TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 14

TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taieri Agricultural Society was held on Thursday evening. There was a very large attendance, and Mr James Walker presided. The annual report, which contained the following information, was discussed and adopted:—Exhibitors had again shown their appreciation of the improvements to the show grounds by bringing forward their exhibits in increased numbers, the entries in the cattle and sheep sections being a record for the society. The quality, too, had been up to the usual high standard. The ladies had been well to the fore in their display of dairy produce and cookery. The annual social, which had become a popular function, was held this year in Outram. There was a full hall, an excellent programme, and the winners received their trophies with the good wishes of all present. The balance sheet showed a healthy financial position, showing continued support from all quarters. Thanks were, due to all contributors, special mention being due to the generous support. accorded us by business and commercial circles. The committee thanked all exhibitors, subscribers, and donors of special prizes, those ladies and gentlemen who had acted as judges, the Outram Domain Board for the free use of the grounds, the auditor, the press, and all who helped to make the show a success. Office-bearers were elected as follow:— President, Mr R. T. Kirk; vice-president, Mr A. S. Gillespie; committee—Messrs George T. Bathgate, Melville Bathgate, Eric F. Black, J. S. Blackie, A. E. Blair, George Ford, Robert Gawn, John A. Gow, James B. Hamilton, Alexander S. Murray, John Murray, James C. Renton, Robert Thomson, and James Walker; auditor, Mr John Logan; hon, veterinary surgeons, Messrs W. D.. Snowball and C. V. Dayus. In vacating the chair, Mr Walker returned thanks for the support he had received from the committee and other officebearers. He bespoke a similar support for hie successor in office. He declared Mr R. T. Kirk elected. On assuming the chair, Mr Kirk said that the long list of past presidents stood ’ n f r< ? n t of him as an example. He also felt that the standard set by the retiring president during his term made it no easy task for his successors to live up to. But if members would give him their hearty support he would do his best, and when his term of office had closed he hoped he would have been found worthy of the reposed in him.— (Applause.) xi x ? President referred to bereavements that had come to members of the society. One of their life members (Mr John Cal*ost his wife, and through the death of Mrs Mann bereavement had come to Mr Allan Mann, Mr R. Thomson, and Mr James Dow, jun. A motion of sympathy with these was carried in the customary manner. On the motion of Mr A. Walker, Messrs William Kirkland and Alexander Bathgate were elected life members. Both gentlemen acknowledged their election. The method of collecting members’ subscriptions was discussed, and it was resolved to reyert to the method of members canvassing. On the motion of Mr W. Kirk, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the retiring president at the close of the meeting.

Mr A. S. Murray introduced the matter of the: appointment of judges. On the score of expense, sometimes the number of judges was not sufficient adequately to cover the work of judging of all classes. Mr J. Young suggested that a sub-committee should deal with each section, and put forward a nomination for judges for that section. Mr Arthur Johnson supported this. A recommendation accordingly was made to the incoming committee. A committee meeting followed the annual meeting. The chairman welcomed the new members —Messrs Murray, Bathgate, and Gawn. All three belonged to families who had largely figured in' agricultural societies’ affairs.. The last-named

? va . s , V*ird generation of Gawns to hold a place on the committee.— (Applause.) Tenders for the erection of a building on the domain at Outram were dealt Wl th, ar *d. that of Messrs Muir and King, of Dunedin, at £354, was accepted.