clxviii 
Monthly Council, November 7, 1894. 
that Northampton was competing in 
the desire to have the Royal Agricul- 
tural Society’s Show in 1896, and he 
might, perhaps, mention that the 
Society held its show at Cambridge 
last year, which was very near to 
Northampton. He could only repeat 
that they would do everything in their 
power to welcome the Society, and he 
predicted that, as Leicester had become 
of such import ance, they would realise 
all they could hope for from the Show 
being held there. 
Mr. J. F. L. Rolleston, as a mem- 
ber of the Committee representing the 
country districts of Leicestershire, 
stated that the motive of the Com- 
mittee of the Corporation for cordially 
extending an invitation to the Society 
to hold its Show at Leicester in 1896 
was not, as at first might be thought, 
a purely selfish one. There might or 
there might not be certain advantages 
conferred upon the town by bringing 
to Leicester such a magnificent ex- 
hibition as that which the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society yearly spread before 
the world. Whoever might or might 
not be benefited as heads of commer- 
cial interests, the visit would be of 
importance to the great sister industry 
of agriculture ; and they were anxious 
to welcome its chief organisation and 
to extend hospitality to its leaders. It 
would undoubtedly be a great cost to 
the public, and a great cost and labour 
to individuals. That view, however, 
was quite dismissed from their minds ; 
and if the Council accepted the invita- 
tion given, they would receive, in 
point of dignity and in point of en- 
thusiasm, as cordial a welcome as had 
ever been extended by any town in 
the United Kingdom. That might be 
regarded as the sentimental side of 
the question. In regard to the prac- 
tical side, there were 187,000 people 
in Leicester. So large and central a 
population, with such excellent rail- 
way facilities, would mean a consider- 
able “ gate ’’—probably the largest 
“ gate ” since Windsor. Leicester was 
in the heart of England, and in the 
centre of a district which had not been 
for some years past favoured by a 
visit from the Society. He would 
respectfully submit that at no part of 
the United Kingdom could a greater 
number of people from all parts of the 
country be afforded an opportunity of 
witnessing their exhibition than at 
Leicester. 
Mr. J. W. Logan, M.P., as repre- 
senting the Harborough Division of 
Leicestershire, had very much pleasure 
in cordially supporting the invitation 
extended to them. He had nothing 
to add to what had been said, but 
would content himself by cordially 
endorsing the invitation. 
Alderman Sir Thomas Weight 
said that if there were any doubts 
as to the spirit in which the Royal 
Agricultural Society would be received 
at Leicester, he hoped that the deputa- 
tion that morniDg would have re- 
moved them. In 1896 Leicester would 
have an additional supply of water, 
which would cost them 300,000?., and 
would remove the possibility of any 
doubt on this point. The chart on 
the wall would give an idea of the 
position which Leicester occupied in 
relation to other towns in the county, 
from which they might expect to 
draw a large number of people, and 
large supplies of stock. The popula- 
tion of Leicester was large, but the 
chief point was that Leicester was 
half-way between London and Man- 
chester, and occupied about as central 
a position as aDy town in England. 
The railway accommodation in the 
town was increasing from day to day. 
The Midland Railway Company were 
now making large alterations, which 
would be finished by 1896, and ^to- 
gether there were advantages not 
possessed by other towns. There would 
be unusual facilities for reaching 
either the Victoria or Aylestone Road 
site, and it was hoped to set down 
both passengers and stock at the 
Aylestone Road siding. He had no 
site in his own mind at Northampton 
which could give the same railway 
facilities as were possessed by Leices- 
ter. 
The President asked whether the 
allotments next to the Aylestone 
Road site could be utilised, and, if 
so, whether the ground could be 
turfed down this winter. 
The Mayor of Leicester replied 
in the affirmative, and gave a definite 
undertaking on the part of the Cor- 
poration accordingly. 
