The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-10-26 00:00:00

ANNUAL VOLUNTEER SUPPER.

The annual supper of the c. Company, Dorchester
Rifle Volunteers, was held at tho King's Arms Hotel on
Wednesday evening last. Captain Hodges, command-
ing the opus, prodded, suported on the right by the
Mayor of Dorchester (W. Durde Req.), Lieut.
Thornton (Q.0.D.Y.C.1 Lieut. W Andrew,
the Rev. H. P. Ratko, Mr. G. J.G. Gregory, and Mr.
W. Coombs, and on the left by Captain B
M.P., Captain and Adjutant Harmer, Dr. Fiche,,
Mr. Dunman (Troytown), and Staff Sergeant Osmond.
There were alio present Sett Mudord, Sergeant
Harris, Mr. L Tilley, Mr. Samson Martin, Pioneer-
Sergeant Taylor, Quartermaater-Sergesnt Ramsey (in
the vios-rhair), Sergeant Guy, Sergeant Baker,
Lance-Corporal Chick, Mr. Pope, Mr. Webber, Mr.
Searle, Mr. J. GreeDirljt, W. Marsh, Mr. Cole, Mr.
Robinson, Sergeant-Major Gray (39th Brigade), and
many others.
The dinner was splendedly served by Mr. Front, and
the tables were nicely decorated with ferns, ooleusand
other variegated plants. A liberal supply of game had
been kindly sent by Captain Brymer. Nothing eculd
have been better than the arrangements at the dinner,
and perfect satisfaction was given.
Grace before and after meat was said by the Rev.
H. P. ?Aiken. . .

On the removal of the cloth,
The CHAthmagr rose and proposed the health of
"The Queen." In the course of his remarks he asked
the company to drink the toalt from the Battalion
Challenge Cup, which for the first time had been won
by the Dorchester corps. (Applause) It was
impossible to drink out of the big cup, so he would ask
them to drink out of the cup which had been won by
the company fqr good drill, at Lodmoor. The cup
had, after it was won, being presented by Mrs. Mount
Batten in Mr. Hodges, so they must thank her for
allowing them the use of it. (Applause.)
The cup was then pawed round, and each member at
the festive board toasted our gracious Queen separately
in a good " flowing bowl of punch."
This ceremony having been duly performed,
Mr. Gas Goar roes and proposed "The health of the
Army and Navy." Our army, though small, must be
considered ime of the bent in the world. With regard
to the navy, it must be acknowledged that it was
never in a more efficient state. The toast was coupled
with the names of Captain and Adjutant Harmer for
the Army, and Captain Brymer, M.P., for the Yeo-
manry.
. . . .

C tptasn I TARMAR 6rst replied, and returned sincere
thanks f ,r the mAnner they had received the toast.
StAnding there as he bad done for the last three years
he had not much new to say. He was sure they were
all of opinion that the army, though small, was good.
Ile alluded to the deeds of General Roberts and our
lw,th English and natives, in Afghanistan.
lie 1... e testimo,y to the gallantry of the Sikhs and
Goorhkas. With regard to the army at home, he
Juiced why some of those men who were at present
lying in wretched hovels did not join the army, and
thus have a comfortable house, be well fed, well
clothed, and nothing to do but healthy exercise? He
could not see any reason except that they were bound
to be in at ten o'ciwk at night. Why not join the
army for six yearn! They could not do Ixtter.
( pplause. )
Captain lIRTIIRR made a capital response for the
Yeomanry, and was loudly applauded.
Lieutenant A:norms responded for the volunteers.
Mr Pops replied on behalf of the Volunteer
Artillery, Although he had ceased to belong to that
body, he had always felt great pride in belonging to
it, and regretted very much he was not a volunteer at
present. He thanked them for their kindness in
coupling his name with the toast.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of "The
Bishop and Clergy of the Dioseee, and Ministers of
all Denominations." He was sure they would wee
with him they were a very harl.working and zealous
body of men. (Hear, hear.) He was sure they did
their duty nobly and well, and their hearty thanks
were due to them, lie expensed his regret their
,haplain, Mr. Everett, was not present; but they were
not without a weep— (laughter)—as they had their
good friend, Mr. Raikes, present, who would respond
to the toast. jAnplsaiss.)
The Rey. H. B. Ratirs, in responding, could only
assure them the Bishop Sad Clergy highly appreciated
the manner in which they always received the toaskand
be now on their behalf thanked them forth. very cordial
ma..ner in which they had received the toast on this
occasion.

The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of "The Mayor
and Corporation of their ancient Boretnh." If people
wanted a good man they generally went to the
volunteers for him, and when they wanted a good
mayor last year they same to the volunteers for him.
Lie also expressed pleasure in seeing Mr, Alderman
Gregory and Mr. Frost, both of whom had been good
volunteers. (Applause.)
. . _

The Miami, relying.said it afforded him very much
pleasure to respond to the toast He assured them the
office of Mayor was no sinecure, neither was the poet
of councillor a light one. Whether in Council or Com-
mittee they endeavoured to do their duty to the best of
their ability. He referred to the new reservoir and
the Waterworks as among the good public works
recently accomplished. His year of office was drawing
to a close, and he was pleased something had been done
during that year. Referring to the question of drain-
age, in adopting a scheme they wished to do the beet
possible without draining the ratepayer's pockets.
Until they saw a system well tried and adopted in
other towns they did not feel justified in adopting a
scheme that would for a time answer and then have to
be altertd and another fresh scheme adopted, thus
entailing great expense on the ratepayers. (Applause.)
He thanked them heartily for the manner in which
they had received the toast.
Alderman Gagooar and Councillor Facer also
mated, and endorsed the sentiments expressed by the
Mayor-
Song .__• "It's wonderful how we do it, but we do,"
Pioneer-sergeant TATLOR.
The next toast on the list was that of "Captain
Brymer, the hon. Member for the Borough," which
was proposed in suitable terms by the CHAIRMAN.
The toast was most e.riially received.
Captain BRTMIIR, who on rising was loudly
applauded, said he was rather in a fog. When written
to by Captain Hodges he told him it was impoofhlo
for him to attend, so he pet it off to this night. He
had heard a friend of his had been drawn over the
coals for making a political speech, so he thought
how should he manage if he must not make a political
Yeomanry
; so be bethought himself he would put on his
Yeomanry uniform, and come as captain of that
regiment, and not as a member of Parliament. But
Captain Harmer who had responded for the army had
taken the wind out of his sails in his description of
blotters' Robert's march in Afghanistan, as he should
not dare to give his opinion on military matters before
the gallant captain. (Laughter.) After a few
h 1111 l emus remarks, Captain lirymer returned his
hearty thanks for their cordial reception of the toast.
(Appleton.)
Songi "Pour out tho Rhine Wine," Mr. WIIIIIIR.
The CIIAIRMAN Heat gave the health of "Colonel
Maned, Lieut.-Colonel Steward, and the Field
Officers, and Staff Officers td the Battalion."
( A pplatute. )
Captain and Adjutant HAIM/IR made a capital
response. He expressed regret mono of the staff
officers were not present. They all took great interest
in tho welfare of the Rattalion. In the course of his
remarks he alluded feelingly to the menent of the Lite
Quartermaster Newman, who he consider was one of
the host in the British Army. (Hear, hear-) They,
however, had a good successor in Quartermaster Croo.
(Applause.)
The healths of Quartermaster-Sergeant Darden,
Staff-Sergeant Osmond, and Pioneer-Sergeant Taylor
were then warmly drunk.
The CHAIRMAN wished particularly to drink the
health of their good friend, taff-Sergeant Osmond. in
consequence of his recent emcees at Wimbledon.
(Applause.) He was sure they were all delighted and
thoroughly pleased when they had the telegram that
be had got into the "Sixties," It is a credit to him
and an honour to the battalion, for it is no alight thing
In these days of shooting to get into that class. Staff-
Sergeant Osmond had been very kind and persevering
In the shooting in bringing on the young shots, an
had done everything he possibly could for the
'prosperity of the corps. They were greatly indebted
himto on this account, for it was mainly through him
that they had been enabled to win the Battalion cup.
(Hoar, hear.) He congratulated him most heartily
on his mamas (Applause.)
Quartermaster-Sergeant COBDEN find responded,
and bore public testimony to the valuable aid afforded
at the camp by Corporal Stainer.
Staff-Sergeant alum), in reply, thanked thorn for
their kindness in drinking his health. With regard
to his success at Wimbledon, he could only assure
them it gave him as much pleasure to win the badge,
for the credit of the corps, as it was for him to wear it.
(Hear, hear.) He sincerely hoped he should not be
the only one in the rank, of the (C.) Company, who
would have the honour of wearing the badge. He