The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-09-27 00:00:00

OP THE TREASURY.

The whole borough is labouring under intense ex-
citement over the recent decision of the Lords of the
Tr imury to abolish the customs of Bridporre As
hinted in the Tdegran lest week under the '• Decline
of Bridport," a meeting was held on Wecinewlay
and again on Friday. A committee than formed to
collect the necessary facts, and to embody them in a
petition, have met with every encouragement. The
following petition was promptly drawn up on Bretur.
day, and at once circulated for signatures.
" To the Hight Hon. the Lords of Her Majesty's
Treasury.
"The humble petition of the undershpied inhabitants
and inhere residing in, or owning property, or carry-
on business in e borough of Bridport or ita
nbei th
Fhbourhood phi:meth,—
' That your lordships' petitioners have learnt with
great regret that it is contemplated to deprive Bridport
of the privileges of a port. Your lordship's petitioners
beg to submit the following facts for consideration in
the assured hops that your lordships will see fit to con-
thine those privileges to Bridport which have been
enjoyed for so long • period, and are so essential to
the prosperity and well-being of the inhabitants of this
district. In support of their prayer your lordship's
petitioners beg to call attention to the following
facts.
"That Bridport has been • pert for a very long
perioi and was so oonstituted in consequence of the
requirements of the town, and • large surrounding dis
trict containing many large factories and other
Industrial estabilahmenta
"That these requirements still exist, and though
r .m the general deprt.sion which has fallen upon
agriculture and trade for some time, the business of
the port hae been diminished, it is confidenliy hoped
that such depre lion is of • temporary characte,r, and
that there will be • return of prosperity, especially es
steps have been and still are being taken to stimulate
enterprise and develope trade. That at least £10,630
have been spent in improving the port within the last
few years, and an Act of Parliament has been recently
obtained at considerable expense for the purpose of
continuing the present line of railway from the town
to the port.

" Thit a considerable foreign trade is carried on at
the port and that the deprivation of the privileges of
a port would seriously effect such trade and the
interests of manufacturers and consumers generally.
"That the greater part of the trade of the town and
neighbourhood consists of the manufactures of flax
and hemp imported direct from Ikeda, and any change
which may add to the expenses of such direct
Importation (which an abolition of the port would
°cession) would so injuriously affect the above
manufacture that the whole district would seriously
suffer. And your lordship.' petitioners will ever
pray, kn.. kn."
During Saturday and Monday, the 24th and
Inst., a large number of signatures were secured, the
borough appearing to be impressed with the patriotic
ides that no: a stone should be left unturne I in the
mstter, knowing well that tho abolition of the port's
privileges would not only injure the trade of the dis-
trict, but lower the prestige of the town and harbour.
The commissioners contemplate sending an indepen•
dent petition, and it is endeavoured to procure a similar
petition to the above from Crewkarne, Bsaminster, and
other towns.

YIIOVIL
&InkAomerrsste Gurr.—The late Mr. Francis Butt
of Summer land House, Preston, bequeathed
) the Yeovil Hospital, payable on the termina-
tion of an aged life. Mr. Cogan, who was formerly a currier in this town, took a deep intereit in the Hos-
pital from its formation.

KILLND ON THE RAILWAY.
A melancholy occurrence happened near Crewkerae
Station on Friday night. On the arrival of the half.
past eight expreesgods train, at Yeovil Junction, the
engine-driver discovered that his mate well ml.sing.
and on the guards van were found traoes of blood and
brains. The body was found about • mile from
Crewkerne Station, near Burials Gate, keerlid,
mangled. It WU oupposed that tla. •1 °M the orals, when he mimed ha- rod'ag "d fell

nic ACCIDENT AT BOURNEMOUTH.
An extraordinary and fatal accident occurred here
Wednesday morning to a plumber named John Thomas
Blenheim, who was engaged at the time in an aerated
water manufactory in examining one of Messrs. Dow.,
Clark, and Co's American soda-water machine. It
appears that damaged was caulking the cylinder of the
machine in whioh the gee was generated. There was
a pressure gauge and a eddy valve attached to the
maehine, and at the time of the accident there was,
it is stated, • prewar* of 180Ibe. on the cylindee, which
had previously been safely charged w:th 200 lbs. pres-
sure. For the purpose of caulking the cylinder the
deceased was driving some lead ins° the ridge of the
cylinder with • hammer and chisel when there was
suddenly an exploaion. The cylinder was entirely
demolished and deceased was killed instantaneously.
At an inquest held yesterday afternoon the jury re-
eereed verdict of accident death. One practical
wittier who gave evldenoe expressed the opinion that
the explosion was caused by the deceased striking the
cylinder with the hammer while thaw wee • high
pressure on.