The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-01-20 00:00:00

Montt Cottutg expreoo.

TUESDAY, JANUA.EY 90, Din.

NOTES OF TIIB WEEK.

Her Majesty, accompanied by Prince Leorold
and Prfurcee Beatrice, attended by the ladies and
gentleni.m of the Court, will, It undorstosd,
leave Oeboamo ou or about Feb. 14, and return
to Windsor Castle, In order to receive the Duke
of Edinburgh and the Grand Duchess Marie
upon their arrival in this country. Preparations
on a scale of groat magnificence are made at St.
, Petersburg for celebrating the marriage of the
Cur's daughter to our Naval Prinee. The
Royal psir are to come to this country in March.
The 6,353 votes recorded for Mr. Cawood, the
Conaervative candidate, for the representation of
Newcastle, although Mr. Cowen, Radical, had a
majority of over 1,000, have been deemed another
illustration of Comervative reaction, but oleser
examination indicates no such change of feeling
in that great Northern constituency. In 1868
Mr. Hamond favoured the disestabliahment of
the Ini-h Church, and so alienated the bulk of
the Tory party, while in 1859, when the contest
was fought on general issues, the Conservative
candidate stood in about the same position as
Mr. I.lamonCat the present election.
Forecasts of the work of Parliament in the
coming session are being made, and it is agreed
that the Local Taxation Bill, which is to lave
Mr. Glad.stone's special attention, is of first im-
portant*. We are promised a rival Sanitary Bill
to Mr. Stauisfeld's, fathered by Sir Charles
A dderley, and a Game Law and Trespass Bill
by Mr. Ward Hunt. Mr. Dixon makes another
attempt to reshape the Education Act, and Mr.
Trevelyan the County Suffrage. There is some
probability that the Government may take up
the franchise question, indeed, Mr. Arch haa
stated that the Premier, in a private Interview,
promised as much; but, whenever it comes in a
practical shape, we may be sure it will be allied
with a redistribution scheme and chanjes largely
affecting the present system of representation.
The Cabinet had • meeting on Monday afternoon.
Whatever the public may think of the Licens-
ing Act, the publicans are determined to have it
altered next session. The measure may have
worked well in the interests of order and tem-
perance, but it has undoubtedly pressed heavily
on the licensed victuallers, and has in many
butane., proved a source of individual hardship.
We may prepare for determined effort. to modify
certain clauses of the Act, especially with regard
to the hours of closing, and it is highly probable
that the Government will not oppose any reason-
able alterations.

Dr. Kenosly has finished his speech for the
Claimant in 23 days, and Mr. Hawkins is reply-
ing for the prosecution. The learned gentleman
stoutly maintained the Orton theory, and,presented
the hots in support of it with masterly effective-
ness. The sase is expected to last another
month.

The Taunton election inquiry reveals, if the
witnt sees are to be believed, some instances of
petty bearing and so forth by partizans of the
Liberal candidate, but whether or not they were
" agent.' is another matter. It is not alleged
that Sir Henry James had any cognizance of this
treating.
. . . . . .

The -winter season is bringing its usual com-
plement of seamen to the Dorset county prison.
On Thursday last five sailors were committed
from Weymouth for refusing to proceed to sea
in the barque Eleanor, SOO tons, bound from
London to Penang. They alleged the ship was
unseaworthy, that the bunks were too small and
not watertight, and that she was under-manned.
But • Board of Trade surveyor disproved their
allegations, and, as they still refused to go in
the vessel, they were sent to prison for ten
week.. Seamen are paid a mouth's wage* in
advance, and the passage down the Channel at
this season of the year tries every timber of •
vessel, so that should stress of weather compel
a master to put into Portland Roads, the crew
not uncommonly begin complaining whether
with or without reason, for if they can persuade
a Bench of Magistrates the ship is not well
found they may be released from their engage-
ment with a month's pay in hand, and if not
they are only ordered to proceed in the vessel.
Mr. Plimsoll hat done valuable service by expos-
ing the reckless disregard of sailors" lives which
some shippers manifest, but his good work must
not blind re te the faults of skulking sailors.
The sea will always have its perils, and sailors
must brave them when all is done that care can
to make vessels secure. Of the frequency with
which crows shipped in London refute to go
further than Portland the number of com-
mittals to Dorchester prison testify. In 1872
there were no leas than 51, and we believe last
year a still greater number.
In another place we have quoted Mr. J. C.
Cox!' review of tho work of tho Latourere
Union in this county and his opinion as to its
future effects on agriculture and legblation.
Acquaintance with the mixed wages and per-
quisite system of Dorset has convinced Mr. Cox
that tho labourers of this county have never been
paid loss than their fellow-workmen in Somerset,
Devon, and Wilts. This is an admission which
we hop will be noted by those who have visited
the employers of labour in this county with ,
unmeasured denunciation; but, we believe, Mr.
Cox might have gone much further, and said that
Dorset has in money and kind remunerated its
Labourers far better than any other of the
south-western counties. In regard to the
migration and emigration that him °centred, we
see no reason to doubt his statement that 500
or GOO labourers have left the county; but, as to
the 0 disgraceful neglect of cultivation," In
consequence, we believe Mr. Cox has been
misinformed, or it is a figment of his imagine-
tion. In no previous autumn within our
recollection was the harvest garnered so easily,
nor in any year did we meet with so many
labourers out of employment. And this state of
things we attribute to two canoes, the increased
use of labour saving machinery, and the
breadth of arable land converted into
pasture. At • recent meeting of
the Winfrith Farmers' Club Mr. Demon
adverted to this phase of the question, and
calculated that under each of these heed, the
labour of at least 100 men had been saved. In
harvest time every reaping machine is ealculated
! to do the work of ten men, sad the steam plough
breaks up the stubble. with amazing repidity,
saving time, labour, and horse power, These are
economical aids which have been forced upon the
farmer, and they have answered admirably. In
regard to laying down arable land to pasture
It is well known that within certain limits this
is rdvantageous, considering the present and
probably future high prices of meat. With fat
oxen making £4O a head, and sheep as much as !
£4 and £5, the breeding and feeding of stook !
must pay better than growing corn, At the !
same time we believe the labour agitation has!
in some measure tended to turn the current of
present farming in these directions, but capital !
and enterprise will enable the agriculturists of '
these days to keep well abreast of the stream, ,
and the migrating labourers will find in other
parts of England and in our colonies that skilled !
labour, ready tact, and willing service alone !
command good wages and appreciativerespect.The
Earl of Derby, speaking at Manchester last
Friday, adverting to the attempt to create an
artificial tlearth of labour in the rural districts,
pointed out that mechanism tends to make
labour more abundant than emigration can
absorb, and that mechanism require* the atten-
tion of "killed artisans into which the labourers
of to-day must transform themselves.
The battle of the gauges which years ago was
carried on so earnestly by rival railway engineer',
is brought to mind by the announcement that in
our own district within the next few months the
necessary steps will be taken forabolishingbyand
bye the broad gauge. By its smaller cost for
rolling stock, the narrow system has ousted its
more comfortable rival, and by the end of May
we are informed the Great Western railway
from Salisbury and Yeovil to Weymouth will be
provided with additional rails so that narrow
gauge trains can run over the whole system
and it is said that as the present engines and
carriages become worn out they will be replaced
by rolling stock of the narrow width, and so the
old broad gauge trains will be literally run off
the line. Tto uniformity of gauge will be
advantageous to the public in many ways. The
break is troublesome to passengers, and In regard
to goods causes delay, expense, and lose. In
coal traffic Is this especially the case, as
transference from one series of trucks to
another train, besides being a costly process,
conidderably deteriorates the cargo. Of the
effect of this change to the public nothing but
good can be anticipated. It will bring the Great
and South Western into closer competition for
the southern traffic, sad will, at any rate, atop
the upward movement in the ohargesfor carriage
of goods, if it does not bring about • reduction of
ra'es.

The patriarch of books of reference h Debrett's
Peerahe, Baronetege, Knightage and titles of
Courtesy, the anniversary of whose advent will
In a few days be celebrated by the appearanoe
of the 16Lit Annual edition.

B orottsb ire.