MEETING OF KAIAPOI FARMERS’ CLUB.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 127, 27 October 1874, Page 2

MEETING OF KAIAPOI FARMERS’ CLUB.

[ Communicated .] The adjourned meeting was held at the Kaikainui Hotel last evening, when about thirty members attended, Mr Joseph Clark was voted to the chair. Mr Clark, having read the minutes of the previous meetings, they were confirmed. He then said that at the last meeting they had decided that there should be a president and vice-president of the club, and the election of those officers would be the first business of the meeting, but he understood that there was a general feeling that there should only be a chairman elected. Mr J. Beswick suggested that if they wanted to institute a real farmer’s club, they should dispense with a president and vice-president, aud merely select one of themselves to preside as chairman. [Hear, hear.] Mr Guild and Mr Joseph Clark were proposed, Mr Guild declined, and Mr Clark was elected.

Mr Dixon, M.P.C., was then introduced by the chairman, and read his promised paper on the climate of New Zealand. Mr Dixon, in some introductory remarks, stated that its compilation had given him a good fortnight’s hard work, which can easily be conceived from the numerous works he had evidently consulted, and the copious quotations made from them. A map was exhibited by him that gave the ranges of the thermometer and barometer, rainfall, &c., not only of New Zealand, but as compared with other countries, and which he said was going to be lithographed, and will, when thoroughly mastered and understood by the farmers, be of incalculable benefit to them. It is not within our compass to give the whole of his interesting lecture at present, as it occupied more than two in delivery ; but we understand that as it contains some new theories, somewhat startling, and on which Mr Dixon challenges discussion with scientific men, the members of the club have asked him to allow it to be printed, so that we hope to be able at some future time to publish it in extenso. The paper was listened to with the most earnest attention by all present, and all were astonished at the amount of practical benefit which Mr Dixon clearly showed would be derived from a knowledge of the climate in which we live, and which he has quietly been availing himself of whilst engaged in his operations as in farmer. Several new members joined the club and there is every appearance of its being a great success.