The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-12-05 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

BINGLICY HALL CATTLI SHOW.—Ai this show on
Saturday, our townsman, Mr. Harry Frampton, vras
awarded the first prize for a Devon steer not exceeding
a years and 3 months old.

Tan CATTLE PLACID I. —The " Blandford 'Union Cattle
Plague commitee"have resolved to request the batchera,
as well as intended exhibitors residing irL the district,
not to bring home any cattle, sheep, or pigs from the
Islington show, fearing the introduction of that dreadful
acourge, the rinderpest, into the neighbourhood.
TEM-Pi/LANCE SocarrY.—The first public meeting of
the season of the Blandford Temperance Society was
held in the Townhall here on Friday evening, when
Mr. Gatehouse, of Shaftesbury, and Mr. Selway. of
Sturminster Newton, attended as a deputation from
the Dorset C..inity Temperance Association, and gave
ter, earnest addresses on the temperance question.
Mr. Lawrence presided.

PiNNY RIADINGS. —The winter series of these popular
entertainments, in connection with the Working Men's
Club; commenced on Thursday evening, when the Town-
hall was filled to overflowing. The Rev. 1. R. Qeirk
presided, and after he had made a few remarks apposite
to the occasion, Xing'e quadrille band, which rendered
pleasing service at intervals throughput the evening,
played • selection of music. Mr. Atkinson then read an
extract from Sir Walter Scott's "Lord of the Isles,"
prefacing the same by some explanatory observations.
Mr. W. E. Groves followed with a humorous piece by
Brown, "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," and afterwards
read an amusing manuscript poem in the Somersetehire
1 dialect The concluding piece, read by Mr. G. W. Bacot,
was "A trap to catch a sunbeam." A. vote of thanks to
the Chairman, readers, and band having been unani-
mously paned, and acknowledged, the National Anthem
I was played, and the company separated.

WESIALIAR MISSION ART Sot-INTL—The annual
meeting on behalf of Yoreign Missions, in connection
with the Weeleyan Cherch, was held at Blandford on
Friday evening, and was fisirly attended. The chair
was taken by Mr. Uriah Benjafield, of Moteombe. Mr.
Ainsworth read the report, from which, it appeared the
home receipts for the past year were upwards of
£104,000; foreign, £37,058 148. 3d.; permeate over,
gle,coo. To the receipts the Shaftesbury circuit had
contributed £l4O 2e. Id., beside juvenile offerings,
£24 15s. 4d. The meeting was addressed by Mr.
Edwards, of Fontmell, the Rev, B. Gray (Independent),
the Rev. It. Gilbert, who gave sonic interesting details
of the mission work in Western Africa, and the Rev. J.
Podlton, of Rochester, who illustrated his remarks by a
number of &loured drawings of interesting scenes con.
sorted with mission work in Jamaica, Africa, China,
New Zealand, Australia, and other places. A vote of
thanks to the Chairman having been secorded, the
meeting separated.

DORSET RIFLE VOLUNTEER& —The Annual
Dinner and distribution of prizes of this company
came off at the Cetievn Hotel, on Wednesday evening,
the 22nd inst. On this occasion the officers were
invited as guests by the non-commissioned officers.
About 430, including a few visitors, sat down to a
, good substantial dinner, consisting of meats for the
first course, and game for the second. The chair
was taken by Sergeant-Major Abbott, who was sap-
, ported by Captain Hambro, Lieut. Johns, Captain
and Adjutant Barrett, E. M. Spooner, Esq., W. H.
Atkinson, Esq., Mr. W. E. Groves, and Mr. T. Id.
Park ; there were also present Mr. Spence-Abbott,
Mr. Lindsay, Mr. Marshall, &c. The vice-chair by
Colour-Sergeant Meaden and Sergeant Groves. On
the removal of the cloth the usual loyal, patriotic,
and oomplimentary toasts were given and heartily
responded to. In the course of the proceedings the
Captain distributed the prizes, amounting in value
to about igfl. A most successful and pleasant
meeting was passed.