Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-23 00:00:00

THE DINNER

took place in the assembly rooms attached to the Royal
Ferry Hotel, when about 300 gentlemen sat down.
The chair was occupied by Charles' Stanley, Esq., of
Denhall, supported on his right by the Rev. R. M.
Feilden, rector of Bebbington, Mr. Charles Congreve,
the Rev. Ralph Congreve, Mr. R. Barton, Mr. Walter
Congreve, &c. ; and on his left by Mr. Edwd.• Mostyn,
Mr. William Congreve, Burton Hall ; Mr. T. B. Case,
Mr. Edward Houghton, Mr. Sharman, &c., &c. The
viands, which were most sumptuously and profusely
supplied, reflected the highest credit upon Mr. Huntris.
The cloth having been drawn,

The CHAIRMAN proposed '.‘'The Queen," a toast dear
to the heart of every Englishman. The toast was drunk
with three times three.

The other loyal toasts having been proposed and
drunk,

The CHAIRMAN again rose and proposed, "The
Army and Navy," and in connexion with it he would
name the rifle corps of Birkenhead, Claughton, and
Rock Ferry. He wished to say a few words about the
rifle corps, and alsr to Pow& with the toast the name of
Mr. John Laird, of Birkenhead, who exerted himself
very much in assisting And uniting the three corps,
winch were amongst the first to come forward in the
country to offer their services. He thought that the
existence of rifle corps was a great advantage to this
country. They were a body of the community who formed
a large numerical portion of it
,at present, and he
thought that, by their uniting together in case of neces-
sity, which, however, he hoped there never would be—
but they never could tell, when there might be a neces-
sity, when they saw other countries keeping up their
armies on a war principle, making us feel that we knew
not when we might be attacked—they would be of great
use and service to the country. When he was travelling
abroad a few years ago, he could assure them that many
of those with whom he associated did not speak in the
most complimentary manner of this country. They
called us a nation of shopkeepers ; but, he trusted, that
by the existence of rifle corps, the " shopkeepers" would
be able to give them a warm reception should circum-
stances ever render it necessary. (Loud cheers.) He
concluded by proposing the "Army and Navy," coupling
with it the name of Mr. John Laird and the three rifle
corps, which was drunk with considerable applause.
The name of Mr. John Laird was called out, but that
gentleman was not present.
The CHAIRMAN said he now rose to propose the toast
of the evening " Success to the Wirrall Farmers'

Club." (Great cheering.) He had had the honour of
proposing that toast years ago ; and he could assure the
meeting, that the interest he took in the society at that
time, had not in any way abated. It was very satisfac-
tory for him to have seen so goad an attendance at their
first meeting, as he might call it, considering
the difficulties with which they had to con.:
tend. Their small district was limited to Nant-
wich ; and, therefore, he thought that the committee
had done themselves great credit in the show which
they had seen during the day. • He, for one, who had
seen how attentively they had worked, felt' deeply
c siefl smallcy andevo propertyte alsod
t o by
mercantilen
obliged to them. He was also delighted to see himself
supported by the gentlemen and farmers of the
district,
gethe gentlemen
ecmoue
tdsh;aNdvbhuootns
el y,t
who,perhaps,im
neeveßas
hr
a ri
I belesse r liberal - > rs t^ this society

theless, were very subscrh,- L,
(Hear, hear.) He was satisfied that if they continued
to exert themselves as they had done, they would
next year have a most excellent show. He con-
sidered this soeiety, for a number of • years, standing
only on one leg. Last year 'they added draining
and ditching,. and now it might fairly be said that the
society were standing on two legs.; and he had .no
doubt that next year their spring meeting would be a
very interesting one, taking into consideration _ the

advancement of commerce, and of agriculture, which
seemed to him to be entwined in each other. What
made. the mercantile operations of this country stand at
the head of all the world, was .the great improvements
in their machinery ; and they might depend upon it,
that it was to the improvement in their implements and
machinery that farmers must look to,. in order to be
able to stand their ground and. maintain their position.
If gentlemen of landed property would givi assistance
to the committee of this society, he was sure they
would lay out the money which might be subscribed
with advantage. It would, in his judgment, be likely
to lead to a great improvement in the land, and also to
an improvement in the breed of cattle. It was, in these
days, very desirable to have a good breed of cattle, for
with an improved breed of cattle the farmer was enabled
the sooner to turn over his money,, He had a strong
opinion that, looking to the future, the farmer would
have to turn his attention more to a better breed of
cattle, than to the cultivation of wheat.crops. (Hear,
hear.) After a few further remarks, he concluded by
proposing " Success to the Wirrall Farmers' Cl,-'

which he hoped they would drink with all their hearts.
The toast was drunk with three times three cheers,

lie CHAIRMAN again rose, and proposes

zistrates of the county

there was less crime in the 'Hundred of Wirrall than in
any other part of the country. He concluded by pro-
hprilth of the chairman. and predicted that

the exhibitions of the 'Wirral Farmers' Club would be-
come one of the most important in Cheshire.
The CHAIRMAN having acknowledged the honour,

T. JOHN BOLTON

district, _he could speak with confidence of the liberal

their tenants. He thought that all who had seen the
exhibition of the day, would agree that this, the first .of
their autumnal gatherings, had been a most successful

Mr. CONGREVE acknowledged the toast on behalf of
the landlords, and concluded by proposing "The vice-Pre-
sidents and Committee." _ _

thanks in an exceedingly practical speech, and advocated
the introduction of 'machinery for agricultural purposes,
and related his experiences on his own farm in favour of
it. He concluded by proposing "the AVirrall Agricul-
tural Improvement. Society," coupling with it the name
of Mr. Russell.
Mr. RUSSELL returned thanks in a lengthened speech,
and in the course of his remarks enforced the importance
of leases, and the better ob§ervance of the relative duties
of landlords and tenants towards each other: . .

Several other toasts were proposed in succession, in-

eluding " the tenant farm

thanks

to the Rev. Mr. Redhead, and the local loud, for the
use of the.road for the show," "the town and trade of
Birkenhead," &c., and the proceedings terminated about

nine o'clock

the judges of stock were Mr. Longton, of Rainhill ;
Mr. R. Birch, of Netherton ; and Mr. Richmond, of
Thornton. Mr. Hindson, 'of Barton House, Everton,
was the judge of poultry.

At the close of the show, in the afternoon, a sale o
stock, by Messrs. Jones and Son, of ,Neston, took place
There were, several sales effected, the horses bringirq
about 45 each; bulls, £35; cows, £l6; foals, £l6

and sheep, £5.
Between
during the day.4,ooOands,ooo people visited the show-
ground,

CHAMBER OF, COMMERCI

STATISTICS RELATIVE TO THE CENSUS OF
NEW ZEALAND.
We have received from the secretary of the Chamber
of Commerce here copies of tables forwarded to that
body from the Colonial Secretary's office at Auckland,

containing certain principal results of the census of the
colony of New Zealand, taken on the .24th Dec., 1858,
and published in anticipation of the annual volume of
statistics of New Zealand (for 1858), now in course of

preparation.
The total population in 1858 was—males, 35,043 ;
females, 26,156 ; total, 61,199. The total number of
acres held by Europeans, fenced and cropped, was
235,541. The stock was as follows :—Horses, 14,112 ;
cattle, 137,204 ; sheep, 1,523,324; goats, 11,797 ; pigs,
40,734.
- - - - —•

The population in 1851, was only 26,707. The cen-
tesimal increase is 121,86. The' increase of stock and
Drops have been on a still larger scale.

COURT AND OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Her Majesty gave a ball at Balmoral on Monday
evening. Several of the neighbouring gentry had the

honour of receiving invitations

Lady Lyndhurst and the Hon. Miss Copley are now
an a visit to the Earl and Countess of Derby at Knowsley
Park.
Prince Napoleon and Princess Clotilde have arrived
at Geneva, and intend remaining several days in that
city.