The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-03-17 00:00:00

And &multi exintoo.

TUESDAY, MAROEI 17, 1874.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

With spring sowing, as the prelude to the busy
season of the year on the farm, comes a dem ind
by the agricultural labourers of the county for
increased wages. In the pariahs' of Compton
Abbe. and Fontmell Magna, we understand, •
score are on strike for 15s. a week, with a propor-
tionate rise in tut work. It was in the eastern
part of Dorset that the Labourers Union first
gained a footing, and from the same direction
we have now the first indication of the crusade
for the present season. In Wiltshire • similar
mune is being adopted; and at Andover last
Friday there wu a meeting of farmers after the
market for conference on the labour question in
Hampshire. Evidently the leaders of the Union
are arranging for • simultaneous upward move-
ment in the southern counties. To be forewarned
Is to be forearmed; and while, no doubt,
agriculturists will make the best of the oppor-
tunities the season affords for getting spring
operations forward, labourers will do well to
remember that, the general trade of the country
has received a check, that wages in the manu-
facturing district' are declining, and that strikes
in the agricultural counties at such a time will
not command general sympathy but rather
excite revulsion, and, stimulating the farmers
to joint action, ensure the failure of the move-
ment and the disintegration of the labourers'
organizatioo.
The ratepayers of Wareham an about to elect
for the first time gentlemen from amongst their
number to carry on the Local Government,
under the Act of 1853 • and it is curious to note
how decidedly the aspirants to this honourable
office declare their antipathy to the very public
works the Act was passed to promote, via,
sewerage and waterworks. No doubt they
Involve great expense, and these are not times
when the prospect of new and heavy rates can
be received with equanimity ; but health is
beyond price, and comfort is worth paying for.
Statistics of the mortality of towns prove that
Increased healthfulness results from well-con-
structed sewerage works, and the convenience of
a free and plenteous water supply in our houses
Ls cheaply obtained at almost any outlay that
, can be involved. Wareham is no doubt fairly
healthy; long may it continue so: but the best
friends of the town are not those who resolutely
set their faces against any improvement, but
thou who in a careful, economical, and wise
manner, extend to the inhabitants the convent-
, , enoes of life and the advantages of health which
, other towns possess.
The Poole election petition is still in the
Common Pleas Rule Office, but it is generally
believed that it will be withdrawn In the
meantime, rumour says that Mr. Gifford, Q. 0.,
, has been retained in behalf of the petitioners,
and Serent Ballantine for the respondent.
I The Queen who went to London on Thursday
with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, has
returned to Windsor. Her Majesty is expected
to go to Osborne about the beginning of April.
Despite keen wintry air and failing snow,
' thousands lined the route of the Royal proces-
sion in the metropolis last Thursday, hi order to
catch a distant momentary glance of Her Majesty
and the Russian bride of our Sailor Prince. The
young lady has a pleasant girlish face, but it Is
only courtly flattery to call her beautiful. She
seemed mach gratified by the loyal interest
manifested by the crowds, and bowed her
acknowledgments with unfeigned affability and
grace. In some parts of the route the cheering
was general, but for the most part it was only
feeble and Intermittent. Yet was nothing heard
but in praise of the young couple, ILA wishing
them every happiness. The Russian colours
were everywhere, nearly every house had it,
motto of welcome, and all along the route the
bands clashed thematic of the National Anthem,
changing it after a few bars to that of the Russian
Hymn, as the Queen's carriage passed.
Mr. Gladstone has consented to continue the
nominal leadership of the Liberal party. Nominal
his leadership will be for the present in more
senses than one. He has distinctly engaged
that his duties s.iall not be regarded as prevent-
ing him from taking long holidays during the
Session. He feels himself physically so com-
pletely worn out, that he refuses to tie himself
to work, promising only to take his seat, when
present, in the place allotted to the Opposition
leader. He will also guide the general Liberal
tactics. But with regard to details, he wishes to
leave them to his lieutenants ; Mr. Forster and
Mr. Lowe taking special cognisance of education
and home affairs, Mr. Childers and Mr. Dodson
attending to finance, Lord Hortington and Mr.
Bannerman looking after military questions.
This arrangement will do nothing towards restor-
ing the breach between the different sections of
the party ; its disintegration remains, and while
it continues any real leadership is impossible.

Apropos of rumoured retirements, the report
of the intended resignation of the Archbishop of
Canterbury turns out to be untrue. His Grace
has been extremely unwell, but not alarmingly
ill; he is now oonvalesoant, and he hes no inten-
tion of resigning the highest position in the
Church of England. .

The party Managere are beginning to awake,
and are filling the subordinate poste necessary
to party organization. For Secretary to the
Registration Society, in place of Sir Henry
Scudamore Stanhope they have chosen Mr.
Alexander Crab Seller. Mr. Seller was formerly
Private Seceetary to the Lord Advocate of
Scotland, and has, therefore, had some exparl-
once in organization.
The only announcement concerning Mr.
Disraeli's programme is that &Royal Commission
Is to enquire into the operation of the Masters
and Servants' Act and the Law of Conspiracy in
relation to contracts, which is equivalent to
notice that the Government will not deal with
that burning question in a hurry.
Swarms of Claimants have pleaded before the
Chancellor of the Exchequer for appropriation
to their respective interesta of the £8,000,000
surplus. Here is • table of the taxes that Sir
Stafford Northoote is asked to abolish if he
wishes to sot up to the expectations of the
country and so prolong the life of the Cower-
votive Ministry :
Imams Tax £5.000 000
Milt Tax......... 7,750000
A Free Breakfast Table ... 6,500.000
Local Taxation 3.006.000
Railway Passenger Duty ... 500.000
Brewers' Licenses 400 000
Inhabited House Duty ... ... 2,000,000

Total ...

.25.1550u1

That is all at present. But there ere plenty
of oppressed and injund interests yet to oome,
all able of course, like those who hare already
put in an appearanos, to make out an irreeiskible
ones for the abolition of the taxes under whloh
they are groaning.