The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-06-28 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

BACKWATER BRIDGIL-1110 preparations for this
structure commenced on Monday, by the con-
veyance to the spot of the necerary apparatus
for pile-driving. It is expected that the erection
will be speedily finished when once it is thoroughly
in hand.

Waymormf ELEcrios. Two petitions against
the return of Lord Grey de Wilton and Mr. Brookes
f,r this borough, were presented to the House of
Commons on Friday week. The petitioning electors
are Captain Slade, R.N., Messrs Cotterell and
Harris. The following gentlemen have entered into
recognizant*. (each in £l,so)—Menra. John Tuard,
R. N. Howard, J. E Robes., and T. Bailing. Col.
Freestun also petitions separately, his recognisance
being W. 8. Ferris, Esq., in the mun of XlOOO. Mr.
Phinn, Q.C., has been engaged. We may expect
that the investigation before the Committee of the
Commons will elicit some ugly revelations as to the

iniquitous doings of the disreputable "awe dealers
who prsetived I the last election, and there gwe
hopes that the profteLlings *III be egionessfirl in rein-
stating Col. Fainting and gr. CailiPhell in the posi•
lion from which, they have ban dispLical.
Vui or LAND a+ Wrainetti. -,-The first
dav's sale or the Park estate, situated moat Li the
esplanade, the bay, and the railway statiolll of Wey-
mouth, itas commenced on the 22nd inst. by the
Comic, vatit e Isnot Societe. AS an evidence of the
value of 'nail ling land it IL* ilily IMI IlientriUllell that
the nra. rive •- hits of. choice were sold at high
at £BO I,remium. took lot So. 243, p.crree,
£266 10..
right No. 2, sold fur e4O, resold for £BO premium,
took lot 290, price £266 7s. 6d. ; right No. 3, sold
for £3O. resold for XSO, took lot 97, price
£297 14s. Pni. ; lot 4. sold for 115, resold for XSO,
took Lit 21, pries .C 193 Ois ; and light No. 5, sold
for 1:25 premium, took lot .141, price .C 99 54. Other
rights were in demand for the borrowing power of
seven-eighths of the cost of each plot.
Towa Con scti..—A meeting was held on Wed-
nesday. A letter from the War-office was read in
reply to a communication from the Council request-
ing that in the contempLaccg fortifications on the
Naha the oncient privileges of the borough might be
considered. Major-General Peel informed the Cor-
poration that the Nothe Lad been purchased by Govern.
moot expressly sea site for a defensive work, and con;
sequently it would be necessary to keep that objec-
mainly in view ; it wsa hoped, however, that the
inhabitants of Weymouth would not experience
more inconvenience than must necessarily result from
the execution of the project, which Major-General
Peel considered of national importance.—The Mayor
alluded to an offer from Mr. Saunders, of South-
down, to erect four public drinking fountains in dig%
ferent parts of the town. Mr. Saunders was willing
to carry out his kind proposal on a very liberal scale;
but the only Lineation was as to the supply of water,
which would involve an annual expenditure of some
live or ten pounds—Mr. Howard thought the Water
Company would supply the water gratuitously.—
The Clerk said he bad spoken to Mr. Crickmay on
the subject, but had not yet received an answer.—lt
was agreed that a deputation, consisting of Mears.
Howard, Baling, and Thomas, should wait on Mr.
Saunders to ascertain his intentiona more fully.

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REUNION IHUSICALT.--011 Fridarankaternoon week
Miss West Nevelt, (pupil of Mr. filori) gave
her half-yearly reunion masicak, at the Victoria
Hotel Assembly Rooms, to a very numerous and
fashionable company, aswembled entirely by invita-
tion. An excellent programme of vocal and instra.
mental music was performed, comprising many gems
from the first masters, and executed with • degree
of style and artistic finish that afforded undeniable
testimony not only of the attention bestowed by
Miss Havell on her pupils, but of her unquestionable
ability to impart musical instruction. Among the
most noticeable points in the •pregrarnme may be
mentioned hlendelashon's vocal trio, "Come gentle
sleep," which was much and deservedly admired. A
solo on the Concertina by Miss Binfield was • truly
astonishing performance, eliciting effects of which
one could scarcely have suposed the instrument
capable. Mr. R. Linter scrompsinied the young
lady with customary excellence. Mendelsshon's two
part song "I would that my love" was beautifully
sung, and exhibited real musical feeling. The vocal
duet, "The Blue Lagoon" (Eodwell) was soother
charming exposition of talent ind taste. There were
also two instrumental piexe—sarnely, fantasias from
" Somnambula" and "La Troviata," which were
executed in a thoroughly aitisstic manner. The
whole entertainment was a decided success, and
highly creditable to Miss West Haven's perseverance
and industry during her professional career in Wry.
mouth.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHANNEL ISLANIX4.—
The company who first started steamers between
Weymouth and the Channel Islands and Cherbourg
have subscribed all their capital. They have applied
to the French government for some encouragement
to the steam packet line between Weymouth and
cherbourg without success. Whether the company
withdraw their steamers sooner or later, they have
succeeded in securing a permanent steam packet
comniunication between Weymouth and the Channel
Islands at the hands of the South Western Company,
for the latter will not be able to withdraw their
Channel Island and Weymouth steamers, even when
all opposition to them shall cease. Although steam
communication between Weymouth and Jersey and
Guernsey has been in operation now for a consider-
able time, and has proved the necessity of its con-
tinuance, and although the distance between Jersey
and Weymouth is much less than that from Jersey
to Southampton. the long-established steam line ,
butween the latter port and the Channel Isles has
not been materially damaged by its rival. The fro.
quent and rapid communication between London
and Southampton, and the cheapness of transmit-
ting merchandise between Jersey and London,
rill Southampton, as compared with its ex-
pense rid Weymouth, have saved the old
line; while the running of the South Western and
Great Western lines into Weymouth, and the connect.
lag of Pemouice, Bideford, Birmingham, and all the
intervening country between those places and Yeovil
by rail with Weymouth, have succeeded at length in
establishing another permanent Channel steam-packet
communication which extends to within a few miles
of France. When the railway is completed between
Gillingham and Exeter, it will assist in supporting
the Vs eymouth and Channel Island steam line, and
when a railway is made from Bridport to Exmouth,
which must one day be done for the purpose of our
coast defences, Weymouth will be in more direct
communication with the coast of Dorset, Devon and
Cornwall. Alderney is one of our strongest harbours
of refuge, and Jersey may be considered as • watch
tower of England, commanding as it does Cherbourg,
and we cannot have a too frequent communication
with those islands. The martial spirit and organisa-
tion of the Channel Isles should be a model for this
country. Every boy there above twelve years of age
is obliged to go to drill once a year. The militia of
the islands, both artillery and infantry several thou.
, sand strong, have been pronounced by the highest
military authorities as equal in efficiency to regular
troops. Their arms, accoutrements, and ammunition
are furnished by government. In Guernsey and
Jersey it is no uncommon thing to see the wealthy
merchant shouldering his rifle as a private, and obey.
ing the word of command of his own clerk, who for
his superior soldier-like attainments, has been made
an officer.