The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-06 00:00:00

DORCHESTER FA RR ERECLUR.

The mania monthly meeting of this dab was held at
the Antelope Hotel on fistarday evening Jest. The
attendant* was not 6o nunierons as on some former
occasione.

G. Wool), Pal., the Preeident, in opening the pro-
ceedings, said that their meeting that evening was •
rather important one, and there was • considerable
amount of busman before them. They had fret of all
to consider the question of the New Highway Act.
They were aware that two gentlemen at their lest meet-
ing engaged to study the provisions of the Act during
the wonthi so as to be prepared with their remarks
upon the ilublect en the eteseet occesion. That subjee,,
however, had been in a great measure anticipated by
the meeting that had already taken place in this town
by the agricuiturists and ratepeyers,when a very strong
keling was evinced upon the question—that feeling
being very advent to the Act of Parliament. He
hoped, however. that the club, that night, would have
additional light thro•n upon the subject by the gentle.
men who, dunng the past month, had made it • matter
of investigation, although, as lie said before, their
labour had been much lessened by what hat taken
place already in referent), to that question. Then lie
had to bring before their notice the form of petition
to the House of Commons in reference to the abolition
of the Milt Tax. That petition had been prepared,
anti eas now ready for signature. He understood that
applic•tions had been made by influential fanners in
this neighbourhood fur copies of the petition in order
that they might get signatures among their friends,
but he considered that it wes only justice to that club,
as it originated • ith them, to fleet of all sign the peti-
tion—thereby giving it their seal and sanction—rand
then to solicit their mends and neighbonet to join them
in their prayer to the Legislature for the abollton of the
obnoxious tax. The third matter for their considera-
tion that unties lease very important one to farmers,
It being, as they were all undoubtedly aware, relative
to Mu breaking up of old matures, and the best mode
of afteroultsvuion. Now he bad one remark to maks
in referents, to their dhousaion that evening. As they
had • great deal of business to get through, he must
uk them to assist him putting in force the rules of the
club, which were, that the speakers shmild in any
remarks they had to offer, address themselves to the
chairman and not to each other. This rule wu intro-
duced to prevent colloquial and itidiecriininate discus-
sion beterien two members. He ached them then
to Luptort him in maintaining this rule, and
al.° to remember that no gentleman should
speak but once upon any asibjeet, and then
always standing, and conSne his remarks to
within the apnea of a quarter of an boor. They would
Icy bearing these thines in mind, rave math time, •nil
their proceedings would be regular and of an orderly
character. Bit before they proceeded to the diseuesion
of the questions before them. perhaps it weal be
better that they should decide upon the subject for
discussion at their next meeting. If there was no
gentleman prepared to proems • subject, he would
just remark that the following anbjeet bad been
placed in his hands—" The relative advantages
of fattening cattle and sheep upon light-land
farms." This subject wee one specially impor-
tant to the farmers residing in this neigbourhood„
and as the fattening of cattle upon their farms was much
more general now than formerly, be had no doubt that
many gentlemen would be prepared to offer their own
observations in referrenee to their own experience in the
matter. The only question that remained, if the club
considered the question • proper one for their neat
dinusaion was, who should brine it before the consider-
ation of the meeting.
Mr. J. 0. HOMICII prof-Domed that Mr. Thomas Homer
Saunders should be requested to introduce the subject.
Mr. SAUNDZIIII replied that he must reopectfully
decline No great • task. The subject was a very
important one, and calculated to be of great
advantage to the member, of the club, but he felt
himself incompetent to the task.

The ClIAIIIM•N asked, an Mr. Saunders had declined,
whether Mr. Oalpin would take upon himself to bring
the eehjeet forward
Mr. GALVIN also declined to take upon himaelf the
reenonsibility of introducing the subject.
Th. CEIAIRM•II said that haring failed to enlist the
services of the two most experienced men in the room
in this matter, they had but one resource left, and toot
was to ask their Vice-Preaident to bring the matter
forward. (Greet cheering.)
Mr. HARDING said that although he had been •
fanner fore great number of years, be had not turned
his attention to thin eery impcereer per; of o
business. He had &limy. been • breeder of stock and
Lot • fattener. and he must therefore respectfully
decline the honour it was sought to wren upon him.
Mr. GALPIN subsequently promised that, if no other
gentleman would take the matter up, be would under-
abet, bring it before their next meeting. (•pplwne.)

PrITTIO; TOR Till agrzAL or T5lll "iIiLirTAL

Tim CIIIIIIIILS said the first subject be would now
bring before the meeting .a. relatiee to the petition
For the abolition of the Malt Tag. In carrying out the
instructions of the Club, the committee who had had
charge of this matter had sent copies of their resolu-
tions to every farmers' club. and to every airriculturel
society in the county, and also to the Central Former,'
Club, asking their cooperstion with the Doroliester
Club with the object they had in new. He would now,
with their perniimion, read the petition to the House of
Commons, end afterwards pass it round the table for
signature.
IA copy of the petitices will be (peed Is the mood
PP thillp•P•f.)

The ellantssyt 'aid, In referenise to the lost chews in
the petition, he would just offer one remark. It. had
lately mime out that the revenue of the country had,
during this pest year, unqoestionably been in excess of
the expenditure. It had been predicted that we sboull
have a falling off in the revenue, bet it meet have been
• Ward of utonishment to tlled., •ftoi • ware., of coo-
graroletion to all parties in this country, tlist in the
year ending the 31st Iteeember, 1662, there had been a
oomparative net increase over that .4th. ova- ending
the 31st Deoember, 1661, of r 2,392,578. The •sy in
vehiith Ibui increase was inale up, must be a otettrr of
interest to all present, especially as it had oCcttr,e4
during • year of eionsider•ble betional distress. The
totals of the pole pensidee of the reirehluil of the !lofted
Ele.gdom were, for the year ending IS6I, £68,641:1,851,
and for the year lust past Ef0,996.40. In imacella-
neon, articles the increase had been L 1,055,761, the
post-office garb £100,001) more, and ilie stempe
had increased nearly half a milbou ; the in.
creased yield of the Property Tax upward. of a
million, and even the crown lands showed an increase of
mote then £5,600. On the year there WU a 41,cm•se
of 1:627,000 in one item only, that of Excise. Now
what he would jest remark was this They had reason
to believe that there were other parties, beside. farmers,
who were looking to the Chaneellor of the Exchequer
for • induction of taxation, emteecleent neon this sur-
plos of the revenue, and it was fos the farmers to •sy
whether a redaction of the Malt Tax was not of primary
importance, and whether it ought not to be considered
before every other. They had the fact of this omeas in
the revenue, which would require a considerable filling
In, and it was for them to say whether it ought not,
in their opinion, be filled I. by the reduction In the
tax of an article Of primary importance.
He hoped that this view of the ntleatlon
would not be lost sight of, and that the
fanner. would be prepared to press their claim. upon
the Government for • deduction or this obnoxiou•
tax. (Applause.)
The whole of the members present baring signet the
petition, the Chairman said the next thing to be con.
sidered was, who should the petition be entreated to for :
preeeutatioa 1 His own opinion wee that it should be .
entrusted only to some petty who was Preset's-11 to
support the prayer of it. No doulit that any of their
members would present it, but the question we, would '
they support the prayer of it! Perhaps the better
way would be for their seaetarr to write to their .
senior ettunty member to ask him if be could support it. I
prayer, soil if he was not preliared to do so, then to
write to the other membera If none of them lit at
liberty to support it, then they mutt look to some one
elsewhere to entrust it to. If Mr. fleymer won't take j
charge of it, then the other members should be written I
to, to ask them to support it.
Mr. 11.4,potra said he bad every reason to televe
that Mr. Fier Seyiner folly syupsethised with them in
this euoveutent, and that he *omit willingly take charge
of their petition.