The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-15 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS MARKET_ AND FAT CATTLE

ONC.

Perhaps never hu • better exhibition of Christmas
fat and store stook taken place than that exhibited on
Saturday at Mr. E.r. spacious Cattle Repository,
the whole of which nut with a speedy sale at unusually
pod prime. The show of beef especially has never
been equalled, either when viewed In point of numbers
or excellent'., the majority of the animals being of first-
clue quality. This remark especially applies to the
fat stock entered for exhibition, an which both quantity
and quality were alike oombined. The sewer which
haa attended this, the second annual exhibition of fat
stock in the New Cattle Repository, must be very
gratifying to Mr. Baser as well es to the agriculturists
generally. Through the liberally of that spirited
' knight of the hammer," aided by prises given by
other gentlemen, the Christmas market in Dorchester
has now become an affair of some importance, in which
not only agriculturists, butchers, and dealers, are alone
interested, but the public generally, which feet was
most clearly demonstrated by their attendance at
the Repository on Saturday. The prizes offered
for the beet animals entered for sale caused much
competition, and was the means of supplying the
market with the best meat. This, no doubt,
was fully appreciated by the dealers and butchery.,
and certainly there will be no lack of goad cheer forth.
approaching festive season for the inhabitants of the
adjacent towns in the way of animal flesh. The
arrangements of the sale ground were most efficient, G.
J. Andrews, Esq., secretary to the Dorchester
Agricultural Society, kindly acting as secretary for the
exhibition of fat stook. The honour of parrying off Mr.
&nor's piece of plate for the beet fat ox or steer was
confined to three animals, but was awarded to • magnifi-
cent Devon us, exhibited by Mr. Coate, of Hammoon,
which was remarkable for its size and quality, as well
as its beautiful symmetry of form. This beast, which has
been sucedul at the local shows was purchased by the
Maws. &tiptop's, butchers, Weymouth. The prize
for the fat cow did not require, we should
immagine, much difficulty in awarding, Ruing that
Mr. W. Senior, of Ottery Rt. Mary, exhibited •
splendid animal of the short-horn breed, which has
beaten almost all her competitors at the local shows,
and which could not fail to be the case at this exhibition.
Between her and the other animals exhibited there was
no comparison. indeed she was "the observed of all
observers." The fortunate possessor of this beast is
Mr. Roberta, butcher, of Wyke. Mr. W. Paull, of
Piddletoern, also exhibited • very pretty cow, which
appeared to have been very carefully grazed, and was
purchased by Mr. Warren, of Charminster. The show
fat sheep, although not numerous, possessed that
very valuable desiderstrea of the present day—sine and
quality—their graceful forms showing that much care
and attention had been bestowed upon them before
they could have reached their present state of per.
faction. There were two pens of the Wateroombe
breed shown, one pen containing ten Down ',ethers,
belonging to Mr. Paull, Isle of Wight, which carried off
the £5 cup given by the DOTIeI Corsi, Erpreac
and ten Down ewes, exhibited by Mr. 'l'. H.
Sunder% which were also suaceseful, carrying off IA
given by Mesars. Dixon and Cardin, Southampton,
Mr. Groves, a &mood, exhibited • beautiful pen
of horned whether', which carried of Messrs.
Niabolay, Graham, and Armstrong's prise. The
porcine isee was fairly represented, in fact there well
wore competition in these animals than in any others.
The tug of war, however, was only between two, one
being an immense fat black pig, whose weight was esti-
mated at 32 score, the property of Mr. R. Chemin, of
Charminster. The animal appeared to be big-boned and
0011116, but nevertheless it carried off the prise. The
other animal, although not so large, wee pronounced by
judretht
.d pork
to to be much superior to its opponent.
It Mr. Warren, of Fifebeed, and was •
bean (deer white animal, remarkable for fineness
of akin and base. The prise pig was bought in
at £l2, but in the evening was fedi for at tic.
Hama Dream, whir, it was was by Mr. Walton
=dsir.al Xilboras. Ms judges wan Kr. Joke
, Joke Salaams, aid Hr. Robert Hayward.

The following are amongst some of the highest prizes
realised for stock sold :—Mr. Coates prise ox Is as pur-
chased by the Mews. geouton, Weymouth, for
£42 10.. Mr. Senior's prize heifer fell to the lot of Mr.
Roberts, Wyk., for egg. Mr. Mayo. Politic'',
who sent tvro fine oxen, were mold at £25 and
£37 each, being bought by Mr. Bound and Mr.
Hayward (Do ester), whilst the Latter purchased
an heifer belonging to Mr. Dunning for £29 lOsi
Mr' IA" firMrtimotori bought Mr. Itogera's fine ox
for £3O. Mr. James sent a very Prime heifer' which
was secured by Mr. Marsh, for 00 10s. Mr. Groves,
of Bowoo sent eleven choice oxen, which met with
eager puasers, at prices ranging from £24 to £32
10. lir. Hayward scoured two-ilidendid Devon oxen.
grazed by Mr. Brake, at £ll 10.. and 124. Mr. Whittle,
of Wareham, also purchased • Devon ox of very
superior quality, grazed by the some breeder,
for £39. Mr. Dornoney's three beautiful oxen
realised good Priam one being sold to Mr. Manakin
for £33, another to Mr. Rowe for £35 10.,
and the last to Mr. Whittle for £4O 10s. Mr. Wake,
of Ilcheeter, contributed to the male 6 fine heifers which
I,.,M"thed from £23 to £3l 10a, per heed, whilst some
t'°v°ll heifers, belonOng to Mr. Duke, were bought at
prices ranging from 221 to £27 per bead. Mr. Diver,
of Weymouth, after some competition became the
fortunate possessor of Mr. Levi Groves's bull,
which was knocked down to him at 127.
Mr. Ingram's pen of much admired Down wethers
fetched from £4 to £4 10. per head. Mr. Wood also
showed some capital Down ewes, which were bought
by Mr. Vye, of Swanage, at LI per head. Mr. Groves's
horned wethers realised about LI per head, and Mr.
Cooper's ewes from 525. to 55. 6d. each. Mr.
Saunders's ( Muston), Down withers realized from
£3 to £3 10s. per head. The market was supplied with
130 bead of beasts, and upwards of 400 sheep, besides
pigs and calves.
At the conclusion of the pale a dinner was provided at
the Antelope Hotel, which however wise more of • con-
vivial than &public nature, the company being extremely
limited. The chair was taken by James Hulling'
Esq. and the vice-chair by Mr. T. Eason After the
reus•t had been concluded the Chairman awarded the
following prises :
A piece of plate, value £5, given by Mr. T. Fame, for
the b.mt fat ox or steer entered for sale, Mr. Coate,
Hammoon.

A piece of plate, value ES, for the beet fat cow or
heifer entered for sale, Mr. W. Senior, °Hely SR Mary.
A piece of plate, value 1:5, given by the Dorset
County R.rprcas, for the best 10 fat Down wethers,
entered for sale, Mr. Paull, Isle of Wight. (Attached
to the cup wee a card, bearing the following inscrip-
tion :—" Given by the Dorsal County Express, with the
proprietor's special request that it shall not contain
any ut.lt liquor natal after the malt tax is repealed.")
£3 given by Messrs. Dixon and Cardin, Oil Cake
MerChants,Southampton,throngh their agent, Mr. O. J.
Vertne, for the 10 best Down ewes entered for sale, Mr.
T. H. Saunders, Wateroombe.
£3, given by Messrs. Niebolay. Graham, and Arm-
strong, Oil Cake Merchants, London, for the 10 best
horn wether.s entered for sale, Mr. Groves, Bowood.
. . . .

El 10s., for the best fat pig entered for sale, Mr. R.
Chamen, bharminater.
The COLIILMAN alluded to the non.attendancie of
prisetakers, and said they ought to be present to receive
their prises, and then congratulated Mr. Paull and Mr.
Saunders upon being successful exhibitors, both of
whom briefly expressed thanks for the compliment
paid them.
Mr. E.BOll fitly proposed the health of the judges,
after which he gave the health of Mr. Andrews, stating
the obligations he was under to that gentleman for the
assistance he rendered as secretary to the exhibition
that day. He then referred to the able manner in which
Mr. Andrews had defended the Agritraltural interests at
the Council Chamber, with referenoe to the payment
of toile, and said if the Council would not give up the
point, he (Mr. Ensor) would defend it, and in this step
he knew he should be supported by the agriculturists.
Mr. AIDIISWB, in responding, said there could bone
one who wished to further the interests of the agricul.
turista of Dorchester more than he did, hence, leaving
alone all personal inclination, he thought as their
Secretary, be ought to discharge his duty fairly and
honestly, and be careful of their interests He then
considered the position Dorchester stood in with
regard to other towns, and said they must
remember that it did not possess the advantages
which Sherbormi, Yeovil and Sturminster did in being
surrounded by a delightful country, where animals
could be brought to the markets at less expense and
greater maturity than was the case here. He urged
that in order to overcome these disadvantages they
, must throw open their market to as much competition
as possible, and then it would increase, and prophesied
that if the market went on increasing as at present, the
Christmas show would make the town of Dorchester
, the Smithfield of the county. He believed there were
sufficient facilities for making this market the Smith.
field of the west, and if the market went on increasing
in importance year after year as at present, Mr. Ensor
, would be compelled to have • larger Cattle Repository.
, He was sure every agriculturistwshed Mr. Ensor every
' success. The county of Dorset was much indebted for
the manner in which he had carried out their interests,
and he (Mr. Andrews) hoped that every yeoman would
I repay him that debt of gratitude, and wish him MUCCeII4
for man_y years to come.
Mr. ENSOR thanked Mr. Andrews for the kind manner
In which he bad spoken of him, and assured the agricul-
turnts that so long as he had their support he would
endeavour to serve their interests. He then compared
the present state of their market, with what they
formerly were, and said that formerly when hoteliers
and dealers came to the markets there were no animals
for them to buy, oonsequeutly the markets were not
supported. In order to meet this difficulty it was sug-
gested that his cattle sales should be established, which
with the support given by butchers and dealers bad been
enabled to be succesidelly carried on, and now there
were always plenty of animals to meet the demand. He
considered that a great deal of th is s access was attributable
to the publicity which he gave his sal, a by advertising,
printing, Ac. In conclusion he proposed "The Dealers
and Butchers," which toast was acknowledged by Mr.
Davis, of Wareham.
. . .

A low more toasts were given and responded to, and
the company dispersed.

DORCHISSTER.—Prrenan Cosa Meager, Saturday,
December 12.—At to-day's market scarcely any business
was transacted on account of Mr. Envies Christmas
sale of stock, which seemed to engross the public atten-
tion. The supply of wheat was only moderate, and
samples being out of condition the trade ruled very
dull. The same remark applies to barley and other
grain.

THE WEATHIR.—The reeding of the thermometer at
Dorchester for the past week is as follows :