The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-03-02 00:00:00

POOLE.

Lacrunr.—A lecture on " Sacred Music" was
delivered on Tuesday evening last by Mr. Raymond
Cake, of Lymington, in the Townhall. The attend-
ance was small, which tended to depreciate the en-
tertainment inasmuch as it was the intention of the
lecturer to call upon his audience to aid him in his
illustrations. The lecturer, however, gave satisfac-
tion to those present.
THE "JOHN THOMPSON."—No intellrnce has
been received of the John Thompson, of Poole, the
property of C. J. Stone, Esq., since she sailed from
Quebec on the lOth of November last. The fears
entertained of her total loss appear be too well
founded, and the anxious feelings of the wives of
the crew, who belonged to Poole, may be better
imagined than described
Fmx..—On Thursday evening last a fire broke out
in the engine-house of Mr. Balstone'a twine fac-
tory, but by the prompt attendance of the fire en-
gines aided by a plentiful supply of water the ,
flames were speedily subdued, and we are happy
to say the loss sustained was not very heavy.

Sanctus' Socrury.—An eloquent and forcible lee-
tire was delivered, explanatory of the principles
and operations of the British and Foreign Sailors'
Society, in the Infant school, Skinneratreet, on
Friday evening last by the Rev. T. Clarkson
Finch, a London, who adduced trimly interesting '
and striking fs,cts relative to the proceedings of that
institution. Though the attendance was numerous
the nuniber of seaman was not se large as we
wished to see on an oecasicai so interesting to that
class of society.
THE BAR AND ENTRANCE TO POOLE HARBOUR.
—lt has king been matter of great regret to many of
the inhabitants of this town, who while feeling
deeply, interested in the welfare and prosperity
thereof, yet lack the power to Carry out any improve-
ment therein, to see that those in whose hands the
power is vested should show for such a length of
time so much apathy and indifference, not only to
their own interests but to the interests of the whole
town, as to permit year after year the gradual shift-
ing of the bar until it has well nigh closed altogether;
causing the entrance to the harbour to be effected in
many cases with considerable difficulty, and often
attended with danger. Until very recently no at-
tention whatever was paid by the executive body to
the matter. A recent survey of the bar and neigh-
bourhood made by direction of the town council,
preparatory to Seeking assistance of the Admiralty,
shows that since the year 1849, when the same was
' surveyed by Captain Sherringham, the bar has con-
tracted 160 fathoms, that, in addition thereto, the
change of position contributes in no small degree to
impede the navigation of the channel, and it has been
ascertained that this moving body of sand, progress-
ing at the ratio hitherto maintained, will within the
next seven years entirely close the present channel.
It is, however, at the same time, evident that the
ebb tides being diverted from their old course have
pursued another; and that in what is commonly
known as the Swatch or Swash we must look for the
future entrance to our harbour. But it is desirable
we should use all possible efforts in bringing Art to
the assistance of Nature, and, following the direction
now pursued by her, seek to render the Swashway a
channel capable of admitting at least those of our
vessels which are obliged now to resort to the very
inconvenient and somewhat dangerous expedient of
discharging their cargoes outside, and also of enabling
some of the larger craft afloat to enter the harbour as
occasion may require. Having before us the pros-
pect of a speedy railway communication through the
Vale with the Bristol Channel, Wales, and other
very desirable places, with other advantages at the
same time opened up to us, it requires not much
foresight to perceive that this, added to anew entrance
to the harbour, will be a new era in the history of
the town and productive of lasting. benefit. The
town council determined to send a deputation to the
Admiralty, and, accordingly, a deputation waited on
the authorities at the Court of Admiralty and went
minutely into the harbour question. They were
favourably received, and it is hoped good will result
from the application.

BLANDFORD.
THE RECENT FAILURES.

At home and abroad the engrossing topics of con-
versation are Messrs. Oak and Snow's and Messrs.
Barnes' failures. The questions are ever being asked,
what will they pay in the pound? or, will they be
made bankrupts? The balance-sheet of Messrs.
Barnes' was published in the Dorset County Express
of Tuesday, and the following—Messrs. Oak & Snow's
balance-sheet, prepared by Mr. Maynard's clerk,
of London, was laid before the creditors on the 23rd
ult. :

Creditors uncured .

£. d.
48,171 15 3

o rrtlY .o,Fiu rel £5,521 ,
Liaalitles on bills receelvable ""
621 0 0
2,000 0 0

Total 11011111 N £48,792 15 3

Cash and bills
Debtors to tank £83,224 12 3