BANKS PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 509, 31 May 1881, Page 2

BANKS PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB.

* A meeting of this Club was held on Saturday afternoon in the Oddfellows' Hall, Akaroa. The Vice-President, Mr W, Barnett occupied the chair. The minutes or! the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary read the letter which he hid written to the Government, asking that the bonus offered for the export of cheese, might be thrown open to others than to factories. To this a reply had been received, which, after detailing the reasons which had induced the Government to offer a prize for the establishment of factories, they having proved a success in America; concluded by saying that, as the production of butter or cheese by individual farmers was not the establishment of a new industry, the Government would not be justified in subsidising it, though they appreciated the enterprise of the Peninsula settler.-., and wished it every success. A letter was read from Messrs Dalgetty and Co., stating that the s.s. Durham was not coming to Lyttelton. They further stated that they bad written to Messrs Shaw, Saville anl Co., advising them to have some refrigerating chambers fitted up on their vessels for the conveyance of cheese and butter. Also a letter from Mr Edward Dyson, stating that he was about sailing for England, and would like to open up a trade in their cheese with Sheffield, one of the largest consuming towns in England. I The letter also stated that American cheese [ was largely adulterated with lard, and went on naively to say, •' it is a fact that it would pay you to adulterate yours with the same article." Mr Montgomery wrote in reply to a vote of thanks, congratulating the settlers on their, action, and expressing the opinion that a grand future lay before them. The Vice-President suggested that tbe Club should express an opinion as to the advisableness of sending another shipment of cheese home. Considerable discussion ensued on this question. Mr J. Bruce thought' it would be well for the Secretary to send round circulars to ascertain how much cheese they would be prepared to send, provided that a ship was fitted up for the purpose. By this means they would be in a position at their next meeting to make arrangements about a shipment, He proposd a motion to that effect. Mr Boothroyd considered that before any one was allowed to send any cheese, it should be inspected by some practical man, and if it were not fit to go, that it should not be sent. One bad cheese would give the lot a bad name. The Vice-president, while approving of the principle of the suggestion, thought there were practical difficulties in the way. There would be a difficulty in getting a thoroughly competent man to act as judge, and it was doubtful if the farmers would acquiesce in his decision if it were adverse to the quality of their cheese. The matter dropped. On the motion of Mr Sager, seconded by ) Mr Boothroyd, an honorarium of £5 was I voted to Mr Bowron for his able and instructive lecture. The meeting then terminated.