The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-04 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

I'HE Boscawen petty officer who blew one of his eyes
out last week is in danger of becoming totally blind. One
eye, of course, is totally lost, and the other for some time
appeared to be, and though it. condition is now a Little
itc_proved, there is danger of losinsthat also.
WV.SLLILS CAROL SINGING. Tho choir of Easton
Wesleyan chapel went round during the Christmas season,
singing Christmas carols, from * tervice of song. So
successful were they that they gathered about £5 for the
new day school fund.
FIRE AT THE BRRAKWATIR FORS.—The woodwork Of
steam crane at the Breakwater 'End Fort caught fire on
Friday night, and burnt until Captain Barter, Quarter-
master Jeatt, and a party of men front H.MS. Seamew,
off in a boat, landed at the. Fort; and pot the tire
out.
Tug CAROL SWIMS on Christmas Eve at the parish
church wai attended by many move than migt_t have been
expected, on account of the unfisvouraMeness of the
weather, and was a thoroughly bright and hearty servtae,
just such a one as to wann the people's heart* at the
sacred feast. _

THc 7:110--VE SCHOOL, PORTLAND.—Lut week • very
pleasing episode took place at the above school It having
come to the knowledge of the girls that their mistress,
Miss Huneybourne, was going to leave them on account of
her approaching marriage, they determined to show their
appretmtiou of her services, and their love for her, by pre-
senting her with a testimonial Accordingly they sub-
scribed todether and bought a very hanchionse work-box.
This was presented to her on Wednesday evening last by
Misr Hill, in the presence of Mrs. Tidswell Miss h.
Clifton, Miss L. Hill Mrs. Waters, and other ladies. The
testimonial was suitably acknowledged by Miss Honey-
bourne, who leaves the school with the love and esteem of
all conigected with it.
. .

THE VERNB CIIRISTII4B TILE& --011 Thursday last. a Tell
largo Christmas tree, which had been provided with ite
burden of presents by several of the officers and their
WiVeA, was illuminated in the Gymnasium, which was
handsomely decorated. After the men's wives and children
had been feasted with cake and tea, glees and songs were
sung, and a pleasant time pissed. An immense quantity
of useful presents wore unloaded front the tree and dis-
tributed. Tim kind friends who thus showed Interest in
those around them were Major and Mn. Harcourt (*pt.
and Mni. Rogers, Capt. Mc.Caskell. Capt. and Mn.
Woods, Lieut. Palmer, Lieut. Oates, Cot-Sergeant Smith,
and Paymaster Winterhottom.

..... .....
THE DECORATIONS AT THE VERNE. OD ChTistrtlss Mr the
rooms at the Verne Citadel were very beautifully decorated,
every company vieing with the others in the adornments,
and when the large numbers of civilians vieitedit, they
admitted that such a sight had never before been seen at
the Verne. The regimental hoeours were conspicious on
the wall, painted in various devices by the men, coloured
tissue paper in links also hanging across the room, and
formed into festoons round the gas brackets. Various
mottoes occupied prominent positions, such as "Long life
to our Colonel and OlEcers," "Long live our Gallant
Captain," " Long life, health, and happiness to our
C.lonel and ()dicers," "A Hearty Welcome to all," "A
merry Christina.. and a Happy New Year," "A Thousand
Welcomes to You." Stars were formed of the bayeeets,
and the gases being alight, the devices had a good effect.
In F room a stage was erected, and an amateur theetrical
and mesmeric performance was the attraction. The bands-
men were distributed in the various rooms, and dancing
was kept up until 11 o'clock. E room was an exception to
the general merriment, on account of the decease of Sergi
Mills, who died in the hospital on Christmas morning at
nine o'clock, of dropsy. Ile only went into the hospital
the previous Thursday evening, and to-day (Thursday) his
body is, we believe, to be interred.

THE CHURCHES AT CHRISTMAS
Were, as usual, decorated by the loving and patient hands
of friends, who.* Mate was admirably displayed in thus
beautifying the House of God. We have not received full
lists of the workers engaged, but the holiday season itself
must plead excuse for shortcomings,
St. John's, Fortune's Well, had among its adornments,
over the communion table the words "Emanuel, God with
Wt." MI the left was "Glory to God," and on the right,
over the pulpit "In the highest ;" in front of the gallery
..On earth peace, goodwill to men," these were cut out of
white cotton wool (termed "Swansdown") in church teat
letters, and placed on a ground of rod glazed cloth. The
pulpit was tastefully adorned with evergreens, and other
beautiful things, laurel was twined round the pillars, and
other evergreen" round the communion rails, while the
font was adorned with ferns, Among the workers were
Miss Halms, Mrs. (Alley, Mrs. Parsons, /Las Steam dm
St, Peter's, the Grove, was decorated by Mat and
Ws. Tidwell, Mins Clifton. Mn %tent Mr. nal. JUN.

Mr. Cohen, pupil tea...iiers of the school also assisted, and
Hiss Driver adorned the font. Over the communion table
*ere the words "Unto us a Saviour is born" in white
letters on scarlet ground, the sills of the windows had
scarlet bases, bordered with green, and with alternate
white and green crosses. The font bore, round the bowl.
in white "swansdown" letters, on red, the words " Sadler
little children to come unto me, and forbid thorn not."
Here were also abundance of holly and other green foliage,
on one side of the church were designs in white and green,
and on the other in white and red, the windows and the
arch over the entrance were also enriched, in fact the
various points at vantage had their appropriate ornaments,
the whole being described as "elegantly neat."
St. George's, Ref orne, surpassed all ite previous decora-
tions; in fact, it would take too long to describe them.
The design was by Mr. Holmes, and carried out under his
superintendence, and the principal part of the work was
done by him and the Rev. J. A. Besaor and Mrs. Beason
It was indeed, thoroughly well done, bAnners, evergreens.
tette, all the usual elements of decoration and others
beside, were in profusion, and yet in good taste. There
was a very large congregation on Christmas Day, who
were delighted with the unusual beauty of their church.