The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-06 00:00:00

FLOWER SHOW AND BAND CONTEST

AT DUDL Y.

Dudley Castle co—M-ty,lid, wt:i:h, by the kind irr-
mission. of Lord Dudley, has so frequeutly been the
Esene cif demonstrations in aid of chiritable and
other objects of a laudable character, was on Mon-
day, for the first time in its history, the locale of a
floral and horticultural show, brass band contest,
and bee exhibition, the whole of which wer., pro-
moted by the friendly societies of the town, on
behalf of the Dudley Guest Hospital and the
Dudley Dispensary. The idea originated with some
of the leading members of the Societies, and they

immediately carried it into action by appointing a
committee to carry out all the necessary aria,ng,-
inents The Rev._ Dr. Cosen's_ (vicar of Dudley)

_
officiated as president, Councillor Wm. Smith as
treasurer, and Mr. John Humphreys and W. Field
were respectively the flower show and band con-
test secretaries. The assiduity with which the
committee worked was evidenced in the fact that
prizes amounting to more than £lO5 were offered to
the successful exhibitors in the flower show, and to
the value of £72 2s in the band contest The crates
were thrown open at noon, and soon after that hour
there eas a procession of friendly societies from
their various lodge houses to the courtyard, each
divisien being preceded by a band of music. The
principal streets were lined with some thousands of
spectators, ad the closed shops, the liberal display
of bunting at various establishments, together with
an unusual amount of excitement gave to the town
a thorough bank holiday appearance. There was a
large influx of visitors, and the promoters of the
show and contest might congratulate themselves on
the success of their first venture in this respect.
The numerous entries of plants, flowers, and vege-
tables and their excellency of merit was also a
subject for much congratulation when it is remem-
bered that Dudley is, after all, numbered among
the Black Country towns. The exhibits for compe-
tition were staged in three tents; in another tent
were collections of plants and flowers not for com-
petition; and smaller tents on the ground con-
tained other special exhibits of various kinds. The
plante and flowers which were not for competition
were from the nurseries of Mr. R. Lowe, of Wolver-
hampton, and Mr. T. Bayliss, of Goldthorn Hill.
Mr. Lowe's collection included a magnificent speci-
men of the Clethara Arborea species of the Lilly of
the Valley tree, stephanotir, cordelines, palms,
tree ferns, coleus, caladmms, peaches in pots, &c ,
whilst in Mr. Bayliss's collection were a variety of
evergreens, flowering plants, caladium a, &weenies,
&c. In the professional gardeners class there was
an exceedingly fine collection of plants. The first
prize for a cense ion of plants grouped for effect,
and to fid 25 square yards, was gained by Mr. E.
Fisher-Smith, of the Priory, Dudley, Mr. H. God-
frey, of Stourbridge, taking the second prize, and
Mr. j, Williams, of Stourbrike, being awarded
the third. In this class the fruit and vegetables
were als ) a good show, some of the grapes exhibited
being very line indeed. A special prize of £5 ss,
given by Councilor W. Smith for the best show of
roses; 72.spechnens, and not less than ferty varie-
ties, was won by Mr. J. Williams of Gornal. The
amateur cla-,s came out well. The first prize for
twelve plants (flowering and foliage) was won' by
Mr. W. Hampton, of Coseley, and the second by
Mr. T. O. Welliugs, both of Atom carried off a
number of the awards in other classes, There Was
only one entry of a vase of floiters for the table, but
in the collection of bouquets there was keen competi-
tion. each being most effectively arranged, and with
much good taste. A special prize of £1 is, given
, by Mr. T. Duesbury, for the best six caladiums,
I fell to Mr. T. 0. Wellings, and another, for the
best 24 roses, to Mr. -W. Hemp on, who further
carried off a silver-mounted glass vase, given by
Mr. Samuel Lar&re, to the amateur who was suc-
cessful in taking the most prizes for floeverie In
the cottagers' cla s there was a fatly large number
of entries The fruit and vegetables exhibited were
of a really first-class order, and wore pronounced by
the judges to be on the whole su: erior to anything
they had seen during the season. The pees and
pot etoes were especially noticeable features in the
vegetable department, and in the ctelection of
fruit, the apples, strawberries, cherties, goo e-
bsrries, and currants were very fine specimens. In
this class Henry Jones, of Salop St_eet, Dudley,
was awarded a spee'al prize given by ,he Rev. Dr.
Coseus, for his exhibition model house and tlewer
gatden. The judges were Mr. R. Lowe, of Wolver
hampton, and Mr. A. Combes, of Hitriley, both of
whom discharged their duties w!th courtssy and
satisfaction. The Warwickshire Bee Association,
which has for its object the encouragement, im-
provement, and advancement of bee culture, at-
tended with their tent, and gave desctiplive
lectures to interested audiences. Mr. oe,sse
Fletcher, ot King Street, Du( ley, exhibited over a
hundred varieties of wild grasses; dried herbs.
fossils, &c, for which the judges awarded an ex-
tra first-class prize; Mr, J. Flewitt. of Queen's
Cross, showed specimens of ornamental glass and
and china ware of local manufacture; and Messrs.
Singer and Co., of sewing machine notoriety, had
a stand on which were placed the different
machines of their make. A nuaiber of prizes were
also awarde I to professionals and amateurs for
plants, &c.
For the Band contest, in which money prizes and
instruments to the value of £72 2s. wEre offered
seven bands entered, as follows : Darlaston
Havelock Baud. Biddulph Band (Congleton),
Stoke Victoria Borough Band, 6th Staffordshire
R. V. Band (Burslem) Knutton Forge Band
(Newcastle) Willenha,ll Templar Band and the 13th
Lancashire R. V. Band (Southport). The judge
was Mr. S Hughes,' of the Royal Italian Opera
Covent Garden (London). Each Band played a
piece of its own selection, and then they afterwards
all united, and performed the national air "Rule
Britaania," Afterwards each band again played a
second piece, and then again united and gave the
National Anthem. Their efforts were greeted with
consideraba) applause, and the judge gave his
decision as follows :—First prize, consisting of
£2O 55. in money and an euphonium of the value of
£/5 15s, 6d. Staffordshire S. R. V. Band, Burslem
(conductor, Mr. R. Saurbutt). Tile selections
rendered were" Hunoria" and "Ad Lib." Second
prize : £lO ne, in money anda cornet of the value
of £9 95., Knutton Forge Band, Newcastle (con-
ductor, Mr. T. Lewis), selections played—" Honoria
and "11l Flauto Magico." Third prize : 11,0 in
money, Biddulph Band (conductor, Mr. R. Sour
butt), selections played " Tanuhauser" and "Ad
Lib." Fourth prize :£4 in money and a aton of
the value of £2 25., 13th S. R. V., Southpoift (con-
ductor, Mr. H. Round), selections played —" Ad
Lib" and fantasia " Bound the World." The
Mayor (H. M. Wainwright, Esq.) afterwards dis-
trijuted the prizes.
The flower show remained open over Tuesdays

HAGLL'A.
PRESENTATION. - At a meeting of the "Lord
Lyttelton Lodge," Manehe.ter Unity of Odd
Fellows, on TuesdaY evening, P. P. G. M. Alfred
Molineanx and Thomas Williams, P.G., late
secretaries, were presented with a handsome
English Silver Lever Watch, with a suitable in- -
soription in recognition of their assiduous duties
rendered to the lodge for the last 23 years. The
following is the address by P. G. B. Perry :
" Our worthy and respected brothers, with reference
to your resignation we must candidly admit that
the fteling on this occasion of all true and Loyal
Odd Fellows can be truthfully said to be enter-
tained in words, admiration and regret The manner
in which you have discharged all duties connected
with the office you Lave filled for the last 23 years,
cannot possibly fail to create such a feeling of
admiration and respect in the heart of each
indiviaual connected with this Society ; that will
be cherished and honoured as long as the names of
Moliaeux and Williams are known to exist. We
cannot under any circumstances whatever allow
the present opportunity to pass by without care—
fully and honestly ana Liz ing the general conduct
and characters of you two retiring office's, who to
our own knowledge. and gratification have most
honourably, honestly, aed faithfully discharged
your duties which actions alonVave contributed
in no small degree to the prospeiii y of this society.
Your attention and obligiug manner which you
have shown on all occasions to every one that has
the pleasure of transacting any business with you,
for pleasure it must certainly ba to find ours Ives
engaged with men so amiable, obliging, and
courteous, most highly do we appreciate you. We
wish particelarl-- o call your att,..nti,n to ycur re-
maining talents, non_ the less brilliant in them-
selves, which during your official career you have
been ever ready and brought to bear on on all
important events which had a tendency to improve
the condition, both financially and numerically of
this society, they have so nobly represented ever
since the time of their occasion to office, viz : The
marvellous display of zeal, the- untiring energy,
prudence, and sincere devotion which repeatedly
have characterised your administration
let it suffice brother for we to say that such con-
duct is noble in the extreme. When we reflect
only for one moment and take into consideration
tha well-known fact that such noble talents hue
not been u,ed by you to advance the ambitions
design of any singlt, individual, but on the contrary
have been exclusively used in the interest of the
hmany always,awith a due regard to the further
in
debted
a and progress of this society,
ai we are and assuredly for ever shall be to such
noble characters, we could not
.allow this oppor-
tunity to pass by without pub:icly declaring the
' position of you two retiring officers now occupy in
the estimation of this Society. Again we must
declare that such conduct alone is worthy of more
than what we are extreemly sorry to say. The
society can possibly bestow, however we beg you
will be pleased to accept this present as a token of
our esteem, our grateful acknowledgements for
your past servicesiand best wishes for you in the
future, trusting that you will be spared long -t1
enjoy it so that you may be aguide amongst us in
the future. A. most appropriate and highly com-
mendable response from P. P. G. M. Molineux
waieh contained some valuable information for the
future guidance to those enstructed with the care
and maulgem nti of the society in the future, most
essential to success. After which he gave a state-
ment of the fund of the lodge and the business
concluded, and a convivial evening was spent.
Amount of funds, 1856, £216 16s. 01; paid for
sickness from 1856 to 1880, £412 Os. Od.', paid for
funerals, from 1856 to 1880., total £722 Os. Od. ;
present amount of funds, £1167 10,. 11 ; number
el menaliere 130,