Xxiv 
Monthly Council, February 7 , 1894 . 
words on behalf of the agriculture 
of the district, and the Marquis of 
Londonderry would represent the 
general claims of the district to their 
favourable attention. 
The Mayor of Darlinoton (Mr. 
G. W. Bartlett) said that the inhabi- 
tants of the borough had entered 
very cordially into the proposal, and 
that a sum of upwards of 6,000Z. had 
been definitely subscribed to defray 
the expenses. The various agricul- 
tural societies throughout the county 
of Durham, Chambers of Agriculture, 
and other public bodies had by reso- 
lution offered their hearty co-opera- 
tion to assist in securing that complete 
success in the town of Darlington and 
the county of Durham which they 
all desired. Representing the Town 
Council as well as the town of Dar- 
lington, he tendered to them a very cor- 
dial invitation to hold their Country 
Meeting of 1895 at Darlington. It 
would perhaps save time and be more 
agreeable if he allowed the memorial 
to speak for itself, merely adding one 
or two remarks as to essential points. 
As they were well aware, the centres 
they visited should be sufficiently 
populous. So far as the county of 
Durham was concerned, within the 
limits of the county, and within a 
distance of thirty miles from Darling- 
ton; there was a population of 
1.000. 000, not including the large 
industrial populations of Middles- 
brough, Cleveland, and the mining 
districts. Then he might say that the 
county of Durham was really the 
most densely populated in England, 
with the exception of Middlesex and 
Lancashire. Within fifteen miles of 
Darlington there was a population of 
260.000. The county contained many 
thickly populated towns, such as the 
following: Stockton and Thornaby, 
60,000 ; Hartlepool and West 
Hartlepool, 70,000 ; Sunderland, 
120,000 ; Gateshead, 100,000 ; South 
Shields and Tyne Dock, 100,000 ; and 
Middlesbrough, 100,000 ; so that 
within easy reach of Darlington there 
was ample population to justify the 
holding of the show in that particular 
district. With respect to the position, 
he thought that if they came to the 
county of Durham at all, it would be 
natural that they should come to the 
town of Darlington, as the largest and 
most important agricultural centre. 
Its railway accommodation was quite 
exceptional. There were two stations, 
and Bank Top Station was one of the 
largest stations out of London. At 
Darlington there converged the 
various lines throughout the North 
of England from the agricultural 
centres, as well as from the 
commercial centres. There was 
ample accommodation at both sta- 
tions, which were not more than two 
miles from the suggested site of the 
show. There were most excellent 
roads leading to the show-ground. 
As to accommodation, the North 
country was noted for its hospitality, 
and they did not intend to forfeit 
their reputation in that respect if 
the Society should favour them with 
a visit. Within the borough nearly 
3,000 persons could be accommo- 
dated, and outside there were many 
pleasant summer resorts, such as 
Saltburn, Redcar, Barnard Castle, and 
Richmond, so that they could ac- 
commodate very easily at least 10,000 
people, and more if necessary. As 
concerning the site, the report of the 
Inspection Committee would be of 
more service than any words that he 
could add. The Hummersknott site 
consisted of 1 00 acres of well-drained 
land, near to the town, and within 
almost a stone’s-throw of the villa 
residences stretching out in that 
direction. It was less than two 
miles from the railway station ; and 
an excellent turnpike road, which 
ran the whole distance alongside the 
site, would be another advantage. 
He would like to add that they would 
feel it as an honour conferred upon 
the town if the Society accepted their 
invitation. Their leading idea was 
clearly set forth in the concluding 
paragraph of their memorial: — 
That your memorialists, feeling that the 
primary aim of your Society is the advance- 
ment of agriculture in every part of Eng- 
land, and that by breaking new ground the 
Society arouses enthusiasm amongst all 
classes, encouraging agriculturists to dis- 
card old methods and adopt modern im- 
provements, and having in the foregoing 
shown the vastness of the agricultural and 
commercial industries of the district, its 
unsurpassed facilities of transit, and the 
capability and willingness to fittingly ac- 
commodate visitors to your show, trust yon 
will find it consistent with the great inter- 
ests confided to your charge to accede to the 
prayer of this memorial. 
