PUBLIC MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 609, 16 May 1882, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting was held on Saturday at the Somerset Hotel, Head of the Bay, for the purpose of considering the best means of forming an Agricultural and Pastoral Society in connection with the Farmers' Club, and for the incorporation of both under " The Agricultural and Pastoral Societio-.; Act, 1877." There was not a large attendance. Mr 11. Piper was voted to tne Chair. He first read the advertisement calling the meeting and then proceeded to review the chain of circumstances that had led to the calling of this public meeting. Some time since it had been moved at a meeting of the Farmers' Club that a committee of ways and means should be appointed to consider the best way of raising funds for the erection of Agricultural and Pastoral Show yards. At ihe meeting of that committee, at which he had occupied the post of chairman, it had been explained that tho money requi r ed could be raised either as an overdraft from the Bank or borrowed from some private individual, but that in either of these events certain members of tho club would have to become responsible. This would place other members in an awkward position, and a gentleman bad pointed out that there was a special act called the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, by which tbe Society could be formed into a cor-

porate body with borrowing powers, and also have the power of sueing and being sued. Now, the committee thought that such an act being in existence it should be taken advantage of, and a resolution was passed to the effect that the club should be recommended to form itself into a body corporate. This was done, and the prosent public meeting was the eventual result. The Mail had taken up tho matter and handled it ably, but he thought he could extend the subject still further. The original reason ot forming the club was for the export of cheese, but ita objects had gradually widened till _it embraced the fostering of all the industries of the Peninsula. Under the Club's auspices a project had been started for the re-establishment of the Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Land had been rented, and a capital of £250 was now required, for the erection of yards. The holding of this show was in his opinion a most urgent necessity if they wished to keep pace with the times. It was not only the yards they wanted but also a building at which they could hold their meetings, for he entirely disapproved of holding them in an hotel. Tliey -would require a »hed for the exhibition of produce and this could be so erected as to serve for a place of meeting as well. At these meetings the discussions should not be on cheese alone but on other matters also. They should try to educate each other on the various matters with which they were best acquainted by means of readings. These readings should not only be on existing but on possible future industries, but even speaking of cheeso alone there was much to be done. The present system was not by any means a good one as far as the economy of time was concerned. In tbat very bay he supposed there were twenty heads of families who were employed making cheese. There was gr at waste of labor in this system. If a factory were established, all these families would have to do, would be to milk and get their milk to the factory, and then they would have the six or seven hours now employed in making cheese for other purposes. There were many industries that might be fostered. The growing of small fruit was one that might be very profitably followed. He would not recommend the planting of any large area, bo as to interfere with the pasture ; two or three acres would be ample on each farm. The picking of tbe fruit would find employment for many of *ihe children, and they could be tinned in Akaroa and sent far and wide. He was sure they could depend on having most prolific crops. After a year or two they might try making pickles. They imported large quantities, but he was 6iire, from the way the vegetables used grew here, they could make them just as profitably. The farmers could fill up their spare time in these industries, and so make the place more prosperous, and find employment for many hands profitably. He did not see much difficulty in the conveyance of milk to a factory. It would be down hill in most cases, and a pony with a pair of wheels and a vat running between would generally serve as a means of conveyance. Eees also might be fostered, and much honey exported. Sericiculture too should succeed well, and would furnish profitable work for the girls in a f.imily. All these things would fill up the profits of a season, and he wanted to see tho whole county put its shoulder fo the wheel and endeavor to foster these infant industries. They should try to find work for their children at home instead of sending them out into the world, and he was sure the Peninsula would carry a much larger population if they were to turn their thoughts to these newideis, If they did not do something in the way of exchanging ideas on these subjects they would soon become mere provincialistH quite behind the times. He hoped they would think over what bo bad said, and tbat before many weeks bad passed they would have a large and influential society, holding periodical meetings for the discussion of the many agricultural and pastoral matters of deep importance to the Peninsula.

Mr Chappell would move that tho Farmers' Club be formed into a corporate body under the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations Act, 1877. Mr Checkley said he should like to wait for a fuller meeting. Mr Chappell thought a series of meetings might be held in the various bays to consider tiie subject. Mr Checkley said that when cheese was low in price and difficult of sale there had been no trouble in getting a big meeting to consider how to dispose of it, bat now that all was going prosperously they would not come. He thought they ought, as he was sure it would be greatiy to their advantage. After further discussion Mr Checkley moved " That the petition to incorporate the Club be signed by those present and copies be sent to the various localities for signture, the result to be declared at a meeting to be held at the Head of the Bay, this day fortnight. May 27, when a decision as to whether the society be formed, shall be finally arrived at." Seconded by Mr Vogan and carried. It was arranged that copies of the petition, for the purpose of obtaining signatures, should be sent to Mr Joblin, Little River ; Mr J. B Barker, Little Akaloa ; Mr Priest, Okain's Bay ; Mr Wm. Barnett, Le Bon's Bay; Messrs Goodwin and Mackay, Pigeon Bay; Mr McDonald, Wainui; Mr Field, Port Levy ; Mr Piper, Duvauchelle's Bay ; and Messrs Checkley and Jacobson, Akaroa. It was agreed Messrs McGiegor and Jacobson should he entrusted with the wording of the petition. Those present then Bigned the petition, and the meeting adjourned.