The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-09-19 00:00:00

THE FERRIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR, —Permit me to throw out a suggestion respecting
the ferries, and a very great oversight in the regulations.
It would be most desirable, if a sixpenny ticket was
granted, especially to the working classes, for the week.
Such an arrangement would be highly conducive to the
interests of the ferry, and ensure their passage each way.
As it is, they resort in numerous instances to the other
ferries in returning, whereby the growing interests of this
place receive a very great check ; and the importance, as
well as the conlenience of such an arrangement cannot
but be obvious to every one.—Your respectfully,

A RATEPAYER OF WOODSIDE.

- - -- -
HALE FLORAL AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On Friday the usual meeting of this society, for the show
of fruits, flowers, &c., took place at Hale, in a spacious mar-
quee. erected at a short distance from the inn. The day
being fine, a very large company was drawn together on
the occasion, comprising many of the principal gentry of
Hale and the neighbourhood, and many persons from
Liverpool, amongst others we noticed J. I. Blackburne,
Esq., of Hale-hall, with a large party of ladies ; Captain
Blackburn, Thomas Parker, Esq.. the Rev. W. Stewart.
the Rev. J. Stewart, Robert Neilson, Esq. A band of
music was stationed in the centre of the marquee. There
was a good show of flowers, consisting of fuchsias, gera-
niums, and window plants, some of which were very
finely grown ; also roses, dahlias, and pansies, in great
abundance, of exquisite colours, and of every variety.
Some good fruit was shown, and vegetables of very large
growth. A magnum bonum gourd, grown by Mr. Casson,
excited much attention. There were a great number of
specimens sent in by cottagers, and we were glad to per-
ceive that this department of the exhibition had received
a considerable share of attention. From the appearance
of the various fruits, vegetables, &c., produced by the cot-
tagers, it was evident that the society had conferred great
advantages on the district to which its operations were
extended, by stimulating the working people to pay more
attention to gardening and agriculture. Amongst other
attractions in the exhibition were several devices of cut
flowers and models of cottages ; also, an ingenious model
of the Hale decoy for taking ducks. The show altogether
was considered the best which this society has yet pro-
duced.
About four o'clock in the evening the patron, president,
vice-president, Captain Blackburne, and a number of the
committee, ascended a temporary platform in front of the
pavilion, for the purpose of announcing the prizes, from
which _ _ _

The Rev. Mr. STEWART addressed a large concourse of
people to the following effect ;—This society, they were
all aware, had now been in existence for eight years, and
during that period they had clear and practical proofs of
its usefulness and beneficial effects in the visible improve-
ments which had been made in the gardens and cottages
of the humbler classes of their neighbours. They were all
aware that the human mind was so constituted that it re-
quired occasional zest and relaxation from the anxieties
and the toils of business • and, therefore, he contended
that the light and healthful labour of cultivating a garden,
with its attractive flowers and useful vegetables, best sup-
plied this necessary relaxation, and thereby withdrew the
mind from all worthless or sinful gratifications, imparting
to it, at the same time, an intellectual treat. tCheers.)
Flowers were, indeed, one of the most bountiful as well
as beautiful gifts of God to man ; their cultivation im-
proved his health, and raised his mind from contemplating
the works of nature to the adoration of nature's God—the
great Creator. (Hear, hear.) He could not but observe
what a pleasing scene it was to behold the head of a family,
instead of resorting to the alehouse for recreation, busied
in his little garden, ornamenting his humble cottage, or
enjoying the refreshing 'cool of a summer evening'in his
rustic arbour, like a patriarch of old, with all his house-
hold around him. This was a true picture of rustic felicity,
and to such a man might be applied the words of the in-
-spired .16 4„,4
under his own fig-tree, and no one shall make him afraid."
(Applause.) The rev. gentleman then retired.
R. NEILSON, Esq., (vice-president) next presented him-
self, and read a list of the prizes awarded to the successful
competitors, at the conclusion of which he addressed the
assemblage on the great benefits which such societies con-
ferred on the community. Their society was commenced
in 1841, under but very indifferent auspices indeed. They
had then only eighty subscribers, and at their first exhibi-
tion there were but very few present ; whilst now they
numbered 500 subscribers, and the large and brilliant
attendance of that day testified that their efforts to please
had been successful. (Cheers.) He trusted that they
would all work with even increased zeal for the welfare of
the society. (Hear, hear.) He knew that the committee
would leave nothing undone to make it successful—and he
might add that their past success was mainly owing to the
exertions of the committee, assisted, as they were, by such
active and energetic men as their secretary and treasurer.
Indeed Mr. Nickson was invaluable to them ; and he
should also mention that it was owing to his exertions that
he (Mr. Neilson) had the pleasure of awarding, on the day
previous, at Manchester, the first prize for the best ma-
naged and best cultivated farm in the county of Lancaster,
to John Ireland Blackburne, Esq., of Hale. (Hear, hear,
and loud cheers.) After a few further observations ex-
planatory of the working of the society, Mr. Neilson con-
cluded a very excellent speech.
The Rev. Mr. STEWART then, in appropriate and com-
plimentary terms, proposed three cheers for Mr. Black-
burne and family, which were heartily responded to,—
the band striking up " He's a fine old English gentle-
man."
Mr. BLACKBURNE, having presented himself to re-
spond to the compliment thus paid him, was again greeted
with the most enthusiastic applause. When silence was
restored, be proceeded to observe that he could not
sufficiently thank them for the flattering manner in which
their president had been pleased to speak of him, and for
the kind and cordial reception which they had given to
his name. (Cheers.] What had given rise to the pre-
sent society was a desire on the part of some gentlemen
who took an interest in the welfare of the people of the
district, to see the cottage gardeners improve their
gardens, by rendering them something superior to mere
potato plots, and to induce them to cultivate flowers and
useful vegetables, which would be both profitable and
healthful employment. He regretted, however, that
whilst they had been successful in. forming a very good