The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 917, 16 March 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1868.

The Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association has taken up the posi tion of the most important and valuable institution in the Province. A few mouths since, when the establishment of this Association was first projected, there were not a few, but many, who predicted failure, and others who affirmed that after the first show the Society would collapse, as most of Southland's Societies had done before. The Treasurer's balance sheet proves that the predictions were premature and incorrect. It is surprising that a Society that has been scarcely in existence six months could have accomplished so much. From the financial statement alluded to we find that the large sum of £546 (with the exceptions of a few items yet to collect) has been raised. This result is highly creditable to the colonists of the Province, and the success of the operations of the Society prove that the Directors were well up to their work, and energetic in performing it. It is considered in the colonies a rare occurrence for Societies of this class to be able to show a balance to their credit after the expenses of the annual exhibition and the prize money had been paid. The Southland Agricultural Association, notwithstanding the heavy cost of initiation, and constructing temporary yards, are enabled to carry forward for future operations between one and two hundred pounds, and can with satisfaction affirm that within forty-eight hours of the termination of the show the cheques for all the prizes were ready for delivery. The interests of every class in the Province are bound up with those of the Agricultural and Pastoral settler. The prosperity of all are regulated by the progress of those branches of industry. Trade and commerce flourish or decline in proportion to the success of the Agricultural and Pastoral operations carried on, and anything calculatyd to improve the system of cultivation or stock rearing is entitled to the liberal support of the Govern. nent and the people. Stock shows and Agricultural exhibitions are pre-eminently calculated to improve the style of cultivation of every descriptiop ; the stock-owner seeks to distinguish hiijn-* self as the breeder of the best class i'of stock, the farmer to raise the finest grain and other produce, and the implement maker to manufacture the most improved machinery. The powerful inJ^uence that Agricultural and Pastoral Associations have upon progress is fully recognised at home and in the coidm?s,

and in almost every instance the Go* , vernment supplement the contributions to these Societies by money grants, and the appropriation of suitable sites of land for their use. In a new country, whwe labor is dear, there is great temptation for a slovenly system of cultivation being indulged in, producing indifferent grain, and inducing a tendency to retrograde in the habits of the cultivator. Competitive Exhibitions are calculated to extinguish the evils that would arise from a careless system of agriculture, to lead to emulation in the tilling and sowing of land, so as to obtain the greatest return per acre, rather than the breaking up of the largest quantity in the shortest time. The Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association has had a most success ful beginning. That it has become a permanent institution is matter for congratulation: but it should be kept in mind that to sustain its present vigor liberal support is required from the Government and the public. It is scarcely to be expected that the Council would, under present circumstances, ieel justified in granting any large amount of money to it; still we think that a moderate sum might be given towards the erection of permanent buildings, and a piece of ground upon which to erect them. The G-overnment has expressed a desire to facilitate its operations to the fullest extent and it is to be hoped that during the present year such aid will be given, and such support by the public accorded as will place the Society in possession of its own land and funds to fence and erect substantial buildings upon it. "