The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

Somusetsb ire.

EavlL—.Vern Valuation of the Town and PariAh.
On Thursday a vestry meeting was held to
consider the propriety of revising the present map
and making a new valuation of the pariah ; the Rev.
B. J. P. Thomas, vicar, in the chair. After a brief
discussion, it was moved and seconded and carried
unanimously, 'That the overseers do communicate
with Mr. Poole, of Sherburne, on the subject, and
ascertain whether he is ready to revise the map and
make a new valuation of the parish, and ay.), that the
overseers do take the necessary steps for obtai g
an order from the Poor Law Board for such purpose "
Mr. C. A. Moody, M.P. for West Somerset, has
claimed exemption from serving on committees, on
account of being beyond 60 years old.

OPENING or THE NEW CURS EXCHANGE. OR
Friday week the building recently elected for the
convenience of farmers awl others attending Yeovil
market was opened under most auspicious circum-
stances. Being large market-day, and the weather
fine, the novelty of the circumstance induced a
very large number of persons to visit our town.
The sew building stands in a very obscure situation,
being erected on a peice of land between the back of
the Townhall and the eheese•market. It is a very
light and lofty room, about 34 feet square ; the glass
roof is surported by transverse iron girders, MlMl-
factured I Mr. Rowe, ironmonger, of Sherborne
and Yeovil. Opposite the fire-place (which is con-
structed of Ilam•hill stone) were the words " Wel-
come" surmounted by " V. 1t.," "Science, Agricul-
ture, and Commerce. There were lb stands which
were occupied by the followiug gentlemen :—Mr.
William Hopkins. Gawbridge Mills, Martoek ; Messrs.
Stiller and Brown; Messrs. Stuckey and Bagehot ;
Mr. G. Shore ; Mr. William Stuckey ; Mr. kleetens,
Taunbm ; Mr. James, 'hard * • Mr. Heel:worthy ;
Messrs. Vining and Bush ; Mr. Damon • Messrs.
Job Bradford and Sons; Mr. J. Senior Bishops
Camille) ; Mr. Cambridge (Bristol) • Mr. Edward
Taylor (Coker) ; Messrs. Strate and flosegood ; Mr.
W. /tlrden ; and Mr. Patch. The building fur pitch-
ing the corn in is immediately opposite the Corn
Exchange; and is thirty-five feet long, the roof
of which is also composed of glass, on iron girders,
manufactured by Messrs. Hannan' and Gillett,
of Yeovil. The erection of the building was '
entrusted to Mr. Chant, builder, of
There were entered for competition SO sacks of
white wheat, the competitors being Mr. NV. H.
Richards, Stapleton; Mr. W. B. Perm, of Compton ;
Mr. Henry Male, East Chinnock ; Mr. E. Baker,
noniron' ; G. D. W. Digby, Eaq., Sherborne
Castle; Mr. James Hoddinott, Sherburne ; and Mr.
Robert Brook, Key Farm. Of red wheat there
were 40 sacks entered, the competitors being Mr.
W. 11. Richards; Mr. S. Brown, Bridglumpton ;
Mr. R. Brook ; and Mr. Marshall, Castle Cary. Of
barley there were 100 sacks entered, the competitors
being Mr. R. Setdey, Milburn° Port ; Mr. John
Baker, Sherburne; Mr. R. Brook; Mr. 11. Baker,
Charlton Hawthorne. Of baths there were 30 sacks,
competed for by Mr. W. H. Iticharde ; Mr. John
Brook, Preston ; and Mr. John Sampson, Brympton.
Of white oats there were entered sO sacks, the com-
petitors for which were Mr. John Longham, of
Lytle ; Mr. S. B. Penny, lufton •' Mr. R. Sealey,
()borne ; Mr. .101 m Brain, Corton Denham ; G. 1).
W. Dighy, Esq., Shernorne ; Mr. William Man-
field, Dorchester; tuol Mr. W. Penny, Kingsbury
Episcopi. Of flax there were IS packs, and ti ex-
hibitors of 3 packs each, viz. :—Mr. J. Brooks, Din- ,
, nington ; Mr. S. Phelps. Hureott ; Mr. C. S. Staple;
Mr. Davis, Tauuton ; Mr. W. B. Perm ; and Mr. I
Villiani Dunell, of Chillingtm. In all there were
330 sacks, which was considerably more than the
building would hold ; the barley was therefore
pitched in an adj • • g building. We understand
in addition to the liberal sums offered fur the best
samples of corn, ikc., (amounting to upwards of X4O)
the society has realized a sufficient sum, by subscrip-
tions alone to award similar prizes for the next two
years. The Judges were—fur corn, Mr. William
Stuckey, Thorney Mills; Mr. R. Damon, Dorches-
ter ; and Mr. H. Burge, Stalbridge. For flax, Mr.
Israel Rendsl, West Coker ; Mr. Shuttle (from Py-
more Mill company,) Bridport ; and Mr. Donne,
Castle Cary. We understaml that Mr. Scott, of
Warminster, purchased the barley which obtained
the first prize; and Mr. Wooluaington, of Sherhorne,
purchased the second prize barley. An ordinary
was held at the Towhall, supplied by Mrs. Bullea,
of the Choughe Hotel, in her usual liberal manner.

The large room was very neatly decorated with flags,
evergreens, and moaocs. Nearly 200 gentlemen sat
down, under the presidency of T. Nlcssiter, Fog.,
supported on his right by the Mayor of Yeovil (IL
Tucker, Esq.,) and Wood, Esq., Mattock.

- .
CHAR!, CORN EXCIIANGK AND SAMNA %tome
—The Townhall in this borough was thrown open
by the Town Council on Monday week, at two
o'olock precisely, and continued so open until four
o'clock as a Corn Exchange and Sample Market.
The room is a very large one, overlooking the town
each way, and is admirably adapted for the puqsise
of a Corn Exchange, and must be a great accommo•
dation to persons attending the markets. NVe noticed
Mr. George England (Chard); Mr. Isaac Plummer
((hard) ; Mr. Alden ((2onibe St. Nicholas); Mr.
Wyatt (Purtington); and a number of others, who
exhibited samples of some very line corn seeds, 6:c.
Very shortly after the opening, the hall was crowded
with agriculturists, dealers and others. A large
amount of business was done at very good prices.
The exchange will open at two o'clock on every sub-
sequent Monday.

CR EWKEN !: E. —A Ilem pied Suicide.—On Wednes-
day night week, between the hours of I uand II o'clock,
Hermitage-street was thrown into a state of alarm,
by the report that Mr. Orchard, baker, had cut his
throat. it appears that he had been rambling about
A good part of the day; his wife on hearing a noise
of some one at the door, went to s‘s; what it was,
when she found her husband laying down. She drew
him into the house, when to her horror, she dis-
covered that his throat was cut and he in an
exhausted state. Mr. Wills, surgeon, and his
assistant promptly attended and dreasxl the wound.
They were of opinion from the loss of Idolsh and the
appearance of the wounds that the act had been done
for some two or three hours past. The would-he
suicide is now convalescent.

WELLS. —Sot/tenni eroirol Rol/wax—Opening of
Estrimion from Uladonbury lo Welk—The ex-
tension between the East Solueniet and Somerset
Central lines, about five miles in length, was opened
on Thursday, week under very interesting circum-
stances, and attracted a large concourse 101 persons.
Four triumphal arches were erixtial in different parts
of the city, bearing appropriate mottoes and Slags, in-
cluding the Royal standard, Russian eagle, and Wells
city arms. The To•vnliall was festooned so evergreens,
and bore the motto, "Cheer boys cheer, there's
wealth for honest labour," and a similar motto to
the ono on the Royal Exchange, London. The bells
of the cathedral and churches south forth merry peals,
and the enlivening strains from bands of music which
paraded the town, contributed touch to the enjoy-
ment of those assembled. Business was nearly
wholly suspended for the day. Between eleven and
twelve o'clock a procession was formed in the mar-
ket-place, consisting of the mayor, magistrates,
city oorporation,and the members of various societies.
The arrival of the directors in a special train within
the confines of the borough was announced by the
firing of a royal salute from a 24 pounder, one of the
trophies of the Russian war. At two o'clock up-
wards of SO gentlemen sat down to a collation in the
council chamber of the Townhall. The inaugural
ceremony closed with a display of fireworks, and a
ball at the Townliall in the evening.

Archdeacon Law has given to the inhabitants of
Weston-super-Mare, a townhall, ball, and concert-
room, at a cost of nearly £4,000.
BRIDGWATER.—Meeting on the Reform
On Monday evening a public meeting was held at
the Townhall, to consider the Bill brought in by
Government. The meeting was convened by the
Mayor, pursuant to a requisition signed by some few
of the town. In the absence of the Mayor, who was
from home, John Brown, ESli., took the chair. Col.
Tynte, one of the members was present, and a let-
ter from Mr. Kinglake, the other member, explaining
the cause of his absence was read. Mr. Benjamin
Lovibond, solicitor, moved a resolution condemna-
tory of the Bill, which he denounced as a sham and a
delusion. He alluded to the course taken by the
Conservative party during the present century upon
the leading questions of the day ; and argued that
they were the wrong persons to introduce a Reform
Bill. He also contended that the Bill was one of
disfranchisement rather than enfranchisement, and
ridiculed the clauses conferring the franchise on in-
vestors in savings banks, professional men, achool-
masters, and lodgers ; and concluded by moving that
the Bill was not worthy of a second reading, and call-
ing on the borough members to oppose such second
reading. Mr. J. T. Thompson briefly seconded the
resolution. An amendment was then moved by W.
D. Bath, Esq., approving the Bill, and calling on
the members to support the Bill. lie contended
that the Bill was useful in many respects, and that
which was objectionable could be altered in com-
mittee. Mr. Edwin Phillips seconded the amend-
ment. Mr. Richard Smith. in an eloquent 1111.1 able
speech supported the amendment, arguing that the
Bill was essentially one of enfranchisement, rather
than disfranchisement. He also contended that it
was tune fur the men of property and position to up.
hold their rights, and not to let the franchise of the
country dwindle away to nothing. Ltsiking at the
present vast [mintier of voters who abstainwl from
voting in the large boroughs, and especially instan-
cing the recent election at Marylebone, where 12,000
voters never voted, he submitted that large consti-
tuencies were not found useful or desirable. He also
declared against the Ballot, referring to France, as
an example against its utility. He also contended
that the resolution was improper and unjust, inas-
much as it went for ilisiniasuig the Bill without giv-
ing it proper tlibcussson.
The speaker was repeatedly cheered during his

Mr. William Taylor defended the original resolu-
tion, especially remarking in favour of the Ballot.
Mr. S. A Bailey complained that Mr. Loribond
had introduced various topics irrevelant to the mat-
ters at ironic, and which opened up subjects of dis-
cussion impossible to be decided on in a meeting like
that, and thereby bad endeavoured to prejudice the
matter rather than to argue the question cahnly—and
he predicted from the present meeting, that in caw
of enlarged franchise, it would be impossible to ob-
tain a quiet hearing.
Mr. F. C. Foster remarked that the Conservative
Club were making a stir, and endeavoured to throw
scorn over them.

The amendment was then put and lost and
afterwanls the original resolution mas put and
carried.

Colonel Tynte then addressed the meeting, assur-
ing them of his steady support.
The meeting soon after closed.
It was a very large 'Prating, the hall being densely
crowded.