NORTH OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 10011, 17 July 1879, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Committee of the Association was held this afternoon, when there was a pretty full attendance,'and Mr. Henderson', VicePresident, occupied the chair. The minutes cf a previous meeting having been confirmed, it was decided that in future meetings of the Committee should be held at half-past eleven o'clock. The Secretary was instructed to prepare a draft of the rules under which the Association was working, in accordance with the Act. The consideration of the programme for t-lie forthcoming show was then entered upon. * ." Mr. Menlove moved-that the giving of cups should be continued. The giving of I cups had been the making of the Association, and he thought it would be a very ill-advised step to abolish them. | Mr. Todd seconded the motion, and gave an outline of the manner in which the Society had previously worked. He showed that prior to the initiation of the cup system the Society had actually not been in a position to fulfil its engagements. The giving of cups was then started, and from that time the Society had entered upon a more prosperous condition. Before they abolished a system under which the Society had prospered, the Committee were entitled to obtain some information as to the principle to take its place. Mr. Connell moved an amendment to the effect that the system of cups should be abolished. In reference to the remark of Mr. Todd, he might say that the majority of ■ those present at the former meeting, when the subject was previously discussed, were of opinion that the individual prizes should be increased. For instance, where a silver medal was at present given a gold one might be given, and where a medal was of the value of L 5 5s it might be increased to LlO 10s, and the option given of taking the amount in cash. Mr. Gemmell seconded the amendment, and spoke strongly against the system of granting cups, which, he said, had cost the Society a large sum of money, the cups given greatly exceeding in value those of the prizes won. After some little further discussion, the amendment was negatived, and the motion for'continuing the cups carried. Mr. Connell gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the motion be rescinded. The cups in the several classes were then fixed as follow : —Draught horses, 30 guineas; thoroughbreds, 20 guineas; shorthorn cattle, 20guineas; Ayrshire2oguineas; general, 10 guineas; merino sheep, 20 guineas ; Leicester sheep, 20 guineas ; Lincoln sheep, 20 guineas ; dairy produce, 20 guineas; agricultural implements, 20 guineas ; grain, shown by growers, 10 guineas ; grain, shown by dealers, 10 guineas ; seeds, open to all, 10 guineas. The cup for Romney Marsh sheep was struck out. The details of the programme were then partially gone through.