The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-07-26 00:00:00

glnn u anb Nab.

Terry's breech •loading ride was sueoesdully tested, near
Liverpool, lately. From one rise 1,800 shota were
fired without the piece fouling; and several times nine
shots per minute were fired by Mr. Terry himself.

The fortifications of tbe citadel of Dover are about to
be enlarged at an estimated cost of £150,0011. On the
lea front will be erected a large bastion for officers'
quarters, on the top of which will be a very strong
battery, heavily mounted with first-class ordnance.

correspondent of the Daily News suggests that
the prizes given for horse-racing should he transferred
to rifle corps. He cites the example of Switzerland as
worthy of imitation; and he particularly instances
Zurich, where the annual prises to be shot for this
month amount to LlO,OOO.

The introduction into the departments at Woolwich
Arsenal of the system of "piece-work," to supersede
the present general regulation of "time," having been
repeatedly proposed and rejected by the authorities as
disadvantageous and impracticable, the proposition was
adopted experimentally on the 22nd of June in
one of the shops belonging to the carriage department,
and was ordered to undergo a fair and impartial trial.
170 carpenters are employed therein. The system has
been continued, the result of which has been pronounced
exceedingly satisfactory and encouraging. The weekly
returns exhibit the amount of pay obtained under the
experimental progress as extremely advantageous to the
Government as well as the men, who are thus earning
from 28s. to 38s. per week of 56 hours, as heretofore,
while the economy to Government is calculated with
oertaintyst 1:50 per week. The system, itis stated, will be
extended throughout the department in all cases where
it OM be satisfactorily applied.
THE VICINDILI• ILLELEM,-00 Wednesday afternoon
this fine corps of volunteen, which during the late ride
crisis has received • considerable augmentation of
numbers, and is now in drill and efficiency quite equal
to any rifle corps in the service, assembled for a parade
inspection at their fine practising ground near Kilburn.
The immediate occasion of the review was the fact of
the Secretary for War having desired General Douglas
to inspect and report upon the efficiency of the regiment.
Under such circumstances, therefore, when the corps
was drilled and exercised under the critical eye of an
experienced general officer, • full attendance was not
as desirable as to present • body of volunteers which,
though small, could pass through the ordeal of a field-
day with ease to themselves and credit to their corps.
Thus, though • large number of the rifles were present
on the ground, yet not more than four strong companies
of about 250 men answered to the bugle for parade.
The Duke of Wellington, the Colonel commanding, was
early on the ground. The other °facers were Major
Clifford, Captains Clarkson and Jordan, Captain and
Adjutant Trew, Vint Lieutenants Greenhill and Hans
Husk, and Second Lieutenants Collins and Dickinson.
General Douglas cams upon the ground ea 5 o'clock, by
which time there was a numerous attendance of ladies
and gentlemen to witness the proceedings. The Duke
of Wellington took mainland of the regiment, and put
them through the usual evolutions of a field-day, which
were not only well executed but with a rapidity and
precision which would have redacted credit on any corps
whether volunteer or regular. The platoon exercise
was then gone through both by companies and by the
whole regiment with equal facility and address. March.
ing past, opening in skirmishing order, and advancing
in quarter distance column at doable time were
admirably performed, and elicited the warm commend-
ations of the General inspecting. The whole penile
was in the highest degree satisfactory, and well worthy
of the reputation which the Victoria Rifles have earned
a, being with the City Artillery Company the best
trained and organised volunteer regiment in the king-
dom. We believe the review of Wednesday will be
followed at an early date by a full parade and field-day
at the noble colonel's seat at Sbuthye.