Blandford Weekly News. — 1886-11-27 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

NOTES.  Are there any differences already existing between members of Church and State? If not, why the snubbing by the clergy in our rural deanery of Mr. H R. Farquharson, at the recent election of Synodsmen. Only a short three years' siace, H. R. F. was top of the poll among the lay representatives. This year he is "nowhere," and "not in the running." Instead, a tenant of his beads the list. soy  Where, we ask, can- be found an answer to this seeming inconsistency. Does Mr. Farquharsoli's ideas on the Tithe system not tally with the parsons' views on the same question, and so at the first opportunity they show their feeling on the subject.  * • • H. R. F., will yet have to learn that Speech is siivens, Silence golden.'  We are sorry to have to report that in many villages around Blandford, the labourers' wages have been reduced to 9s. per week. The men, in the maiority of cases, had " Hobson's choice," either accept the reduction, or leave their employ. The plea of the employer is "bad times." "o mote it be" ; but we would suggest a simple plan to remedy this reduction. Let the rector of every parish in our district take .C2Ct less tithes in these days of agricultural depression, and then every farmer would be enabled to at least give his labourers one more shilling per week during the winter months, without loss to himself, and to the immense benefit of the labourer, and no inconvenience to the rector.  In times of depre's-sion all are needed to "pull together' to lessen the tension on any one class ; and as in numerous instances the landowner is allowing a rebatement of rents to the tenant; so ought the spiritual head of a palish, if he follow the Master's example, assist the poor in time of need by dropping a portion of his income to meet the enforced reduction in incomes of those who in the most prosperous times can barely boast of one-twentieth part of the clergyman's receipts,  • * • From the annual statement respecting the state of the Ist Dorset Rifle Volunteer battalion, we find that IL Company (Blandford) had in 18S5 a total strength.of 79; a whom 67 were present at the annual inspection. During the year 10 joined, and 20 tuerubers resigned. Of these 79 members., 76 were ethcietrt, two sergeants proficient, and three members are returned non-efficient. The amount of Government capitation gram gained by the Company is £ll9. The strength of the regiment is 961, s_s  -*Captain the Hon. E. Vi sey, 9th Lancers, and till recently Adjutant of the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry, died on Thursday at the family seat, Abbeyleil, Ireland, after a short illness, leaving a widow and three children.  eoe The Governor of H.M. Prison, Dorchester, has received a respite for the prisoner, Sydney Russell, under sentence of death, until Her Majesty's further pleasure is signified.  The prosecution of*Sidney Russell for the murder of his grandmother at Bere Regis involved a cost of over £7O. The sum is paid in the first instance by the county, and repaid by the Government.  The following is the number of voters in each of the polling districts of North Dorset: Bishop's Cauudle, 32R; Blandferd, 984 ; Bourton, 220 ; Bradford Abbas, 264; Charlton, 301 ; Eiillingham, 730 ; liazelbury, 28d; lwerne Courtney, 534; Kington Magna, 272 ; Marnhull, 441; Milton Abbas 639 ; Shaftesbury, 953; Sherborne, 1,061 ; Shihingstone, 424; Stalbridge, 334; Stnrminster, 552 ; Tarrant llunville, 306 ; 8,547 owners,. occupiers, and lodgers, and 73 voters registered to vote in specified districts—total, 8,620. The last year's register was 98 voters less than the above.