BANKS PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 605, 2 May 1882, Page 3

BANKS PENINSULA FARMERS' CLUB

A meeting of this Club was held on Saturday." Present—Tbe President in the chair, and Messrs Piper, Checkley, Chap- ,_ pell, S. Hunt, Kingston, Duxbury* Libeau, T. S. Johnson, Reid, G. Giddens, Sager, P. David, S. Curry and others. MINUTES. w The minutea of the previous meeting were read and conlrmed. REPOBT. The report of the committee appointed to ascertain the best means of raising money to erect the proposed show yards, was read. " Akaroa, April 26 1882. " Gentlemen, —The committee appointed to lay before the Club the best means of "raising money to erect the proposed Bhow yards, beg to report that they met in Akaroa on Friday the 21st inst., present Messrs Piper (Chairman), McGregor, ChapCheckley, Boleyn and Jacobson. It was stated that the money required would be about £250, which could be raised either as an overdraft from the Bank, for which a guarantee would be required ; or by borrowing from a private person. Mr McGregor and other members were of opinion that the whole Club and not a few members of it should be responsible for the required money, and also pointed out that it would be better to be formed into a body corperate for that object, and for raising money more easily at a lower rate of interest and also having the power to sue and be sued. It was further pointed out that there was a special Act called the *• Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act.' under which the society could be formed into an association without expense. It was then resolved: — " • That in the opinion of this committee it is wiser to form the Banks Peninsula Farmers' Club into a body corperate under

the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1877, which proceeding will be no expense to the Club and will enable them to sue for all subscriptions and give them power to borrow money as a society without members being individually Hug,- " Signed, Henry Piper, pߥ " Chairman." P The report was received. After discussion Mr Piper moved •' That a general public meeting in connection with the Farmer's Club be held this day fortnight, at the Somerset Hotel, to take into consideration the best means of formwg an Agricultural and Pastoral Society under the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1877, making it a body corperate." This was seconded by Mr Johnson. ""Mr Checkley said he was sure that it ■was- much better to be formed into a body corporate, as it would give them a better position. Mr Duxbury also spoke in favor of the alteration, and it was pointed out that it would be easy to retain the name of ■' The Banks Peninsula Farmers' Club." The clauses of tbe Act showing objects of •-** Agricultural and Pastoral Associations were read, and showed that they were exactly tho same, only a little more extended, than those of the present club. It was thought generally that by taking the steps prepared there would be many new members enrolled and greater interest taken. The resolution was then put and carried. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was rend from Mr McGregor as follows :— ■ ! Akaroa, 29th April, 1882, " Sir, —I much regret that a business »»w»..rvis.rif nrntrnnfa ma Kpinnc nracAn

at your meeting to-day, but if I can be of any use to you in assisting to draft the petition to His Excellency as required by "The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1877," I shall only be too glad, as I believe tho Club has started on the right path should they adopted the committee's report in incorporating the club under the Act.—Yours, etc., " A. I. McGregor." A vote of thanks was passed to Mr McGregor for his kind offer. ■ The following letter from the New Zealand Shipping Company was read :— " New Zealand Loan and Mercantile " Agency Company, Limited. "Sir,—Referring to previous correspondence, I beg to append copy of the New Zealand Shipping Company's letter to me, declining to make any remission on the freight on cheese per Orari.—Yours, etc., "John Cook, " Manager." " The New Zealand Shipping Company, " Limited. « Christchurch, 24th March, 1882. *' Sir, —My directors have had under consideration your request for tho remission of a portion of the freight paid on tbe shipment of cheese to London per Orari, and whilst sorry that the produce should have arrived in such unsound condition they are not prepared to refund any portion of tbe reasonable freight charged, and they decline to accept any responsibility in regard to the failure of the experiment. It is within your own knowledge that the means adopted in the hope of securing success were devised by a committee of gentlemen and representative farmers, who themselves superintended the supply and shipment, it is not right, therefore, that you should seek to cast the onus of failure on this company. The ship, as you are aware, made a smart passage home of 80 days into dock.—Yours, etc., " Isaac Gibes, " Acting Secretary." After discussion the subject without a resolution being passed. SUBSCRIPTIONS. A discussion took place regarding finance and the number of subscriptions in arrears. The Secretary stated that he had sent circulars to those who had not yet paid. It was stated that many gentlemen were not aware that their subscriptions became due in February last. Mr Duxbury thought it a wise plan to appoint a member in each bay to collect. It was decided to let members know by advertisement that their subscriptions were over due, SHIPPING CHEESE HOME. The Chairman said he should like to see some arrangements made for shipping some cheese home this season. The Mataura was as accessible at Dunedin as at Lyttelton, and he thought they might ask Mr Dalgety, Mr McKerrow, or some other gentleman' in Dunedin, experienced in such matters, to visit that vessel and make enquiries if she were prepared to make arrangements to take a small shipment. Even if they only sent 10, 20, or 30 cates it would suffice as on experiment, but they must be certain that all sent was of first class quality. It was said that cheete would not go Home in the refrigerating chamber as it suffered from extreme cold, but be bad no doubt that there were parts cf the ship that were cold because in the vicinity of the refrigerating chamber, and a small compartment might be fitted up there. It was most important to all of them to discover some means of sending the cheese Home safely, as if that were once done a minimum price would be established.

Mr Sager said that he had taken the trouble to ascertain this matter. He bad found that tbe refrigerating chamber was surrounded by thick planking and packed with cork, so that the parts of tbe ship adjacent were at the same temperature as other parts of the vessel. He, however, thought cheese might be sent in tbe refrigerating chambar itself as an experiment, if it were well packed in sawdust and in good cases it might go Home without injury, at any rate it was worth a trial.

A discussion ensued, in which it was pointed out that the ship was mirier charter to a Dunedin compahy, but Mr Checkley eventually moved—"That the Secretary be instructed to write to tbe New Zealand Shipping Company, asking their permission to allow the Banks Peninsula Farmers' Club to send one or more cases of cheese Home in tho Mataura's refrigerating chamber, as an experiment."

This was seconded by Mr Chappell and carried, and the meeting then adjourned till Saturday, May 13th at 2 p.m.