NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14979, 28 May 1914, Page 10

NEWS AND NOTES.

NORTHERN A. AND P.

ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING

The forty-fifth annual meeting of tho Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held last night in the Association's rooms at Rangiora. Tho president (Mr A. S. Clarkson) was iii the chair, and thoso present included Messrs A. Mclnt-osh and T. Leech, vice-presidents, Mr T. Wylie, past-president, Captain TV. Atwell, Messrs W. E. Barton, W. G. King, F Horrell, J. Marshall,. R. H. Walker, H. C. l>. van Asch, W. Manson, T : ; Hughes, J. Brosnan, J. Wylie, T. Hunter, W. A. Kelcher, T. 11. Cresswell, W. Boyle, C. W. Bell, J. E. Burns, James Brady, C. C. Paterson, R. Peach. H: Dickhoff, A. W. Ironside, W. Scoon, J. Foster, jun., R. Marshall, R. W. Fraser, W. Stalker, J. l>. Wylio and C. E. Skevington. VOTE OF CONDOLENCE. At the commencement of tho meeting, the president referred to the death of Mr T. Pashby, one of the promoters of the Association. "I find,", ho said, "that this Association started in August, 1866, and Mr Pashby was at that meeting, which was held in the Kakanui Hotel, Kaiapoi. I may say that Mr Pashby was a very hard worker during that time, and after ho left Kaiapoi to reside in Christchurcb, I ofton met him, and the first thins he always asked mo was, how is the Northern Association getting onF He had the interests of tho Association very deoply at heart, and all regretted that he had gone over the border." He moved that a vote of condolence be passed, and that the. passing of the motion bo communicated to the relatives. The motion was carried in silence, all 6tand ; ng. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, . tlie president said that the balance-sheet showed " loss of £69 6s 6d, but he would like to call their attention to the item £160 outstanding subscriptions. Really they should come out with a. credit balance of £90 13s. He had gone through the list of those who owed money, and howould say that the deot was purely due to carelessness. There was no doubfc about it that the now rinance Committee would be. able'to take care of the matter. "We are not' an exception to the general' rule," he went on to say. "I have been to a few annual meetings of other Acricultural Societies, and find that they suffer from cue same disease. The Nortn Otago Agricultural and Pastoml Association publishes a list of members who have paid their subscriptions, and also a list of those.who have not paid. (Laughter.) I do.not want you t<-> +nke these steps, but I would ask members to" remember that we have a large sum to pay out in vrr/.e money. I c,i on1r?. like to mention, however, that £30 of this sum has sinco come in.

"STEADILY RISING." The president went on to cay that during the year they had spent a of money on oat-buildings and on the ground. He desired to take those present back to the. extension of Northern Agricultural Association during the last four years. Iney would see that tho Association had been steadily rising in a propo , nanner. Jb'our years ago the total membership was 225, and to-day it was 365. There had been an average increase per year of 35 members. Tho entry fees in 1910 were £286, in 1911 £249. in £324, an-1 last year £246. Similarly, donations had fluctuated from i>±29 to iwti, from £500 to £406. last year's figures. During the period named £544 had been spent on the Show urounds, "which meant an annual exnendituro of £136. Speaking of tho assets, ho said the Show Grounds had been valued four years ago at £700, and they wero valued at that sum to-day. The buildinps \vcre valued at ,tl9o, and this valuation had been increased to £: They could see, therefore, that the Association's finances had been fairly stated. The speaker went on to cay that last year the attendance of members of the General Committee had constituted a record. The monthly were s+arted last year, had been very successful, and he hoped the inconi! ne president would keep those meetiies steadily in view

PRAISE FOR REFORMS. .Daring the past the Council of Agriculture and Board of Agriculture had become solid facts, applause ) AU resolutions.passed by the Council, which would be filtered through from the A. zW-F-Asxxx&toons, would be handed to the Board of Agriculture as advisoiT body to the-Mimster of Agricnlture. He desired to keep free from party politics, but he considered that these innovations should be of vast benefit to the whole of New Zealand in helping to njee? much-needed agricultural reforms During the past year, too, they had had a very senous industrial disturba&ce, and although the farmers did not, as a'rule, interfere between employers and employees, he, at the same time, demanded his right to send his stuff away. If those who usually helped in this service struck, then it was quite "tip to" the farmer to go down and ship the stuff for himself. (Applause.) •

Auother matter touched upon president was the journalistic jubilee of Mx J. L. Wilson, Kaiapoi corre-poii dent of "llie Press." .Mr Clarkson said he wished Mr Wilson lone life, happiness, and good health, and very much regretted that he'was not present that evening. Ac a patron of the Associa tion and a treasurer of their records Mr Wilson had done good service. (Applause.)

"OUR .rCBILKE." In 1916, Mr Clarkeon continued, thes would celebrate their jubii-.v. Ho knew they would all fall in ivith his idvto make tint day a red letter day. Mi Charles Leech, he announced, ha<i offered to present tho Association with a block of land in Ranaioni on which the Association could permanently wtnbliish itself, orn'-tins; its own rooms where their valuable- records could jg safe'y stored. Speaking of th» past rear the president ssiid that the crops bad Hee*; successful, ami prices were coed. Theso see'iiwl no rea«or vby thincs should i a 1 continue so. He all farmers to support tho Asrricnltural Association in their particular districts, knowing th.'t the work done by the Associations wi« of d : rn'-t benefit- to <tll conrorno , .!. Tic: frohc-ted for the now , president th.if hoait.v '-'j.nport winch hnd b?e»i "iven to him during his term of oflico. "Keen tho Association 2cii<r. boom i< for »•' yon arc worth, and you •w'll liarp the finest country <hr»w in thr> Dominion.'' were the f"'al wfrds, lri« spn»f»n rori-!-irl,i<r ai«Mst .innlniicp. Mr F. IT or roll. :n <-e^on r li«T the v>ntion. th" T>rf*i«-'.-.»!< on hi.speech pud on >7ood li o hpd <~r c r. r m<xrl f/»p the .A **riria f jnM. H^ ""•Vrred the suc:<rest ; on that an ai'. +, "nn f-hnvr should he. hold.

The mot.mi iras carried , niniimously.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The following officers twere elected: — Patrons. Hon. j>. Buddo. Messrs G. W. Forbes, M.P.. George Rutherford, W. 0. Rutherford, T. Chapman. R. Moore. J. W. Foster, J. L. Wilson.. C. Leech, and A. S. Clarkson; president, Mr A. Melntosh; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Leech and J. D. "Wylie; lion, treasurer, Mr T. J. Hunter; auditor, Mr C. I. Jenn.in.2s;. general committee, Messrs W. Stalker, J. R. Johns, W. Scoon, James Wyll'e, V. Ferguson. R. Mclntosh, R. Marshall. M. H. Stokes. C. E. Skovington, A. TV. Ironside, C. King, J. Brosnan, T. F. Merriu. TV. A. Kelcher. J. E. Burns. Colin Molntosh. T. F. Hanna, T. R. Cressnrell, H. C. D. ran Asch, J. T. .Wrteht. John Fleming, J. S. Hiatt, and 11. Peach.

GENERAL. A presentation was made of tho framed certificate- in connexion with the Mclntosh memorial cup, for tho best draught stall ion travelling the North Canterbury district, won by Messrs H. and W. G. Mclntosb's Crandale (imp.), and also of the second grand champicn prize for tho best two-year-old draught colt, filly or gelding, won by Mr James Wyllio's b c, by Baron Everest. In asking tho new president. Mr A. Mclntosb, to toko his seat as chairman of tho gathcrimr, Mr Clarkson said Mclntosh had clone great work on the committee, and he felt very grateful that that gentleman had at last eou* sen ted to take office ac president. Mr A. Mclntosh, replying to the compliment paid him by the rotinu* president, said that things had always <*oho well w'th them, and if ho and his brother officers could *how as good a balance-sheet as had been shown lasc year, they would bo we'll satisfied. (Applause.) As to the sugestion of Mr Horrell that an autumn show should x) held 1 , that matter would' receive consideration. (Applause.) Mr T R. Cresswell. headmaster of the Rangiora High School, in a. briet speech acknowledged the support the Association had si*©n_to his school. He remarked that tho High School Jiad been brought into closer touch with the Association through the appointment ot Mr James Stevenson to tho Board or Governors. Referring to the wool-sort-ing classes, he urged the farmers to support • thc?e- by sending their sons along to'them. ■'■_■•__ , The photographs of Messrs C. Leech and B. Jordan were addod to those already hanging on the wall. "I have no apology to offer for presenting the last photograph," the chairman said. "Mr Jordan is acknowledged to be one of the most energetic and capable secretaries any agricultural aud pastoral association could have."

A SOCIA L EVEN ING. According to custom, a social evening followed the meeting. After supper a -abort toast list was gone through. When the toast of "The King" bad been drunk, the "Territorial Forces" was proposed by Mr A. Ironside, and responded to by Captain Atwell and Major T. It. Cresswell. Mr W. E. Barton proposed "Tho Northern A. and P. Association," aud Mr A. Mclnlosh (president) responded. Other toasts were: —"Local Bodies," proposed by Mr ■T Leech, and responded to by Messrs C. I., Jennings (Mayor of Rangiora), R. Mclntosh of the Ashley County Council), and F. Horrell (chairman of the Rangiora County Council): "Kindred Associations and Sporte," proposed by Mr J. Johns, and responded to by Messrs James Stevenson, H. C. D. van Asch, and W. A. Kelcher; "The Visitors," proposed by Mr A. S. Clarkson, aud responded to by Messrs W.- G. King and J. Sarjeant '(stationmaster and postmaster respectively of Rancriora); and "The Press," proposed by Mr J. D. Wylie. A feature of tho gathering was the excellence of the musical projrramme. The evening, which was "the most successful on record, terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.