KAIAPOI FARMERS' CLUB.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 443, 15 November 1875, Page 4

KAIAPOI FARMERS' CLUB.

The monthly meeting of this club was held on Thursday evening, at the Kaikanui Hotel. Thirteen members present. Mr C. Dudley voted to the chair. Letters were read from Mr Buss, secretary Northern, and Mr McGregor, secretary of the Peninsula Agricultural Associations, acknowledging .the. receipt of copies of a resolution, suggesting the practicability of judging cattle by points, seating that the recommendations would be considered by the councils of the respective associations. Mr T. Pashby then opened the debate on " Sheep, and their different breeds," in the course of his remarks tracing them from the time of Abel, in biblical history, downwards An interesting discussion followed, in which it was stated that one way in which some practical men found out their best sheep, was by weighing them at shearing, and so deciding which cross was the best, the merino in one instance referred to, produing a fleece 71bs, the Southdown 51bs, and Leicester cross 9!bs on the same farm, and under similar circumstances. It was agreed to be advisable to shear lambs. One member instanced a case in which sheep fed on beans produced a double quantity of wool, and fully paid the extra cost of keep. Another had purchased merino ewes at sixpence per head, and after running them on Kaiapoi island with Leicester rams obtained 10s each for the lambs. With reference to foot rot, Southdowns were admitted to be most liable to it, the merino next. Nearly all the fat sheep sold were cross-breds. On the motion of Mr Parnham, seconded by Mr Birnie, it was resolved—" That a vote of thanks be passed to Mr Pashby for his valuable paper. The Club endorsed his remarks referring to maintaining the crossbred classes at the exhibitions as an encouragement to breeders of cross-breds, and recommend to the notice of the agricultural societies that such sheep might be shorn on the ground and the carcase and fleece duly weighed. It was decided that the club meet next month, to hear Mr R. Wilkin's opinion in respect to the management of cattle, and decide on the holding of a reaping machine contest during the harvest. Mr Wilson moved, Mr Young seconded—- " That the Provincial Government be respectfully memorialised to provide the promised weighbridge at the railway station prior to the next harvest, and the secretary write respecting the same." Carried unanimously. Attention was directed by some of thecattle stock-owners to the dangerous state of a railway crossing near Sneyd's Arms Hotel, which was much used, Mr Parnham moved, Mr Mulcock seconded —" That the Eyreton Road Board be respectfully asked to memorialise the Government to put in cattle traps to prevent animals straying on to the line when crossing the same at the Sneyd's Arms, pointing out that with the number of trains now running, and the croasing being constantly used, this precaution was necessary for safety." Carried unanimously. Mr Birnie gave notice to move—" That a grain and root exhibition be held about April, 1867, and that a committee of three be appointed to arrange details of the same." With a complimentary vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting terminated.