The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-10-25 00:00:00

Bil MISPERZ.

SOUTH-WESTERN EXTENSION. - The directors
have determined upon laying down a double line of
rails between Exeter and Yeovil. The contract was
originally taken for a single line, but the bridges
have been constructed for a double line. The con-
tractor (Mr. Taylor) has undertaken to complete the
double line by the Ist of March next.

Thnraciay last Mr. White, innkeeper, near
Winaborne, was standing on the steps in the interior
of the Shirehall, when he suddenly fell backwards
in a fit. His head was fear Tully fractured, and a
large pool of blood soon stained the spot where he
fell. Some of the persons around immediately ran
to his assistance, and he was carried to the hospital
in an insensible state. It was found that his injuries
were of a rather severe nature. Mr. White had been
summoned as a juryman, and had served in the
Crown court on the previous day, but on the morn-
ing of Thursday, feeling vcry unwell, he applied to
be relieved of his duties, which was granted.

IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS IN IiVNICIPAL ELM,
TioNs.—There was passed, in the last session of
Parliament, an Act to amend the law relating to
Municipal Elections in England and Wales. It is
entitled "The Municipal Coiporation Act, 1859,"
and its provisions are of considerable importance. If
two thirds of a Borough Council agree to petition her
Majesty for an alteration of the ward boundaries,
such alteration may be effected by an Order in
Council, and the new boundaries will be determined
by a barrister appointed for the purpose, nominated
by the judges of assizes for the summer circuit anti
remunerated at a specified rate from the borough
fund. After the declaration of the first November
election of councillors, after such division or altera-
tion, all the councillors shall go out of office, and
their powers and duties will cease, but they are eligi-
ble for re-election ' • in the first year after such elec-
tion those who shall go out of office shall he the
councillors who were elected by the smallest number
of votes, and in the next year those who shall go out
of office shall be the councillors who wt-re elected by
the next smallest number of votes at such election,
the majority of the whole Council always determin-
ing, where the votes shall have been equal, or where
there was no poll, who shall be the person to go out
of office. The Town Clerk must publish a seven
days' notice of an election. In future no councillor
can be elected, unless nominated in writing by such
burgess, of which the Town Clerk must have two
days' notice ; and he must give one clear day's
notice (Sunday excluded) of such nomination prior
to the election, the published notice setting forth the
Christian names and surnames of the persons so
nominated, with a statement of their respective
places of abode and descriptions, and with the names
of the party nominating them. The Town Clerk
must provide nomination papers, and fill them up,
on being requested to do so, provided they are
signed by the person nominating. At the election,
if the number of persons nominated shall exceed the
number to be elected, the councillors shall be elected
only from the persons nominated; if the number
nominated be the same as those required to be
elected such persons shall be deemed to be elected;
if the number nominated be leas than the number to
be elected, such persons shall be deemed to be
elected, and such of the retiring councillors highest
on the poll at their election, or, if the poll were
equal, or there was no poll, such as shall be nomi-
nated by the Mayor, shall be deemed to be re-elected.
In every case the Mayor, or alderman reel two
assessors, as the case may be, shall publish a lint of
the names of all the persons so elected, not later
than eleven o'clock on the morning of the day of
election. The Act then provides a penalty for the
personation of voters, of imprisonment in the com-
mon gaol for any period net exceeding three months,
with or without hard labour, on conviction for each
offence before two justices in petty sesions. The
same penalty is provided for forging, altering, des-
stroying, or stealing any voting or nomination
paper. Persons guilty of bribery at any election of
mayor, councillors, auditors, or assessors for any
borough, shall forfeit 405., with full suit of cost of
snit to any person who shall sue for the same in
the County Court ; and persons guilty of bribery at
larliamentary elections shall be struck off the list of
voters and be disabled from the exercise of the fran-
chise for six years. Power of appeal after conviction
in the County Court ii granted to the next Quarter
Sessions; and all proceedings for enforcing penalties
must be commenced within six calendar months
from the time when the matter of such proceedings
arose.

COMMITTED TO THE DORSET COI:NTT PRISON.—
Assizes : Hannah Collie and Mary Collis, concealing
the birth of a child at North Wootten. &grimes : Jane
Beaton, stealing from the person a silver watch, !U.,
at Castleton. Hard labor George Grinter, leaving
family chargeable at Whitehurch Canonicornin, :1
months ; William Hopkins, leaving service at Piddle-
hinton, 14 clays; Job Long, vagrancy at Wimborne
Minster, 1 month; William Wade, vagrancy at lkir•
chester, 1 month; Louisa Salisbury, stealing a pewter
tong at Hridport. 1 month. Impriromaral : Samuel
Gunimer, assault at Lyme Regis, 14 days.