Conservative Demonstration at Conisborough.

Speech by The Hon. H. W. Fitzwilliam.

Tuesday was a day to be remembered in Conisborough, for scarcely had the festivities usually attendant on the annual Feast begun to flag than a Conservative demonstration, arranged on a large and Imposing scale, was held in the Pigotts, a field kindly lent by Mr. Godfrey Walker, J.P., and as the afternoon was beautifully fine, and there were numerous attractions, there was a large attendance, not only of the inhabitants of the village, but also of visitors from a dlstance.

The object of the gathering was a purely political one, but it is doubtful if all these who were deemed ardent politicians, for politics were intermingled with various kinds movement.

The view itself from the eminence on which the Pigotts are situated was well worth the trouble of climbing the hill to enjoy, and at a feast time who is there that can resist the strains of the ever-welcome brass band, which on Tuesday was heard to great advantage. Besides, was not the member for the division, the Hon. H. W. Fitzwilliam. and his charming wife, the Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, who, apart from any political significance are always welcome to Yorkshire people of every creed and belief, announced to be present, and as this was the Unionist’s champion first visit to Conabormagh since his return, which Conisbroltes, if they are to be believed, did so much to bring about, it was only natural that people should flock to the gathering in goodly manner and take part in what was going on.

It will be remembered that, evidently through no-one’s fault in particular, Mr. Fitzwilliam failed to put in an appearance it a similar meeting at which he was expecting, but his absence then seemed only to have whetted the appetite, of his Conisborough friends to meet him a year later. As to his reception on Tuesday, there could be no doubt of its genuineness and enthusiasm, and Lady Mary made many new friends by her kindly and captivating manner.

To Dr. Hills is mainly attributed the success of the demonstration, and was ably assisted, among others by Major Johnson, J.P., Mr. Godfrey Walker, J.P., and Mr. W. W. Norwood, the hon. secretary to the association, while the ever busy agent and effective platformist from Doncaster, Mr. J. H. Bottomley, lent all the aid in his power. Proceedings were commenced early in the afternoon with a cricket match, married v. single, and like last year it ended with a precisely similar result, The following is the score :

Single

Hargreaves, c Earnshaw, b Marshall 3
Burton, c Wilson, b. H. Sharpe 0
F Downing, b. Marshall 3
Quinlevan, b H. Sharpe 0
Appleyard, b Marshall 11
F Ogley, b H. Sharpe 7
H Ogley, st Sharpe 1
Watkinson, not out 8
Piper, c& b Sharpe 1
Norwood b Marshall 2
F Earnshaw b Sharpe 1
Appleyard, c& b Sharpe 0

Extras 1

Total 38

Married

Dr. Twigg, b F. Ogley 5
Marshall, c Appleyard, b Burton 10
H J. Sharpe, b F. Ogley 24
H Earnshaw, c Appleyard b Burton 2
R H Sharpe, b F. Ogley 1
Wilson, b F. Ogley 1
J Gibson. run out 0
Oxley, not out 31
Booth, not out 8

Downing, Laughton, and Goodlad to bat.

Total 87

The married gentlemen were enabled to win easily by the splendid form shown by Messrs. T. Oxley, H. J. Sharpe, and Marshall. The game was interesting throughout, and afforded amusement to a large number of spectators.

After the match a very well served and substantial meat tea was partaken of by a large number of persons in the large marquee which had been erected, and in the absence of Mr. Bedford, of Barnsley, with his goose, “ Ikey,” whose failure to put in an appearance was very disappointing, serious operations were commenced at an early hour by the holding of a public meeting and concert.

The chair was d by Dr. Hills, the president of the Association and he was supported, by the following ladies and gentlemen: —Major and Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Godfrey Walker, Councillor Masters (hon. secretary of the Central Conservative Association), Councillor Beaumont (Huddersfield), Mr. J. H. Bottomley, registration agent. Mr. W. B. Robinson, Conservative agent, Castleford. Mr. J. Boomer, Mr. Rostock (Hatfield), Mr. W. W. Norwood, hon. secretary, Mrs. Hills, Dr. McCall (Kilnhurst). Mr. Tomlinson (Doncaster), Mr. J. J. Dunne (Doncaster), Mr. A Barnard (Doncaster), Mr. H. Boomer and Milne, Boomer, Mr. and Mrs. J. Norwood, Mr. J. P. Norwood, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gillott, Mr. J. Appleyard, Mr. F. Appleyard. Mr. S. Whitfield, Mr. J. W. Crossley, Mr. and Mn. A. Burniston. Mr. F. Ogley, jun., Mr. S. Booth, senr., Mr. and Min Appleyard (Hill Top), Mr. C. Tyson, Mr. W. Cusworth. Mr. and Mrs. J. Gibson, Mr. H. Saville, Mr. G. Hargreaves, Mr. W. Feeney, Mr. J. H. Watkinson, Mr. J. Hall, Mr. W. Procter, Mr. J. W. Goodlad, Mr. G. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs, S. P. Booth, Mr. 11. Earnhaw, Mr. F. Earnshaw, Mr. J. Williamson, Mr. T. Shutt, Mr. Foam, Mr. S. Taylor, Mr. C. Gibson, Mr. W. Guest, Mr. H. Guest, Mr. W. Appleyard, Mr. H. Baker, Mr. Crookes (Braithwell), Mr. F. G. Williams, Mr. J. Downing, Mr. Pillin (Doncaster), Mr. Colbeck (Braithwell), Mr. P. Quinlivan, Mr. Deby, Mr. J. Hancock, Mr. J. Ridgill, Mr. A. Ridgill, Mr. A. Simpson. Mr. O. Goodlad, Mr. B. Cromwell, Mr. G. Hague, Mr. W. Hague, Mr. J. Hassel, Mr. Thomas Oxley, Mr. Latham, Mr. Yearn, Mr. J. Twihey, Mr. G. Hadley, Mr. W. Appleyard, Mr. H. Athron (Doncaster), Mr. Ridsway.(Stainton), and Mr. Oust.

The Chairman, in the course and an excellent opening address, said if ever he had felt proud of his position as president of the Conisborough Conservative Amociation it was on that auspicious occasion, which gave him opportunity of bidding them all a cordial welcome to their demonstration, and, on their behalf and on behalf the members of their association, of asking their honoured guests of the evening to accept their sincere and hearty welcome to Conisborough (Applause). Many of would doubt remember that the last case in which Mr Fitzwilliam addressed his supporters at Conisborough was on the eve of the general eleation. It was then his privilege to tell him how they hoped to be able to give him a more enthusiastic reception than ever whet next he came amongst them as their Member of Parliament. And they were there that night to fulfil that promise. It had not been owing to any fault either of Mr Fitzwilliam themselves that his coming amongst them had been so long delayed.

Circumstances and occur from time over which they had no control, all written entirely prevented him from visiting his friend Conisbrough until that day, when he told them that lady Mary Fitzwilliam had absented herself from the Queen’s ball on purpose that she might be with them on that occasion, he was sure that they would appreciate a gracious presence there that night. (Applause).

It might perhaps appear to many of them that any conversations they might offer now came rather late in the day, and so indeed they were, but still they were better late than never, and he saw that they came as good a grace now as on any previous occasion, because they had ample opportunities of putting Mr Fitzwilliam to the test, and had seen on what metal he was made, and they knew now that that metal was pure gold, and that it bore upon it the stamp of truth, and carried with it its own true, honest ring of worth and merit. (Applause)

And so he thought they might truly say to Mr Fitzwilliam that there congratulations were as sincere and hearty that day as they would have been even on that memorable occasion when the heart of Conisbrough was made to rejoice and be glad because the glorious Unionist cause had prevailed and was victorious, and because the chosen candidate had been triumphantly returned at the head of the poll. (Applause).

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