The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-05-11 00:00:00

ILMEDLEY.

FIIIILNDLT SOCIETY. —The balarice nhect of this society
shows an income of Ea 2e. M., and an expenditure of £5O
during the year thus the slim of L'2l 2e. tid. has been
added to the funds, which amount to £154 10s. 44.

BLALNDFORD.

Tux Wittig wrros Mourns-yr.—Mr. Alfred George
Stevens, whose name the public have seen in the debates
in Parliament every Session for many years past as the
immovable designer of the Wellington Monument, died
at his residence at Haverstock-hill, London, on Saturday
last. He was born in 1017 at Blandford.
('OMPETMON FOR WIMBLEDON.-- The fourth and final
competition by members of the Sth Dorset for selection
for Wimbledon took place on Monday. There were nine
competitors. The highest scores were—Private Light,
TI; quartermaster-Sergeant Davis, ; Armourer King.
(x): I obsor-Sergeant Gnues, 111
Q.O.Y.C.—On Monday eleven members of the Bland-
ford troop of the "Queen's Own." under command of
Captain Ilambro and Sub.-Lieut. Bankes, assembled on
the Down to shoot for the troop cup and selection for the
regimental cup competition at Weymouth. The ranges
were 200 and 100 yards, five shots each with carbines.
Sergeant Rogers ass the winner of the cup with :lo points;
the next highest scores were Private Cave, 21; Private 6.
Keynes, IC; and Private Richard Tett, IT. The above
are elegible to shoot for the regimental cup. The other
scores were—Corporal Burt, 16; Private Frank Tett, 15 ;
Private Bellamy, ; Private Ingrain 10; Private G. Ross,
9; Private R. Norton, 8.

THE MARKET QUESTION AT BLANDFORD.
The great Saturday or Wednesday market nsiestion
rages with • vehemence that is intensely amusing to all
outside the Blandford district. It is no longer debated
which is the best day all things considered, but turns on
feeling : and a few gentlemen laving, no doubt with the
most laudable intentions, committed themselves to
Wednesday, refuse to admit they have made a mistake,
and make up in violence what they lack in argument.
Primo facie, It must be confessed. IVednesday seems the
isreferable day, as then held the market does not clash
with Dorchester in the county and several markets to the
eastward; hut one ounce of fact is worth • bushel of
theory, and, as a matter of experience it is found that few
pen-sam attend the Wednesday market, while those who
do have nothing to sell, no business is done, hut they
staisale themselves with a cowl dinner and rivet their grog
lament the obtuseness of the Saturday men who scorn the
delights of the I-week market. But Saturday sees the
Corn Exchange open, farmers and dealers Issim, the town
MU of people from all the district round, and a good stroke
of business done, the Wednesday men being warcely mimed
from the throng. /hit non convinced against their will donut
like practirally to acknowledge they are beaten, in, Wed-
nesday after %Wednesday the little company assemble, and
actually call it "the market" without laughing in one
another's faces. By-and-bye, when the busy time comes
on, we expect that one after another will be unable to
attend, and thus the farce none to an end. As we
have before stalest, the elections of Guardians were
fought on the market liuestion, and there woo a trial of
strength at the Board On Wednesday last week. The
Wnimmlay men were elated with the prospect of
511C11,6 by the assistance of the ex...J0e1., and provided a
I gihl.. salmon to grace the feast of victory. Well, the
salmon was them but the victory lagged At the Board
of Guardians, only three neutrals were absent. Mr. C.
Hamtwo had been whipped up by the Wednesday party :
an. I Mr. IL Fs osier Nth-statically C...llllloltva 1111 the
exceptional sppearans-e ssf this et-oficio menther to swell
the %Wednesday nnn i n nwity. Spite of all, however, the
irrestible logic of facts prevailed, and the motion for a
change was carried by la against It Notwithstanding their
failure, the Wednesday men ate the salmon, and at their
invitation, Mr. John Barnes attended thedinner. Respond-
ing sulssevently to the toast of "The Corporation of
Blandforth proposed hy the Chairman (Mr. Henry
Fookes), he said that " He had been invited to bemoan;
and had much enjoyed the sal —oaughtall. He was
-h obliged to Wein for their kindness in coupling his
mime with the toast of the Corporation of 11l Iford, and
lie had great pleasure in responding on behalf if that
ancient I 1111 l ourahle guild. lie would tell thesis at the
onset what they all knew, that he was a Satunlay man,
hut why was heat Ile was a Wednesday rum once, awl
anticipated great things from the Wednesday !market
Thom l'orporatis in bast Silo.ll their willingness
to accommodate then, with the Corn Exchange,
hot what was the result Why the Wednes-
day men wouldn't come, and actually he was left
one Wednesday with the policeman, Moore, and they
two blade the market—Raughterh Well, he sent out the
policemen to whip up a few more, and the result was they
got together six in all for the Wednesday inarket. His
friend, Mr. Mackrell, told him the reason was they had
nothing to sell just at that time of the yearlmi; his
re ply was, how- about m the Saturday en 1 t found
s 1111 l ething to sell; and if they hadn't anythin sell
they met together and made a market all the same. So
he was obliged to give up Wednesday and take to Satur-
day, hut he hoped it would make IM difference in their
friendly technic towards himself. He was sure he felt
quite as friendly to them. Ile hoped they would forgive
him if he hail spoken his mind too freely, but the truth
was best, although nut always the must palateabie."
That was a right manful speech, and we commend Mr.
Barnes's example to the Wednesday party generally.
Yarmens are a particularly practical set of incus, and
business-like in their conduct. Why will a few persist in
their efforts to establish • market on a day that tradition
gives no warrant for. and experience proves unacceptable!
To change the market from Saturday would be to dis-
arrange the business of the entire district in every depart-
ment A trial of Wednesday has shown abundantly that
the great majority of the farmers and stealers do not like
it, the tradesmen of the neighbourhood slsi not take kindly
to it, and, with this final rejection of the Ilay by the
Guardians, it is to be hoped "this forlorn hots-s' will now
acknowledge their defeat, and revert to Saturday and
good-fellowship.