The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-07-14 00:00:00

BL&NDFORD WOOL FAIR.

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This fair was bell on Saturday last, and was in furl I
respect the largest ever held in Blandford. The
number of samples was about 30, comprising wools of a
very superior quality, from the docks of Lord Portman,
J. Farquharson, Esq., Maseru H. Fookes, Harding,
Fowler, Keynes, Mower, Watts, and other doU-
maaters. Buyers from Roehdale and other manufactur-
ing towns in the North were present, as well as those
residing in the neighbourhood. In °oarsman°, of most
of the producers having held their stocks over from
Dorthester fair the supply use large, and trade rather
slow. Indeed, until after Maur but very Utak business
was transacted, farmers asking 17d, for best horn and
down, and buyers holding bast at l&L Towards the
close of the afternoon a good number of samples of best
kinds change hands at 160., and others at 16d; cross-
breds at 15d. On the whole • very satisfactory amount
of business was done, and with so large an influx of
visitors—some attracted by the wool sale, others by the
sale of Mr. Radclyffe's hunters, and a large number
by WombwelPe menagerhs—Blandford from about ten
o'clock in the morning till late at night was crowded
with visitors.
The dinner, which took pleas at the Crown Hotel,
"a largely attended by the leading agriculturists of the
district, of whom about 150 were present. The chair
was taken by Mr. H. Fookes, and the vise-chairs by J.
Wood, Fag., of Poole and Mr. J. Keynes, of Spetisburv.
Among those presea we noticed:—Messrs. G. Hill,
E. W. Cave, J. J. P.awlins, James Ausesworth,
James Fowler, V: B. Watts, W. Watts, J. Fowler,
John Kent, Martin Small, G. Jolty, F. &mu, J. C.
Tory, W. Way, J. Shepherd, W. Slwakei F. Sampson,
T. Parham, J. Leakier, J. Raymond, H. Foot,
E. Dibben, S. Gifford, C. O. Bartlett, G. Dibben,
J. Boon, T. K. Boon, W. Foot, IL Seeley, S. Richards,
J. Cos, J. Barrett, W. Mercian, Jame, Loskyer, J. N.
Parham, G. A Parham, G. A. Ingram, W. J. Bement,
T. E. Dowdem T. H. Saunders, B. Gems, T. A. Homer,
H. Keeping, P. Hill, H. Barnes, T. Matthews W.
Martin, G. Belbin, 0. Wood, H. Garland, J. Roper,
G. Symonds, T. Matthews, S. Parker, W. Galpin, E.
Sims, P. Hill, C. Mayo, J. Damen, C. Yearsley, D.
Symonds, J. 'Rowe, Perry, W. Scutt, S. Oakley, R.
Fmk.", W. Fookes, W. Fowler, Az, he.
On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman briefly
proposed the loyal touts.
The chairman next gave the toast of the day, "The
health of thou gentlemen who attended their fair as
buyers." He did not see any one in the room repre-
senting the trade but their old friend, Mr. Boon, but he
was sure ash. was present there would be • satisfactory
business done. He (Mr. Fookes) hoped the buyers had
00140 with open hearts prepared to give them a good
prim ; and be trusted that Kr. Boon would not knock
them down so much ea he had done on some previous
occasions. The returns which they had seen in tha news-
papers of late bed aot been so satisfactory as they could
wish, and he hoped that Mr. Boon had something better
to tell them. It was with great pleasure he proposed
the health of the wool dealers—(oheers).
Mr. James Boon, who was received with loud cheers,
said, Mr. Chairman, Vice-chairman, and gentlemen: I
beg to return you my 'inure thanks for the repeated
privilege of answering to this toast. lam glad to say
that I MA very well known, and perhaps better known
than —(laughter). As the son of a farmer's
daughter, I am, of course, much interested in all that
relates to avicalture. I am glad to congratulate you
on your prospects, or as PtisscA would say—" These
rope—the weether,and the growing crops"—(laughter).
With regard to the immediate object of our gathering,
I am sure I may also congratulate you, for none of you
expected, lain sure, inActober, November, or December,
bi or even in the ing of this year, that we
' should he able to offer you the prime which
are current at this fair. I don't pretend to advise you
on the present occasion, for as the chairman has said,
it ia desirable on this hot day to cut the proceedings
short ; but I am sure you know your own business too
well to refuse such prices as we aan offer you here to-
day. I have no doubt, before the day emus most of
you will have made your bargains when you have found
out the best prices you can get Up to this period we
certainly have had over-trading and consequently have
found it difficult to obtain remunerative prima for the
wool we have bought. Al the chairman has justly
observed the trade returns have not read very well of
late, and as my own return, are not very satisfactory
I shall keep them in my pocket. The accounts read
fiat, and to my mini unprofitable. Having one of the
beet wives in Ragland I cannot forget my usual toast,
"The health of the ladies of Dorset, coupled with the
name of Mrs. V. B. Watts.—( applause).
Mr. Watts briefly returned thanks.
The Chairman proposed "Th. health of his old friend
—Mr. John Ford," the starter of the wool fair.—
(cheese). They had seen some of the good results of it
and felt It. benefit, and he was glad to say there were
more samples brought to-day than on any former
omission. Some difficulty kid been experienced In former
years by their having to pay a 2... 6d. toll, but the
Mayor and Corporation of Blandford had kindly and
liberally relieved them of it and their wool was admitted
toll froe. There were • few lots belonging to old friends
which he exported to have seen, but altogether there
were about 30 samples.
"The health of Mr. Ford" having been most cordially
received, that gentleman, in responding, said it gave
him very great pleasure to see such & fair in Blandford.
Some years ago he spoke to a few farmers and asked
them if they did not think It desirable to have such •
fair established, believing it would be of considerable
benefit. They cordially agreed with him, and the
result had been most satisfactory. He trusted that
those gentlemen who had come, some of them from
considerable distance, to buy their wool, would not be
disappointed, and, for his own part, be was deter-
mined to Kill his if he amid get a fair price. He begged
to offer his old friend Mr. Boon his wool at 1741.—
(cheers, and "That la business.")
Mr. Boon, on again rising, said he had omitted to
state that he should be at his post on the exchange in
• few minutes, and was prepared to take their lots of
wool at a fair prioe. In answer. to Mr. Ford he beued
to offer him l&l.
_ _ _ . .

Mr. Ford ;aid he declined it for the present.
The Company then adjourned to the corn-exchange,
where the Maims, of the day was resumed. At the
close the visitors enjoyed • pleasant promenade In the
'Assume garden fronting the Crown hotel, which was
rendered the more agreeable by the admirable
atunes of • selection of musts by sib. Eyers's
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