OF PURBKCK. 



19;i 



officers are nominated by the out-going ones, subject to the 

 approval of the general meeting; and should the nominee be 

 considered an unfit person, as by reason of living out of the way 

 or the like, another is regularly nominated and elected by the 

 majority. 



The duty of tlie Wardens is at the present day to give authority 

 to the Stewards to act in calling meetings of the Master Quarriers, 

 where there is any question of infringement of rules ; such meet- 

 ing is held at the spot where the trespass is alleged; and the 

 Quarry master must attend: the men may do so also. The 

 Warden also presides at the general meeting. Formerly the 

 wardens used to manage the Stock of the Company; but no 

 joint stock now exists. There are also two Stewards appointed: 

 they too are one and one for Borough and Country, and arc 

 appointed by the out-going steward, subject to the approval of 

 the Company. 



The Steward acts under the authority of the superior officer, 

 and is in effect. Vice Warden. He gives personal notice of in- 

 tended meetings, warning the master-quarriers to attend. The 

 place of assembly is always out of doors, generally at the quarry 

 mouth ; and the members of it sit around, the speaker of the 

 moment generally using the capstan or some elevated groimd or 

 stone for his tribune. No particular length of notice is required. 



Corfe Castle is the proper metropolis of the Quarrier's coimtry, 

 though Swanage being the place of shipment of the stone, the 

 business tends more to that quarter. At one time, some thirty 

 years ago, the box of the Company containing the Articles and 

 other papers was removed to Swanage: the general meeting was 

 then opened at Corfe, and adjourned on to Swanage. An alter- 

 ation again took place, and since that time the town meeting, and 

 that for the country, have always been regularly held at Corfe 

 and Langton respectively. 



On Candlemas Day, February 14th, all persons who wish to 

 take out their Freedom of the Company assemble, and with a 

 band, headed by the Stewards of the Marblers, used to parade 

 the streets of Corfe and Swanage. At the present time Corfe has 

 but very few marblers resident. 



The Neophytes go by the name of "free b<.'}>, uua thvy 



