AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 357, 4 August 1875, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee of the above association was held yesterday, at the secretary 's office. Present —Messrs R. Wilkin (in the chair), A, Duncan, J. Ferguson, J. Milae, VV. Henderson, J.Mann, J. Walls, W. Gebbie, T. Bruce, H. B. Alport, P. Cunningham, H. VVashbourne, senr, A. A. Fantham, IS. Griffith, J. Anderson, jun, J. Mcßeth, J. Gebbie, C. F. Barker, VV. Marcroft, aud W. G. Grigg. The chairman said the first business before the meeting was to receive the report of the sub-committee appointed to arrange the catalogue for the spring show. The secretary said that a practice obtained at home of having a lithographed plan made of the yards and grounds. After some remarks from Mr Duncan on

the practice of home societies in this respect, the chairman said that a lithographed plan would not entail a large cost, and it would prove of great convenience to visitors. The meeting approved of the cost of a plan of the pens, &c, of the show being lithographed. The secretary (Mr Ford) said that Mr Murray-Aynsley had given £ls 15s for a prize, out he hardly knew what class that gentleman meant, as he had mislaid the letter received from him. Mr Ferguson said that he believed Mr Murray-Aynsley desired it should be given to a sheep the best of its class. The secretary said that Mr Aynsley would he believed wish t to give it to the best ram of his class, and if his (Mr Ford's) opinion were worth anything, he would think that it should be given to the best ram in the Lincoln class, as being the most useful class for general purposes. Mr Mcßeth thought it should be given to the best merino ram in his class, After some remarks Mr W. Gebbie moved—- " That the sub-committee confer with Mr Murray-Aynsley to find out his intention with regard to this prize." The motion was seconded and agreed to. A letter was read from Mr H. F. Grav, offering an extra prize of £5 for a single furrow plough, with three conditions attached —" 1. That it shall be a two-wheel plough; 2, That it shall turn a furrow a slice less than 15 inches wide at a depth of sin and up to Bin as may be required; 3, That it shall be of sufficient strength for three horses." Mr J. T. Ford offered a prize of 5 guineas for a turnip drill best suited to farms where turnip culture is carried out year by year to the extent of 200 acres and upwards, to be so arranged that the distribution of seed can be limited to 4oz per acre if desired, and either sown broadcast, or in drills. Messrs Mark Sprott and Go's prize of £lO for fat cattle, was received on same conditions as last year, both exhibits in pen to be the property of same owner. On the motion of Mr Fantham, it was resolved to give a prize of £ for the best butchers' cart in daily use. In reply to the chairman, Mr M'Beath said he was sure that such an exhibit would meet with general approval from the trade, and he was certain the butchers would generally subscribe towards it. The president of the society (Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley) here entered the room, and Mr Wilkin vacated the chair in his favor. Mr Wilkin presented to the society a copy of the laws, bye-laws, and charter of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and also of the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, 1874, which were received with thanks. Mr Wilkin alluded to the prize given by the president, which has already been referred to, and that gentleman determined to leave its disposal to the committee, in accordance with the resolution passed. The catalogue as brought up by the subcommittee was then discussed, the whole of which as altered will be duly advertised. Among other alterations it may be mentioned that the imported and other classes need not be shown "in the grease," as previously stipulated. The amount of some entries, and of prizes was reduced. Prizes for triple furrow and sub-soil ploughs were added to the catalogue, and it was resolved that the second prizes should be one-half of the first. A letter was read from Mr C. Turner, relative to exhibiting sewing machines. Mr Wilkin supported these exhibits, as not only were sewing machines useful for household work, but they were also useful for sewing sacks and woolpacks, and were thus of general utility. If the difficulty of judging could be surmounted, he would very much like to see a prize given for sewing machines. It was resolved to defer the letter for further consideration until next meeting. It was resolved in New Zealand manufactures that the price at which beer could be supplied to the " public" and not to the " trade" should be given. An extra class for the best collection of pottery ware and fire clay goods was added to the catalogue. It was determined that the entries for the next exhibition should finally close on Saturday, 30th October; the implements to be on the ground by 10 o'clock on morning of Bth November; sheep and cattle on the ground and penned by 12 o'clock same morning, in order that they may be judged ; and pigs and poultry by 8 o'clock on Tuesday, 9th November, the morning of the exhibition. Resolutions were passed—" That cattle and sheep may be removed at an hour to be named by the committee, on the afternoon of the Bth, on the owners paying a fine and guaranteeing to the satisfaction of the committee, that their stock shall be returned by a certain hour the following morning." The word " thorough-bred" in blood stock was resolved to mean " reputed " thoroughbred, and the secretary was instructed to advertise the catalogue alternately in the daily papers. The committee then adjourned.