HAWKE'S BAY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3023, 4 March 1881, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A largely attended meeting of this Society was held at the Criterion Hotel this morning. Captain Russell occupied the chair. ~ The chairman said that the meeting had been called in accordance with a resolution, moved by Mr Fitzßoy and passed, that a general meeting of tbe Society should be .held on the first Friday in March.

Mr FitzUoy said he had been instrumental in getting the resolution passed, and his object was to give the members a periodical opportunity of ventilating their grievances, and making suggestions for the better management of the Society. In reference to the last show he was sorry to say that in some respects it waa not a success. He was not prepared to say exactly what was the cause : it might have been the fault of the committee of management, or the selection of judges, or the scantiness of the exhibits of cattle. There was clearly something wrong, a#"~ was shown in the great falling off of the show. It was possible that the subscriptions was too high for those not owning stock, and a reduction might be made in this case. He didn't know how they could improve the system of selecting judges. In moving the resolution in reference to this meeting, he hoped he should not be expected to suggest a remedy for the shortcomings of last show. There had been many expressions of discontent with the show, and he desired that there should be an expression of opinion upon it at a general meeting of the members. Whoever was to blame for the want of success, it was clear that if they were to maintain the high position the Society held, there must be an alteration in the management, or that position would be a thing of the past. Mr Tanner felt disappointed that Mr Fitzßoy had not suggested some remedy for the non-success of the last show. He (Mr Fitzßoy) had hinted at blame being attached to the committee, but the fault lay with the owners of stock, who would not take tbe trouble to send exhibits to the show. Exhibitors said they had no fault to find with the management, but they were disinclined to take the trouble ot sending exhibits. They nowsaw that , it was necessary for the credit of the Society that they should send exhibits, and they would do so. He believed the fault rested entirely with owners of stock. ■< He trusted some one would bring forward a definite resolution.

Mr Sutton thought one great objection owners bad to exhibit was that they were required, if they were to win prizes, to fatten their cattle so as to make them useless for stock purposes. No one could condemn owners for declining to fatten their stock so as to render them useless for breeding purposes for two years. Some rule could be made to make the judges estimate stock according to their fitness for breeding purposes. The subject was then dropped, Mr Cooper would like to ask about the first prize for draught horses, which had been given to one horse, and then taken away and given to another, and he wished a committee of enquiry. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn. Mr Ormond said he wished to bring forward three resolutions for the consideration of the members:—lst. That the champion cups given at future shows be yearly prizes, to be absolutely won by the successful exhibitor. 2nd. That the working committee shall not consist of more than five persons, and each class shall be under the charge of one member, whose charge shall be publicly notified.

3rd. That local knowledge shall be more availed of in the selection of judges for future shews. After a long discussion the first resolution was passed. The second resolution was rejected on a show of hands. The third resolution was passed. Mr Anderson moved that the subscription to the Society be reduced from two guineas to one guinea. The consideration of this matter was adjourned till 2 o'clock.