The Southland Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 1009, 24 August 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1868.

As the time is approaching for the holding of the annual meeting of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, we take the opportunity of again calling the attention of the public to the rise and progress of this valuable institution. We have before us the Keport of a the Committee for the year, 1867-68. It contains much information of a character that can scarcely fail to prove satisfactory to those who take an interest in the rearing of stock and agricultural progress, It gives a . brief history of the initiation and operations of the society up to a recent date. From it we learn that, during the past year, | over £500 was collected, in amounts varying from £1 to <£10; and the prize money paid last year amounts to the large sum of £256 ; a sum in excess, we believe, of that ( awarded at any one show by any similar association in the colony, and seldom if ever excelled by the oldest and most wealthy societies in the Australian Colonies. Notwithstanding the heavy expenses necessary to the holding of a first Show, there is a very respectable balance in hand with which to commence i operations for the forthcoming one. j The value of Agricultural and Pastoral Associations have been so frequently and fully pointed out by us that it appears almost superfluous to reiterate them. Still there are a few .subjects we would desire to again bring prominently forward. It may be taken for granted that the Southland Association is a nermane»j

institution, It has weathered the storm that invariably attacks uew undertaking*, and those who last year held aloof from taking any active part in its management, on the ground that it would not last, must now be convinced that their forebodings were premature. In glancing through the list of the Committee of Management we find but few representatives of the Pastoral interest, and this is also observable in the printed list of subscribers.; This should not be. The Association should be looked upon by every section of the community as a means to encourage an ambition in the squatter to breed the best cattle or sheep, the farmer the best grain, and all to fairly compete for the ; award of merit in every branch of Agricultural or Pastoral pursuits. The two interests are identical, and it is to the advantage ot both that unity should be secured. No doubt the time of holding the annual exhibition is a difficult question to deal with. The last^year's show washeld at a time when shearing had just commenced, and the - squatters more than usually occupied. There is no occasion for this to occur again. The general meeting, advertised for the 80th September, will give subscribers the opportunity of debating the question of the desirability of making the date for the holding of the Show either earlier or later in the season than that of last year. Under these circumstances it is to be hoped that the pastoral interest will be fully represented upon that occasion. We have frequently commented on the desirability of encouraging the formation of Farmer's Clubs or Societies in the various districts, connected, with the Southland. Adsociation, and we hope that this subject will be fully and deliberately discussed at the annual meeting. It is a question of great importance. If district Societies were established to correspond with the parent Association, an immense amount of information of great value would be periodically received, and made public. For instance, if any disease in cattle, horses, or sheep broke out in a district it would be immediately reported by the Secretary of the District Society to the Secretary of the Association, and by him made public. At the present time we have information of horses being suddenly attacked with a disease that appears to be unknown, and all so attacked have died. Would it not be of infinite value to the settler if a record of all such deaths, with the symptoms of the disease, was kept and published by the Association? It undoubtedly would. From the fragmentary information we have received, there is reason to believe that the complaint from which " Secundus " and other valuable stock have died, was imported from Australia. The first instance of the character to which we allude came under our notice about four months since; An imported horse arrived in apparently good health, but in a short time showed symptoms of weakness in the legs, and nervous twitchings of the muscles, while still feeding well, and suddenly died, but from what cause no one was able to determine. Since that time we have heard of similar cases. This should be some inducement to the 1 members of the Southland Association to favor the establishment of District Societies, the collection of every description of Agricultural or Pastoral information, and the dessimination of the same. We hope that the general meeting will be well attended, and that the Southland Agricultural Association may receive even a greatet support during the present year than that so libei*ally awarded during the past. The Government have, we I understand, given a grant of five acres of land for the purposes of the Association, that the land has been cleared, and made ready for fencing. Thus the Association I has obtained a good landed estate, is still ! in funds, and in every way in a healthy condition ; it is well deserving of a very | general and liberal support. ,