AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 222, 24 February 1875, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at Tattersall's, yesterday at 2.30 p.m., Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley presiding. There was a large attendance, the room being filled. The number of members now being too great for the accommodation, an adjournment was made to the dining room of the White Hart Hotel. The secretary said he had received two letters, one with regard to the number of entries, and the other with regard to the two days' show. The following report of the sub-committee respecting the ram fair was read by the secretary : " Your committee have to report that at a meeting held yesterday, the following resolutions were adopted : " That the ram fair be held on Friday, tho sth March, as already advertised, " That the following Saturday and Monday be devoted to the sale of rams and ewes. " That no sheep be allowed on the ground, unless previously entered with the secretary. "That the following entry fees be charged— Rams, for the first three (3), the property of one owner, 2s 6d each, over that number Is each : ewes, for the first ten (10), Is each, for the next ninety (90), 6d, and over one hundred (100), 3d each. " That 500 catalogues of entries of rams and ewes be printed at the expense of the association ; the said catalogues to be 6old at one shilling (Is) each; "That the auction sale commence each day at 10 o'clock, each auctioneer to take his turn by lot, and be allowed to sell for half an hour at a time. In the event of any auctioneer not being ready to commence at his proper time, the next iu order to go on. " That all entries shall close at 6 o'clock p.m. on Wednesday, the 3rd March. "That arrangement be made to have a refreshment booth on the ground during the fair. "Robert Wilkin, "Chairman." Mr Wilkin moved that the report as read be received and adopted. Mr Norman seconded the motion. The report was discussed seriatim, and agreed to. It was resolved that the site for the refreshment booth at the ram fair be sold by auction on Saturday next, by Messrs J. and R. H. Campbell, at Tattersall's.

On the motion of Mr Freestone it was resolved that the yard committee be requested to carry out the necessary details connected with the ram fair. Mr Wilkin moved—" That the exhibition in November should be extended over two days—that is, that all exhibits should be judged on the first day, except horses." He was of opinion that all the stock should be judged except the horses on the first day. The judging of the sheep at the last show was of great convenience, and he felt sure that every committee-man present would agree with him on this point. He brought this matter forward because he did not wish to clash with the Jockey Club, who, of course, wished to know what they were going to do in the matter. The bulls might go into stalls, so that no inconvenience would be experienced. Mr Norman seconded the motion. Mr E. Mitchell agreed with the necessity of judging the exhibits on the first day, but he did not think that they should admit the public to the grounds on the first day, as it would clash with the Jockey Club. He quite agreed with the necessity of the judging being done on the first day, as there was not time on the show day. Hon E. W. Stafford could not see why the horses should not be judged as well as the other stock. He could not see why they should be excepted. Mr Gould thought that one day would be quite sufficient to admit the general public, as time enough was allowed to them to see all that they required. Mr Higgir.B could not see the necessity for admitting the public on the first day, as it was well known that the judging could not be done while they were on tbe ground, hence the good arising from the J judging being done on the previous day was lost. Mr Holly thought that it would be better to follow the Melbourne plan, and admit the public on the first day. Mr H. F. Gray felt that the throwing open of the show on the first day to tbe public at a higher fee would not be productive of the evil effects supposed by other speakers. The presence of a few enthusiasts on the first day would not interfere with the races, as those who attended at the show would not go to the races. ("Hear, hear.] Mr A. Duncan said that he thought that the admission of the public on the first day was a step in the right direction. If they confined the show to one day it wag impos-

sible for breeders, when 6000 or 7000 persons ' were on the ground, to see the stock properly ; hence, as the show was instituted for the purpose of enabling breeders to compare their stock, he thought they should have two days' show. Mr Newton expressed himself in favor of one day's show. The letters from Messrs Buss and Tripp were then read by the secretary, the former was in favor of one day's show, the latter speaking strongly in favor of the show extending over two days. Mr Alport asked whether the committee of last year were in favor of two days' show, and whether the experience of the past show warranted them in saying that the two days' show was the best. Mr J. T. Ford said that at the last show, on the first day there was nothing to interfere with the judging of the sheep by the judges appointed. The fact was, that now the entries were so numerous that there was a necessity for two days' show. Mr John Mcßeth thought that two days show would be very injurious to cattle. He would move, as an amendment—" That every exhibit be judged on the previous day, except cattle and horses, and that there be two days' show." Mr Ferguson seconded the amendment. Mr H. J. Hall suggested that the association might allow of the removal of the cattle from the yards on the first day. The cattle would suffer most by being confined in close pens, and the owners might be permitted to remove the stock and return them into the pens in the morning. Mr Mitchell could see no objection to the cattle being in the pen during the evening, as he did not think they would suffer more than the sheep if they were carefully looked after. After some further discussion, Mr Mcßeth's amendment was put and lost. Mr Wilkin's resolution was then put and agreed to. The next question the consideration of the resolution regarding the number of entries at the show from each exhibitor. The chairman said that the question had been raised by a resolution which had been passed by the committee restricting the number of entries at the show to five. The matter had been discussed at the annual meeting, and had been referred to this special meeting. Mr J. T. Matson said that as the instigator of the movement, it was as well that he should move a resolution on the subject. He was of opinion that free trade should prevail in this matter, and that every one should be allowed to enter as many in the particular department of stock as he might think fit. He would propose—" That each exhibitor be allowed to enter not more than five exhibits in each class, so that he may be enabled to compete for all the prizes offered by the association," in lieu of the resolution at present standing. Mr Threlkeld seconded the motion. After some discussion, The Hon Ernest Gray moved as an amendment—" That the first three exhibits be charged at the usual rate, the cost of fourth entry be doubled, and the fifth entry trebled." He thought that if the show was made a means of advertising their flocks by some people, they should pay for it. Mr Higgins was in favor of retaining the present regulation, viz, that there be only three entries from any one person in each class. Mr Sutherland seconded the amendment moved by the Hon Mr Gray. Mr H. F. Gray thought that the intention of the association was to recognise merit, and not to gratify the ambition of any particular breeder. He should support the motion of Mr Matson. Mr Gould was entirely in favor of the resolution proposed by Mr Matson. The end and aim of the association was to bring out the best stock, and he looked upon it that this was a step in the wrong direction. They were also educators of the public taste, and he thought they should not hedge round their entries with restrictions. It did not matter to the association whether a man had one beast or one hundred. They gave the prize to the best animal, and anything like class legislation, which this was, would do an iujury to the association. [Hear, hear.] He thought that by fencing round their entries with these restrictions they would be doing an injustice alike to the association and to the exhibitors.

Mr Wilkin would support the Hon Ernest Gray's amendment. At the Skipton show in Victoria, one of the besc sheep shows there, the number of exhibits were limited to two, and no exhibitor was allowed to take more than one prize. The same regulations obtained at the Sydney show, which was the nearest approach to the best English show A great deal had been made of the injury likely to accrue to the association from the restriction, but he would point out that it was much more detrimental to the association if one man was allowed to come in and sweep the prizes off through his being able to select from, a large number of animals. They swamped the smaller exhibitor, who had no chance. Mr Alport thought that if they excluded men who were spirited and imported stock they would be doing a great injustice. He was in favor of doing away with all restrictions and having perfect freedom in this matter. He should oppose the amendment. Mr Ford here read an extract from Mr Buss's letter, opposing the removal of the restrictions. The amendment proposed by the Hon Ernest Gray was then put with the following result —For, 16 ; against, 12. The amendment was therefore carried. The question of holding a midwinter show was brought forward, Mr Wilkin moved—" That the question of the holding of the midwinter show be remitted to a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Sutherland, Gould, Ferguson, Ford, Matson, Mitchell, Mann, Bruce, Henderson, and the mover. He thought they ought to hold the show in town, and combine it with one of grain and roots, which would make ib a popular one. Mr Gould seconded the motion, which was agreed tOj On the motion of Mr Wilkin, seconded by Mr Mitchell, it was resolved that the arms of the association be struck off on paper, with an inscription as follows : " The first ten volumes of Coate's Herd Book were presented to the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association by Joshua Page, Esq., and that the same be affixed to the books presented by that gentleman." It was also resolved that the twentieth volume of the Herd Book be ordered from England. The first meeting of the mid-winter subcommittee was fixed for Monday next, at 3 p.m.

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. The usual monthly meeting of the Counci of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday afternoon, at the Public Library. Present—The Hon J. T. Peacock (chairman), Sir Cracroft Wilson, and Messrs Marshman, Wallace, Bird, Farr (hon sec), Tancred, Wood (hon treasurer), and Colonel Packe. Letters were read from the Commissioner of Police, informing the society in reply that he had submitted the question of the police acting as rangers to the Government, and if no objection were made steps might bo taken to give the police the required authority to lay informations under the Protection of Animals Act, 1873 ; also, acknowledging receipt of list of names of those persons who have taken out licenses to fish. A letter was read from Mr G. L. Mellish, stating that he had noticed that a resolution had been passed to the effect that the curator should be authorized to dispose of any hares when caught to members at a price, and he was desirous of obtaining some to turn out on his property on the Waitaki river. Sir Cracroft Wilson desired to mention that Mr F. D. Eich, at Palmerston, Otago, had any number of hares for sale, as he found them rather a nuisance to his plantations. He felt though, if the Council determined to sell, that some difficulty would be experienced in safely forwarding the hares to their destination. Ultimately the advisableness of selling or distributing hares over the province or otherwise was left to the*garden committee. A letter was read from Dr Curie, of Rangitikei, asking for information as to the best means of procuring some trout to place in a lake at Waitotara, on the north side of Cook's Straits. He desired to know where and for what cost he could obtain them, the proper season to secure them, and in what manner they could best be carried to their destination. After some discussion the secretary was instructed to reply that the society have no trout at present to dispose of. Colonel Packe mentioned that he had caught seventeen trout at different times lately, weighing in the aggregate 151bs 14oz. Sir Cracroft Wilson mentioned that he expected to receive some Californian mountain quail by the Taranaki steamer, expected on Saturday next. Mr Hoskins had kindly taken charge of sixty of these birds from San Francisco, but had been obliged to take them to Sydney first. Some of them had now arrived as far as Auckland, and would be here as he had stated. They were as large as an English partridge, and he should like the members to see and form their opinion of them. Colonel Packe srd that he had learnt that the imported fish were progressing favorably in the rivers Waihi, Kakahu. and Milford stream, and he would suggest that the superintendent be requested to declare those rivers closed for fishing. It was resolved to recommend this to his Honor. On the recommendation of Colonel Packe, chief ranger, it was determined to forward the following names to the Superintendent to be appointed rangers : —W. D. Laurence, Leeston; Donald Cameron, Saltwater Creek; William Murchin, Malvern; Clement Tancred, Geraldine j Joseph Illingworth and George Mackay, Lyttelton; Wm. De Renzie, Waihi; F. J. Walker, Temuka; Danl. In wood, Winchester. The tender of the Lyttelton Times newspaper for printing 500 copies of the society's annual report, was accepted. On the motion of Mr Farr, it was resolved to recommend to his Honor the Superintendent to proclaim the rivers Cam, Irwell, and Cust closed against fishing. The chairman desired to say that from information that had reached him he believed that the Domain Board would proclaim the river in the park open for fishing to license holders, but that portion intersecting the Domain gardens and the Acclimatisation grounds would be reserved. No doubt the intimation would shortly be published. The curator reported receipts by subscription, £l4 2s; sales, £24 16s 4d; license for fishing, £l. Estimated expenses for March, £26 4s. Mr Brandtmuller, who was shortly returning to Germany for another consignment of birds, had offered the society to bring out nightingales at £5 per pair, to be delivered in Christchurch; or any other birds or animals from Germany or Russia at prices to be agreed upon. No communication had been received by the garden committee from Dr Spencer Baird, of the Smithsonian Institute at Washington, respecting the salmon ova from Western America. The work of bringing water from the Avon into the gardens for the young salmon now in the hatching house, had been postponed until labor became cheaper. It was hoped that the birds now expected to arrive under the charge of Mr Bills would produce a large sum of money, which might be again remitted to England for the purpose of bringing out more insectivorous birds. The curator had great pleasure in stating that Mr Chas. Reed had made a present to the society of 100 starlings, which had been made over in London to Mr Bills, and that gentleman had reported that he saw all the birds in Cannon street which Bills had procured for the society, and they were in good condition. It was resolved to decline Mr Brandtmuller's offer in the meantime, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Reade for his present to the society, and the trouble he had taken. Colonel Packe stated that since the last meeting he had written a letter to each of the different rangers, asking them to report on the description and quantity of game ; also, upon the advisability of shooting cock pheasants under license, and during what months; the amount of license fee that should be charged ; should licenses be issued to dealers for the sale of ccck pheasants ; and on the advisability of recommending to the Superintendent that under section 14 of the Protection of Animals Act, 1873, black swans should be considered as native game. He had received something like sixty answers, and the majority were not in favor of shooting cock pheasants this year. [Hear, hear."| They were under the belief that the sale of pheasants should not be permitted to dealers, as it would probably encourage poaching, and as to the license fee, their opinion as to the amount desirable to charge varied from £IOO to five shillings. He would move " That the Superintendent be recommended that, under section 14 of the Protection of Animals Act, 1873, black swans be declared to be established in Canterbury, and be considered as native game." Mr Wallace seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Farr again wished to Jurge upon the Council, that his duties as honorary secretary

interfered very much with his professional business. He had held the position for six years, and would deem it a favor if they would elect some one else. A discussion of a conversational nature ensued, and Mr Farr was requested to retain the position a little while longer. The meeting then adjourned.