CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 171, 23 December 1874, Page 2

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The adjourned meeting of the above association was held yesterday afternoon, at the offices, Tattersall's. Present —Sir Cracroft Wilson, H. P. Murray Aynsley, R. Wilkin, J. T. Matron, H. J. Hall, E. B. Bishop, P. C. Threlkeld, S. Garforth, H. E. Alport, H. Washbourne, senior, J. Ferguson, J. Mcßeth, J. Mann, and J. T. Ford (hon. secretary). The chair was taken by Sir Cracroft Wilson. The minutes of the last meeting of the association, and the previous one held on tie grounds of the association, were read and confirmed. Mr R. Wilkin said that, before commencing the regular business of the meeting, he would like to say a few words on what might be considered a point of order, but which also affected the ;association. It had been remarked to him by a few persons that the repntof the last meeting, which appeared in the Press, led to the impression that an animus existed against the Times newspaper. He distinctly wished to say, on behalf of the committee, that no such thing existed —[Hear, hear] —and every member of the committee deeply regretted that anything should have occurred to disturb the lirt nony that had existed between the association and the newspapers for so long a lime. [Hear, hear.] He again regretted that the cause for this unpleasantness should have arisen, and whatever result that meeting arrived at in the matter, he hoped it would be thought that no animus existed between the association and the Times ; uor did he think the report showed auimu3. Mr Ford would endorse what had been sat i by Mr Wilkin as to no such feeling existing between the committee and the Times, but he must say that he did think the report which appeared in the Press showed the existence of some slight animus, which was irrespective of the action taken by the association. At the suggestion of the meetiug, the secretary read the report which appeared in the issue of the PRESS of Friday, December 11th and having arrived at the following paragraph in that report—" On the accounts frorr the papers for printing being submitted. Mi Matsou said he regretted to see the Press account so small, for if any paper did it! work well it was the Press " Mr Matson said —"And so I did say so, ane think so still." Sir Cracroft Wilson—"l think I hav< heard Mr Matson say so before." After the secretary had concluded reading the report, Sir Cracroft said—" Who is tin man will dare to say there is any animus sh; wn in that report?" Mr Hall—l cannot see the slightest animu shown in that report. Mr Alport considered the report read 1 very faithful report, and said that it was th

mere accidental circumstance of the Timet' account having been laid on the table without tbe explanation that it was that paper's year for printing, which had led to the expression reported. Mr Wilkin wished it to be publicly known that whatever animus existed between the papers (if any such did exist), not such thing existed between the association and them. [Hear, hear.] Tbe secretary then read the following letters: — " Christchurch, 12th November, 187-1. "My dear Wilkin, —Accompanying this, you will receive a note addressed to you as chairman of thecommitteeof the Agricultural Association, relative to the unfortunate mistake that has happened with the report of the judges of sheep. " I have investigated the matter, and find we are clearly wrong. My people erred from excess of zeal, but I do not put that forward as any excuse. '* The apology enclosed herewith will, I trust, be received as frankly as it is intended. " Yours sincerely, " W. REEVES. "R.Wilkin, Esq. " You are at full liberty to make any use you please of the Editor's letter." [Enclosure.] " To the chairman of committee, Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral x\ssociation. " The editor of the Lyttelton Times desires to express his regret that the report of the judges of sheep which was furnished to the reporter of the paper on the understanding that it would not be published until Friday morning, should have appeared in to-day's paper. " In apologising for the error, the editor desires further to say, that whatever blame may attach to the paper, it is in no respect attributable to the reporter." "November 12th, 1874." Mr Wilkin said that the foregoing letters had been handed to him at the dinner by mistake. He could do nothing;at the time, but next clay had written to Mr Reeves to say that the letters had been handed to him in error, as he wa3 not the chairman of the committee. The secretary said that, in accordance with the instructions received from the committee, he had written a letter to the editor of the Times, asking for an explanation of the circumstances under which a full report ot the judgments of sheep had appeared in that paper of the 12Mi November. Mr Matson—You haven't a copy of that note, have you?

Mr Ford—No. I left it at home. Mr Ford continued to say that to his letter he had received the following reply:— " Times Office, Christchurch. " November 2ith, 1874.

" Sir, —I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated November 19th, in which you ask for an explanation of the circumstances under which a full report of the sheep exhibits at the show lately held by the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association appeared in the LytteUon Times on November 12th.

" In reply. I can only state the facts of the case. Mr Hebden, in order to forward the work of the paper, wrote out his report in full on the evening of November 11th, and handed it in in the usual course to the subeditor, intimating at the same time in distinct terms that he had given a pledge to the committee not to publish until November 13th. I would, therefore, submit that Mr Hebden ought to be exonerated from blame in the matter. "As editor of the LytteUon Times, I take all responsibility and blame upon myself, and I desire to express my sincere regret that such a serious mistake should have been made. " lour obedient servant, " J. M. Smith. "J. T. Ford, Esq, Secretary." Mr Wilkin said if no other member got up he would like to express what he felt on this subject. It was, he considered, a very wrong act of the editor of the LytteUon Times to publish the report, and as the reporter, when handing in his copy, had stated the circumstances under which he got the information, steps should have been taken by him (the editor) to prevent the report from being published. As, however, the apologies had been explanatory and humble, he thought that the harmony which had so long existed between the papers and the association should be allowed to continue. [Hear, hear.] But he must say that he believed the mistake was wilful, and not as stated by Mr Smith. However, a full amende had been made, and he thought it would be undesirable to push the matter further. A mistake had been made and a full apology givcu, and under those circumstances he would move " That the committee, having heard the editor's letter read referring to the publication of the report of the exhibition of sheep [and also that of Mr Peeves, the proprietor, on the same subject], accept the apology offered, and desire to express the hope that no such breach of faith shall occur in future." Mr Matson seconded the resolution.

Mr Alport wished merely to remark that, in the spirit of competition which existed between the two papers, the same mistake had been made before bj the same paper. Mr Ferguson thought that Mr Smith had not made a sufficient explanation. This letter was an apology and no explanation. Sir Oracroft Wilson said there was always a cause for these cases. A and B make a promise to 0 on behalf of D and E. The first two not being responsible parties, and some little eclat attached, A throws over 13 to the detriment of E, and he would suggest that until they got a promise from the Editor, information shouldnofc be giver, as thjre was no security that a similar mistake might not occur again. He thought it should be added to the motiou, that it was also in consideration of the letter received from the proprietor that the apology was accepted. The words placed in brackets in the resolution were then inserted by the mover. Mr Murray-Aynsley did not think Mr Smith's letter sufficiently explanatory, and he thought that before information was given to the reporter of the Times next year, if the circumstances required it, a promise should be obtained from the pro prietor. The letter seemed to him merely to be a get-off for the reporter. Mr Ferguson desired again to say that he did not consider Mr Smith's letter at all satisfactory. The letter simply exonerated the reporter without giving a good explana tion why the report was published. If ii was a pi?cc of sharp practice on the part oi that paper, why didn't they come forward and say so. Sir (Jracroft Wilson thought that the rov that had been made would no doubt preveir a rccurrrence of the mistake.

Mr Wilkin said that the active sin had been committed against the other paper, and he considered that the PRESS had been most damaged. Mr Mcßcth felt that this action of the Times had also hurt the association a groat deal, as the public knew who had obtained the prizes, and the interest was considerably lessoned, and dissatisfaction had been created.

Mr Fergusson said the only regret he felt in the matter was, that the paper clid not conic forward in an open manner and acknowledge its fault. The resolution was then put and carried, with one dissentient.

The secretary said the treasurer had requested him to make an apology for his unavoidable absence, and had asked him to state that the funds which could at the present time be placed lo the credit of the association amounted to nearly £ s oo. Prizes amounting to £250 remained still unpaid, but the association would commence the year with nearly £3OO to its credit. Several accounts were passed for payment. A letter was read from M. Sharpies, asking that 150 catalogues remaining unsold, might be taken over by the committee at 3d each. The secretary was instructed to write that the association regretted the request could not be complied with. Mr Matson proposed, and Mr Ford seconded—" That the ram fair be held on the grounds of the association on the first Friday in March next." Carried.

The secretary was authorised to advertise the date of the ram fair in the Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Timaru, and Otago papers. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.