The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-11-07 00:00:00

The choir sang " Rosen° the Perishing." Sankey's 37th,
and a collection was made at the close.

THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
The effect of the Ballot Act has been unusually
manifest this year in quieting down the feeling that
tradition attaches to elections. Scarcely any interest
could be got up, or at lead got up to the point of
manifesting itself early in the day, and the workmen's
hour passed off with extraordinary quietude. Not to
anticipate too far, we will proceed in regular order to
sa ;hat there were three polling districts, answering
fu the purpose of giving the voters every facility' for
voting, without having far to gm. At the Weymouth
Old Town-hall, the contest for the Weymouth Ward
was being earned on by the former members. Messrs.
Devenish and Ayles, whose bills wore freely posted
about the ward, urging the bur4esses to "Poll early
for Devenish and Ayles." Mr. Lovell's bills in the
Liberal colours, blue and white, called on those whom
' it might conoern to "Vote b.r Lovell," and the new
candidates' agents were busy stirring up the wariL 8o
pleased were they with their success that so early as
10 o'clock, an eminent leader of the Liberabi expressed
himself satisfied that "If we go on as we have begin,
we shall beat them hollow." The candidate himself,
as became one appealing to the people, wee also to be
seen on the piece of ground outside the old Town-hall,

a
knocking down the complainant —Fined sa. and costs.— I ready to answer the voters, or to direct his agents.
Prisoner promised to send the money, as soon as he got Intide that retie of past years eat the Ward Alderman,
on board the ship Basemen. This was permitted. I Mr. J. Ayling, assisted by Mr. F. W. Ayling, and Mr.
Cousrrr Psi= Sissions.—Tuesday afternoon: Before Craw, jun., policemen guarded the narrow entrance,
Mr. It. C. Goodden and Colonel Stewart. and youths checking off the burgesses as they voted,
DAMAGING RIME STAGING. remained outside.
George Cornish, • hobbledehoy lad, was charged with Agoodly assembly of the talking politicam: of the
damaging a rifle stage belonging to the sth D.R.V., to the
value of £3.—Mr. Hooper appeared for the corps, anward had assembled around ; but the real workers wered
Lieut. Commandant Gum, and Mr. C. F. Arden were out visiting streets and courts, and bring up the free
present —Mr. Hooper said the corps property had and independent to the pea Mr. T. S. Wallis's
suffered for a long time put, from malicious damage, but qualities shone brightly in this limo; may we nay quite
they never could succeed before in bringing the parties to as much as in the Town Council? So successful were
Justice. He was now shk Fr"" the man" a the the labourers in this part of the borough that by the
damage, and he hoped the wench would inflict • substantial conclusion of the worbnen's hour, very nearly 300 had
penalty because the young man wee in such a position that
ei, and at this time there was a very general feel-
he would not care for a small fine.—Sergeant Thomas
rnllg that the new candidate had an excellent chance of
Bitch, of the Dorset County Constabulary at Radipole,
said on the With he was on duty near the Back-water about success. We were glad of one sign that the contest
half-past 11, and saw a person in the Rifle stand. It was being properly conducted, a voter watching it from
turned out to be George Cornish. Hewes trying to jump, a short distance declared that it was very dry work;
and endeavouring to catch hold of the bar across, and to hadn't a drop to drink all day. Somebody else thought
knock it up. lie afterward, had a stick, and tried to thew wasn't much chance for ales of any kind; but to
strike the centre piece. A large piece of wood was pro- tell the political chaff of the ward would be generally,
duced, with which the witneu said defendant beat the G
up-
right till it fell. He also went on the top of the stage, by to "chronicle small_ e
liege. beer"
.. _
uildhall _
was the polling
the ladder, to pull another piece dose, and he worked hard The Melcoinb
331 loosened it, pushed • portion down, and then beat the Place for those in the centre of the borough. Here
other portion with • stick, and toweled the other down; I were Mr. Ward, Alderman Nlilledge, Mr. Gale, Mr.
next he beat scone bars down below, and afterwards threw ifopkins, jun., and Mr. Taylor, Local Board-rate col
U.,. ladder down. Ile was working hard, not merely at lector. Proceedings at this polling place were decidedly
amusement Witness watched him three quarters of an dull, Mr. Webb was often seen outside, with Mr.
hour, and called the attention of Mr. Thompson, _and G Bloc°. Mr. l'arsons, and others, while Mr. J.
others, and sent P.C. Roper round to meet him. When '
Bolls. jun:Mr. 'tennis were hard at work. Facing
I taken, prisouer sail he was very sorry; but he did it to
prevent other people losing their live.. —A large quantity the Hall almost, was Mr. Seainan'a emunittce rwm,
of timber was produced in C eirt, and witnewe estimated and carriage.. bearing Mr. Seaman'e name were driven
the &mese.- at ; the whole place wu a wreck. —Prisoner briskly about all day. Mr. Coulle ncir Dennis being
'aid that a good miser threesbrought here to condemn him prominent in this work. Only about '230 had polled by
had been broken off before.—Sergt. Hitch sail he saw one o'clock.
prieoner breek off seven pieces, awl throw thein over the For liatlipule the palling phew wad St John'd
hedge towards the beach.—Lieut Guistoatelant R
`""•*""michard . ' • " Mr. it.
Will., 5.1 i 11. ii. V. said the hiatus and shaging on ""h• l'r"e'e
chaile's bake e ere the property of the corp., and in hie assisted hy Jr. S. S. Milleelge, and Mr. Arthur. hero
p esessi.m fur the time being. Us to reeently, thia pre- they considered about 160 vete, by one o'clock were
gent ye tr, the sth Dorset had beea in the 10.1.1; if shooting were very steady te Aline, and here again everything
from this stage. Dad seek the remainder of the atage was voted very dull, no chalice of a row. Mr. Seaman
since it was pulled to pieces. Saw it within the last two and Mr. TI no, were seen in this neighbourhood
months before:, when it waa of 111.0 for all practical per- „cm,donuitly but the only excitement the temple
pees, fur shooting. and now it was pulled to piares. Every about here had was the report that there had been a
part of the butts and staging had lawn shamefully
damage', and the sergeant had been left over tore fur i tercet fight in the Weymouth Ward.
days, to detect people ; but they left one of their murder ! WEDNESDAY ArITSZMON.
OH the wo et the hill to watch, and he gave notice to those I Speculation was of course rife it.. to the chancel of
below, who were grubbing for bullets.—Prisoner. had the various candidate.. ; but for the Nlelconibe Ward
nothing to say. —Sept. Ratty said priaoner bad been con- moat, people moue! either 'arr. Thome,. or Mr. Seaman
victod before of stealing boots and fisted under the for the top of the poll, with, of cemrse, the gecond place
Juvenile Offenders Act, tic yers ago.—Mr. Hooper halm ,
to the other. l'he past anemia? of Mr. l'hoinas,
application to make with regard to the costs: they were
rather heavy, as a win had to be left there, lest the wood general eupport of and by the Conservative party, and
should be washed away by the tide.—Prieoner contradicted his independent sp o eeches n the other hand, made him
this. —Mr. Item& applied for costs In this case, and for the " favourite at first ; but the spirited and
his aelvocate'm fee, as this was a malicious affair.—The thorough-going energy shown by Mr. Seaman and his
Chairman tined the prisoner 104., the costa £1 10.. ad- backers, somewhat ales& the speculatons on Mr.
vocates. fee, is.. and £3 damage. —Mr. Wycherley *aid
Thomas am the day tamed on, and in many quarters
the boy's parents were hard-working indestrious people.—
which mi.. I Mr. Seaman MIS teamed for the top of the toll.
The tend amouutel to/ £5 12s.said
niust he paid at once.- Defendant's father paid. Between the other three it was thought there was not
lasseso„,ll. /ft& . brought up I,y P.C. George t much to chewie as to their chances, a bill issued by 2.1 r.
Miller, for vagrancy.— Lut night at half-put 12, witness I Eliot, contradicting a rumour that he was about to
received complaints from Mr. Hodder, Portland, and found retire, being looked upon as a sign of weakness. It
the prisoner under some steps covered up with empty I was, however' thought impossible that his friends and
sacka. lie load a short pipe and iota-ewe on him, hut ho , party could drop him for Mr. liowe. As time passed
matches. Prisoner luvel lodged at Cutletown, Portland ; n a rumour got about that Mr. Webb had been left
but he did not pay for his lodging. awl they turned him '
by some of the Liberals, on account of some offence
out.—The man was 3 native of Swatiago, and had been
fishing in the sumuier.—lnsunseed, on promising to gets which they had taken, and thereis little doubt that some
proper home of his own, of them devoted themselves moreiheartily to Mr. Seaman
than to Mr. Webb, who stem el at a great disadvantage in
t the St. John's district, where Mr. Eliot and friends
were very strong among the Churchmen and Church-
women, and were Mr. Eliot had also bid very plainly
for the " Park " votes. Some of Mr. Webb s friends,
however, tuck the work up briskly, sail it was believed
that he had received a gw.d many plumper's, and atthe
close of the poll, confidence in his return had much in-
creased. As far as we could gather the twos populi,
about four o'clock the guess was :—Mr. Seaman,
Mr. Thomas, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Rowe.
Public opinion as to the first and also as to the last
man, being swayed by that "wish which is father to
the thought." At four precisely two or three voters
were actually rushing up the Guildhall steps, and as
they reached the door before the clock had finished
striking they were not sent out,. but whether they
voted was not known outside. The number of votes
pulled fat the Guildhall was 401. About twenty-five
minutes past four the St. John's ballot Papers were
driven down in a fly, guarded by Mr. B. Hopkins,
Mr. S. S. Milledge, and the police. The number
polled there had been lel. At seven o'clock the
counting was to commence, so that the result would
not he known probably much before nine at night.
The contest in the Weymouth Ward went on more
briskly toward the close, and at four o'clock 474 votes
had been polled. The supporters of Mr. Lovell were
confident that he had been successful by a largo
/ majority of plumper'., and the aatounding theory wait
breached that Mr. Devenish hail been defeated. 'f 1,10,
however, was deemed Dimwit impoesble by those who
know how much labour Mr. ',Weenie& empheya, and
how large is his property an.l influence in tiio Ward.
The \Vertu:nth ballot papers arrived with Mr.
Ayling and Mr. Cned inunediatelz after the papew
from St. John's, at Melcombe Resps Guildhall. The
°punting was to. commence at five, and the result was
expected by seven.
The steal crowd nearly dispersed after the arrival
of the ballot boxed.
Shortly after seven, the numbers lin the Weymouth
side were declared. They were as follows :
Mr. Lovell . 278
Mr. lOevenish
Mr. Ayles . 203
Several interesting incidents transpired as to the
contest in this ward. At the very commencement
Mr. Wallis.s son, who was agent for Mr. Lovell, was
desired to sit elsewhere than at the table in the elel
Town Hall, where gat the Ward Alderman. On this
Mr. T. S. Wallis, with all that spirit lie pessesses,
attacked with his tongue the person who rein...del his
Non to, wove, nail demanded tlcit he should he allowed
Li, remain, and in this, we believe, he was seem...del.
At another time 3 ;ICii, 1' ill Call V L 11.11111.4 Lf.lt
into a dispute with a well-known Liberal, whew name
bus "Raw beam jproinineeit. l'ime was precieica, 311111
3ettled OW dispute pro km. by
movilsg of the debate.', Mr. Lovell
had U.S "
This waS first vietory fir the Liberals, and they did
not h.rget to cheer. Ilat 31r. leivell should have
achieve' xi. decided n nieces.. ov ea the Conservatives
as to be 35 over Mr. Devenish an.l 75 eves Mr. Ayles
showed lene elangerema it is to neglect any means
of setting the candidate before the burgesses.
'the declaration for the Nfeleembe Begin Ward did
not take place till after nine o'clock. The numbers
, were

•
Mr. Seaman .460
Mr. Webb , . . 413
Mr. Thomas . . .. 331
Mr. Rowe
The result centaine4 one great surprise to speen-
, latora. That Mr. tlichli should have taken a place
which public opinion regarded :14 the lowest Mr.
Thomas would -1,,01d showed that relying on FLA
Li a very ilangetous thing, and that work, real
canvassing, and the efforts a friends are, after all,
worth the trouble. The threats ag..iinet Mr. Webb
could not have been carried out, mid the suspiciout
entertained at one pelt of the day, that his party tutu
ieit hint to throw all their etrength on Mr. Seanuya,
must Late been set at KO. However brought al.ont
the state 01 ilia poll would seem to show a eon.iders,de
Liberal reaction hi ls.th wardl from the state of thing,
' three years ago when thy Conservatives were credited
with an attempt to drive oveyy Liberal from the
Council Chamber. and when all the veeent seat. 01
the year were filled by Conservatives. The nun.heni
of ;dumpers were :—For Mr. Seaman, 51; Mr. Webb,
45: Mr. Eliot, 18; Mr. Thomas, 3; Mr. Howe, 12.
Molar& Seaman and Webb had 135 coupled votes:
meysrs. Eliot, Thomas, and Howe, 12;. After the
declaration Mr. It. ilukell addressed a few words to
the crowd from the windows of Mr. Seaman's com-
mittee-room, congratulating them on the result of the
election, and exhorting them now quietly to go to their
homes.