January 28, 1899.
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
142
ence to the celebrated Dr. Busby, headmaster in the reigns of Charles II. and James II., being particularly amusing. It was stated that he used to cane lavishly, and stood in awe of no one, and when Charles II. visited the school, Dr. Busby declined to uncover his head, on the plea that the scholars must not be led to imagine that anyone existed superior or even paramount to himself. But in spite of the severity of his rule, he not only considerably raised the number of the boys, but his success in training them was unique, and he openly boasted that he had taught and chastised at least 12 bishops. In 1729 the number of boys was over 400 ; now there are about 250. But during its existence it has educated1 nine archbishops and over 60 bishops. Among the distinguished men mentioned as having been educated in the old Westminster school were Ben Jonson, Abraham Cowley, John Dryden, the author of “Absalom and Achitophel,” Nicholas Howe, poet laureate to George I., Matthew Prior, the poets Cowper and Southey ; Warren Hastings, Sir Christopher Wren; Gibbon and Froude, the historians ; Wesley and Lord Raglan. A considerable portion of the paper related to the Houses of Parliament, which were referred to as the largest edifice in the Gothic style in the world. It was stated that their cubical contents were over 15,000,000ft., being over 5,000,00ft. more than that of St. Paul’s ; that they have a frontage to the river of about one-sixth of a mile ; that they contain nearly 600 distinct apartments ; that the Victoria Tower is 348ft. in height, and 73ft. square; that the clock tower is 320ft. high; that Big Ben, weighing 14 tons, was installed in 1858; that the dials of the clock are 22jft. in diameter, or 400 superficial feet each ; and that the hands each weigh about a ton and a half.
The historical associations of many famous buildings in the locality were entered into in detail, and many amusing and interesting anecdotes and incidents were told. Towards the close of his paper, Mr. Rogers fittingly described the City of Westminster as “marvellous on account of its interesting past, its glorious present, and its splendid future.”
The paper, of course, did not admit of discussion in the true sense of the word, but Mr. Potter, Mr. Frank Cowtan, Mr. James Boyton, and Mr. James F. Field expressed their high appreciation of the praiseworthy efforts of Mr. Rogers, who was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks, carried in a most enthusiastic manner.
LICENSED PROPERTY NOTES.
The market for licensed properties was considerably brighter this week, as three houses were briskly sold at Masons’ Hall Tavern on Tuesday. Among these was the historic and well-known Old Bull and Bush, in North-end, Hampstead-heath, which was, it was said, the frequent resort of Addison and his friends. The house, Which was sold for £20,200 by Mr. John B. Fleuret, lias attached to it some pleasant gardens in which curiously constructed bowers and arbours are still to be seen.
The assessment of licensed premises was discussed at the quarterly meeting of the council of the Yorkshire district of the Licensed Victuallers’ National Defence League, held at the Queen Hotel, Huddersfield, on Monday. Mr. James Wallace, Sheffield, occupied the chair. Many complaints were made, and it was ,stated that the authorities were ignoring the rental value of premises in fixing assessments. It was also reported that it had been decided to test the legality of such assessment, and that ■several cases were pending.
Most advantageously situated in a locality in which coal and iron ore abound, and are worked, is the fully-licensed public-house known as the Falcon, Church-street, Oakengates, Shropshire, which Messrs. Barber and Son will offer for sale at the Wrekin Hotel, Wellington, on February 16. The house has a capital frontage to the street, and contains bar, parlour, etc., with malt-room, brewhcuse, and excellent cellarage. Included in the sale ■will be the well-known public-house, called the! Victoria, which is situated in the main thoroughfare of , the busy town of Oakengates. The house has ׳ a beer and wine license, is most substantially built, and !has a frontage of 41ft. to Market-street. It is noted for doing a most extensive trade, having one of the largest connections in the town.
We understand that John Smith’s Tadcaster Brewery Company, Limited, have just completed a large transaction, under which they acquire the business of Messrs. Simpson and Co., brewers, of Market Weighton, including agencies at Hull, Beverley, and Driffield, and 51 licensed houses in the East Riding. Except in two cases the houses have full licenses. The property was, it is stated, taken over on the 2nd inst. It is said that the death of Mr.
THE INSTITUTE OF ESTATE AND HOUSE AGENTS.
A PAPER ON “WESTMINSTER.”
It must be extremely gratifying to the Council of this Institute to find that the opportunities provided at frequent intervals for social intercourse are taken advantage of to the fullest extent by members and their friends. The monthly gathering, held on Thursday evening of last week, at the Hotel de Florence, Rupert-street, W., was a complete success. A little more than a year ago the Council decided that a dinner should precede the reading of a paper at these meetings. This was indeed a happy idea, and the good attendance is proof of the fact that it is received with general favour. One satisfactory circumstance in connection with these social evenings is that the interest among the younger members of the profession is increasing, and that a few have already come forward and contributed to the enjoyment of others by reading papers of more or less interest to London agents. The paper on “The City of Westminster,” read on Thursday last week by Mr. H. Mordaunt Rogers, F.S.I. (Rogers, Chapman and Thomas), may be taken as a very fair example of the ability displayed by some of these recruits. The paper was interesting from start to finish, and we regret that we are only able to afford a brief summary thereof.
The President (Mr. W. Bennett Rogers, F.S.I.) was supported by Mr. Allen Drew (Messrs. Debenham, Tewson, Farmer and Bridgewater). Among the members present we noticed Messrs. Frank Cowtan (Cowtan and Sons), John Taylor (White, Berry and Taylor), Edward Chesterton (Chesterton and Sons), G. W. Dixon (G. W. Dixon and Co., Sutton), James Boyton (Elliott, Son and Boyton), H. J. Chapman and Percy W. Rogers (Rogers, Chapman and Thomas), James F. Field (Field and Sons), G. W. Potter (Hampstead), G. H. Read (J. and R. Kemp and Co.), Ernest Swain (E. and A. Swain), J. A. Taylor (Taylor, Lovegrove and Co.), John Bott and J. A. J. Bott (John Bott and Son). The visitors included Mr. Henry Mossop (Messrs. Corsellis, Mossop and Berney, solicitors, Wandsworth), Mr. Wiggin-ton, Mr. Cowtan, jun., C. E. Chesterton, W. H. Godfrey, Mr. L. N. Rogers, Mr. A. N. Rogers, Mr. Harold Brookman, and Mr. W. J. T'aylor, secretary.
In his paper, Mr. Rogers remarked that “ London and Westminster were twin sister cities, joined by one street, and watered by one stream, the first a breeder of grave magistrates, the second the burial place of great monarchs,” thus using the words of Thomas Heywood, a writer of no mean degree, who, said Mr. Rogers, it is considered by many should himself have found a last resting place in the Abbey, which was, and is, not only the burial-place of great monarchs, but of those who have deserved well of their country. In spite of their being twin sister cities, each with a separate existence, they were apt to think of London as London and Westminster as London ; but when they became fully aware of the important part Westminster had played in the building of our empire, in the control of our legislature, in the life of the Court during the middle ages, in the encouragement of our legislature, and in the advancement of our religion, centring round the beautiful old Abbey—they recognised that Westminster held an individual and unique position. Confining himself to the “City” of Westminster, which, he said, comprised the parishes of St. Margaret’s and St. John, Mr. Rogers gave the total area of these parishes as 815 acres, the population in 1896 as 53,000, and the rateable value last year £914,269. Mr. Rogers proceeded to relate how the famous old Abbey was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor, who ordained that it should be in the shape of a cross, and granted a large sum of money to the monks for the rebuilding ; and in connection with the building of a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary and christened th» Lady Chapel, in 1220, he mentioned the interesting fact that Henry used a green sandstone brought from a place in Surrey, which place from that cause thenceforward became known as Godstone. He told how, towards the end of that century the Abbey suffered considerably from a fire, whilst in the following century the Jerusalem Chamber was built, and many minor additions made. He said the western towers of the Abbey were completed in the reign of George II. from designs by Sir Christopher Wren, which, however, were considerably modified. To furnish an idea of the importance and wealth of the Abbey in the middle ages, he mentioned that its possessions consisted of 97 towns and villages, 17 hamlets and 216 manors, in addition to all the land around it extending from the river to Oxford-street, and from Vauxhall Bridge-road to St. Mary’s-le־Strand—that is to say, the liberties of Westminster. Everything worth knowing about the old Westminster school was contained in Mr. Rogers’s paper. Some of the passages caused the company to laugh heartily, a refer-
selling off all his stock and letting the land to any person, whether a, responsible ,party or not, who might probably remove his stock at nights on to his own land, if anywhere near, and so impoverish the holding.
An interesting programme is set forth for the coming year by that old-established institution, the Farmers’ Club, for their meetings, which are held on a Monday at the Salisbury Hotel, London, and followed by a dinner. The subjects to be discussed, at the meetings, and on which papers are to be read by eminent authorities, are important ones to the agriculturist, and the meetings must afford an opportunity of obtaining valuable and profitable information thereon. The list is as follows:—January 30, “ Tuberculosis of Farm Live Stock,” Professor Pemberthey ; February 27, “ Fruit Cultivation by Farmers,” Mr. Spencer Pickering; March 27, “ The Adulteration of Dairy Products Bill,” Mr. Carrington Smith; May 1, " Our Milk Supply,” Sir James Blyth; October 30, “ Foreign Agricultural Education,” Mr. Orlc-bar; and December 4, “ The Future of Agricultural Labour,” Mr. H. Layton Blunt.
The last paper of the year cannot fail to be of interest, for the question of agricultural labour is one which is every day coming more and more to the front. What the great attraction is which draws young men from the country to the crowded cities it is difficult to see, but it certainly is the case that labourers are getting more and more scarce, especially the “ skilled labourer ” of the farm—the expert in thatching, hedging and other rural arts. Masters are advertising by the hundred for carters, shepherds, labourers, and no replies come. The demand is almost as great as that for cooks, and these rulers of the kitchen, the ladies !say, are quite impossible to obtain at■ any price. If it were not for our wonderful labour-saving machines it would be out of the question to ■carry on farming operations at all.
In the midst of bad times and bad prices it is cheering to be able to report a good sale of anything, and this time it is of shire horses. Messrs. ■Sexton, Grimwade and Beck conducted a sale of part of the noted Buscot Park stud, the property of Mr. A. Henderson, M.P., on the 18th inst., and very satisfactory prices, were realised. There was a ■good attendance at the sale, the chief breeders from all over the country being present, showing in what esteem the stud is held. The highest figure reached was 950 guineas, which Mr. F. Crisp gave for the noted mare Aurea. Other prices were 725 guineas, 700 guineas, down to 33 guineas for a yearling colt. The 39 animals disposed of made a grand total of £8,158, or an average over the lot of a fraction over £209 per head, which must be considered most satisfactory to the breeder, and to all lovers of the breed.
Imperial corn averages for week ending January 21, 1899 : —Wheat, 27s. per quarter ; barley, 27s. lid. ; oats, 17s. Id.
On Friday, the 6th inst., Messrs. Alfred Mansell and Co., Shrewsbury, shipped by the White Star Line from Liverpool a small, but very choice, selection of 11 Shropshire ewe lambs, and one ram lamb for the Hon. John Dryden, M.P.P., Minister of Agriculture for Ontario, Canada, owning for their sires such exceptionally good rams as Buttar Blue, 9377, bred by Mr. David Buttar, and purchased oo-jointly by Mr. Bowen-Jones and Mrs. Barrs for 150 guineas; Adam Odstone, 8347, bred at Odstone by the Royal winner, Odstone Commander ; Star of Ensdon, No. 4, 9698. On their dams’ ׳side this ,select shipment traced back to the following distinguished sheep: — Bath Brick, 5797; The Champion, 7163, purchased for 160 guineas; Royal Jubilee, 3702; Ringleader, 3693 ; Attractor, 2917, etc., etc.
Business in Gloucestershire in 1898.— Messrs. Moore and Sons, Tewkesbury, inform us that they found business during 1898 better all round than in the previous year. The demand for house and small or medium-sized landed properties was greater than for some years past, and for good sound investments cf this class the supply has not been equal to the demand. Prices ruled higher. During the past year they sold more properties by private contract, but their auction sales were well up to the average in the aggregate. As regards the property market generally the outlook is more encouraging. Farms let freely during the past year, but there is still a difficulty in selling large landed estates; there is no tendency to divide farms into ׳smaller holdings. As to the average value of land in their district Messrs. Moore remark that they sold agricultural land during 1898 for as high as £63 per acre for an estate of 82 acres, and building land in the town of Tewkesbury at the rate of upwards of £2,000 per acre. The prevailing prices for timber were, for good quality elm, about 10d., and ash and oak Is. 6d. to 2s. per cubic foot.
Jfarm anit Jfklfr
BY A LAND AGENT.
[SPECIALLY CONTRIBUTED.]
The depressing, drowning weather of the last few months ■has at last changed to a more seasonable, bright and frosty atmosphere, though in the variable English climate, at the time these notes appear in press, the old order may have returned, but it is to be hoped not. A dry, cold spell is now greatly needed to check the extremely forward growth of all plant life, to enable threshing operations to be got on with, and, what is■ more important than all, to allow the sodden ground to drain and for farmers to get on to the land and work and prepare it for spring corn. Every effort must be used to make the best of any fine weather we may have to get on with this much behindhand work, or it will be but little land that is ready for drilling when the time comes.
The trade in stock keeps pretty brisk, both for fat and store cattle, and, as hiJk been noticeable for a long time, milking beasts, especially the best sort of heifers and calves, are the class which commands the chief attention, and anything good finds a׳ ready sale, prices ranging from £16 to £20, and even over, especially for choice lots. Mutton is backing a little, but with colder weather the trade for all fat stock must improve. Pigs command late rates, nice weight porkers making from 8s. to 9s. per score, and baconers about Is. per score less.
With the new anthrax order, which has just been published by the Board of Agriculture, and which comes into operation on March 1, there has been issued a leaflet dealing with the nature, symptoms and treatment of this terrible disease. The leaflet contains valuable information on the subject, and can be obtained gratis on application to the Board of Agriculture, 4, Whitehall-place, S.W. Letters of application need not be stamped, so it is within the reach of all, without much trouble. It is stated that “ it ■has been found by experience that where all the precautions (given in 'the leaflet) have been scrupulously adhered to, the disease frequently ceases after the death of one animal on the farm ” ; it is therefore well .worth perusal, especially by those in districts where outbreaks have occurred.
The order is rather lengthy, containing 23 sections ; its chief points are that notice must be given to ■the police by the owner of an animal suspected. The police report to the inspector of the local authority, who has to immediately make an inspection and also enquire in the neighbourhood as to the existence of diseased animals, and he may forbid the owners to remove any animals he suspects. Provisions are given for the removal of dung, fodder, etc., disposal of carcases, disinfection of the premises, and various other restrictions, by which it is hoped the dreadful scourge will be stamped out or kept under as much as possible. The order should be ■studied by all stockowners.
The agreement drawn up by Mr. Lloyd Hughes for use on his estate in Carnarvonshire, some of the ■points of which were given in our last issue, presents a few variations from the usual 'farming agreements. The first condition —that the landlord lets and the tenant takes for a year—it is presumed, intends that after the year’s term has expired the tenancy continues from year to year until the prescribed six months’ notice is given, as is generally the case, though most agreements run ■for two years certain and then from year to■ year. The sixth condition as to bringing back an equivalent in purchased manures for produce sold off lets the tenant off rather easier than in most agreements, as Mr. Hughes only stipulates that his tenants shall bring back one-fourth the value of hay sold off and one-tenth the value of roots, instead of the full value, as is customary.
The Coedhelen Estate is evidently a sporting one, as conditions 7 and 8 show'. The tenant must keep and protect the game, etc., for the landlord or the sporting tenant, this, o'f course, being a clause usually inserted in leases ; but the next condition—that the landowmer shall have the right to prosecute ■trespassers and poachers in the name of the tenant—is rather out■ of the common, and seems to imply that some of the inhabitants of Carnarvon are rather wont to take “what isn’t his’n,” and that the landowmers ■have some difficulty in dealing with these gentlemen.
The last condition given—that the tenant is not allow׳ed to let his land for grazing purposes during the last year of tenancy without paying a fine of £10 for each animal taken in to keep—Would not find any favour with wmst country tenants, who almost invariably let the feed off their lands from about October to Lady Day before quitting, with the hay made therefrom to be fed on the land at the same time. The condition is evidently to prevent the tenant