The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-12-05 00:00:00

DORCEE.STER FARMERS' CLUB.

The second mesting of the session took place at the
Antelope Hotel lest Saturday evening, when the at-
tendance was unusually numerous, and comprised Mr.
G. J. Wood, President. Mr. R. Genge, Vice.
President, Mr. E. Pearce, J.P., Dr Aldridge,
Mayor of Dorchester, Mr. W. Manfield, Mr. J.
Crane, Mr. J. Homer, Mr. T. Homer, Mr. R. Shout,
Mr. E. Whittle, Mr. Bwatridge, Mr. G. Homer, Mr. T.
H. Saunders, Mr. T. G. Saunders, Mr. It. Damen, Mr.
J. Gslpin, Mr. H. Clements, Mr. D. Dugdale, Mr. G.
Hicks, Mr. H. Taylor, Mr. T. Ensor, Mr. Shorto, Mr.
J. F. Hodges, Mr. E. Gslpin,
Prior to the commencement of the special business
before the club, conversation took place in reference to
papers for future meetings, and it was arranged that Mr.
Everett, Secretary of the Anti-Malt Tax Association
should be engaged to give s lecture on the Malt Tax, at
the January meeting, and that on Dec. 30, Mr. Whittle
should introduce the subject of "The payment of agri-
cultural labour in Dorset." That gentleman alluded to
the case of John Cross, and the remarks the feat of his
stated waive being Si. a-week, had elicited in all parts
of the country. He considered the present time very
, opportune for discussing the subject proposed, as they
I usually hired labourers for a period on the 14th Feb.,
and he expressed himself opposed to hirings for specified
lengths of time, and also to paying them in pert by fuel,
cottages, and potato ground. He held that the proper
way to pay them was to give money only; and if they
did so, he felt that the farmers and employers of labour
in Dorset would appear before the country and the
acrid in their proper character, which they did not at
present.
H. Williams, Rsq., of Dorchester, and Mr. William
Atkins, of Longbredy, were elected members of the
club.

Mr. R.. °away, the 17ioe-President, then read the
following excellent paper on
MN OAT= PLAGUI AND MUTUAL CATTLE A BADBANCI
AAIDDCIATION.

The subject proposed for consideration this evening
is one of the most serious ever brought before you,
affecting, as it does. most intimately, not only the
,ewseutend occupiers of land—the breeders and graziers
rse ulna, bat !le whole meat-oonsuming corn.
Annuity. The Cattle Plague, alnderpeat. or Steppe-
Murrain, is at present engaging the earnest attention of
war rulers, as well as the publuigenerally. Its first ap-
pearance, peculiar symptoms, fearful destructiveness,
ad general history, are too well known to all of you.
My object, therefore, this evening, will not
be to occupy your time with a recapitulation of
l
whet has appeared in the public paints, and
er you have no doubt, as anxiously raid, week
I week, as have, but rather, after a few passing
elkeervations, to call to your notice the "Dorset County
kimildr " and "The Mutual Cattle Assurance As-
sociating for the county of Dorset, for mutual assur.
ante spinet loss in neat cattle by the Cattle Plague.
It is, gentlemen, a matter for congratulation as well as
thankfulness, that as yet, in this locality, we have, with
-0 exception been free from this fearful infliction.
I only knows how soon our turn may some,
in the meantime we should make every exertion
I avail ourselves of all known means to avert
, calamity, and also make arrangements to alleviate
lessee of the unfortunate, should it attack the cattle
in this county. There seems now to be little doubt ,
that it is • most dangerously ciontagions, disease, and ,
not, as was le first supposed, epidemic. We, there-
fore, shall be most inexcusable if we do not publicly, as '
well as privately, mound the good intentions of the
Government by carrying out to the letter the
Orden in Council, dco., t'aat are issued,
with • view to prevent the spreading of this pest.
Great temporary inconvenience, and probably loss, may
arise, in some eases, from the restrictions imposed, but
that is not to be compared with the certain distraction,
and terrible anxiety, which would attend the intro.
&lotion of the Steppe-murrain amongst the extremely
valuable and numerous herds, for which our county is
so lastly celebrated. I quite agree with the recom-
mendation of the Cattle Plague Commissioners, that all
cattle traffic should be suspended (and hope to see the
measures proposed by the Farmers' Club Deputation
carried out); it is a matter of history that in 1745, when
the Rinderpest last visited this country, it raged, more
or less, for 12 consecutive years, are you, gentlemen,
pared to look forward to a similar result, when a
months of inconvenience, may, with care, prudence,
GocVirbiessiag, Gradients the evil? It seems harsh, ,
`nary, and un-English for our authorities to send an '
'dual with power to order stook to be slaughtered I
tried, and no compensation made, and most die- ,
; mast it be to any man to see choice and much- I
aniniale, bred and nurtured with the greatest 1
. - v handed down from father to son,
such • power in the hands of an
or ignorant inspector, may be grossly
, on the ether hand, it may be argued, that
c dire neseseity can justify such • course,
iecessity does exist. The medical profession
no doubt strenuously endeavour to conquer the
ny ; but whilst docton are experimenting, dieput-
and at fault, it seems to be the soundest reason, as
ad, 'always to kill a diseased animal,' or • '
' animals, when by no doing you mei kill an
of the disease, instead of suffering that
; and fructify, whilst pin are (attempting •
appears to me, gentlemen, we must
to our county mapstrates to exert them-
at this juncture—the executive power
vested in their linnds, and on the judgment
_ rigout they display in choosing Inspectors and
carrying oat preventive measures, will very much de-
pend the safety of our herds and flocks, as far as con-
infection from without, and I am pleased to add
"ey are evidently aware of their responsibility in
staler, (as testified by the r of the Bench
v last,) and we. - for

one ,
God
and

1 the

the losses

Oirrie-a

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of (end

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