The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-01-18 00:00:00

WINFRITH FARMERS' CLUB.

The annual meeting of this club took place at the Black
&sir Inn, Wool, on Thersday. The annual report, read
by the Hen. her.. shoeed tht tic total receipts during
the year amounted to .e. 2.5 is. 1,1., and the expenditure to
£lB 4s. 4t, leaving a balance in u.nd of Atf 19s. lid. The
Hun. Sec. explained that he had only put down among
the receipts amounts actuay paid in: there were some
outstanding donations and subscriptions, the receipt of
which would put the club in • better financial position
even than appeared by the report.
On the motion of Mr. BURDEN, seceisied by Mr. BATES,
Mr. T. Chapman Saunders was re-elected chairman of the
club for the ensuing year.
Mr. Curies Basset, on the motion of Mr. F. SPICER,
seconded by Mr. W. Itarrost,g, and Mr. F. Spicer, on tee
motion of Mr. F. FILLITZR, seconded by Mr. BESANT, were
both re-elected—the former vice-chairman, and the latter
hon. sec. for another year.
The annual dinner took place in the club-room at the
Black Bear Inn about eve o'clock. Mr. T. Chepmaa
Saunders presided. and there were also present—Meows.
F. Finder (Recorder of Wareham). Bond, .1. J. Bates,
LUC&P, Hyde, Lwigatan. J. Spicer. Barnford, Sly, 011ie, C.
Basset G. Sudden, W. Randall, Bascombe,
and F. Spicer (hon. sec) The vice-chair was occupied by
Ur Spicer. The catering by Mr. May gave the utmost
satisfaction. After the re.niTral of tee cloth,

The CHAILItAN propord the usual loyal totite.
The Army, Navy, Volunteer, and Yeomanry" was
the next t nut oropoeed by the CHAIRMAN, to which Kr.
BOND and Mr. Batmen! responded.

Mr Fintsstv- ---proposed "The Health of the Judges "—Mr.
Longman, who, throurh indi-pmition, was unable to
attend, and their excellent friend Mr. F. Spicer—both of
whom had travelled that district for a great many years.
Mr. F. Seielis briefly responded, and complimented the
growers on the splendid crops of root i which it had been
part of his duty to inspect recently. Ile concluded by read-
hag the following bete( the successful competitors to whom
prixis had been awarded:—
£5, given by Mr. Damen, for the general crop of roots
grown on a sixth part of the arable land of the farm, such
sixth part being not lee than 10 acres, Mr. Chapman
Saunders; £3 3r., given by the Recorder of Wareham (Kr.
F. Filliter), for the second bast, Mr. C. Hyde.
£3 35., given by Masers. Fi4oo, for the beet 10 acres of
101., given by the Club, for the best two acres of
swedes. grown with their manure, Mr. T. Randall.
mengel wartsel, Mr. J. T. H. Scutt.
£2, given by the Club, for the beet five acres of swedes,
Mr. J. T. H. Scutt,
There were four other prizes offered, but the entries
were not sufficient in number to comply with the rules of
the club, and no prises were therefore awarded in those
classes.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Health of the Lord-
Leese:tent and Magistrates of the County." In Lord
Shaftesbury the county had a wo-thy Lord-Lieutenant;
and as to the magistrates he believed they discharged their
duties with ability and care. In country districts he
bolieved that the poor-law was administered very much
better as it was at present than it would be if the various
courts were held before a paid magistra.e.
Mr. BOND, in responding, said that among certain classes
"justices' panties" was often ridicu eI. But it would be
found in rural districts, if not in large towns, that justices'
justice, generally, commended itself to the minds of theee
with whom it had particularly to do. And experience had
shown that even stipendiary tuagistret le wars not alto-
gether unerring. Questions ari.ing out of sentences
passed in police-courts by stipendiary magistrates were as
often raised in the House of C atutnone its questions con•
earning sentences passed by the great unpaid. There had I
lately been a great agitation for flaunty Boards, and be
supposed that sooner or later they would be established.
He was, however, of the opinion that the funds of the
county could not be more economically teenaged than they
were at present. He did not know if there were any
Present who had studied the report made at the tut
quarter Sessions for Dorset. If there were they would
have observed that the whole debt rotting on the county
was now only £7,000; and when they took into considera-
tion the sloe awl area of the county of Dorset, they must
feel satisfied that th, is matters had le-en carefully and
judiciously managed. Within the last 20 years vast some
had boon expended in the erection of police-stations,
prisons, lunatic asylums, Lc. In the building of lunatic
asylums alone he believed no less • sum than £41,000 had
been expended, so that the responsibility on the county
had been a serious one. He thought, however, that in •
very short time the whole debt on the county would be
, entirely got rid of, but he supposed the world must go on,
and he was afraid the longer it went on the more
numerous would be the things which it would be believed
had got so bad that they were bound to be kicked out.
(Applause.)
Ur. FILLiTRR proposed "Success to the Winfrith
Farmers' Club "—a club which, hot said had been in
existenee for the last 40 years. In former times the
member, used to meet at one another's houses and hold
their discussions. He was glad to learn they were now in
a sound financial positi in; an I c ,ncluded by coupling
with the toast the name of Mr. F. Spicer. than whom, he
was sure, they could not have a better secretary. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. F. SPICER responded, and in doing so said the club
some
wee going on well, and was in • very satisfactory state,
wasnot wdiet.hdetaannddinngottohnelyf acdetrw bthaut, me
buried. It was true they People had said it
had been in a rather weakly condition for some time past,
but they were better now, and were c >sundered again string
enough to &Inner in Public- (Applause.)
Mr. BATES proposed "The Din re of Prises." Every
„often.n who supported the heir, list of the club might
he sure that his donations were giv,n to a useful purpose.
(Applause.)
Mr. FHA-ITU and Mr. BODDRN responded,
j Mr. Bourn proposed " The Health of the Chairman," and
I said if there was one thing more than another they
Prided themei lesson in Doreetshire it was their flocks ;
and. he thought they would all acknowledge that the
(Hear,
hear.)
erflock °Tile chairman war very highly valued.
The Cithinlias, who wee warmly reeelvisd, said he had
been a member of the club far the last 28 years, and added
that during that time, as Mr. Bond had hinted, discus-
sions had taken place that had no doubt formed the basis
of Acts of Parliament. Referring to the prevalence of foot-
and-mouth disesee in the country, he was not quite clear
as to the action taken be the Privy C iuncil, but he under-
at 'sad that after Setor•lar next sa the cattle markets in
England would be close for six weeks, in order to try and
stamp out the disease. if that W,M be thought It was
a wise step on the part of the Privy Council. Some of the
farmers end graziers iu ho.l suffered a great deal
from foot-and-mouth die& a during the Nat ten years. I,:
ascendance to an alarmTig colons Vuonghnot the ounty
1872 and In 1875. and now In it had become again pre-
valent. In conclusion the Cheiriesti saul he hoped the
club would be favoured with • long and prosperous
career. (Applause.)
"The Health of the Vice-Chairman" was next given;
and Mr. BUDDIN rasp/tided.
Other toasts followed, and *pleasant evening was spent.
_