TREXTHA:^! show. 289 



kinds of stock and bringing them forward for exhibition on occasions like the 

 present. These local shows were now of very great value. Sioce the decision 

 of the Eoyal Society to give up its migratory meetings and to meet near London 

 as a permanent home, the importance of the local shows would be very much 

 increased all through the country-. He need not say to an assembly like that 

 how important it was that they should do all in their power to keep up the 

 character of their live stock, which still held the first place among the live stock 

 of the world. (Applause.) He need not enlarge on the point, because it was 

 seen in every market that good qualities were appreciated and inferior ones 

 neglected, and they must hope that every farmer would do all he could to raise 

 the best stock. Their opportunities for doing so were very much greater than 

 they were years ago, and every one should endeavour to avail themselves of the 

 opportunities now offered. (Applause). 



Mr. Blockley (Aston CM), who was first called upon to respond, said his 

 puppy was the first one he had ever walked, and he was pleased to think that he 

 had won the first prize. He found tliat there was no use in walking a hound 

 unless they gave him plenty of liberty and plenty to eat. His puppy ate a ham 

 one morning. (Laughter.) But in spite of the ham he would be very pleased 

 to walk another one for his Grace. (Applause.) 



:Mr. R S. Wilkinson and Mr. Hobson ("Weston Hall) responded for the suc- 

 cessful exhibitors of horses and cattle respectively. 



Major Stamer, in proposing the health of the Dnke and Duchess of Suther- 

 land, said they all knew that it was a great disappointment to the Duke not to be 

 present among them, and they could be sure that though not with them in 

 person he was with them in spirit (Applause.) His Grace knew full well that 

 he could meet no better friends anywhere than the tenant farmers of North 

 Staffordshire. (Applause.) The Duke became fonder of hunting every year, and 

 but for that they might not have his presence so much at Trentham in the winter. 

 They regretted that the Duchess had not been out with them so much as in 

 former years. Her health had not been all that could be wished, and. as they 

 knew, her time was not always her own. There was no good cause in North 

 Staffordshire to support, or bazaar to attend, but she was there. He hoped that 

 in the near futrre bazaars, with barbed wire, would become things of the past in 

 North Staftor-ilshire, and that they would see her Grace out much oftener with 

 the hounds. (Applause.) He was sure they all felt great satisfaction that his 

 Majesty had conferred upon the Duke the Knighthood of the Garter. It was a 

 great pleasure to all of them, and he was sure that no one could be more 

 deserving of the honour. (The band played the air which is usually associated 

 with a toast warmly received, and three times three cheers were given for the 

 Duke and Duchess, and one more for their children.) 



Sir Morton Manningham-BuUer, in complimentary terms, proposed the health 

 of the judges, and hoped to see some of them at the county show at Uttoxeter 

 next month. 



Mr. Reginald Corbet, in responding on behalf of the judges of hounds, said it 

 was very gratifying to see so many farmers walking hotmds for the Duke. If it 

 were not for them it would be impossible for the Duke to keep the pack up to 

 its state of efficiency. There was only one thing that gave greater respecta- 

 bility to a farmhouse than a puppy, and that was two puppies. (Laughter and 

 applause.) Moreover, two puppies gave a better chance of a prize, and. he 

 thought, were less likely to do mischief than one. He himself walked three 

 or four, and he found that they played together and did not do much harm. 

 (Applause.) 



U 



