The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-10-04 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4,18 A

HONESTE AUDAX.

THE French Government has this week published
an article in the Moniteur contradicting in the
MOM formal manner the assertions of "some
foreign journals" that the settlement of the
affairs of Italy had been impeded by the desire
of the Emperor of the French to found a king-
dom in Central Italy for Prince Napoleon. It
states that such reports do not stand in need of
refutation, and that to deprive them of all their
value, it is only necessary, without speaking of
the enaagements entered into at Villafranca, to
call to mind the acts and declarations of the
Emperor Napoleon before and since that period.
Meanwhile it is reported from Central Italy that
Tuscany, Modena, Parma, mid the Romagna will
shortly hold a convocation of their national
assemblies in Florence for the purpose of electing
a Regent to conduct the government of the four
united States until,the annexation to Sardinia
be formally sanctioned by European diplomacy.
Lord John Russell on Wednesday delivered a
speech at Aberdeen, in which he explained his
views on the Italian question for the first time
Rime his accession to office as Foreign Secretary.
His lordship said that though Her Maiesty's
government could laim no credit for having
enabled the Italians to assert their freedom, yet
they were bound to say, and had said that
against ally interference of foreign force to pre-
vent the Italians having their own Government,
and conducting their affairs as they liked, they
most loudly and solemnly protested. He de-
clared emphatically that England should never
, under his auspices enter into a Congress unless
the rights of the people of Italy to govern
themselves without foreign interference were re-
cognized; but at the same time he expressed his
firm belief that neither France nor Austria, how-
ever she may dislike the continuance of the pre-
sent state of affairs in Modena and Tuscany, will
attempt to coerce the Italians in regard to their
choice of a form of Government. "1 feel con-
vinced," said the noble lord, " by the language,
not of ono of those Powers, but of both those
Powers, that whatever their opinions may be as
to what has taken place, neither Power has any
intention to interfere by force with the decision
of those peoples. I think it a matter of great
importance that it should be so, because that
system—which is rather disguised than ex-
pressed by the phrase, the balance of power—
means that the different States shall be inde-
pendent, that they shall manage their own
concerns, and that no one State shouhl have
the preponderance in Europe, or dictate what
should be the constitution, or what should be
the internal government of the rest."
The Revenue Returns for the year and quar-
ter, ended the :kith September, were made up on
Friday evening last. Those accounts are gene-
rally favourable, although they show a small de-
crease as compared with the corresponding quar-
ter of last year.
In Customs there is an increase of nearly
£160,01k) ; attributable chiefly to tea, currants,
wino, spirits, and tobacco. On the item of sugar
there is an apparent decrease, caused by pay-
ments made in June last under the impression of
a probable addition to the duty.
Excise shows an increase of upwards of
1:450,0thi, derived principally from spirits and
malt, and, indeed from every article excepting
hops.

Stamps are increased to the extent of more
than 1:100,000 from Legacy suut Succession
Duties.

A slight Words's° has taken place in Land and
Assessed Taxes, owing to tho growth of the House
Duty.

in Income Tax there is a decrease of about
tiekt,uoo, owing to the decline in the rate of
duty, the additional rate having not yet, of
course, affected the revenue.
The Post-office income cJntinues to increase.
The augmentation this quarter is £35,000.
Crown Lands, as usual, are almost stationary.
The miscellaneous items present a falling off of
nearly i.:191,000, the results of diminished re-
ceipts on the sale of old stores and other merely
accidental causes.

Thus, on the quarter, there is a gross increase
on thu principal sources of revenue of nearly
£BUU,OOO, which is converted into an apparent
decrease only, by the relief to the tax-payer in
the reduction of the income tax.

The account for the year yields a general in-
crease of about £BOO,OOO, notwithstanding the
diminished receipts of more than £2,000,000
from Income-tax. The real increase therefore
would otherwise have been nearly £3,000,000.

,
Thu following are the items of increase derived
(ruin the same sources as those specified in the
quarter's statement, with the addition of an in-
creased receipt (on the year) (min stamps on
bankers' cheques :
Customs (about) £1,330,000
Excise
Stamps 260,01.0
Land and Assessed Taxes— 52,000
Post-office 230,000
Crown Lands
Miscellaneous

THE report of the Goveniment Inspector, Mr.
DICKENS, SS to the execution and efficiency of
the public drainage and water supply for this
town, has at length been presented to the
Council, and is now before the public. We
could wish, for the interests of the ratepayers,
that the document had been one of a more
satisfactory character. We have all been an-
xiously looking for some impartial and compe-
tent testimony on this head, both in explanation
of the cause and real nature of ascertained
defects, and in the way of removing all appre-
hension ea to the eoundneaa and practicability

of these costly public works. The Report states
two things, which, if they stood alone, might
possibly be re-assuring to the ratepayers, but
which, taken in connection with the whole docn-
ment, will be found, we fear, to be of very little
worth. The Inspector says that the engineer
(Mr. WHITEHEAD) is " INltitlell to payment,"
and that the works generally "have been car-
"red out satisfactorily." But, unfortunately
for Mr. Dicsa.vs, the In-al Board of Health
are, or are supposed to be, a reasoning body,
and he must present to them something in the
shape of a report going far beyond these brief
expressions, and showing the accuracy of his
observations and the foundation for his judg-
ment. Now, we are bold enough to assert that
the statement of Mr. DICKENS—that these works
have been satisfactorily carried out, is not only
not proved, but that on the face of the doctuuent
itself an opposite state of things is established,
and only too much ground afforded for doubt
and apprehension as to their ultimate and com-
plete success. We may observe, by the way,
that the Report is most guardedly worded ; it
is evidently a most cautious and pains-taking
document, inspired with the desire, apparently,
of painting everything as far as possible cmil( or
de toss, with the least possible risk of com-
promising the writer's candour and professional
acuteness.

Let it be well understood, in estimating the
degree of confidence we ought to place in Mr.
Dicia:xs' dictum, as to the satisfactory execu-
tion of the works, that he prefaces his Report
with tills ominous remark :—" It would have
"been far more satisfactory if local inspection
"had been made at various titues during the
"actual construction of the works ;" and he adds
that, as it was, be made as perfect an examina-
tion as was in his power. Now see what that
examination amounts to. The first thing which
attracts his attention is the disastrous blowing
up of the sower in the "Common meadow,"
which, as he says, necessitated a deviation
from the original plan sanctioned by tho late
General Board of Health; and as to tho way in
which those defects have been remedied by Mr.
WHITEHEAD, he says nothing for himself, but
is content to dismiss that point by quoting what
Mr. WHITEHEAD has said in his own behalf
•in relation to his own work; and the In-
spector gives it in to tho Local Board, on
the authority of Mr. WHITEHEAD alone,
"that this portion of the work is now per-
" fectly secure and working well." But the
Inspector afterwards admits, with reference to
this part of the sewerage—which Mr. WIIITE-
HEAD finds to ho "perfectly secure and well-
"working "—"that there is evident permeation
"into the sewer towards the outfall from the
"land-springs, but/ Hank not to an extent to

interfere with the proper working of the

"sewer." Does this show that the amended
work of the deviation has been done satisfac-
torily ? Then, as to the report that some of
the pipes had been crushed in tilling in over
them, the Inspector says—" It is of course ini-
" possible, without taking up the whole length
"of the sewer, positively to say how far this
"may be the case; but as the ground has again

"to be opened to make the house-conuuunica-
" tions, a good opportunity will occur of testing
"the goodness of the pipes." Where do you
find in this any evidence that the work has been
"satisfactorily done I"
Then, the water-works are much in the same
position. There has been, and there is still, a
great leakage going on, many thousands of gal-
lons being lost, and the interesting discovery
being occasionally made that the reservoir and
the main pipes are "empty." The hydrants
had leaked very much, and one of the plugs had
been blown out. The defect in the surface
reservoir, the Inspector says, "arose, as Mr.
" WHITEHEAD believes, from bad puddle." Mr.
Wrirrairgan therefore had caused the floor to
be relaid—the leakage was then reduced, but it
still continued; from which it is clear, says the
Inspector, " that there is still leakage from
some part of the work." Still, bad pudtlle
somewhere. The Inspector himself was "in-
' dined to think that it must be at the junctions
"of the floor with the brick piers." He then
advises a "careful examination of these
" points," and recommends that all deficiencies
should be made good with the best hydraulic
cement, or, "by some other effectual ;luaus."
Again let us ask, dues this support Mr. DICKENS'
Opinion that these works have been carried out
"satisfactorily e And it may be stated, for
Mr. Drcxess' information, that since he penned
the Report, there was a further loss (only a few
days ago) of a quantity of water computed at
no less than 70,000 gallons. Really, it would
seem that Mr. DICK ENs must have formed no very
flattering notion of the intellectual status of the
Town Council of Dorchester acting as a Lem!
Board of Health, if he could imagine them Car
pable of being hoodwinked so egregiously. But
we are sorry to say that there was certainly an
exhibition of individual obtuseness at the Board
on Wednesday last, which would in some degree
justify Mr. DICKENS' unfavourable estimate of
the mental capacity of our local public bodies.
Well, thew few observations of ours will per
haps show how far we may safely rely upon the
Government Inspector's statement that Mr.
WHITEHEAD is entitled to the payment of his
account as for works alleged to have been satis-
factorily carried out ; hut if anything more is
wanted to convince the common sense of the
ratepayers of the utter worthlessness of this ela-
borate "Report on examination," Ate., it will be
found in one of the concluding paragraphs,—in
which, after all that has been said, it is candidly
stated that the examination, such as it was, was
necessarily "a limited one," and that the Inspec-
tor altogether ignores "the responsibility of
"certifying as to the mode in w hich the under-
"ground work has been executed"—the said
under-ground work being as great a proportion of
the whole as the barrel and stock are of a fowl-
ing piece! The Report amounts to no more
than this—the Inspector can say nothinv about
the works, being, as they are, all under ground;
but WON imperfections and defects have cer-
tainly come to his knowledge; and when all
these deficiencies are made good by "minute
examination," and the adoption of "effectual
means," in every part of the reservoir the
sewers—and the water-pipes—then all these mag-
nificent works "will be found to answer the
"purposes for which they were intended."
There needs no ghost come from the grave to
tell us this, and no official from the Home Office
to trifle so pleasantly with the understanding of
the ratepayers of Dorchester.
Such is the Government Report on these pub-
lic works, and such is the document which,
according to one of the members of the Local
Board (Mr. ENson), is to put to shamo and con-
fusion every body who may have presumed at
any time to say or write anything against the
satisfactory progress and efficiency of those
works. Mr. Exson must have been afflicted
with a strange obliquity of vision, when he
thought he saw in this Report a complete and
most triumphant answer to all the complaints
which have been so naturally elicited by the
tedious and defective character 411 these sanitary
operations. It is inconceivable that it should
have seemed good to Mr. ENSUE to wake the
reception of this report the occasion for a general
and indiscriminate attack on the local Press—
an attack of the most virulent and sweeping
kind, which was yet indulged iu without the
smallest possible grounds as regards ourselves,
and without even the slightest attempt to
allege any tangible reason for the charges he
brings against us. Ho says—(to put his
observations into good English, a service for
which men of a higher stamp than Mr. ENM,Ii
are often iniebted to the thankless office of the
Reporter)—" The contractors, the engineer, and
"the council have been by us most unfairly and
"unjustly attacked, end that not content with

"reporting the most unfunded things with
"reference to the Lad construction and ineffi-
" ciency of the works, we have written articles
"in the same spirit, creating a feeling of distrust
"and dissatisfaction." Now these charges are
very serious, if they are true. Fortunately for
our reputation, they are false. If they are not
true they are simply ridiculous, and exhibit a
juerulous and reckless temper, not altogether
foreign to ill-informed minds in the humbler
walks of life, but quite unbecoming in a
man exalted to the position of a member of
a public board and a magistrate of the borough.
Mr. ENSOR does not state one single instance in
proof of what he alleges against us, but gratifies
the whim of the moment by a general accusation
of "unfairness and injustice." We can only
deny the impeachment in terms as general and
quite as emphatic as those in which it is conveyed.
Why has Mr. Essen's eloquence slept for years
past, while the "contractors, the engineer, and
"the council," (the objects of his tender solid-
tude), were being so unfairly dealt with, and
public opinion was all the while so shamefully
misdirected ? How does it happen that this
ebullition of holiest indignation did not burst
forth long ago, when the venality and
mischief with which we are charged might
have been at once corrected and exposed 1
The truth is, Mr. ENSOR had simply nothing
to say, or he would have said it ; but
the Government Inspector's Report is a great
fact, under cover of which he thinks he may
attack us with effect. We have shown the
flimsy nature of the ground on which he seems
to take his stand. But the Report is nevertheless
received by Mr. Emote with a degree of satisfac-
tion, and an apparent exuberance of joy, as
wholly unintelligible as are the groummd.4 upon
which he rests Lis new-found claims to be at-
tended to as a censor of the local Press. Thu
ratepayers can understand that Mr. Essoa, hav-
ing been the apologist of every blunder in the
progress of these public work; is delighted to
think that they are not wholly and absolutely
condemned by the Government official ; and it
requires only to give the rein to a somewhat
impetuous imagination to fancy that, therefore,
everything is well and satisfactorily done. Then-
under the influence of this delightful hallueina
tion, what can be easier than to bully the Press
on the score of perverse and unfounded notions
as to the blundering awl insufficiency of the
work 1 Ono false step, in the nature of things,
brings on another. But Mr. ENSOR is quite as
much mistaken in his favourable construction of
this Report, as he is mistaken in supposing that
we are at all open to the charge of "unfairness
and injustice" which he so rashly brings against
us. When we say that these are "mistakes," we
use a mild term; we are not sure that there is
not something of the heat of partizanship and
dAermined willfulness intermingled with all
this apparent obfuscation and irascibility. But
we must not elevate Mr. Esson into too much
' importance by dwelling longer on this subject,
any further than to do the Board the justice to
• say that Mr. Exsolt stands entirely alone in his
most unjust awl uncalletl•for censure of the
Press. No single expressiun of his in that direc-
tion found an echo from any one present ; on
the contrary, when the subject was alluded to by
any other member of the Board, it was to dis-
prove Mr. ENSOM'S assertions, and to defend the
usefulness and integrity of a watchful guardian
of the public interests.

DORtHEsTER PITCHED CORE MARKET, SRllllllay.
—Our corn market was thinly attended to-day, and
hut little businesa doing, prices of all kinds of grain
the same as last week.

POUNDBUKV SHEEP FMK. —This fair was on
Thursday lzlst not supplied with No large a number of
sheep as on former occasions, neither was the attend-
ance of dealers quite so numerous. Ewes of
first quality made from 3.is. to 445. and inferior
from 345. to 345. In the Corn Exchange there
was a large supply both of wheat and bailey, but
no business was done.

ANNUAL SALE OF STOCK AT FRIAR WAIODON.
This sale of out-going stock, the property of Mr. W.
Dunning took place on Tuesday, under the hammer
of Messrs. Baker and Eusor. This was the tenth
annual sale of Mr. I/timings' stock, which always
stands high in the estimation of all who are interested
in this kind of farm produce. The weather-Was
fortunately very tine, and there was a large attend.
:ince of butchers and dealers. About two o'clock the
e.anpany sat down to a profuse cold collation, which
had been tastefully spread in the barn adjoining the
sale yard, under the direction of Mrs. Dunning. The
chair was occupied by Mr. Jame.; Harding, of Water-
son, and the vice chair by Mr. H. Damen, corn fac-
tor, ke., of Dorchester, who were well supported by
the agriculturists of the neighbourhood. After ample
justice had been done to the good things provided,
the loyal toasts were drunk with the honours. That
of the Lord. Lieutenant and Magistrates of the county
wan responded to by H. C. Gowlden, Esq., whose
name had been coupled therewith, and who after.
wards gave the health of their host, Mr. Dunning,
which was appropriately acknowledged by that gen•
tlencin. Thu vice-chairman proisesed the health of
the chairman, who feelingly responded; and the vice
chairman was given by the boat. Mr. Damen, in
returning thanks, bore testimony to the high mdium-
tion in which Mr. Dowling's sheep were hehl in the
higher Ind of Hampshire, Sussex, and Surrey. The
toast of the dealers was introduced from the chair, and
acknowledged by Mr. lkiunton. Mr. 11. J. Andrews,
in hum...omits terms, proposed the health of Mrs.
Dunning, and the ladies, the host responding ;and the
Chairman gave that of Mr. Nl:infield, who originally
presided at these annual gatherings, and who appro.
• priately returned thanks, and. then drank to their
'next merry meeting." The party then adjourned
to the sale ground, in a meadow near the Homestead,
where Mr. T. Ensor e 1111 l meuced business. The full.
mouthed and six-tooth horned ewes were first sub-
. tuitted to competition, they having been put to
Down muis to produce fine and early lambs towards
the Old of tietober or the beginning of November.
The first score WM knocked clown at 495. per head,
and the two following lets at 4.5. from which prices
they ranged down to about 455., the average being
above 465. The fat horo wethers made from 40s. to
445. per head, and wether lambs from 21s. G,l. to 225.
The sale of sheep was brought to a close with the
Southdown rams which had been used with the flock,
the prices ranging from t7s., up to 435. per head.
For the fiet heifers high prices were obtained, and the
pigs also sold well, thus terminating an excellent day's
business.

I)OILSETSIIIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. - The
ploughing match of this Society took place on Fri-
day last, by permission of Mr. Richard Canis, on
Burt ii Kirin, near Dorchester, when the following
premiums were obtained and awarded. Messrs.
Groves, B. Damen, and Thomas Cox offici-
ated as judges. There were 20 ploughs. snit the
work throughout was considered to be well done.
To the person. being a ennxtant servant of a member
or his widow, who shall plough half an acre of land
within a given tun... in the best manner. (two horses,
without a driveri—Ceorge Legg, servant to Mr. James
Harding, P 2.
To the second best entitled—John Pierce, servant to
Mr. E. Whittle, El.
To the third hest entitled—Mathew Critchell, servant
to Mr. .1. 10a.
.

_
To the lad, being a constant servant of a member or
his widow, under 17 years of iv, who shall plough half
an acre of land within a given time, iii the best manner,
(two hones, without a driver)—ltubert Whittle, servant
to Mr. W. I:roves, 10s.
To the second best entitled—Robert Richards, servant
to Mr. It. Genge, s:I.
To the third best entitled—Frederick Gifford, servant
to Mr. Levi Groves, 10s.
To the person, being a constant servant of smembet
or his widow, who shall plough half an acre of land
within • given time, in the best manner, (two oxen,
without a driver)--st bounty of El, John Critchell,
servant to Mr. J. Hill.

To the person, being a constant servant of a member
or his widow, who shall plough hal; an acre of land
within • given time, in the best manner, (three or four
oven, with a driver)—Wdlians Mvar, servant to Itr.
Al MIT;

To the geeend best entitled—George Duutonl, 'errant
to Mr. R. Genge,

LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH. A report of the
meeting of the Lend Board of Health on Wednesday
last will be found in the third page, together with
the official Report of the Government Inspector on
the sanitary works of the borough.
Inisii Soelerv.—A meeting in aid of the Irish
Society, for promoting the scriptural education and
religions instruction of Irish Roman Catholics chiefly
through the medium of their own language, was
held at the Townhall on Monday evening last. Dr.
Cowden CCuliiol the chair, but the attendance was
thin even for a Dorchester audience on such occasions,
Owing d iubtless to the-inclemency of the weather.
The tuorting having boen addressed by the Depu-
tation mid the I:vv. H. Mottle, the Doxology was
sung and the proceedings terminated. The ixillec•
thin made at the door aulountod to LI 16s.
EXTEN4ION OF TUE GAS Ti) FORDINGTON.—The
Gas i 'oinnsuty have now extended their mains as far
as Fordington Hill, :mil it is intended to take advan-
tage of this opportunity to improve the lighting of
St. George's Church.

I him. lIESTER CI KAMM Aft Si 'II 00L—The annual
award of exhibitions and distribution of prizes, which
were postponed from Midsummer last inconsequence
of the death of the wife of the Head Master, took
place at the school, on Thursday Lis:: in the presence
of several ladies anit gentlemen rtisident in the towu
and neighbourhood. 'the proceedings having been
opened by prayer, and the meeting addressed by the
chairman, (H. Lock Esq., Mayor), the Her. C. W.
Bingham, and the Her. T. W. B. Baker, the diatribe-
fives Were then made by the Mayor asfullows

EXHIBITIONS :

Feoffeca's Exhibition (4O)

Cowden. major.

;*t-ib,ciibers' Exhibition (MO) Luck, m'inift;cs.
PIitZES :

I. Classical
H. Classical
111. Classical.

Scott.
Miller, minor.
Cowden, ndi/1.11/1160.

Divinity
French
IV. Mental

l'owdell, major.
.. Lock, minions,.
.. Allen.

Senior Mathematical

Kme, major.

Junior Mathematical