GREY VALLEY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1090, 1 February 1872, Page 2

GREY VALLEY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

. . . . -. — *■■■■-■ •- [spkqiAtty; reported.] - j: .J , The annual meeting/)! this Asaociatioil T was held at Lardi's Hotel, Totara 1 Flat, on the evening of Tuesday, 30th" inst. The meeting was numerously: attended, and the, chair was taken by the President; C. ' Whrtefoord^Esql \ ,[',;, , ).,Y : .%/. The Chairman explained' the objects of the meeting, which were to receive the reports of the hon. Treasurer and hon. Secretaiy, and to elect a new council to ' conduct ;the affairs' of^he Society for the ensuing 'year. He then called upon the Treasurer and Secretary to read their reports. ..,.". ... ;..■ ;'., ■ . /_.' '; '". ■" ■';.,-. ..■'''' ■ -. Mr.R. M'^eiii, the hon., Treasurer, then made his financial. statement, and submitted his balance-sheet, by which it appeared that after liquidating all liabili- ° ties, including the payment of liberal prizes for two ploughing matches, successfully carried out under the auspices of the , Association, there was a creditable balance left "to commence the 1 'new year with. . Mr Patrick. M'KiNiAY, ,inoyed,,the , adoption of the Treasurer's balance sheet. Mr John Devery seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. \-r ,' Mr Kobt. AicoßNj the hon. Secretary then read the following report of the Committee : — ■'<= '■■•>• n ■:■•■■ : l • " Yjomv Committee have to congratulate you upon the success which has- attended their efforts for the advancement of the Association, and von the prospects of its . future advaricem.ent and stability, which, owing to the discovery and opening of the Inangahua, quartz reefs, together with|the increase of population in the more im|nediate gold workings appear better than at any time since the formation of the Association. - " Your Committee held eleven meetings since their election. Collectors, were appointed, who successfully canvassed the Grey . Valley,. ,opbden, and Greymouth; These 'contributions; supplemented by a portion of the grant-in-aid to Farmers' Clubs received from the Nelson Provincial Government, enabled your Cdmniii^Jfco offer liberal prizes at two ploughing matches. ; For the first, 1 held'on the 10th September, 1870,' in one of Messrs M'KinlayV paddocks, there were eight prizes given for ploughing-^-oHe for the best pair of horses ; one for the best kept harness ; and one for the best groomed horses: For the second, match, which took place on 23rd August, 1871, on^Mr Lardi's farm, there were? seven ' prizes I given for ploughing, besides one given by JMr David Donald to the prizetaker who first completed his task. There were also given one prize for the best pair of horses, one for the best groomedVpair of horses, and one for; the best kept. 3et of harness. The improvement in the ploughing at the second over the fjirst match was very great, and, the competition was so keen that the judges had difficulty in making their awards. , " Your Committee decided oh procuring: works on agriculture aud stock,, which might form the nucleus of an agricultural library, and for that purpose made a remittance- to a gentleman in ! Sydney, who has taken great interest in the progress and advancement of agriculture in New South Wales. Unfortunately, when our letter : l .with remittance; reached Sydney, the gentleman we wrote to had just left Australia" f6r"Sc6TJandr*"Our = IeB(Br was forwarded .to'himj; andlhe has replied to it. The post office order, we forwarded to. Sydney has been returned,, and we regret that the unavoidable delay will deprive you of the advantage of having the use of the books. for several months. ■.; „,, "Samples of soil were also forwarded ;to the same gentleman, who is a professor of chemistry. The following -are. his: remarks on the subject, contained in a letter from him :— f Perth, Nov. 7> 187 iK : iDeat Sir— Yourletter of 23rd June, .respecting books on agriculture and the analysis of soils, addressed to mej iat the . University of Sydney, was forwarded to me, to Aberdeen, Scotland. J t am .very sorry you should have been disappointed in obtain- V ing what you wish d, and I cannot now do anything for you, as I do not expect to be back in Sydney before September, next year. la the: matter. of books :on agriculture, I would advise /you .to apply, to Howard, Reed, Esq.,: Office, Sydney.; ; He. takes.. a great, interest- in agriculture, and edits the monthly journal of the Agricultural Society, of New South Wales.' He would be able to make the be3t selection for you; In i the matter of the analysis of soils, I would recommend you to apply to OharlesJ^all, Esq., ..University of Sydney, who is conducting my class in the TJniveraity during my absence. But I must warn jyou that chemical analysis will probably, throw little, if any, .' "ght on your difficulties. The land you

speak of may be in want of thorough drainage, or in some other way its physical qualities may reqnire improvement moid than its chemical. A chemical analysis may possibly be of service, but I would warn yon not to be sanguine on this score. Chemical analysts never threw any light on the potato disease of this country. I enclose the post office order you sent. I am, &c., J. Smith.' In conclusion, your Committee would urge upon you the desirability of continuing the Association, and extending its influence and usefulness, augmenting the number of itn members, because if agriculture increases the wealth of a country, the inducements to the promotion of its progress are manifold here, for not only are the valleys fertile, but the hills are teeming with wealth." J A , Mr Michael Savage moved the adoption of the Bon. Secretary's report. Mr David Donald seconded the proposition, which was unanimously earned. The Chairman complimented the members on the progress of the Association, and referred to the success of the ploughing matches. He also spoke in eulogistic terms of the services of the working committee and honorary officers of the society, and concluded by referring to the next business before the meeting, which was the election of a new committee. He pointed out that by the rules the number of the Committee was limited to thirteen. Mr David Donald moved, and Mr G. M. Maoklbv seconded, the re-election of E. Whitefood, Esq., as President of the Association. Carried. Mr M. Savage moved and Mr A. Labdi seconded the re-election of Mr David Donald as Vice-President. Carried. The following gentlemen, after being duly nominated and seconded, were then electedasthe Council of the Association :— Messrs S. M. Mackley, M.P.C.; R; Alcorn, M* Savage, P. M'Kinlay, ft; MWeill, M. Erskrae, John Devery, A. Lardi, Jas. Malley, Maurice Doolen, Frank Guinness, Alex. White, John Hamilton (Gilmer). , - Mr Guinness moved a vote of thanks to the late officers of the Association. Seconded, by Mr Erskine, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman dosed the proceedings. Immediately afterwards, the new Council met, and unanimously re-elected Messrs Robert M'Neill and Robert Alcorn, and the?? Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretaiv for the enauing 1 year. It was also resolved that a special vote of thanks to Professor J. Smith, Sydney University, be recorded on the minutes of the Association, and that he be written to thanking him for the interest be had taken in the welfare of the Society. It was stated that there would not be any difficulty in getting the Association the proportion of the grant-in-aid to Farmers' OluDs from the Nelson Government ; and after deciding that the balance-sheet, &c.', should be audited and published, the Committee adjourned.