The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-02-25 00:00:00

Somersetsbirt

YEOVIL. -- EXT6NBII7I "SPOUTING." - Mary
Hawkins, the wife of a porter on the London and
South Western Railway, was brought before the
borough magistrates on Friday, charged with steal-
ing various articles of wearing appard, dm, belong-
ing to Thomas Thorne, and also a cost belonging to
Jesse Pemberton, a guard on the S.W. Railway,
who lodgad with Thorne. The proeecntor was a
next-door neighbour of prisoner, who it appears
took advantage of the absence of husband and wife
to purloin the articles, and then afterwards send
innocent persons to pawn them. When apprehended
there were found on her 24 duplicates for articles
pawned in London and Sahabury.—Sentenced to six
months' imprisonment.
-

AIIUISIMiNT.—Woo-din displayed his "Cabinet of
Curiosities" on Monday eveving at the Townhall,
with great success to a not over numerous audience.
I:7Nroomarm SUPPICION.—An inquest was held
at the Crown Inn on Monday, before Dr. Wybrants,
coroner, on view of the body of Ann Chaffey, aged
64, wife of George Chaffey, labourer. It appeared
from the evidence of Ann Purchase, that the
deceased was at work on Wednesday, and on
returning home was taken ill, but no , medical man
was called to her assistance till Friday. Deceased
expired about eleven o'clock on Saturday night.
Suspicions of ill-treatment on the part of the husband
led to an inquest being held, but no evidence was
brought forward which at all reflected on him.
The jury returned a verdict of "Died from Natural
Causes."

THR LATR FATAL ENCOUSTIR.—The Rev. R.
G. Tomkins, eurate of West Coker, has preached
and published a sermon in reference to the late
fatal affray between P.C. Penny and the nßYTieiv
the text being taken from Romani :ill., '.l and 2.

The prooteds arising from the sale will be applied in
aid of the fund started for the benefit of the father-
less. Subscription lists have also been opened at the
hanks.
TOWN Courzcit.—The members specially met in
council on Friday, to take into consideration the
necessity of adopting any bye-law for the establish-
ment of two additional fairs—one in March and the
other in September. Mr. Goode could not see any
reason for the Council making such a bye-law et
present. Mr. Cox also followed suit. Mr. Marden
was in favour of establishing the &ire, while Mri
Rawlings thought Out the fairs would be •
nuisance "to the glovers; and shopkeepers, fit
from
the trifling benefit they would derive from them,
were not over anxious that the fairs should be
established. He thought the Council should not alone
be guided by the viewsof the cattledealers. Mr. Goode
moved a resolution to the effect that it was inexpe-
dient at present to make any bye-laws for the estab-
lishment of two additional lairs. Upon being
seconded, five hands were held ffp for the resolution
and four against, consequently it was declared duly
carried. Mr. Marclen entered a protest against Mr.
Rawling's views, as be considered that if they only
looked to the convenience of the ratepayers, all
-the cattle and sheep markets and fairs wonla be dis-
pensed with. After some other business had been
transacted the meeting separated.
TELEGRAPH CHARGES.—Enter what office We will
of the Electric and International Telegraph Com-
pany, we are met with a large poster, announcing
that a considerable reduction will be made, on •
day now past, in the charge for messages. We hail
this as a great boon, knowing that the public have
for a long period been grumbling at the demands of
the company; but when we come to compare the new
with the old tariff, we find the cost of a current of
electricity to about sixty places have been reduced,
but it must surprise our Scotch friends
to find an increase in charge to several
plains in that part of the United Kingdom. If
England derives benefit from the change, we think
it should not be at the expense of our friends over
the Border. Those places which have not been
eased by the recent pruning, will, no doubt, have •
word or two to say on the subject, seeing that they
will either have to curtail their messages, or be keep
' the address to the maxisenin of weals—this limit
now allowed, viz., /wen words. Hitherto all words,
legitimately part of an address, were allowed. To
, public firms and individuals well known, the limita-
tion to seven words, will not press hard,
but upon unpretentious John Jones, wbd
lives in • two-pair back in an obscure street, in a
partially explored district, and where friendsi
axons to tell him as much as they can for
money, the iron heel of monopoly will be felt.
time has now arrived when the public must spiv&
out and demand economical rates without any prefer.
once for any section of the community.

TEM 800ERINO LANDS OP CENTRAL SOMERSET.—
We call attention to an article, notioeable for the
ability with which it is marked, and the deep research
evidenced in its production, (applicable as well for
Dorset), written by Dr. Augustus Voeleker, of the
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, at the request
of the Council of the Bath and West of England Agri-
cultural Society, and appearing in the last number of
the Journal published by that association. The learned
doctor questions many conjectures that have been raised
as to the cause of scouring, and considers that the best
are but partially true, being irreconcileable with estab-
lished facts. Under four heads—that of the character,
drainage, watering, and herbage of the lands, he grap-
ples with the subject, and conies to the conclusion from
analytical proofs and agricultural facts,that has clay soi'a
contain nothing injurious to vetation • that those
clays contain abundance of mineral plant food;i that the
waters in the hal are very hard, many possessing medici-
nal properties, and doubtless scouring cattle that drink
them ; that in some exceptional instances land scours
on account of being inefficiently drained; that in most
ewes, however, the evil can be traced directly to the
immature condition in which the herbage is consumed
by cattle in scouring land, or made into bay; that the
immatire condition of the herbage is moat noticeable
during the drier summer months, when the young her-
bage growl very luxuriantly; that the immature con-
dition in which the herbage on scouring land is usually
consumed, is principally caused by the peculiar character
and relation of the subsoil to the surface soil of scouring
pastures ; and, lastly, that no positive err.
dence exists, showing that the complaint
is due to • particular species of herb. To cure, or
mitigate the evil, he observes that it is highly advisable
to out off the supply of hard Has springs, and to provide
cattle with soft drinking water; that rain water tanks
for the supply of soft water should be constructed in
localities where cattle are obliged to drink hard waters
that rise in the has clay; that in some, though he
fears exceptional eases, more efficient drainage would
mitigate the evil; that it is desirable to keep cattle
from scouring postures in those months of the year
when the young herbage appears very luxuriant ; and
that the heymsking season on scouring pastures
should be delayed as long as ills possible in practice,
in order to give the herbage • better chanee of &aqui',
ing maturity. In conelnoon, he remarks, that there
are, however, many scouring pastures in which neither
drainage nor any other available MOEDA would have any
material effect in bringing the herbage to an earlier and
better state of maturity, and as the unripe condition
of the herbep is by far the most proximate cause of
the evil, the best thing perhaps that could be done with
such pastures is to plough them up. Lord Portman,
in • note to the report, coincides with the learned
Doctor in the use of the plough In converting *'.tart"
into arable lands, Want of apace presents us giving
more of the article, but we would recommend our agri-
cultural friends either to become member. of the
society, which will entitle them to the half-yearly
journals, or to purchase Vol. X., part I, and carefully
read and weigh the opinions of the great authority in
matters connected with the farming interest.
Tux SLAVERY QUESTION. —MY. T. Luffman, in
connection with the Mutual Protection Society, de-
livered a lecture on Thursday evening, on the
" Extinction of Slavery in the British West Indies,"
giving a general view of the subject, proving that it
brought about a moral revolution, and marked the
entrance of a new element into modern polities. The
lecturer also gave a few glimpses of slavery in
America at the present day.
MARTOCE. —Colmar,/ ParrY Srasioss. Thurs.
day.--James Palmer, • beerehop keeper of Martock,
was charged with stealing, on the 17th September,
24Ibs. weight of hay, thg property of Thomas
Dwight, and valued at sixpence. —P.B. Clarke, who
Is stationed at Martock, met prisoner near the hay
rick at Lovers' Grove with something on his back,
which, when he approached, prisoner dropped it,
and when questioned, denied all knowledge of it.—
The shepherd of the prosecutor deposed to the loss
of some hay on the day in question. The hay was
of a peculiar growth; that dropped by the prisoner
corresponded with the remainder of the rick.—
Prisoner pleaded guilty, and leaked for mercy on
account of his having ten children, and advanced
that he had been very unfortunate in the world.—
He was sentenced to aix weeks' imprisonment with
bard labour.

TA UNTON.--Dz•Tx or A C.ENTINARIAN. —Aim
Dunning, • widow, of Upper High-street, Taunton,
has recently died, at the patriarchal age of 10. Up
to the time of her death the old lady was in full
possession of her faculties and was frequently
accustomed, until within • loft time since, to take
active bodily exercioe, sometimes walking many
miles in the course of a day.
BRIDGWATER. —Tim MURDER AT Wzrro
ZOYLAND. —On Monday, William Chard, jun., '
charged with the murder of his servant, Parnell
Howe, 21 years of age, was brought up before the
county magistrates at Bridgwater, and, after some
further evidence, the depositions having been com-
pleted, was fully committed for trial on the charge of
wilful murder. Mr. B. Loviboncl appeared for the '
prisoner, and submitted that there was no evidence
before them of malice aforethought that would lead
them to believe that the prisoner committed this
murder. He could not believe that any jury would
convict upon the evidence as it at present stood. He
thought it exceedingly hard that the prisoner should
be sent to poi and put upon his trial upon so seri-
ous a charge. The Bench said it was quite elm
that the hand of the prisoner committed the offsets*,
and it would be for a jury of his country to my
whether he was or was not guilty of murder.
KINGSWOOD.—An influential local committee
has been formed at Ktingsweed,, with the RAY. W.
Sandford, incumbent of the parish, as secretary, for
' the puoee of raising a fund in aid of the widows
' and children of the two poor fellows who lost their
lives in "Joy'. Pit." The came cannot be in better
hands, and, as it is one which commends itself to
universal sympathy, we have no doubt that con-
tributions will rapidly flow in and enable the com-
mittee to avert from the bereaved families at
Eingswood the pinching pressure of poverty, by
which. but for such assistance, their lot would be
doubly embittered.
WESTBURY.—An EXTRAORDINARY HOI7BI AND
Sromx.—A correspondent writer" On the road
across Durdhara Down to Westbury there are several
trees, on one of which is affixed a board, "This
house to be sold, with coachlioase and stables.
Inquire within." So that the tree forme the house
and stable, and the inquiry within is still more
peculiar.

BRISTOL.--Tan Aritmeznarioir OP BRIAD.
Oat of 32 samples of bread recently analysed by
the Lancet Analytical Sanitary Commission, alum
was found in 19 amplest, or more than one-half. The
quantities ranged, per quarto= loaf, between 24511
grains and 15806 grains; and per sack of ninety-
two four pound loaves, between 5 oz. 4dwt. and 33
on. 2 dwt. It appears that, as a rule, the more re-
spectable high-priced bakers, who buy the best flour,
and sell superior bread, do not make use of alum,
for the employment of which no neoessity at all
exists. The principal reason why alum is so gene-
rally used by the bakers who sell cheap bread is that
they are thereby enabled to use a less expensive
dour, and to impart to it the colour and appearances
which belong to dour of superior quality and higher
prim. 'Mat the addition of a powerful substance
like alum, and in the large quantities detected by
the Lancet commissioners, is prejudicial to health
and is productive to the derangement of the diges-
tive organs is well ascertained. The adulteration of
bread with alum is contrary to law, and bakers using
it are liable to punishment, both under the Bread
Act and under the recent Bill for the Prevention of
'Adulteration ; the former Act, is, indeed, rarely,
and at long intervals enforced; but the latter, as ;
respects the adulteration of bread, as of other
articles, is inoperative. Investigations, we under-
stand, are privately being made in Bristol on this
;abject. and A number of important and startling
disclosures are expected to transpire.