CLUTHA AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 226, 8 November 1878, Page 6

CLUTHA AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society was hehf on Friday last. Mr George Scott, president, occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of members. The Chairman, explained that the business was to hear the Treasurer's report, election of office-bearers, &c. He read from the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 18T7, the clauses referring to the election of officers. Mr Ritchie, treasurer, read the annual report for the .past year, from 'which it appeared that after meeting all liabilities there would be about L6O of a credit balance. The report was adopted, and a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Mr Ritchie for the valuable services he had rendered the Society for the past five years, during which time he has acted as Hon. Secretary. Mr Hitchie in acknowledging the vote, said he had had much pleasure in assisting the Society, although since Mr Tosh had been appointed Secretary his duties had been very light. He would be glad to do what he could in the interests of the Society, which he hoped would go on prosperously. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the retiring office-bearer for their successful labours during the past year. The election of new office-bearers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows :— President, Mr John Watt, Kaihiku ; Vice-President, Mr Ralph Moir, Hillend ; Treasurer, Mr A. Ferguson; Secretary, Mr W. Tosh ; Auditors, Messrs George Todd and Thos. Paterson. Committee : — Messrs George Scott, James Scott, Alexander Petrie-, James Bishop, Thomas Blacklock, John Johnstone, J. ; C. Anderson, James Petrie, William Hay, i Peter Ayson, Walter Robson, William : Morton, James Bruce, Peter Mason, David Monfries, Alf ied Jowitt, James ■ Bryce, W. M'lntyre, Joseph Smith jun., . Thomas M'Donald, Alexander Mitchell, I Joseph Robertson, W. Christie, and W. - O. Watt. The Chairman said the next matter to * consider was that of the annual show. ■ The district, he said, was now somewhat ; divided, in consequence of the break in - the communication at Balclutha, and in ■ consequence of the late severe winter the I stock was not in the usual forward condi- : tion. I Mr Sandiland moved that the show be I held this year as usual, s Mr Monfries seconded the motion. ! Mr Watt said it would be a pity to hold * a show if it were to prove a failure finan- * cially as well as regarding the quality of I the. stock. The best part of the stock had - hitherto come from the island, but none *■ conld be expected from that quarter this ? year. This was a very exceptional season, , and he thought it might be well to posti pone the show for a year until the present I difficulties were overcome. If a show * were held it would be necessary to pre- . pare a prize-list, and the prizes would be I awarded whatever the number of entries L or quality of stock. The expenses in conl nection with the show would also be the . same, and he much feared the Society would be landed in debt were a show held. t Mr Moir said there had been only very * few entries from Inch Clutha last year. - He thought it would be a pity not to bold t a show, as it might be hard work to get L it started again, s Mr Peter Ayson concurred, r Mr Joseph Robertson thought it would' . be a pity to drop the show this year. . Parties used to object to bring forward . their stock to the show upon the plea that * they could not compete with the island, i The settlers upon the ridges would have it all their own way this year, and he - thought they should have an opportunity * of showing what they could do. s Mr Watt said he had merely expressed ; his own feelings upon the subject, but as l the mind of the meeting seemed to be in : favour of holding, a show he would do - what he could to make it a success. > The motion was carried unanimously, I and it was also agreed that the show s should include a show of dogs. The date of the show was fixed for : December 18. Judges were nominated ; for the various classes, and the Secretary i was instructed to communicate with them. ; All other arrangements in connection with ! the show were left to the Committee. i A letter was read from Mr Church, Secretary to the National Society, requestr ing that three delegates might be appointed to attend a Conference to be held at ! Oamaru. Messrs Scott, Watt, and Moir were appointed. A letter was read from Mr Young, jeweller, Dunedin, requesting payment of an account for engraving * inscription on a cup. It was explained that the cup was one given by the Mercantile Agency Company a few years ago, that it had been awarded to Mr Fitzclarence Roberts. That gentleman had ordered the engraving, and asked Mr Young to charge it to the Society. In the course of the discussion that ensued, it was contended that Mr Roberts had no right to order work in name of the Society ; that if he-wanted the Society to pay for the engraving he ought to have got an order for the work, and not have himself given, the order, and this the more especially as, the cup was not a Society's prize. •*■ It was resolved that the bill be not acknowledged, and that Mr Young be referred to the party who ordered the work. Mr Ritchie suggested that in future the Society should make ita rule that all cups given as special prizes be in the hands of the Secretary before the show. On several occasions parties had had their names advertised as giving. cups that had never been forthcoming. The chairman had personally experienced this,, and it ought to be guarded against for the future. , The; Chairman, said that in one instance he had not got the cup advertised which had been awarded to him. , . Mr,Tosh;said there was another. matter which he wished to. bring before the meeting. .The., .necessity, for ..establishing --'a weekly market day in Balclutha had long beeiL-t-dked.. of amongst -the settlers, -but hitherto< no actiomha'd-beeh. takeii inthe matter. It might be difficult to establish- • a regular: market all -at * 6rice,vbut' ' it a wouldf ;be:*an:^.impprtaht step) in* -that. * ;.4irection ; were. ftherday oftthe Iweekiilxed -_• • ?The f^]tg^; : 4^44y:A4yyyyywyy^ y&sA4^^ryy "A§y 'is ! :44y4'yyyy

would meet their neighbours iv Balclutha on that day, when they would have an op- > portunity of transacting any business they had to do. He moved that Friday be a market clay in Balclutha. S Mr John Watt thoroughly agreed with and seconded the motion. He had no doubt a weekly market in Balclutha would be felt to be a great convenience to the settlers and the whole community. They all had to come to Balclutha occasional^, and it would be much better if they could come upon the same day. If once this were agreed to, corn merchants and others would visit Balclutha on that day when they required grain, and this would be much better than the present mode of doing business. After several gentlemen had spoken in favour of the object, the motion was carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.