The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-09-14 00:00:00

CATTLE FOR ENGLAND.
SCHLESWIG, /Arr. 9.
All cattle designed for exportation to lingland will be
inspected by Government and such inspections
are only to be made in open daylight

THE ALTON GUN AT WOOLWICH.
The Rldon gun may be regarded as practically cmnplete,
the final operation of shrinking the two parts together
being successfully perfotmed on Friday. The body of the
gun, which weighs 47 tons, was first placed in the now
shrinking pit, and the jacket—a tnassive dome, 34 tons in
weight—was heated all night, causing the metal to expand
considerably. Before heating the jacket was too small
to go over the breech of the gun, but when expanded it
was easily dropped over it, and emarticted as it cooled
until the two parts were lintily united in ono.

AN ENGLISH LADY DROWNED NEAR MONT
ST. MICHEL.
The French provincial papers report the drowning of an
English lady, dein-Alma ea a reltgieum Protestanta near
'lout St Michel. Accompanied by a younger lady, she
'darted on foot, and without a guide, for Tomhelaine, the
rock about two miles distant from the Mount The tide
was due in an hour, and they had hardly reached the rock
when it began to rise. The elder lady, aged 36, considering
herself a good swimmer. left her companion in order that
a boat might be sent off to rescae her. Some inhabitants
of the isle, seeing her surrounded hy the waves, raised an
alarm, and two fishermen went to her usistanoc, but
before they could reach her she sank, and the body has
not yet been recovered. Her companion was rescued by a
boat.

INTRODUCTION-01,—MARIDLAT-RY AT A
CHURCH IN CARDIFF.
At St. Mary's Church, Cardiff, on' Wednesday, four
services were hell to celebrate the anniversary of the
Nativity. They formed the first of a aeries intended to be
held under the name of St. Mary's Dedication Festival, to
nommemorate the Nativity of the blessed Virgin Mary.
This attempt on the part of the vicar to introduce a still
further development of MarioLstry than what has already
been experienced in the Church bas excited much con-
troversy. The major pert of the parishioners object to
these proceedings : but the vicar persists in his ritualistic
practices. The preachers announced were the Rev. A. H.
Stanton, St. Allan's, London; Rev. P. J. lees, Bristol;
and the Rev. F.. H. Sankey. These gentlemen will not
preach, however, aa the Bishop of Liandaff has prohibited
them from so doing.

THE IMPORTATION OVR-INEASED CATTLE.
Asked about the restrictions upon the importation of
diseased cattle, Mr. Bright says Ms "impression" is that
when the Bill wu passing through Parliament the country
gentry were anxious to make it as restrictive as possible,
as its operation in the direction of protection made restric-
tion impel ir to them. He adds, " I have not much
...nfidence in Um legislation to prevent cattle disease, and
I distrust it entirely when it ii tissd at the point which
meets the views of county members of Parliament High
prices and high rents, by the help of legislation, were once
greedily sought otter, and will not be refused now if
offered under the cover of an Art to prevent the importa-
tion of diseased cattle. An impartial inquiry into this
question would. I suspect, discover that the restrictions
imposed are needlessly severe, and that they tend sensibly
to diminish the supply, and to raise the price, of butchers
moat throughout the country."

- -
TIIE LOSS OF TIIE MISTLETOE.
A coroner's inquiry respecting the has of the yacht
Mistletoe, which was run down and sunk by her Majesty's
steam yacht Alberta, has been held at Portsmouth. Capt.
Welch, who was navigating the Alberta at the tune of the
collision. said he acted perfectly in accordance with the
rule of the road at sea; but it was utterly impossible to
avoid the collision when the Mistletoe's course was altered.
Driscoll, a quartermaster of the royal yacht, stated that
the Mistletoe must have altered her course, because she
suddenly came scrota the Alberta's bows. At the close of
Driscoll a examination in chief, the foreman of the jury
asked that Captain Welch might remove from the seat
he occupied, as be could look into the witness's face.
Captain 'Welch thereupon left the court, after protesting
that he had not been looking at the witness, a statement
in which some of the jury concurred. Atkins, another
quartermaster of the Alberta, was called. He stated his
opinion that the cause of the collision was the porting of
the Mistletoe's helm. Staff Commander SaiVllll3, on
Thursday, said the accident occurred through the Mistle-
toe altering her course. On Friday the jury retired, and
having deliberated about two hours and a half, they
returned at a few minutes after two o'clock with a verdict
that death was caused by an accidental collision. They
added a rider expressing an opinion that the navigating
officer of the Alberta had committed en error of judg.
!Tient, and they recommended a slower rate of speed
during summer months, and a more efficient look-out.

-
OSTRICH FARMING.
The experiment of farming ostriches for the purpose of
securing a regular and abundant supply of their valuable
feathers is a novelty in industrial operations, but it is
nevertheless reported to be a success. The experiment is
being tried in South Africa, in the vicinity of the Gape of
Good Rope, where the ostrich is "native in the place and
to the manner burn," and where land of the right sort can
be obtained to any extent. The recent file of Cape papers
contained an interesting account of • visit by • corres-
pondent of the litietern Province Herald to the flourishing
ostrich farm of Messrs. Ileugh and Meinjes at the foot of
the mountains_ A large extent of suitable bush land is
fenced in over which the birds roam peaceably enough in
ordinary limes, but in the breeding season the pairs select
and occupy one of the seversl small camps laid out for the
purpose. The birds are very fierce and savage at this
penoti, but at all other times are as tame as a flock of
sheep. The assemble to be fed at bugle call, though the
feeders have to be careful of any loose articles there may
be about, for the ostriches snap up and swallow itninedi-
&lady any such trifles as tobacco-pipes, knives, spoons,
coins, stc., and make attempts to wrench off buttons from
boots and clothing, and are not particular as ta watches
and chains if they can secure them. The plucking of the
birds is • dangerous operation. Thee are enticed by the
logle call into a small enclosure, where they are packed
as closely as possible to prevent them from administering
those terrible kicks to the pluckers of which they are
capable, and which are delivered with • force sufficient to
break a man's thigh. The plumage of the farmed oetrich
is stated to be abundant in quantity and superior in
quality, and the yield from • well-stocked and carefully-
tended farm returns a large profit on the whole outlay.
Several farms have already been established, and more are
being laid out, and this now branch of industry seems to
be in a most flourishing condition and promisee peat
expansion.-0100e.