The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-09-15 00:00:00

THE ANNUAL GUY FAWKES CARNIVAL.

On Thursday evening a meeting was held in the
Council Chamber, to make arrangements for the fourth
annual Guy Fawkes demonstration and torchlight pro-
Mr. B. Kintatnot, the viee•president, who took the
chair, explained that the annual carnival seemed to
have lieeme quite an institution in Weymouth now,
and far aa 'he had heard the feeling was as strong
as ever that it should be kept up, and to that he said
" Bravo," as he liked to see young people enjoy them•
selves. There were all kinds of demonstrations now
which often climbed, but he thought when they had
an opportunity of holding a demonstration of this
kind, which had neither • political nor religious
bearing,
i they ought to embrace the opportunity for
to entering into For himself, lie did not intend to
take a very active part in the carnival, but if he could
be of any service to them at the meeting he should be
very pleased. The business on the agenda was to form
• committee, to appant • hon. secretary for the ensu-
ing year in the please( Mr. C. Hall, resigned, to con.
Rider on what day the carnival shall take place, to con.
slider • letter from Mr. T. B. Groves, and general
business. He remembered their worthy assistant
secretary, Mr. C. .f. Samwaya, last year proved him-
self to be very efficient, and he had no doubt if he was
prolonged for the office this year he would accept, and
would prove a very good secretary indeed. Mr. T.
B. Groves suggested they should have • summer car.
nivel and not one on the bth of November. He had
very great respect for Mr. Omens, and considers.' him
to Lea very good man, but for once he thought he was
wrong in his notions. That gentleman suggested
something which they amid not onmect with anything
historical or of a public nature, and he (Mr. Kerridge)
could not imagine why they they should have a car-
nival in the summer. Ile liked to have a November
carnival because it was a historical celebration, which
everybody know something about, but he thought they
would have very great difficulty in getting up • sum-
mer carnival, and unless a lot of money was spent it
would he a ridiculous affair. Their dresses, which
looked no showy by torchlight would preterit quite a
diffennt appearance in the light of • summer sun,
at the me sa tun present e if the majority thought it
beet to have a summer carnival the subject WAS open
for consideration. Then anotherquestion was. on what
day the carnival should take place, and there would he
no difficulty in deciding on the :ith of November if
there was no special steele to it; and he was glad
to find there were many coming round to his way of
thinking. The town of Dorchester inaugurated this
modern way of keeping up the :ith of November so far
as this county was concerned, and he did not want to
clash with them. It woull lie most unfortunate, he
thourlit, for both towns to have their carnival lal the
came night, and therefore he would suggest their
aoeretaxy should FM' the secretary if the Dorchester
carnival and inform him the Weymouth people were
inclined to give way this year and to have their car-
nival on the 6th By this mums they would be hell,-
mug each other, and be more likely to make each carni-
val more succensful. Subsequently he read • letter
which had been received from Mr. T. B. Grove.. It
waa as follows:

" Weymouth, September sth, IW.
" Dear Sir.—As I shall not be able to be present at
the meeting you propose to hold respecting the
November carnival, I have thought it advisable to put
en WIWI' my views respecting it. W. have lost, as
you know, the valuable service, and great experience
of Mr See ; we have also lost our energetic secretary,
Mr. C. Hall; and now, to make the change of
personnel complete, I must beg you to select another
president I +hall, however, still take an interest in
the movement, whether carried out on the old lines or
not. I am still strongly of opinion that the mon
advantarota course and purpose would be to defer
our carnival to some time in the autumn, when it
woold prove a wagon attraction and possibly delay
s. !what the exodus that takes plasn, during Septem•
her. Those slosimus of celebrating Guy Faux' over-
throw could do so by going to I birehenter on the sth,
and I have no doubt many would avail themselvis, of
the opportunity. On the other hand not a few of ear
I)..rchester friends would in all pr..hability lie willing
to join us in our autumn carnival, provided that we
have no competing carnival on the .sth. Another
obvious advantage to, us would Ise the greater probe.
bility of fine weather occurring in September than in
November. The ungenial character of this month
has been abundantly displayed of late years to every.
one's Inns and annoyance. Should these views of mine
find favour with the meeting, it wood,' In, advisable to
enquire of the I airelooter cominittee, whether they
would welcome a strong Weymouth contingent on the
sth, and whether we might expect similar smijnet it
nor autumn celebration. I think that they would no
willing, in order toi avoid the usual collixi,in if attrac-
tions, to come to some ouch understanding. I shouild
feel obliged if you would kindly read this to, the trio.t•
ing.—Yours faithfully, THOIIAS B. Gmov•s, Mr.
Samways."
The CHAIRMAN was in favour of adhering to •
November carnival. Ho had no doubt Mr. Groves
would help In whatever decision they arrive/ at. lin
very much regretted the lee of Mr. Groves as
president, as they would have great difficulty in getting
so ips,d a man to fill his place. He WM also sorry
Mr. Hall had left as he was so very energetic, lett he
did not think they would have a worse 'secretary in
Mr. Santwayn.
Mr. .I.l.laxa said he should be willing to agme to
anything decided upon, and to Keret: in any capacity
in which he would be Ilret useful.

Mr. H. J. (Infirm, wialiod endorae the chairman'a
remarks am to the low they had nuatainisl by the
resiernation 1 Mr. T. B. Crovea. Ile willows.' his
114%11411M Man final, and there would be no way of
inducing him to reconsider it.
Cu the tnotion of the CHAIRMAN, 11.N.H1M1,41 by Nfr.
FAIRKV, Mr. C. J. Sawyer* WA/ unatiimmialy elected
ilecretary, awl complimented the way in which
he had diacharged Ilia &RUN am awistant.airretary.
.tis opinion via ea prewed by Mr. FAIHRY to the
effect that when their weretary went to Csrehester
he should arrange with the Carnival Committee that
if Weymouth gave way this year and had their
demonstration on the tith, they ahould have it on the
sth neat year. He did not see why they about,' give
way without having the (teat chance every alternate
year.
Mr. If. .f. CinnviN : A ..ism.tinn was made lust
year that the carnival be held in alternate yeare, but
I sum ie. it would now be suicidal to propose misdi a
thing. I underitand the people of noreheater had
great trouble to get up their earni awl last year. Ilow
is the Weymouth committee off for Nude
The gra-Karam': There is a balance in hand tot

In referrring "Cr. T li. 1r.,,e. letter, Mr.
• llitovra expr.o.ossi An opinion that the month .1
• September, when all the town amoisemo•nts wen•
played "it, would be a very good time to have sods
a carnival as Mr Ilroves peep oPed, and he "li,iil,l like
the matter fully con.idered. Their chairm in hyl
thrown cold Water upon the suggestion, but he ( r.
; riven) thought it should bo thra.hod "it. Ito wa., if
in a place like IVeyinolith, when they
iterisl for visitor% the isiblic money ought to lei
'petit for their arnusetnent. It was all very well for
I I.orelloater ti have their carnival on the :ith
November, but he thought it would be far Ip•tter fir
Weymouth to have their. in Septernher, when,
Iwsides affording amueement to visitoni, they were
likely to have finer weather.
The lineRITART : It is to o late to con Aider that
matter this year.
The CHAIRMAN could not imagine any reason for
Miring a carnival in the summer, and was Mir.
Poled vich a suggestion shostld line,, einoub.l
such a good man.. Mr. T. It. Groves, and 1.• sup-
ported by such another good man as Mr. Merliort
GMTea.
It Was stated by Mr. FAIRRT that in May lust Mr.
T. B. Groves called a meeting to see if it waa inseible
to get up a summer carnival, but the eornmitu, could
not see their way, and the young people were not
very enthusiastic over the matter. Nir. Floe, himself,
and others tried to arrange for 3 mummer carnival,
but it to-I with such a cold reception that it was
allowed to lapse. He should be pleased to are what
valid bP done to carry one out on another eccsAion,
but at present they were toso late, and whatever was
done must lie for the sth of November.
With respect to the appointment of a prePident it
MY explained by the HIU-RICTAIir that Mr. Ibixtable
conaonted to fill the office.
The Cu tIRMAN said Mr. Huttable was a very
mierieetic man, and he ahould like to roe him sa their
itivsidens, but at the same Liowln. ooul4 not help
slying the *election did pet Apoak couch for iVeymouth
people to have to go to Dorchester to get a gentleman
an president. Somehow or other the people Wry.
mouth did not go into public inattors AA they ought,
and he was nary to say the people of him native town
did aoe du eu well ae those of other ;AIM. HO