The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-08-13 00:00:00

BLANDFOIiD.

STEAM PLOEL: H. —Forward ! and Onward! must
be the motto, not only of our manufacturers, but
also of our agriculturists. Every invention calculated
to increase the productivenees of the soil, to facili-
tate labour, and bring to the highest pitch of utility
the various operations on the farm, deserver', and
we have no doubt, will receive from the enterprising
farmers of this county, every encouragement. Fore•
roost in the rank of those gentlemen who have
shown great iuterest in agricultural pursuits—the
name of Sir E.. B. Baker stands prominently for-
ward. lie has lately purchased from a Birmingham
manufacturer a steam plough, made from Fowler's
patent, with the latest improvements, at a COSt ef
£BOO. A large and fashionable party of visitors,
and leading agriculturists assembled lately at the
Baronet's higher farm, to witness it in operation, and
the novelty of such an apparatus, propelled by
steam, called forth some curious remarks from those
who saw it pass through the town and up the hill.
On Friday last, the children attending the
National and Infant Schools in this town, numbering
550, were, by the kindness of the rector and other
gentlemen and ladies bountifully regaled with tea
and cake, and enjoyed themselves with various
sports, in a field adjoining the rectory. A large
number of the friends of the school were present,
including Lady Portman, the Hon. Miss Portman,
Miss Louisa Portman, Lady S. G. Osborne, the Rev.
W. Bade, the Rev. E. L. Stuart, and family, the
Rev. J. O'Neil, the Rev. S. Snow, F. A. Stuart,
Esq., Miss Smith, the MIMICS Mansfield, kr. The
I pleasures of the day were considerably enhanced by
the performance of Mr. Eyers's band, who discoursed
some excellent music. At the close of the evesing
a display of fireworks took place, and the childsan
separated, highly delighted with their day's holiday.
We are sorry to state that an accident occurred to
one of the children, a boy named Bartlett. Ile
warn in the act of swinging, and unfortunately was
thrown from the rope, breaking one of his thigh
bones. Mr. Spooner was quickly in attendance, and
carefully set it.
CORONER'S Ixque..cr. —An inquest was held on
Saturday, before W. H. Atkinson, Esq., on the
body of a widow, named Mary Williams. residing sA
blauswood, in the parish of Guano St. Michael,
who was found dead in her bed by a neighbour the
preceding day. Her son, a labouring man, stated,
that he was awakened by his mother at two o'clock in
the morning; she then complained of pain in her
bead, but afterwards she went to sleep. When he
left at 5 o'clock, his mother said she felt better, and
he went to his work.—A neighbour stated that
I after breakfast she went to deceased's house
and found the door locked, brifthe key was under-
neath; she opened the door, and on going into
deceased's bedroom, found her on her back, with
her arms crossed on her chest, dead and cold. A
verdict of " Died by the Visitation of God" was
! returned. Mrs. Williams had been unwell for some
I time.

We are pleased to find that at the Rifle Brass Band
contest at Exeter, on Monday, where eight bands
entered as competitors, the brass band of this town,
under the able leadership of Mr. Byers, obtained the
first prise of £l2, and a silver-mounted baton for the
bandmuter. The judges commended the playing of
the basses of this Land ; and the inhabitants of the
town, on their return the following day, gave the
successful candidates a hearty cheering.

PLI4N V BANK. —We are extremely glad to find
from reports of various Penny Banks that the
industrial portion of the community are becoming
more and more provident. This is satis-
factory on many accounts, not the least of
which is, that it plainly proves less money is
spent by the labouring classes in the public-house,
and of course, more comfort is enjoyed at home. On
Tuesday evening the report of the Penny Bank in
this town was read, from which it appeared that
though it had only just completed the first year of
its history, the Enna £5B was held as accumulations,
and that the number of depositors was rapidly
increasing.