WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 11 July 1851 LOCAL INTELLIGENCE SECESSION TO THE CHURCH OF ROME Amongst the names of those who have recently seceded from the Church of England to the Church of Rome, we observe that of the Rev. Mr. SHORTLAND, last assistant curate of Penzance. HORTICULTURAL PRIZE At the Royal Botanic Society's exhibition, held in London, on Wednesday the 2nd instant, the bronze medal for the best flavoured melon was awarded to MR. AUSTIN, gardener to the Rev. THOMAS PHILLPOTTS, of Porthgwidden, in this county. TYWARDREATH RURAL GARDENING SOCIETY For more than twenty years this excellent society (being the first established in the west of England) has been actively engaged in promoting the moral and social condition of the labouring classes. The success of its labours, as well as that resulting from the various societies that have sprung from it, is a strong recommendation for public support. We hope the approaching exhibition will be numerously attended as we understand it will afford a rich treat to the admirers of cottage industry. EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH OF TURNIPS Mr. EDWARD RICKARD, of Trispin, is now hoeing four acres of turnips, only sown eighteen days, which may be seen at his farm, Steerfoot, St. Erme. The rows are regular and the plants luxuriant; preparation, wheaten arish, manured with 3 1/2 cwt. of Peruvian guano, broadcast and drilled in with 1 1/2 cwt. of Lawes's superphosphate of lime, mixed with 2 1/2 loads of ashes per acre. THE NAVY In Tuesday's "Gazette", the following names connected with this county appear in the active list of flag officers of the Royal Navy: JAMES CARTHEW, Admiral of the Blue; JOHN COODE, C.B. and BARRINGTON REYNOLDS, C.B., Rear-Admiral of the White. RENEWAL OF THE WATER BOUNDS OF THE PORT OF TRURO On Friday last, the water bounds of the port were renewed by the Town Council, according to ancient custom. The officers of her Majesty's Customs and other persons officially connected with the port, and some personal friends of the Town Council, were invited to take part in the proceedings. The party left the quay at nine o'clock, on board the "SYDNEY" steamer, and proceeded down the river to Messick Point, where the ancient practice of formally arresting one of her Majesty's lieges for the sum of GBP 999.19s.11 1/4 d. was gone through and the necessary bail for his appearance at the Court of Record was accepted. The other usual forms were also observed, and the boundary marks were renewed on a rock near the point. The steamer then proceeded to the Mylor or opposite bank of the river, where the arresting was again proceeded with, and the necessary bail put in for an appearance. The boundary marks T.B. were also made at this spot, when the party returned to the steamer, and had a pleasant cruise through the harbour, and beyond the Black Rock. After this, they returned to the boat-house at Tregothnan, which had been kindly lent for the occasion by the Earl of Falmouth, where a party of forty-five sat down to a sumptuous and elegant cold collation, supplied by Mr. LENDERYOU, of the Red Lion Hotel. The Mayor presided, and the Town Clerk was Vice-President. The usual loyal and local toasts were given, and properly and duly responded to, and the party returned to town about nine o'clock, every person being highly pleased with the arrangements, and with the harmony and good feeling which prevailed. The members of the Town Council present were the Mayor, Dr. BULLMORE, Dr. PADDON, and Messrs. H. ANDREW, J. BARRETT, W. BARRETT, G. CLYMA, COCK, HAWKE, HEARD, SPRY, STOKES, and TIPPET. The Town Treasurer and the Auditors and Assessors also attended the ceremony. We understand it is necessary that these bounds should be renewed within every seven years, in order to preserve the right of the Council to anchorage and metage dues within the bounds, which yield an income of about GBP 300 per year. These rights are of very ancient date, and formerly extended over the whole of the harbour of Falmouth, but the boundaries of the port as now recognized, and on this occasion renewed, were settled by commissioners appointed in the reign of Queen Anne, and confirmed by an act passed in the reign of her present Majesty, for facilitating the collection of the customs duties. SALTASH FLOATING BRIDGE, REGATTA, &C. On Tuesday week, the new Steam Ferry Bridge, to connect Devon with Cornwall over the Saltash Ferry was opened for public use. The morning was ushered in with merry peals from the bells of the parish churches; the public thoroughfares of Saltash and the approaches to the town were gaily decorated with arches of evergreens, flowers, &c.; bands perambulated the streets; and other indications were perceptible of a general holiday. At half-past nine the Mayor and other civic authorities met the shareholders of the company; and a procession being formed they proceeded to the beach, entered the bridge, and its opening was declared in due form. During the day upwards of two thousand persons crossed the ferry by this superior conveyance - every one being delighted with the improvement effected by the present plan, over the old inconvenient ferry boat. The bridge was built by MR. ROUTLEFF, shipbuilder, of Mount Batten yard, Plymouth; and the machinery, iron work, &c prepared at the Plymouth Foundry, by Mr. J. MARE, and is on the same principle as the Torpoint Floating Bridge - a chain running from beach to beach. The bridge is propelled by two condensing engines of six-horse power each. The deck or roadway is in the centre, and is sufficient to take three carriages, with a pair of horses to each, with at least from eighty to one hundred passengers at one time. Two cabins are provided in case of wet weather. The engines are on one side of the roadway, and the boiler on the other. The times of crossing are four times each hour, leaving Saltash every hour and half-hour, and on the Plymouth side at the quarters - the bridge is allowed six minutes for crossing. About one o'clock, a large party sat down to dinner at the Green Dragon, Mr. W. SYMONS, Recorder of the borough, presiding, Mr. CLEVERTON, the town clerk, acting as vice-president. The directors and many shareholders of the company, a number of the respectable inhabitants, and several visitors were present. The dinner was very excellent, and reflected much credit on MR. MARTYN. The regatta matches were fixed to commence at one o'clock; by that hour, the town was crowded, and the scene on the beach was of the most enlivening description. The weather was fine though as the day advanced the wind increased and blew rather too strong for some of the smaller sailing craft. Bands were stationed on either side of the estuary discoursing popular airs, and the entire affair was of the gayest description. Much praise is due to the committee for their excellent regulations. A ball at the Town Hall concluded the day's amusements. A REMARKABLE PURCHASE During the latter part of last week, Mr. RAPSEY, builder, of Truro, received numerous congratulations from friends and fellow-townsmen on an event which rumour had magnified into the sudden acquirement of a considerable fortune. Unfortunately, the truth fell very far short of the fiction founded on it; but still the circumstances connected with it were remarkable. [On Wednesday, Mr. and Mrs. RAPSEY attended a sale of miscellaneous furniture at the Assembly-room, where Mr. TIPPET knocked down to them an antiquated side-board. Soon after receiving the article in his house, Mr. Rapsey had difficulty in opening a drawer, and much to his surprise found a bag wedged behind the drawer. Upon opening the bag, he found it contained 65 British and Foreign silver coins, and one copper farthing of the date 1806. The British pieces comprise some of Philip and Mary, Elizabeth, James 1st and 2nd, and two tokens - a North Cornwall, 1811, and a Bristol, 1811. There were also two coins of the Roman Emperor Galli..us [?]. The last token bore the date of 1638, the initials I.N, and on the quarterings of a shield are arrow-heads - the arms of a Cornish family named NICOLLS. Near the bag, also jammed against the back of the side-board, was a medal and case; it was of silver-gilt, a reward given to meritorious boys at the Helston Grammar School, dated 1801.] FIRE NEAR ST. GERMANS On Friday morning last, about nine o'clock, the farm house called Trewall, occupied by MR. LORD, situate in the parish of St. Germans, was discovered to be on fire, and notwithstanding the most strenuous efforts of the inmates and neighbours, who were soon assisted by the fire engine from St. Germans, and some of the Coast Guard from Downderry, as well as several fishermen, the flames could not be got under until the premises were completely gutted, and most of the furniture consumed. The fire is supposed to have originated by a spark kindling some dry furze, a week's stock of which had been just put in a place adapted to that purpose near the kitchen. To the great exertion made by MR. TAPSON, coal merchant, the fire brigade, and by the Coast Guard, is to be attributed the prevention of the devouring element extending to the granaries, situate in an alarming contiguity. No accident happened, we are happy to say, either to man or beast. Trewall estate is the property of SIR JOSEPH COPLEY; no part of it is insured. CHACEWATER The fifth annual Exhibition of the cattle belonging to the "Chacewater Cattle Insurance Society," was held on Tuesday the 24th ult., when about four hundred head of cattle, chiefly the property of poor cottagers living in the neighbourhood, were shewn. They were in excellent condition and reflected great credit on their owners. Mr. W. C. FOULKES, steward to the Earl of Falmouth, having kindly placed at the disposal of the president of the society, a sum of money for the purpose of encouraging habits of providence, industry and morality, three prizes were given for cows, the property of poor cottagers, being members of the society and living on Lord Falmouth's property, either as owners or occupiers; and three prizes were also given for pigs, the property of poor cottagers living on his lordships land in Kenwyn and Kea. Mr. REYNOLDS, miner, of Tomperrow, obtained the first prize for cows; MARY WATERS, of Creegbraws, the second, and MARY BASTIAN, of Chacewood, the third. The prizes for pigs were awarded first to WILLIAM WORRAL, of Chacewater, the second to THOMAS GRAY, of Kerley, and the third to RICHARD DABB, of Chacewater. The society is in a flourishing state, and has been productive of great benefit in the neighbourhood. TORPOINT PETTY SESSIONS At these session on Tuesday last, before the Rev. T. H. LEY, and a full bench of magistrates, an order was made for the removal of W. HENNING, a pauper, from Rame to Sheviock. JOHN TRAVERS, an artilleryman, was summoned by JOHN THOMAS, of Kingsand, for an assault, but the evidence being unsatisfactory and contradictory the case was dismissed. R. HERRING, an innkeeper, and W. HOAR, a beer-shop keeper, of Hessenford, were fined severally, GBP 2 and the costs, and GBP 1 and 12s. costs, on charges of keeping their houses open for the sale of beer, &c., after eleven o'clock on the nights of the 10th and 11th of June. MR. ELLIOTT, of the parish of Landulph, appeared at the instance of MR. ROBERTS, some of whose property he was stated to occupy, to show cause why he refused to give up possession of the said property, but the case was stopped in limine by MR. CLEVERTON, who appeared for Mr. Elliott, objecting to the service of the notice, which was left with Mrs. Elliott by the officer without reading, in the absence of Mr. Elliott. COMMITTAL CHARLES WILSON, of Bristol, seaman, was on Tuesday last, committed by MR. BRANWELL, mayor of Penzance, to take his trial at the ensuing sessions, on a charge of having stolen a quantity of articles, the property of CHARLES ROGERS, of Scilly, shipwright. ACCIDENTS On Wednesday the 2nd instant, as Mr. T. OLVER, sen., contractor fro the works, was looking on at the Falmouth new Union House erections, a man exploded a hole in the quarry on the grounds, which threw up a quantity of stones, one of which went to the distance of one hundred yards and struck Mr. Olver on the arm causing a fracture. We are glad to learn that Mr. Olver is now in a fair way of recovery. Last week, a woman named TULLETTE, while getting over a hedge, was suddenly affected with giddiness in the head, and falling, broke two of her ribs, and received several contusions on the face and head. She was fortunately discovered immediately afterwards by a neighbour, by whom she was conveyed to a dwelling-house near at hand, where she at present lies in a very weak and delicate state. CORONERS INQUESTS - the following inquests have been held: On Saturday last, a man named SEARLE, whilst driving a heavily laden cart in a narrow lane belonging to Gooseford estate, in the parish of St. Dominic, by some means got jammed between the wheel and the hedge, and he died almost instantly. The verdict was returned accordingly. At the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, on Friday last, on the body of JOSEPH SNELL. Deceased resided at Tregony, and was a well-known colt breaker. On Wednesday week, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon he left Truro, riding a colt which, it was said, he had mounted on that day for the first time, and shortly afterwards he was found about two miles out of Truro, on the London road, in an insensible state with a wound over one eye, from which there had been a great discharge of blood. He was at first removed in a cart to the Wheel public-house at Tresillian, and thence the same evening to the Infirmary, where he was taken care of, but he had evidently received a violent concussion of the brain, and continued in an insensible state up to the time of his death on Friday morning. The colt was stopped a short distance beyond the place where the deceased was found, and from its having a fresh cut near one knee, it no doubt fell, but it did not appear that any one was present at the time. Verdict, accidental death. On Sunday at Mithian, in the parish of St. Agnes, on the body of GEORGE BREWER, aged 23 years. Deceased was a kibble filler at Polberou Consols mine, and whilst at work there on Friday, a stone fell down the shaft and struck him on the back part of the head so violently that he died before he could be removed to grass. Verdict, accidental death. An inquest was held at Trewidland in the parish of Liskeard, on Thursday the 3rd inst., on the body of a new-born infant, found in a gig-house belonging to Mr. OLVER of that place. It appears that on the previous day, an application was made to the sexton of that parish to inter the body, who upon inquiry into the circumstances of the death, very properly refused to bury without a surgeon's certificate, and gave notice to the proper authorities of the nature of the application. An inquiry was immediately instituted, when it appeared from the confession of the girl herself, that a servant of Mr. Olver, named MARY ANN WELSHMAN, was taken unwell during the Friday night, and went out without disturbing any of the family, when she was delivered of a child. After wrapping it carefully, she deposited it in the gig-house, and afterwards went to bed. The next and following days she got up and performed her work, and on Monday washed for the family, without any apparent inconvenience. As she had previously denied her pregnancy to her mistress, she did not inform her of what had taken place until the Sunday, although she had mentioned it to some other parties on the Saturday. As the body was rather in an advanced state of decomposition, and the girl declared it was still-born, a verdict was returned accordingly, there being no evidence to prove the contrary. On Tuesday an inquest was held at Callington on the body of the daughter of CAPT. JOHN TABB, who was knocked down and severely bruised by the wheel of a waggon on the previous Tuesday, and a verdict returned of "accidental death". CORNWALL COUNTY COURTS St. Austell - This court was held in the Town-hall on Thursday the 3rd instant, when twenty-seven cases were entered for trial. Truro - At this court, on Friday last, about thirty cases were entered for trial, none of which were of public interest, and the business was concluded at an early hour. GILL v FERRELL - This was a case tried at the last sittings, when plaintiff, a farmer of St. Allen, recovered GBP 4 from defendant, for the loss of two sheep, which it was alleged were killed by defendant's dog. [Mr. CHILCOTT moved for a new trial, as the verdict was against the weight of evidence. He read affidavits by WILLIAM HOOPER and ROBERT VINCENT, farmers, whose estates adjoin the land farmed by the defendant; and who deposed that defendant's dog had been constantly about their farms, amongst their sheep, and had never injured any. RICHARD ANDREW, blacksmith, also made affidavit of the harmlessness of the dog; and another affidavit by JOHN FERRELL, defendant, as to the motives which induced him to hang the dog when complaint was made about the sheep-killing. It was not because he believed the dog killed those sheep. After hearing Mr. STOKES on the part of plaintiff, the Judge decided to give a new trial of the case, on condition of defendant paying the costs of the first trial; the new trial to be by jury. Penzance - At the monthly sittings of this Court on the 8th and 9th instant, the new rules laid before both houses of parliament pursuant to the 12th and 13th Vict. were brought under notice of the Court and the professional gentlemen present. [One such was that no attorney shall be allowed to appear for any person in the County Court, until he has signed a roll or book to be kept for that purpose.) The cause list presented an array of fifty-six cases, the majority of which were settled out of Court; with one or two exceptions the cases heard were undefended and wholly of an uninteresting character. DEVON FEMALE SMUGGLERS OUTWITTED On the arrival of the "Brunswick" steamer from Guernsey, on Wednesday week, at Stonehouse, she was boarded by Mr. MOLLYNEUX, tide-surveyor, and his crew; the passengers were subjected to a severe scrutiny on leaving the vessel, all of whom denied having contraband articles on their persons. The bulky appearance of two respectable looking females, mother and daughter, named OLIVER, residents of Guernsey, excited the attention of Mr. Mollyneux; he, however, permitted them to land, but as they walked with difficulty, he afterwards invited them into the private room attached to the Baggage Warehouse, Brunswick Wharf, and told them as he had no doubt they were well padded, he would furnish them with his penknife to cut the stitches with which, he supposed, tobacco was fastened inside their dresses. The result was, that they turned out each about fifteen pounds of manufactured tobacco from their clothes; they were taken before the Magistrates of Devonport, on Thursday, and remanded until Saturday to abide the orders of the Board of Customs. The Magistrates and auditory were convulsed with laughter when the tide-surveyor was giving a description of the mode of concealment and the delicate position in which he was placed; he admitted that he was not in the room, but sent them in, in order that they might quietly denude themselves of their habiliments and the load of tobacco, which, with the thermometer at 108 in the sun, must have been a great relief. PHILIP DUN, chief boatman, at the same time suspected and searched a man named YORK, who had a belt round his waist next the skin, containing 2 3/4 lb. tobacco. He has been convicted in the penalty of 1s. and discharged. LAUNCH There was launched at Bideford, on the 1st instant, from the building yard of Mr. WATERS, a handsome clipper schooner, of about one hundred and fifty tons, old measurement, coppered and copper fastened. This vessel is intended for the Mediterranean and Newfoundland trades. She will be commanded by Capt. EDMUND LUKEY, of Scilly, and is owned by the Master, Messrs. FRANCIS BANFIELD and Sons, Mr. HUGH TREGARTHEN, and others of the same place. Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn Website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad Please visit the OPC website at http://cornwall-opc.org