ELLESMERE AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1758, 8 October 1879, Page 3

ELLESMERE AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the general committee was held at Spring’s Leeston Hotel, on Wednesday, Ist October. Present—Mr John Bennie, vice-president, in the chair, Messrs T. Osborne, W. Bishop, D. Marshall, T. Boag, O. Bourn, J. Hicks, J. McEellar, F, Jameson, A. McLaohlan, B. Earle, G. E. Lockhead, and others. The secretary read the advertisement convening the meeting, and the minutes of the last general meeting, which were duly confirmed. The secretary apologised for the absence of their president, and in his name informed the committee that their representative in the General Assembly, the Hon. John Hall, had presented the association with twenty guineas, to be used in whatever manner they might determine. A hearty vote e£ thanks was unanimously accorded to their member for his liberality, and the president was empowered to present Mr Hall with a life member’e ticket on behalf of the society. The secretary stated that Mr Webster had surveyed the show ground, and had promised to forward the plan asked for by the Commissioner of Crown Lands at an early date. The secretary was empowered to write to the railway traffic manager, re special accommodation on the show day, to arrange for a band, preference to bo given to the local band, if their terms were satisfactory, for the customary marquee for dairy produce, and for the necessary tickets for tne show. The question of a publican’s booth and refreshment! tent was fully discussed. Ultimately -it was decided to call for tenders for the sole right of a publican’s booth, the tenderer to' supply a general luncheon and special accommodation for judges and class stewards. Reference wiAS made to the unsatisfactory manner in which the catering was done last year, and the secretary and gentlemen opening

the tenden were specially requested to consider the capabilities of the competitors befort making a choice. Mr Marshall and Mr Osborne promised to visit the show ground, and report on thf night of general entry what was necessary to be done to the yards. The extraordinary manner in which the implements were priced by exhibitors was commented upon, and the secretary was instructed strictly to enforce the by-law_re-stricting the prices to be named at the time of general entry. The special prize list, which was in every respect satisfactory, was considered seriatim, and as far as possible the wishes of the donors strictly adhered to, Messrs Marshall, Bourn, and Oiborne, were appointed a sub-committee to choose suitable cups from those Christchurch jewellers who were contributing themselves. The Chairman concluded the proceedings by congratulating the meeting on the success of their endeavors hitherto, and desired to impress on all the members of the association the urgent necessity of canvassing amongst their friends for subscriptions towards the funds.