ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL SHOW DINNER.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1794, 20 November 1879, Page 3

ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL SHOW DINNER.

This dinner was celebrated at Shearman' Somerset Hotel on show night. Mr J. Grigg occupied the chair and Mr W. C. Walker the vice, more than ninety persons being present, j After the usual loyal toaata, Mr Brown, of ] Ohertsey, proposed tho " County Council," ( to which Mr W. C. Walker, the chairman of ] that body, replied, alluding to the capital , way in which members of that body worked ] together for the general good. i Mr Walker, in proposing the health _ of i the "Borough Council," paid them a high , compliment, alluding to their having sunk the i jpipe wells, through the medium of which the iato fire was kept in bounds. Mr Bullock, the Mayor, replied. . Mr Carter proposed the " Judges," and Mr ( "W. Boag replied, and in doing so prophesied that Ashburton would, in time to come, show • stock second to none in the Southern Hemisphere. He had seen most of the shows in New Zealand, and had in judging draught stock that day observed Bomo really first-class animals. Mr C. P. Cox propesed the "Successful Competitors," coupling it with the names of Messrs Matthews and J. Clark, both of whem responded in suitable terms, the latter, who represented the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory, alluding to the great advance in manufacture, and hoped the day was not far distant when a woollen factory would be established in Ashburton. Mr Clark proposed " The unsuccessful competitors," and in doing so hoped the harvest would be as successful as the show had been. Mr Stitt replied. Mr Guinness proposed " Tho Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Association," and in doing so referred at length to the benefi's conferred on the colony by these societies, who not only foßtered the breeding of the best stock, but also encouraged manufactures. Mr Thomas replied, stating that there was no doubt tho Christchurch show was the premier one south of tho line. He had visited the principal shows in Victoria and New South Wales, and had never seen such a number of exoellent exhibits as at Ohrietchurch, though perhapß they might be excelled in individual exhibits. The Ashburton show had been a greater success this year than last, both in the number and quality of the exhibits. Mr Pasamore proposed " Tho commercial interests," and in doing so alluded to the superiority of locally manufactured implements to those imported. Mr Johnson, of Rangiora, and Mr Edward Saunders responded, tho latter gentleman referring to the hard times through which the commercial men of the colony had passed. Mr T. Bullock proposed '' The Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association." Four head of cattle bred in Ashburton district had, at a late sale, realised over £IOO a piece, and he hoped the time would come when animals so bred would fetch even a higher price, for had they not, on part of tho Longbeach estate, land capable of raising stock equal to any south of the line. Mr J. Grigg, president of tho association, replied—Ho was glad to see such a successful show. A few months ngo, owing to the depreesion, he had not thought it would be advisable to have a show this year. The result of to-day had, however, proved to him that he was entirely wrong. To show the improvement in the show, ho might cay the gate money this year had been £lO0 —last year it was only £22. There had also been 100 more entries. The happy faces of the farmers was the beat eight on the ground to-day, as it showed the splendid season and good prospects. He advocated the establishment of a farmers' club. Tho resources of this island had hardly yet been tried at all. He was sure a cheese factory would be a success in the district. He did not show more exhibits ! because he wished the farmers to compete,

and knew if he had shown, the Longbeich stock would have taken most of the prizes, a thing he by no means desired. [Mr Grigg was much applauded.] Mr Cameron proposed " the Working Committee," which was duly responded to ; and Mr Jameson's, the secretary, health was drunk most enthusiastically, and also that of tho treasurer, Mr Shury. Dr. Stowart proposed "the Press," and Mr Buchanan " the Ladies." Host Shearman's health was drunk with musical honors. " The Chairman," given by Mr Walker, terminated tho proceedings.