The GLIO Site

PETERSFIELD.

Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK

OPENING OF THE CORN EXCHANGE AT PETERSFIELD.

     On Wednesday afternoon the new Corn Exchange at Petersfield was formally opened. The building, which stands on the east side of the Market-place, possesses no claims to architectural beauty, but it has an extremely neat appearance. The style is semi-Italian, and the building, which is about 90ft. by 35ft., is constructed of white brick with Bath-stone carved capitals and dressings. It has an iron-framed roof, covered with Taylor’s patent tiles, with an upper lantern running the whole length of the building, admitting light both at the sides and top. At  the present time there is only a hall, but we understand it is proposed to erect retiring rooms and county court offices. The building has been erected at a cost of 2,500l. (including the land), by a limited liability company, of which Mr. Shenton is the chairman and Mr. Soames the secretary. Mr. Chancellor, of London and Chelmsford, was the architect, Mr. Dallimore, of Fareham, the builder, and Mr. Salisbury, the clerk of the works. The opening of the exchange was celebrated by a public dinner, at which Lord Hylton, formerly M.P. for the borough, presided. His lordship was supported by if Mr. W. W. B. Beach, M.P.; Sir J. C. Jervoise, M.P.; Mr. W. Nicholson, M.P.; Mr. J. Bonham-Carter, M.P.; Rev. J. M. Sumner; Hon. J. J. Carnegie; Sir W. Knighton, Bart.; Mr. J. Waddington; Captain Sandeman; Rev. H. Haigh, and the Rev. Mr. Brown; Messrs. J. D. Lewis, G. E. Coryton, C. Collis, H. Barnard, Henty, Ware, Porter, Grum, G. H. Seward, J. Turvill, Shenton, Chase, Adams, Ray, Elkington, Caffin, Etherington, W. Elkington, Crawter, R. Gale, H. Boys, Mortimore, T. Boys, Eames, jun., R. S. Cross, Pink, Madgwick, H. Toomer, &c. The dinner was supplied by Mr. J. Morgan, of the ‟Volunteers’ Arms.” The interior of the building was tastefully decorated with flags, flowers, and evergreens, sheaves of blended wheat, and appropriate mottoes.
The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured,
The Chairman said they were all aware how much they were indebted to the services who risked their lives and exerted all their energies to maintain the peace of their homes and the grandeur of their country. Those services had up to within a very short time been confined to the army and navy; and no army and no navy of any other country had equally distinguished themselves.—(Cheers.)—He believed he might say, without being accused of boasting, that nothing could exceed, under all the difficulties, and dangers, and changes of climate, the devotion of the army and navy to the services of the state. A great acquisition had lately been gained by the volunteer movement, which had added so many loyal hearts and able hands to assist in the maintenance of their nationality and prosperity. He believed there might be gentlemen present who filled positions in each of these services Captain Sandeman had been in the army; he did not know whether there was any gentleman who might hold a commission in the navy; but they had Captain Seward amongst them, who was as distinguished a marksman as an agriculturist. —(Cheers.)
Captain Sandeman, in responding for the army, said he was always proud to be associated with the profession to which for a considerable period of his life he belonged. After the peaceful remarks his lordship had made with regard to the mission of the Prince of Wales, he (Captain Sandeman) might also take the peaceful side of the question, and he thought it might be a little congratulation to the country that their old soldiers could now retire from the service and turn their attention to agricultural pursuits without any detriment to the country, as there were younger and more useful members to take their places. Old fellows like himself were more fitted for the corn exchange than the camp.—(Laughter and cheers.)
Captain Seward briefly responded for the volunteers.
The Chairman said there were fewer things they should more admire than that in this country they enjoyed the blessing of' having the gospel preached to them in an unpretending and efficient manner. In this part of the country, especially, they had an efficient clergy—men devoted to their duty, who had been for many years under the guidance and control of a bishop distinguished for his piety and ability.—(Cheers,)—The clergy took no narrow view of their duty; but they were men who while they did their duty in their own parishes fully recognised the great benefit which Christian people enjoyed by the ministrations of other labourers in the same vineyard who might not be of the same denomination.—(Hear, hear.)—That was the right view which the clergy ought to take of their ministrations, and the inhabitants of this diocese enjoyed the blessings it bestowed.—(Hear, hear.)—He proposed, therefore, ‟The health of the Bishop and clergy of the diocese,” and he was sure the toast would be responded to by his rev. friend on the right.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. J. M. Sumner, in reply, said the Bishop had been connected with this diocese for nearly 40 years, and he (Mr. Sumner) hoped it was not the mere personal feeling of a son that led him to think he had the affectionate regard and the good-will of the clergy among whom he had passed the best years of his life. Happily the constitution of English society was such that there could be no distinction of class among them. The interests of one class affected all from the highest to the lowest; and while that was true it was equally true that the interests of the clergy were specially bound up with the agricultural community. It was therefore with real pleasure he was permitted to meet them there, for though he did not pretend to say or think that the opening of a corn exchange was to be the opening of a new era at Petersfield, he did think that a new building of the kind was a want which had been long felt by all, and one which was eminently calculated to give the farmers many advantages; and he therefore congratulated them on the fact that the work had been brought to so satisfactory a termination. He hoped they might experience all the advantages which the most enthusiastic supporters of this corn exchange could expect.—(Hear, hear.)—He was reading a short time ago an anecdote of the Duke of Wellington, who was once the president of a musical festival; and the preacher of the day went to him a short time before the event, and asked him what he was to preach about! The Duke replied, ‟Preach about! Preach about ten minutes.”—(Loud laughter.)—He (Mr. Sumner) thought this might be taken as capital advice for an after-dinner speech, and therefore he should do no more than thank them for drinking his health.—(Applause.)
The Chairman, in proposing ‟The health of the county members,” said he believed no county could be better served than this. Two of the members had honoured them by their presence, and he could say that no men could be more diligent in their duty. From personal knowledge of these gentlemen he should say they were well acquainted with agricultural matters, and he was sure they would be anxious to do justice to that interest when it should come before the great council of the nation.—(Applause.)
Mr. W. W. B. Beach, M.P., having stated that his colleague was unable to be present, assured the company that he had the greatest pleasure in attending so interesting a ceremony. When he was last present in Petersfield, the foundation of that fine building had not been laid, but now they saw its completion. He hoped he should not be too sanguine in anticipating the most cordial success to their endeavours; and he would state a fact which might operate as an encouragement to those who had taken great interest in this undertaking—that in the town of Basingstoke, near which he lived, a new corn exchange was erected some year and a half ago, and the success which had attended it had been equal to the most sanguine expectations of its promoters.—(Hear, hear.)—During the past year they had had so many great events that he could not address them on many; but as they were celebrating an event in agriculture, he must reiterate what Lord Hylton had stated, that as representing an agricultural constituency he must take an interest in the well-being and prosperity of agriculture. And he believed nothing so largely contributed to its prosperity as a good understanding between landlord and tenant.—(Hear, hear.)—What conduced to the welfare of the one would be a great benefit to the other. The landlord, he thought, must be very blind to his own interest when he refused to give a long lease to any tenant who might wish for it, because that was an encouragement to him to embark his capital in the soil, and afforded some guarantee for the money he laid out; and he hoped he was not taking an interested view when he said that the advantage and position of the tenant were not likely to be promoted were the advice tendered in the sister-country—viz., to ruin or impoverish the landlord—acted on.—(Hear, hear.)—They had had one of the greatest undertakings of modern times completed in the past year—the Atlantic telegraph.—(Hear, hear.)—He hoped it might be productive of a good understanding between the United States and themselves; but up to the present time not many interesting topics had been contained in its despatches, though he had noticed the current prices and the melancholy death of a Mr. Van Bearen.—(A laugh.)—They had had so many great events on the Continent that he must congratulate them on the country being still in peace. They had seen many potentates discrowned, and they must sympathise with some of those who had been removed from their high position, though they might express a hope that in the end it might be for the prosperity of the country. They might be excused from expressing an earnest sympathy with one of them, because they knew it was better to be ‟born a peasant than to live an exiled king.” On the Continent he thought if the armaments were reduced it would tend to economy in this country and the peace of the world.—(Applause.)
     Sir J. C. Jervoise, M.P., in reply, said he had not the honour of representing that division, but he stood in a most exalted position, for he represented the various and vast interests of the southern division of this great county. He had no doubt be should receive their forbearance, and that of the gay band at the end of the room, while he said some-thing in a position in which it was not always easy to find something to say. His hon. friend on the left had entered somewhat fully into the affairs of the world at large, and the noble lord had given the county members credit for being great agriculturists. Now he (Sir J. C. Jervoise) considered that a man to be a great agriculturist must be a monster.—(Loud laughter.)—He must be a monster of learning; he ought to know all science: and on such an occasion as the present, he ought to be the master of discretion. They knew how in the minor theatres sentiment drew down the house, when the actor came to the front and declared that he who ‟raised a blush on the cheek of beauty did not deserve the name of man or Briton.”— (Laughter.)—He (Sir J. C. Jervoise) had no desire to forfeit that title which he held to be the proudest and noblest one could have—(hear, hear); but they had heard of the extreme delicacy of the female sex—more especially of their cousins, on the other side of the Atlantic—which induced one to clothe the legs of the table.—(A laugh.)—But even that scrupulous delicacy he considered as nothing compared with that of the unprotected female of agriculture. It was impossible to talk of the affairs mentioned by his hon. friend without a cry from this lady ‟You are talking politics.” They could not allude to a good barley crop without that melancholy malt tax cropping up; they could not say there were great resources in agriculture but this delicate female said—

‟Men have these resources—we but one,
  To love again and be again undone.”

 It was not always without reason that this coy female had made this charge against her admirers and would-be lovers. But they must hope that there was a good time coming for agriculture; and he believed, without calling up any feeling of indignation on the part of this delicate female, that in this neighbourhood they had been peculiarly fortunate with their harvest, that they had escaped those disasters which had overwhelmed some parts of England, and that that great boon which had been looming in the distance so long was about to be realised. They had  now a Chancellor of the Exchequer who was going to repeal the malt-tax.—(laughter and cheers.)—There could be no question about the fact; and he knew that so many had entertained this hope that they might really expect some great remission in favour of this much-injured female—the agricultural interest of England.—(Cheers.)—Reading last autumn the report of a meeting held at Winchester (he did not know whether any gentleman now present was there) he found that a great dignitary of the Church assured the meeting that there would be a repeal of the malt-tax, and probably an increase of 2d. or 3d. in the pound in the income-tax.—(A laugh.)—He (Sir J. C. Jervoise) confessed that in the division of the county which he represented he did not find the sentiment unanimous.—(Renewed laughter.)—He did not say what the result would be next session, but he hoped that though they might differ in their views they would have the agricultural interest at heart, and that while one or the other represented the minority for a time they might all work together for the adoption of those measures which would be considered for the benefit of the country. On such an occasion as that they might he considered to have the great interests of agriculture at heart, combined with those of commerce, which were so largely developed in the southern division of the county—(Applause.)
Mr. J. Bonham-Carter, M.P., proposed ‟The health of the borough member,”—(applause)—expressing a hope that it would be cordially received, wholly irrespective of the question of politics. It was very difficult at the outset of any man’s career to know exactly what course to take with reference to proposing his health; because he must say from experience that nothing was more unkind than to over-praise a member, and lead people to expect what he could not perform. Now, of all the men who entered the House of Commons there were not more than from 12 to 20 on either side who achieved a reputation as orators, but there were many who did honest and good service, and it was of the utmost importance that a constituency should select a high-minded and honourable man. In proposing his health he (Mr. Carter) could give their member no better advice than that in honesty and straightforward conduct, in courtesy and kindness to men of all political opinions, he should follow the example of his predecessor.—(Cheers.)—Mr. Nicholson and himself had sat for 21 years in the house—he (Mr. Carter) for 20, and Mr. Nicolson for not quite one. He hoped he might long continue to hold a position the most honourable that could be conferred on any man in the country. The electors had to look to Mr. Nicholson’s character before he came amongst them, and he hoped he (Mr. Carter) would be fully justified in leading them to expect, not perhaps grand oratorial displays, but honourable service, and that in choosing him they had selected an able, upright, and conscientious man.—(Applause.)—To any member representing a constituency of this size and character there was an additional pleasure, for he might know personally all he represented.—(Hear.)—There were no doubt objections to small constituencies, but for mutual pleasure and confidence, a constituency, represented by a single member, which combined two classes and did not raise the prejudices of either, but brought the agriculturists and tradesmen into proper and agreeable relation, was one which it was very agreeable to represent.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Nicholson, M.P., in reply, said that foreigners sometimes put it as a reproach that an English audience, on the first appearance of' a new actor amongst them, accorded approbation, while they (foreigners) waited patiently to ascertain whether his acts and performances entitled him to such approbation, and that they, therefore, were better judges as to whether it should be accorded. He thought he himself was in that position. His return was so immediately before the prorogation of Parliament that he had no opportunity of undertaking his duty as a member of the House of Commons; and he could only attribute the kind manner in which they had received the toast to the generous spirit of Englishmen who were ready to accord their support to those anxious to do their duty.—(Hear, hear.)—They had been told that politics were not to be encroached upon, though they had still had some slight dissertation on them.—(A laugh.)—They had, however, met on a happier occasion, and one which would perhaps tend more to the prosperity of the town—the opening of their corn exchange. The question of trade in corn was for a long time under discussion. It had given rise to many acts of parliament, and they knew that as late as the commencement of' the present century the trade in corn, for the purpose of' re-selling it in another market, was an offence, punished by law. The act of parliament had, however, been repealed, and all obstacles to free-trade removed.—(Applause.)—During the past 20 years the increased consumption and trade which had arisen partly from the increase of population, but chiefly from the improved condition of the agricultural labourers, had been such as to render it necessary that all facilities for trade should be accorded, and the town of Petersfield had only done what it was bound to do—provide increased accommodation for those engaged in the trade in corn in the district.—(Hear, hear.)—That trade was now fully five times what it was in 1845, and during the past year the imports have increased more than ever, and they might reasonably expect they would amount to some 12,000,000 or 14,000,000 qrs. That showed there must be increased facilities for the trade, and he believed it would be for the benefit of the promoters of' that corn exchange, and for the benefit of the town and the farmers generally, that the movement had been set on foot.—(Hear, hear.)
The Chairman said he was about to propose what he presumed would be considered the toast of the evening, and it was a subject on which every gentleman present knew as much, and many a good deal more, than he did. This was therefore an embarrassing position in which he found himself, but he must congratulate them with all his heart that an undertaking, which he believed to he in the right direction, had been brought to so successful a termination, for to facilitate the trade in corn, to which their present member (Mr. Nicholson) had alluded, was what they all desired and aimed at accomplishing. It was in connection with that trade in corn that he was afraid he was open to the accusation of being an old and bigotted sinner.—(A laugh.)—He could not understand hon. gentlemen like his friend Sir J. C. Jervoise distinguishing between the interests of those who traded in corn and those of all other classes. He (Lord Hylton) never could see any difference.—(Cheers.)—Trade was trade, facility for trade was facility for trade, and the same facility should be accorded to all alike.—(Hear, hear.)—That was his view with regard to the corn trade, and that was one of' the reasons why he took so great an interest in that building, because such an undertaking as this identified the sale of corn with that of every other commodity.—((Hear, hear.)—Could anybody suggest a reason why the agricultural interest, was to be separated from all others?— He was never able to discover the reason.—(Hear, hear.)—He might be mistaken, but his decided opinion was that they laboured under a disadvantage because his fellow-countrymen would make a distinction between trade of one kind and trade of another.—(Hear.)—Now the great object they had that day obtained was to remedy an immense defect in their market—a defect with which they were all acquainted. For many years the farmer was inhospitably received here; and he (Lord Hylton) had often asked how this might be remedied. They had found the remedy, and for the future the farmer would be received in a hospitable manner. He would now be protected from the rain from which he formerly had to seek shelter under his umbrella, and could now use a building in which he would he able to transact his business in a manner which would be satisfactory to him and profitable to the company. If they had accomplished that (and he believed they had) they had attained a great object. He (Lord Hylton) felt it a high honour to have been called on to inaugurate that handsome building, which he hoped would produce all the benefits its promoters contemplated.—(Hear, hear.)—He believed it would be a great advantage to the town, and a convenience to all who frequented the market which they could not but appreciate. They were not a divided interest in this place. Their interests were commerce and agriculture, and every one was equally influenced by the prosperity of those interests from the large squire to the errand-boy who carried out the parcels of the tradesman.—(Hear, hear.)—It was only, too, by affording facilities for trade that they could hope to prosper. It was a matter for high congratulation that he met them there that day, but he wished he had some such pleasant announcement a to make as Sir J. C. Jervoise had. He did not know by what means the hon. baronet found out that the malt tax was about to be repealed.—(Laughter.)—He (the Chairman) only wished he could have consulted the fairy who frequented the hon. baronet’s downs, for there was nothing which would have given them greater gratification than such an announcement as Sir J. C. Jervoise had made.—(Hear.)—He (the Chairman) hoped he had avoided everything in the shape of politics. He was talking of what they had met there to celebrate—the opening of' facilities for the sale of corn in the neighbourhood—and he did not see how he could say anything if he did not allude to that particular branch of industry connected with the land. They had had a a good many hints as to the length of speeches after dinner, and he should take those hints; but he could not but express his belief that those gentlemen who had so exerted themselves to accomplish this object were benefactors to the town and neighbourhood. He knew that prosperity and comfort were dependent on the market being well-frequented, and with the improved facilities for communication between one part of the county and the other—with communication by rail to the eastward, and he hoped at no distant period to the westward, though they knew that the South-Western Railway moved by slower degrees than other companies—he could not but hope that the company would prosper.—(Applause.)—He proposed ‟Success and prosperity to the Petersfield Corn Exchange Company.”—(Applause.)
Mr. Shenton, in reply, stated that it was seven years ago since he first attended the market. The day was a wet one, and he thought the transaction of business was indeed a pursuit under difficulties. The first sample he looked at was under an umbrella, after which he had to adjourn to a neighbouring hostelry to settle. He could not but contrast this with the accommodation which would be provided for the farmers on Wednesday week. The tolls would be lower at Petersfield—than any other market in the country, and the advantages greater. For 2l. 2s. the company proposed that a farmer should make use of the exchange for twelve months, and have liberty to expose two sample sacks; and he could not but recommend them to show sample sacks of corn in preference to bags, for they encouraged farmers to come to the market. At the present time if a stranger came he did not know where to obtain a sample of corn. The sample was in the farmer’s pocket, and a stranger could not of course ask another stranger if he had a sample. If, however, the corn were exposed to the whole world there was no doubt the farmers would obtain higher prices, and the advantages would therefore be reciprocal.—(Hear, hear.)—The company also proposed to allow a farmer for 1l. 1s. a year to make use of the exchange and to expose a single sack; and those who preferred to conduct their business in the old way could do so on payment of 7s. 6d. a year. Notwithstanding these low tolls, however, the company hoped to pay a good interest to their shareholders. The cost of the building was 2,500l., and he was happy to say that sum was nearly all paid; but owing to two deaths they had still about 30 shares of 5l. each to dispose of, and these would clear off the whole of their liabilities.—(Hear, hear.)—He might add that they had benefitted largely by donations and if any gentleman would prefer to give them a donation instead of taking a share, the company would be happy to receive it.—(A laugh.)
Captain Seward proposed ‟The health of the Chairman,” who had been for so long connected with Petersfield, who during a long political life had made a friend of all with whom he had been brought into communication, and who had the hearty wish of all that he might enjoy many years of health and happiness.—(Applause.)
The Chairman, in reply, said that nothing could have afforded him greater gratification than to be invited to Petersfield to take the chair on such an occasion. For 30 odd years he had been honoured with the confidence of the borough, and that in old age he should be invited to the town afforded him a gratification which nothing else could replace.—(Applause.)
The Rev. J. M. Sumner remarked that a writer in the Saturday Review had said that the object of a public speaker should be two-fold—to conciliate opponents, and to stimulate the enthusiasm of adherents. In connection with the toast he was about to propose, ‟The health of the county magistrates,” he presumed there would not be a single opponent to conciliate and it would require but a few words to secure the enthusiasm of their friends. It was one of the greatest blessings they enjoyed that they lived in a land where justice was administered without fear, favour, or affection; and whenever the law was laid down, whether by the ermined judge on the bench or the country gentleman at home, they felt confidence in the individual who administered it.—(Hear, hear.)—He (Mr. Sumner) always felt that a large debt of gratitude was due to those gentlemen who discharged the duties of magistrates of the county. There were many duties which came under the cognisance of the public; but there were others which they did not see, such as the duties of visiting justices, visiting lunatic asylums, inspecting roads, nursing the finances of the county, duties neither few nor far between, which demanded much time and attention, but were given without stint, fee, or reward, save the reward of their own conscience and the approval of the community among whom they lived.—(Hear, hear.)—The magistrates never allowed any consideration of' personal convenience or private engagements to interfere with the strict course of justice; and without desiring to flatter them, he would state that he believed no bench in England was composed of more impartial men.—(Applause.)
The Hon. J. J. Carnegie, in reply, dwelt on the pleasure it afforded the magistrates to give their time and services to the administration of justice in the neighbourhood. Their acts were before the public; they knew how far justice was administered, and he might state it as a specimen of their impartiality that one of the acts of the magistrates had been to fine their member (Mr. Nicholson) for having an engine within the prohibited distance on the turnpike-road.—(Hear, hear.)—They did not come there, however, as magistrates, but as neighbours and friends. He congratulated the company on the inauguration of this building, and expressed a hope that such a golden harvest might flow from the movement as the most earnest of all their friends could desire.—(Hear, hear.)
Captain Seward, in proposing ‟The health of the secretary,” said they should not have had a corn exchange had it not been for the secretary.—(Hear, hear.)—Everybody had felt the want of such a building. The farmers had been almost melted in the summer, and frozen in the winter; but they wanted a man to put them to work. Mr. Soames happened to be the man, and the pin on which they all turned. Nobody could be aware of the immense amount of work he had to get through.—(Applause.)
Mr. Joseph Soames briefly responded.
The health of the architect and the builder, and ‟The Press,” and ‟The Ladies,” proposed by Messrs. Shenton, Elkington, R. S Cross, and the Rev H.Haigh, followed.
     A number of glees and songs were sung during, the evening by Messrs. Harry Sydney, P. Cross, Phillips, Snarey, and Pimlott, the comic songs improvised for the occasion by the former being highly amusing.