The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-04-11 00:00:00

THI HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

BLANDBORD.
NARROW ESCAPL —On Tuesday evening last, as
Mine Keynes and Mrs. Burden were returning from
Chesoombe in their pony cartisge, where they had
driven on a call at their brother's, when near Thory-
combe the piny suddenly dropped. Fortunately being
near Thornycombe, assistance was soon procured.
Both shafts were broken off, but the ladies were not
injured; the pony most remarkably stood still on
rising from the ground. Too small a collar was sup-
posed to be the cause.
A CATSLOOCK OF SECO:W.II4ND BOOKS Some time ago
referred to a charge of adultery by Lord Ligonier against
his lady, "very curio4s and interesting," seventy-eight
Mmes. aro., 1771. I have an Act to dissolve the marriage
of Edward Visronnt Ligonier with Penelope Pitt, one of
the three daughters of George Pitt, Stratfield Say, in
Southampton, Esq., by Penelope his wife, sister of Sir
Richirrd Atkins, Bart, The Act recites that Lord Ligonier
and Penelope Pitt were married in May, 17613; that she
was charged with familiarity and adulterous conversation
with Vittorio Amadei, Alfieri, Count, in May, 1771 that
Lord Ligonier had no issue by the said Penelope
Viscountess Ligonier, and prays for a dissolution, with
power to marry again. The Ligonier; seem to have been
connected with the army from 1745. I should be glad to
, learn any particulars respecting Lady Ligonier, and what
became of her eventually. For some years after the
dissolution referred to she resided at Lightcliffe, under the
title of Lady Ligonier, and • noted goldsmith resided at
Halifax, of the name Alfieri. Why came she into York-
shire! Lady Ligonier's father is stated to have become the
first Lord Rivers, and she is said to have married Captsin
Smith in 1784. lam anxious to know who Captain Smith
was. I notice • discrepancy in the peerages as to the date
of Lord Ligonier's marriage to Penelope Pitt. It is stated
to be January 1, 17117, not May, 1768, as stated above in the
Act..—J, HORSFALL Trauma, Idle, Leeds, in Notes and
Queries.

The second annual report of the Medical Officer of
Health for the Borough of Poole was a very long one, and
we therefore can only give a summary of its contents.
Dr. Emus stated that in the winter and spring of last
year the long continuance of Easterly winds affected
injuriously the public health. and increased to a marked
extent the mortality of Poole, as of other districts. The
occurrence of certain cases of symotic disease had caused
the borough hospital to he brought into use, and the
benefits derived from it had been of the most decided
kind. Several cases had been admitted from overcrowded
neighbourhoods, which would, without doubt, have given
rise to the spread of the disorder. The satisfactory mutt
of these removals, and other sanitary arrangements were
made evident from the fact that while in the year 1871
and 1872, 7B deaths were registered arising from the
epidemic of scarlatina, in 1575 only one death had
occurred from that cause. Five deaths had been registered
I rout enteric fever during the past-year. Dr. Ellis
expressed regret that the Sanitary Authority bad
not yet organised a system for the more efficient and
re.tular emptying of cesspools, which was greatly needed,
and referred to the tiraina.te of r.ew buildings recently
erec.ed in Longfieet without proper accommodation. Some
interesting details were then given in the report with
reference to the statistics of Poole, during the past
year, from which it appeared that in 1875 there were
registered within the borough 347 births and 213 deaths.
The births were three belaw, whereas the deaths
exceeded by IV, the numbers returned in the preceding year.
The births were equal to • rate of :Mt per 118.10 of the
estimated population, which was 1/ below the average
rate of England and Wales during the year. The delths
in the borough were equal to a rate of 207 per 1,000 of
the population, and exceeded by 05 ter 1,1610 the average
rate in the four preceeding years; but was 21 below the
average rate for the year of the whole of England and
Walvs. The 213 deaths registered in Poole during 1875
included 67 children under 5 years of age; 12 of persons
aged between Sand 20; 28 between the ages of 20 and 411;
31 between 10 and 81); and 72 persons aged upwards of 60
years. This shows an excess over 1874 at each of these
groups of ages, with the exception of from 5 to 20 years.
The largest excess was in the death-rate of persons aged
over 00 years, and was probably due to the cold and
severe weather that prevailed during the winter and
early spring. Some useful details of the causes of the 213
deaths registered during the year were then given, and
particular attention was directed to several cases of
enteric or gastric fever in Hamworthy parish,
arising from the use of water for drinking purposes
from a polluted well. Referring to the Births
and Deaths Registration Act of 1874, the Medical
Officer stated that it was an unsatisfactory feature in the
Poole death register that in 6 or 7 per cent of the deaths
no medical certificate of the cause of death was obtained,
and no inquest held. In some of these cases in 1875 the
cause of death was described as "unknown," " fits," de.
It was infinitely desirable that inquests should be held in
such GYM. Nevertheless, so far as the Poole death
register is concerned there is every reason why confidence
should he placed in the statistics that have been compiled
therefrom, and in the conclusion based thereon, that with
the single exception ef an excess in the deaths from enteric
fever, which NM strictly local, the health and sanitary
condition of Poole continued satisfactory during 11175.
But for the unfavourable temperature during the winter
and early spring, and again late in the autumn, the death-
rate would probably have been still lower than it was
during the past year.
Mr. ILOGIOLC proposed that the report of the Medical
Officer of Ilealth he published, as was the case last year,
and distributed through the town, and that the thanks a
the Council be presentsal to Dr. Ellis for his able report.
Mr. Storm seconded, and said the report was • very able
1 and exhaustive one. It was very useful on the last
occasion, and would be again now, in making known
far and near. the very healthy state of the borough of
INsile. . . . . . .

The proposition was carried unanimously.
Tilt WATT./ surrLy OP !UNWORTHY.

The fallowing memorial. signed by 77 of the ratepayers
of Haniworthy, had been received by the Mayor this
morning, and was now read :
.... . . • • • ' •

" We. the undersigned ratepayers and inhabitants of
the parlsh of Hainworthe, respectfully desire earnestly to
. .

STITIMINEITER XABAILALL.
DECLARATION OP INDRPVIDRECE IT AMERICA. —ln
Iltachin's Ilistory of Dorset is a list of rejoicings and fasts
recorded in the parish books of Sturminster MarshalL
There Is the following entry :—" Fast for the declaration
of American Independence, 1,176."

BHERBOENE,
Ox Friday, the Ulverstonein-Furness magtrates con-
cluded • three days trial of an extraordinary case. Mar-
garet Dixon, • young lady of considerable personal attrac-
tions, summoned John Newby yeoman, 1114 father of her
illegitimate child. About thirty witnesses were sum-
moned, an action for seduction for .000 pending.—Mr.
Tilley aeared for the complainant, and Mr. Poole
defended,and contended that the father was William
Whinn, arm servant, whom the complainant was also
courting. Under the Assize Court subpoena, Whinn
produced about a hundred letters received from com-
plainant of the most amorous character, one containing
an acrostic of questionable propriety. The child was born
in July, 11375, and Newby had sat up all night twice a
week from September previous to March with complainant
The Bench said this mode of courting was the custom of
the country.—Newby denied any undue familiarity with
the complainant, but Whinn admitted the existence of
Improper relation'. —The case was dismissed. The case
has caused considerable excitement throughout the
district of Furness, the parties being respectably connected
and the court, was crowded.

141;M-dense you as the Sanitary Board a Health of the
Town and Borough of Poole aforesaid, concerning the
unhealthy and injurious character of the drinking water
In the parish. Seven cases of fever which were fatal. and
three quite receutiv. are well known to have been caused
by the impurity and consequent unwholemmeneas of the
drinking water. In two cases of illness lately, the water
it each house was analysed and was pronounced to be
' entirely unfit for drinking purposes also of souse from
another house ' that it was as much as • person's life wee
worth to partake of it.'
"Your memorialists therefore urgently beg you will take
speedy measures to ensure them a sufficient supply of
good drinking water and so remedy the great grkvanee
from which they have been long suffering."
The Medical Officer of Health and Borongh Surveyor
baying reported the general supply of water at Hans-
worthy as very had, the matter was now discussed. Is
keine this is not the first memorial that has been reeelwed
on the Name subject, and the Town Clerk said he the.
told the ratepayers of Hamwortity what to do. They
the remedy in their own hands, ashy contributing
tenth of the cost of taking the water across for three
years they might compel the Water Company to supply
them.—Mr. Hamilton thought as the Council had
power it would be better for them to undertake the
supply of water to Hamworthr, and charge the 10 per
cent of the total cost to the ratepayers of Butt parish. It
had been estimated that it would cost 1:100 to supply
Hamworthy, and this would involve • charge of Y;10 •
year only on the ratepayers for three years.—Several
members of the Council thought it would be better for
the ratepayens to get the supply themselves, but Mr.
Hamilton said some of the ratepayers of Hamworthy
objected to be made liable for three years, as they might
not live there as long as that. He thought it advisable
the matter should be carried out by the Council. A con-
versation than ensued as to whether or not the 10 per cent.
spoken of to be paid for three years, included the rental
of water or not —Mr. DuOale said be had applied to the
company for water to be brought to his house at Stark,
and they told him he would have to pay 10 per cent for
three years of the coat of laying the pinta in addition to
the rental for the water.—The Council were divided in
their opinions as to whether or not the water rental was
included in the 10 per cent, and the Town Clerk went te
fetch the act of the company—Mr. Rogers, in his absence,
asked if the Council thought putting the cost of carrying
the water to Haniworthy at ant and supposing the
rental of water produced £lOO • year, the company could
enforce payment of £5O in addition to the rental. He
thought not, but that the ordinary house supply was
Included in the 10 per cent.—Mr. Stone and others
thought otherwise, The Town Clark having returned
with the act, read from it, and it was clear that Mr.
Rogers' view of the matter wag right. Therefore if the
water rental of Itainworthy reached £4O per annum, and
it was thought it would, there would be no further call
on the ratepayers.— On the proposition of Mr. Hudson
the matter was referred to a small committee of members
of the Council who were in no way connected with the
water company, for their consideration and to report
thereon fully to the Council.
Some orders were made on the Borough Treasurer.
The Council then sat as the Quay Trustees, and the
harbour accounts were ordered to he paid.
TAIL 11111•10TINIMT OP THZ HARBOUR.

- -
The letter from Sir Ivor Guest with reference to the
improvement of the harbour, which we have already pub-
lished, was read by the Town Clerk, and the seven
members of the Cranial nominated by it Ivor to ald in
expending the .CI,OOO given by him were approved by the
trustee', on the proposition of Mr. Rogers, seconded by
Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. Hudson drew the &Mann= of the trustees to the
great importance of the question of steam dredginr. with
reference to the improvement of the harbour. Entire'y
aside of the formation of • breakwater for directing the
current, be thought it was equally important to remove
the sand on the bar as well. As the trustees had a sum
of about £4OO or ZOO • year in hand he thought they
would be beat acting with Sir Ivor in his endeavour to
Improve the harbour if they made an effort to remove
the sand on the bar. This would involve the employment
of • steam dredge, and he knew there was an opinion
that steam dredging was very expensive, and would not
be likely to lead to any satisfactory results. But he
thought differently, and that steam dredging rroithl pay.
It was at present a very expansive thing to Put ballast on
ships, and, • steam dredge might do great good by per-
forming this work, and providing plenty of ballast for the
shipping. He thought if they got • weasel for something
like £2,500 there would be abundant work for her inside
the r when she could not get outside. He did not
Intend to propose a resolution now, but thought it •
suitable time to draw the attention of the trustees to the
raatter. Mr. Hudson expressed
daraLoffinion that by •
or sYstem of regular oornsional ng or raking the
harbory mouth could be kept where t was, instead of
allowing it to keep drifting to westward, SI WM the ease
at_preeent, and had been for ages past.
The Conneil thus rose.

-
Ai 1 UM:TRY OF A LADY SWINDLED.
itireggvArtlum of readings and music was given At Lewis on Friday morning Ada
minded oPalmer, knowneral
in
at the Schoolroom on Friday ev_ening, the proceeds Some: as the lady swindler, was ren sev
to be given to the funds of the Rmrsling-room. The . charges of fraud. There are fifteen charges against her.
musical portion by the church choir, kuidly waisted
by Mrs. Colonel Pritchard, two Misses Pritchard, two
Misses D'Oyly Snow, Miss hL A. Bury accompany.ing on the pianoforte ; the readings by Mr. Turner,
of Blandford, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. T. Harris, of
Pimperne, the room being well filled.

BIRTHDAY OF PRINCE LEOPOLD.

--
Friday being the twenty-third anniversary o( the birth
of Prince Leopold, the occasion wu celebrated at Windeor
with royal honour.

THE BLACKBURN MURDER.
The murderer of the little girl at Blackburn is still at
Limn At a meeting of the Blackburn Town Council on
Friday, the Mayor (Mr. R. Parkinson) announced that the
Home Secretary had offered a rewanl of £lOO for infor-
tnation which should lead to the apprehension of the
murderer, and the Council resolved to supplement this
sum with another LIOO.

THE HADLEY EPIDEMIC.
Mrs. Kershaw,sof Hardman's Farm, near Bolton, to the
consumption of whose milk the whole of the IS deaths that
occurred in Euler and Bolton are attributed, died on
Wednesday. Mrs. Kershaw was herself one of the earliest
sufferers. On Wednesday she witnessed from her bed-
room window the funeral of Miss Hannah Haworth, the
most recent victim of the epidemic, and became much
excited. She died a few hours afterwards. Mrs. Kershaw
was a widow, aged 55, and leaves four children. All her
farming stock was sold last month.

A PLEASANT SURPRISE.
On opening his letters last week, Professor Huxley
found in one of them a check for £l,OOO, sent by Mr.
Thomasson, of Manchester, in the name of his lately.
deceased father, who was a great admirer of Professor
Huxley, and highly appreciated his great achievements
in furtherance of our knowledge of the science of life.
Considering the little encouragement afforded to the
study of pure science, this very practical and munifi-
cent method for the endowment of research is worthy
of note, and we hope that the example may prove
contagious.— Britiak Medical Journal.

A WIFE MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH.
At the Bristol Assizes on Tuesday, before Mr. Justice
Denman, Edward Deacon, R. a shoemaker, was indicted
for the murder of his wie. The CAM was one of a cold-
blooded description. The prisoner was • man of violent
temper and intemperate habits, and q itarreb. were frequent
On one occasion he left his home and stayed away for five
years. He only returned at Christmas, when he was as
Intemperate 111 ever, and the wife maintained herself by
her indartry as a tailoreas. On February 22nd, the prisoner
said he was going to leave Bristol, and made up • parcel to
take. He left the house, went to • neighbour • borrowed
a hatchet, returned to the house, and literally best his
wife's skull In. He then left the house, went to the police
station, and cooly said. "I've killed my wife." His defence
was that his wife was In the habit of mixing with immoral
characters, and that she threatened to throw a tea kettle
at hint The Jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was
sentenced to death, the Judge holding out no hope of
mercy.