The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-12-16 00:00:00

-WITH OUR ARMY IN ZULULAND."

This was the title of a very interesting lecture. given,
with illustrative viers, diagram.. and signal I .shin,. by
Mr. J. W. McCall, under the auspices of the Dorcheetor
Lecture Society, on Thuriday evening. Although the
weather was bitterly cold, the great Corn E. :Image was
well filled, and the Lecture Society must feel that they
have added OM more to their successes in endeavouring to
break the quiet of Dorchester evening life by • pleasant
opportunity foe gathering. Mr. McCall was ably intro.
doted by the Rev. T. Rusisell-Wright, and in a good clear
voice and in AU interesting manner, satiated by maps,
illuminated by the oxybydrogen lantern, he explainal the
circumstances of Zululand, which spreads over about
1.500 'quire miles. with 300,000 inhabitante. Cape Colony
is the west of South Africa, &dui owl being on the east,
with K./traria and Nebel C done between. Views of
e.g. Town, the WA* Mountain, Pot t Elizabeth, Mabee,
in, were shown. The military power of Zolialmail WSIII
traced In its rise from Chaka's and Dingeen's rule, by
which the men were liable to serve, nearly all of them, all
their lives in the army, so that the thief could call out the
whole male population under arms ; they were dialled
Into regiment& men of about the same age forming the
regiment, and all were desperately heave. Armed Bet
with the long and short 'mogul. Ketchwayo ordered them
to provide themeelyse with breech-loading gun., an im-
manse importation followed the demand, by way of
Dolasoe Bay, not the Portuguese but Englishmen being
the traders. So Ketchwayo's army Wean., formidable,
and he refused to Betels to the demands of the British.
The quarrel arose about a triangular Pew of land
claimed by Ketchwayo and the Transvaal, and when the
English annexed the Transvaal. they also claimed tins
peas. The sons of Sintyo, a sub-chief, also crewed the
frontier, brought hack two wive, who had ded from
Zululand, and killed them, and Sir Bartle Frere, being
refused restitution by Ketehwayo, sent General Lord
awmaford, who had serval at Sebeetepol and In the
Indian Mutiny, undet the name of Thesiger. Ketchisayo's
peat form was shown in an effective picture, also %lino
crossing • strsam, the much-talked of lawyer or waggon
encampment was admirably illustrated, and the &Libellee
would form a good idea of its strength. Zulu black-
smiths were shown making their assegais with • very
simple fire, pinchers and hammer ;and their huts, kraal.,
and marriage dances were pictured on the Street]. The
advance of the Britlish Army we. followed, to the division
of the column, ant the surprise at Isandlwhane, spiritedly
pictured; mom cheering than this horrid massacre was
the gallant feat of Coghill and Melville in saving the
colour., and then the splendid defence of Rorke'. Drift
followed, the entrenchment, of mull., buts, the swarming
Zahn, the gallant feat of William., who beat through
several partition. In the burning hoepital and saved twa
patients, w‘re each the signal for lood applause, as
graphically they were disideyed, and the audience
sew the victory by eighty men, ten of whom were
wounded or sick, over 3.000 Zulua Chelmsford and
Dabialaumnia, the rivet whiteccii block general., were
pictured, sod we soon learnt of the reinforceusen•s, so
that 9,000 wer sent out to the Cape. C Pgarson
was shut up at Ekowe, where he bad fortified his post.
but want of food and stores was thnetened, and they
were much dwered by perceiving signals 11 abed to them
from the hills at • long distance. The principle of signal
leaking la that a long Seib is equal to a Ion; stroke in
Line telegraphy, and a short nada to the dot, and these
Sashes airo directed by means of a small bole in the
mirror, and a stud in front, which being put in line with
and sighted to the distant post, is directed accurately
there. When the sun does not shine signals may be sent
by barge abutters, and at night by Seabee in • lamp of
magnesium composition, giving • light equal to the lime
light. Where no light can be used, signal. are given by
horns. Etch of Agee plans was lot:idly shown, the
=jum gashing being specially brilliant. A
ot beeutiful pictures followed, illustrating
the relief of news, the Meager at the intouthi,
when • party were imnOt by the Zulu army divided by •
stream, and destroyed, the Mold mountain dietetic, and
thji..4lst at Kiunbula Hill, when English raiders were era-
sed cat op by Zulu battalions, • pleas's/ variety
priced
saving of a lieutenant by his gallant Major.
Garnet Wolseley lint-rate likeness of whom was
treir:,:n the screen), was soon appointed, and peat
went was expected from him, but he woe delayed
by the dlfliculty of landing. The Death of the Print.
Imperial was next pictured, the poor young fellow
running by his horse while the Zulus swarmed alter him,
till be was assepied. Lord Chelmsford havinr made
cautious preparations, now advanced into Zulnlend, and
next we had the battle near Ulundi, in which the Zola
spirit was broken, then the burning of that amenablege of
watary kraals. Ulundi—followed, and after • long chaos
and marsh, the capture of the mean, but, brave and
2
al.d. Zulu King.—The pictures were throughout good,
asthers were about 00 of them, with maps and
diwates, the lecture wee fully illustrated, and overrate
should have had • •••••ugh teaching about the war, front
beginning to end, and they heartily appianded the tame.
aim d hope that the time may soon owns when men shall
warn war no more. After this the poem "How Jane
poppet rang the Balioyas molted. and illustrated with
eatil• views, sad yahhashors won sta wed with
Nahlrcgsh—Tb• b801•Mg was Vulg./ *saw at the
. 4kr
Me. II

Mr. Giteog said the subject had been very generally
discussed never was OLIO of graves importance. The
cause of tire pressure was evident; they had ploughed,
sown, and dons everything that man could do; but at
the last moment the hand which alone could give the
Monism ha] been sh 'dined. The opinions given on
the subject had been more or less sensible or absurd,
great men had given very absurd surgesti 'Mt because
they knew nothing about it. Small holdings, where
the climate has been good, have been very successful,
for instance from the island of Jeremy, many hundred
tons of potatoes have been exported this year, and one
of our statesmen has sail we ought to turn our atten-
tion to strawberries and flower,; but that could not
be done on the hilis of Dorset, where the and is lase
rich, and the climate more severe, where nothing can
compete with large holdings, which are more economi-
cally worked than small ones. A commission has
properly been bent out, and the report will be valuable, I
but you cannot make people sober' industrious, or
successful, by Act of Parliament, stilt exactions of an
unjust character may be removed by Parliament.
What can be more unjust than for the land to bear
the whole cost of maintaining highways though at
of the cost should fall on the lend? Farmers most
grow the greatest crops possible, and with God's blam-
ing they will yet hold up their heads, for the farming
interest is too important to g 0 down in this island of
ours. (Applause.) Mr. Gongs added that farmers
ought all to unite to meet these times, ask landlords I
to diminish c-at, and brmers most live closely and
stick to their business. A writer in th siectrcnth
Century 'aid thcre must be more hard toil and lell•
supervidon ; but Mr. Thomas Brassily in saying that,
was simply ridiculous; there must be more supervision
Instead of less. Manurial expenses mast not be
reduced ; host workiug expenses only • for the land
must not be let down in value. (Applause.)
Dr. ALirgl Dai said the question was o absorbing
interest, and good must accrue from the discussion.
The great depression was evident, and it wee not
entirely owing to the season of this year ;• it has been
g.,ing on for some time. The fanner ought not to ie
thrown on his back by one ha I season; it was an
unhealthy state of things to bee his capital in one
year. (heir.) The rent wla much higher lately,
almost double within the last 25 years, and with that
extra rent, locreasc.l taxation, and restrictions, it was
clear the outomns would be depression. One nimedy
was readiwtment of taxation. Mr. Gladst me's
notion was not put forward as • I amines; but when
asked what would relieve the distress. he suggested
that the two or three millions sent out of the country
for troilism! Bowers should be kept at home. Then
butter and eggs also took out • great deal of money,
and instead of burlesquing the speeches of any one,
people ought to be thankful for therm When people
said the speeches of the greatest man in the country
were all puff and padding, it was time to see the
country was properly represented. He did not see
the interest, of landlord and the tenant were the same
in all respect.. The landlord wishes his tenant not to
lose, for he wishes his farm to pay. Apart from any
party politics, the sooner they found out the remedy
sod got it represented at St. Stephen'. the better.
Freight-carrying used to be one of the beat businesses;
b t now freighters is wonderfully low, a d the best
Californian wheat can be brought here in 14 or 15
days, and at • price that more than competes with
Eoglish pr duce. He agreed the qu.stion is most
imp vtant, aid they must all see into it. The 51 aqui.
of Sellsbu•y recommended more brains; but he wished
his lordship had ahown he had Midas ; them scientific
notions of our Premier must I. paid for and the BOOndg
the affairs of the country were put in other hands the
better. A Hear and applause.)
Mr. Howaen said the matter affects the nation
genera'''. When an evil arisen, you must look et the
Cause of it: a medical man looks for the seat of the
disease, and he (Mr. Howard) said the causes were
various, some permanent and some transient. (Hear.)
No person who understands the question caste a slur
on the manner in which the land is cultivated, the
English fanner cultivates his land better than any
other, and the depression is not brought about by had
far ning. When a town increases, market garden
land
around goes up in • i .lue ; but f you can bring
vegetables from • distance the price pea down, the rent
goes down, the price being governed by the price of that
from a distance, plea transit. 1 and at a distance being
cheap, cultivators go there, raise enough for themselves
and others and produce being increased the priest mud
be affect 4 The moment there are 30 producers and
only 20 buyers, the Price fails. If • MAD goes from
Ireland, pit. lam on cheap land, and grows a large
quantity of wheat, price goes down. Now, you
actually buy potatoes for one-fourth less than in a
good season, bemuse more land is cultivated with
them. An equalisation in the value of land must be
produced, remembering in addition the transit. Land
has been forced up in value, but it moat 110 down;
the owners' interest is diminishing, and they are in •
position worse than the farmers. The landlord may
have to make up his mini to a permanent loss, for
nothing in the future cm rain, up the value of that
land. A street may become fashionable, the rents go
up; by and by, the fashion foes away, the rents go
down, and the ownerr, suffer; but the tradesmen go
elsewhere, and suffer lens. Sympathy should be shown
for the landlord, who is sustaining • loss from per-
manent causes ,• the tenant suffers from high rent., and
his capital has had lies return' than any other capital'
• tradesman would not put up with the amount of
returns • farmer gets from his capital. (Hoar,
hear.) Each farmer has put up with it, because
he has felt home round him; but the landlord
has been taking that charm away, by making
him feel he was only a capitalist investing for
returns. In changes of season' the suffering
falls no the middleman; it can't be helped. A bad
season has been indf.rscl ; but a rood season cannot
restore things peace ly, and lowering rents is jest like
potting • salve over the wound, it may ease the 'ale;
but cannot remedy the matter. In Somersetahlre, he
saw a place where farmers had bet all their sheep, had
stocked their land take over, and now the beasts were
coathed, so that ten per cent. had nothing to do with
their lose. What Is to be done to remedy it? As to
the recommendation ti grow str mberrice, there had
been • misapprehension. Mr. Gladstone and others
said farmers ehould turn their attention to what the
climate and land of England at. attest to grow, not to
grow wheat becalms ilia wanted'. but to gr re whet it
Is fit for. A gentleman rail the climate of England is
particularly adapted for bai ley. therefore we should gn, w
more barley and km wheat. Whether that was right or
not, farmers abouldgrsw what the land is particularly
suited for. As to equalisation of taxation, that lift.d
it out of being only a farmer', subject. Supporting
£70,000,000 taxes are required, and pat is lift' I off
One branch of the community, it must be put on the
others, and if the maintenance of highways Utak= off
the land, it must be put on probate and other matters,
and that is simply putting it en the same shoulden—
time of the middleman whom they wished to help.
The Legislature must see whether the land bears
more than its fair •hare of taxation; but it is beyond
the scope of the 'abject to-night. Landlord• must
reduces their rents on a permanent bade, taxation
muss be equalised, and farmers must grow what suits
the land. This beings the question of what a farmer
may grow; be Is now unfairly trammeled, and a land-
lord must allow his tenant to cultivate according to
Mudgment. But the matter will right itself, for
lend la galas *ging the landlords winters dinienity
in ISW•g tenants, ar;id dans depression, end as it
min peritesebring about permanent relief. i=nea
Mr. SWATIUOoI bad been reminded of A
Lot. When they got too thickly peaked, Abraluun
said" Is not the whole land before thee? Separate
thyself, I pray thee, from me." So Lord Derby had
reM to his tenant—" You talk about lowering your
.7otitiyou mud lower your numben ; to the
where ran may be your own landLrds, and
Idren altar you for the taut 500 years." Mr.
gaoszvard had been preaching on that text all the even-
ing ; he thought this was the most disinterested and
holy instance of love shown in that day.
Mr. STEN= VIIi said this depression must be
realised personally ; some of the muss are permanent,
and the object of the dismission Is to levees*.
rased. We a have to Ilwo upon th= wed the
=iwwwon it beyond theoundrol of num. and look-
t lb. innffson. Wafts hare a dad $o the