The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-12-12 00:00:00

STIIRMINSTER.

STURMINSTER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The annual meeting and competition of stock,
&c., for prizes offered by this Society, took place on
Thursday last, and as usual attracted a large number
of the leading agriculturists, dealers, and others, not
only of this but the adjoining counties. The show-
yard was not so well filled as on former occasions,
and in one or two classes no competition took place.
The stock was, however, of excellent quality. Mr.
J. Coate exhibited a splendid fat ox, carrying off the
first prize, the judges reversing the decision at the
Yeovil Show, and awarding the second to Mr. IT.
Oalpin. 'They, however, confirmed the decision of
the judges at Sherborne by giving Mr. W. Coate's
fat cow first prize, Mr. H. Galpin taking second, as
well as being highly commended for another animal
in the same class. Mr. H. Frampton's pen of fat
wethere, bred by Sir K B. Baker, Bart., were pro.
pounced as fine a lot as were ever shown at Stur-
minder, and carried off the first prize given by G.
Whieldon, Esq. In fat pigs there was an excellent
eommitition. In breeding stock the show of Here-
ford bulls was very good, Mr. T. Hammond carrying
off the first prize with • splendid animal 3 years and
9 months old, closely followed by Mr. W. Rossiter,
who took second with one of the same breed,
2 years and 1 month old. In the same class
Mr. S. Andrews's Hereford was highly com-
mended. In cows and heifers there was very
little competition. The sow pig class was well re-
presented, Sir E. B. Baker carrying off first prize
with one of the Berkshire breed. No competition in
Hampshire Down ewes; Mr. H. Symonds, who showed
a capital pen, was recommended for a prize. The
show of roots for prizes offered by Mr. W. C. Isaacs,
of Reading, was very good—Mr. R. Fooks's, who
gained the first prize, being extremely so. There
were ten lots of potted butter entered, the quality of
which was pronounced by the judges to be excellent.
Mr. J. Smith took first prize, given by Lord Rivers,
and Mr. G. Lock, the second. The judges were—Fat
stock t Mr. Bartley, Motcombe, and Mr. Baunton,
Weymouth; breeding stock: Mr. John Card, Norton
Ferries, and Mr. Allen, Tisbury ; butter and hams :
Mr. Phillips, Okeford Fitzimine, and Mr. S. Davis,
Blandford. The premiums given for long service,
dm, to agricultural labourers were distributed at the
Crown Hotel by the Chairman fur the day, Montague
Guest, Esq., who expressed his sincere pleasure in
awarding such gratifying proofs to them for their
past good conduct. He trusted they would continue
in the same path of honest industry. He also
wished to express his gratified feelings whilst pre-
senting the prizes for long servitude, and hoped that
the younger portion of the recipients would copy
the example of their elders. The labourers were
then regaled with wine, and afterwards dined at the
Swan Inn.

The annual dinner took place at the Crown HoteL
The chair was taken by Montague Guest, Esq., sup-
ported by H. G. Start, Esq., M.P., and W. H.
Atkinson, Esq. Among those present were Messrs.
R. Fooks, W. C. Isaac (Reading), G. Moore, W.
Long, W. C. Dashwood (hon. sec.), V. B. Watts,
Higgins, J. D. Allen, E. Baker, W. Jennings, H.
Baker, Robinson, T. Fry, John Godwin, R.
Fooka, S. Drake, W. Senior, H. Frampton,
Mulling, F. G. Miles, W. Davis, A. G. Creech, W.
Creech, W. Hunt, B. House, W. Symonds, J.
Rossiter, W. Rossiter, W. Coate, J. Coate,
Baunton, J. H. Benjafield, J. Andrews, James
(2), J. Young, &c., &c. Mr. R. Eyers's excellent
quadrille band was engaged, and added much to the
I pleasures of the evening, as did also Mr. Distin, of
London, who sang several capital songs in first-rate
style. The creature comforts supplied by Mr.
Washbourne having been enjoyed and the cloth re-
moved, the usual loyal toast were proposed by the
Chairman and heartily responded to.
In proposing "The Army and Navy sod Volun-
teers," the CHAIRAI CY referred in eulogistic terms to
the pluck lately shown by the commander and crew
of the "Little Bulldog, as an evidence that the
dauntless bravery which marked the English
sailor of former days was still the distinguishing
feature of his character. Dorsetshire was so well
known for its patriotism as to require but little from
him as regarded either the past or present services of
its Army and Navy. They would, he was sure, all
drink the toast with that enthusiasm it deserved.
He had great pleasure in coupling with it the name
of Mr. Dashwood. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. DASHWOOD, who was heartily cheered, said he
desired to thank them, as an humble member of the
Volunteer force, for the kind:way they hal coupled
his name with the toast. As regarded the Army
and Navy, he believed they always endeavoured to
do their duty in that station of life in which it had
pleased God to call them and of the Volunteers he
might say he was persuaded they would always be
ready to do their duty. (Cheers.)
Song : "Hearts of Oak"—Mr. Distin

The CHAJRNAN then gate" The health of the
members for Dorsetshire," a toast which was re-
ceived with great enthusiasm. He said it certainly
seemed to him that Dorsetshire was very divided in
its representation, and humourouely suggested that
their honourable friend present, Mr. Start, should
be divided in two. He supposed, however, he
would objeot to such a procedure, and if they did
divide him he could not see how they were to patch
him up again. However, he believed that three
more useful men could not be found to represent
their interests than their present members. Let us
give them, said the Chairman, such cheers, as will
show our grateful appreciation of their services ; and
bring tbe roof down if you like. (Laughter and long-
oontinued cheers.)_ _ . .

that Mr. _
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address-

•wars

El. G. STURT, Esq., M.P., who on rising was
moat warmly received, after expressing his thanks to
the company for the way the health of the county
members had been received, said he had to return
thanks, not for himself alone, but for his two
colleagues. Mr. Portman, as many present knew,
was 'pilfering from deep affliction in his family, and
they had only to read the public papers to see that
his exoellent coadjutor, Mr. Floyer, was attending
meeting after meeting to promote the social and in-
tellectual 'well-being of 'the county. (Cheers.) As
regarded himself he appeared before them in rather
a pitiable condition—(laughter)—for the only topic
on which he could speak was one which if he entered
upon he must of necessity break their rules. He
was not a farmer, and knew little about agriculture,
except it might be about pigs —(laughter)—of which
he had something to say presently. He Could not
therefore make a speech on that which they knew
more about than he did. The rule which prohibited
the introduotion of political questions was no doubt
a good one to a certain extent If he was to set to
work, and roundly abuse Lord Russell, he would be
called to order by their excellent Chairman, and if
their Chairman was to get up and abuse Lord Derby
then he himself would get up and pitch into him
right and left. (Loud laughter.) However, though
politics, spoken of in an offensive and personal
manner, were prohibited, yet there *ete certain
general subjects on which he believed there would be
no objection to his making a few remarks. It
was imfoiaible for him whin looking back to their
meeting in that room last year, but to remember
that at that time a dreadful war was going
on in America, and whatever view they might take
of that war, whether they were partisans of the
North or the South—and he did not hesitate to say
his sympathies were with the latter—he was sure
there was not one present but heartily rejoiced at its
termination, and earnestly hoped that that country
would again go on in a course of prosperity. (Loud
cheers.) When he last met them in that room
he uttered a prophecy, but he was not gOing
to prophesy any more, IS dttfOrttitlately all
his predictions were not fulfilled. They were then
about to meet an expiring parliament, a moribund
parliament as it had been called ;—(laughter.)—now
they were going to meet an untried parliament,
with a fresh head. In speaking of this be could not
but allude to the loss tlae country had sustained by
the death of Lord Palmerston. He considered his
dehth as a national calamity, and he so considered it
because there was no man who so identified himself
with the feelings and sentiments of the people of
England PA did the late Premier. (Loud cheers.)
He could not say he bad the same confidence in ,his
successor. Now, though he professed to know but
little about agriculture, politics he did know some-
thing about, having represented that county for many
years. (Cheers.) While he was on this subject, he
wished to give them his opinion as to what wets the
necessary qualifications for a first•rate leader of the
House of Commons, let, he must be a gentleman.
They knew the old adage, that it was impossible
"to make a silk parse out of a sow's ear,"—
(laughter)—and it was impossible for a Man to be a
leader of that house without he *all in every sense
of the word, a gentleman. 2rid, to be a leader, he
must be • man above par. 3rd, he must have a
great number of personal friends, by this he did not
Mean gentlemen receiving their thousand or two
tbousanda.yearfrom go vena meat, but real independent
supporters. 4th, he must bebleesed with a good
temper. This the late Premier enjoyed to a remark-
able degree. He had seen him examined, cross-
examined, and re-examined by some of little note,
and then when anyone might have sum:aged he would
have lost all patience, Lord Palmerston would rise,
and in the blandest manner reply to the interroga-
tions. Again, a leader must have tact and
discrimination, by which he meant not merely in
case of threatened division, but the tact to get any
of his party out of a scrape. He had seen Mr.
Brand get up from hia seat and go and whisper in
the Premier'. ear. He knew what that meant, and
soon after his lordship would bow in the meal'
graceful manner to the decision of the bowie. In a
short time he (Mr. Sturt) would go to meet another '
leader of the house, and for his own part, he was
not quite so pleased to meet him, and he thought
' Mr. Portman, were he present, would have to
wledge that he had not the same amount of
in him as in the ,ate Premier. Mr.
was oertainly • man of wonderful ability,
talents, and an able Chant:miler of the Ex-
r, but from being possessed of such abilities,
me all the more dangerous, and notwith-
• he possessed them, be did not seem to have
Ay to keep himself na older. According to
belief, a new Reform Bill was to be brought
d this session. What that would be, of
Ahe could not say; but this he would say,
the interests of the agriculturiata of England
..ad not been sufficiently represaa ad in the House f
Commons. They had seen the mercantile and corm
merotal interests relieved, but all efforts to reliev