SKITTLES—The Rushden W.M.C. visited the Kettering Trade Union club on Saturday. After a good game the visitors won by 10 to 8.

The members of the Rushden Working Men's Club Concert and Dinner Committee had a very pleasant dinner party on Saturday. The repast was nicely served by Mr. and Mrs. J. Coleman (steward and stewardess) and was thoroughly enjoyed. The Chairman (Mr. C. C. West) pre-sided, and complimented the Concert Committee on the very successful year. He hoped the committee would serve them again next year. The secretary, Mr. J. G. Hardwick, had, he said, been most energetic in preparing good programmes for them during the season. (Hear, hear) The balance-sheet from September 28th, 1897 to April 9th, 1898, was as follows: Receipts, by grant from Management Committee, £8 8s.: receipts from 41 concerts, £36 15s. 11d.: total, £45 4s. 6d. On the expenditure side £38 13s. went in singers and entertainers; £3 4s. in refreshments, which with other expenses, equalled the amount of income, so that they were clear on their books. He then presented Mr. Hardwick with a very handsome writing-desk, as a small recognition of his services as secretary to the Concert Committee. He hoped Mr. Hardwick would take the secretaryship on again next year. (Hear, hear)

Mr. Hardwick, in response, said he had always tried to do his best as secretary of the Concert Committee, and he was pleased if his services were satisfactory. He had always done his best to arrange a good programme, and he was sure they always got their pennyworth. The committee meetings had been well attended, and all the committee seemed to show a great interest in the concerts. (Hear, hear).

Mr. B. Jaques (chairman of the Concert Committee) said that Mr. Hardwick had been a most willing and hardworking secretary, and he had done his best for the club generally. Their annual dinner, he said, went splendidly and the committee deserved their best thanks for the able manner that dinner was arranged and served. (Hear, hear)

Mr. Roberts, on behalf of the Dinner Committee, thanked the chairman for the hearty vote of thanks.

On the motion Mr. Smith a vote of thanks was passed to the steward and stewardess.

Mr. Coleman suitably responded.

"The health of Mr. Bunting" (treasurer) was then submitted by Mr. Jaques.

Mr. Bunting replied briefly.

Mr. F. Botterill proposed, and Mr. W. Roberts seconded, a vote of thanks to the press. This having been briefly acknowledged, an adjournment was made to skittle alley, where a match played between the Concert Committee and the Dinner Committee. After a good match Dinner Committee won by 8 points to 6.

Scores:—

SKITTLES—The Rushden W.M.C. skittle team received a visit on Saturday from the Kettering Trades skittlists. After an evenly contested match the laurels were secured by the Rushden men. Scores:—

The Rushden W.M.C. Skittle Team received a visit last Saturday from the Kettering United Trades Club, when a match in the Northants Skittle League resulted in a victory for the Rushdenites by nine games to seven.

An Irish Comedian (Mr. P.W. England) was specially engaged at the W.M.C. concert on Saturday night, when Mr. R. Rice presided, Mr. H. Saile being vice-chairman. Mr. England sang “Katie O’Shea” “Pat Malone forgot that he was dead” “Murphy’s coming of age” “O’Grady’s son” etc. and songs were also contributed by Mr. E.Spavins, Mt. T.V. Jacques and Mr. H. Dickens. Mr. W. Howes was the pianist.

Reward Offered. The Chairman read a letter he had received from the secretary of the W.M.C. expressing the club’s wish to assist the Council in discovering the person responsible for the damage in that street and for this purpose offering an additional reward of £1. The Chairman was requested to acknowledge the letter and suggest that the Club should issue a notice offering the reward referred to. [see earlier Council Meetings for more about the damage]

Rushden Notes - On all hands jovial scenes have been witnessed and amusements have abounded, whilst those who frequent the fields for the winter sport have not been forgotten. At the Working Men’s Club the members showed, by their annual horticultural exhibition, that they had not devoted themselves entirely during the year to the recreation which their institution afforded. The show has for some years been one of the principal attractions of the Feast and that held on Monday elicited the warmest commendation of the judges.

Heavy Potato – A potato shown at the Working Men’s Club show this week weighed 2lbs. 2oz.

HORTICULTURE - Rushden Working Men's Club's Fourteenth Show

There was a very fine display of flowers, fruit and vegetables at the Working Men's Club, Rushden, on Feast Monday, when the annual show was held in connection with that institution.

The arrangements were ably carried on by the following officials: President, Mr. A. Short; vice-president, Mr. C. Betts: treasurer, Mr. J. Clarke; secretary, Mr. W. Hinde; committee, Messrs. G. Denton, A. Green, W. Clayton, F. Denton, W. Cox, W. Wrighton, S. Burton, F. Robins, C. Fairy, H. Smith, J. Wright, and H. Meadows. The judges were Mr. A. Searle, of Castle Ashby, and Mr. T. Baxendale, of Burton Latimer Rectory, the latter attending in the place of Mr. J. Hoad, of Colworth.

The show was a remarkably good one, the entries being numerous and the exhibits of excellent quality.

The Luncheon

After the judging the official;s, judges, and a few friends sat down to luncheon under the presidency of Mr. A. Short. Subsequently a short toast list was honoured.

Mr. F. Causebrook proposed "Success to the Show", and observed that great credit was due to the working men for their exhibits. He hoped they would have a good many visitors, including those who did not look favourably upon working men’s clubs.

Responding, the Chairman remarked that that was the fourteenth annual show, and he believed they had better stuff there than they had ever had before. He proposed "The judges."

Mr. Searle replied, and said that the show seemed to get better each year. He believed the positives were the finest lot they had ever had there. Apples and vegetables, sweet peas, and dahlias were very good. Great credit was due to the exhibitors who had come forward so late in the season, especially with sweet peas and roses.

Mr. Baxendale also replied, and said the show ground was a very good one.

Mr. W. Hinde proposed "The donors", and said he did not think they could do better than give to horticulture or agriculture generally. The exhibits

Were slightly in advance of last year, and the entries were a little above the average. Mr. H. W. Randall (Higgins and Son, Northampton) responded.—Mr. W. Cook proposed "The Press" which was acknowledged.

Mr. W. Clayton submitted "The steward and stwardess," and remarked upon the able manner in which Mr. and Mrs. Brampton had catered for them that day. —The suitable reply of the steward brought this part of the proceedings to a close. The following was the

Prize List:

Class A (open)

Vegetables: Coloured round potatoes, 1 E. Law (Northampton), 2 A. Dickens, 3 Jesse Quick; white round potatoes, 1 W. Richardson, 2 J. A. Underwood, 3 H. Waite; coloured kidney potatoes, 1 A. Dickens,2 H. Smith, 3 W. Chambers; white kidney potatoes, 1 F. Cowley (Higham), 2 C. Loveday, 3 H. Waite; collection of potatoes (six varieties). 1 A. Smith, 2 G. Collins, 3 J. Litchfield; spring-sown onions, 1 F. Cowley, 2 E. Langford, 3 T. Dickens (Kettering); winter-sown onions, 1 E. Langford, 2 A. Cox, 3 E. J. Wrighton; rope of 36 onions, 1 E. Langford, 2 W. Clark; eschalots, 1 J. Sharp (Higham), 2 A. Smith, 3 H. Waite; leeks, 1 E. Langford, 2 K. Partridge; pods of peas, 1 A Cowley (Higham), 2 W. Richardson, extra 2 G. R. Freer; scarlet runner beans, 1 W. Keller, 2 G. R. Freer (Kettering); vegetable marrows, 1 G. Collins, 2 S. Smith; carrots, 1 W. Clark, 2 H. Smith, 3 A. Short; turnips, 1 J. Sharp, 2 W. Richardson; parsnips, 1 W. Clark, 2 S. Smith, 3 H. Waite; sticks of celery, 1 J Sharp, 2 G. Collins, 3 E. Langford; beetroot, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 G. Prickets; cauliflowers, 1 G. Collins, 2 J. A. Underwood,; cabbage, 1 J. Quick, 2 G. Collins; red cabbage, 1 E. Langford. 2 F. Denton; Brussel sprouts, 1 W. Packwood, 2 J. Litchfield; collection of nine cauliflowers, 1 J. A. Underwood; collection of vegetables (six varieties), 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 W. Clarke.

Fruit: Cooking apples, 1 J. Wilmott, 2 A. Tullett; dessert apples, 1 S. Brown (Wellingborough), 2 S. Burton; pears, 1 T. Dickens (Kettering), 2 A. Smith; plums, 1 H. E. Lovell (Higham), 2 T. Dickens; collection of fruit (not less than four varieties), 1 T. Dickens, 2 T. Wilmott, 3 J.Noble; tomatoes (grown out of doors) 1 T. Dickens, 2 H. Fece (Higham).

Flowers: Roses (distinct), 1 T. Dickens, 2 C. Espin ; cut asters (comets), 1 T. Dickens, 2 F. Cowley; cut asters (not comets), 1 C. Childs, 2 G. R. Freer; cactus dahlias, 1 S. Burton, 2 H. Felce, 3 W. Wrighton; fncy show details (not less than three varieties), 1 H. Felce, 2 W. Wrighton, 3 B. Brown (Moulton); pompom dahlias (not less than three varieties), 1 J. T. Knighton, 2 J. Hardwick, 3 S. Burton; gent s buttonholes (grown outdoors), 1 G. R. Freer, 2 T. Dickens; bunches of cut flowers, 1 T. Dickens, 2 W. Craddock; ladies' sprays, 1 T. Dickens, 2 W. Dickens; bunches of sweet peas (not less than three varieties), 1 H. E. Lovell, 2 T. Purslow; bunches of chrysanthemums (three distinct colours, grown out of doors), 1 T. Dickens

Class B (Members of Working Men’s Clubs only)

Vegetables: Coloured round potatoes, I. Richardson, 2 J. A. Underwood, 3 F. Wilson; white round potatoes, 1 H. Ablett, 2 W. Richardson, 3 E. Houghton; coloured kidney potatoes, 1 F. Denton, 2 A. Short, 3 F. Wilson; white kidney potatoes, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 . G. Collins, 3 W. Richardson; collection of potatoes (six varieties), 1 W. Richardson, 2 H. Ablett, 3 G. Collins; heaviest dish of nine pota¬toes, 1 F. Maddams (14lb. 1oz.), 2 F. Denton (3lb. 15oz.); spring-sown onions, 1 W. Richardson, 2 H. Ablett, 3 J. Burgess; winter-sown onions, 1 A. Wilmer, sen., 2 E. J. Wrighton, 3 W. Richardson; rope of 36 onions, 1 W Richardson; eschalots 1 F. Denton, 2 J. Burgess, 3 W. Richardson; leeks, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 A. Wilmer, sen.; pods of peas, 1 W. Richardson, 2 J. A Underwood; scarlet runner beans, A. Burton, 2 W. Richardson, 3 J. A. Underwood; vegetable marrows, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 C. Smith; carrots, 1 C. Tassell, 2 J. A. Underwood, 3 A. Short; turnips, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 F. Denton; parsnips, 1 A. Burton, 2 G. Collins, 3 F. Denton; celery, 1 H. Ablett, 2 E. J. Wrighton, 3 G. Collins; beetroot, 1 G. Prickett, 2 G. Collins; cauliflowers, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 W. Richardson; cabbage, 1 F. Wilson, 2 H. Ablett, red cabbage, 1 A. Burton, 2 F. Denton; Brussels sprouts, 1 A. Wilmer,sen., 2 A. Short; collection of vegetables, 1 J. A. Underwood, 2 W. Richardson, 3 J. Litchfield; collection of vegetables (for members not having taken a first prize at any show for collection), 1 H. Ablett.

Fruit: Cooking apples, 1 S. Wills, 2 J. Noble; dessert apples, 1 S. Burton, 2 J. Noble; pears, 1 F. Perkins; plums, 1 J. Noble, 2 F. Wilson; tomatoes (grown out of doors), 1 J. A. Undorwood.

Flowers: Cut roses (distinct), 1 A. Wilmer, 2 J. Wilson; collection of roses (three distinct varieties), 1 J. Wilmott; cut asters (comet), 1 C. Betts, 2 J. Wrighton; cactus dahlias, 1 W. Wrighton, 2 S. Burton, 3 J. Wilson; show or fancy dahlias, 1 S. Burton, 2 J. Wilson, 3 W. Wrighton; pompom dahlias (three blooms each), 1 J. Hardwick, 2 S. Burton, 3 J. Wilson; any variety of dahlias (for members who have not taken a first prize at any show), 1 F. Maddams, 2 J. Wright, 3 F. Perkins; gent's buttonholes (grown out of doors), 1 A. Wilmot, 2 J. Wilson; bunches of cut flowers (distinct), 1 E. J. Wrighton, 2 W. Wrighton; bunches of sweet peas, 1 G. Prickett, 2 C. Clark; bunches of chrysanthemums (grown out of doors), 1 J. Wilson; special prize for peas (20 pods), awarded by Messers. Yarde, 1 A. Short, 2 G. Collins.

Special prize for best bloom in Class B was awarded to W. Wrighton for his cactus dahlia.