The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-05-10 00:00:00

A ItAripans-ox THE CORNWALL ESTATE.

WEiagoIITH.
I'IsIT OP THE Don..:ET MILITIA.

The recruits of the Dorset Militia completed
their period of preliminary training at Dorchester
on Saturday, and marched from the county town
to Weymouth. We understand that the recruits
this year far exceed the number obtained in any year
for the last 15, and their conduct at Dorchester haa
been exemplary, no crime, except of a very
Insignificant nature, having occurred during the train-
big, which lasted two months. Many of the lads
seemed rather puny when they first joined, but by the
and of the training they had gained a fine bronzed
colour, and glowing health. Their drill and discipline
have been observed by many competent judges, who
admit they never saw men fall into better shape
considering the short time they were up. During the
preliminary drill 36 men have volunteered for the
regular army, showing that the service is becoming
popular with the Dorset men. On the morning fixed
for the departure, we are informed, there was not a
single case of crime, and none was absent from his post
at the time for marching off. The marching " state "
was thus :—Captain and Adjutant Mathias, in
command, Captains Newell and Cutler, Lieutenants
Leigh, Meaty, Williams, Puree, Pone:fen, and
Harrison, with Sergeant-Major O'Meara and 19 other
sergeants, and about :MO rank and file. Leaving
Dorchester at 8 a.m., they marched to the threemile•
stone on Ridgway Hill, where the first halt was made,
on the stretch of greensward beside the road; but it
warn a abort one, and they soon fell in and tramped
cheerily over the hill, and towards Weymouth. But
Instead of entering the town in the shortest and most
level way, the route diverged at Radipole, in
consequence of Weymouth Harbour Bridge being
under repair and the Backwater Bridge declared
unsafe. After another short halt just beyond the village
of Radipole, they took the hilly road to the west of
the Backwater. Fortunately the driest of weather
with bright sunshine cheered them all the way, and
they appeared on the North Quay, the band playing
cheerful tune.; in the town they marched with well-
drilled regularity, and were glad to pile arms in the
barrack square about 11.45, when they were dismissed
for dinner. The best of good orier prevailed, and
during the afternoon they were employed in getting
barracks and camp ready for the old bands, who were
to arrive on Monday. A town of white tents soon
sprang up in regular lines on the field in front of the
barracks, and the men, sedated by swarms of children
from the neighbourhood were soon busy in getting over
their beds, bolsters and pillows, from the Engineers'
premises, where they were stuffed with the wholesome
"long feathers.' A great pile of wood was heaped
up for the camp kitchen on the brow looking towards
Portland Road.; but time pressed and the cuisine had
to be completed next day. The tents are pitched
rather more inland than hat year, to help save them
from rough winds, there are more tents and more men,
and all the apace avail thle will be wanted for drill.
The regiment is stronger this year than it has been
since the Crimeau war, and it now musters over 700
MOO. It I. understood they leave Weymouth on
Saturday, June 4th.

Our liveliness increased fast, though some of the
exclusives say—" Only the recruits." The band-23
strong—under Drum-Major Lucas, stirred up the old
Weymouth Ward on last Sunday morning—x veritable
aim-day, when we thought summer had come at list,
and are still in the same belief. They marched early
to Trinity Church, and had a special service for them-
selves, so as to give the regular congregation room at
their eleven o'clock gathering. For the rest of the
day the young men were decorous, and only the sight
of a few none scarlet uniforms about t. rid us of the
Increase to Sunday visit ire, unless you went with the
multitude and walked through Dorset town, the little
camp overlooking the roads, where bad gathered a
pretty large proportion of the Weymouthians. Siert.
Used's and his men had respected the character of the
day, and We camp-kitchen-digging and building was
left over till the first work-a-day time, though driving
It rather close to the hour when it might be required.
Quiet and order reigned till night fell ta the camp.
MOSDAT MOUING.
At half-past five the men turned out, and were all
ready, bright, Sod wide awake for the first parade at
oven, and for breakf•st at quarter to eight. The
camp is growing fast, more tents being slipped up
higher on the hill than the rest, so that the camp
is extending seaward. It has still plenty of room
between it and the camp kitchens, at which the men
are new earnestly digging, e 4-building, and clay-
puddle-mixinc. Five companies under canvas and
three companies in barracks include a large number of
mouths to feed, and Sorg :ant &Lillie has to cook Ilb.
of meat daily for every man in camp, and three-
quitters of a pound for each in berrscks, while a
pour_ ad of potatoes peeled, and from a pound to lilb.
of bread, is allowed to each man, besides et-esteem.
In the barrack eook-house is one of Deane'. ovens,
which cooks for s hundred at owe, and attached are five
boilers, on which the steamers can be pilod, loaded
with the read., peeled potatoes in nets. Dinner comes
on at quarter to one, and tea at heliport four. Drill
Ii of course sufficient to teach the men bow to
manectivre and to use their arms; but they have •
considerable
• amount of time for voluntary exercise, or
and a library and recreation marquee stand
on the right of the entrance to the ground, the officers'
teats being away to the extreme left, and
does to the Royal Engineer" buildings. In camp
every man has two blanket' and • bedtick
served out to him, and all lights are out
at a qn,trter-past ten. At present the sun is shining
brightly and warmly, and the camping out appears
just like • pleasmat pc-nic for the young countrymen,
meny of whom are investigating the "Common
Objects of the Sea-ohoes," with an untaught industry
that makes it bad for the crabs in the tidepools, and
makes us wish for a lecture to the Militia on "
aPprtedBtad Animals." by We Rev. naturalist, Mr.
'Wood.
; The old hands are to arrive in town about Bor late,
, this (Monday) evening.