CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1581, 14 March 1879, Page 4

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of this association was h ldat half-past two o’clock yesterday afternoon at the offices. Hereford street, Mr Wuham Norman, president, in the chair. There was a large attendance annual report. The annual report was read as follows 1. It is again the pleasing duty of your committee to report the steady progress of the association. 2. The entries for the November show of 18/8 were considerably in advance of P£evions ye .'nf’ viz.:—ln 1876, 917; 1877, 922; and 1878, 1023. fha facilities offered lor the transit of passengers and stock by the openinsr of the railway thr tig Dunedin had the effect of increasing exhibits and the a> tendance of visitors from all parts of the country. The amonut collected at the gates reached .6812 10s 10(1, as compared with 6739 8s sd, collected in 1877. . , T „ 3. The entries of stock. &c., wore as follows la sheep, 291; in cattle, 157; in horses, 113 ; in pigs. 30: in poultry, 31; in sheep dogs, 16; in implements, 197; iu dairy pro Inco, 52 ; in Now manufactures. 67; in wool, 6; m extra exhibits, 32. Being a decrease of 15 in sheep, 12 in pigs, 8 in poultry, and 31 in Now Zealand manufactures ; hut an increase of 20 in cattle, 20 in horses, 91 in implements. 2 iu dairy produce, 2 in wool, 1 in sheep dogs, and 31 exhibits in manufactures for which there were no classes. 4. The quality of the animals, in most of the classes, may be said not only to have maintained the previous standard of excellence, but to have shown a marked improvement in careful breeding. The superior manufacture of colonial-made agricultural implements was especially noticeable, more particularly iu the class for ploughs. The articles of New Zealand manufacture wore less numerous than last year, hat there was a marked improvement in the style aud finish of the exhibits. ... 5. The annual parade of entire horses was held, as usual, on the grounds of I he Association, on Saturday, September 28th last. Although the entries were not so numerous as for the parade of 1877, still the quality and condition were in every respect superior. In 1877 there were eighty-eight horses entered, as against eighty-four for 1878. 6. The Ram Fair took place ou Thursday, the 6th March, and the Ewe Fair on the following day. Owing to the long-protracted drought, and the consequent scarcity of feed, with but little prospect of much improvement for the approaching winter, the number of buyers were limited and prices low. To these depressing influences may bo attributed the falling off in both rams and ewes. The entries for 1878 were—Rams 1967, ewes 286, total 2253; being a falling off of 167 rams and 13i ewes, as compared with the fair of 1877. 7. The New Zealand Stud Book for Draught Horses, referred to in the last annual report, has been published, and will prove very valuable as a, reference for breeders of this class of stock. It is contemplated to bring out the second volume as soon as 100 additional entries have been received ; breeders are therefore requested to send in entries of stock without delay, giving full particulars of pedigree. . , . 8. The introduction of labour-saving machinery, as exhibited in the show yard, has tended much to the development of agriculture in this part of the colony. The most important implements of this kind are the new reapers and hinders, over 1800 of which have been introduced into the colony, at a cost of 6100.000, and have done good service during the harvest just closed. , 9. It was deemed advisable to hold a farther public trial of the various kinds of reapers and binders, and a prize of £25 was offered for competition by the association. Four machines were entered—viz., the M'Cormick, Wood, Osborne, and the Harvest King. The trial took place in a field of wheat kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by William Bang, Esq., Burnside, Fendaltown. The judges awarded the prize to the M'Cormick machine. 10. The prize books ordered from England last year arrived in good condition, a large number of which have been selected by prizetakors, and have given general satisfaction. A fresh supply has been ordered from England. 11. Twelve monthly, and five special meetings of the general committee have been held, besides several meetings of the sub-committees. 12. The treasurer’s accounts and the hooks of the association have been duly audited by Mr T. B. Craig, accountant, without charge to the association, and to that gentleman the thanks of the association are due for the services he has thus rendered. ... r 13. The cash receipts of the association for the year were £2BOI 19s sd, which, with the balance of £6Bl Is 2d brought forward from previous year, makes a total of £3486 0s 7d. Against this the sum of £2919 16s 4d has been expended, leaving a balance to he carried forward of £566 4s 3d. This amount is, however, subject to outstanding liabilities of £535 Is lid. 14. The actual progress of the society for last year is shown by the accounts to be—Further sum to reserve fund of £76 19s 6d, making it £275 10s, and to the general account of £398 0s 3d, making it £1059 Is. which, added to the capit il account mentioned in last year's balance, makes the capital of the society equal to £5090 17s 9d, independent of the increased value of the as. ociation’s freehold property and the reserve fund. The invested shores in the Permanent Loan and Investment Association have been increased to £275 10s, by the payment iu full to July, 1882, besides the sum of £2OO has been deposited with the same association, hearing interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum, payable halfyearly. 15. It is hoped that a sufficient number of names may soon ho attached to the petition, now laying at the association’s offices, praying the Governor to incorporate the association under the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1877. The association will then have a recognised legal status, and, besides other advantages, the annual report of its proceedings would bo laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament, thereby bringing the operations of the association prominently before the colony.

16. There are at present 264 members of the association, which number might easily be increased by a little exertion on the part of those members who take an interest in the association’s work. Considering the objects of the association, and the work already accomplished by it, it is not too much to hope that the coming year will be marked by a greatly increased amonnt of support from the general public. 17. The "New Zealand Country Journal” has now entered on its third year, and is published on the Ist of every second month. The support which has been accorded to it from all parts of the colony enables the editing committee to bring it out without trenching on the funds of the association. While expressing their thanks to those gentlemen who have aided in the work by contributing original articles, the editing committee earnestly solicit further contributions from those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, 18. The committee deeire to place on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the association by the gentlemen who have acted as judges at the association's shows, and who have in some instances travelled considerable distances to do so. They also desire to acknowledge the services of those members who, by their valuable assistance on the show grounds, have greatly contributed to the successful results achieved. 19. In the month of May last the committee received an invitation from the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association to co-operate in the formation of an agricultural association representing the Middle Island, and eventually the whole colony. After mature deliberation, the committee determined to join in this endeavor to establish a society of a national character, and appointed delegates to a general meeting to be held at Oamaru for this purpose. This meeting was attended by representatives from nearly all the agricultural associations in this part of the colony. There was great unanimity of feeling as to the advantages to bo expected for the agricultural interest from the operations of the proposed society, and a basis for its organisation was agreed upon. Up lo the present time, however, the number of members who have been enrolled is not sufficient to warrant the commencement of active operations

William Noemak, President. The balance- sheet showed the expenditure to have been £2667 14s 2d, less £398 Os 3d balance in hand ; money prims paid and due, £983 18s ; prize medals, £47 10* ; judges’ expenses, £100; advertising and printing, £414 2s; general expenses, £647 4s sdreserve fund, £7619s 6d; total, £2667 14s 2d. Income—Earn fair, £2Ol 16s ; November show, £322 10s ; gate takings, £Bl2 16a lid ; booths and catalogues, £448 17s Id; graaing, £56 3a 8d ; pound rent, £3l 2a 6d ; horse parade, £57 8s 3d ; deposits on protest!, £2 ss; subscriptions, £243 2s ; " Stud Book,” £58195; “Herdßook,” £lool9s 6d; prize books, £929a lid; "Now Zealand Journal,” total subscriptions, including those in advance for 1879, £629 3s sd, less payment in 1878; total, £2667 14s 2d; balance, £398 0s 3d; balance 31st January, 1878, £6610s 9d; balance as per balance-sheet, £1059 Is. The Hon. J. Hall moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet. He might draw attention to the fact that 1800 reapers and binders would cost more than £IOO,OOO. Mr Murphy said he had eceived his information from the importers. Mr Hall said he should have gone to the farmers. Bp to the present time the association’s petition did not contain a sufficient number of signatures to enable them to be brought under the Act. The report and balance sheet ware of a most satisfactory character, showing some £3OO or £4OO to the good on the year’s opera lions. Mr H. B. Bishop seconded the adoption of the report. In answer to a question, The Chairman said nearly all the subscriptions of members had been paid. Mr Hill drew attention to some modifications which he considered ought to be made in the balance sheet. He would move that they adopted the report, and allowed the balance sheet to stand over.

Mr Sutherland agreed with Mr Hill. The statement of account ought to be considered to be more in detail. Mr Hill moved as an amendment—“ That the report only be adopted after the reserve fund has been incorporated in the statement of assets and liabilities.” Seconded by Mr Sutherland. The Hon. J. Hall had no objection to accept the amendment of Mr Hill as an addition to the some discussion the report was adopted, subject to the alteration moved by Mr Hill. Mr Sutherland moved that a balance-sheet be made out giving fuller details, as was done k*The motion was seeonded by Mr John Grigg, who also asked that the amount of unpaid sub* Boriptiwi might appear.

The Chairman said there were thirty-five members only out of 264 who had not paid their subscriptions. The motion was then put and agreed to. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers for the ensuing year then took place and resulted as follows :—President, Mr J T. Ford; vice-president, Mr Andrew Dnncan; treasurer, Mr D. Craig. Mr Hill m-ved that the members of the committee be fixed at twenty-four, in view of coming under the Act.

seconded by Mr J. Grieg, and agreed to. Ibe following t'entlemen were elected on the committee; —The Hon. John Hall, S. Garforth, J E. Hill. Marray-Atnsley, E. Sutherland. Eob rt Wilkin, John Mann, Thomas Bruce, George Gould, Wm. Henderson, Jo n Grigg, Wm. Norman Wm. Boag, James Walls, John M’Beth, John Anderson, junr,, H. B. Alport, A. W Money, John Ollivier, John Deans, Peter CunmDgbam, John Gilmour, Win. Holly, and H. Washbourne, senr. Mr John Ollivier moved—“ That the thanks of the Association be given to the president, the vice-president, the treasurer, the auditor, and the committee, for the valuable services rendered by them during the past year ” Agreed to. The thanks of the Association were also accorded to the gentlemen who had acted as judges at the last November Show. Letters to be sent to them to that effect. The Hon. John Hall moved a vote of thanks to the chairman for the zeal he had always displayed on behalf of the Association. Seconded by Mr Duncan and agreed to unanimously. The Chairman acknowledged the compliment. The proceedings then terminated.