The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-11-24 00:00:00

lIASELBURY LABOURERS' ASSOCIATION.

The annual ploughing match of this association
was held on Thursday last, and was attended with
greet mucus. The weather was as propitious as
any West.country agriculturist could desire, and the
ground was in first-rate condition, thereby showing
everything in favour of the competitors. Haselbriry
is a neat little rustic village, in the hundred of
Honndsbormigh, Berwick, and Coker, and is situate
21 miles N.M. by N. of Crewkerne. This rustic
spot, secluded se it is, a little historieal in-
terest. In 1154, St. Vaifrie was buried in the
parish church, and pilgrimages were afterwards
made to his tomb. Be had a cell in the neighbour-
hood. Some time before this, &monastery for canons
regular had been founded in this parish, but des-
troyed in the subsequent civil contest. Like
most other places of ancient historical note, it now
remains in oblivion, like a "footprint on the sands
of time." . . . . .

The ploughing match took place in a field near
Hasielbury Mill, in the occupation of H. Parsons,
Esq., and commenced at 9 o'clock. About 20 teems
were entered. The competition was lively, but not
bitter, and by the judicious arrangements of the
secretary and committee everything went off sets.
&Moray. The umpires were: Mr. Gundry, of
Lopen, Mr. Tucker, Pickett, near Beaminster, and
Mr. J. Buckrell, of Huelbury.
A dinner took place at half-put three o'clock, at
the George Hotel, Crewkerna, at which about 30
gentlemen sat down, amongst whom were W.
Sparks, Esq. of Crewkerne, chairman; Parsons,
KN., of Haselbury, vice-chairman; W. F. Cliff, Fag.
Marriott and Messrs. Hook, Crewkerne ; NUM,
Coombe Farm ; Stevens, Seaborongh ; Poole, Henley;
Templeman, North Perrott ; Bartlett, East Chin.
nock ; Male, East Chinnock ; Patch, Haselbury ;
Gauge, Hardington ; Perry (2), Haselbury ; Warren,
Misterton ; Young, Hardington ; Farmer, East-
hams ; Vega, East Chinnock ; W. Hebditch, Sever.
ails; Hodge, Crewkerue ; and Honey, Crewkerne.
The table was spread with viands of the most
recherche description, and the various courses were
served up with that catering_ability for which Host
Marsh is so proverbial. The waiters, too, were
attentive and obliging; in fact everything went off
well.
The cloth having been removed, the CHAIRMAN,
in proposing the toast of "The Queen," said that
loyalty had taken deep root in the United Kingdom
and in the Colonies. Her Majesty had now been on
the throne for 23 years, and was beloved by a loyal
and a devoted people. Two years ago she lost her
husband, since which period sh• had kept retired;
but now her grief was lessened, and was again coming
out in public. He hoped that the rest of her life would
be hapig, and her reign prosperous. (Loud choen-1
The ..aulam•is then proposed "The Prince an
Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family."
The Prince had as yet taken a good position, and was
following in the steps of his lather. He had been
requested to accept the position of President of the
S3ciety of Arta, and he (the chairman) hoped he
would fill that position, and carry it out with that
ability which his late lamented father had. (Hear,
hear.) The Princess, whom he (the chairman) bad even
on several occasions, was as beautiful as she was ami-
able, and wasa good wife. Prince Alfred wasatpreesnt
at Holyrood, training for the Navy, and judging
from present accounts he would in the course of
time be an accomplished navigator. (Applause).
The CHAIRMAN said among the usual routine of
toasts there was one which was never omitted, and
that waa "Th. Bishop and Clergy, and Ministers
of all Denomination& " The Bishop of Bath and
Walls was • kind patron and friend of agriculture,
and his labour' of kindnees and love amongst the
poor were unbounded. The clergy were also regular
and unions in Ilioeir ditties to the poor, and in their

ezhortatiohs, and their services ought to be
, recognised. (Applause.)
The Cualums!: then proposed "the Army, Navy,
and Volunteers." When.:ver the army and Davy
had been employed they had done their duty to
their country. The services of the navy had not
been called into such requisition as thoee of the
army, who had signalized themselves in the
in India, and in the Crimea. He could remember
when the navy bombarded Algiers, and highly
distinguished themselves. There was a time when
1 the army had not been considered large and efficient
enough, and that the country was not safe, but
the volunteers rose up with one heart and voice ;
he was a volunteer himself, and when wanted would
rise up, show their gallantry. and uphold the
honor of England. (Enthusiastic applause.)
Mr. Howe, in responding, said he was sorry that
there was no better representative of the corps
present to respond to the toast. Ever since he
joined the corps he had found the officers kind, and
everything had gone on comfortably. They were a
body of men who would do their duty when wanted,
and as long as he WAS able he would be a volunteer.
(Hear, hear.)
_ _

„
The Cii•iameir then proposed "The Lord-
Lieutenant and Magistrates of the County.” The
ploughing match had that day been held in a field
belonging to the Lord.Lienteriant, Lord Portman,
who was a good, kind, and honourable man. He
was the Lord-Lieutenant, and also chairman of the
quarter sessions for the county of Dorset. The
magistrates of the various divisions did their duty,
and endeavoured to administer justice. Lord Port-
man had also been for the last 23 years one of the
members of the Council of the Prinoe of Wales.
He ehould propose the toast be drank with deserving
honours. (Loud and continued cheering.)
Mr. PARSONS, steward to Lord Portman, said,
being connected with his lordship he felt great
pleasure in responding to the toast. His lordship
was a large landowner and farmer, and he was one
who took groat pride in other farmers' stock. His
Devons had won a great many of the first prizes at
various agricultural shows, as also had others who
had bred from his lordship's stock. He was one
who had always taken a great interest in farming,
and in upholding the agricultural interest. (Cheers.)
Mr. Parsons said with permission be would
propose a toast. They would all agree with
him in drinking the health of Mr. Sparks,
their worthy president. (Hear, hear.) Without
flattery he was one who was ready to assist in every
good cause, and he felt proud in having him as their
chairman, and at seeing him in the field that day.
(Rapturous applause.)
Mr. SPARKS said his desire in the humble way
was to do all the good he could, and he felt pleasure
in presiding over them. He had been present in
the field to show that he took an intermit in the
work of the day. That work had been executed
well, and the stimulus which such proceedinp and
such prises gave did greet good. The boys had
executed their work in a highly creditable manner,
and they were fast following in the path of the men
with regard to their skill an agricultural pursuits.
He should always subscribe to the funds of the
Society, and aid in giving the competitors a dinner.
(Hear, hear.) . .

•
The: successful competitors were then called into
the room, after which Mr. Parson, read the following
hat of awards

PLOUGHING—CLASS I.—let prise, Joseph Grey,
servant to Mr. K Templeman, Middle Chinnock, a coat
value £2; 204, James Roes, servant to W. C. Lambert,
Esq., Misterton, • coat vane £1 Is. ; 3rd, Isaac Hay-
ward, servant to Mr. H. Parsons, Hue'bury, • waist-
coat with sleeves, valise 12s. 6d ; Robert Gibbs,
servant to W. F. Cuff, Esq., Merriott, awarded 5'.;
Charles Hooper, sear., servant to Mr. H. Parsons,
Haselbury. awarded Is.
Ctrs& 11.-14 prise, John James, servant to Mr. W.
Poole, Crewkeme, a coat valet £1 10s. ; 2nd, John
Abbott, servant to Mr. R. Templeman, North Permit,
• coat value £1 ; 3rd, Charles Hooper, jun., servant to
Mr. H. Parsons, Haselbury, a waistcoat value 10a. ;
4th, William Hutchinp, servant to Mr. W. B. Heb-
ditch, Crewkerne, awarded Si.; sth, William Smith,
servant to Mr. Bartlett, Closworth, awarded 3'.; 6th,
John Pitt, a boy, in the employ of Mr. H. Parsons,
Haselbury, highly commended.
RIAPING—CLAse I,—let prise, Matthew Slade, ser-
vant to W. C. Lambert, Esq., Misterton,a coat value £2;
2nd, Luke Barrett, servant to Mr. J. Nalsh, Crewkerne,
• coat wake El Is.; 3rd, Thomas Ashford, servant to
Mr. W. Poole, Crewkeroe, • waistcoat with sleeves,
value 121. Cat: 4th, Joseph Sweet, servant to Mr. H.
Perilous, Haeelbery, awarded 7s. &L. . .

CLAIMS Charles Lister, servant to Mr.
H. Parsons, Haaelbury, a oast value £2; 2nd, Elise
Ashford, servant to Mr. W. Poole, Crewkerne, • coat
value EL

Mowixo—Ccon I.—lit prise, Charles Lawrence,
servant to W. F. Cuff, Esq., Iderriott, a coat, value /I;
2nd, Henry Bartlett, servant to Mr. Young, Harlington,
a kitten coat, value El ss. ; 3rd, Sidney Bartlett, ser-
vant to Mr. Young, Hardington, a waistcoat with
sleeves value 12s.
. . .

CLASS 11.-lit prise, John Abbott, servant to Mr. It.
Templeman, North Perrott, • coat, valise El 10s. ; 2nd,
Eli Ashford, servant to Mr. W. Poole, Crewkerne. •
fustian coat, value El ; 3rd, John Shire, servant to Mr.
H. Male, East Chinnoek. • waistooat, value 10s. ;
John Aplin, servant to W. C. Lambert, Esq., His-
torten, awarded 7s. dd.; John Lawrence, servant
to W. F. Cuff, Liq , Marriott, awarded 6e.

Mr. CCIP then asked who the boy named Pitt
was. On the lad's answering to his name, that
gentleman kindly gave him a shilling as an en-
couragement to him for the very creditable manner
in which he had performed his work at so early an
age. Mr. Cutf s example was followed by 'ewers'
other gentleman, and by the time the boy had passed
around the room, be was as well rewarded as most
of the successful candidates had been.

The CHAIRMAN, in addressing the labourers, said
he wanted all of them to join with him in drinking
success to the Haselbury Agricultural Society, as it
WU a society which had been firmed for their benefit,
and to give them prizes according to their merit and
skill. It afforded
.the members of the society much
pleasure in awarding these prizes, as they had per-
formed their work well, in fact, had shown great
skill in their proceedings that day. The boys had
also done their part exceedingly well. The ploughs
in other countries were not made as they were in
this country, some were made without coulters, side-
boards, some in one way and some in another, each
&wording to the peculiarities of the soil for which it
was intended. Stearn ploughs were now much used,
but that would in no way make a decrease in labour.
He believed agricultural steam machinery was as yet
only in its infancy. He hoped that the number of
successful candidates would increase every year, as
nothing gave the masters greater pleasure than to
see their men rewarded. The company then gave a
long and lusty cheer for success to the Haselbury
Agricultural Association.
The CHAIRMAN said that no Society would flourish
without a good secretary and committee. In drink-
ing the health of those gentlemen, he would couple
with the toast the name of Mr. Parsons, their vice-
chairman. - -

Mr. PausoNs, as secretary of the Society, returned
thanks. He maid he felt that he had not been a good
secretary, as he had been ein ployed so many other ways
that be bad not been able to fully attend to the duties
of the office. He hoped that they would appoint
another secretary next year —(no, no)—as he be-
lieved that another would carry out the duties more
efficiently than he could do. (No, no.) He would
assist the Society in any way that laid in his power.
He was glad to say that the Society was ma flourish.
ing condition, and that they had funds in hand.
(Hes.r,hear. ) He thought they would enlarge the work-
ings of the Society, and award prime for hedging,
ditching, and thatching as well as mowing, reaping
and ploughing; and he did not think they would
spend their money in a better way than to benefit
the agricultural labourer. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HO/DITCH, in eulogising the kind intentions
of Mr. Parsons, said that • better secrete?, DO society
could possibly have. (Hear, hear.) An they could
not think of losing him. (No, no.) Such societies as
theirs did much good; it was a short way of reach-
ing a man's heart, for nothing better pleased the
agricultural labourer than to be presented publicly
with a prize as the result of his skill and merit. It
was their duty to support such societies, and an long
as he lived in the neighbourhood he should do all in
his power to keep it afloat. He hoped the operations
of the society would be extended, and that prises
would be offered for hedging, ditching, and
thatching.
Mr. PERRY stated that Mr. Lambert, who was a
warm supporter of agriculture, would give El as a
prize to the bast hedger, and t.) the best thatcher.
(Hear, hear.)
The CH•IRM•N then proposed the health. of the
umpires. Without them the day's proceedings
would have been but of little use, and they were
greatly indebted to them for their services,
Mr. BUCKNELL responded.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the successful candi-
dates bad been given a dinner, which amounted to
£2 25., and in order that that sum might not be
taken from the fonds he would willingly aid in
making it up. The amount was then subscribed in
the room.
Songs, toasts and sentiments then followed, for
the company though not large was respectable and
intelligent, and seemed bent on conviviality.
The labourers dined at Mr. Mitchell's, at the
White Hart Inn.