENGLAND YOUNG Mice SOCIRTT.—The
warm of lectures in connection with the above institu-
tion was concluded, on Tuesday, by • second one from
the Rev. T. C. Edwards, of Catcott. The title of the
lecture was "The Language and Literature of Wales."
The rev, gentleman was listened to throughout with
evidently the greatest interest, and was loudly sp.
plauded during the time he was speaking, and at tb•
close a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded,
and a hope was expressed that Mr. Edwards would
again render his services.
DR. MORGAN'S SCHOOL—The annual examination at
this school took place on Friday afternoon. We learnt
that them were nine youths to compete for free
scholarship, but that the decision would not be yet
finally pronounced.
A mormut EP/STIJL—We quoted, under the head of
"The Schoolmaster Wanted," last week, the concluding
words of • letter written by a respectable farmer,
residing at not a very great distance from our town.
This week we have written thus —"I: reply to your
Letter I thought to min in to-day but us are very tiny
wheataowin at preseente I will be in in • few days and
settel with you but the bull is quits different from our
greement but it wont make I shall be in in • short
I time. I your, du"
lama I