The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-09-29 00:00:00

'vf4oL

The CLERK of tha PEAIR then read a letter (ruin lf r.
Weld supporting a moue:4 from the landlord to keep open
the suck Bear at Wocl until 11 o'dock, on the ground
that the house was situated close to the station, and that
....enzers by the last two trains could not arrive at Wool
In time to mach the house.
Kr. Howard pointed out that the train from Dorchester
did not &mite at Wool till half put 10 ; and the closing of
the house at 10 would therefore he a mat inconvenience.
1.0r.1 Postrnot said that Wool not being a "populous
tp-o"ba they couldn't do it--Wool was not adjacent to
arein ; and under existing circumatances they had
better leave it alone.
Tbe application was rejected:_____

ENiollg CAKE

Yr. G. GI:MA presenter] a petition from Mr. Richard
Briekell, of the Fountain Inn, Eamon) Green. 'totem)"
praying that the pariah of liotcombe, or the district of
'Comore Green he declared • "populoun place." It con-
tained 311 Inhabited houses and a population of 1,451, at
the last cease, since which time it had greatly increased.
The tnemoralists pointed out that Cann, with only 134
Inhabite.l house. and a population of 5,4, had already
in,-luded in the li.t of "populous places." Eamon
Groin was ooly 3J par Is from the town of Inhaftesbara
Auld situuted iu a denw'y port
of the
pw.i.h
liottombe. It had ri'eabitcd hoAses and • population
of no, thsu AM; Toe aumlic OM WWI sixneel by
Mew.. Charles Martin. Robert Situ e, Georce Gent', and
ISO
g,HQS!
Lo-.I PORVIty i test of a -popu!ous place" was
ant of the CM, had to cons:der was annexing
It to the tlwu btry.
how C Jrl vs -sa• I,n 117.7. and ultimately the Committee
lleclsred Ruiners Grata a part of Ishaftubury Within the
Pluldi of ILK -ombe.
This concluded thepram/tar&

it vraa an OS3IIOB against the law to keep
rstt eDipul exurpiN 100 gala. buried in the earth and only within
""" reach of some hovels and straw (if it was within
TUESDAY. SE EMBER , Wt.
reach of them); it was another offence to keep
PT 19
150 gals. in an unlicensed place, though that
-
was in an open garden far removed from any
NOTES OF THE WEEK. building, and so safe that the magistrates
We have had an opportue yof inspecting the actually licensed it. Yet the law compelled
plans, issued by the Council of the Duchy of both these quantities, or over a ton, to be taken
Cornwall, for the letting of portions of the Ford- into Wyke village, kept close to anti surrounded
in,gton Field contiguous to the town, for building by dwelling-houses, and permitted it (to say the
and acommodation purposes; and although least) to be kept there a week! Surely after
they may not confer all the benefits sanguine this, communities ought to indict every place
persons anticipated, they do offer substantial used as a police station, for a dangerous
advaniagea to the inhabitants of Dorchester. nuispoe, since large quantities of benzoline
There are three plans. The first deals with that may be stored there. We hear of another
portion of the field westward of the town between police officer being once expected to keep near his
tho Ilridport and Maiden Castle roads, the line residence a quantity of nitro-glycerine (dynamite
north and south running across railway between oil) whieh had been seized as likely to blow down
the watcrwor:ai and Damer's barn. It is laid the neighbourhood, but he disobeyed, objecting
out in plots of from about four to ten acres each ;to be in danger of pulverisation. The fact is
for paddocks or for cultivation. The second Acta of Parliament are drawn by barristers in
shows cottoge sites at East Ftwdington, the land London who have no idea of the practical details
being situa.ed on the town side of and abutting as they apply in country districts. Were the
upon she south-Wcitern railway on the northern drafts of new measures submitted to an ex-
side of the Wareham road, in a strip extending perienced magistrates' clerk in half-a-dozen
to Loud's mill, the larger number of the cottages places in different parts of the country many
being between those premises and Smokey Hole unworkable Acts would be made easily operative,
hino. Thirty-thrJe pairs of cottages are pro- and such anomalies as that we have indicated
sided for, each having alloted to it about twenty would not occur.
perches of ground. Thu third plan indicates The County Licensing Committee met at Blandford,
on 1. relay, under the presidency of the Viscountone short of a score villa sites, the plot so set
Portman, Chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions,
apart having for its eastern boundary Mr. John
Havne's premises, on the west the Weymouth and heard memorials for so classing several villages
road, northward the South Walk and Iceu a that the publicans may still keep open their houses
and sou--herly the line of the South-Western the much-abused hour of Bruce, instead of
ct directs.
railway. Each of these plots consists of about In Closingiti:.t ten
cases where
atshethrllAmesencodzildAt
e deemed
two acres, and in the matter of size and arrange- connected with • town—Cl:.arrei villages
two miles from
went the Mayor (Mr. Gregory), speaking publicly Lyme Regis, and Enmore Green, near Shaftesbury—
on Thursday night, approved the plan, so that the Committee acceded to the request; and in the
we may take it the design is a good one, for he case of Bere Regis they declared it a "populous
is the best local authority we could have on :a.) place." An application from Wool, however, was
refused, it not being within the competency of the
subject. The cottage sites are excellent in one
point—they give an eighth of an acre to each Court to declare it a "populous place," and both
house, which would afford a garden of ample Wareham and Dorchester being too far off to be
dimensions for the time and labour of an called adjacent. But the action of the magistrates in
ordinary working man in the town and enoug theo.e_s,ases_rems to indicate that any parish within
to provide his family with the chief portion of tmwentmutoes :::lwtnhary get the privilege over
Githousand
etteeh-
the garden produce they would require. But it not have much difficulty in being
is objected that they would be too far out of the distinguished " "populous plum,'
town, and that men employed in the majority of inhabitants will Palish" °I
the places of business would occupy all their
meal times in walking to and fro. There may
be something in this, yet after all what is the
distance from the top of High-street to Loud's
Mill compared with that mechanics in large
towns necessarily traverse I Even in Weymouth
a man living on the Weymouth side of the water
and working in the neighbourhood of the rail-
way station would be as far between his house
and his daily labour. But there are two com-
pensations we imagine. First and toreruost, the
ground rents of these out of the way sites will
be necessarily low, indeed we should hope they
would be let at their bare agricultural value, a
collateral result of a hich would be that builders
might erect cottages and let them at a corres-
pondingly low rent; and secondly, the interval
for walking between labour and refreshment
would minister to health and longevity. Return-
ing to the first plan it seems to us that although
plots averaging about seven acres will give
accommodation to a certain number of the
inhabitants, they do not meet the wants of the
townsfolk generally, in that they do not supply
cottage or garden spaces. The East Fordington
cottage sites would, we should think, admirably
suit men employed in that part of the borough,
and probably that is the intention of the Duchy
Council; but the general body of artisans want
to be accommodated on the western side. How-
ever, we hear of a project for acquiring in
connection with a Building Society a suitable
plot in that direction, and enabling either
working men themselves or investors to build
houses ; and also of a proposal to rent a large
, space in a good position and sub-let it for
gardens in one-eighth, quarter, or half-acre
pieces. From both schemes we hope good will
, come in several ways. In submitting these
plans the Duchy Council have thought it right
to offer thu various plots by tender. To most
people this was a surprise ands disappointment;
but we have no right to question their conduct
in the matter. The buililing plots are to be let
on leases not exceeding 99 years, but it is
reported that there may not be insuperable
objections made to the acquirement of the fee.
Now, therefore, the opportunity is given for
extending the borders of the town, and we trust
that the Duchy will meet as far as may
be practicable the wishes of builders and
investors, and that the happy day may soon
arrive, when, as the Mayor phrased it, the
Junction hotel, now at one extremity, becomes
the centre of the town.
In this connection we may note that a new
road is indicated on the villa plan in a line with
Charles-street to the South-Western railway
premises, leaving between it and Weymouth
road about six acres. If this be carried out as
designed the South-Western railway will be
restricted to the present way of ingress and,
egrets, for the new road would simply lead them
to a bye-street and a circuitous route into the
town. But the changes now proposed afford a
golden opportunity for the South- Western
Company to acquire much needed apace for
enlarged offices and removal of the passenger
station so as to avoid the necessity of shunting
and to bring the line practically nearer to the
town by forming a street direct to their premises
from South-street. Doing this they would
benefit themselves and the town at the same
time; palming this opportunity an improvement
at any future period will be either impracticable
or very expensive.
Touching railways, while the horrors of the
Thorpe collision are fresh in the public mind,
we may usefully call attention to the possibility
of is similar disaster happening between Dor-
chester and Maiden Newton. When an acci-
dent occurs everybody is wise enough to tell
how its recurrence may be prevented, but if
the first event can be averted how much the
better. Here is nine miles of railway with
considerable traffic over it, and being situated
at the latter end of a very long line, the
times of the arrivals of down trains are,
perhaps unavoidably, somewhat uncertain and
irregular. What is the consequence I We
have heard of this happening a passenger
train has been started up from Dorchester, but
in a minute been whistled back, and then after
brief waiting, a down goods has passed through
the station. What would have occurred had the
passenger train got two minutea'start I No doubt
the line is worked on the block system, and the
officials are as vigilant and trustworthy as men
can be; but "to err is human," and in the
working of railways the consequences are so
disastrous, that it ought to be made asimpossible
as means can make it, to commit a blunder.
The Bridport Choral Association has done good
service by fostering a love of high-class music
and promoting skill in the Divine art, and,
wishing it increased success, we regret to note
that at the general meeting one or two elements
of discord arose. The trifling adverse balance
is not of great moment; considering, indeed,
the expenses attaching to the society's meetinuls,
it is surprising the committee have financially
done so well. But the managers were taken
to task because they had spent £l5 in the engage-
ment of professional singers, and it was also
hinted, not only that the committee had without
warrant incurred that expense, but that it was
altogether unnecessary. And thus was raised
the question of Professional v. Amateur Soloists.
When funds are short and •society has members
of good ability, it seems an easy escape from
danger to take advantage of their services and
save the heavy demand upon the funds which
professionals make; but there are other con-
siderations. The selection of amateurs for
soloists is too difficult a matter to be tarried out
without provoking jealousy and giving offence,
whereby the society may be speedily disinte-
grated. And in an association of only 47
members, the greatest unanimity is essential
to its effective working. Consider also how it
would effect the list of subscribers. Everybody,
naturally enough, likes to have value for his
money, and we rather fear, that with amateur
talent alone, the subscribers would decrease,
and that financially the expedient would in the
end be about as satisfactory as that of the Irish-
mac, who, finding his blanket would cover his
feet but not the whole of his body, cut a piece
off the bottom and sewed it on the top to make
it longer. Then in the interest of the members
themselves, we think the engagement of profes-
gimlets desirable. They give an attraction and
a brightness to concerts which would otherwise
be lacking, and by the display of their highly-
trained voices and cultivated taste offer to the
members examples of attainable proficiency
which may prove incentives to renewed efforts
after musical distinction. For these, amongst
other reasons, we think the committee have
acted wisely in getting professional assistance at
the association's concerts, and that the practice
is worthy of continuance.
Two cases which came before the Weymouth
magistrates on Friday exhibit the opation of
P the etroleum i Act nan extraordinary and
dangerous light. In the pariah of Wyk. Regis

After • considerable interval, the Freemasons have
once more a royal Grand Master, and no less distin-
guished • one than the Haecir4strsarent to the throne.
The Prince of Wales, by the office has not
only done honour to his brother Masons, bat has made
a tacit thoughhot ineffectual protest against the Papal
Intolerance of Masonry. His Royal Highness may Ithe
ornate services, but he has obvieusly no tendency Rome-
ward. Of course, the Prince will not be expected to
fulfil all the duties of Grand-Mastership, and • Pro'
Grand Master will have to be appointed.
No one will be much surprised at the result of the
inquest before the Norwich city coroner on the victims
of the Thorpe accident A verdict of manslaughter
against Cooper, the night inspector, and Robson the
telegraph clerk, might very well be founded upon the
laxity of these persons in performing their duties; but,
of course, it is a different thing whether • jury will find
them guilty in • criminal trial. One thing, however, is
clear, that the accident did not occur through the
defective arrangements of the Company, but, to put it
in the mildest form, through an individual misunder-
standing between officials.
Albeit it is social heresy for anybody who is anybody
to remain in London at this time, the Duke and
Duchess of Edinburgh appear for the present to have
made up their minds to day in the metropolis. Possibly
they will remain there till the arrival of the Empress
of Rubio, who will leave the Crimea for onr country
about the 10th of October. Princes and princesses
may and they choose place themselves at any time
above the laws of fashion and the tyranny of social
traditions. It is highly probable, moreover, that the
Duke and Duchess are induced to remain in town
partly to watch the extensive alterations that are being
made in their future residence, Clarence House. These
alterations are said to be of • very antes:wive
character, and such as will make it • splendid mansion,
indeed superior to Marlborough House.
Mr. Disraeli's visit to Ireland has !veil postponed,
not for political reasons, but through indisposition, as
the Premier is suffering from attacks of bronchitis and
goat.
We understand (the John Bull says) that if anything
like • consensus of opinion in its favour is manifested
by the clergy, her Majesty's GUN CrnMent will introduce
a Bill for their better representation in Convocation.
Professor Fawcett created • sensation last week by
announcing that the farmers of South Wilts had come
to the conclusion to reduce their men's wages fron 12s.
to lls. a week on account of the bountiful harvest
"The local papers are filled," said the Professor,
"with accounts of harvest thanksgiving services;
churches are decorated; hymn,' of gratitude are sung;
but must not all this seem a cruel mockery, almost •
bitter jest, to those who have tilled the moil and who
have sown the seed when they find that, as Nature
becomes more bountiful, Inbour receives • more scanty
reward?" But Mr. Bennett-Stanford, M.P., and
Messrs. Davidson promptly answered the allegation
by an emphatic denial. "A South Wilts Farmer,"
however, seems to admit the reduction, though he
disputes the ground of it. True, he says, wheat is
good, but barley Is very bad, and both hay and turnip
crops are woefully deficient, while sheep are 12a. to
His, a head below lest year's prices. The result is that
farmers must either reduce wages or employ fewer
hands, and Professor Fawcett is asked to say which is
the better thing to do. To-day the Professor says that
he has ascertained beyond possibility of dispute, that on
many large (anus in the neighbourhood of Salisbury the
labourers have received notice that the reduction will
be made, while on the previous (Friday) afternoon he
had met several labourers employed on • large farm
who had been paid lls for their past week's work. lie
goal on to argue that under fed labourers like under-
fed horses are an economical mistake ; and in conclusion
he recommends that rural labourers should be better
educated, and on this ground —that 'educated labourers
can secure for themselves advantages which cannot be
conferred upon them by any amount of extraneous aid."
In Cambridgeshire there seemed to be every passibil-
ity of • contest between two Conservatives—both
Queen's Counsel— for Mr. Rodwell had obtained so
much support amongst the farmers that he declined to
retire in favour of Mr. Powell, the nominee of the
party, and Sunday'. reflection seems to have satisfied
Mr. Powell that though he had the support of the
leaders, the led were with his opponent and to-day
(Monday) we learn that he has retired. In all proba-
bility, therefore, Mr. Rodwell will now be returned
nnopposed. At Northampton the moderate Liberals
have secured a good candidate in Mr. Fowler, who is
an experienosd politician, having represented Cam-
bridge for several years. He is an able and enlightened
man, whose views, while progressive, are not so
advanced as to be impracticable, and he has mastered
certain topics, such as the Land question, that will
soon be the aubject of legislation. But the Radicals
of the borough have adopted Mr. Bradlaugh, whale
pretensions to • seat in Parliament are simply absurd;
and persistence by him in his candidature may result
in a Conesrvative securing the seat.

FAIR SRARrERFA —I t would seem AIEROAt UOURCRIRLIT to
repeat a caution which has been so repeatedly green; but
the tricks of a gang of homey gentlemen at recent fairs in
Dorset and Hants have succeeded so well that we draw
attention in the hope of "spoiling their little game." At
Wareham fair last Friday, • Poole tradesman was
swindled in a "chopping" transaction, Ina day or so after
his horse being found dead In afield. At Woodbury Hill,
on Monday, a farmer residing near Poole was induced to
"chop" and sell. The horse was immediately handed
over to the care of the buyees man, and the seller was
requested to" wait" in • booth while the purchaser was
settling a deal with some one else. We need hardly add
that neither buyer nor horse has been seen since. At
Ringwood or Christchurch—we forget which, at the
moment—a similar dodge was carried out ; and, as at
Woodbury Hill, the sharper tot clean away. It seems
almost incredible that men with their senses about
them are so easily trapped by such rouges; and it is
surprising that such transactions can be carried on with-
out detection of the swindlers.
-

------- - - • - --
POTATO GROWING EXTRAORDIDADT. —The advantage
of giving potatoes plenty of room to grow is clearly shown
by some experiments made by Mr. AlLrdyce of Fordington
this salmon. The objection Of any CAD be found) as only
that there are no small potatoes for seed The Breezes
Prolific set in the ordinary way yielded • good crop, a little
over five bushels to the perch; but potatoes planted in
drills 81 feet apart, and the mete two feet apart in the
drills, gave the following results : —Breeze's Prolific "cut
sets "--4 plants,34_potatoe•, weighing 11.411ze., or use. each;
same kind, "whole seta,' 13 plants, 118 potatoes, fdllbs,
or 7 on. each; Silver skin fluke. "cut site "-4 plants, Al
potatoes, Aillw, or Qom each. Suttons' Red.skin !lour
Ball-1 whole set,? potatoes, dlbs., or More. each. Two
of the latter weighed over tilbs., and are well matched by
• pair of twin apples Mr. Allard ca has sent to us, grown
in his garden, which weighed 11b. In. We may
remark that these potatoes were not planted until the
middle of the last week In May, they are free from
supertuberation, while the total yield is within •
few pounds of 18 tons to the acre. Of course, the sets
when planted had an application of Pliosp
Manure, of the good effects of which in gardens and on
farms we hear in very masay places.
Tea JURY LIM. —There was • special sessions at the
Shirehall on Saturday last for receiving and allowing the
UltA of men liable to serve on furies in the Dorchester
division of the county. Some 30 or ao overseers attended ,
at the time appointed-11 o'clock, but there waa only one
guest:Me peserat—llr. H. Maui's, and cowermatly