The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

Sontersetsbire.

PROFOSISD MANUFACTURIS OF GAS AT TIIF.
COUNTY G AOl- —The Somerset Spring Sessions will
be held on the 22nd of March next at Wells, when
among the special business will be the consideration
of a notice, given at the last session, by Mr. Henry
Hadcock, of his intention to move "That a sum not
exceeding .ClOO be granted to the visiting justices' of
Taunton prison, for the purpol2 of enabling them to
erect gas works in that prison, for the supply of gas
therein, and in the shirehall, judges lodgings, and
police station, and that they be authorised to con-
tract fur the crextion of such works by competent
persona, and for the erection of such wall or walls
as may be necessary for separating the gas works
From the rest of the prison premises ; the whole
expense being limited to the said sum of £600."

BUT LEI4III. -leg DmIA. John Davis, a
native of Butleigh, in the employ of Mr. Knight,
fanner, of Butleigh Wootton. expired on Sunday
afternoon, under circumstances of rather a peculiar
nature. It appears that the amassed had assisted a
man, about a week previous, in killing a pig, when
the animal suddenly jerking, caused the knife to run
into his finger ; taking but little notice of it, he
went about his usual work. Symptoms of insanity
manifested themselves very gradually towards Sunday,
January 23rd, and on the following Thursday it was
with difficulty two men could hold him in bed. lie
became worse till he expired.

Writxx-r.—Sioid,a Dm/h.—Great excitement was
created in this village on Tuesday afternoon, by a
rumour that Charles Wood, Es' q., of Street House,
had suddenly expired, and unfortunately it proved
too true. It appears that shortly after luncheon Mr.
Wood was found in the passage by one of the ser-
vants, apparently in a tit. An alarm was given, but
too late; he WU speechless, and life was soon
extinct. His death is supposed to have resulted
from disease of the heart. Mr. Wood hail resided in
the neighbourhood only a few years, and a few
months ago qualified as a magistrate for the county.
This sudden and painful event has plunged his
family into the deepest affliction, and his hal will
be seriously felt and lamented in the village, the
or ever having found him a most kind and liberal
benefactor.

BRIDOWATZIL—In the Queen's Bench, lately, •
case was heard on demurrer in which Mr. Cupid
Loin, of Bridgwater, barrister-at-law, anal two
clergymen, as the owners of a farm at Spinney
Abbey, Vickers, Cambridge, sought to recover
a half-yezu's rent, from Mr. Dennis, the occupier of
the farm, who resisted payment on the ground that
plaintiffs had insured the buildings in the Royal
Exchange • that the buildings hail been burnt down,
and the full value of them 1:1000, paid to the plain-
tills: that they had wit re-erected them, and yet
that they had demanded the full rent of the defen-
dant. For defendant the CM of Brown and yniller,
2 A. Ambler's Reports, 619, was quoted, and the
' words of the Lonl Chancellor, " The justice of the
ease is clear, that a man should not pay rent for what
he cannot enjoy." Lord St. f.eimard's Handy Book
was also cited. For the plaintiffs it was contended
that the defendant being a yearly tenant only had
no claim to an abatement ; that the buildings would
have been re-erected but that defendant set up a
i claim for a lease ; that he had paid three half-year's
rent, and said nothing about the set off. Lord Camp-
bell said, by the law of Scotland, if premises were
, burnt down the tenant was relieved from payment of
rent; but, by the law of England, if there was an
I absolute covenant to pay rent, it must be paid. --The
Court, therefore, decided for the plaintiffs, and the
unfortunate farmer will have to pay the rent.
Lanes BURY. Intelligence has been received
here by the last Australian mail, that two inen
named Day and Voyacy, who were sent out by Mr.
Austen of this town, in charge of some birds, &c.,
which he wished to introduce into his estate in
Iltadong, were both drowned. The former, it
I appears, was washed overboard, on the outward
voyage, and the latter was drowned in the bay of
Geelong, by the capsizing of a boat, in which he and
' five others were enjoying themselves. \ropey has
I left a wife to mourn his untimely fate.

GLASTONBURY BUILDINO SOCIRTY AD SORER-
ARTIOURP PERMAN6NT BrILDINO SOCIKTY.—The
annual general meeting of the shareholders of these
societies was held in the Townhall, Glastonbury, on
the 4th inst., James Clark. Esq., of Street, occupy-
ing the chair. The annual reports and statements of
account were read by Mr. Mayhew. the secretary,
and were unanimously adopted. The election of
directors and auditors for the ensuing year then
took place, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks
to the chairman. The first mentioned of these
societies has now been in opera 4 more than
twelve years, and has transacted a large amount of
business. The Sumersetshire Permanent Society
is in its tenth year, and promises to surpass its pre-
decessor as a medium of accommodation to the
public. Persons desirous of purchasing property or
investing their savings are admitted as members at
any time, and are not, as in the terminating
societiLs, required to make heavy back payments.
The estimation in which both societies are held by
the borrowing and lending members of the commu-
nity is sufficiently shown by the extent of their
transactions, and we heartily wish them continued
success.

STRANGE AND SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—OR Monday
week, while the engine was conveying the
navvies in tiucks from the Glastonbury station to
Wells to commence work, one of the trucks though
not being safely fastened down in front, or through
tne bolts being maliciously taken out, tipped while
going over the ilartlake Bridge and threw several of
the DAVVCS out, killing, we are sorry to say, a man
named Cox, A navvie, of Bartle, dead on the spot'
and severely injured a man named Keens, a native of
Street, by breaking both thighs, and throwing him
into the Hartbske nver, a depth of from 12 16 feet.
Cox was conveyed to the laud) and Railway Hotel.
and Keens to his home at Street, where medical aid
was soon in attendance, but we fear owing to the
severe injuries which he has received, he will nut
recover.

BRINTOL.—A Jir I mayinalion.— A few days
ago a young married man, residing in Bethninster,
was returning home from his work on Saturday
evening, when he purchased a book entitled "A
Trip to Sebastopol." In course of perusal his mind
became powerfully captivated by a part where •
traveller was engaged in a combat with a wild
horse; he continual reading until a late hour, when
he retired to rest, with his wife, who was " in the
condition in which ladies wish to be who love their
lords." By and by he dreamt that he was the

traveller assailed by the horse, and imagined he was
defending himself from its fury ; hut to his dismay,
he was awoke by the screams and struggle.. Of his
almost lifeless wife, whom be had terribly beaten.
both eyes being blackened, and her face and 'armor
her body swollen with bruises. The fright br iiglit
on premature confinement ; the husluuld rail for assi4.
ance immediately, and fortunately both mother
and child are living, but the former has not yet re-
covered from the severe shock which her nervous
system received. No one can regret the eirc tanee
more than the husband, who is a very steady man,
and has lived on must affectionate tenns with his
" better half."