MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10670, 17 July 1912, Page 6

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is the annual report of the Masterton A. and P. Association, to be submitted to the annual ■meeting on July 27.th:— In submitting ' the twenty-fifth an- j nual report and statement of accounts, J the Committee has pleasure in congratulating member® on the successful result of the year's work. I Show. 'lire annual Show was held on the 20th and 21st February, and, although the gate receipts were not so large as in the previous year—owing to the threatening weather on the ! first day and morning cf the people's I day, and also to the fact cf the in!creased member Aip—the attendance 'was a large and representative one, and the -show generally quite up to tlhe standard of the opening Show on Solway grounds. Entries.— Entries stowed an increase on -all previous years, and constituted a 'record. Fat cattle and fat sheep were again the most .prominent (features 1 .

Earn Fair.— The annual Ram Fair, under the auspices of the Society, w:s hold on tlie 22nd and 23rd February, when 217 studs and 2572 flocks, a total of 2789, were submitted. A feature cf the Fair was ilre inaugural sale of stud stock organised by the N.Z. Romn.ey Marsh Sheep Breeders' Association, at whid'.i record prices ■were established. The thanks of the Association are due to .Messrs R. : Cooper and W. I>. Watac-n, who con-j ducted the Fair, and to whose energy | its success- way largely due. j Memlbership.— During tl:s year, a Committee was .set up w'lh object ■of increasing the .membership. A vigorous canvass was made, with tihe result rth.it our .membership now stands at 1121, \m increase—after making allowance ifor deaths and resignations —of 2.58, .Challenge Cups.— The following Wins were recorded: Ruick Memorial Cup ■(Hur/.ers' Leaping Competition), Mr J. JR. McDonald's Betrayer; Bidjwill Cup (best .kick),'Mr J. R. McDonald's Aotea; Moore Bowl (fat cat--1 tie), Mr Ernest. Short; Lister Cup, .(English Mr S. R. Lancaster; Brancepeth Cup (Romney Marsh), Mr EVimes Warren; Quibell Cup (purebred iheep), Mr S. 11. Lancaster; 'Lawes Cup (Lincoln), Trustees 'late D. McM?.ster; Branoepet'i Cup (sheep for freezing purposes), Mr 'J. Strang; Perry Salver (Romney 'March), Mr A. L. iWheeler; Sutton Cup (best crop of swedes), Mr E. Harper; Highland Sheep Dip Cup .(farmers' sheep 'classes), Messrs Shaw and Bon; MoKenzie Cup (5 tegs, Loi> don award), Mr G. McKay; Johnson [Bowl (Romney ram lamlb), Mr G. E. Allen. Olf the .foregoing, the Branceipe.th (freezing), .Lister an.d Quibell Cups have been .won outright. Improvements.— During the yen.r improvements have been effected to t'he value of £525, the principal item being: Improvement in seating in grandstand, .r.otting -grandstand and rotunda, roofing cattle pens, additional dot water coppers, 'and the erection of •substr.intlal dog kennels. In addition, shrubs and trees have been, planted about the grounds, which

[.will greatly add to their beauty. Field Competition.—A competition in.the growth of swedes has been carried out during the year, and the results cf name are given in 'another (portion, of this .report. Balance Sheet.— From the audited (balance sheet it will be .seen that the position of the Association—after writing £lOl 2s 8d off improvements and .£33 19s 3d on plant:—is improved by £665. Solway Stock Fair.— During the year a. Stock Fair iva u liald in aid of the funds of the Association, which realised, .with cash donations, £B4l 6s

i-4d. The thanks of the Association are due to those who contributed so generously to the Fair and Fund, and to the Associated Auctioneers, -who gave their (services free of charge. "Citizens' Picnic.— A picnic, inaugurated (by the citizens of Masterton to show their appreciation of the public ispiritedness of the Solway Syndicate in donating so liberally to the Association, -was. held at Solway grounds in. October, and was an unqualified tsuccess. The net proceeds, £37 13s 6d., were handed as a donation to the Association.

Railway Station.— The thanks of the Committee are accorded to the

Hon. the Minister for Railways (the Hon. A. M. Myers) for his action in agreeing to alter the name of the lEurakau railway station, to "Solway," which wall be march appreciated by the public an'd exhibitors visiting the Show.

Retirements.— The following memibers of Committees are not seeking re-election:—Mr T. P. Lett, an active member of Committee for a numIber of years, but who, owing to ill—(health, is obliged to retire, and Mr Rupert Morrisoni, who is absent in. England. The Committee desires to place on record its appreciation cf the work of these two gentlemen. Thanks.— The thanks of the Association are due to judges, stewards, and honorary officials, to those who donated cash and trophies, and to all t\<ho assisted in the work of tihe Association during the year. ■ : NOTICES OF MOTION. Life Membership.— On ISth April, 1912, Mr C. F. Valance gave notice that he would move at the annual general meeting of members in July:— "That the following addition be made to Rule 2: "Any member of the Association, on payment of the sum of ten'pound* (£10) in advance, may be elected a life member, and shall not be liable for any further subscription.''' Seconded by .Mr W. J. Welch and adapted by General Committee on 5-th May, 1912, at which meeting, also, 'the folio-wing resolution, (proposed, by Mr iS-ummerell and seconded by Mr O. C. Cooper) was carried: "That in view rof the present financial position, of the Association, the Finance Committee approves the proposal to establish life .membership in terms cf j notice of motion submitted to General Committee, and recommends further that subscriptions obtained from life l imemiberahip Ibe devoted to reduction, of overdraft asi at flCth Junie, 1912. Any .surplus after payment cf overdraft ivhalil not be included in the general funds of the Association, but shall be '. placed or., deposit with seme financial ! 1 institution as a> nucleus of a fund to repay existing ■mortgage on Solway ~ .grounds, and that tlie above recomj mendation. be submitted to the aiuiual .meeting of .memibei's Dor eonnldera . tion." Honorary Life Membership.— Notice has been given that the following gentlemen, will, at tlhe annual .meeting Mof members, be proposed as honorary Y life members hi consideration of v'ailV ;1 able services rendered:— J. D. . ;Ci'n.ie.kshauk, Wellington; Ern.est S'hort, Fencing; John Smith, Master- ', ton. ~ 'Date ©f Annual Meeting.—On 6tli v July, 1912, Mr <G. C. Summe-rcll gave tl .notice that he would move at the ani nual raseting of members: "That Rule p ibe altered aa follows, the words v 'during the month of July' be deleted ~ and 'wot later than 15th day of Auga. ust' substituted.' " Seconded by Mr ;_ Morrison, and adopted at a L'pecial ,_ -meeting of General Committee on 13th I July, 1912. Ejection of Officers and Committee. r —Nominations of officers n.nd com--0 mittee for the ensuing year have been a received as follows: .President, Mr j H. Mbrrison; vice-presidents, Messrs 3 Bland Rayner and John. Strang; trea- .. surer, Mr D. Caselberg; committee, . Messrs J. T. Dagg, R. J. Dagg, G. C. Summerell, W. J. Welch and A. & G. IPilmer. The -seats in Committee ;1 cf 1911-12 occupied by Messrs Caselberg, Ris-yner and Strang have been j, Hied by Messrs R. J. Dagg, Sum- _ meroll and Welch, while the vaeareicrs . created by the retirement of Messrs r T. P. Lett and R. D. Morrison have been filled by Messrs J. T. Dagg and j Pilmer. As no other nominations i were reecived, an. election will not, r this year, ibe necess'ary, all vacancies . being accoaintted for. [ HUGH MORRISON, President.