The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-07-12 00:00:00

BIANDFORD WOOL FAIR.

Some years ago at the suggestion of Mr. John Ford,
if Rushton, it ou determined to start, and if possible
establish, • wool fair in Blandford. The scheme, unlike
too many set on (Pot to the town, sueorieded for beyond
all espeetation., and from year to year the number
attending gradually Increased. It May now be con-
sidered an established fair and attracts a large number
of buyers and strangers from the menuf•cturing
districts, who are either themselves or by their agents
actively engaged for weeks previous visiting the different
farms around. Saturday last proved no exception. A
very large number of vidtors, as well as the local
farmers,..nd buyers &Windt I from a dist snee,includiag
buyers from Rochdale end elsewhere. Business, how-
ever, we. dull, and but few sample. were offered. The
quality wag inferior to previous years being Bandy,
dirty, and fall of grit. Downs were purchased at about
the same price at at Dorchester, 131. per lb ; horns of
the best quality at 14gt., and seconds 14d. Tee usual
buyers were in attendant*. In copal of the
lamented death of Miss Louisa Portman the eompany
were debarred from having their °seal evening's amuse.
ment the performances of Mr. Eyers's band. The
large room at the Crown Hotel we. filled and in addition
about 50 of the oo:tipsily sat down to dinner in other
rooms. The chair was taken by Mr. H. Fookes, and
the vice-chain by Mr. C. Fowler and Kr. 8. Tett
Mr. Peace in proposing the health of the Queen
remarked that time was precious, and • great deal had
been hindered by his sale. In the first place he would
say that they must 010.414 him if he remarked that
probably the day would not go off so pleasantly and
. with such flying colours se it had hitherto done, as
! they would not bay., the pleasure of listening to Mr.
, Byers'. band as formerly Go amount of the severe loss
which hod been sustained by the death of th•
Hon. Miss Louisa, Portman. They would all agree that
it was but proper to chew • go 4 feeling and respect for
one who had always held out the hood of fellowship to
every yeomin in the county. Not only to the poor of
the town, but to those in every village around the goodness
and kin in i's of Miss Portman were manifest, and he
knew that at the time of h-r death she hod aoineihing
in her wind for the benefit of the yeomanry. She bad
• great wish that they ..hould not only pond a great
many pleasant hours in the fist, but that they should
be also amused at home. He w sure that no one was
regarded with more respect and esteem.
The health of the Prince .111 Prince.. of Wales and
Royal family was then proposed by the Chairman, who
stated that he had mush pleasure in giving the health
of the Prince as a breeder of the improved South Down
sheep. He had the honour, as one of the judges, to
award the Pnnee a first prise, and as he understood
that the PH...-, was improving his dock, he had no
doubt he would gain other prises.
The CHAIRYAN said he now came to the tout of the
day, and one erlich he had often had the pleasure of
propoaing—the healths of those gentlemen who came to
buy their wool. Ile 1/11/ glad to see his old friend, Mr.
Boon in his urinal corner, who would no doubt give
them some information u to the price of wool. Lie
(Me Fookes) regretted that he could not c3ngratulate his brother fanners on the prim of wool, but if Mr.
Boon banal give them any,hope of 144., for Down; •.
large trade would no doubt be done—(hear, hear and
sheens.)
Mr. BOON rose amidst loud cheering and said, Mr.
Chairman, Viee-Chairman and gentlemen :—I thank
you for your !tunnel tout to the trade. Now, as I am
ante no subject will be admioible from we to-day
unless it has • bearing in connection with wool, I will
rebate one of my early remembrances. When a boy
going down from London to Sussex with my muter,
we nailed on a person who had only &middling lot of
wool (perhaps) to sell, and when the farmer expressed
hie surprise and disappointment at the price bid
him, because we had bought the oelebrated Ullman
flock at a higher figure, the reply was, ja there no
cliffwrenos between a lady's lap-dog, washed, combed,
and bruabed every day, and your old sheepdog roughing
it by the hurdles on the blue fallow? From that day to
this I bare looked out for the lap-dog sort even at high
figures, but it seems to ma all is bare fallow this year,
for on going through the samples to-day I MN Kan to
My, if not tarred with the same brush, they AM Pretty
114441 ail m 44 owl dtuoirit teem O. sews deo*,

and fully urn belt-peony lamb worth to the mar to for
sequence. I judge. lt.m. however, reap the advantage
of weight, for,ointrary to. speetttion, what wool we are
are taking uii is heavier thm en thongtit, and no
doubt mire. portly from the weight of *pit and sand in
it,. Now as to prime, •iih Durehmiter fair so reeently,
where I bought hundred* of pecks. 131. was paid
for the beet docks of Downs, and 10011114 bvck over
the trade for the pest Id months, and it may
be a Continental war before as, I think that will be
found quite enough money, though we mar have to
give the same for them here to-day; bides to Horns. I
doubt if the price paid at Dorchester can be sustained.
The mulct seems ant to bear out 151. per lb., even for
the top lots, that is, free from grit. white, and of go el
quvl.tr. These are grown mainly high up the country.
but I fear now our Morn Jupiter,- -(iend lan4hler)
have hold over a little too long. Wh.tever theory I
may advance as to price, h will soon be redtteed
into matter of feet, for the hour is fast aeproaahlog
When it will be yea or no, and that is the only reel teat
of value. Now as to the future. Woodford felt prices
hove held their own againstall coiner.. for m toy years.
I see no reason why they th.itild not do so again. The
quantity of ciloniol coming forward is enormous, and it
is well known we have had a bad trade for some yea',
and that it is very restricted now but after all there
are worn, things to sell th.n wool at or over Is. per
lb., at which price a large bull has been sold in other
districts. I will not trouble nor detain you longer,
more than by saying that I shall be obliged if my friends I
will kindly rerne-uher that my postal address is changed;
and I th iald not mention this now, but that after
advertising repeatedly and doing all I can to inform
the oouuty that it is so. I get shoals of letters as for-
merly, and no wonder seeing that Lyme Regis has been
our pet town ever since 1786, but I must ask you I
kindly to try and write AIiSIDSSSS instead. I could
not get the rail to me, therefore, I was compelled to go
to the rail. About the old spots in your convenient
Corn•Etchange you will find /116 in stew minutes firing
away as usual. Without comment I give you my ususl
toast "The ladies of D 'net - God blow thern."—(loud
she-re). "The health of Mr. John Ford, the principal
promoter of the wool fair," was then proposed by the
Chanute°, sad 'noel warmly reoeived. Mr. Dibben,
steward to Mr. H. G. Scant, M.P., proposed the Chair-
man's health, and, after briefly responding, that
gentleman and the greater part of the company pro.
seeded to the Corn-Ezahonge.

H AN FORD.
CSlCKET.—ildeford v. Daneestort.—This match was
played on Thuradq last, at Hanford. As will be seen
from the sours, Hanford party were vietoriotts, and won
the match in one innings with 74 runs to spare. A very
happy gathering was enjoyed, and the bounteous
liberality of Mr. Clay Icor S3yuier was shown in his
arrangements for his guests.
UAND/011D.
Ist Inning'.
E. My Ka &poor, I Trani - - 2
Y. J. Hohlwo, bO.QU rk - - -21
W. Churcl.lll, bG. Qulrk - - • -67
Hot. A. /rural, c Godwin, to G. Quirk - -72
Ray. 11.10 Marti. tt, bßromley - - 2
Sir William Marriott, b Brambly- - 10
J. B. GloolrWge, bO. Quirk - 9
IL E. Holdway, MOW, bG. Quirk - 9 .
T. M. X won, Ibw. b Brantley - •
Maned, b Trail' - - - -14
Goodndp, not out
Byes!, wide bene

DVIVINTOII.
lit Innings. 2nd Inninge
Bramley, run out - . 2 bW. Churchill -
aims, b Het. IL garriatt - not out - - - 3
W. Farquharson.h Sir W. Marriott 9b W Churchill - 1
S. Trail', I, Sir W. Marriott 4 bW. Churchill -16
J. F. Quirk, b Sir W. Marriott • 0b W. Churchill - 8
A. V. Wil.on, c Churchill, b 81. r W.
Marriott - - • . . 0 cß.Clay Rnr Berner,
bW. Churchill - 0

Rev. R. IL Morgan, I b w, b Rev.
Marriott - - 2 run out - - -13
W. Goilsin, at Trailll,6 W. Churchill 19 c J. J. Holdway, b
W. Churchill - 13
G. Quirk, st Trail!, bW. Churchill 20 hW. Churchill -12
J. Rapeon, c and bW. Churchill - 0 bW. Churchill - 0
Fry, not out - - 2 b Res W. Marriott 0
Byes 7, wide balls 6- - -13 By .1 - • - 3

BHILLINGiTON.
AMON 111 'Pa/Jos.—Oa Saturday evening hit three
tr.mpa, who had that day oome out of Woodford
Union, set flre to a riek of hay, the property of Mr.
Warren. Tout, and the aljoinin4 rick (one this sort the
other last year's growth), were destroyed. The *mpg
were brought before the Sturiniiister mulatto*, on
Tuesday aud committed for trial at the egoists.

BLANDFORD ST. MART.
SCllool.FEArlval..—On Monday the children attend-
ing the dsy and Sunday euhouls of this parish were
kindly entertained by the esteemed rector. the Rev.
J. Manifield. Af er partaking of • capital tea, with
on coellent supply of cake loupplied by Mr. Etheridge,
of the village, the young people enj ,ye d a variety of
games In • field adjoining the rectory grounds

PORTLAND.
THE FENIAN CONVICT TFIOUPSON.
ORDER FOR EXHUMATION.

Last week we reported the inquest touching the death
of William Pherson Thompaok, • Fenian convict, at
Portland priaon. Shortly after, • person visited Port-
land, and ordered a bandaome ooMa of Mr. Andrews,
of Fortune's Well. He then asked at the prisoe for
the body, but of oourse it could not be given up to
him without an order from the Secretary of State, and
the convict was busied at Beforne churchyard on Fri-
day in the ordinary way.
[BT TZLEOLLPH.I

_
Tbe Home Secrete:7 boa ordered tbe remains of
Thompson to be exhomed and forwarded to Ireland
for interment, on condition that no demonstration be
made.

IRONCLADEI sit routs FOR PORTLAND.

The ironclad frigates Black Prince from Belfast
Lough, the Resietanee, from Liverpool, and the
I silent, from the Shannon, have arrived in
Plymouth Bound, e 4 route for Portland.