The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-09 00:00:00

LONGFLEET.

Sr. MARY'S CHTJR-C-11-7-I:6;—iie Festival of SS.
Philip and James, the first choral evening service
which is intended to be held in this church on all
I future Saints' days was performed. The Psalms
were chanted to the 2nd Gregorian tone, varied ; the
MagnOcat and Rune Dsmitii4 to Mr. Wesley's
service in F founded on the 6th tone; Anthem,
"Plead thou my cum," adapted from Mozart's 12th
Mans; hymn before sermon, "How bright these
glorious spirita." The service wan well performed,
though the full effect was not attained, as the organ,
which in under repair, could not be used. The Rev.
J. L. Williams preached a short but very exoellent
sermon on "Christ, the way, the truth and the life;"
in which he alluded to the Saints' days, and the
true objeot our Church has in view in commanding
their observance, not the placing of these exalted
servants of Christ side by side with Him, ai pro.
curing salvation for us, but regarding them as
instances in which men like ourselves were by the
power of God enabled to achieve glorious victories,
and triumph over the temptations as well as the
persecution of the world; holding them forth
each one as eminent in the practioe of some great
virtue.

BLArDFORD.
THE first public pe formarice for the season of Mr.
Byers' band took place on Thursday evening, in the
garden opposite the Crown Hotel, to which fres sneers
was given to subscribers to the baud fund.

BTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS. —The first competition
for the gold medal offered by the rifle club took place
on Monday, the let instant, when nearly 20 contended
for the honour of being medaliit for the ensuing month.
Before commencing shooting entries were made for a
sweep, and the competitors were divided into two
squads, the winning side to take the sweep. A spirited
contest followed, and at the conclusion Corporal Ridout
was found to be the winner of the medal with 56 points,
out of 21 rounds, at the ranges of 200, 400, and 600
yards. Some excellent practice was made during the
shooting. Sergeant Davis at 400 yards made 23 points,
and the some number was made by Corporal Groves at
600 yards, he making four bull's eyes, one centre, and
two (niters. We hail with much pleasure the formatirn
of this club, feeling sure that a great benefit to the
corps, as well as to its members will be the result. On
Monday, the 15th, the competition for the Lieutenant's
silver cup will take place. This crop will be competed
for monthly, the competitor winning it three successive
months to be the winner.

Q.O.D.Y.C.—Btamoronn TROOP.—A full muster of
this troop, under the command of Captain Hambro and
Lieutenant Calcraft, assembled at the Rifle Range,
Hungry Down, on Wednesday, the 3rd inst., to compete
for a cup, annually presented by the Captain. The
weather was very unfavourable, a strong wind in fitful
gusts blowing slant-ways across the line of fire. To
this, combined with the fact that the new rifle =rhino
was used for the first time, must be attributed the in-
different quality of the shooting. There were 32 com-
petitors, three rounds each at MI yards. The cup was
won by Mr. J. Col, with two centres and one bull's
eye, and the following are the six eligible to shoot for
the Regimental cup and the Mayor's cup at Weymouth:
—Sergeant J. Miller, Privates H. Blaudford, S.
Benjafield, J. Cox. T. Fry, and G. Tett The members
of the troop afterwards entertained their officers at the
Crown Hotel, where a first-class dinner was served up
by Mr. Byers. At the conclusion of the repast the :usual
loyal and patriotic toasts were given and cordially re-
sponded to. The health of the officers was very
warmly received and suitably acknowledged, and a very
pleasant evening was spent.

EXHIBITIONB.—It must be A source of
unmitigated satisfaction to every rightly-constituted
mind that in the present day the working-classes, not-
withstanding the temptations by which they are sur-
rounded, are becoming more and more reflective,
prudent, and self-reliant. We have only to instance
the hundreds of thousands who weekly invest • portion
of their earnings in benefit societies and savings bank;
as one proof among many that, compared with former
times, the character and conduct of the industrial
portion of the community have greatly improved. The
Great International Exhibition, under the fostering care
of that noble-miuded man, the late Prince Concert, not
only promoted a spirit of healthy competition between
inventors and employers of labour of various countries,
but also contributed in no slight degree to bring about
Industrial Exhibitions, by which the skill, ingenuity,
and perseverance of the workers themselves were brought
prominently before the public, and a stimulus given to
renewed exertion. The South Kensington Industrial
Exhibition, though the first of the kind attempted In
this country, proved so decided a success as to induce
others in various parts of the kingdom to promote the
same good object. Most of our readers are no doubt
aware that through the kindness and forethought of
our excellent rector, a scheme was submitted to the
townspeople at the beginning of last winter, by which
an industrial exhibition, on a small scale, might be held
in this town' and it is now our pleasing duty to
announce that in answer to the invitation issued by the
committee of management nearly one hundred exhibitors
have been registered. The exhibition is to take place,
on the 23rd and 24th of the present month, the Mayor
and Corporation having kindly granted the free use Of
the Corn Exchange and Townhall for the purpose. It
is also proposed in connection with the exhibition to
hold a soiree on one or both evenings, designed to pro-
vide for the working classes especially an evening's in-
tellectual entertainment. Although the committee are
anxious to know at an early • period as possible what
articles may be expected they will not refuse admission
to any entered before Saturday, May 20. In connection
with this exhibition the committee have decided to
admit for exhibitton wild flowers, for which prizes 'will
be offered. The flowers to be tastefully arranged in
wreaths, baskets, model, of grottoes, &a This will be
a very pleasing addition to the attractions of the
exhibition, and considering the early spring we are
favoured with, very little difficulty will be found hi
obtaining • first-class collection. We hope to give
further partionlars next week. In the meanwhile we
may add that the committee are anxious that it should
be understood that specimens of workmanship in con-
nection with an adjoin s regular employment will be
admistable and are desired. The following gentlemen
conetitute the committee of management :—The Rev. 3.
R. Quirk, the Worshipful She Mayor (A. S. Hodge;
Req.), Rev. J. Penny, Rev. T. D. C. Wiekham, Rev. B.
L Stuart, Rev. B. Gray, Mr. A. Abbott, Mr. S. Abbott,
Mr. Darden, Mr. E. Fisher, Mr. H. Gill, Mr. 0.
Manville, Mr. R. Look, Mr. Shipp. Mr. W. Groves has
kindly consented to act es honorary secretary.