The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-14 00:00:00

Kintrea, secretary of the Anti-Malt Tax Associ-
ation in London, in which he gave him an
impression for the benefit of this club, but
although he did not wish to trouble them
with businesa on such a festive occasion as the
present, he should not have any other opportunity
of making known to the Club the impression of the
late debate and division in the House of Commons
upon the Anti-Malt-Tax Association. The docu-
ment was a circular, which was addressed to the
various Farmers' Clubs is the different parts of
England. (From the circular, which was read, it
appeared that the Council of the Aasociation were
not at all discouraged at the result of the debate,
and still solicited subscriptions to help them to carry
on their work.] From that letter they would see
that if they united with the views which were
expressed therein, there was no reason for discourage.
meet. If they united with what was stated in the
circular, and if they noticed the progress of
the agitation, he thought they could hardly
fail to recognize that if they were true to
their colours, that no very distant day would
see the repeal of this unjust tax. (Applause.) On
the question which was spoken of in reference to
subscriptions, they knew that they had engaged to
do something before they separated as a club, and it
would be as well to have a little uaderstanding as to
their subscriptions, which he had no doubt gentle-
men would be ready to do. For his own part he
was ready to contribute £5 towards the present sub-
scription if Mr. Saunders would be kind enough
to add it to hie list. (Cheers.) And he would say,
though he was acting now as he had done as their
president, he was not ignorant that the period of his
presidency had expired, and that he was now only
holding office as the other officers were, and if they
forgot it, he wished they would take notice of it,
that they were only acting temporarily until other
officers were appointed. He concluded by saying
that he was extremely obliged to them fcr
the kind manner in which they had accepted
his services. He was not aware that they
were such as had been deecribed by Mr. Genge,
but such as they had been he could truly
say had been rendered most cheerfully and happily,
because he bad been united with a body of gentle-
men who had treated him with the greatest kind-
ness, and had assisted and stood by him in all the
work he had had to go through. (Loud applause.)
Mr. Daateat proposed that the various officers of
the club should be re-elected.

Mr. J. G. Homss seconded the proposition.
After having done so he said he had to propose a
toast which was rather a painful one, as the gentle-
man to whom he alluded was unfortunately not
present, nor had he attended their meetings during
the session. He was sure there was not a member
of the club but who sincerely regretted his loss
during that time, and they would all agree with
him that their friend, Mr. Harding (cheers), was a
most sincere and devoted man to the Dorchester
Farmers' Club, and to all other institutions of the
same sort which had for their object the doing of
good and benefitting the community at large.
(Applause.) There was no one more forward
than Mr. Harding in that work, and he
was sure they would condole with him
upon the great misfortune he bad had, and his being
prevented from attending the club during the session.
He was sure it was their wish that he should con-
tinue to be their vice-chairman, and it was their
sincere hope that it might please God to restore
him, and that he might again fill the position which
he had occupied for two years,. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN said he had had serious thoughts
of retirement, as he felt it would be for the interest
of the club that some one elm should be brought
forward to fill his office, but if it was their wish
that he should still remain, he should not refuse.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. CHAPMAN SAUNDERS, the treasurer, intimated
that he should be happy to continue his services,
and,at the request of the Chairman,gave a statement
of the financial condition of the club. From this it
appeared that the subscriptions for the past session
amounted to £l5 155., and this, with a balance in
hand of £lO 17s. 6d., made the total receipts amount
to £26 12e. 6d. The expenditure amounted to
£l3 12.5. 6d., leaving a balance in hand of £l3 10s.
Mr. G. J. ANDREWS, the secretary, also returned
thanks. In the course of so doing he said he took the
great object of a farmers' club to be this—to let the
world know that farmers were not such ignorant
"clodhoppers" as some people assumed them to be.
He was sure any person who bad taken the trouble
to read the discasaions of this club,not only for that
session, but tbffoughout the past ones, must have
seen that there was quite as much talent, and quite
as much mind, in what people called " varmera" as
in other classes of the community. (Cheers and
laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The health of Mr.
Genge," who had throughout the session discharged
the duties of vice-chairman, and in doing so passed
a very high eulogium upon his worth, in which he
was also joined by. Mr.
..Andrews.

Mr. GINCig ha;ing thanked the company for the
kindness shown towards him, and also Mr. Wood
and Mr. Andrews for the praises they had bestowed
upon him, said if it bad not been to oblige their
excellent friend, Mr. Harding, he should not have
occupied the poeition of vice-chairman in the club,
as he felt there were many more members who were
far better able than himself to discharge its duties.
He wished for the speedy recovery of his friend,
Mr. Harding,but said until he was able to be present
amongst them he should be happy, with their wish,
to act as his deputy so long as they pleased.
(Cheers.)
. . . . _

•
Allusion having been made to the illness of Mr.
James Crane, and hopes expressed for his speedy
recovery,
Mr. ANDREWS said they had had the toast of the
Mayor and Corporation of Dorchester, of which he
had the honour of being a member of that ancient
body. He must say they had lost a member,
who, during the time he was in the Council,
was most active and energetic, and from all he (Mr.
Andrews) had seen of him had endeavoured to do
what he thought was right. He (Mr. Andrews)
always said this of a man, that whatever his opinions
and conduct might be, if his conduct and opinions
agreed, be ought to be honoured and respected,
although in certain minute points he might not
agree with him, because, as Mr. Wood had said, in
order to arrive at the truth of a thing, every matter
ought to be thoroughly ventilated. During the
whole time he (Mr. Andrews) had a seat in the
Council, Mr. Hodges attended most punctually, and
gave his best attention, and he (Mr. Andrew') had
not the least doubt he did what he thought best, but
at the same time was sorry that be should have left
the Council to do each a great amount of hard work,
and hoped he might be coaxed into the little mystic
circle again. (Applause.)
Mr. HODGES said he was extremely obliged for
the kind manner in which the company
had drunk his health, and especially to Mr.
Andrews for the very friendly, but too flattering,
way in which he had introduced it. He had
alluded to his humble services as a member of the
Council, and expressed some regret at what might
have led to his retirement. He thought there was
a term for everything, and after a long term of
service it was not unreasonable to think there might
be good grounds for a man withdrawing from serving
his townsmen in a public capacity. At the same
time it was not from any desire to shirk from his
proper and due share of the public service—not from
the ides that he could render it better than any
other person, but if there was any public occasion in
which his services could be of use he should be
always ready at a moment's call. (Hear, hear.) He ,
held it to be one of the duties of life that a man '
should give some pelt of his time to the advantage
of the community in which he lived, and
considered the person who accepted office
should not accept it without he could diligently
discharge the duties appertaining to that office;
and when a man felt he could not give up
so much of his time as be thought requisite to give
' for that purpose, he should resign in favour of those
who were disposed to do so. (Applause.) With
regard to what had brought them together that
evening, he might say he had joined this club and
other societies from a wish to do all he could that ,
might tend to the success of the great interest
by which they were surrounded, and which was the !
great staple interest of this country. He believed
the lectures delivered by the members of this dab
would bear comparison with those delivered in any
other part of England, and that in the pursuit of
agriculture, both practical and theoretical, he
believed Dorset was not behind any county in
England. (Cheers) He thought they might con-
gratulate them upon this their fourth session,
and he wished they might continue for
many years to be the nucleus of communica-
tion of ideas and sentiments which the
agricultural body of this district were so well gush- ,
fled to impart to the country at large. (Applause.)
Mr. HOWARD proposed "Success to Agriculture,”
coupling with the toast the name of Mx. J. G.
Homer. In the course of a lengthy speech he said
that a verse which he had once read in an old news-
papc.o
le fu
dr
wilal y
hy
oarii conveyed v
fl every eary d
gr
cu elatuorfe tr.
de saw
hwi lci
hi chwhue
this
Secoess to the loot and the hero.
Succesi to tie flock mid fleece ;
Suet:ens to the growers of corn,
With the blessings of plenty and pesos.

_
Mr. J. G. !tomtit, in response, said he believed a
man in the present day must be a practical farmer,
and gradually adopt the theoretical principles of
agriculture with great care and judgment. He
believed agriculture to be a slow game with regard
to money getting. They worked very hard Lr a
very little money. (Laughter.) There could be no
doubt about that. (Renewed laughter.) With
the amount of capital which wib employed upon
laid, there was not • class of men who made
a "mailer peroentage than agricultnrisia. It was true
thoy had the advantage of • little pure air, and •
OM deal of physical exercise, which kept them in
good health and spirits; but to those 4entlemen who
rre not agrionlinriats, he should advise them not to
invest their money in agricultural pursuits, as, what
with the price of corn and the uphill game farmers
had to fight against the rates and taxes, would
find themselves in profit very mach over the left
shoulder. (Laughter.)
The health of Mr. Hicks, an representing the
architectural profession of Doreheeter, wa. given an 4 !
roopoucti4 to, owl otter Mr. DMI1•401 beelt4 bad