The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-08-31 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

Don= CENTRAL RAILWAY. The adjourned
meeting of the shareholders held at the Crown
Hotel on Friday, the 20th inst., and the meeting held
by them immediately previous to it, appear to have
given rise to misoonoeption in the minds of some
persons as to the motives which induced the share-
holders to hold the preliminary meeting, and to
assume a neutral position in reference to the one
subsequently held. No body of shareholder, rept,-
venting a railway company could more highly esti-
mate the qualifications of gentlemen forming a Board
of Direction than do the shareholders of the Dorset
Central—the well-known and often-tested mental
and dispositional qualifications for office of the gen-
tlemen who act as their Board of Direction. In fact,
it has often been remarked by the shareholders
living here that, in having directors chosen from their
midst, who sympathized with them from local asso-
ciation, and who personally lived and moved amongst
them, they had great reason to feel confidence in the
government exercised over the executive departments
of the company. This natural feeling of confidence
in the directors has not been weakened by anything
that might hare occurred at the meeting's referreal
to, but, from all we can gather, we firmly believe
that the feeling has been strengthened by the readi-
ness which the directors manifested to listen to and
explain any matters doubtful to the shareholders.
If any other proof be needed of the healthy tone of
confidence mutually animating directors and share-
holders, it may be deduced from the fact that Mr.
Ker Seymer announced to the meeting his intention
of taking 30 additional shares, and consented, subse-
quent to it, to become one of the Board of Direction.
That the shareholders have questioned the proceed-
ings of those who professionally advise the directors
and that of those who, as officers, act for them, will
scarcely surprise the public when they are informed
that in the balance-sheet issued to the shareholders
£9,000 to £IO,OOO of arrears are shown to have been
allowed to accumulate on deposits and calls on a
total of capital called up amounting only to £25,000.
This fact and others of a doubtful nature, seriously
affecting the interests of the company, have induced
a number of shareholders to bestir themselves and to
ask for an explanation from the directors, which ex-
planation, when solicited, was freely and readily
given. Surely there is nothing in all this calculated
to stir up a bad feeling between the directors and
shareholders, or to operate injuriously against the
future interests of the company. On the contrary,
is there not much in such a healthy tone of public
spirit to call for greater unity of action on the part of
those who govern and of those who are governed,
and an increased share of public co-operation? The
greatest drawback which the most legitimate and
promising undertaking in the railway world has to
contend with is the want of public confidence ; and
this universal feeling of no confidence is not the
growth of yesterday, but has been developing itself
in the minds of Englishmen for years, has been con-
stantly nourished by disclosure after disclosure of
reckless extravagance, implicating high and low in
authority, until the public mind has become sensi-
tively susceptible to the feeling of alarm and cautious-
ness whenever and wherever railway enterprise is
sought to be developed. Can it then be wondered
at that the shareholders of the Dorset Central who
are desirous of completing a much wanted and pro-
fitable line of railway, running through their own
neighbourhood, and who have fortunately secured a
Board of Directors in whom they can put unwaver-
ing confidence, that they should have been anxious
to preserve by timely suggestion the project in
which they are deeply interested from being over-
thrown by those allowed mal-practices which have
so frequently overthrown other railway schemes?
Surely no wonder can be experienced by the public
at the mere fact of a body of shareholders legitimately
discharging so apparent a duty to the directors and
to themselves. If, however, wonder has been ex-
cited in the public mind, how forcibly does it prove
that the past tolerated railway mismanagement in
this country has so corroded the watchful energies
of the people as to awaken wonder in their minds
that any person should think of now applying those ,
tests of soundness to railway matters usually applied '
to ordinary commercial undertakings. Corres-
pondent. _ _ .

CONFIRMATION. —The Lord Bishop of the Diocese
administered the rite of confirmation in Blandford
Church on Monday evening week, to thirty-one
females and four males, one third of the number
from Blandford, the others from the adjoining
parishes of Langton, Pimperne, Saint Mary, and
Spettnibur7, after which he addressed them from
the pulpit for a short time, in a most affectionate
and earnest manner, from 2nd Peter, iii. 18, "But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ."

The parish Church of Bpettisbury, near Blandford,
is about to be taken down and rebuilt, and during
the works the service of the church will be per-
formed in a temporary building erected and fitted
up for the purpose within the churchyard.

POOLE.

ACCIDENT.—On Monday morning an aociclent oc-
curred to a Mr. and Mn. Gill, of Wimborne. It ap-
pears that they were going to Poole to attend the
market in a spring cart, when descending the hill
near the Nag's Head Inn the horse stepped on a
stone and fell with great violence, precipitating Mr.
and Mrs. Gill into the road. They, however, es-
caped with some severe bruises, but the horse is so
much injured that it is expected it will have to be
slaughtered.

Edmonds' Menagerie, long known and oelebrated
under the name of Wombwell's, was exhibited in
the town on Tuesday last, and attracted a large
concourse of visitors, who were much gratified by
witnessing so fine a collection of wild beasts, while
the extraordinary performances of theelephants were
acknowledged to surpass anything of the kind before
seen.

POLlo6.—Kezia4 Prowae, a girl of the town, wits
brought before the Mayor, charged with being disorderly.
—Committed to Poole gaol for 34 days.

PETTY SESSIONS, Thursday.—{Before the Mayor, W.
Pearoe, Esq.' and G. Ledgard, Esq.)—Jane Lawrence,
keeper of abeerhouse, was summoned for allowing a
number of disorderly persons in her house. P.C. Beaken
and Groves proved the ease. It being the first offense,
she was dismissed by paying the costs.

FRIDAT.—( Before the -hlayor.)—Mary Ann Mutes
was °barged by P.C. Beaken with being drunk and dis-
orderly. Dismissed.

SALURDAY--(Before the Mayor, and John Lambaste,
Esq.)— William Murray, an old man supported by •
stick, was brought up on • warrant charged with an
aggravated and indecent uuult on a little girl about 7
years old, named Thomson. After a severe repriinand
from the Mayor he was fined 40s. and wits, or • month's
imprisonment. Locked up in default.

George Williams, better known by the name of Kerby,
was brought up charged with an assault on Mary Ann
Letty. As Letty did not appear the case was dismissed.
—William Copping and Charles Brett, two sea apprenti-
ce., were brought up charged with deserting their ehip
the "Constant." Ordered to be kept in custody until
the ship goes to sea, and pay the expenses.