The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-10-04 00:00:00

BLANDITORD.

Rivrstra Bsinturruit's Coon. —.This Court was
held on Wednesday, before Mr. Carter, revlaing
barrister. The Conservatives were represented by
Mr. Atkinson, but the proceedings were not of • party
character. _ _

131:1DDIN DILATH ON AN OLD TOWSSMIIII. —We
regret to have this week to record toe very sudden
death of Mr. Charles Pond, an old and respected
townsman, which occurred at his residence in High.
street on Thursday morning. Only the previous clay
Mr. Pond appeared to be in his usual state of health,
and had been with a number of members of the Dorset
Antiquarian and Field Club to the barrow on the Bane
Down, which was opened this week for inspection by
the members of the club. with whom he had expressed
his intention of going to the general inspection of the
earthwork on Thursday. On Wednesday evening the
deceased gentleman engaged in prayer at the Congre-
gational Chapel, of which be was a zealous member.
On his return home, and while at supper, he was
observed by one of his daughters to rub hie eyes, and
as he could not answer questions put to him, medical
I aid was at once sent for, and Dr. Bacat speedily
I arrived. Mr. Pond. however, remained 11110011SCIOLIS
till his death at half-past twelve the same evening
I the immediate Mlle being effusion of blood oc the
brain. During his life Mr. Pond was a strong sup-
-1 p)rter of and an energetic worker for the cause of
Congregationalism in the town and neighbourhood.
He was also chairman of the Dorset Sunday School
Union. Mr. Pond was a member of the Town Council
and of the Local Board, vice-chairman of the Board of
I Guardians, and had on several occasions filled the
civic chair.

THE DORSET FIELD CLUB AT BLANDFORD.
The members of this club had • very enjoyable gather-
ing at Blandford on Thursday. Permission was obtained
to open an ancient barrow on the Rao* Dawn, where it
was anticipated that some human remains would be found.
The party, who met at the residence of the Mayor, Mr.
H. Diadem, included Mr. J. Manisal-Pleydell (president of
the club), V. Canon Daman, Rev. C. H. Mayo, Rev.
W. Berns., Rev. A_ Hill, Rev. H. H. Wood, 1t.,. H. H.
Gilmore, Rev .1. Cross, Rev. Wood, Row. R. C.
o ',goy, Rev. J., Mrs., and Miss Acton, Rev. CI Berton
and party. Mr. J. Ploys; ALP, Dr. Bacot, Dr. J. &
Daniell, Dr. 0 W. Dation, Professor and the Miaow
Buckman, Mr. Frvame, sen., Mr. Frescos, jun., Mr. Luff,
Mr. C. Rickman, Mr. H. R. Dogma s, Mr. Rums. Mr. and
Miss M., Mr. Walter Fletcher, Mr. Cunnington, Mr.
G. Galpin. . Thurston, Mrs. and the Mimes Forbe",
Mr. Andrews, Mr. Penney, Kr. F. Styria& Mr. E. B.
Smith, Mr. H. C. Curti% and Mr. Shipp. At the business
meeting, Mr. Mansel-Pleydell presided, On the motion of
the chairman, seconded by the Rev. Wood, Mr. Angus
Clark wee elected, and the following other elections took
place Ceprain Bridges, proposed by the chairman,
1 seconded by Professor Buckram ; Mr. Hill, of Footmen,
ovoposed by the Rev. A. Hill; Kr. F. Styring, of PooLs
tiouse, Poolk, proposed by Kr. Penney, seconded by
Professor Buckman.
The company that proceeded to inspect Mr. Durden's
very fins specimens is Stone, the Brans, attd the Irou
Agee, and a splendid case of inedireval curiosities, Th.
articles In the various cases, which are displayed to the
beet vendible advantage, are for too numerous to par.
skularise, bat among them may be mentioned • number
of flint and hard stone hammers, plough states, arrow
heads and spear. used by the ancient iehabiteni,. who it
is known once dwelt in Vibes on the now pastoral Race
Down, the hills of Hod and Hamblvton, Okelord
pitspaine, and other places in the immediate vicinity of
Blandford ; • number of very Ike urns used by the
ancients for cremating PUrPOSei. Sad in many of which
the ashes were found ; and, coming to the bronze and iron
period the cease contained innumerable iron and bronze
spears, daggers, and swords—some of the handles of which
were mounted with elegantly chased bronze and braes—
pins, girdle fastenings (Inlaid) buckles, brooches, and vino
of elaborate workmanship, horee-bits,
Kimmeridge coal money. The collection, whichlitn
known in the county, has been a life long work on the
of Mr. Darden, who from his youth op hao been as an antiquarian.
An Interesting discumioa took place, sod • cordial vote
of thanks was accorded to Mr. Darden. The party then
adjourned 13 Mr. Shipp',, to view what has been rightly
termed ths:' makuificant Minkel collection of the late
IL, swop, Tbe specimaus, many valuable relics of the
itst, of glia,d at and bidets the time of the mammoth.
included • great number of elephant e' bona and teeth of the particular species of elephant now only to be found in Africa.
The laity next went t 3 the Old House to inspect •
numbs, of antiquities and t 3 have luncheon there by
epode. invitation. Among the collection were • number of enamelled medallions and Macros weak, lent by Lady
Theodora Guest, an ancient British mill-etone found four
feet below the surtax of the soil, etiamela, and a
quantity of beautiful needlework, ancient watches, relies
pi stmesniis, and other articles which went of epees win
not permit of our mentioning. The house itself is
one of the few that escaped the Mat fire which
consumed Blendford a second time during the last
century. It is 'unposed to have been built soots 400 years
ago, but the exact date is not known. It is of • quaint
style of fachit- cturs, and is eery substantielly built, and
one of the main features of the interior is the brood
Pallaecl oak staircase, In an excellent state or Prellitti.

_ .
V ILL.
Hon. The rooms am lueg with pot traits of Hens 7
Cromwell (by flolbein). Marlborough. Ireton, Pitt. Milton,
and other historical cbarscieni. There are also among
the picture. • Madonna and Child by Luini, and one by
Lucas von Leyden. Subjeets by Miaow. Hans'limy
(Mardi, Pousein, Zormarrelli. fichalken. and =
artists Were aleo to be found there; and among the
crayons. water-colours, and euvavings. were to be emu
works by Bartolossi. Moreland, and others, and a fine
bust of Rubens by Hysteria.
A capital luncheon was provided at the back of the
house, at which Kr. Loll presided. At the am. Kr.
Kansel-Pleydrill proposed a vote of thanks to Kr. Luff for
the hospitable wanner is which be had that day enter-
Wad the members of the club and their friends, and said
that Kr. Lag', la a 'ming forward and saving the Old
House after it hal been condemned. had been • great
benefactor to the county of Dorset
' He. LUFF, in replying, said he trusted the day's visit to
his house won't repay them for the trouble they had taken
to go ther. He was glad to know that be had been instru-
mental in orseerving the Old house. Be hoped that his
humble efforts to entertain theta had been satisfactory,
and further hoped that that was not the last time he
should have the opportunity of geeing the members of the
club at his house. (Applause.)
Professor &mamas said be had to tender his personal
thanks to Kr. Lad. Kr. Darden, and Kr. Hickman, to
whom really the success of the days excursion was due,
for those gentlemen bad formed a sub-oommittee and
worked out all the detaib of the day's proceedings in the
most successful manner possible. He was glad to say that
the club was steadily increasing in nombera At the
beginning of the session they had about 150 members and
they Were now more than 900 strong.
Toe company then proceeded to the Race Down, to
Inspect the human remains exhumed from an ancient
barrow. On arriving there the skeletons—which were
minus skulls, though plenty of teeth were fouud—were
tospected..
e flrgt place visited was the Bus Bury BaCaMpoMint,
a few h indred yards to the eoutb-eaet of the barrow.
Some animal buses, student British pot,ery, tiliug and
glee& fund near the surface of one of the mounds or outer
walls of the camping ground, having been inspected,
Some interesting speeches were delivered by members of
the club.
A vote of thanks to Mr. J. J. Farquharson for the per.
=salon given to open the barrow and dig • trench in one
of the walls of the encampment was unanimously weed,
and the party drove back to B'andford, where they do-
wsed, having spent • most enjoyable day.