NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 53, 31 July 1874, Page 4

NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of the members of this association was held at the Road Board office, Rangiora, on Thursday afternoon, to determine the question of the boundaries of the district. Considering that the weather was very wet, there was a fair attendance, including representatives from each part of the district. About twenty persons were present. Mr J. Macfarlane (president), occupied the chair. The Chairman suggested the adjournment of the meeting as the attendance was not such a large one as he should like to have seen, to discuss the important question for which they were called together to discuss. Mr R, Chapman and others took the same view.

The question was put to those present, when it was resolved that the business of the meeting be proceeded with. The Chairman stated the object for which the meeting was called. It was ho said very desirable that they should decide the question of the boundaries at the first go off, and prevent any feeling arising afterwards. There were two sides to the question, but he had consulted many persons, and who all were in favor of making it as most of the shows were in the old world, viz, local. For his part he would be willing to support the association whether it was decided to make it a local or a general one. It would be advisable to have it confined In a local district for many reasons, one of the principal of which was that now the railway was extended such men as Mr Grigg might send up from the south a lot of exhibits which would carry away all the prizes. [No, no.] Well, but he said, yes, yes, and it would be hard on the people here to have their subscriptions taken away out of the district. One gentleman whose opinion was worth having and to whom they ought to look up to, viz, his Honor Justice Gresson, was in favor of the society being a local one. At the last meeting the committee, he might observe, had elected their officers, and while he had to thank them for electing him as president, he had wished that they had appointed some one who had more fluency and eloquence of speech; for instance, if they had a man who could talk he would make them believe black was white. [Laughter. “A Voice —That would not be plain and honest,”] He trusted they would overlook his shortcomings. In reference to the advantages of New Zealand, he said he had been over many different countries —over New South Wales and Victoria—and he was proud to say that he had nowhere seen such a beautiful tract of country as that on the plains of Canter-

bury, iu the northern districts, which was second to none in the world for producing. AVith such a fine piece of land they ought to be able to produce good stock, and support an association like the present one without; much difficulty. It was agriculture that had gained for Britain her position, and made that country the envy of all nations. From recent reports he had seen that cattle were being largely exported from the old country, and did not see why it should not be so from here very soon. (Mr Lilly—“ Yes, £llOO is not a bad price fora one-year-old. it shows breeding.*') He had to ask that all motions from the meeting should be in writing, so that a proper record could be kept. A meeting had taken place on the previous evening at°Lcithfiold, and probably the delegates from that quarter would give some information as to what had been done with reference to an anonymous letter in the papers making it appear that Kaiapoi Island was shut out of the district; he could only say that it was always intended, if this association was made a local one, to make the south branch of the Wairaakariri the south boundary, and yesterday he had noticed that river was still in the same place—[laughter] so that Kaiapoi Island was in the old place. If some one would move a resolution theywould then get on with the business of the meeting. Mr L. C. Williams reported that a meeting had been held at Leithficld, and the question that the association should be a local one had been agreed to by the majority present. Mr MHlwraith, of the Amuri, had also attended and promised to further the interests of the society in his district. Mr G. Cone handed in a letter from the hon sec stating that owing to business engagements he could not attend. The subscriptions, including the Government grant, now amounted to £3OO, and the subscribers generally were in favor of the exhibition being confined to a local district. A letter was also handed in from his Honor Justice Grcsson, requesting the hon. secretary to put his name down for £5 os and as a donor of £lO 10s (cheers). He (Mr Cone) was in favor of the exhibitions being restricted to a local district, as he did not see how the north could compete against the Christchurch show. It was not fair to throw it open to all. The subscribers whom he had seen were iu favor of this view, but the question ought to be well argued before any decision was come to (hear, hear). People in the south district had made it a hobby to get up stock for the shows, and it would be hard lines if they were allowed to enter and swamp the north; Next year they would have the subscribers falling off, and asking what had become of their money. There were now about 300 members, and they ought to be considered in this question, and he might say they would be going against the rules of the world to make the exhibitions open, as both England and Scotland in districts of this kind only had local shows. The exhibitions in the southern districts were local, and that in the north should also be so, both being looked upon as feeders to the metropolitan exhibition. Mr F. M. Rickman stated, in reference to the letter in the paper alluded to by the chairman, that he did not inform the Secretary for Public Works that this association was a local one; but it must have been understood that it was so. The Government had contributed ro the local show south, and they would do so to this.

After a short discussion, Mr James Hurse moved—“ That the boundary of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association district ou the south side be the southern bank of the south branch of the Waimakariri, on the north the Clarence river, and to the westward the dividing range, and to the east the sea.” [Laughter. A member : “ Say the sea beach,] Mr Rickman seconded the motion.

Mr L. C. Williams moved an amendment, “That in the opinion of this meeting the shows of the association be open to all comers.”

Mr M. Dalziel seconded the amendment, which was put and lost, only two voting for it.

Mr Hurse asked leave to amend his motion to insert “ Conway” instead of “ Clarence,”

The Chairman thought the motion was a complete one, as the boundary was better defined by the Clarence that it would be by the Conway, Mr G. C. King thought that as part of Marlborough was included they might go further and include more of that province to the Conway, Mr Chapman did not think they need go so far as either river.

The Chairman—But'they have some good merino sheep up there. [Laughter.] Mr Chapman—And lots of scabby ones too. [Laughter.] The Chairman—Oh, we have scab nearer than that. [Renewed laughter,] The motion was put and declared carried as originally proposed. Some discussion took place as to a site for the exhibition, near Rangiora, but the question was ultimately referred to the committee for consideration.

The meeting then adjourned. A telegram was received from Mr J. Evans Brown at Wellington, stating that he was in favor of the exhibition of stock being thrown open to the whole province, but too late to be read at the meeting,