Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1874-10-16 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

PAIR.  The October fair took ileLe-iTiiri7lYie-ri-on Monday, the ordinary fixture falling on Sunday, but during tut; day various caravans, itc., arrived in the town, although of late years no shows or standings of any kind have been allowed to take up a position in the streets before six o'clock on the morning of the fair, and this is a decided improvement on the olden times, at any rate, for we can remember, not many years since, when the streets were all in an uproar on the Sunday night preceding the following day's fair with the shouting and swearing of showmen, the rumbling of wheels, and a noisy crowd of. boys. On this present occasion, as they were not allowed to stop in the streets, they had to find quarters elsewhere, which they seemed to have done, as early on Monday morning the town assumed a lively appearance; parties were busy in all directions erecting the various standings, of which by the way there was a large number, including toy stalls, gingerbread stalls, and stalls for the sale of fancy articles. The "shows" comwised "Gregory's Academy of Fine Arts," consisting of working models driven by steam; "Wilson's models of the Ashantee War, and the scene of the late murder of Ruth Butcher," and Macintosh's Performing Foreign Canaries. "not to be equalled in Europe." There were two swinging boats for the amusement of the juveniles, but no rine galleries put in an appearance, which, we are sure was not regretted by the shopkeepers in the neighbourhood, whatever may have been the case, with the sporting juveniles of the community. As early as 10 o'clock, stock began to arrive in the town, and as usual occupied West-street, but nothing like to the extent of some years ago, as most of the castle, sheep, tte, found their way to Mr. Dauncey's sale yard. About eleven tons of Dorset cheese were pitched, for which *ls. to 40s. per cwt, was asked, according to quality. A very small quantity of "raw milk" on offer. The following were smile of the selling prizes of different articles in the early morning :-Butter, fresh, b. 5d.; salt, Is. 3d. per lb. Eggs, Is. 2d. per dozen. Onions, Is. per peek; piciclers, is. 3d. to Is. 6d. per peck. Potatoes, best, 12s. to /6s, per sack; inferior ditto, Be. to 10a. per sack. Apples (cooking), 2s. per bushel: pears, 2s. 6d. to 33. per bushel; walnuts. 10d. per hundred. Cabbage plants, 41. to 6d. per hundred. Pickling cabbages, 41. to lid, each. The weather being very fine, the first train in the morning brought a considerable number of traders and visitors to the town, and the whole neighbourhood around contributed its share, so that by dinuer time the town was fuller than it has been for some fairs previously, but trade was dull throughout the day. A few cattle were, as usual, offered for sale in the streets, the prices asked being as follows :-Barreners, .£l2 to £l4; milchers, £9 to £l2; bulls, £lO to £l2; six-months calves from £4 to £6. Pigs were in large numbers, and there was a good demand for those of larger growth, the prices realised for slips being as follow: five weeks old, 7s. 61.; ten weeks, 15s. ; four to five months, fils.; six months, 305., and so on iu proportion. At the sale ground Mr. Symonds conducted the auction in the place of Mr. Dauncey, who still is laid aside by illness. About fifty beasts and six hundred sheep were offered. Beef sold well, but there was a very limited demand for mutton. Fat beef realised from 13s. to 14s. per score; barreners, £lO to £l6; in-calf heifers, £ll to £l6 ; bulls, £7 to £10; fat ewes, 3gs. to 42.4. each fat wethers, 38s. to 4..58. each; 'rat lambs 335. each; and store lambs from its, to as. each. A few implements were offered, but were not sold. In the horse fair there was nothing doing, there only being a tew "odds and coda" on offer. Towards the evening the streets presented. quite an animated appearance, and all seemed to enjoy the "fun of the fair ;" the shows did a roaring trade, and the patronage bestowed on the vendors of gingerbread nuts, fruit, dc.c., seemed to be liberal.