The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-04-10 00:00:00

I{INT3 FOR BEEKEEPERA.
APRIL.

During this month beekeepers shoal carefully
examine their stocks. If any of them are weak they
sh.athl be fed with syrup, made by boiling sngar at the
rate of 31b. to a pint of water. Add a tablespoonful
of vinegar, and remove the syrup from the fire as soon
as it boils. When it is cob] put it in wide- th
bottles covered with muslin. Tont thorn upside down
on the feed-holes at the top ,4 the 4cols. and see that
the syrup nun very slowly. If it goes down too fast
atl.l more muslin, or many of the bees will he ilrowne.l.
A little stimulative feeding now will soon bring weak
stocks into good no queen 1.,* bre"l sery
rapidly during April and May if food r0:11,.', in
regularly. Hives and stands should be got ready for
next mouth, where early swarms inay reas nobly he
expected if the weather continues mitt.
A STALL or BM; -that in to ,ay, the pr.shice of .ote
is always worth about two bushels .4 I wheat.
The cast is nothing to the labourer. He most I, a
stupid countryman indeed who (=not make a bee-
hive ; and a lazy one indeed if he will not when he
can. In short, there is nothing but care demanded ;
and there are very few situations in tlnl eountry,
e-pecially in the south .4 England, where a labooring
man may not have halha dozen tallo •f 'tees to take
every year. Suppose a man got three st dls .4 bees in
a year. Six bushels of wheat give biln bread for an
eighth part of the year. Scarcely anything is a greater
misfortune than shiftlessly. It is an evil little short
of the Inc of eyes or of limbs. —OOl4lll.

THE COUNTY FRIENDLY soc FETY.
The Society held its annual meeting on Thursday
afternoon at the Coonty-hall, when there were present
—The Rev. Prebefulary Sir Talbot it. It. Baker,
Bart, Mr. E. L. Kindersley, .1.1'., f Cly Ire Iloijee
Mr. E. Pearce, J.P.. Dorchester ; Rev. 11. l& Raven-
bill, Rockland Newton ; Mr. Sheppard, ilhingliam
Mr. .1. Williams Bell, Gillingham ; Messrs, F. Pearce,
E. J. Pearce. Sansom, J. num B. &Wield, IL Lane,
Portland; Mr. Milledge, Weymouth ; Mr. Holler,
Broadwey ; Mr. G. IL Da% is, Dorchester, ax.listant-
secretary, and others.
The CHAIRMAN expressed, in opening the proceeds
ings, his conviction the society would come out ,4 it..
present erl4b4 by a reviAon of the rules. and a
there should as far as possible be effected an approxi-
mation to the Hampshire society, which had been so
prosperous, and to whose beneficial working he briefly
referred.

Mr. GT. it DAVIS then submitted the subjoined
report :
The number of members on the books at the close of the
year was—Males, :1,012; females, 147 —total, 3.101*: toeing
an increase of 103 leaks. but a ilecrease of females 2. The
total number of members enrolled during the year has
been 2711 There were also II menolers re-enrolled for
higher rates. Endowments amounting to £7O 12s. filo
have been paid off. and r 0 on ten deaths. Members
contributions in 1070, £3,1441 O. 114. : ditto in 1075,
£3.511 Tki. Old. ; being an inerease in 1070 of 4:111111s. ;
honorary stobscri idioms in 1470, £t..V4 Os. 14. ; ditto in 1075,
xtr : Toeing an Memo., .of ;eapital in 1070,
£1503019.. Slut. ; ditto in 1075. C. 14.101 So. :11. ; toeing an
inerease of £l,Oll 14s. Oisl. Sick pay has been allowed to
077 males for 5,793 weeks and 2 days, amounting to
• 510 11.. 51. ; and to 25 fenoales for 190 weeks and 4
days, amounting to £I3I 10s. 10d. ; making a total period
of stookness thintl weeks and it days, and a total amount of
sick pay £2,301 ss. SI. : being an increase of SiCkllelS
compared with 1070 of 110 weeks and an inerease of sick
pay £ll 11.. 14. Average rate of sickne. S weeks
a dayo for £.3 5.. 91,1. 1 females, 19 weeks 1 11 oys
.C 5 7s. 711 The summary of results is as follows ;
Increase in number of members, 11l : Memoi..c to mein' woos'
contributions. 1:10.1 11.. Pohl. ; increase in capital
£1,014 Its. 01.1. ; inereivoo in lion subscriptions., Go. Ttl. ;
inerease in siek ply, £ll Ha Id. There loois been a new
branch estalolished at Winterborne Stiekland. tin the
whole we think this must be accepted as an eneouraging
report, especially considering the grave and perplexing
diffieulties under which the society has been recently and
is even now, struggling. ft inay be well perhaps to rwoonl
here the origin of those oliffienlties as Weil 31 the proxise
position in which we now steel. In the report presented
fe Is7l reference was made to a prop-toil revision if the
rules ash tallies whieh hail been boodle called for by
many influential members, loot oleliovisl in order to await
Mr. Samuel Errown'sominquennial vothiation. That voile:I-
-t's ro which o was printed awl circulated among the
braneloes, representeil a ealeulatist deficiency of
more than £2.0110, A e tioo,itte of revision W 34
then appointed after the nomipt of a valuable report
from the stewards on the amendments, which they
deemed advisable, and also from a :olio-committee top.
pointed to visit certain clef:tithing branches. In last
year's report it was stated the revision had been submitt-
ed to Mr. Finlaison, an eminent actuary, and, in October
last, the draft was forwarded for the remarks of the
stewards and trustees. WI when finally revised and
settled by him circulate-4 ttttt nest the various Toranehoos.
The reception it met with was highly unfavourable, and,
whilst several tether details of management, were
generally all Mei t.m I.ot improvements, the restrpotions tin
the amount and continuance of irk pay reeenomended by
him were universally condemned. The proneoal which
the committee have now determined on is to have an
immediate valuation of the society made previous to
calling a meeting of the stewards or other mpresentative
memlors of the various loratoch.•s to discoss the whode
question, and, if possible, t arrive at some definite coon-
...lesions. We venture in the meantime to remind the
members that, although our rules and tables were
originally prepared under the auspices .of the very best
and most skifoil advisers on the subject, as it was thus
under.stood, it has been meth more thormiglaly enquired
into of late, and the inereased experience of the working
of smelt societies has loot to consioleral de changes of view
respecting them. Important alterations have con-
aequently been made and are in the course of being
male in our neighbouring and, as we may call them
kindred clubs, and the recent acturial opinions concerning
our own strongly point to the necessity of our following
their example. We cannot but hope, however, that
notwithstanding present appearances, the efforts which
the committee of trestees and their assosiate.s have been
making to place the society in a sounder condition will he
at 30 distant period crowned with success. It ought to he
more fully reeognised than it sometimes seems to be. that
they cannot by possibility have any personal objeetsto
serve, and that their honest and solo enoleavetir has lwen
and still will be to keep faith with the benefit members,
and to secure to them the greatest advantages attainable
on sound and satisfactory principles. Within the last few
days the club has sustained a very ?weer° Into in the
unexpected ileath of its kind and genial president, Sir
Edward Baker. It will be difficult indeed to find a
success or who, whilst taking the same cerolial interest in
its well being, will win the confi hence of every member
by his constant affability and unaffected friendship both
of noannior allot of heart."
The following is a statement of the ..3ZiOUS Valtia•
tions of the society since 1853: .

- -
C id.
First valuation to Dee. dlst, 15.13, gave a deficit of 126 10 :1
Second „ „ „ 51 6 7
Third „ 1 ant, Rat asurians 43 10
Fourth „ „ „ ISo7, „ „ 726 4Hi
Fifth „ „ „ 1,72. Rave a deficit .1 2323 IS d
The adoption if the report was moved by Mr.
litvis and seconded by Mr. E. Petncr and carried
unanimously.
On the motion f the Rev. IL E. IlAvolinid.,
seconded by Mr. SHEPPARD, the hon. secretary (the
Rev. C. W. Bingham) awl the assistant-secretary were
thanked for their past services, and requested to con-
tinue the same.
Mr. Davis returned thanks.
On the motion of Mr. HELL it was agreed—that a
conference on the society's affairs should be convened
within 21 days from the date of the present meeting.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

A meeting of the Council was held on Monday
morning. when there were present—The Mayor (Mr.
E. Lock), Aldermen Galpin and Dane, and
Councillor. Hodges, Devenish, Gregory, Shple
Bennett, Durden. Lock, Emson, Burnett, Pope, with
Mr. G. Symonds (Town Clerk).
Dr. Aldridge took his seat at a later period of the
meeting, and was warmly applauded on entering by
the Council.

--Th-e--gCLoI Attendance Committee reported the
appointment of Mr. T. A. Pearce as school officer, and
his appointment was confirmed.

A 11,000 to. !
The Finance Committee's report recommended the
payment of a number of bills, and the raking of a
loan to meet the expenses of the new fair ground, and
other matters, the banking account having been over-
drawn. They reconunended the council to borrow
£2,000 in 20 debentures of 1:100 at 4 per cent., to be
re-paid at the rate of one debenture, every year.
The MAYOR supported the idea, and added that in
the expenses incurred would be included anew covered
auction ring. . . .

The Towv:4 CLERK explained that the money would
be borrowed under the LOCRI Loans Act.

A discussion followed in which Mr. GALPIN and
others took part, and the Mayon ultimately proposted
that the report be adopted. This, was seconded by Mr.
F. LOCK, and carried.
THE MAGIsTRATES. ROOM.
The question of fitting up the new justice mon at
the Exchange, which at present is about as comfortable
an a barn with windowg, Was considered.
A plan for placing a raigel platform for the magis-
trate!, and fixing of a stole, kc., was produced by Mr.
Narman, and it was suggested by the Town Clerk that
to carry out the plan, would involve an outlay of
from 1:50 to £lOO, and Mr. Norman sai.l nearly £lllO.
Mr. GREGORY thought it would not csit so much.
Mr. GALPIN proposed, and Mr. BURNETT seconded,
that it be referred to the General Purposes Committee,
and this was done. •
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Dr. ALDRIDGE was elected to fill the vacancy on the
School Attendance Committee, vacant by the death of
Mr. Joseph Fudge.

BEGGARS' !MAP .%G.11:4 !
This matter came on in the shape of a notice, "to
consider the desiratility of disposing of building land,
on the north side of the fair field."
A long and tno4 uninteresting discussion took place.
The Town Clerk had been instructed to advertise it,
and was prepared to do so, as soon as the plans were
decided on and completed.
Mr. DEVENISH thought it would facilitate matters,
if before advertising, they would le, el the ground, and
make it accessible to purchasers. This caused a lot of
talk as to the proposed footpath, on the Bears'
Knap in front of the buildings, and nearly all the
members present having had their say, the MAYOR pro.
posed, and Mr. Perx seconded, that the matter be
referred to the General Purposes Committee. This
was carried.

The Misses Harvey wrote a letter complaining that
since a stable adjoining thei. house had been occuoied
• • '
the house had been very damp, and they been
disturbed at night, by the kicking of the horses. They
naked that they might be permitted to rent or purchase
the 'table. I%v/us decided that the Town Clerk should