The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-31 00:00:00

Somtrottobire.

YEOVIL. —Police. —On Thursday week, John
Smith, $ tramp, who stated himself to be a mason
by trade, appeared before J. R. Mayo and F. Green-
ham, Faqis., charged by Mr. J. H. Smith, landlord
of the Globe Inn, with being drunk and beating in
the panels of his door ; also with resisting P.C.
Rumble in the execution of his duty. The defen-
dant was given in custody by Mr. Smith, when he
sassulted and kicked the police officer. Fined
or to be imprisoned three weeks. The money was
paid.—Jok* Collings and Charles Marry, two
stragglers from Her Majesty's ship Victory. at Tor-
quay, were apprehended on the 19th inst., by Supt.
Smith, and were on Saturday week conveyed back
to their vessel. —Ou Friday. before G. Harbin,
Esq., William Osborne, of Stoke.sub-Hamdon, was
summoned for non•payment of .C 2 6s. 10d., wages
due to Edwin Pippard, of Montaeute, and was
ordered to pay the amount.

On Friday morning week, whilst a miller in the
employ of Mr. Maiden, Pen Mill, was taking down
the hatches of the mill, he observed a man's body
floating near them. He immediately communicated
with the police, who, having taken the corpse
(which was far advanced in decomposition) out of
the water, discovered it to be the body of an old
man, nemed John Wensley, who was employed as a
carrier to the Bristol and Exeter Railway Com-
pany, and who had suddenly disappeared on the
27th December last, and, notwithstanding the most
rigid inquiries, had not since been heard of. There
was an extensive wound in the head, caused, it was
supposed, by coming violently in contact with the
hatches. On removing the body to the engine-house
in Wine-street, it was discovered that the pockets of
the unfortunate man contained £lo 4s. lid. Mr.
D. H. Ashford, the coroner, was sent for, and com-
menced an inquiry the seine evening. The jury
viewed the body, after which the coroner gave a
certificate for its interment, and then adjourned the
inquest.
On Tuesday evening between 500 and 600 persons
partook of a social tea in the Townhall. The trays
were gratuitously provided by the friends connected
with the Congregational Church, so that the whole
of the proceeds go towards a fund for cleaning and
repairing their place of worship in this town.

BRIDOWATER.—A communication WU received on
Tuesday mornins that G. S. Poole' Esq., had been
appointed captain, Mr. C. B. Bate lieutenant, and
Mr. W. J. Ford ensign. Sixty members have been
already sworn in, and many others luive been pre-
vented taking the oath through unavoidable absence
from home. Thirty-six of the members mustered
for their customary drill on Monday evening,
, several of whom appeared in complete uniform.
The progress made by this corps is considered very
satisfactory. . . .

BRIIKIWATIft SCHOOL Or ART.—This school was
publicly opened on Monday week, when an influ-
ential company assembled in the Public-room,
George-street., which has been taken for the pur-
poses of the institution. At the afternoon meeting
the Mayor presided. The committee reported that
the school is now ready to be opened for the use of
the pupils, and the proprietors of the Public-rooms
have consented to let their large room and the com-
mittee room adjoining for the purposes of the school
for a term of three years from Christmas last, at the
rent of .C 26. The committee have engaged, upon
the recommendation of the department, Mr. *lames
, Arthur Davis as the master of the school, guarantee-

ing him a salary of £lOO a year for th-ee years.
The committee have expended nearly £lOO in the
purchase of casts and examples, desks and forms, and
in the alteration and fitting up of the room. This
expenditure is exclusive of a discount of upwards of
£33 obtained on the purchase of casts and examples
through the instrumentality of the department.
HIOMIRTDOE. Lamentable Occurrence. The
. . .

quiet of this place was disturbed by the discovery on
Sunday morning week of the dead body of a 6a be-
longing to the schooner The Two Brothers, lying in
the Phil, upon the bank of the river, quite dead, and
the subsequent fact that the captain and mate of the
same vessel were nowhere to be found. It appears
that in the forenoon of Sunday a man of Highbridge
named Vale was walking up the river on the Hant-
spill side, and when about three-quarters of a mile
distant from Highbridge he saw lying upon the bank
the dead body of a boy. He immediately raised an
alarm, and upon other persons going to the spot
they discovered, about 100 yards distant from the
body, a boat belonging to The Two Brothers vessel,
which was lying • quarter of a mile nearer the sea.
The boat was filled with water, and had evidently
been swamped. An oar was found upon the bank.
The Two Brothers, which had drifted upon the
shore, was then bearded, and was found to be with-
out any one in charge of her. The condition in
which the lad's body was found seems to prove that
be was not drowned but had come by his death from
exhaustion. He was found lying upon the bank on
the same side as the schooner was mooted, with his
head above high-water mark, and his feet entangled
in a fence running parallel with the water's edge.
Notwithstanding every exertion has been made with
• view to the discovery of the two miming men, the
mate and the captain, no clue had been obtained of
them up to Tuesday evening. The presumption is
that during the severe gale blowing from S.W. on
Saturday night, the captain and mate put off in a
boat to secure the schooner's anchor, and that in the
attempt the boat capsized. An inquest was held on
the body of Pope! on Tuesdnv, at Highbridge Inn,
before W. W. Munekton, Esq., coroner, and the
jury were of opinion that the deceased's death was
caused by exhaustion arising from exposure to the
rough weather of the night, and returned a verdict
accordingly.
BURNHAIL—On Monday, the 16th just, the cere-
mony of opening the first Wesleyan Chapel in this
rising little town took place. Two sermons were
preached by the Rev. John 4attenbury, of Bristol, to
overflowing and attentive congregations. It is a
neat sad substantial building, with white stone
dressings, and will seat about 200 persons, and is
conveniently situated in the station road.
Daring the heavy gale on Saturday week the cap.
tam n and owner of one of the Bridgwater traders was
drowned, and it is feared one of his crew also. Two
vessels were driven ashore, but have since got off
with little damage.
FifinmovoN.—Diafreseing Suicide. —A most de•
termined act of self•destruction was committed in
this village on Monday week by a highly re-
spectable farmer named George Burge. About three
o'clock on the morning of Monday be was heard to
I go downstairs, but was not observed to go back to
his bedroom. On the brother subsequently makings
search for him, about six o'clock, he was shocked at
finding the body of the deceased suspended by • rope
in the malt house. An alarm was instantly raised,
the body cut down, and a medical man sent for, but
life was quite extinct.
WiNc•wrox.—Unimi.—E. GuLoon, Esq., Poor.
Law Commissioner, paid • visit to this workhouse
on Tuesday lad, 24th January, and inserted the fol.
lowing in the Visiting Committee Book :—" I have
inspected the workhouse, and have found everything
in a satisfactory state."

lu:tin:rim—An inquest was held at the Dolphin
Inn, Ha:rester, by Mr. Ashford, on Saturday, on
view of the body of an aged woman named Betty
Fudge, who came by her death in consequence of a
fall whilst returning from church on the 9th inst.
She
imiradually sunk under the effects of the shock
thereby, and died on the 16th, having lived
jolt one week after putting out the shoulder joint.
She was aged 87 years.
&LEPTON MALLET. —RI* Corpa.—At a meeting
held last week, the following nominations were
made :—Captain H. Ernst, Leg. ; Lieutenant S.
Craddock, Esq.; Ensign, Mr. Joseph Allen; Hono-
rary Chaplain, the Rev. Prebendary Gray, vicar of
Pilton ; on. Surgeon Dr. Wybnuna ; Armourer,
Mr. T. Cook. The necessary application hae been
forwarded to the Lord Lieutenant for the enrolment
of the body, and the rules and uniform adopted are
similar to thine of the Bath Rifle Corps. Vestries
have been held at Paton, Doulton, he., and the
subscription list much enlarged, and the number of
the country's defenders greatly increased. All seems
progressing in an onward direction—we hope soon
to see them at drill.
A Mechanics' Institute has recently been esta-
blished in this place by 40 or 50 working men. The
promoters are sanguine that it will prove a perma-
nent affair. We hope they will not be disappointed.
THAD= UNIONS.—A Velvet Weavers' Society
has been formed in this town, the avowed object of
which is "to obtain, as nearly as possible, a uni-
formity of prices to be paid for weaving silks and
velvet., and to improve the condition of the trade
generally."
NEW ScnooLs.--Subscriptions are being raised in
this town, for the building of New National and
Infant Schools, the present ones being inadequate
for the increasing population. The list ham been
headed by the Rev. H. Pratt, K H. Dickinson,
Esq., J.P., Messrs. Phipps and Mackay, with the
sum of .650 each. The total sum required to be
raised is £5OO, so that no difficulty need be antici-
pated, and We shall soon, we hope, be able to record
that the buildings have been commenced.
Baurox. —R Corps.—The members of this
carps met for drill for the first time on Wednesday
last, and will continue so to do every Wednesday
and Saturday evening throughout the winter.
An awful case of sodden death occurred in this
town on Thursday night last. The deceased, Mr.
=Minifie, hairdresser, retired to rest at his
tiles in good health and spirits, and his sister
en ping to wake him the following morning di..
seviendleas to be quite dead.

WELLS.--Fire of the County Lunatic Asylum.—
The inhabitants of Wells were on Wednes.lay,
about ten o'clock, painfully excited by a report that
the Lunatic Asyluui, containing at present about 400
initiates, was on fire. Upon proceeding thither it
was found that the laundry and appurtenant ofiiees
had become ignited, it is supposed from the over•
heating of the hut water apparatus. The Wells lire
engine was soon on the spot and at work, and,
there being a good supply of water, the fire was
confined to the place where it originated. The
damage is roughly estimated at from .e.lOO to £5151.
Arrangements had been made in anticipation of the
flames spreading, for the removal of patients from
those parts which were in danger, but fortunately
such a step was unnecessary. The loss is covered
by insurance.
GLABTONBURY.—The volunteers of the Glaston-
bury ltitle Corps met In the first time on Monday
week, for drill, at the yard belonging to the police
barracks. Upwards of 30 were present, and all
seemed to take great interest in the instruction given
them by Serjeant-major ltideout. We understand
that more than 60 persons have signified their inten-
tion of becoming effective members of the above corps,
and subscriptions and donations to the amount of
£220 and upwards have been received by the trea-
surer. The Muses Naish, of the Priory, with their
usual kindness, have given permission for the volun-
teers to be drilled in their spacious Abbot's Kitchen,
where evening drills will be arranged in the course
of a week.

CHARD. —Revival of tAe Chard Corporation Bas-
que.—On Friday last IVilliam Salter, EN., the
Mayor, entertained the members of the Chard Corp.
ration to a banquet at his residence in Holyrood•
street. Amongst those present were the Aldermen,
Councillors, Auditors, and Assessors of the borough,
the Herds. H. Thomp on, Vicar, H. B. Thompson,
Curate, W. Dencham (Independent), and some few
others, who formed a very agreeable, and we hear a
convivial party. The town was occasionally enliven-
ed with a peal of bells during the evening.
• '

TAVNTO.N. —Petitions to Parliament against the
abolition of Church•rates are being got up in most
parishes in this neighbourhood.

Exalts IN FORM A T10N• I mar Gorier, of this town,
was tined in the mitigated penalty of £25, on Wed-
nesday last, for letting a horse to hire without license.
The complaint was preferred by John Carroll, officer
of Inland Ito. wale.

Mr. John England, a farmer, of North Pethertnn,
was recently fined 17s, including costs, by our bench
of magistrates, for causing an obstruction in a foot-
path at Hillfarence, by allowing the water to run
over the same, so as to render it impassable, the over-
flow of water being occasioned by the defendant hay-
ing certain sluices on his farm closed.

The full complement of rifles having been received
from the Government stores by the Taunton Volun-
teer Rifle Corps, the whole of the members are now
entitled to have their respective weapons. The Saxe.
horns for the band have also arrived, and we may
therefore shortly expect to hear the sound of martial
music in our streets. We understand that a valua-
ble prize for rifle shooting will be competed for some
time next month. It will consist of a gold medal,
presented by Mrs. W. A. Sanford, for the best shoot-
ing of the season, ties to shoot off. On Friday the
ground was levelled, and the butts were erected, pre-
paratory to commencing ball practice.