OPENING THE NEW CORN EXCHANGE AT PETERSFIELD.
A want which has long been felt those who have been in the habit of attending the market at Petersfield has at length been supplied, and Wednesday last witnessed the inauguration of a commodious and handsome Corn Exchange. This building has been erected by a limited liability company, comprising many of the leading landowners and agriculturists of the district, who have either taken shares or given donations to the fund. The Exchange, which stands on the spot formerly occupied by wretched-looking group of cottages—a great eyesore to that part of the High-street,—is in the semi-Italian style. It is of white brick, with Bath stone carved capitals and dressings. The roof is iron framed, with an upper lantern running the whole length of the building, and admitting light both at the sides and top. The roof is covered with Taylor’s patent tiles. The architect Mr. Chancellor, of Chelmsford and London; the builder is Mr. Dallimore, of Fareham; and the clerk of the works is Mr. Salisbury. The total cost of the building, including the land, is about £2500. A dinner is almost invariably considered by Englishmen to be the most fitting method of celebrating an event, and, accordingly, it was resolved to celebrate the opening of the Exchange with a dinner, which was fixed for halt-past three o’clock, but did not commence until half an hour later. The Exchange was very tastefully decorated in honour of the occasion, a festoon of flowers and evergreens extending round the whole length of the building, the arches of the windows and the doors being also lined and similarly festooned, and the walls decorated with groups of flowers and evergreens. Over the entrance door were several sheaves of wheat, and at various parts of the room were the inscriptions, ‟God speed the plough,” Success to Agriculture,” ‟May the undertaking prosper.” Over the chairman’s seat was the motto, ‟God save the Queen,” surmounted by a crown. The company numbered upwards of 200, among those present being the Right Hon. Lord Hylton (in the chair); Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P.; Mr. W. W. B. Beach, M.P.; Mr. W. Nicholson, M.P.; Mr. J. B. Carter, M.P.; the Rev. J. M. Sumner, rector of Buriton; the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, Mr. J. Waddington, Captain Sandeman, the Revds. H. Haigh and —— Brown; Messrs. W. Shenton (chairman of the company), G. H. Seward, T. Seward, R. S. Cross, W. Elkington, J. D. Lewis, R. and G. A. Gale, Coryton, Collis, Barnard, Henty, Ware, Porter, Grain, J. Turvill, Chase, Adams, Ray, Caffin, Crowter, Mortimore, H. Boys, W. Pink, T. Boys, Eames, Matthews, Etherington, Finley, H. Toomer (Reading), Soames (Secretary), &c., &c. Previous to the commencement of dinner the noble Chairman declared the Corn Exchange to be open. The dinner was supplied by Mr. J. Morgan, of the Volunteer Arms, and there was an excellent bill of fare, but the want of a sufficient staff of competent waiters was generally complained of. After the cloths had been cleared Non nobis Domine was sung by Messrs. P. Cross, Phillips, Snary, and Pimlott, from Winchester Cathedral. The vocal arrangements were excellent, the speeches being interspersed with songs and glees by the choristers, which were given in excellent style, and with comic songs by Mr. Harry Sydney, of London, who exercised his well-known faculty of making impromptu verses, containing many ‟hits” at the political and local celebrities present, in a manner that kept the audience in roars. After dinner a number of ladies graced the proceedings with their presence, occupying raised daïs at the east end of the building.
The CHAIRMAN proposed ‟The Queen,” and ‟the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,” which were received with the usual enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing ‟The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” after referring to the services of the two first-named bodies, said of late years there had been a great acquisition to this country in the volunteer movement, which had so many loyal hearts and able hands to take part in the maintenance of our nationality and prosperity. (Cheers.) He coupled with the army the name of Captain Sandeman, and with the volunteers that of a distinguished citizen, distinguished in many ways, Captain Seward, who was as distinguished a marksman and volunteer as he was an agriculturist, and they looked to such men as he be those who under all dangers and necessities they might rely upon. (Cheers.)
Captain SANDEMAN, in responding, congratulated the company that the peaceful state of affairs enabled old soldiers, like himself, to retire from the service, and turn their attention to agricultural pursuits, and without any detriment to the country, as younger and more useful and active men would take their place, and he thought that old fellows like himself were more appropriate in a corn exchange than in a camp.(Cheers and laughter.)
Captain SEWARD (12th Hants Rifle Volunteers) briefly responded for the volunteers.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing ‟The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese,” said in this country they enjoyed the blessing of having the Gospel preached to them in an unpretending and yet efficient manner. Especially in this part of the world had they a most efficient clergy, men devoted to their duty, and who had for many years been under the guidance and control of a bishop who was distinguished for his piety. (Hear, hear.) Under his guidance the clergy took no narrow view of their duty; they were men, who whilst they did their duty in their own parishes, fully recognized the great benefit which a Christian people enjoyed from the ministrations of others in the same vineyard, but who might not be of the same denomination as themselves. (Cheers.) That, indeed, was the true Christian view which the clergy ought to take of their ministrations, and we, he thought, enjoyed the blessings which that bestowed. (Cheers.)
The Rev. J. M. Sumner, whose name was coupled with the toast, responded. The bishop had, he said, been connected with the diocese for nearly 40 years, and he hoped that it was not the mere paternal feeling of a son which led him to think that he had had the good fortune to gain the affectionate regard of many, and the good will and esteem of all the clergy and laity among whom he had passed the best years of his life. (Cheers.) Happily, the constitution of English society was such that there could be no distinction of class among them. (Hear, hear.) The interests which affected one class affected all, from the highest to the lowest, so that what affected one affected the other also. But whilst this was true, he thought it was equally true that the interests of the clergy were specially bound up with the agricultural community—(cheers)—and therefore it was with real pleasure that he had the opportunity of meeting them for the first time in the new exchange, for although he did not pretend to say that the opening of that building was to be the opening of a new era in Petersfield, yet he did think the building would supply a want which had been long felt all, and that it was eminently calculated to give them a great many advantages. He, therefore, heartily congratulated them that the good work had been brought to so auspicious a conclusion that evening, and he hoped that they and their sons after them might experience all the advantages which the most enthusiastic supporters of the exchange could wish for them. (Cheers.) Ho had read an anecdote of the late Duke of Wellington, in which it was said that on one occasion he was the president of a musical festival, and the preacher went to him two or three days before and asked him what he wanted to preach about? The Duke answered sharply, ‟Preach about? Preach about 10 minutes.” (Laughter.) He thought that, which was a very good hint from the Duke for a sermon, might be taken as capital advise for an after-dinner speech, and, therefore, he contented himself by thanking them most sincerely for the manner in which they had drunk their healths. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed “The County members.” He believed that no county could be bettor served than was the county of Hants by its members. Two of member, had honoured them with their presence, and could say from personal knowledge that no men could be more diligent in their duty towards their county than they. (Hear, hear.) Having an acquaintance with those gentlemen, from their life and conversation he should say they were well acquainted with agricultural affairs, and he was quite sure they would be ready to do justice to that interest whenever it should come before the great council of the nation. (Cheers.)
Mr. W W. B. Beach, M.P., said that after the excellent advice which Mr. Sumner tendered them it would ill become him to detain them long. But he must on his own behalf, and on that of his colleague, who was prevented from being present on this occasion, tender them their most sincere and grateful thanks. He had the very greatest pleasure in attending that day, on the occasion of such an interesting ceremonial as the present. When he was last in Petersfield the foundations of this very fine building were not laid, and this day they saw its completion. He trusted he should not be sanguine in anticipating the most complete success to their endeavours, and he thought he might state one fact which might operate as an encouragement to those who took a great interest in this undertaking. In the town of Basingstoke only a year and a half ago they erected and opened a corn exchange, and the success which had attended it had been equal to the most sanguine anticipations of its promoters. (Cheers.) He trusted that a similar result might attend this building. It was quite evident in the present day that it was necessary to have great conveniences to attract buyers from a distance. Where facility of communication from district to district was afforded, conveniences must be afforded to those who attended from a distance, or they would necessarily he attracted somewhere else. (Hear, hear.) He most cordially reciprocated what Lord Hylton had just said that representing an important agricultural constituency, he must necessarily take a great interest in the welfare and well-being of agriculture. (Cheers.) He believed there was nothing which could so greatly conduce to the prosperity of agriculture as a good understanding between landlord and tenant, and that what in any way conduced to the welfare of the one would also be a sensible benefit in the end to the other. (Cheers.) He thought that a landlord must be very blind to his own interests who refused to give a long lease to any tenant who might require it, because that was only encouragement to him to embark his capital in the soil, and afforded some guarantee to him for the money which he had laid out. (Cheers.) He hoped he was not taking an interested view when said that he thought the improvement of the position of the tenant would not be likely to be promoted were the advice which had been lately tendered in a sister country carried out, namely, to ruin and impoverish the landlord. (Cheers.) He thought that what conduced to the benefit of the one would be a necessary ingredient in the prosperity of the other. (Hear, hear.) They had had one of the greatest undertakings of modern times completed during the past year—the Atlantic Telegraph. He trusted that it might be productive of the greatest possible good understanding between the United States and ourselves. He must confess, however, that at present he had not seen any interesting topics of public interest contained in the telegrams; all he had been able to gather from them was the current price of petroleum and the melancholy news of the death of Mr. Van Buren. (Laughter.) On the continent they had had many great events that they must congratulate themselves that this country had been able to keep at peace. (Hear, hear.) They had seen many potentates discrowned, and they certainly must sympathise with some of these, who, from no fault of their own, had been dethroned from their high positions. They could only express a hope that in the end it might be for the material prosperity of the country. They might, however, be excused for professing an earnest sympathy with some of them, because they knew, in the words of the poet, that
‟It is better to be born a peasant
Than live an exiled king.”
He thought the events on the continent showed the necessity of those countries keeping lower armaments than they had, which would conduce to the financial prosperity of those countries and to the peace of the world. (Cheers.)
Sir J. C. JERVOISE, M.P., also returned thanks on behalf of himself and his colleague, Col. Fane. The noble lord in the chair had given them credit for being great agriculturalists. Now, he considered that a man to be a great agriculturalist must be a monster. (Laughter.) He must be a monster of learning; he ought to know all sciences; but on such an occasion as this he thought above all things he ought to be master of discretion. (Laughter.) They knew how, in the minor theatres, the sentiment drew down the house, when the actor came forward and said that the man who would raise a blush on the cheek of beauty did not deserve the name of a man or Briton. (Laughter.) He (Sir Jervoise) had no intention of forfeiting that title, which he held to be one of the proudest in the world. But they had heard that extreme delicacy on the part of the female sex, more particularly on the part of their cousins on the other side of the Atlantic. They had heard of the young female who clothed the legs of the table for the sake of propriety. (Renewed laughter.) That hyper-scrupulous delicacy on her part was nothing, he thought, as compared with the scrupulous delicacy of the unprotected female—agriculture. (Laughter.) It was impossible to talk of the affairs which his hon. friend had mentioned without a cry being uttered by this lady, ‟You are talking politics.” They could not allude to a good barley crop without that melancholy malt tax cropping up. (Laughter.) They could not say there were great resources in agriculture, but what this desolate female said—
Men have these resources, we but one
To love again, and be again undone.
(Laughter.) He must say that it was not always without reason that this coy female had made this charge upon her admirers and her would-be lovers. But they must hope that there was a good time coming for agriculture. He believed that in that neighbourhood, he might say, without calling up any feeling of indignation on the part of that delicate female, they had been peculiarly blessed in the harvest and had escaped many of those disasters which had overwhelmed other parts of England. (Hear, hear.) But that great boon that had been looming in the distance so long they now saw at last, and which those who had advocated the repeal of the malt-tax must feel they were now almost grasping. (Laughter.) They had now a Chancellor of the Exchequer who was going, no doubt, to repeal the malt-tax. (Laughter.) There could no question about the fact, and he knew that so many had embarked in the hope that they might really expect some remission. (Laughter.) He remembered seeing that at a meeting at Winchester a great dignitary of the church assured the party present that he and his brethren would very gladly pay an increase of 2d. or 3d. in the pound if this tax were removed. He confessed that in the division of the county which he represented he did not find that that sentiment was unanimous. However, they would see what the result would be next session. For his own part, and that of his colleagues, he trusted that though they might differ in their views of the great interests of the country, they had those interests at heart, and that they might all work together for the adoption of these measures which should be considered for the benefit of the country, and that on such an occasion as this they might both be considered to have the great interests of agriculture at heart, as combined with the interests of commerce, which were so largely developed in the southern division this county. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. B. Carter, M.P., proposed ‟The Borough Member.” It was very difficult, he said, on the outset of any man’s career, to know exactly what course to take with reference to proposing his health, because he knew from experience that nothing was more unkind than to over-praise a man or to lead men to expect what he could not perform. Of all the members who entered the House of Commons there were certainly not above some dozen or twenty on either side who achieved a great reputation as orators. But there were a very large number of men who did honest and good service, and it was of the highest importance, apart from the question of partizan politics, that they should select a high-minded and honourable man. (Hear, hear.) In proposing Mr. Nicholson’s health he could give him no better advice, speaking apart from party polities, 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.) He had no doubt they all felt that it was a compliment which gentlemen of Mr. Nicholson’s means and position paid to the county by coming and permanently living among them. (Hear, hear.) He was sure that in choosing Mr. Nicholson they had chosen an able, upright, and honourable man, and he was quite sure that in a constituency of this sort there was an additional pleasure that he could know personally almost all those whom he represented. There were no doubt some reasons against small constituencies, and constituencies of this kind, but he was quite sure that a constituency having one member, and of a character combining city and county, and which brought the agriculturist and the tradesman into proper and agreeable relationship, was one that was very pleasant to represent. He trusted that for many years they would find they had done no wrong—(he spoke as a neighbour and not on the question of partizan politics)—in electing so upright and conscientious a man, and he begged to give them the health of Mr. Nicholson, their member. (Cheers.)
Mr. Nicholson, M.P., in responding, said that foreigners very often put it forward as a matter of reproach to English audiences that on the first appearance of a new actor among them they should accord approbation, without waiting patiently to see the acts and performances of the actor consequent on which applause was accorded to him. He was in that position, because his return as their member took place so immediately before the dissolution that he had but time to take his seat and had no opportunity to gain any experience of the duties of a member. He could only attribute the kind manner in which they had received his health to the generous spirit of Englishmen, who were always ready to accord their support and encouragement to those who were anxious to fulfil any duty that devolved upon them. (Cheers) The question of trading in corn had, fortunately for them, been decided some time ago. It was a question which had occasioned many Acts of Parliament, and they all knew that even as late as the commencement of the present century the trading in corn, for the purpose of re-selling in other markets, was an offence punishable by law. This and other Acts of Parliament, which were, in the opinion of the promoters, for the benefit of the consumers of corn, had, happily, been repealed. During the last 20 years there had been an increased consumption of corn, which rendered it necessary that all facilities should be accorded to the trade, and the town had only done that which was for its own benefit, to enable it to keep its position among the other market towns in the district. The trade in corn had increased so enormously during the last 20 years, partly by the increased population, but chiefly by the improved condition of the agricultural and other labourers, as to render it necessary that there should be other facilities provided. If they looked back twenty years they would find the imports had increased fully five times what they were in 1845. They found also that during the present year the imports had increased more than ever, and that they might reasonably expect that they would amount to some twelve or fourteen millions of quarters. This showed that there must be facilities given for the trade in corn, and he thought it would be for the benefit of the promoters of this corn exchange and of the town of Petersfield, and at the same time of the farmers, that it had been set on foot. (Cheers.) He thanked them for the kind manner in which they had received him, and assured them that it would be his endeavour to meet their approbation as member for the borough. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing—‟Success and prosperity to the Petersfield Corn Exchange Company,” congratulated the company that an undertaking which was in the right direction and in a direction which would facilitate the trade in corn was completed. He could not understand hon. gentlemen like his hon, friend Sir Jervoise Jervoise, distinguishing between the interests of other trading classes and the interests of those who traded in corn. He could never understand the difference. Trade was trade, and facility in trade was facility in trade; and the facility accorded to one interest should, in his opinion, be accorded to all. (Hear, hear.) Why should not those who traded in corn have all the facilities and advantages of those who traded in anything else? Could any one suggest a reason why the agricultural interests laboured under a great disadvantage, because many of their countrymen would make a distinction between trade of one sort and trade of another. (hear, hear.) His lordship then referred to the long period during which the want of a market had been felt, and expressed a hope that it would produce all the benefits which he and the promoters contemplated. The town of Petersfield was entirely dependent on the success of agriculture; it was her trade and business, and it was by giving facilities to that trade that they might hope to propser, as other Englishmen propsered in their trades and businesses. (Hear, hear.) It was a matter of high congratulation that they met to-day on an occasion they felt to be so auspicious. But he only wished that he had some pleasant announcement to make to them such as the hon. baronet had made. He did not know by what inspiration or by what means he had found out that the malt tax was about to be repealed. (Laughter.) He only wished, if he had consulted the fairy who frequented his downs, or some one else, that he had not informed him of the fact, beacuse on such an occasion it would be a matter of congratulation that could never be exceeded. He entirely despaired of affording them such gratification on the present occasion. He believed that the large agriculturists in this neighbourhood, who had so exerted themselves as to have accomplished what they had done, would be very vast benefactors to the town and its neighbourhood, and that it would be highly appreciated by those who frequented the market. After some further observations his lordhip proposed the toast, which was drunk amid loud cheers.
Mr. SHENTON (the CHAIRMAN) responded, giving an outline of the advantages offered to the attendants at the market, and urging the desirability of showing sample sacks instead of small samples. (Hear, hear.) In round numbers the cost of the building was £2,500, and he was happy to say that it was nearly all paid for, but owing to the death of two shareholders there were thirty £5 shares still remaining untaken. Their worthy secretary would be happy to receive the names of additional shareholders. At the same time he might say that they had benefitted much by donations, and, therefore, if gentlemen would rather give them donations than take shares they would be very happy to receive them (Cheers and laughter.)
Captain SEWARD proposed the health of Lord Hylton. From his long connection with them he always felt interested in everything that concerned Petersfield and its neighbourhood, and he was sure it had been given no one more gratification to see the completion of this work and the great company there assembled, than it had their noble chairman. (Cheers.) He could not say before the noble lord what he knew he and many others felt towards him. He could only say that during a long and active political life he had made a friend of every one with whom he had been brought in connection, and he was sure it was the hearty wish of all that he might enjoy many years’ happiness. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, expressing his gratification that after a connection of 30 years with the borough his name should be received in so enthusiastic a manner.
The Rev, J. M. Sumner proposed, in eulogistic terms, ‟The County Magistrates.” (Cheers.)
The Hon. J. J. CARNEGIE returned thanks. On this occasion, he said, he had first made the acquaintance of the member for Petersfield, whom he had had to fine for placing an engine within a prohibited distance of the highway—(laughter)—and, therefore, he trusted they administered justice impartially both to the rich and the poor. (Cheers.)
Captain SEWARD proposed ‟The Secretary,” and said he could safely say that they would not have met there that evening had it not been for him. (Hear, hear.) They had all for years and years felt the want of the exchange, but they wanted some one to put them together. Mr. Soames happened to be the man; he wa the pivot on which they had turned. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. SOAMES, the secretary, returned thanks.
The other toasts were ‟Success to Agriculture,” proposed by Mr. Elkington and responded to by Mr. Collis; ‟The Architect,” proposed by Mr. Shenton; ‟The Builder,” proposed by Mr. Elkington and acknowledged by Mr. Dallimore; ‟The Press,” proposed by Mr. R. S. Cross; and ‟The Ladies,” proposed by the Rev. H. Haigh and responded to by Mr. G. L. Blackmore, after which the proceedings were brought to a close.