AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 200, 29 January 1875, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A committee meeting of the above association was held yesterday afternoon at Mr Charles Clark’s rooms, SirOracroft Wilson in the chair, when Mr J. T. Ford, secretary, submitted the annual report brought up by the working committee. The report was agreed to with some slight alteration. The annual general meeting, which was largely attended, was then held ; Sir Cracroft Wilson, vice-president of the association, in the chair. The Secretary read the following annual report:— “The committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association beg to present to the members the following report of their proceedings for the year just ended. It has been customary with the association to hold the annual exhibition on the 9th November, the birthday of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, but in consequence of its falling on Monday in the past year, and it being necessary to arrange all preliminaries and to bring the stock, Sc o, to the yards on the day previous, it was postponed to Thursday, 12th November, when the actual exhibition of stock, Ice, took place. For the greater con.vehience of judging, the sheep were, however, yarded on the previous day—Wednesday. the 11th—when the judges were in attendance and the awards made. The advabtage|accruing from this arrangement was marked, as it gave ample time for the proper consideration of the respective merits of the animals exhibited ; and the retiring committee desire to recommend its continuance to the working committee of the coming year. “ The entries were : Sheep 224 Cattle 90 - Horses 116 Pigs, poultry, and dogs ... 50 - Implements 49 Dairy produce, See., New Zealand manufacturers, and wool 84 • Total . 612 “ Taken together the entries were less than last year’s show; but it was generally acknowledged that the exhibits were superior in quality to those of former exhibitions. “Fully detailed and interesting accounts of the show were published in the Lyttelton Timet and Press newspapers of the 13th of November, The success shown must have been gratifying to the active promoters, and it is hoped instructive to the general public. “ There were several visitors present at the exhibition from the neighbouring provinces, who were unanimous in their opinion that the stock as a whole excelled that brought forward at similar exhibitions, either in the north or south island. The dinner after the show, held at the Clarendon Hotel, was well attended. The Vice-President, Sir Cracroft Wilson, presided, Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley occupying the vice chair. “The treasurer’s account having been duly audited by Messrs Inglis and Aikman, will be laid before you, showing a credit balance to the amount of £286 7s 7d. “ During the past year a large expenditure has been incurred in permanent improvements, such as new yards for cattle, planting and improving the grounds, icc. “ In the coming year it is desirable that a suitable building should be erected for the reception of dairy produce, New Zealand manufactures, icc., and it will be for your committee to consider whether it is judicious to proceed to the erection of such with the funds in hand. “ In the past year the association has received no portion of the Government grant allocated to societies of a kindred nature ; but as it is universally admitted that our Metropolitan exhi ition is conducive to a large amount of good in developing the resources of the province, in stimulating the importation of the best stock from the mother country, and in establishing the pre-eminence of Canterbury over the sister provinces of New Zealand, it Is hoped the association will this year be favored with a liberal grant, independent of the subsidies afforded to local exhibitions.

“ The midwinter show held on the Hay was a moderate success, as to the stock, &0,, brought forward, but owing to the ifcormy weather, it was financially a failure. “ The majority of your retiring committee are of opinion that if persevered in, arrangements should be made for holding tbe show in large saleyards in Christchurch, which should be hired yearly for tbe purpose, until the association are in a position to erect suitable -buildings on their own grounds. They are also of opinion that, as the exhibition of fat stock in May does not show the result of winter feeding, and that roots at that season are not fully matured, it is desirable that the mid-winter exhibition should be held later in the season, say in July. “ The second provincial ram fair was held on the grounds of the association on the 6th of March. The entries were very much in excess of the previous year, and financially it was a success to the association, as was also tbe annual horse parade, held on the grounds under the auspices of tbe association on the 26th September. Your committee have resolved that tbe third annual ram fair shall take place on Friday, the sth March, on the grounds of the association and under its control.

“ During the past year fourteen committee meetings have been held, and a large amount of work got through in connection with the association. Notably the planning and supervision required in the erection of the new cattle pens, and for which a sub committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs Wilkin, Norman, Henderson, Washbourn, Fantham, Bruce, Barker, and J. Gebbie, and to these gentlemen the thanks of the association are due.

“ The ground committee Messrs R, Wilkin, W. Norman, and H. (Henderson—also brought forward the following scale of charges on stock brought to the association’s ? rounds, either for sale or for grazing, viz : ard fees on stock for sale—Entire horses, each 6s; other horses, each 2s fid ; bulls, fis; other cattle, 2s fid ; rams, Is ; other sheep, 3d. Grazing (sheep only allowed) ; rams, each per night, Id, or by the week, 4d each ; other sheep, including lambs, at half price. “ The scale of charges, as read, was agreed to by the committee of management, and it will be for the committee of the coming year to say whether these charges shall be raised or lowered.

.“At,.a meeting held on the 30th June it was resolved that no exhibitor be allowed to enter more than three exhibits in any one olM>. This resolution led to considerable

discussion, but was finally carried by a large majority. This is the only material alteration in the rules during the year. Others of minor importance were passed, amounting to revisions in premium catalogues and the time for bringing stock into the yards on the days of exhibition, &c. “ The offices of treasurer and secretary have been filled during the past year bj Messrs D. Craig and J. T. Ford. “The committee meetings for the past year have been held at Tattersall’s Jockey Club room, a trifling sum having been paid to the proprietor for the use of the same. “ Messrs Inglis and Aikman have again audited the accounts of the association, and the balance will now be laid before you. “ Under clause 5 of the rules of the association, you are now called upon to elect a president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and members of committee for the coming year, “ J. T. Foed, “ Secretary.” Mr D. Craig, hon. treasurer, read the financial statement of the year, duly audited, showing the receipts to have been £2003 18s Id, and expenditure £1717 10s 6d, leaving a credit balance to be carried forward to next year of £286 7s 7d. Mr J. B. Brown referred to the enormous expenditure incurred in printing, and thought the committee should find a means of having this work done at a cheaper rate, even if they had to send their printing to Dunedin. The Secretary said that a great deal of the advertising paid for this year bad been left unpaid at the last general meeting, besides a large amount paid for the printing was got back by the sale of catalogues. Mr Brown said he had accounts at home from the Lyttelton Times or Pkess, where he could show that reductions had been made in them of 20 per cent. He thought that a similar reduction would be made to the association on proper representation being made. Mr B. Mitchell agreed with Mr Brown that the newspapers should make the same reduction to the association they made to others, as the society gave them a good deal of printing and advertisements throughout the year. The secretary said that he had tried, but could not obtain any reduction. Mr R. Wilkin moved the adoption of the report, and stated that though the strictest vigilance should be exercised by the committee in their expenses, yet with regard to the newspapers, the association had received the greatest amount of assistance from them by means of locals, See. Mr Brown would second the adoption of the report, and in doing §o would not like it to go abroad that he censured the papers for the large item in their part of the year’s accounts for printing, but what he meant to eay was, that the papers ought to make the same allowance to the association that was made to auctioneers and other business people. Mr Mitchell was making no reflection on the newspapers; but he thought with the previous speaker that they ought to make the substantial reduction that was made to auctioneers and others.

Mr Ford merely wished to mention that both Mr J. B. Brown and Mr Mitchell were members of the working committee, and he could not bring to his recollection either of those gentlemen having attended any of the committee meetings, when they might have then suggested a remedy against the expense incurred in printing. The report and balance sheet were then adopted. The election of officers was then proceeded with.

The secretary desired to mention that Mr Gould had called upon him that day, and told him that he had had the honor ot being president of the association for some time; and as he had been prevented by ill-bealth from attending to the business of the association as he should have desired, he must decline to offer himself for re-election for that position this year. That gentleman also considered that the office should be rotative.

The chairman endorsed what Mr Ford had said, as Mr Gould had also spoken to him on the same subject that morning. Mr D. Gebbie proposed, and Mr K. Wilkin seconded, a motion that Mr H. P. MurrayAynsley be president of the association for the ensuing year.” Carried.

Mr Murray-Aynsley thanked the meeting for the honor they had done him, but thought they had gone back comparatively in electing him in the place of Mr Gould, who had done so much good for tbe association. [Hear, hear.] He knew that that gentleman’s heart and good will were with the association, and he (Mr Gould; had told him that he would be willing to act on the committee. [Hear, hear.l On the motion of Mr R. Wilkin, seconded by Mr E. Mitchell, Sir Cracroft Wilson was elected vice-president. Sir Cracroft Wilson returned thanks. Mr D. Craig was re-elected treasurer, and Mr J. T. Ford secretary. On the motion of Mr Murray-Aynsley, Mr Gould was elected the first member on tbe list of the new committee.

The following gentlemen were also elected members of the committee :—Messrs the Hon J. B. A. Acland, Thos. Acland, H. E, Alport, J. E. Brown, E. B. Bishop, Rev W. J. G. Bluett, J. Brabazon, F. C. Barker, Thos. Dowling, Marmaduke Dixon, M. Eaglesome, John Ferguson, R. W. Fereday, A. A. Fantham, John Anderson, jun, Thos. Bruce, Robert Chapman, P. Cunningham, L. E. Crosbie, A. Duncan, Samuel Garforth, J. Gebbie, D. Gebbie, Hon B. Gray, H, F. Gray, John Grigg, H. J. Hall, James Hay, R. L. Higgins, J. R. Hill, William Henderson, William Holly, F. Lane, J. Mann, William Marcroft, H. J, Mathias, J. T. Matson, E. Mitchell, J. Miln, J. Mcßeth, J. McFarlane, H. IMcllraitb, J. A. Mcllraith, Neil McLean, 0. Newton, William Norman, Rev A. P. O’Callaghan, J. Palmer, J, Page, 0. Reynell, Hon E. W. Stafford, W. H. Strange, William Todd, E. G. Tripp, P. C. Threlkeld, R. Wilkin, H, Washbourne, sen, J. Walls, William Wilson, W. D, Wood, William White, G. E. Tripp, John Deans, Hon Colonel Brett, John Rennie, R. Gillott, James Hurse, William Buss, R, H. Campbell, F. Rickman, C. G. Matson, James Wilkin, Job Osborn, R. Sutherland, A. C. Knight, B. G. Freestone, William Rossiter, and W. Maddison, Mr Matson moved—“ That it be a recommendation to the committee to rescind the resolution confirming the number of exhibitions to three, in each class.” Mr Grigg scyooHed the resolution.

After some discussiou vw, Q following amendment, moved by My A, Duncan, carried,

“ That this general meeting recommend the committee of the association to take into consideration, at a special meeting on Tuesday, 23rd February, the resolution restricting the number of exhibits in any one class by any one person to three.” Votes of thanks to the chairman, and to Mr Clark for the use of his rooms, folio wed, and the meeting terminated.