The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-09-29 00:00:00

total anb District liirbs.

DOIIOI33STIR CRIOJEZT CLUB.

- - -
The meta of the season took place on
an eleven and a twenty-two
Thursday bet
telected from among the members, and in the evening
Doi sipper was held at the Junction Hotel, the
Gresorr)=Mueperted by the
Rev, Mr-• Dr. Aldridge Dr.
Robinson, Mr. Rummy, Ms. Date, Mr. Oliver, and o
while the vice-chair was filled by Mr. Morgan (captainof
the cricket club)l and amongst others present were, Mr.
IL Longman (The was captain of the old Dorchester
airiket club). Yr. L. Gregory, Mr. Patten, Mr. W. Chick
(b!resc.). Mr. Dunmen, Joe, (Troytown), Mr. S. It.
Mr. H. Damen, Mr. PhWips, Messrs. Taylor, Mr.
riThron, kc. The tables were decor ded with souse
vsluable plants from the greenhouses of Mr. fi. R. Harris,
of F who had kindly lent them for theoccasion.
A supper was provided by Mrs. Dunn, and it
was in all respect!' most satisfactory to the very large
company assembled. Grace Was said by the Rev. 11. F.
Balks. After supper
The Manta prepared the "Health of the Queen." re-
marking that during her long reign she has endeared bar-
self to tbe heart, of all her mbjects-Mpplawseh
In giving the "Prince and Princess d' Wales, and the
rest of the Roval family," the Mayor said all were
delighted to find the reports about the Prince's debts were
unfounded----(hear, hear). His Royal Highness owned a
great deal of land in this neighbourhood, the letting of
which was about to undergo a great change. On this greatly
depended the future prosperity of the town. It was now
awed for building and other purposes, and the change
would no doubt be greatly beneficial to the town. He
had to-day seen the plans, and the arrangements in regard
to the size of the ground allotted ur•W with his own
views entirely; but the great question was the rental
which the representatives of the Prince would require.
On this greatly depended the success of the movement,
and he trusted they would let it as reasonably as pmeible.
Sitting in that room they were at the extreme end of the
WWII. out be hoped many present would live to see the
Junction Hotel very near it. centre-<applausei
The MATOIt proposed "The Army. Navy, and Reserve
Fortes," ?emans on the brilliant efficiency of the artil-
lery, and the able way in which the volunteers carried out
their duties.
Sergeant RetISEV returned thanks for the Volunteers,
observing that their attendance' at camp during the past
three or four years hail shown the public what they were
ready to do when required. It was very hard work, and
he regretted to say the volunteers were not increming
in
numbers ; but he was satiated of this, that aa long es the
force lasted the Dorset battalion would maintain its pre-
sent proud position—(applause).
Mr. D. TAYLOR briefly replied for the Yeomanry, saying
for some years he had been in the Dorchester troop, but
he did not know how much longer he might remain in the
neighbourhood.
.Dr AliraitsGE proposed the " health of the Bishop and
Clergy and Ministers of all Denondnations," speaking of
their general kindness and devotion to their great work,
end he expressed the great pleasure it gave him to see a
clergyman present at that social gathering. He thought
the mom they came amongst the laity, the more they
would be esteemed and the greater use they would be in
their station-(ap*me).
The Rev H. P Gus, who was cordially Feted, said
he came there mate unprepared for speechif although
he was not able to my " lJnaccustomed as am to public
speaking"-(laughter). But above all things he disliked
imakingplreVe. At the same time, it gave him very
to be there that evening, and still greater
=spud to the toast so kindly proposed and so cordially
welcomed. He felt it was • toast that wu always received
with the respect due to it, because the clergy as a body, he
thought, although they themselves were conscious of
many thanormings, always endeavoured cceacientiously
to perform their dullesapplansid-sind he felt that as
long as they did so they would always meet with that
respect due to their office. He could wish, and did wish,
that mire of the clergy would meet and enter into social
mistherirp such as that-(ipplaues)--f or he quite agreed
with the prepuce of the tout that the more the clergy
and laity meet together the more they will be cemented
In that bond of friendship and union which ought to exist
between them-(applause). He was not • believer in
=absolution or any of those doctrines, but he did
In unity and in brotherly love, and he felt that
when they met together it should he on the common
ground of which they read in the Bible. He had great
pleasure in thanking them on behalf of the Bishop and
Mem -(applause).
The Mayon. proposed "The Dorchester Cricket Club,"
which was received with great applause. He remarked
that cricket was a noble game, giving exercise to the
muscles and circulating the blood, and he was quite sure
It deserved the warmest support. He was afraid that the
rsiwere not lot tieumerous aaothcc:uld be
h°Damrl'lt had u:n
en tefinhdtit when weatoUs atTaolesemdento a Lyretaarbi
degree of civilization they began to degenerate, but so
long as the youth of England were fond of out-door
such cricket, football, and hunting, he did not
sports,l as
was any fear of Englishmen becoming
effeminate, but that they would still maintain supremacy
among the nations, lie gave "Prosperity to the Club"
and trusted it would be more succesaful in each succeeding
year --(applause).
The ViCe-Clisiense responded, saying that the preeenee
of so many supporters on that occlusion was very
encouraging, for he believed that at the former annual
meeting there were not above half the present number.
It was very pleasing to find that not only those who
played supported them, but that others who were oat
cricketers countenanced the club for the sake of the good
(as he believed) it does in the town. In regard to success,
Eaaps they had not had so much an they might have
What to attribute it to he could not tell, but he
thought there might have been a little more energy dis-
tby the members who could do it if they would, rahe was afraid other attractions-(laughter)--took
=away from the cricket field. Ile hoped that
future the club would not only add to its members
and funds but also to its efficiency -(applimee).
Mr. Munase proposed the "health of the Mayor," as
their worthy and highly-esteemed President-(applause).
It was unne msary to say much in his praise, for the
majority of them had known him much longer than him-
self and could the better testily M his being • thorough
Dorchester man-a thing of which he believed Dorchester
tegwere greatly prowl-(hear, bear). So far as he (Mr.
Men) knew him, be was foremost in every movement
calculated to be beneficial to the town; and he hails
most adtuirable helper in Mrs. Gregory, who had done her
part in no ordinary manner-(applause). They "kept the
bell rolling in many ways-supporting the volunteers,
the Foresters, all good public entertainments, and hurt,
but not least, the Cricket Cluls-(applause) As their
President, all very higldy appreciated- the Mayor. The
borough had never had, he Grught, a more worthy,
better esteenushor more generally leduced Mayor than Mr.
Oregory--(applause)-and he had groat pleasure in pre-
his very good health-ha/plum/. (The toast was
with musical honours.)
The Mayon, replying, said he was quite sure that he did
not deserve half the
praise lendowed upon lam. Ile h.ad
been very pleass4l to lie present as their President. As
Mr. Morgan had said, he was a Dorchester men, born and
bred in the town, and he hope.' to live and the in it. It
was always his dislike to promote everything tending te
the welfare of the inhabitants and the social advancement
of the community. During his two years mayoralty
he had done his best hi discharge the duties as well as
he could, though he feared it had been but indifferently
In many instances-(" He, no ")—however, he hoped they
would take the will for the deed; but he felt that every-
one who occupied the position of Mayor should do the
but he could for the Inhabitants generally of the borough.
He thanked them for the compliment they had paid hil,
and should always take a lively interest in the welfare 'o'f
the Dorchester Cricket Club- (applause).
Mr. W. CHICK proposed "The Honorary Members and
Subscribers." without whom the club could not lie
continued on its present footing, as the players would
have to pay something like one guinea the sump.
Hcaorary members were those who contributed half-le-
gumes and upwards to the funds, and subscribers those
not playing who gave lem, lie was glad to y that this
year their numbers had been Increased by the
addition of two of the county members, while an old
friend-(Colonel Sturt)-continued an hon. member
). As the club became better known, he
=Poixalueethey should have Increased support, for he
maintained that cricket was in every way advantageous,
and as much morally as physically.-(applause). With
the toast he coupled the name of Mr. It. Damen, father
of the Vioe-Oaptain of the club-(drunk with musical
igjer7etsnics said he was taken by surprise in being
called on to respond to the tout, but he assured them that
be had much pleasure in being present, and he congratu-
lated the club on having such a large and respectable
meeting, presided over by the Mayor-(applause). He
trusted the club would go on and prosper, for he felt sure
there was good in many ways to be derived from such
associations. Following Innocent exercises like cricket
was 009:nit:l. to the
ded health tad( moral
rc:immdiution of the
psopie,tual regard
woomet all classes, urea:lea Most sazutsry enee et
only in boroughs but in the country generally. He hoPiiii
their list of subscribers would increase, He was not •
cricketer himself, but his son prided himaelfzrofichmey
in the game, and if he was not &Grace, he ho he might
be one of the graces-(fitoghtez) Before al down be
begged to propose the Health of the Mayor and Corpses
atice and the magistrates," authorities in the borough in
whom they all felt great interest. One of that body-
mdridge-had come there to support the Mayor sad
countenance the Cricket Club, and he was sure they were
very plumed to see him -(alaelausa)
Dr. ILLDRID6a said the toast was most unexpected to
himself, but Yr. Damen's heart was always full of kinth
twee to all about him, and he was stall times anxious
to promote in every potable way not only the pleasure et
Ulm that, but the proms:Sty of the borough-
He felt that it was the duty of the
and • pleasant duty-not o to recognise
nly
tions ci this Mint but to do as much as they
could to sawed thm. He had always had a fondness for
cricket, and years ago adored it as much as they, but
Time crept on: however, he now admired the
mensely, pens tin-
and often watched cricket and foouj.Jl with
interest. Some time ago seeing a game of football at
Poundbury he was led to think of the old days at Dor-
chester when probably the Romans exercised tWmselves
with cricket and football in the same mot as young men
do now. It was interesting to think that after all those
generation', Dorchester remained an athletic town, and
hisat there were athletes among us now alniost equal to the
gladiators of olden time. Boeing the agility, strength.
and courage now evinced in cricket and football at
poundbury and other places, be felt sure in former days
the ROUlana could not have exoellod them. They read of
the great interest these games cued to excite, and that
though all ran well only one gained the prize. No now
they could not all be Methods, and win a £24l prise, but
everybody should lie encouraged to do his beet as in the
Olympian games He believed all who held official
positions in the town, by their kindness, desired M support
Institutions such as that, and although he had not yet
become an honorary member he should be Try pleased to
become one if they would accept hini at this late period
--(applauae)-and he would do all he could to further the
interests of the club-lapplausel Ile was one of the old
members of the corporation, and perhaps they might
IradOCi Oa him for the little good done, but he assured them
the members used their hest endeavours to do good, for
each one had an Interest in the welfare of the town. The
magistrates endeavoured to carry out the law faithfully,
but at the same time tempering justice with mercy. Ile
begged to thank them for the compliment paid him-
(applause).
The Maroa briefly proposed "The Visitors," coupled
with the name of Dr. Robinson -(applause).
Dr. lioniesars responded and expressed the intereq he
felt in the Cricket I lub , anti in all institutions calculated
to promote the health and social welfare of the
inhabitants.
Mr. DANZ], proposed the " health of the Rev. 11. P.
Reikes," who had kindly acted as Umpire for the club,
sad whom services were highly appredated-(cheers).
The Rev. 11.1'. RA111124 returned thanks. In the Mike
of amply* it had always been his endeavour, and ever
would Ise, to give an impartial Ju4ment whenever called
apart. It was a most thankless °Ace, for very often the
better thought he was right and the umpire wrong, but
be thou,6t the umpire Was the sole judge of the gains,
geed Mr himself he did not rare, friend or foe, according
to the tart of his Judgment he gave his decision. Some-
times it went • little "against the pain " give a friend
out. but if it was right he said "out"-(applause). If
Ifflerf umpire would do the same he thought it would be
yee beeper for the game-(bear. beer) Sometimes 'mints
arose which required a great deal of Judgment, and then,
of course, the batter must hare the benefit of a doubt, led
no favouritiam-lapplausek He dearly loved cricket
himself. As • Young man he played. against the All
ttand eleven, but or late years be hail grown too stout
agoo be was willing to act as ur, feeling it was
mom to have some one who f understood the
rules of the game and would give • f Judgment. He
was happy to be associated with the Dorchester club, and
when he could find the th_tishould be pleased to stand
as umpire than Sosoetbnes ha was
eleededed fortbe tbet='.nsaa with a blank coat goes
Into slflheWm be sons gee some al the whir=
▪ ; but dd not oia va oggliattkot to