The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-09-19 00:00:00

being
when, h
I:spot:pie need.
owe. Now •
1.0 Poole , people.
ver. 1.7 ow he erantod•to
rnarnif inmartanne in

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_,irer" and we don',
. a cheque were drawn
the word prefixed with
Poole ertand in point r"
LivernooL

Rteam

memos ? Le.t h

with Cherbourg s

their look at the largo houses in that neighbourhood.
They were erected by the former on reheats of Poole,
and why should not those young men in that room, the ,
reprtisentativis of the old merchants of that port, them-
si lveo all become merchant princes? He VS4 satisfied
that it w.is in their power if they set about the thing in
a iigl.t way, to make Poole one of the most thriving 1
ports in Eiigland. In honour of the visit of their friends
from Cherbourg that day, there would be an abundance
of compliment, hut what he wanted to see was some-
thing piacticAl put forth. They had the representative*
of the ancient families of Poole in the persons of the
present shipowners, and he d.d not s e why they should
not pot forth the energy and enterprise which charms-
teriaed those of former times. If they were to put
forth the nemsaary energy and act in conoert with
Cherbourg, how much might be done. Asthe people of
Cherbourg sought to make that the chief port in Fiance,
so might Poole become the chi f port on the south
coast of England.
JUSTICAN next proposed "Success to the rail-
way communications with the town of Poole." This
toast naturally took back their mints to times gone
by, ant to contrasting things as they a ere with what they
are now. It was said that the fi nit stage ooach that
ran between London and Poole, took tbr. e days in its ,
journey each way. He could remember five-and-forty
years ago, when the coach started from Poole at half- ,
past three in the afternoon, to arrive in London next
morning. A telegraphic message then took fro:a eight
to twelve ileum m its transmission, and coat £5 lb.
No doubt railway companies had great power for good
or for evil. Hitherto, Poole had beeu placed somewhat
in the back ground in regard to railway accommodation.
tie trusted that ultimately they would have • terminus
on the borough aide of the water, as the bridge toll WILS
a heavy tax upon the pockets of the peop'e, and tended
in no inconsidenble degree to operate against the trade
of the town. (Cheers.) . . .

Mr. hercitrc a,..lcnowledged the compliment on the
pert of the Sonth-Western Comp.my. Stage coachep,
. . . . . .

as they had heard from the previous speaker, were
many years infers they arrived at the perfection they
were ten or • dozen years since, when the railroads
forted them to give way. He asked the same indulgence
for railroads aa they had accorded stage coaches, and be
had no doubt that they would find equally es grant
improvements made in tie former as in the latter mode
'if travelling before many years had elapsed. lie was
aware that railway management did not please all
people. They often heard people say, the directors
ought to do this and the directors ou6lit to do that.
Now, the directors were the truatees of the interests of
the shareholders, and if any one could point out to
them bow they could improve the interests of the com-
pany, they would Fief ound asansious to make the required
alteration as any tradesman would be in the carrying on
of his own private business. (Applause.)
Mr. HALFORD was anxious that none of them should
take an incorrect or unjust view of the position in
which they were placed at that moment. The
Cherbour4 Municipality and Chamber of Commerce had
been invited by the Corporation of Poole to a grand
banquet, and he bad no doubt that all who had seen it
must feel that there had been Lime considerable atten-
tion and much taste displayed in the preparation of the
sumptuous banquet which bad been prepared for their
reception. He thought that all who had seen it must
agree with him theist did credit to the people of Poole.
He was sore that when he referred to the taste that
had been displayed in the decorative department, Mr.
Vasil would mune in for • large share of praise for
the part he had taken in the matter. There was •
quietness, a richness, a charm about the whole affair
that, could not fail to please the most fastidious in such
matterr. But there was another idea he wished to take.
He thought that all would agree that the first, the great
principle that should possess all their minds was
unanimity. Let them 41 strive to be of one heart and
of one mind. Lot them not look upon the part which
one man or the other in that borough was called upon
to play in connection with this reception of the people
of Cherbourg, with any degree of jeshmay, The high
functionaries of the town had had the honour of invit-
ing two honourable bodies connected with the port of
Cherbourg to a banquet at the Townhall, why then
were those present dining at the Antelope Hotel! Cer-
tainly not in any spirit of rivalry or of jealousy, but as
Englishmen, having English feelings and English
sympathies they wished to show their French neighbours
that although the whole of the people of Poole could
not be present at the banquet provided for their recep-
tion, yet they all reciptocated the feeling which had in-
duced them to prove to them that it was the desire of
English men to regard their French neighbours as friends
and as brethren, the offspring of one common parent.
We were only divided by • very narrow piece of water,
might they be united in feelings and sympathies for
ever; might there be a reciprocity in their trade and
commerce, and depend on it that under the blessing of
God, peace and prosperity would be the result. Intelli-
gence and energy belonged to the two nations of France
and Great Britain. The two natioos had worked for
centuries, but how often, sisal had the spirit of jealousy
on the part of both marred their pews and prosperity,
with all their attendant blessings ! It was pleasing to
know that a better feeling now pervaded the two
peoples. Might their unity and good feeling, as years
rolled on, be daily more strongly cemented, and then,
by the direction of the good spirit of God, they, by their
united intelligence, energy, and ability, would be enabled
to feu any opponents in the whole world. Although
that meeting did not make any great pretence, and,
although they had not the pleasure of having a repre-
sentative of the sister country at their table that even-
ing, yet they showed by their presence there, according
to the time-honoured custom of OR England, on all
special events of dining together, that they rejoiced in
the visit of the authorities of Cherbourg te the town ;
that they joined in their hoapitality; and that in all
their undertakings for promoting pew* and prosperity
they wished them "Godspeed." (Hear, hear.) And not
only this, but through Cherbourg to the whole of France
they desired to express their feelings of sympathy anal
brotherly love. They wished France all the prosperity
she could wish for herself, knowing that the more she
prospered in her commerce with us, the more unanimity
' and brotherly love between the two nations would
, abound. (Applause.) There was an old adage that
, friendship wee regulated by distance. Now, they had
1 lessened the distance between France and England by
the eetahlishment of steam communication between the
two nations ; might the attendant blessing of unity be
the result. But he was reminded that, in offering these
remarks, that he was only going over the same ground
that had already been gone over by their chairman.
That gentlemen had regulated their proceedings., and
had spoken so ably, that he (the speaker) felt that he
had only been needlessly occupying their time. ("No,
to.") The chairman was a gentleman who lived in the
hearts and affeetions of those by whom he was sur-
rounded. By his urbanity and kindness of manner he
was held in the highest esteem of all who knew
him, and no one could better illustrate the sentiments,
the feelings, and the cordiality which they hailed the
union between Poole and Cherbourg and the wish they
all felt to make the union a luting than had their chair-
man that evening. He therefore begged to propose
"The health and prosperity of their worthy chairman."
(The toast was drunk with three times three.)
The Cffstalf•te cordially acknowledged the honour
they had conferred upon him by drinking his health,
although he felt that he did not deserve the encomium
that had been passed upon him. His labours that
evening had been light, and his duty bad been most
gratifying to his feelings. He trusted the union they
were trying to cement between England and France
might be a luting one.
Mr. KITIt gave "The health of the Vice-Chairman"
• with the usual hononre.
The Vlon CHAIRMAN having actmowledged the com-
pliment, other toasts followed. Daring the evening
several songs were sung in echnimble style by various
gentlemen present, and the harmony of the evening was
kept up with great spirit till a late hour.