The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-04-25 00:00:00

W 7.2111032111.
Rev. R. V. Trotman, 8.C.L., Rector of Langton
Illatravers, haa been appointed priest vicar of Wimborne
Minster.

BLANDPORD.

A Tgatraisisca FiarrvaL was held at the Town Hall on
Tuesday evening, composed of singing, reading, rescita-
Honk and a Spelling Bee for y_ouths under l& The chair
wag taken bv the Rev. C. H. Tynes Clinton. rector of
Blandford. The rev, gentleman expressed his gratification
at seeing so many youths present, and regretted having an
apointment to Ml at another place the same evenln& so
that he must leave before the entertainment was over.
The evening was most cheerfully spent The successful
spellers were-Ist prise John Hobbs ; 2nd S. Wareham :
3rd Alice Hammond. The prizes consisted of valuable
books suitable for youths.
_ . _

CO; -ilri"rf.. o Saturday.—Before Lord
Portman, the Hon. W. 11. B. Portman, M.P., Mr. J. .1,
Farquharson, and Mr. C. J. T. Hambro.
curies Mitchell pleaded guilty to assaulting a boy
named Arthur Hargrave, at Tarrant Danville, on the
31st March, and was fined 5a including costa.
John Guy admitted having worked a horse whilst in a
low condition, and with raw wounds on the back and pin
bone, at Milton Abhas, on the 21st March.—This was
rather a bad case. Defendant had been given the money
to buy another horse by Baron Hambro on the condition
that he destroyed the one he was now charged with
treating, and which WWI very old. He had been cautioned
by the police not to work the horse, hut after resting it
for • little while he again worked it —The Bench inflicted
• fine of LI, which was to include costs.
Malian Bishop pleaded guilty to being Weep and with-
out reins whilst in charge of la waggon and two horses,
at Stickland, on the 27th March, and was ordered to Pay
.C 1 in aIL

_.... --
Sidney Cosh, of MtMorn* St Andrew, was summoned
for treepaseing in search of game on lands in the occupa-
tion of Mr. John Standfield, at Bore Regis, on the 23rd
March.—Defendant did not appear.—John Dore), proved
seeing defendant set strap in a hare's run.—Being an old
offender defendant was lined 40s. and Ils, costa, or two
months' hard labour in default.

5.2401740.1 Squibb Thomas Drab., Wald, TAosiai, and Jean
'Calaway. four boys of Hilton, were summoned for playing
at pitch-and-toss on the public road at Hilton on the 9th
inst.-P.C. Ellis said about seven o'clock in the evening of
Sunday, the 9th April, he saw the defendant and other
by near the reading room at Hilton. They were making
• noise and playing at pitch-and-toss The boys ran away,
but be caught Squibb, and behold him the names of the
other boys. Afterwards be picked up a half-penny in the
road. Divine service was being held in the reading-room
at the time, and he had had previous complaints of the
annoyance caused to worshippers by the hays plan.,
near. -John Hiflyer WY oaim for the defence and toiA
he was near the reading-room On the Sunday evening in
question from 0.15 to 7.30. Bellamy and Thomas went
into the lime-house with him out of the rain and the
others were in the road; but none of them played at pitch-
andlow. -The constable said he saw the witness in the
road, and the boys ran into the lime-house after he sew
them-The Clairman said the only punishment for
playing pitch-and-toes was imprisonment, and he wished
all boys were aware of this. The real object of the
prosecution seemed to be to put a stop to the disturbances
near the reading-room, and the Bench had therefore
agreed to deal with the case under another statute and
Inflict • fine, svhich they could not do under the other.
-Squibb, in consequence of having told on the other
boys, would have to pay 50 , and the others flu. each.
lisalbali SW" and Emily Mall, two young women with
babies in their arms, were summoned for having stolen
half-a-hundredweight of half-inch manure bones, value
ts„ the property* Mr-Edward Lock, at Bryanstone, on
Good Friday-The prosecutor said he had a quantity of
manure bones in • house at Beach Clump, some of which
he had mired. Those produced were his proper, and
he identified them through having beach leaves, bite of
paper, glean, and cloth among them.-P.C. Poynter said
be met the two defendanta coking over Blandford bridge
towards the town on Good Friday. They each had a
bundle that appeared to be harry, and he asked them
oNd they metaled On ore, the bundles he found
that they coiqtained manure nes, and he told them that
he should take posesselon them as he had reason to
believe that they had been stolen. Defendant, said they
had been working in Mr. Blandford's nurseries, and had
up the bones: but on going to Mr. Blandford he
Ficatiol this WY false- Afterwards he and Mr. Lock
examined the bones in the manure-house at the Beach
Clump, and found • large bole in the heat) of Whoa front
which • quantity appeared to have been recently taken.
ti with those took • sample from the heap, and found that the
corresponded ose taken from the defendants.
e rimed beech leaves, pieces of rag, piper, glass, and
crape in eeth. James Ford said he saw defendants on
the day m question about SW yards from the meowe
house at Beach Clump, and Rowe tow..d. it
.....Ddend.,
aside the improbable defence that they found the bones
to the beg in Stickland-laae, and being too heavy to cure
they placed pert of them in one of their aprons. From
other remarks made by them it was pretty clear they
were guilty.-There was& long list of previous' convictions
against the women Mille and she was sentenced to two
calendar menthe' hard labour ; the woman Hall, who had
been twice Premlitmil conTichld, was lootoacod to one
elsadas loostles trata Moat,

THE DORSET FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

The Annual Meeting of this excellent society was
held at Swanagv oi Easter Thursday, awl the pro-
ceedings were of a very successful aud satisfactory
nature.

The member, decked wit in rosettei, II CC redol by
a flag and the hand the Artillery 4',wpm, and headed
by Sir B. Baker, the president, paraded the streets and
attended Divine Service at the parish church, where
R.
TT. Wan'v'ePnirite,mgePrnin:%'•ns. waa x
Pr'libeettleV•hateheitreelh
summer is a wise sum"

THE ANNUM. MEETING.
This took place in the schoolmom and we.. largely
attended by members. Sir E. Baker, Bart , presided,
and he was supported by I.orti Eldon, Rev. C.
Bingham, secretary, Mr. Ihtvia, aaaistant-secretary.
Rev. Talbot Baker, Mr. G. Eliot, Rev. E. Trotman,
(Langton), Rev. Owen Memel, Mr. N. Bond,
(Holme). Dr. Humble. (Corte), Mr. Harvey, (lwerne,,
Dr. Delamotte, Mr. Sheppard, ((illingham).
Sir E. BAKER commenced by calling upon the Hon.
Sec. to read the report, which Mr. Bingham did as
follows :
" The number of members on the books at the close of
the year was —Males. Vaal ; females, 149—total, 3,015—
being an increase of 132 males, but a decrease of females
by 17. The total number of members enrolled during
the year has been 270; there were also 23 member. re-
enrolled. Endowments amounting to CM sa. 71.1. have
been paid off, and .223 have been pail on 14 deaths. Con-
tributions of members in 1875, £3,511 Os. : ditto in
1874. £1,337 Ila 314. • being an increase in 1875 of
of £173 14a. Old. ; honorary subscriptions in 1874,
.C 238 17s. •. ditto in 1875, £227 13a. 10d. ; being a
decrease in 1875 of XII 3a. 11d. : capital in the year 1875,
.C 14,038 sa. 3d.' ditto in 1874, £13,10) 12s. 244.; being an
increase in 1875 of .1:877 13s. ON. Sick pay has been
allowed to 741 males for 5,595 weeks and 4 days, amount-
ing to £81791111 ; and to 35 females for 518 weeks
and two daya, amounting to £137 lb. 2.1.: making •
total period of sickness of 8,143 weeks and six days, and •
a total amount of sick pay £2,318 14s. 2d.; being •
decrease of sickness as compared with 1874 of 404 weeks
and live day., but an increase of sick pay of £llB ltis. 711.
Average rate of aickness—males, seven weeks, three days,
and 20 hours, for .22 181. 01.1. ; females. IS weeks, four
days, and 1.5 hours, for 1.3 18a. 714. The 'summary of
results is as follows :—lncrease in number of members,
135; increase in members contributions, £173 lls. Old ;
increase in capital. £877 13.. ; decrease in honorary
subscriptions, Ell 34. 114. ; increase in sick pay,
£llB 16s. 7e4. There has been a new branch established
at Stourpiune and Durweston, and Portland branch has
been divided."
_

It will be seen that the duration of sickness in the case
of male members, and still more remarkably in the ease of
females. though annewhat shorter than last year, is still
infinitely beyond what our late muinent actuary, Mr.
Samuel Brown, taught on to expect. The committee of
trustees confidently hoped, ere now, to have laid a re-
vision of the rules before the member,; but desirous as
they arelto render it as pulect as possible, they have found
their task to he one of no ordinary anxiety and labour. It
has been submitted to Mr. Alexander Glen Finlaison, the
Actuary of the National Debt-office. whose careful report
upon it the committee has duly weighed, and one of their
number, Mr. &heart Pearce, to whom the society is in-
creasingly indebted for the great pains he has bestowed in
the matter, has had a lenethened interview with the
actuary, In order to come to a clear understanding as to
many of his objections and recommendations. Mr. Shep-
pard also, the steward of the Oillingban) Branch, has again
contributed a valuable paper with reference to many of the
points in discussion. The committee now find that 'The
model forms of account and tables' prepared by a Com-
mission of Actuaries, in compliance with the recent
Friendly Societies Act, have been laid before Parliament,
not will very soon be accessible to the public, and they
deem it unwise to take any final step until these have been
duly canyamed. Besides his criticism on the trait copy of
the rules Mr. Finlaison has contributed some very valuable
and important remarks on our last year's annual report
He points out that 'The rate of sick pay issued for a
certain limited number—viz., ten of the societies' 48
branches—is perfectly abnormal. These 10 branches, coup
prising 797 members, have drawn out for sick pay
£1.0481252i1 but the remaining-28 branches comprising
2.0ff3 members, have drawn out little more than thin sum
—namely, £1,151 lie 4d. In fact the 797 members
of the ten branches have received each 21 Gs. al., while
the 2,0R1 member) of the other branches have come upon
the funds for no more than 11-. Id. each.' The branches,
which he thus specifies, are :—Catiforil and Corte Mullen,
34 members, Cl 3s. sir": pay: Dewlish, 17, 121 54. 941. ;
Dorchester, DR 14s. (1.1. ; Gillingham. 98, 2108 Ills. 6.1.;
n, £ll2l 1k Sd.; Portland, 328, LW) 174, 6,1.
Radipote, 17, £l9 II& &I. ; Tincleton, 17, RIX 17s. ;
wnrehen, No, £lofl PA, ; Weymouth, 32, 238 17*.; total
of members, 797: total of sick pay, 21,048 12s. 2.1. • pre-
senting an average of £1 Ito. 3d. a head, whereas .6 per
annum of sickness allowance to each member of an
I ordinary club is an unusually heavy issue. 'The constitu-
' tion and proceedings of all the branches demand, he sari,
at the very least close attention; whilst in the case of some
of some of them the subject requires prompt and decisive
action.' With regard to some of the smaller branches no
doubt special circumstances may often account for an
extraordinary and disproportionate expenditure : but,
when the larger branches, such as Portland, continue year
by year to absorb such an undue amount of thu funds, it
would indeed appear that there must he something
radically wrong in their condition; and, if the remedies
provided by the revised rules fail to amend the evil,
which Seelllo to have increased rather than to have
diminished during the past year, the serious question
must at no distant period be entertained whether it will
not be advisable to request an investigation into the
affairs of the society by the Chief Registrar fin accordance
with section W., 7a, of the Friendly Societies Act), with a
view to its dissolution and reconstitution. Nothing, we
believe, is required in order to obviate this no... Amity but
more united and watchful management ; hut, without
that, it appears to us to he inevitable for the protection of
the well worked and.ffpuriolting branches.

secretary,
"11. H. Davis, assistant secretary."
The Rev. Se:censer then said he should like to
make a few observations upon the report they bad
just heard read. Perhaps, they might have observed
there had been a decrease in the number of female
members of 17 ; and he for one could not help rejoic-
ing at it. By their revised rules they did not propose
to admit any more female members, and he thought
when they remembered that last year the average sick
pay granted the females was more than double that
granted to the men, they would consider there was
good justification why this step should have been
resolved upon. He believed, again, the stewards
themselves must find considerable difficulty in watch-
ing over the illnesses of female 11-embers; the same
necessary precautions could not be taken as with male
members. The total number of members enrolled
during the year was 270. while 23 had been re-enrolled,
which was highly satisfactory, ehowing, as it did, the
confidence of the people generally in the club had not
diminishedHapplaww). The honorary subscriptions
had fallen off • little; he trusted that would be
repaired in the ensuing year, and that ea small a sum
as £ll 3e. Mi. would not be allowed to remain a deficit
very long. But of capital invested there had been an
advance upon the amount usually invested; at any
rate it was probable that in recent years they had
never invested so large an amount as £877 13a. 41
That certainly was a sati-factory item. The decrease
of sickness during the period was also, to ii certain
extent, satisfactory. The average luration this year
of illness had been seven weeks and three disys ; !art
year it was nine weeks and two days; but the dura-
tion was still greater than it ought to be. Among the
females it hail been 15 week and four days, which .lid
not quite reach the mean average of the preceding
years, when it Was 16 weeks and two days. He had
had but little time to look carefully over the various
items, for many of the returns were not comaleted
until he had arrived in that room, and figures had been
lidded since he bad been there. They bad been sadly
troubled by what he might call the carelessness, to esy
the least, of one of the Stewards at Portland. They
had been making great efforts to get in the accounts
for the past quarter, and it was only yesterday that
they could obtain them from Portland, when Mr.
Davis sent down his clerk, or otherwise they could
not have made up the report. They had been treated
in the most painful way by the Portlanders, not only
on this but on many other occasions. With regard
to the revision of the rules be would not say
much, but they hail taken great pains with
it, both individually and collectively. When
he showed them that book (holding up .1 copy
of the rules liberally written over in various coloured
inks), which was Nlr. Pearoe'e copy of the rules., he
thought they would admit a great deal of time and
attention had been given to it. They first made a
revision of the rules, then they had them printed in
a very cheap form, and then they were gone over
again, sundry alterations, as they could gee, being
made. They were then submitted to the Actuary,
and since the Actuary had reisirted upon them they
had been again gone over. That, he trusted, would
chow them their Committee Trustees in coming to
a revision of the rules had been doing their utmost to
make then; as perfect as poeeible. The Actuary ti
whom he bed referred Was Mr. Fiulaiessn, the Govern-
ment Actuary of the National Debt Office, so that he
was a gentleman who held a very high position in his
profession. With regard to the model form of
accounts the Act provides that it should be prepared
by • Commiseion of Actuaries; and this, as the report
told them, bad been done. They had presented it to
the Treasury, and by them it had been laid before
Parliament, and it would be very soon accessible to
the public, and able to be obtained for a few pence.
Under those circumstances it would have been very
unwise to have adopted any other form of accounts
until they had carefully examined that. With regard
to the close if Mr. Finlaison's report both Mr. Davie
and himself thought it would have been very unfair to
the Club if they had not made them acquaintea with
hie remarks. In it he had made eome little mietahee
as to the inland and the coast br.stichee Ile did not
know the geography .1 their county ael well as they
did, and he bad mistaken the one fir the other in some
instance,. He did not think the result of hie remarks
as laid before them brought any very strong accusa-
tion so much against the coast branches in general as
against the inland branches. 'flic deficit of the ten
branches in
_question was 'something, perfectly
astonishing. That these ten should have drawn out
El 6., 3d. per head for sick pay, whilst the other 38
drew but Hs. Id. was a difference so remarkable that
It ought to be fully and anxiously enquired into, to
find a cause and provide a remedy. And when they
found that this wan not confined to one year, but, had
been going on for very many he could not help
believing that the management was in fault. They
had many cases where parochial branches had fallen
into a state of deficiency, but when taken up and
carefully managed they had recovered themselves, and
instead of being deficient they had become paying
branches. Let them take for example Purbeck and
herehe felt bound to express; his thanks to the Triisteee
and to the Hon. Steward Mr. Langton and others who
had raised the club from a state of deficit into a very good
saying branch—(cheersi). If only these different clubs
woula follow that example they would find themselves,
he wee sure, in a very much better position than before.
Amongst the satisfactory points in the history of the
plait year be could not help adverting again to the very
large mere-sae in the capital —EB77. No doubt their
responsibilities had int-reamed greatly, but it was **tie.
factory to find that their capital had also. Now, he
need not say any more, but would proceed to rawer*.
mend to their hearty consideration the various points;
which he had brought before them, and to move that
the report be printed and circulated as usual under the
direction of the 'rrustees—(ePPlee")*
Ms. G. &lir had very great pleasure in seconding
the proposition. As is member of the committee of
trustees perhaps, he might be allowed to make a few
remarks upon the report. In the first place he would
like to draw their attention to what he might call the
satisfactory portion of the ref ort ; and it was a great
satisfaction—a Burp 'rising satisfaction to him—to find
that, notwithstanding the state of transition in which
the club now was, the confidence of the public did not
tOOM to be falling, as evidenced by the very considerable
htereeell In the manibers—(bear, hear). He would have
Mod to have hoard a little further particulars about
Sin alemben adalltgod, whether thy wore young

members, and therefore profitable, or not. lint he
supposed that would have been rather teo minute to go
into in the annual report; but if they were all young
and Inel been well examinol, it was very satisfactory
t, hear that 137 had joined within the past 12 months.
Another matter of satisfaction was the large increase
in the invested amount. This WAS very gratifying, but
they must not allow themselves to be led away too
much hy the fairer aspect of the report. It was not
any very great advantage to a club if the liabilities
advanced in the same proportion to the increase of
members. If they had an increased balance on the
one hand and increasing liabilities on the other, they
must remember they would not get much richer. When
a ship had sprung a leak, two methods were open to
keep her afloat The lane by pumping, the other by
stopping the leak. Now, he thought by far the most
satisfactory way was to stop the leak. Their society
WWI very much in the position of a leaky ship. It
might be kept afloat for many many years by a large
increase of members and an increased capital, but if
the leak still remained, if their liabilities continued
to go on increasing, however hard they might pump,
they would surely find themselves in a very
dangerous and critical state. What they wanted was
not only that their pumps should be acting, but that
the leak should be stopped—(hear, hear). They would
have to take their chome, as to how that was to be
done. They had had a skilled gentleman examine into
the state of the Society, and to tell them where the leak
existed. When he had done that, and had pointed
out to them how it out to be stopped, be thought,
of another year their Secretary came before them with
such a sad and dreadful account of the sick rate, they
ought to be ashamed of themaelves—(cheers
d. With
to regard the awful rate of sickness on the Club. In
small branches it was true accidental circumstances
might arise which would increase the rate of sick pay for
a year or two, and eonsequently it would lay a heavy
burden upon that branch, but when they found large
branches going on year after year with that enoi mous
amount of claim upon the sick fund, and drawing
enormous sums from the Society, it was perfectly con-
clusive, there was something radically wrong. He
cared not where those branches were, or who were
their member.., but he would not allow places, like
Portland, Weymouth, and liadipole, all healthy places,
without raising his protest, to remain on the
sick pay list twice as long as they ought to
be, and draw twice as much money. He
maintained there was something radically wrong in
the management ~f these branches, and that it behoved
the members to give their closest attention to this state
of things, and to endeavour to see how they might best
remedy it. For, they must remember that a man who
allowed his name to remain on the sick list a year, a '
month, a week, aye and even a day, longer than he
ought honestly to do, was simply prart,lng a fraud
upon his neighbour* and taking ha J. y out of the
pockets of his nu.- • h and con kientious brethren
—(hear, hear, and applause). Therefore, when those
branches hail pointed out to them that they had in
their ranks such members, it would be for them to let
those members know full well what the members of
more wholesomely, and better managed branches
thought of them. He would like just to read an
extract from a letter from the President of the Hamp-
shire Society. He was the president of a very healthy
Friendly Society, and it would be as well for them to
hem what he thought of their present Mate. He wag
a man well calculated to form an opinion, he was
known to many of them, and he had thoroughly looked
into the state of their Society. He said :
" It's the system that requires change. It is not so much
the rules as the adminstration and practice."
Now he thoroughly concurred with that. They might
alter rules and feel certain their revised rules would
have a very important effect, but he did not think any
revision of rules would lead to such results as the
revision of practice. All the alteration of rules that
might be made would not be half so effective as the
actual investigation into the cases of those skulkers
who would stick to the (sick pay until they were
absolutely kicked out—(hear, hear). He trusted that
when their rules had been revised it would have the
effect of some arrangement being come to by which the
benefit members of the club may have more voice in
the management —(hear, hear) --and that some arrange-
ment might be made by which the stewards or some
representatives from the branches might meet once a
quarter at different places in the county, and with the
Trustees go Into the affairs of the society. He believed
if this were done it would help to give it rigour, and to
keep up the interest in the Club. Of course, it would
require consideration how such a plan might be worked
out to the advantage of every one concerned, but he
thought if some such were adopted, and five or six
different centres appointed, and the opportunity were
given to the branches to send up their representatives
to meet the committee, they would then hear what were
their weak points and what were their difficulties, and
then be better enabled to meet them, than under the
present arrangements--(cheers).
The Hog. SECRICTART, in reply, said he was not
prepared with statistics as to the ages of the members
admitted, but he could only say that they had not
admitted any members over 45, which was one of the
points in their new rules. Mr. Eliot's viewt of age
might perhaps differ somewhat from his, and perhaps
he looked upon a man of 43 as very old, whereas he
considered a man of 43 a very young man—(hear, hear,
' and laughter).
The motion was then put and carried.
_ _

,1 Rev. TALBOT B.&Kca proposed the re-election of the
Hon. Secretary and the Assistant Secretary—(aPPlause).
Ile would not trust himself to say in Mr. Bingham's
presence what a valuable man he thought him to be. He
could not conceive there could be any much greater loss
to the county of Dorset, than that will be when it pleased
God to take Mr. Bingham from them. With regard to
Mr. Davis, many could speak of his unfailing courtesy,
exhibited in his willingness to answer many little
questions that were often pet to him and his thorough
knowledge of the working of the society. He did not
think they could possibly have two better officers to hold
those important posta—(cheers). At the same time he
must candidly tell Mr. Bingham that he heartily trusted
this would be the last year he or anybody else would ever
lie proposed as Secretary of the society. He trusted Mr.
Bingham's place would be taken by an administrative
committee; but he would have rather have seen for
that purpose • larger committee than was proposed by the
present rules. He would have liked to have seen Mr.
Bingham cut up into at least 18—(laughter)—and he hoped
he still would be, and that he would be the head of those
members as from his great knowledge of the society, end
the pains he had taken about it for so many years, he ICIS
! entitled to be--(hear, hear). But, for a single man to do
' what he had done was not a desirable state of things.
They wanted a more thorough interest in the working of
' the Society among the members, that there should he men
who would undertake to meet together, either at different
scattered places, or, at one common centre, which, of
course, would be Dorchester, and to investigate the cases
which might from time to time occur, and to try and stop
the running sore of these deficient societies, so that the
disease may not be allowed to get to such • head as to
interfere with the life of the whole society; but, that it
might be stopped little by little until it had been,
eradicated. It was a had plan to let evils run to a head
and then try by some mighty effort to stop them. It was
much better to stop it when in a miscast state. It would
be a bad head cdra firm or &household whom from easiness
or want of vigour allowed an evil to get among his house-
hold, until finally there was a tremedous explosion, and
he bed to dispense with his carriages, and servants. A
wise head of an establishment would be looking into the
little evils, and trying to check them before they became
of great magnitude. Now he held that an administrative
Connell, such as they had in Hampshire, would do better
than Mr. Bingham, could do alone. What he had done
by himself they wanted at least 12 men to do or as in the
CIAO of Hampshire. l He was present last year at a
meeting held at Christchurch, of a Friendly Society of a
most flourishing, and satisfactorily working nature, so
much so that it satisfied even one of those strangely
constituted beings an actuary who in the face of • favour-
able balance, tells us we are going, to the bed—which he
(the speaker) quite believed. Mr. Mason, the actuary, wia
perfectly satisfied with the Hampshire rules. Admitted
as • looker-on at the meeting at Winchester this time last
week, be there saw about eight men who were looking
over and scrutinising the proposals, for, before any new
member, in any part of the county, could be accepted, he
had to pass before those eight men. • The committee was
constituted as follows—about one-third of the members
are elected from the honorary members and arbitrators at
the aanual meeting, another third are elected from arnong
the stewards, and the other from the benefit members,
making a total of Pi ; and one extraordinary thing was
that they could contrive in Hampshire, a larger county
than Dorset, to get those benefit members to come from
all parts to attend the meetings of the Committee. There
was a provision in the rules by which each might be paid
from his own branch his travelling expenses, but he was
informed the greater number did not avail themselves of
Eve 7 branch was so far self-supporting, that the
stewards salaries and the surgeons' salaries are paid out
of the funds of thet branch. And there was Use secret of
the success of the Hants society. If those rules were
adopted by the Dorset society it would give them muds
better hope ~11 these eocasione but the fact was the Donut
rules were Laser than those of any other society, at least,
that was, in the practice of them. He could only express
his belief that if they could get their benefit element on
the administrative committee, and meetings held at any of
the centres or at Dorchester and thereby make many men
do the part of one, they would correct a great deal of evil;
and af, further, they could contrive to get upon it men from
oue of their defaulting branches—say the steward. from
Portland, which was the worse case they had, upon the
principle that the worse poacher makes the beat game-
keeper, he thought by bringing them to Dorchester end
getting them to sit and see how impossible it was for the
society to go on if that system of depletion continued, it
would do more to stop it than anything else. The rev.
gentleman then proposed the above vote of thanks,
expressing his hope that the gentleman named would be
induced to continue their valuate services. 1
Au ohl member of the Club whore name did not [ran- I
spire had very great pleasure in secoreliag the propeeition
knowing how efficiently those gentlemen discharged
their duties.

Rev. C. BINGHAM expressed Lis obligations. He felt
hound to say on his own behalf that no one felt more
desirous of performing that act of happy despatch which
Mr. Talbot Baker had proposed for IliMt, than himself'—
(laughter). There was no rule in the proposed revision of
I rules which had given him greater pleasure than that
I which proposed an administrative committee should
administer to the affair@ of the society ; but at the same
' time one must not forget that by the rules as they as
present existed, the committee of Trustees were often
called, but they were not in the habit of responding to the
call as often as could he wished ; mind very often the work
was thrown upon his hands more heavily than he could
with, although he would always be most glad to get if he
could the assistance of a Committee of Trustees, He would
I not say one word against propositions front an administra-
tive committee. Ile most heartily wished that it might
be thoroughly carried out by an infusion of the benefit
members. But at the same time—perhaps they became a
little desponding in their old age—k. did most heartily
wish they would come together as often as they
they were called and that there would be the difficulty.
The only way in which this could be met would be
perhaps by the proposition of Mr. G. Eliot that they meet
at different centres, for he felt sure that as long as they
met at Dorchester they would find it very difficult to get
the assistant members from the different parts of the
county. If they fixed upon as centres, say Dorchester,
Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Wareham, and Winthorne, in
that way he was quite sure they would get a more active
administrative committee. He did not know what there
was different in the spirit of the Hampshire people to the
spirit of the people of Dorset, but to him it seemed it
would be almost truposaible to get a committee to meet
at one centre. Their time being short (it wasSeerwards
discovered the rev, gentleman image the
r Vela
fixed for two instead of three) Mr. bavis had asked him
to return thanka for him as well as himself. He could
only say that for his part be most heartily joined in the
vote of thanks to Mr. Davis, for were it not for Mr.
Dans'it kind and energetic assistance he was quite certain
even if they cut him (Mr. Bingham) into 100 pumas instead
of 10 as proposed, he would not be able to carry on the
affairs of the society—(cheers).
The Hoe. tiscarraitY then proposed the re-election of
the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Herbert Williams, and that the
auditors, Mr. Lush and Mr. Thos. &sunders, of Dorchester_ ,
who had very competently and kindly given their
services, be requested to continue them for the coining
year.
This was seconded by Mr. HaLVILY, and curie&
Lord LLDON wished to know whether or not it was
toteaded to take any steps ear the purpose o triaglas

i the eight or nine districts referred to into • more mode-
rate state of mind as to asking for sick pay next year.
Mr. BING/HAN remarked they hardly knew what to do
, with them. They could only flog them—(laughter). They
seemed to be visited, bat he was afrxid they were only
getting encouragement.
Dr. ilostaLt said it appeared to him that when
this chronic state of insolvency affected a branch, • great
reason for it warn to be found in the admittanoe of im-
proper lives. That was a subiect he had paid great
attention to for the last nine years. He had always been
very careful, in his own branch, to guard against unhealthy
Persons, but that was attended with very great difficulty.
In some places great opposition was offered to any medical
strictness of the kind by men who were afraid of their
neighbours. it had occurred to him bow • remedy might
be applied to this. First of all he would have that all
helmet., as in the ease of the Foresters and other
kindred societies should be self supporting. As long as •
branch that failed had nothing to do, but to go upon the
other branches there would be a want of a feeling of
independence. He would not, however, have them self-
supportinc, to such an extent that there would be a
multiplicity of small clubs, but, to make them feel that if
they acted foolishly they must pay for it—kheers). The
other remedy he would propose would he. that it should
not be left to the local surgeon to admit a candidate
without an appeal to some one appointed at higher
quarters, who would he naturally independent of the club.
He had had two examples lately, which had very much
impressed the necessity of that upon his mind. In
the one case he had Pound, the candidate's father
and brother had both died of consumption, and the
man himself had been showing symptoms which
led him to suppcwe that be would not live lone.
He could not conscientiously advise his being admitted,
and they were all very angry with him about it, mid
thought he did • personal injury to the man, forgetting
that if he had passed him he would also have been doing
an injury to the club. In the second instance a man
wanted to be put on the higher table, hut he was suffer-
ing from heart disease. Now it would have been very
much better if he could have said, "You had better go
and see the medical referee of the club." He took the
opportunity to mention that because he would not wish
the members should take offence because some of their
friends might be rejected. If every had life were to be
admitted they would only sink their ship the lower—
(applaus4
Rev. K F. TIVITMAN said a. the secretary had already
mentioned, the Langton branch was at one time at a very
low ebb, and for years, he could not tell exactly the num-
her, thee had drawn upon the society to • very large
extent: but for the last four or live yean they had been
Devine into the fonds quite as much, if not more, than
they formerly drew from it. Therefore be could bring
some little experience in replying to the question put by
Lord Kidon as to how the defaulting branches might he
nonverted into paying branches. Of course. there Wig a
great deal in what the last sneaker had said that • Hub
might,,s, made a paying club if no had lives were admitted;
but he thought they also looked to the medical men te
assist them in another direction, and that was that sick
pay should not be given unnecessarily and continuously
(bear, bear). They were very much in the hands of the
medical officers—no one could speak of them with more
respect than he did, for he was happy to say that in his
own parish they were seconded in the kindest manner by
the medical officer,, and therefore they would not think
be was swine anything to their detriment when he said
they were very murk in their hands. Haying referred to
the duty the committee to "standout" In an question-
able 'saes, the rev, gentleman proceeded to say that •
er.at deal ebr, rented with the members themselves. In
ti.' little ',ld tesmehial clubs men looked very suspiciously
at earl qehere when they were drawing sick pay. That
we. • (.1 alr, and they did not want it imparted into
• erer,a • , oi, A that description, but they wanted the
defaol. roc lira-I-hog restored to • healthy and flourishing
a,.1 a downright patriotic feeling exhibited by
the membera towards it--(cheers). They were too much
In the danger of relying blindly upon a club when they
knew the fond, were forthcoming, and therefore the
members did not evince that lively iaterest in it which
they should.
Mr. SHEPHERD argued in favour of localisation, and,
combating the idea that they were so very bad off, read •
list of the proportionate amount of funds to each member
in the hands of the society from the year 1R63 to 1f174. In
the former they amounted to £i 3.. 2d. each member, and
in the latter Li Ils. 2il. With reference to the New
Friendly Socititys' Act be thought there were two un-
commonly good points In it, The first was that there was
• public auditor who might audit the accounts of every
fnendly society, so that they may therefore be able to
compare their own work with the reurns of a large area;
and the next seas as to the register of certified societies
and the preparing of model tables.
. _

—fh;it;;;;:Fiii7 fiv473ii.; then ma.le . few remarks in
reply and proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
Sir E. BAKER suitably responded, and the proceedings
cheed.