The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-02-26 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

Paten:rims or Suirwaitcc...About seven o'clock
on Thursilty evening, during the terrific gale that
blew from the southwest. a Spanish brig, named
the Tomas, said to be bound for Havannah, was seen
at a considerable distance out, with a nag of distress
dying in her main rigging. ft seems she was drag.
ging her anchors, and was drifting at the speed of
four wiles an hour towards the dangerous Isbell of
rocks known a. the ltingstead ridge. The Helen
and Contractor steamers went to her asistance, and
their offer was gladly accepted to tow her into Wey
mouth harbour, where she still remains. The master
of the fishing cutter Charlotte, had been on board
the Tomas, endeavouring to bring her into the road-
stead. When brought into the harbour she had four
feet of water in her hold, and her mainyard and
several of her sails had been blown away. It is said
she has a valuable cargo on board, but what it oun•
sista of is not exactly known. She has no ship's
papers, and many have =noised that her valuable
cargo .miaists of contraband articles of war, originally
intended for Francis H. at Gaeta.

THZ GALL—During the gale on Thursday night
the first house in course of erection on the Collier.
vative Land Society's imitate near the railway station
was blown down. If Die old adage prove true that
"a bad beginning has • good ending," the shar,.
holders may look forward to a successful termination
of their 'lrina to convert a swamp into a paradise.
At present the prospects are that the elptuses will
far outstrip the profits. With the exception of the
house shady alluded to, and the visit ors few slates
and chimney puts to terra firma on Thursday night
the gale seems to have plumed harmlessly over the
town. _ . .

Tui Rev. J. Lyon.—We understand that the
Rev. J. Lyon, one of the curates of Metannin, Regis,
has expressed his intention of resigning.
Here CIIA rEL. A tea meeting Maid of the funds
for re-building the Hope Congregational Chapel was
bald in the schoolroom connected with that place of
worship, on Thursday evening last. About 100 per-
sons were present. After full justice had been done
to the good things provided on the occasion, a selec-
tion of sacred mnsic, including selections from the
oratorios of Judas Maccabens, and two choruses from
the Messiah," Worthy tub. Lamb" and " Halle-
luiah" was given in excellent style. Mr. T. Sykes
ably presided at the organ, and the Hope Chapel
choir were assisted by the Baptist Choir, the whole
comprising about 30 voices. In the course of the
evening, the meeting was addressed by the Revds.
Ashdon, J. Birt, and W. Lewis, as to tae state
of affairs in connection with the new chapel, and the
audience were entreated not to relax in their suidea-
Yours until the top stone had been laid with "shout.
log grace, grace unto it."
READINGS.—On Wednesday evening last, Mr. I).
Spooner, of Bridport, gave a reading at the Royal
Hotel Assembly Rooms,froin Sir B. Lytton's beauti-
ful play called "The Lady of Lyons." The Mayor
presided, and there was a numerous audience, not-
withstanding the unfavourable state of the weather.
Mr. Stagg, with the ride corps baud, played melee•
tonna popular music at intervals. The entcrtain•
meat lasted about 34 hours, and gave general satis-
faction.

TOWN Couseti.. —The Weymouth Town Council
are roicing themselves into groat nuto.riety just now.
A full report of the most important portion of the
discussimi at their last meeting, will be found in our
third page.