The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-01-15 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

Ma. Evan's CoNottir. —Once a year, and at '
Chnstmas-time, Mr. Evers gathers together a few of
our Metropolitan celebrities, and, combined with the
native talent he has worked to ,level, pe,gives a vocal
and instrumental concert more than ordinarily at-
tractive. On Thursday evening, the 10th instant.
the severity of the weather prevented many persons
from being present, and the audience was somewhat
hen in number than on many previous occasions.
The programme was a good one, and the audience '
gave unmistakable evidence of their gratification at
the manner in which the various pieces were
executed.
As UNUSUAL GANS CARL —Before a full bench
of magistrates, on Saturday last, an information was
laid against Elisha Pitman and his wife, living at
Stickhonl, for dealing in game without a license.
The husbind, a poor man, professedly engaged in
selling eggs and poultry in the neighbourhood,plea led
not guilty. G. Chitty, Esq., of Shaftesbury, appeared
to defend. From the evidence that came out in the
hearing of the case. it appeared that Cox, under-
keeper to Sir J. J. Smith, of the Down House, and
son of the head-keeper, had taken seven pheasants
and one partridge from • number of birds that had
been shot, and sent them by a boy, about 14 years of
age, employed on the estate, to Pitinan's house at
Stickbuill,the boy receiving 13•1. for the birds, which
he handed over to Cox on lila return, being paid 211
for his trouble. The evidence given by the boy, and
et ,X. the keeper, who had sent the birds, clearly
convicted the wife of the offence ; hut Pitman being
from home at the time there was no evidence to
prove that he was cognizant of the trausaction. Lord
Portman, in delivering the judgment of the Bench,
said that if the case had been a solitary one, Sir
John Smith would have prevented it from coining
before the Court, but it was well known that Pit•
mail hail long been in the habit of unlawfully receiv-
ing and disposing of game. As to the conduct of
the under-keeper ("ox. that must be left with Sir
John Smith, who would no doubt deal with it as it
deserved. There being no evidence to convict the
husband, the case against him was dismissed, and
the wife fined in the reduced penalty of .ClO, or, in
default, to three months' imprisonment with hard
lalxiiir—the money to be Rini at the next Justice
meeting. It should be stated that Cox, the bead-
keeper, and father of the under-keeper whose
evidence not only convicted the woman, but told
the tale of his own delinquency—is an old and
trusted servant. and was principally instrumental in
tracing the taking away of the birds to his own son.
Tun SPICIAL Szevicts.—During the past week
daily special religious services have been held at the
church and chapels in this place, to supplicate, in
common with the religious world, a greater outpour-
ing ofthe Holy Spirit on all departments of religious
labour. The whole of the services have been very
numerously attended, and been cluiracterieril by
more than ordinary earnestness. On Friday,
400 persons from all religions denominations in the
town assembled in the Corn Exchange at S o'clock in
the evening. for the purpose of unitedly supplicating
the spiritual blessings previously sought in the differ-
ent places of worship. The Rev. W. Harte, the
rector, and the Rev. B. Gray, Independent minister,
alone occupied the platform, the former gentleman
conducting the service. The proceedings were con.
fined to reading short passages from the scriptures,
singing end praying. No address was delivered,
but the devotional character of the meeting was sus-
tained by a series of prayers offered up by ministers
and laymen which earnestly expressed the more than
ordinarily devout feelings evidently felt by all pre-
sent. Great gratification is expressed as to the
Christian spirit manifested, and great hopes enter-
:
Mufti that such an auspicious meeting may be fol-
lowed by many others of • like character.
SourrinNi: New. A shrewd tradesman of this
place having sold off a portion of his stock, soil
having announced the remainder to be sold by
auction, has supplemeuted to his advertisement the
following unmistakable reminder : " Also, a
inunber of long standing small amounts will be
ATerud to the highest bidder, unless satisfactory
irraugements he made by the parties as to the
settlement previous to the time above named."

it srosiro RY S Lli. —M r. ltossiter's second sale on
Saturday went on even more briskly than his first.
The number of sheep penned was not so many as on
the previous occasion, but the general pi ices realized
were considerably higher. The sale commenced two
three hours earlier than before, which allowed of
the whole of the businiass being got through within a
reasonable time.

NOVEL USK OP CIIRIATMAR TREES. -The Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts
haring been less liberally supported in this place
than others of a kindred mitt r six trees, hung with
,muniercial trappings, were placed in the centre of
the Corn Exchange on Tuesday last. and 1:50
realized by the sales and money taken at the door
Previous to the moneymiaking business commencing,
plablic meeting was held in the Townliall, which
was addressed by the Rev. H. C. Huxtable, who had
mg laboured for the society in India. H. K. Seymer,
Esq., presided.