AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1677, 5 July 1879, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Ihe ordinary monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday afternoon at two o’clock. There were present—Mr J. T. Ford, president; Mr Andrew Duncan, vice-president ~ and Messrs Wm. Boag, P. Cunningham, John Deans, Hon. John Hall, Wm. Henderson, J- B. Hill, John Mann, John Mcßeath, H. P. Murray-A ynsley, Wm. Norman, J. Ollivier, R. Sutherland, JamesWatts, and M. Murphy, secretary. The minutes of the last moating were read and confirmed. The first matter that came before the committee was the regulations of the association, and with reference to this the sub-committee advised that as they worked so well last year, they saw no reason to make any alteration, which view was concurred in by the committee. With reference to Clydesdale stick, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Boag—“ That the prize for young stock belonging to stock already entered should bo 5s instead of IQs.

With reference to the compilation of the stud book, it was determined that this should be left to a sub-committee to meet immediately after Mr B. Wilkin’s arrival, the committee to consist of Messrs Norman, Henderson, Hill,. Watts, Ford, and ths mover, Mr Boag. It was resolved —“ That the arrangements for the rain fair should remain as before.”

Some discussion arose on the subject of private prizes, as to the mode of their distribution, and certain amendments were proposed, which will bo submitted for the consideration of the gentlemen by whom they wore presented to the association.

Mr Ollivier suggested that a special prize should he awarded for cottagers’ stores, aa apart from tho class coming under the head of kitchen r ngos, and ho announced that he would, give a prize of -£2 2s for the best exhibit of the kind, the ccsi of which should not exceed -£5The list of private prizes will not be published, until final arrangements are made. The committee then appointed tho various sub-committees to nominate judges for theexhibits at the coming show. A discussion arose upon the madelast year (but not then carried out) to get judges from Victoria for certain exhibits, it beingpointer;! out that such a course might be of con-. sidoraHo benefit to the association and more, satisfactory to exhibitors. Mr Duncan suggested that the committees might have a start this yca-j in that directionby obtaining the services of two judges, and offeringthem for expenses, say .£25 each. Mr Bo»g moved that steps he taken to seonro tho services ofjtwo judges (in the departments of horses and short horn cattle) from Victorii, aul that -1*25 each should be allowed them for expenses. Tbe Hon. 3. Hall could not see that there was any sufficient occasion to adopt the course sag*

gested. There were in Now Zealand gentlemen perfectly well qualified to judge of horses and cattle, and about whose impartiality there could be no question. Unde? those circumstances, and taking into consideration the depressed state of the times, ho could not think the committee would be justified in incurring the expense which the carrying oat of the suggestion would involve. Ho could not see that there was sumcient reason, and ho might add that, in his opinion, considerable difficulty would bo experienced in making a selection. They did not know the people from among wh.m it was proposed to make the selection, and the chances were that the best judges were those whose time was so valuable that they could not afford to come, and the result would very probably be, therefore, that they would get only second or third rate men. Mr Bang remarked that last year he had a list of gentlemen, about! twenty to choose from, and with some of them ho was personally acquainted, so that he did not apprehend the difficulty that the last speaker seemed to dread. And as to the question of expense, it was really trifling, The chief inducement was that the public would bo better satisfied. Hon. J. Hall—lf yon expect to put an end to grumbling by this or any other process, I am afraid you will be very much disappointed. The President did not think any particular good would arise from the course suggested. He thought it likely judges coming from Australia would see some very good exhibits in horses, cattle, and sheep. After some farther discussion of a conversational character. The motion was put to the meeting and carried.

A sub-committee was appointed to look through the regulations referring to the horse parade, and appoint a day for the same. Several accounts were submitted to the meeting, and passed for payment. Mr Charles Lewis was appointed a life member of the association, and Messrs David Gordon Holmes and E. S. Coster were appointed annual members. This concluded tbo business, and a vote of thanks having been passed to the president the committee adjourned.