The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-11-06 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE RIFLE DRILL HALL, AND
PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN EDWARDS.

The lit D.KV. corps has attained • large anioant
of success duos its organisation, ad now that
the Bridport Riflee have provided themselves with •
commodious drill hall. we anticipate Miff yenter thinp
wEI be don* by them. The miming of the bell took
plans on Saturday evening, Oat. filth, and it was deemed
• fitting opportunity by the volunteers for mounting
to their worthy commandant, Captain Edwards, • token
of their high appreeiation of his valuable erervicae to the
I and of their deep regard for him personally. The
feeling which prompted this recognition of the gallant
captain's worth is highly ereditablie to the corps, while
the sosemisful mangier in will& it wee performed greatly
enhances the pleuure it was calculated to convey. The
double event passed off with great eau in the presence
of a large company of volunteers (who paraded in fall
dress) sad elrlliane Animate them we noticed the
Melvillo Lee, Mrs. Lee, Major Templer and Mrs.
Templer, Mrs. Arthur Posses, Kra Wynne, Kies
Edwards, Mr. Stuart, Captain Swain, Mrs. Leggin, Mr.,
Mrs. and Miss 110.11 lira F. W. Good, Mr. H. IL
11.111•0111. Mims HOWSII, Miss Tooker. Mn. H. Chia,
Miss Mutton, Mrs. C. Tucker, Miss Davy, hire W. T.
Whethani, Mies Ellen Whether:l, Mrs. and Miss Knight,
Mr. J. Knight. Dr. and Mrs. Hay, lira and the Knees
Newberry, Mr. G. Edwards, Mr. George Ewing, Mr. A.
Stephens, Mr J. T. Stanhope, he., As.
The hall is 80feet by 11l Met in the clear, with an arched
iron roof, which is painted inside • bright blue colour,
and the light and elsgant girders supporting it are
painted to match. The room is admirably lighted by
pendants down the ceotre from the girders, and taiteful
ps bracket* projecting at suitable intervals from the
wall as each side. The betiding contains also an
armoury, stoee rooms, ho. The somatical properties of
the drill hall are eseelleat ; there is but the slightest
vibration, and the words of command (or, as the case
might be, the voice of a speaker, or the note, of a
singer) can be distinctly beard. Ma important feature
gives it an advantage over the Town-hall, where, when
the. corps was drilling, se we ourselves base beard, the
different lairds of command were so curiously inter.
mingled that it was dilleult rightly to upreheod what
was Mid. fogies some idea of the impost, of the bell,
we May Mown that on the opening night about 4)
=win promat, yet there was • very bap spies
lie MIMIONIT'S of the corps. It will be pro-
vided daring the winter months with • step (or plat.
(bra ashy if preferred), sad ceadoMable seating for
Moat 11001permee, Further to Menage the acomerno•
duke, it lolanda le tweet • tier of raised seats at
the lower pad of the hall. The ball would form • ball
,poota, gash as few bemoan boast of, and iota admirably
adapted for sower* theatrical performaaen, enter-
Woman* Ica. We hastily coogrstulate the let D.R. V.
=4Eng
ig:1011 haitsittoltqdrill hall, and hope
iirs stsa
present ware Captain Edwards and
Idaelensist Loggia, and alter the corps had been drilled
a oriime
......cesess of the assembly,
EDWARDS, addresaing those presoak mid: Ladies
And —MI reason for wishing you to some here
-to-eight wee that you might me the hall, and that I
might have the opportunity of thanking you for your
peat Madames in allowing us to erect it. If you ask in
'what way you allowed us to I reply by the constant
assistance you have given us since our formation.. Some

cpep or eiiht yethe—ago eben o—or gallant friend Major
npler made an appeal to you with reference to the
greet volunteer cause you came forward to assist him
with year parses, through whieh the carps was enabled
Afterwards to he formed, sod if you had not eo Goma
Mitfard it would sever hays been established, for this

ISTre-lore we thank you. W• now have -another
on your puree.; we, the °Soma, have
erected this ball, which we bops will please you; we
Intend giving a ansomeion of entiirtainmeate in it, and if
we give you a good bill of fare we hope you will come
here end support as. Thu hall hes cost s considerable
le=of mosey. and it was in comequence of our
Ilse liberality of the inhabitants of this town.
that, relying apes your support, we erected it.
Osi behalf of the lit Dorset I return you my einem
tlisathe for your great kindness to no. The hall is a
very good one, sad if any one comes here to give an
entertainment, you ma assist on by giving it your
patronage, an it will add mist to our mill. 60038 Of you
iyee a little interest mine Town-bell; I an. .some
of the Corporation are here, and you any thine this
will interfere with it, but if you do I may mention that
It has been Meted to me dating the last you or two
that the Town-ball was not large enough for us, and
that it was frequently wanted for other purposes, and
,1 above all, another thing is, the Town-ball is mild for
1 and thin building Is not !—(applanse.) Then taming to
the rilles,he addreweed them saying: 'ro you, my comrades
of the let lkirset, I would my that having set up our
light we must keep it burning, and having erected this
drill bail, and made • stir, we must recollect that we
belong to the vithanteer force of this country, and must
endeavour to do our beet in future to make our towns-
people all the return we eon for the great interest they
take in our eoryo. On two separate ocicasione—nt the
late review at Sherborne and NA • former review—l was
called to the front sad complimented by the reviewing
officer on the excellent wm is whiah you had gone
through soar work, whisk gave no. greet Pleseorr•
with to eay, &art I 'peak not eitly for myself, but for the
Ober elloers, that If you object to e.we will resign, and
tilt. ma sleet Ohm Mem in our eteed,—(loud swim of
.„4...1.4.-110, Do.") Obit UMW other remarks, be said their
the Ithr. lf. Us, would address 111•1111.
lintithts Lan rouse sad mid: I ham bees
tognostsd by you essnessodisig allow Is Or • few
weeds to you on this informal's oesesiomailiFee
t p for asking isse la wit being your I
howevnr, this won't suggest to yoa that intend
to c • airman on you, n. ale is not my laiantion,
WY to soy it few hearty words of eoagratulealos whisk
have warred to me ea the cossies ef the sesnendal
opening of this spacious building. I knew owing
to the . public spirit of mine of you that it has been
Po** I Inas it may Wore • great 11•11•11•14 sad may
fitoMtsfili • Pewatnery point of view, sad that those who
hew waled -tbsatselrie to get the building Greeted,
will have tense to he &WOW with *Full. If
entortaismeote ate 'finds hare for the 4 dot
hall, we thew by oar easing to es that we
vPPlvelnie their Ishount—Capplames). I see is in Ws
• oboatzwa (NS Trefiks). to triton PAU°
=La
kill own you nr, the
the inidithig sal hal
• the pais* wee lot =mid remllwl
being ad a meeting at ths a sailed for
the purpose of diessissing the aniderk
the project •••11, 1,4111 have watched yelp propesearli with
r
ever IniwominfeL.starest. I think the aorta is an
honest to the and I ass ski to toroth shonloto •
, 1 hoes a_ great reopen for your captain, wlto evert
Inch a motair—the mph* At his predecessor has Wien on
him, and be is every, wity worthy of being your oom•
=Lading mar; it is owing to him that you az* drit in
ability is well an being the ist Doman. I baud of the
words that were said at the review at dite,horne the
041ter day. We, in this country, Imre roma to thank
those who have come forward to serve their Queen and
their country. The number of the volunteers at aid
was small, but they have now opting up to about
100.000. I believe the spontaneous rising of the pie
of agland bee sensed the country is the .etnreateos of
the world, end eontribated, is no small d,-give, to our
present prosperity. I read mos remarks is a Dewse
paper the other day with referent's to the voiasteers,
whisk I should wish to road to you. The report mid :
You have not takes year uniform, submitted to drill
and parade, sod devoted passions time to irksome toil
for the dinple purpose (noble though it b 4 of defending
our shores and cities from the supposed invader when
be moms. By this set yoa are taking • part in ths
history el the world, and are defending not only •
hat.fictotioise end • einem This is the tree
pound whisk oar reinnbeere ansonshanging civilities
and pledge,
eswith maissielliesst andhlterty loving people."
Ana this adds, 'the dillissity, or nags the

impordbility of weeserstally laveliagtlasereptering
MAorresiels hi the had Mat the are ready
* the last la defines of their They
r iot y
er • large arle_y_ arid wavy refanised t
Olen W,by • ales eerily embodied when win
and by • large fore. volasesen Ms pars lA,
Dow that whosier invades than islar will sisal ha
to pay life few lifs, and man fir matt, sad that six feet
of logien soil are all tint will hs sesorded to • foe
?hie ' smear marls' ls our safety —this mime us a natidO
and • people.* Swab are some of the matters which
have occurred to me, I thank yin for year bebe.tl
sad also the Indies. I will orinelad• wt thisentimes
"May your rifles never speak angrily but in a rigb
oases, and may
1101
they
„Liiewtire'Matill the right
vindisated and the o_, I 0000, °yeti"
Volunteers, that you win :spend
Major Teams' then rote anal 007fain41740.4%
duty to have the pleasure, seldbele.o:::Arn
sore thP
00.44010, a duty which I ilroaldlutleilebeill,
some 000 MOM but efts* the
by your eommaanalianbgle.ofarme and year ribeylele,..Ltil
that osier I raid *few weeders lidecaspiap
your drill hall I should be sagliiteat Of tete W;
your senior oomomoding aloes, Ili:imp% area thet
seven yearn ago, in 1859, is • mealler ea than this I
asked for your assistance, bdis ,vrern gileended rousd
the tows, and 11l men cespoesiell.t. 0111 ordis
oonseqamme of white was the estriblieheormit of the let
Donet. There are about IYOD side 'Annan In the
nasty of Dorset, sad 4 artillery, sempersieer whin I
think ía al large • n el. veheitesis is *tee
in any county in the qds.,lm te lie
an.. I should he very to . to ,
myself; ,ousa..foruiex4toispwertuml and I I
ant proud that the first snap in wohuiteering same from
the *panty of Doren. With Asgard to the *seat
position of the lst. Dorset, at the review at liberbente
the other day, a gentleman who was unknown to
11 is. bet who was evicieetly a thorough soldier,
1 rid "Your Etrldport corps is a credit to the
county," my reply (aid I do not wish to make rilly
invidious remarks In mentioning it) was "It is beeves*
they hen the best captain in the whole ',suety "—(lorid
and hearty cheers by the riflemen followed this.) Now,
that Genesis never heard that till now. Gentlemen, we
are assembled to night for the purpose of Inaugurating
our drill hall ; it was ended to enable you t 04511
when onsision required nadir se's,: It is now open not
merely to drill you as nide% Mat S. be mei for other
purposes; WA I hope whatever intedelegmet tomes off
In this hall, the people el 112 I elm VII mignon it. I
think some ef the rash sad new give their
opinion of the hall, sad I thank you for listeming to me,
and should like vas of you to eons tonne and say
what you tidak tithe hall sad of year espielleHobeerli)
Cape. &manse nil: Let is efer cad% where it is
due. The weft of ereelleg this bribing is mainly due
ti the isdefaMmthie exiireloss and the ability 44 Sergeant
lannuskie Good, who, I may 'ay, planned amid aaperin-
tended the whale wash. The whole areas hare to him
and to Quarbermenersflergesat Taster, who essinted
him--oat to the Thriellicent equal of Shoes two non-
sommiarimied diem rensot he fiend in this country;
they are both it than perfectly it to command the corps
—(lorid sheers.)
Quartermaster Serpent Tocussa then rams to the
front, and said: Ladies and Oentlemen,—l have oome
forward at the request of my comrades to inept Major
Timelier challenge, and I shall be able to show you very
matirfactorily, I hope, what we think of our Captain, and
I may say, that will him are boned up our hopes for
the (Ettore encase of our drill hall. The fact is, ladies
and gentlemen, we liars prepared a little surprise for
him. lam glad we have done so, and that it will be
little surprise, though, I hope not a disagreeable one,
for I an, sure you will agree with me, presently, that it
Is the most enisfatitery reply we sea make to the major's
challenge and to the remarks made by the eapeein, jest
now when expressing his willingness be give up the
cam:sand of the seeps if wished to do so. 000611i0, Will
you oblige us by eosin( to the front, sad allowing nits
to tate command of the eons for a few minutes?
--(Haytag Galled the compaay to atteation, he
proceeded) Captain Edwards—We hams for some time
wished for an opportunity when we might =proms
to you, in publie, the esteem we Inn for you
se our commanding °Mom, for the constant attention
you have give. to promote in every way the welfare of
the corps, sod the love we feel for you for your kind-
ness and your enwriaryiag care for our comfort. Ihe
formatioa sad ilret prosperity of the corps wen due to
our first commanding °Mon, now, we are proud to say,
the nolo( major of the Irattaboa ; hot it is of the laid
friar years, or rather more, that I am now particularly
speaking, for daring that time we have been under
your oonimasid, and it Is to year good management
we are indebted former present prosperous state. When
we found this ball ens to be publiely opened, we felt
that this was the opportunity, sad every private arid
non-coonalerioned °facer came for eard to aid in pro-
curing the slight token of our regard witieh I shell have
the I. onour of presenting to you, Bet, ant, I will reed
an erldrese which bas been prepared, and signed by all
your non-oomenlesioned odious on behalf of the amps:—
"To Hew? Sossodes s lersords, Esq., Corinna Coos-
staissiaatt of the Ist Dorset Rote raosstser Corps.'

'We, the son-cionntiodoried Masers and privates of
your corps wish to take the 0011440111 of the opening of
our drill hall as an opportunity for expressing to you
in public our 'gloom and affection, end our high appro.
@intim of the eminent oerviosu rend-red by you to the
corps niece its formation in 1889. when you were unan-
imously chosen one of its officers, until the present
time. Sinee year appointment to Angela, 1862, to the
emansand of the corps, your untiring exertions for the
of its efficiency sad welfare have suceseded
rplalcste. a "
g it in its present high position. asid poor
courteous and impartial conduct be. endeared you
personally to every man under poor command. We
therefore, beg your acceptance of it. mwonspoaylng
sword, which hos been subscribed for by every non.
commissioned officer and private in the corps, as a
slight mark of that esteem and affeetion, end with it re
offer you our beet wiabot for your long We, happiness,
sad prosperity."
"Signed on behalf of the corps—C. Tucker Quarter-
Master Serpent; F. W. Good, Sergeant Instructor
Musketry ;W. C. Holmwood. F. Barrott, T. Patten,
D. Roberts, H. R. HOUMA, Job Handord, Sergeant.;
J. N. Terry, Charley Cook. C. J. J. Hughes, A. H.
Good, T. W. Honasoll, sad A. Manley, Corporals."

The foregoing address ems handsomely engrossed on
vellum.

The word having been brought forward by Ifeeketry-
'Dogmata. Sergeant Good, Ere. Teaspier kindly oon.
noted, at the request of the Germ to gird it out the
gallant captain, and she was warmly cheered ; the oorps
I. the meantime bed preseated ernes.
Quarter. Easier Sergeant Tortes then : Captain,
we hope that wheeever yen draw this sword you will
think of na with kindness. Of this yea may be certain,
that whenever you have earasioa to draw it, if at peace.
tel review or sham fight (and we hope it may never be
nemessary on any other cionmien), we will endeavour, by
our obedience to your orders and our good readied, to
wls your approbatiou ; but if usermary in wpr, we will
follow you as British soldiers bass is often followed
their Abets before this.—(Three hearty cheers were
then given for Captain Edwards, in which the
numerous visitors present joined.)
Careens EDW AIM warmly thanked the acres, and
mid to them—this meesat is quite unexpected by me. I
have never foaled you fail to obey me ;on no occaeion
daring the last four or five years have I had anything to
eassOain of. This sword shows the love you bear me,
sad es loag aa I live it will be a @coarse of greet
delight to m•—(eliesr). I should wish to mention that
one or two pieritleinen espesially have some forward sad
helped me with their puree., I allude to Mr. Hommel'
sad Mr. W. Homage% of Wykes Court, Kr. Templer.
sad Kr. Witetheat, sad so these geodesic therefore
',edit is due. lam much obliged to you all, sad it one
thin mare than another *an be aa incentive to me to
weever* it will be the very headmen° present you have
jest made rae--(lorial *beers).
Three deers were then given for the ladies, and three
for Mrs. Templer, for her kind that evening and on
many former ocaseices. Captaia EDW4ILDS having
requested Private Wannest to return thanks for the
ladies, he stood forward, aad in his amid merry manner
said: I have been requested by Captain Edwards to return
thanks for the ladies, I dou't know why he should ask
me to do so. I have wasted all my breath in cheering
for thus, ee bays none left for speaking. I don't know
meek about them yea, but hope to know them better
ariother day. I love them as much as I can, and always
shall do so—(load laughter.)

- .
Capt. EDWARDS then said, &Mimesis, tbe aadieDoe
I hope this,dittat the not be lb. sat 00014,
ci your lig berg. O.say weseeions during
the winter, 11w. put e good bill of faro before you, we
hove to induce you to come, and to &Nord you emus-
meot--NVlnuut.
This occluded the proceedings,

fiIiIPTON GORGE.
Tun DEATH IN A WU-KILN. —1111) inquiet on
tie body of Benjamin Brown, bold by N. M. Loggia,
esteterr, showed that the dammed was stand-
ing epee di hoe woos In the kiln, levelling it,
wbsa be wee overpowered by the beat and gas arising
from if, isff down, wed was suffocated. Vordiot,
ifiesideatti diesth.