The GLIO Site

PETERSFIELD.

     Although somewhat slow in commencing, we venture to affirm that few towns of similar size ‟came out” on this auspicious occasion with a more successful demonstration than Petersfield. The first note of preparation was sounded only a fortnight before the event was to come off, when a public meeting was called, and, from the hearty manner in which that call was responded to, it immediately became apparent that the whole town was fully alive to the importance of the event, and disposed to celebrate it in a fitting manner. A subscription list was opened, and a committee of twelve appointed to make the  necessary arrangements. It was resolved to give a public dinner, on a thoroughly liberal scale, to all the working people of Petersfield, Sheet, Lower Weston and Lower Nursted, and a treat to all the children; to this resolution was appended a rider, giving the employers of labour in Buriton the option of subscribing to the fund, each having tickets placed at his disposal, to the amount of his subscription. Several of the inhabitants of Buriton, Upper Nursted, and Upper Weston, availed themselves of this arrangement, in addition to which the Rev. J. M. Sumner gave a dinner to the tradesmen, mechanics, and others, in the village, and also a treat to the children. The committee immediately set to work and prosecuted their labours most assiduously, sitting every alternate evening until all the arrangements were completed. As the time of year precluded the idea of an open air dinner, and there being no room in the town large enough for the purpose, Mr. Adams suggested and kindly undertook to superintend the erection of a monster tent in the market square, enclosing the equestrian statue which stands in the centre, and calculated to seat 1,000 persons. This idea was adopted by the committee and most successfully carried out, scaffold poles, tarpaulings, rick cloths, &c., being kindly lent for the ocension by the builders and farmers in the town and neighbourhood. This tent measured 125 feet in length, 72 feet in width, and 28 feet in height, and was fitted with tables, affording ample room for the company, and still leaving space for visitors without any inconvenient crowding. The day was ushered in with a merry peal of bells, the firing of cannon, and several volleys of rifles. At twelve o’clock the children assembled in the Spain, where they were marshalled in pairs, and with the drum and fife band of the 12th Hants Rifle Volunteers paraded the streets of the town. On returning to the square and entering the tent a delectable sight presented itself to their view, four of the tables having in the meantime been laid out with 600 threepenny buns, 1200 oranges, and 600 wine glasses. Grace having been nicely sung by the children, each was supplied with a bun, a glass of wine, and two oranges, and, as soon as they had disposed of this and sung the National Anthem, they were taken charge of by a sub-committee appointed for the purpose, and marched off to the Heath, where they engaged in various sports, racing for prizes, &c. The children being thus disposed of preparations were made for the more substantial feasting of the adults. About 60 joints of roast and boiled beef and legs of mutton were placed on the tables, with 80 plum puddings, each weighing 10lb., and 500 quart loaves of bread, the whole being supplemented with 200 gallons of capital beer. To this spread of good old English fare upwards of 1,000 persons sat down, grace having been previously said by the Rev. J. M. Sumner, and it is needless to say they all set to work in earnest, and, with a staff of about 60 carvers, the supply kept pace with the demand until all were satisfied. Dinner being over, and grace having been said the whole company upstanding gave in succession a series of hearty cheers for the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Royal House of Denmark, and Old England, after which pipes and tobacco were introduced, and as many as chose to do so regaled themselves with these till dusk. The Haslemere band was in attendance, and contributed greatly to the life and spirit of the scene by playing a number of airs throughout the day, being stationed on a platform erected within the tent, in close proximity to the statue. In the evening there was a brilliant display of fireworks on the heath, or rather on the pond, a platform having been erected some 30 yards from the shore, which afforded the double advantage of avoiding the pressure of the crowd and of giving additional effect to the exhibition by reflection from the surface of the water. This part of the day’s entertainment, like everything else, was a complete success. Apropos of fireworks we counted upwards of a dozen bonfires which could be seen from the Heath, the most conspicuous being Col. Nicholson’s on War Down and Mr. Seward’s on Butser. These were truly magnificent. Some idea may be formed of their brilliancy when we state that persons standing at the southern edge of Heath Pond distinctly saw their shadows projected on the ground. Another interesting object seen from this point was the mansion of Bonham Carter, Esq., M.P., at Adhurst St. Mary, which was brilliantly illuminated. We are pleased to be able to add that every aged and sick person who was unable to attend the dinner was presented with 2s. 6d. and the surplus bread was distributed by the committee to the poor at the Town-hall on Wednesday evening. In conclusion we may add that everything in connexion with the Petersfield demonstration passed off in a highly satisfactory manner, and as far as the dinner in the square is concerned we feel assured that such a scene was never before witnessed by the oldest inhabitant, and that it will never be forgotten by the youngest.