The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-10-18 00:00:00

Somusrtsbire.

YeovlL—Great Weetens Roust:qty.—The Great
Western is greatly increasing in traffic, and this in-
crease is increase upon Increase; not a mere recovery
back of traffic formerly lost, but an increase, although
during the corresponding period with which it was
compared there was an increase. For the twelve
weeks which have expired of this half.year the in-
crease on the Great Western (including that of the
two Shrewsbury.) is about £33,000, averaging from
£2,730 per week. Now for the first half of this year
the average increase was about the rune, viz., £2,700
per week, and the result was a dividend for that in-
ferior period at the rate of 2 per cent, per annum
against nil for the corresponding inferior period of
the previous year. But for the period which comes-
pods with the current half-year, namely the second
half of 1858, the Great Western dividend was at the
rate of 2i per cent, per annum paid out of the half.
year's profits, and adding considerable to the former
balance. We shall therefore not be surprised if the
next half-yearly dividend of this company be very
satisfactory.

TINTINHULL.-BeTlO/41 Coakmralion.—On Wed-
nesday evening, about eight o'clock, the peaceable
inhabitants of this rural village were greatly alarmed
liy the cry of '• tire !'' and, on inquiry, it was wvin
discovered that two or three thatched cottages, the
property of Mr. Jeremiah Penny, were completely
enveloped in flames, and u it was a dry evening.
the tire was visible to the surniuniling inhabitants
for a long way. Very fortunately there was not a
breath of air going, or it would have proved more
disastrous to the adjoining cottages, as well as to the
corn stacks in the immediate locality. The fire
originated in the second cottage, and made its way
right and left, but through the timely aid of some
of the halaourena of the place, the connection of the
fire WAS cut off, and confined to the three or four
middle dwellings, it is not certain how the fire
originated ' • sonic say that an old man, on going up-
stairs with a candle, to clean himself previous to
going toa lecture, (which the Rev. W. Li. Smith is
in the habit of giving for the edification of the labour-
ing classes during the winter evenings), by some
unaccountable means caught the roof, which, we
hear, was not celled, and which soon spread to the
adjoining cottages. The Rev. Mr. Smith, Mr.
Hawkins, Mr. Penny, jun., Mr. Bishop, and others
exerted themselves in a most praiseworthy manner.
LANOPORT.-I,ast week a mushroom of the extra-
ordinary circumference of 40 inches, with stem seven
inches in length, was gathered in* field in the occu•
pawn of Mr. Westlake, of" The Abbey," Lluchel•
ney. The.monster production was by the finder
despatched by train to Govent Garden, and has,
perhaps, occasioned no little amount of surprise to a
few of our cockney cousins.
14041 Ports to be on a par with the neighbouring
towns, has determined to possess itself of a Fife and
Drum Band. Nearly £lO have already been sub-
scribed towards the expenses, by the inhabitants,
and out of a host of candidates for musical honours,
twenty only have been selected.
WRINGTON AND WEST MENDIP AGRICULTURAL
Socnerv.—The annual show of live stock, poultry,
kc., took place in a field belonging to Mr. J. Glos-
sop, near the Railway Station, in this town, on
Wednesday week, and was altogether a most success-
ful gathering. The show of stock was not so large
as we could have wished, hut there were some very
promising young stock giving earnest of increased
attention to breeding. The show of sheep and
horses, on the other hand, was better than hereto-
fore. The poultry show, which was especially taken
up as the part of the exhibition devolving on the
residents and visitors of Weston-super• Mare, was
very satisfactory. The show was not large, but the
birds were, some of them, very fine. The dinner
took place at the new Townhall ; it was provided by
Mr. Hawkins, of the Railway Hotel, and about 130
sat down to the repast. The chair was occupied by
the president, T. T. Knyfton, Esq., supported on
his right by the Rev. J. Vane, the founder of the
society, and on his left by the president elect, W.
H. Harford, Esq., Revds. W. H. Turner, N. Wode•
house, F. Hesse, N. Hotlion, J. Halifax, and W.
Williams • General Blatchley, Captains Valpy,
Hardy, La'ar, and Firth; U. J. Addington, E. J.
Daubeney, J. Wollen, J. H. S. Pigott, H. F.
Emery, H. Rockett, R. A. ICinglake, Wyndham
Lewis, H. Davies, J. James, Elem., Le. The fol-
lowing were among the prizes :

POULTRY.—(Premiums by the Residents and Visitors
at Wei.ton-super-Mare.)—Spanish cockerel and two pul-
lets: commended, Rev. Hugo D. Harper, Sherborne,
Dorset. Dorking's (white), ditto, ditto, commended,
Mrs. Fookes, Whitchurch, Blandford, Dorset. Cochin*
China (buff), ditto ditto, Ist, El, Mrs. Fookes Whit.
church; 2nd, 10s. Mrs. Fookes, Whitchurch. Cochin
China (any other colour), ditto ditto; 2nd, 10*. Mrs.
Fookea, Whitchurch. Game (black breasted and other
reds), ditto ditto, Ist, El Mr. Henry Williams, High.
street, Westowsuper•Mare. Hamburgh (gold or silver
spangled), ditto ditto, Ist, Cl, Mr. W. James Newich,
Hinton St. George, near Ihninster. Ducks (Aylesbury),
drake and two ducks, highly commended, Mrs. Fookes,
Whitchurch, Rlandford, Dorset. Ditto (Rouen), highly
commended, Mrs. Fooks.

T A MATON. --Lord and Lady Taunton, who have
been making a series of visits in Scotland, have
arrived at Dunrobin Castle, N. 8., on a visit to the
Duke and Duchess of Sutherland
The celebrated Mrs. Balfour lectured at the
Assembly rooms on Tuesday evening, on "The
Social Aspects of the present time—helps and
hindrances in the work of domestic and general
improvement" John Young, Esq., presided, and
the attendance was such as this lady lecturer usually
attracts. This was the first lecture of the season, in
connection with an excellent course announced by
the Young Men's Christian Association.
The election of organist for St. Mary's Church,
which at one time appeared likely to excite a warm
contest, lias passed off in a very quiet manner.
There were four candidates originally, namely,
Mcsars. S. Sumnierhayes, J. Pridhiun, James Noyes,
Jackson. The first three are inhabitants of the
town, all of them however withdrew, with the
exception of Mr. Summerhayes, who was, at a
' vestry meeting on Thursday, unanimously appointed
to the office, the salary attached to which is £3O per
annum. Mr. Sumnierhayta was proposed by Mr.
Edwards Beadon, and seconded by Mr. W. Pinchard,
both of whom spoke in the highest terms of his
abilities and great respectability.
BOARD or Hat LTH. —The first meeting since the
election of new members was held on Thursday
week, when Mr. Gillett was reappointed chairman,
and members were appointed on the different com-
mittees. Mr. Taunton brought under the notice
of the Board the recent election, and complained
of the handbills that had been circulated stating that
the Board was extravagantly conducted. He moved
that the clerk be requested to prepare • statenient of
the expenses of the Board, to be published for the
information or the ratepayers. Mr. Taylor seconded
the motion. Mr. W. Goodland suggested the
appointment of a committe to take the subject into
consideration with a view to reduce the expenditure.
Mr. Alford was not for noticing anonymous hand.
bills. Mr. Green spoke per contra. The Rev. W.
Redfern was in favour of a committee. Mr. Pollard
advocated the adoption of Mr. Taunton's motion,
and suggested that the expenses of lighting, cleansing,
and draining the town should he published. The
motion with this addition was carried by a majority
of 11 to 3. Mr. Goodland's proposition for the
appointment of a committee was also carried, one or
two other important matters were spoken of, and
the Board adjourned.