Football
Buntingford played Hertford A on the town grond last Saturday, when they were defeated by five goals to one.
The weather conditions were ideal for the game, but the town team were evidently out of form.
The previous Saturday Buntingford played Hoddesdon and were also defeated by seven goals to one.
Social
The pupil teachers of the Buntingford centre entertained on Saturday last, the pupil teachers from the centres at Hertford, Hitchin, Royston and Letchworth.
The social was held in the Assembly Room at the George Hotel. Over 60 were present, and had a delightful time.
Following an excellent tea, games, competitions, music, recitations and dancing were indulged in, and the happy time passed all too quickly.
Among those present were Miss Walton, B.A., Head Mistress of the Buntingford pupil teachers centre; Miss Saunders and Miss Clark.
Last year the annual social was held at Hertford, when the arrangement were made by that centre.
Bowls
The Buntingford team journeyed to the Castle Grounds at Hertford on Saturday last, where they met the Garden Club.
A most enjoyable game was played and resulted in a win for Buntingford, thus making up for the match which they lost at home to Hertingfordbury the previous Saturday. They won by the same number of points this week as they lost last.
The scores at Hertford were - Buntingford 41, Garden Club 31, and those of the match with Hertingfordbury were 37 for the home team and 47 for the visitors.
Bowls
Buntingford visited Hartham, Hertford, on Thursday evening in last week, and after a keen contested game, Hartham won by 2 points.
Score - Hartham 39, Buntingford 37.
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On Saturday, August 14th, the Buntingford Bowls Club entertained The Garden Club, Hertford, and a good game resulted in a win for the home Club by 40 points to 24 points.
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Yesterday (Thursday) the B.C.C. journeyed to Hadham, and after a good game lost by 12 points.
Football
Buntingford played their first match of the season on Saturday last, at Buntingford, defeating Walkern by 6-2.
Aspenden v. Hertford Juniors
Aspenden opened the season on Saturday last, with a fine win at home against the Juniors in the Hertford and District League by five goals to two.
The home team, winning the toss, started with the wind behind them and were soon pressing.
Some fine play on the left wing led to the first goal. Aspenden were easily having the best of the game, and scored three more goals before half-time.
Their defence was playing a sound game, but directly after the change over the Juniors scored. This was followed by a goal to the home reds.
Towards the end the visitors made a fine break-away and scored a good goal.
Bowls Club
The Buntingford Bowls Club, winners of the East Herts. Bowls League, journeyed to Hertford on Saturday for a match "Champions" v. "The Rest."
Fortunately the weather was fine, and an interesting game resulted in a win for "The Rest".
Later in the evening the Buntingford Club received the Championship Cup, and each member of the club was the recipient of a gold medal.
The presentations were made at the annual dinner which was held at the Dimsdale Hotel, Hertford.
Football
Aspenden v. Hertford Athletic
Aspenden were at home to the Athletic on Saturday last, this was the return game of a fortnight before which Aspenden won, so they Athletic brought a strong team, and fully deserved the point they gained.
In the first-half the visitors did the majority of the attacking, and only the excellent play of the home defence kept them from scoring more than once, this was from a penaty for hands, which gave them the lead at the interval.
The second-half was more evenly contested, and after a quarter of an hour's play, Aspenden equalized from a well-placed corner that S. Dowler headed through.
The visitors were then awarded another penalty, but the home goalie saved well from the spot kick. Shortly afterwards Aspenden took the lead, when a shot fell in the goalmouth which enabled H. Parker to score at close range.
The Athletic then played with renewed energy, and from a fine movement easily scored.
This was followed by midfield play, and no further scoring.
Result - Aspenden 2 - Hertford Athletic 2.
Football
Hertford Town Juniors v. Aspenden
Aspenden visited Hertford on Saturday last, and although they lost by the only goal scored, they did most of the attacking, and were very unfortunate in not scoring on several occasions, but the muddy condition of the ground made foothold very difficult.
Aspenden opened strongly, and quickly forced two corners, from which they were unlucky in not scoring. They still continued their aggression which caused the home defence to be extended, but half-time arrived with no score.
Aspenden continued to press in the second-half, but could not penetrate the home defence. Just before time the home inside-right broke clean through the visitors defence well up the field, and scored with a fine shot.
Result:
Hertford Town Juniors
Aspenden - 0
Referee - Mr A.C. Walls, of Hertford.
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Hertford Athletic v. Aspenden
Played on Hartham on Saturday last, Aspenden had to field a weakened team owing to illness, but after a good struggle came home with two points.
The ground was in a very bad state, one goalmouth being covered with water.
The Athletic won the toss and were soon attacking. After about twenty minutes play, they scored from a fine shot, giving the visitors goalie no chance.
Aspenden's left-wing then got away, and from a good centre T. Moule scored, making the interval score 1-1.
In the second half Aspenden did most of the attacking, and J. Holmes gave them the lead. Soon afterwards T. Moule increased the lead from a free kick.
In the closing stages the Athletic were awarded a penalty for hands, from which they scored. The Aspenden defence played a very sound game, their goalkeeper saving some fine shots.
Result - Hertford Athletic 2, Aspenden 3.
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Football
Aspenden v Old Hertfordians
Aspenden were at home to the Old Boys on Saturday last, and the game was played under ideal conditions, the ground being hard and dry for once after many weeks of mud.
Play was keen and sporting, and resulted in an easy win for the homesters.
The Old Boys started at a great pace and were two goals up after half-an-hour's play, but the Aspenden forward line, which had been rather raged [sic], settled down, and scored two goals through Hornet, making the scores level at the interval.
In the second-half the Old Boys completely fell away, and the home side monopolised the play, H. Parker performed the hatrick. S. Dowler scored once, and W. Sturch, the home team's left-back, came well up the field to score twice.
Result - Aspenden 8, Old Hertfordians 2.
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Buntingford and District Agricultural Society
A Fine Show At Hertford
Hertford, 15th July.
The Seventh Annual Show of the Buntingford and District Agricultural Society was held at Hartham, Hertford, today, in fine, but very dull weather.
There was a good attendance, and the judging was completed under most agreeable circumstances. As was to be expected, empty stalls and pens were nowhere to be found, the proportion of absentees in the cattle classes being very low.
Owing to Foot and Mouth Disease near Reading, no cattle from the Royal Show was present.
Hertford indeed gave a hearty welcome to the Society, which was mothered for a couple of years by the old-established Buntingford Horticultural Society, and after six combined shows it was under different circumstances that the Agricultural Society stages its seventh show.
Indeed everything was different - the venue and the people. One grew accustomed at Buntingford to meeting the rank and file of the Agricultural industry - the labourers who tilled the land in the winter and cut the golden corn in the summer - men who were glad when the Buntingford Show came round in order that they might have a day's enjoyment with their fellow workers and watch the horses from their own farms being led proudly round the shaded ring in Corney Bury Park.
In the past the Buntingford Show has been a gathering of agrilculturalists and horticulturalists, but today it was a different type of person that was threading his way by the pay-boxes and over the cool waters of the River Lea on to Hartham. Clerks, tradesmen and shop girls were in the majority, and but for little groups of agricultural workers gathered near the animal pens one would think the crowd typical of a first-class cricket match or a garden party.
Although it was the Buntingford Show there appeared to be few Buntingford people here - one in every thousand probably came from Buntingford district. The huge ring - many times larger than the Corney Bury ring - was lined with motor cars and people, while others found accommodation under the trees by the swimming bath.
Things were astir here very early this morning, and by 8 a.m. entries were pouring into the Show Ground from a special railway siding. Stewards were busy directing stockmen, and the Secretary's tent was swarmed with enquirers, five clerks, with their shirt sleeves rolled up, doing their best to keep the routine of the day going.
In a tremendous marquee opposite, waiters and waitresses were preparing for the public luncheon, while close by there was the usual ear-splitting noises from the poultry tent, which was rapidly filling up.
One rabbit - a beautiful creature - was glad of company in the next pen, as he had been on the Show ground since Tuesday afternoon. There was a varied assortment of implements on the trade stands which were hoping to do a record business. One thing was certain, and that is that the vendors of ices and cool drinks had a harvest.
The Exhibits
The horse classes were unaffected by the conditions that hampered the movement of exhibits in order departments, and as a rule the various breeds were strongly represented. Breeders of shires paraded the breed in force, and quality of high order was witness.
The collection of cattle was impressive, as was seen when the prize exhibits were paraded later. The breeds that specialise for milk and meat production were pleasing in numbers; there was a large entry of Shorthorns, British Friesians and Red Polls.
Sheep and pigs made a meritorious display.
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The Show was undoubtedly a great success, and it is hoped that the financial result will be first step towards the return of the Show to Buntingford.
Buntingford Farmers' Dispute
Action at Hertford Assizes
Farmer Swoons in the Witness Box
An action was brought before the Lord Chief Justice of England, Baron Hewart, at the Herts. Assizes, at the Shire Hall, Hertford, on Tuesday, June 22nd, by Mr George Borlase, of Cumberlow Green Farm, Rushden, near Buntingford, to recover damages against Mr William J. Williams, of Ashdown Farm, Hare Street, Buntingford, for wrongfully detaining a thrashing machine lent to him in May, 1924, and not returned until July, 1925. Mr Lilley appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Grafton Prior for the defendant.
Counsel for the plaintiff stated in opening the case that the parties were farmers and friends, and in May 1924, the defendant asked paintiff to lend him his thrashing machine to do a few days' thrashing. It was lent with the intimation that the plaintiff, who had then finished thrashing, would required to have it back again by the following harvest.
That thrashing machine was not returned until July 1925, three or four months after the issue of the wrist in these proceedings. Meanwhile the defendant had made use of the thrashing machine himself and had also hired it out to neighbouring farmers.
Those the defendant's books which the plaintiff had been able to inspect - not all of them - clearly disclused the fact that the defendant had let the machine out on hire to no less than 31 farms. Part of the damages would there be to take account of the profit which the defendant made by the use of the plaintiff's machine.
The damages were placed under the following four heads:
(1) The cost of hiring a thrashing machine to thrash his own corn after the harvest of 1924, £60;
(2) depreciation of the value of the machine and cost of alterations and repairs, £60;
(3) loss by damage to corn which sprouted owing to the fact that the plaintiff was unable to get another machine, £82;
(4) profits obtained by the defendant from letting the machine out on hire to other farmers, £100.
The Judge: What does a new machine of this kind cost?
Counsel: About £300.
Your are not asking for a new machine? - No.
Continuing, counsel said that before the plaintiff and the defendant came to Hertfordshire they were neighbours in Cornwall, and were very friendly. They used to buy stock from one another, and there was an account between them. At the time this machine was borrowed the plaintiff owed the defendant £100, and that was to be set off against his claim.
When the plaintiff in August, 1924, asked for the return of the machine the defendant promised to do so, but failed to keep his promise. He afterwards applied several times, but the machine was not returned. In March, 1925, litigation was commenced, and in July, 1925, the machine was returned.
The plaintiff gave evidence in support of counsel's statement. In cross-examination he denited that the defendant ever pressed him for a settlement of their accounts. In consequence of not getting back his machine he had to hire another one from a Mr Stick. Asked if the defendant had ever pressed him to pay his account, plaintiff replied: "Oh, no never. He simply said, 'Oh, go on boy; that's all right'."
Didn't you really let him have the machine because you owed him this money? - No, but when my men took the machine to him he said to them "It shall never go back any more."
The Judge: Don't you think that showed that you let him have the machine because you owed him £100? - No.
Counsel for defendant: Do you know your own machine? - What do you take me for? What a silly question to ask. (Laughter).
Mr Harry Goode, agricultural engineer, of Royston, was called to state that his charge for repairing the machine after it was returned was £55. In cross-examination the Judge elicited the fact that this witness sold the machine to the plaintiff in September, 1923, for £120, and it was then 22 years old.
Mr Thomas John Stick, farmer, and agricultural machinist, Mr John Henley, foreman to the plaintiff, and Mr William Aldridge, formerly in the defendant's employ, also gave evidence.
Mr Prior for the defence, said that he admitted having the thrashing machine and using it, but that he was always prepared to pay for it if the plaintiff would only come to an arrangement to settle the outstanding account.
The defendant (Mr Williams) stated that at the time he borrowed the machine the plaintiff (Mr Borlase) owed him £183 for cows, bulls, and other stock, and he still owed it to him. He had never paid a penny on account. Nothing whatever was said as to terms when he borrowed the thrashing machine, neither as to paying for it or as to how long he was to keep it.
Were you to pay him anything for the use of the machine? - No mention was made about paying anything.
It was pointed out to him that in the correspondence at first they were very friendly and addressed each other as "Dear George" and "Dear Will," but afterwards Mr Williams altered his attitude - Yes, replied defendant, when Mr Borlase sent me several nasty letters I said I would not have anything more to do with him, and asked him to pay me what he owed me.
What damage has Mr Borlase suffered by your retaining his machine? - None. I have had damage through not being paid for my bulls and cows that he has had since 1923.
Mr Williams was then cross-examined as to the documents he had been asked to produce, and why he had suppressed some that were material to the case, and he replied that he did not think they were material.
The Lord Chief Justice then sternly remarked: Do you know that nothing is so prejudicial to your case in these courts as the suppression of documents?
Mr Williams faltered, and fell head-long out of the witness-box on the floorof the court with a heavy thud. His wife, who was in the gallery, and the police ran to his assistance, whilst the hall-keeper hurriedly fetched a glass of water. The defendant soon recovered, and was able to say "I felt giddy," but he looked very much shaken, and no further questions were asked of him by the plaintiff's counsel.
Evidence was given by Mr Grigg, of Cockhampstead Farm, Braughing, Mr Fred Dowton, of Cottered, and others for the defence.
His Lordship said that in his opinion the plaintiff was clearly entitled to succeed, and he awarded him £81 14s. 9d. after deducting the £100 owing to the defendant, the defendant to pay costs.
(From the Herts. Mercury).
Bowls
The Buntingford Bowls Club journeyed to Hertford on July 10th to play Hertford Unionist Working Men's Club in a League game, which resulted in a good win for the Buntingford Club by ten points.
This makes the club's fourth successive win.
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Mr W.J. May journeyed to meet a Rosedale bowls player in the Singles Competition, and won by 21 points to 5.
Mr May is now in the semi-final, and the Buntingford Club wish him good luck to win through to the end.
Agricultural Show
We hear from the Hon. Sec. of the Agricultural Show that the entries are well up to expectations, and members of the Society in this district are supporting it will by sending exhibits in spite of it being held at Hertford.
We wish them every success, and feel certain that as usual the other parts of the county will find that the horses and cattle around Buntingford are very hard to beat.
Mr S.G. Lees is again in charge of the construction of the Show Yard, and is being assisted by others from Buntingford. The cattle entries are a record, and on the entertainment side the trotting and pony races should prove a very exciting event.
All people in Buntingford regret that circumstances forced a change of venue, but we are assured that the committee are very hopeful that sufficient financial success will be obtained at Hertford, so that the Society may again hold their Annual Show at Buntingford.
Buntingford Agricultural Show
We have received a Schedule of the 1926 Show, which is to be held at Hertford on July 15th.
Included in the Schedule is a list of donations to the local prize fund which the Mayor of Hertford (Alexander Purkiss Ginn, Esq.) has collected.
The amount collected to date is £315 3s. 0d., and goes to prove that Hertford itself has extended a hearty welcome to a Society which six years ago was unknown.
The Schedule itself is larger this year, several special classes having been added.
Among the attractions advertised in the Schedule are Coaching Marathon, Jumping Competition, Trotting Handicaps and Pony Galloping Races. The band of the Hertfordshire Regiment will also be in attendance, and there will also be Horse-shoeing competitions, an Educational Tent, Bee-Keeping demonstrations, &c. Thurston's amusements will also be present.
Schedules may be obtained on application to the Hon. Secretary, Mr G. Scarborough Taylor, High Street, Buntingford.