The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-12-06 00:00:00

Dorsetsbirt.

DORSET AND SI Od ERSET ASSOCIATED
INSTITUTES.
[Abridged from the Sher Lorne Joirmati

The annual meeting of this educational union
came off here on Tuesday, under diatinguislied and
hopeful auspices. As early as 9in the morning a
camageful of youths arrived from lkircheater, fol-
lowed shortly by another from likuitlford ; and
after the students had been refreshed with coffce,
ke., the examination began under Dr. Rooth, aided
by the Lev. M. Hawtrey, Rev. A. C. (lapin, Rev.
James Penny, Mr. Custard, and Mr. Newman.
There were but 20 competitors, of whom Dorchester
and libuidford contributed 5 each, Sherbortie 9,
including 2 Yeovil youths, it Ito came in through
the Sherhome classes, and one (who was disqualified)
came from Weymouth. A council meeting was
held in the Reading Room of the Institution at 11,
when 10 delegates, appointed as the representatives
of Weymouth, Poole, Dorchester, 131andlord, and
Taunton attended. Under the 3rd rule of the
Association, it is provided not only that the head.
quarters shall be moved from place to place, but
that the staff itself shall be annually changed, the
council to consist mainly of persons connected with
the institute of the town in which the year's exami-
nation is held. An objection to this was so strongly
urged by Dr. Booth and others on the ground that
the governing body, which ought to be experienced,
would he always new to its work, that the rule was
by general consent cancelled, and in its stead it was
resolved :—" That the managing body consist of a
chairman, secretary, treasurer, and three members,
all to be chosen by the body of delegates assembled
at the annual meeting, and of three members of the
Institution of the town in which the next annual
meeting will take place, to be chosen by the mem-
bers of that Institute; together with one delegate
from each Institution in union." The folios ing ap•
pointinetita were then made, nem. eon :—Chairmau,
Macready ; Secretary. Mr. L. H. Rnegg ; Tree.
surer, Mr. U. Stokes; Members of Committe, Mr.
Benthall, Rev. E. N. Henning, and Mr. Avery. It
was then determined that the next annual meeting
be held at Taunton, and that a sum net exceeding
£6O should be appropriated in securing the services
of a travelling agent, whose duty it will lie to make
the objects of the society more known, and to enforce
its advantages. At five o'clock about tifty gen-
tlemen sat down to a very elegant collation pro-
•ideti by Mr. Sharp, confectioner. The Long.street
school.room, the best large room in the town, was
tastefully draped and decorated for the occasion, and
had a charming appearance. The wines, from the
cellars of Messrs. Calder, were of high quality, and
the laying out of the tables reflected groat credit on
the taste and skill of the purveyor. Mr. Ilacreatly,
President of the Council, presided, supported on the
right by Mr. Ker &piker. M.P. for the county, the
Rev. Mr. Hawtrey, of Rimptun, anti Rev. James
Penny, of Blandford. On the left by Mr. Danby
Seymour, M. P. for Poole. the Rev. W. H. Turner,
of Trent, and the Rev. H. Motile, of Fordingtop.
Amongst the company were the Iteeehi. E. N. Hen.
fling. C. Clapin, Terry, Beckley, Odgers, Mr. Horace
Moule, Mr. Benthall, Mr. Avery, Mr. Mehnoth,
Dr. Williams, Mr. Longman, Mr. Dingley, Mr.
Calder, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Green, of
Blantiford. Mr. Pucklington, Mr. Aycock, &c.
After the customary loyal toasta had been pro-
posed and duly honoured,
The UnalasiAN said they had MAIM to congratu•
late themselves in having such a president as Lord
Shaftesbury, to whose merits scarcely sufficient jus
bee could he done. He begged, therefore, to pro-
pose the health of Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Portman,
and the Patrons of the Dorset and Somerset Asso-
ciated Institutes. (loud applause.)
Mr. J. Y. MELmtern begged to propose health and
hoppinese to Mr. Nlacready. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said he had made many friends in
the town, and, he grieved to say, perhaps many
enemies also ; but, God knows, unintentionally on
his part, lint, wherever he might go, he should
carry with him a pleasing recollection of Sherborne,
and should look with very great delight to the many
evenings he bad spent in that room, and he might
say with affectionate regard on them poor boys who
had grown up under his own obeervation, and he
might say in some respects her his guardian care,
Anti that of the friends who had so warmly and con-
scientiously assisted him in those (Intim Ile thanked
the company must sincerely for their kindness, and
wished the feelings of his heart could find a more
adequate expression from his lips. (Applause.)
The eIIAIRMAN then proposed the health of the
President of the Sherborne Institution, George
Digliy, Esq., whore name he said was a synonyine for
benevolence. He regretted that they had nut the
pleasure of Mr. Digby's presence.
The toast having been duly applauded,
The CHAIRMAN next remarked that it must not
be foryptton that they owed a great debt of gratitude
to Dr. Bistth, who annually nettle his journey from
London for the purpose of presiding over these
examinations, an well RA to the kind friends who
assisted Dr. Booth as examiners.

The Rev. M. liewreev, in returning thanks, tes-
tified to the great delight he felt in participating in
the great work of advancing education throughout
the community, and also in establishing such unions
as the present between the different classes of
society.
The CHAIRM kW remarked that one of the chief
difficulties they had to contend with was the distance
between the different towns, and the want of facili-
ties of inter-communication, whereby they could be
enabled to vend teachers (nein one to the other; but ,
as this obstacle was likely to be very soon obviated
by the completion of the Central Line, he thought
they could not do better than to remember on the
present occasion what would so greatly facilitate
their endeavours to advance the state of education
throughout the country. He therefore proposed
success to the Dorset Central line of Railway, asso-
ciating therewith the health of the Chairman of the
Company, Henry Denby Seymour, Esq., M.P.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. H. I). Ssreferen did not expect the honour
of having his health drunk on the prevent occasion,
at least in connection with the railway of which be
had the honour to be chairman. He trusted that
railway would at no very distant period have some
claims on the gratitude of the meeting. He trusted
it would be opened in the Spring the whole way
to Exeter, thus occupying a short time to go from
the "far west" to the Metropolis. (11 ear, hear.)
Ile trusted all the advantages prophesied by the
worthy chairman would be found to result from the
opening of the line, and be should not be surprised
if at the opening of another line with which his hon.
friend on the right of the chairman was connected—
the Dorset Central—as well as the Yeovil and Salis-
bury, it would be found by the opening of this line
that many towns which are now prevented from
sending young men to these examinations by the
difficulties of travelling would readily embrace the ,
facility presented to them of doing so, and he should
be disappointed if one or two were not sent from the
town he had the honour to represent. He antici-
eipated the meeting of the Associated Institutes
next year would be of a very favourable character,
awl from the great success which had attended the
present examinations he believed if a little effort
was made they might expect a great accession to the
numbers._ In conclusion he begged to thank them
for drinking his health in connection with the Cen-
tral Line of Railway, which he trusted would be
completed by next May, unless any unforseen occur.
reuee or difficulties with respect to the tunnel (which
he did not anticipate) should postpone their hopes.
(Loud applause.)
The CHAIRMAN after having exhorted the coin-
pany to remember the observations of Mr. H. I).
Seymour, proposed the health of the Delegates of
the Associated Institutes of Dorset and Somerset.
The bast was responded to in appropriate terms
by Mr. PIAIIKI4., of Illandford.
Mr. lturno wished before the company separated
to remind the meeting of the debt of gratitude which
they owed to the honourable member for Dorset-
shire, H. K. Selmer, Esq., who lad done them the
honour of taking put in the proceedings.
Mr. :levant' expressed his obligations for the kind
manner in which his health had been received. It
was a great satisfaction to him to be enabled to attend
the meeting, and lie hail acceded with much plea-
sure to the propolition made him to attend.
The meeting then adjourned to the Literary Insti-
tution.