THE DINNER Took place in Smethurst’s Unitarian School Room, which the trustees generously placed at the service of the town here, be it noted, for the honour of the town, that all classes and sects united as one man to promote the purpose of the day, the only emulation being who should contribute most to the general joy. The dinner was substantial and abundant, and the only drawback was that the room, though large and lofty, was not spacious enough to accommodate all who were anxious to dine therein, and that many visitors had to take their repast at the inns. As it was, about 300 ladies and gentlemen dined together. The Rev. W. C. Clack, vicar of Moreton, presided: Present — Earl Devon, chairman of the board of directors, Messrs, Thos. Woollcombe, chairman of the South Devon Railway, W. R. Hole, J. Divett, Elias Curbing, T. Wills (Lustleigh), H. Brown (Plymouth), A. P. Prowse (Plymouth), L. J. Sergeant (Secretary S.D.R.), A Lloyd (Secretary Moretonhampstead and S.D.R.), W. W. Crosley (Agent of the Contractors,, Messrs. Brassey -and Ogilvie), Admiral Wise, F. Hicks (Mayor of Plymouth), J. Hooper, W. Hooper, J. P. Margary (Engineer of the Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway), W. Bragg, W. Harvey, Jas. Osborn, S. Hannaford, W. German, P. Scott, S. N. Neck, Rev. G. Arden (Dunsford), H. Nosworthy, G. O. Dannell, J. Collins, — Pinsent, G. N. Collins (vice-chairman), Rev. W. Thornton, E. Bowring, J Hill, T. Westlake, W. Peters, J. May, M. W. Harvey, — Heydon (surgeon, Bovey), John Drew (Powderham), Jabez Mugford (Bovey), W. Nosworthy, T. Heyward, A. Heyward, J. Rowell, J. S. Bearne, R. Francis (Newton), J. Stokes, T. French, T. Stokes, J. P. Henderson (Plymouth), H. E. Farnell, Little (Engineer), G. Gardener (Station master, Newton), Peacock, Parr, Umbcrstone, C. H. Veale, T. L. Frazer, L. Sweet, jun., F. Godfrey, F. Lombardini (Newton), E. R. White, Whitmarsh, N. Ball, F. Parker, G. G. Johnstone, J. Barrow, S. Row, Cockrem, Clarke, G. O. Browne, J. T. Cross Sherwill, G. Davis, H. Gay, R. Bracewell, C. Turner, B. Dickes, C. Wescomb, J. Bellerby, Rev. — Wicks, J. Lang (Exeter). The Chairman proposed the loyal and patriotic toasts and the Vice-Chairman, (Mr. G.N. Collins) proposed the toast of the Bishop and the Clergy, and the ministers of all denominations, to which the Rev. W. Thornton responded in a truly catholic spirit eliciting great applause. The Chairman said that they had now come to the toast of the day – “The Directors of the Moretonhampstead and South Devon Railway” – (loud and continued applause) …
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