The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

DdItCHESTEIL

THE first meeting of the season for sweepstakes
shooting in conneotion with the Dorchester Rifle
Corps took place yesterday (Monday.)
Tun noted "Liberation Society" of the Dissenters
is about to assemble its conference of delegated In
Freemason's Hall, Loudon, on the 2nd and 3rd
of May, amongst the first of the May meetings.
CIVIL tianvice. —Mr. John W. Beach, son of the
late Mr. John Beach, auctioneer, Poole, haa been
appointed to the supervisorship of the Dorchester
division, Weymouth collection.
,Sitexasraans's birthday which fell upon Sunday,
(23rd), has passed over this year much more quietly
than lash The principal demonstration was a
dinner on Saturday, at the Royal Dramatic College,
where, in acoordanoe with the will of Mr. T. P.
Cooke, the actor, the first glass of wine after the
loyal toasts was drained "to the memory of the
immortal bard."

THE advocates of temperance in this town appear
determined to promote their cause with energy;
following up their meeting at which the Rev.
William bungs ipresided last week, they have now
announced no less than two great public meeting.ii in
Dorchester on behalf of the Permissive Bill,at which
some of their beet platform speakers are to be present
—the Rev. Dr. Gale, (1 H. Raper, Esq.. the parlia-
mentary agent of the Allillece, and Mr. Fothergill of
Bonthampton. The Rev. Henry Motile vicar of
Fordington, will on each occasion take the chair.
See adverii.yeifient. . . _

DORSET MILITIA.—the men who have joined
this force sinoe the last training assembled on the
24th instant in this town. About 40 recruits in all
were expected. They were ordered to present
themselves at nine a.m., but several hours after, not
half the number had arrived. These formed a
motley shambling crew; but, doubtless, when they
have been pot into uniform, and have prectised the
"goose step" for a week, they will not unfavourably
compare in appearance with those of their comrades
who have served for a longer period, and with whom
they will make acquaintance on the let of May.
Tux ARCILADOLOOICAL lawriermrx will assemble
in this town on Tuesday, July 25th, and remain a
week. At the meeting of the local committee last
Wednesday no business of public importance was
transacted, the Rev. Mr. I'enables—who was ex-
pected—being unable to attend.
GENERAL SIR Jonri Minium, of Dewliah, K.C.8.,
leaves England for Canada on the 20th of May, to
take the command of the forces there. He will be
aeoompanied by Colonel Earle, of the Guards, as
secretary.
ALL SAINTS Crtorit. —lt has been announced that at
All Saints Church on Siinday next, at the services,
all through, there will be a collection on behalf of
the choir. Not only the parishioners of All Saints,
het the numerous strangers to whom the choral
servicei there are an attraction, will no doubt show
their appreciation of the choir matter's, Mr. Joseph
Robinson's, indefatigable assiduity in maintaining
the efficiency of this aurpliced choir. Mr. Robinson,
we may remind our readers is also training master
for this district to the Diocesan Choral Association,
ASSAULT ON THE COUNTY POLlCE.—Yesterday
an Irishman who led been escorted from Blandford
to DorChester by a police constable to undergo •
period of punishment in the County Gaol, having
been aliowed to coins out of the vehicle which had
conveyed him from the country, in order to walk
up through the streets of the town, suddenly
assaulted the P.C., beating him unmercifully about
the heed with his handcuffs. Three Militia-men
and a civilian coming, however, to the aid of the
police, the violent prisoner was secured and con-
veyed to his futnre lodgings,
CONFIRMATIONS. —Tile Lord Bishop of Salisbury
will administer the leered rite of Confirmation at
the places end at the hours mentioned as
under :—Tuesday, April 2E, -Downy, at 4 p.m. ;
Wednesday, April 26, Radipole, Rt. John's, at 11
a.m. ; Osmington, at 3 30 p.m.; Tharriday, April
27, Melcorube Regis, St. Mary, at 11 a.m. ; Wey-
mouth, Trinity Church,, at 3 pin. . • Friday, April
28, Dorchester, Holy Trinity, at 11 am.; Stafford
West, at
,3 p.m. • Sunday, April 30, Portland, at ,
10.30. a.m. ; .P'ortfand, St. John's, at 3 p.m.
LIGHTANG OF Sr. PETER'S CHURCH. —Novelty is
the order of the day' in gas lighting ; and the grand
astonishment claimed by the crystal sunlighttof the
Strand Mimic Hall, is everywhere remand through-
out the country by our brilliant artists it
gas. The lighting of St. Peter's, Dorchestori ,
provided for by subscriptions ammigst
parishioners, aided by a .few friends Oilcloths
£5 from Lieutenant - Colonel Napier St
M.P., a from the Rev. Carr 0. Glyn, and El
from G. Wingfield Digby, Esq., of Sherborne C
has been intrusted to Mr. Singer of Frome. A b
xnona will surround each of the piers of the nave
immediately above the capitals, and from each of
these corona will stand out twelve
,fieur-de-li a ,
lights. There are also two standards in the ohatioeL
Although not yet fully completed, the first evening
service by gas-light took pleas on Sunday last, in
this fine Gothic interior, when the Rev. G. W.
Peen, the rector, officiated, and the effict siftlim
new illumination was brilliant in the extreme.' '
lighting when perfected wou:tumessarily be '
powerful, were it not that it. affords the opportimity
of subjecting it to such
modification *at a mild'
hu agreeable radiance will be diffused throughout the
crch.
ALLWED Causurai. Assarmr DT k Porscuttait.
—On Friday afternoon at the county gaol, an
inquiry took place before J. Gundry and E. Pearce,
Esqm,at themetanoe of the Chief Constable,relative
to a charge made by Mary Aim Edwards against
P.C. John Clark, belonging to the Bridport division

of the eonnty constabulary. On the night of this
12th itist., the complainant was in custody at Brid-
port police-station charged with stealing a shawl, of
which offence she was convicted on the 13th. She
alleged that the constable entered the cell in which she
was confined, at Sam. on Thursday, whilst she was
in bed, and committed the offence of which she
had complained. A great deal of evidence was
taken on the subject. It was shown that the com-
plainant was a woman of abandoned character, end
this was not the first time she had endeavoured to
establish charges of this kind against innocent
persons. The magistrates considered the case
against the prisoner had not been proved, and he
was at once discharged.
THE WEATHER continues to be oncommonly
brilliant—" loud sings cuckoo"—the swallows have
been seen, but have not yet appeared in force. 'llse
noble chestnut avenues of Dorchester walks, whiots
a fortnight ago were bare and wintry in their aspect,
have burst into full clear leafage of that young and
delicate green which belongs to the spring time, and
the buds of the floral racemes are already apparent on the branches, whilst the walks are now chequered
with the most grateful shade. The white blossoms
of the fruit trees of the pear tribe are in process of
being followed by the glorious rose colours of the
apple, and judging from the masses of spring flowers in which All Saints' font was afresh embedded "by
loving hands" as Mr. Procter designates them, on
Low-Sunday, the country most be nominally lavish
this spring in beauty. Still the weather prophets distress us with their croaking. Not only Mr. Du
Bonlay, whose predictions were mentioned in oar
last, but Mr. Border, of Clifton Observatory, up-
lifts a warning voice. It is not ten days since the
latter besought us not to trust to the treacherous
display of sunshine, for he could not or would not
guarantee but that in a few days we might be
shovelling away the snow from our doors as we had
been doing some days before. Surely these gentle-
men must have mistaken the clerk of the weather.
At all events they will excuse our preferring a sight
of Admiral Fitzroy's drums before believing a word
that they say. That there is now an established
trust of lovely weather common somewhere in April,
followed by cold rains either in May or in the latter
end of June or July, every one may have obeerved.
But in the present instance the recent sunshine ham
had in it so much more of June than et April as to
render it difficult to believe that the anon can roll
backwanis.

PUDDLEHINTOIT.
On Good Friday Mr. Legg, of Pnddletown, post
office messenger, was presented by Mr. Lookett,
with an elegant silver teapot, subscribed for by the
inhabitants of this and the adjoining parishes. The
presentation took place at the Independent chapel,
where for the last four years Mr. Legg has moat
zealously officiated.

BLANDFORD„
Tins Raster vestry was held on Thursday, the
Rev. J. R. Quirk presiding, The acoounts showed
a balance of £l3 4s. 2d. Mr. Ridont was again
chosen by the rector as his churohwarden, and Mr,
Groves was elected for theyariah.
A,RIPLZ CLUB has been formed in connection with
our volunteer corps. A gold medal is to be provided
for the monthly competition, which shall become the
property of the member winning it the greateet
number of times in three years.

YEOVIL.

FITE members of the 16th Somerset Rifle Volunteers
have been chosen by competition to shoot in the "All
Comers shooting match."

AGRICULTURAL PAKISHES.—A return has been issued
giving the names, &c. of the 821 agricultural parishes,
said to have decreased in houses, and increased in popu-
lation between 1851 and 1861. The greatest number of
parishes in which • change of this kind has taken place
are found to be in Somersetshire, Yorkshire. Northam-
, berknd, Lincoln, Herefordshire, and Cheshire.
CONCERT AT THE TOWNHALL.—A very excellent
, concert was given in this town on Raster Tuesday,
'in aid of the pavilion fund of the Yeovil cricket chili.
Mr. and Mrs. T. Avant, and Mr. Sweeting of Weymouth,
Mr. F. W. Smith (Dorchester), Mr. Moore (Lyme
Regis), and the amateurs of Yeovil, both vocal
and instrumental, were the artistes, and performed
a very pleasing programme in first-rate style.
Mrs. T. Avant's singing was the theme of general
admiration, her perfect intonation and excellent
style appealing powerfully in her favour. She was
encored in two of her songs—"See'st thou at even,"
with violin accompaniment, most delicately rendered
by Mr. F. W. Smith, and in "Janet's choice;" for
the latter of which she substituted another pleasing
ballad. The impression this lady created elicited great
applause. The amateurs of Yeovil, led by Mr. Custard,
and assisted by the professionals, performed two
overtures in capital style. Mr. F. W. Smith played •
solo on the violin, " Fantasia on popular aim" and
received quite an ovation. He was enthusiastically
encored, and returned and played another with first.
rate effect. Mr. Avant played several pieces on the
piano with that finish and delicacy for which he is so
celebrated, and a solo of his own composition, with
orchestral accompaniments, showed him to be • no
less theoretical than practical musician. Some glees,
by male voices, were given in such • manner as to call
forth great commendation, and in two instances encores.
Mr. Sweating was in excellent voice, and was very
nearly encored in " Orynthia," which he sang very
artistically. A brilliant duet for piano and violin, by
Messrs. Avant and Smith, and a solo for cornet, by
Mr. Moore, both extremely well performed, were
the only other instrumental pieoes. There were
about 200 persons present, 100 who had taken
tickets being kept away by the state of the
weather. The National Anthem, and a compli-
mentary speech to the performers from Captain
biessiter, brought this very pleasing concert to a close.