A WORTHY SETTLER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 31 March 1913, Page 5

A WORTHY SETTLER.

BID AN ENTHUSIASTIC FAIIE- | ■ WELL. TO LEAVING FOR ENGLAND. JV3j*. William Perry, of Penrose, Master ton, who leaves this week for . England, accompanied by Mrs, Perry, was on Saturday last 'given, an enthusiastic &end-otf by nearly a hundired membens of the Masterton A. and P- Association, with which institution he has been identified for many years. The chair was occupied by Mr Hugh Morrison (President of the Association), wto was supported on his light by Mr. William H. Beethani (Patron of the Association), and on his left iby Mr. James McGregor (a past Patron)., Mi- Morrison said they were met.together to bid farewell to Mr Perry on the eve of ihis departure on a wellearned trip to the Old Country. The members of the Association felt that they could not allow their guest to leave without expressing their apjpre-, cdation of the work he had done during the twenty-five years he had' ' served on the Committee. Mr Perry held the record as a Committeeman, a-s lie Iliad joined t/ie Committee in the second year of the Association's existence. He had also held th& record as an officer of the Association, a« he had twice been VicePresident and four times. President. Nobody hadl watched the active growth of the Association more closely than Mr Perry, first on the grounds on Renall's estate, then on the old show-ground/? and later at Solway. He had assisted in securing and erecting the buildings on the old show-grounds, and then on the new. "I can say honestly," said Mr •Morrison, "because it is absolutely true, that Mr Perry has done more for the Masterton A. and P. Association .thaai any other man who occupies a seat on the Committee."—(Applause.) Proceeding, Mi- Morrison said that during the four years Mr Perry had been President of the Association, the institution had made rapid strides. His work on the old show-grounds had, in itself, earned the appreciation of- the members., ' His /greatest work,*, however,. was in regard to the. Solway movement. He was one of those who had put bis hand in his pocket J to finance the movement, and he had handed oven* ihis sha.re of the profits, to the Association. This was an action iiliat Was worthy of the warmest - commendation.—(Applause.) After, the Association hiad taken oyer the Solwiay property, a' slump had been experienced " in 'Masterton, and they were -in a serious financial position.' He had himself felt alarmed. .'Mr'! Strang and Mi* Perry had, however, set to.work, formed a syndicate, and. took over the old *how-grounds, thus relieving the Association of a considerable strain. —(Applause.) If anybody deserved credit for the. present position of the Association, it was those who had taken over the old show grounds. The greatest of all Mr Perry's efforts- was in providing, the buildings and equipment for the new -show-ground. ■Wh«: , n the grounds were taken ove-. they had to select 1 the best man.poi-'uble to supervise the erection of tlie buildings, etc., and they had (selected Mr Pern'. He hadl ' gone into every detail of every part ; of the ground, and had sacrificed e\ J great deal of time and energy for th<? ' benefit of the Association. —(A t>- ' phrase.) If ever thought and brains had been applied to. an undertakine, it had been applied to this one by Mr. Perry during the time he was President. He had able assistants in Messrs. McGregor and Welch, but he was the leading spirit in it all. Tt was largely due to the detail work cf ■ Mr PeiTy tlithey had &eir present magnificent grandstand. The same attention to detail had been displayed in regard! to 1 the ring, the paddocks the pavilions and the Tarn ring; The latter were provided from Mr Perry's own plan>s, and it had been said that there was nothing to touch them in New Zealand. —(Applause.)! , They could be thankful that they had; a mail like Mr Perry at . the head of affairs, for it was largely through hi s instramentality that .tliey now po&sesstd grounds whicih were regarded a<s the best in the Dominion.. —(Applause.) He (Mr Morrison) felt it an honour to follow such .a. man as President. Since his retirement from tlie Presidency, Mr Perry had continued to carry cut his duties as a Committeemaal with the ..same diligence as before. Mr Morr,isoi» proceeded- to sa.v that it was not alone a? a member of the 'A. and P. Association that Mr Perry had rendered service to the district. As Chairman of the Wairarapa South County (Council, he had carried out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the ratepayers.—(Applause.) He was also one of the founders of the Lincoln Sheepbreedens' Association, and bad done good work on the Farmers' Union, having been President of the Masterton branch for some time, and taken an active interest in the recent reorganisation scheme. He Lad also rendered good service on the executive of the Union. As a farmer, Mr Perry was' one of the most practical in the whole of the Wairarapa. He was looked upon as one of the best judges of sheep in New Zealand, and his services as a judge were always in request. On behalf of the Committee and members of the Association he wished Mr and Mrs PeiTy a pleasant trip, .a happy time at Home, and a fcpeedy return.—(Loud applause.) Mr. W. H. Beethaim, Patron of the Association, congratulated the President upon the fa it hfyj account he had given of the goodjpfrk done by Mr Pen-y. Without "the. latter gentleman the Association would not have been in the position in which it was to-day. He had worked very hard,

i I and' had well-earned his holiday. In the Old he would find very mudh that would interest him, but he would discover very little that they could teach him in matters cf etock.—(Applause). Mr. Beetham then related an experience lie had himself in England about twenty-five years ago, when he had pointed out to a Home breeder a sheep that was > infected with scab. He hoped that. ' Mi- Perry would enjoy his trip Home, . and .would return very soon, as they ■ would mass him very mucih. —(Ap- • plause.) Mr James, McGi-egor, an ex-Patron of the Association, said he oould' endorse the whole of what had been said regaining their departing friend. Mr Perry had dorie all, and a .good deal more than th 6 President had! credited him with.*—(Applause.) Mr McGregor said he would like to refer to the position that Mr Perry had occupied ias a sheep-ibireeder and an , exhibitor of stock. The whole ton<& of sheep-breeding had been raised in the Wairarapa through his instrumentality. Mr MjcGregor then narrated? an amusing incident that had occurred 1 on a trip from Canterbury, < when a Southern breeder liad stated that he was .bringing a Lincolnsheep to the Wellington rshow with which he had taken first and champion prizes in the South Island:. -Mr McGregor said lie warned liim that he had a .neighbour ;who would' prove a snag to beat. And so it happened, for Mr had carried off the championship. "At one time," sakf ' Mr McGregor, ."the South Island people (who had better sense now) thought that-when they had sheep in the show ring there was nothing in the .North Island that could touch them. But- Mr Perry has -taught them a lesson.' '—(Applause.) The speaker then referred to the ftine stand made at the Christchurch Exhibition show by Mr Perry with ihis Linoolras and Leicester.?. He had' bought the latter in Canterbury, brought them to the nortlv, and sent them back, to beat the best they had in the South Island. —(Applause.)' - Mr Perry had set the standard for:/ sheep-breeding so high, that the yotungmen of the district would have to travel a long way before they cam© up to Sim.—(Applause.) It was their duty to give honour where, honour was due.. "As President, as arivexhibitOa-,. Asa farmer, We have ihardly his eq.ua? the district," sa!id Mr McGregor.' "I say this, because I have known birnb since he was a boy." Mr McGregor proceeded to refer to the adverse criticism that had beein levelled against those who started the Sollway movement. The .show-grounds to-day-wfere an answer, to. those criticism®/ and were a testimony to the . work done by Mr Perry and those who had assisted. him Applause.) ; ;They wetro now- saddling Blr Perry with a further responsibility in ask- ' ing him, with Mr. Stuckeyv to. represent. item air the annual' conference of the National Sheep breeders' Aisso- . ciation. It was an-honour, to the district that they should have such men.to represent them. He felt sure that any information or knowledge that Mr Pen-y might gain would [be brought back and be made a. beneifft to tlie- district. • He v. -/shed .Mr Perrj all joy and happiness on his trip, sui> cess in his mission, and a safe and speedy a^turn.—(Applaue.) The Secretary then read the following address, which the President presented to Mr Perry in a few felicitous rcinirks, accompanied by an JHustrat-: ed album (cnl;rning view, of tlie showground, ofiicers, etc.: —

"Wm. Pen-y, Esq.., •Penrose/ Masterton. Dear Sir, -;) i: tfio c,coil.-jic.ii of your departure for »'•'■' trip to the Old Conntiy, we de- ■- sire, on behalf of the Committee and members .of the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Asso-\ ciation, to convey to you their •great appreciation of tlie work you Have done and the keen interest you have taken in the development jf the Association during the many years you. have been connected with it, as a member of the Committee and' also as Vice-President and President. We have no hesitation in saying that it is largely owing to youy enei-gy and ability .that the Association now occupies one of the foremost places, in New Zealand. ; ' We would specially mention that the work done- by yon as ini- - tiator of the scheme to purchase tlie Sol way grounds, and your ' work and judgment in the laying °nt cf tlie groun<] s and . supers vision of Imilding operations, wa^ a great factor in the success of the undertaking. ." As - a breeder of sJiofw stock your successes have been a strong incentive to others, not only in this district, but throughout New*. Zealand, to endeavour to improve tlie standard of purebred stock. . We trust you will have a very ptaasaait an<j profitable trip and will return with renewed energy, and that you. will be for many yean? identified with the work of the Association.

Yours sincerely— W. H. Beet ham, Patron; Hugh Mariison, President; John ■Strang, Bland Rayner, VicePresidents: D. Caselberg, Treasurer: General Committee: <3. E. Allen, W. E. Bidwill, W. H. Buick, O. C. Oooper, H. J. Dagg, .J. T- Dagg, R. J. Dagg, Allen- ■ Donald, Q. Donald, D. W. Foreman, R. Gray, E. Harper, J. M; James, H. A. Matthews, J, B. Moodiej D. McGregor, J. C. Mx> Kilfcp, A. D. McMaster, A. J. Percy, J. E. Perry, J. P. Pehy, A. 6. Pilmer, G, Shaw, R. Smith, ' G.. C. SuiMtierell. C. F. . Vallance, W. D. Watson,' W. J. Welch. District Representatives : R. F. R. Beetham, H. Evans, J. F. Heckler, Paul Hunter, S. R. Lancaster, W. B. Matfteson, Alex Murray, H. McPhee, A. J. , Speedy, Jas. Sweeney, Isaac Svkes," H. 0. Toogood- W. E. 0. Tylee. J. B. EMMETT, Secretary. J. B. KEITH, Auditor. Mr W. Perry. who received an nation, said lie could not find wosrds with which to express hie feelings of gratitude to those who 'had done liiin so groat an honour. Nothing could have given him more pleasure than receive iJhe aJbu m of photographs of the Association's • officers, As years. we«t oflf the", volume wwilcl»-be-~ fo&htained • must/ in tfie ' process :f of •" time, be tost to them. A good deal '• -hadf ajwui. Vv-B^'little -he • had been able to do" for the Association, H® WTiW- put it-' tlie ethef way. He had joined the Association tho age of twenty-five, and'-lie'tfas m approacJuiig fifty. His contact mtJj

members' of tho Committee had boon most valuable to him. There was no institution of greator value to a young settlor tlwn tho A. and P. Association. It was run on business lines, and tho education one received .from it was most valuable. Ho owed much for the position he occupied today to tho Masterton A. and P. Association. lie was looking forward to liis holiday, and hoped he would enjoy it. Any knowledge 'lie might gam during his visit to England he would be glad to impart to his neighbours on his return. He was rather fortunate in that ho would bo able to visit same of the best flocks in England, for he had commissions to buy stud stock. He could nob express in words his appreciation of the kindnesses of his .'friends. Ho had been put; in a position in tlie Association that he could not help but take the lead. But lie was fortunate in that he had with him men who could not bo excelled. for energy and enthusiasm. On behalf of Mrs Perry and 'himsolf, lie again returned his si nearest thanks.—(Loud and sustained applause.) The health of Mr Perry was then drunk in branpars, and the company joined in the lusty singing of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow." iMr Duncan McGregor then, on hehalf of .the Lincoln Sheepbreeders' Association, , pre. sen ted Mr Perry with a gold medal that he had won at the last Mamnratu show for the champion mm. Mr McGregor stated that the late Mr Wheeler had done a' great deal for the development of the. Romney type of sh&ep by the formation of sin -association ctf breed ere. — (Hear, hear.)' . What the late Mr Wheeler had done for Romneys, Mr Perry Iliad done for Linoolns, for it was lie who had started the Lincoln Sheepbreeders' Association, which had offered medals for competition at the jVianawat'U show. Mr Perry had only exhibited in the rain, section. Had he erhibited in the ewe class, he would that day be receiving two medals instead of one. But he 'had been magnanimous, and had competed only in the ram section. He (Mr McGregor) felt that Mr Perry must be a proud man at winning so many oba.mipioxLsliips with his stock. He had himself felt quite excited when he learned that Mr Perry had won thei championship for Lincoln •hoggets (iv the Exhibition show, beating the , Canterbury people on their awn ground.—(Applause.) He endorsed all that had been said concerning Mr Perry by previous speakers, 'lf there was one characteristic die possessed more than another, it was his painstakingness. He wa« a man of close observation, a.nd of fidelity to detail. He possessed aJi intuitive knowledge. It had been said that only once in a century did they discover a Bakewell in England. It was oij'lv once,ill a while that they found in New Zealand a man with the exceptional qualities of Mr Perry. His i magnanimity was proverbial. He (had set the standard for' sheepbreeding in the Wairarapa, and other breeders were very much indebted to him. The severest critic of the Penrose slieep Avas Mr Perry himself. He went in for sheep that paid, and that was why he had been of so much assistance to the district. Mr McGregor then referred to the. good' work done by Mr. Perry on the Agricultural Conferences, nnd he ' expressed regret that iu would not be present at the next conferenccv, when there was so much important work to be done, including the discussion of the,'memorandum ljy. Lord Islington on the question of a Royal Assoc iauion,yand the matter of agricultural education. Mi 1 McGregor then handed Mr Perry the medal won by ihim at the Manawatu show, and wished him a pleasant voyage Home. "I trust," said Mr McGregor, "that in 4)1 is visits to the leading studs'of the Old Country, he may fiiXd something that will still further enha-nce the reputation of the Penrose flock." —(Applause.) Mr Perry briefly returned thanks to Mr McGregor for his kind remarks. He said lie had valued the medal lie bad won at the Oliristdburoh Exhibition show, and had wc|rn it on his pendant; but he was afraid he would have to replace it -with, the championship medal presented him that day.— (Loud applause.) The toast of "Paferons Past and Present" was then proposed by Mr W. Perry, who coupled it with' the names of Messrs. W. H. Beetham, A. W. Cave and—James McGregor. Mr Perry said he iremembered the time when the Association wa s in very low water, and "when, at the request of the late Mr Lowes, Mr William Beetham had consented to become President. From that day the Association had gone forward, and its success 1 was asisured.—(Applause.) The Messrs. Beetham had assisted the Aociation both financially, and with their stock: Mr Cave had been President of the Association for miany yeans, and had done excellent work, while Mr iMcGregor, by advice and outspokenness on the Committee, Iliad done much to promote the interests of the Association. "Had it not been for these men," said Mr Perry "the Association would not be in the 1 proud position it is to-day. "—(Loud n.pplatuse.) 'The toast was then enthusiastically drunk, and the company joined in

singing "For They aro Jolly Good Fellows." In responding, Mr W. -H. Beetham said it gave him great pleasure to ho reminded of tho time when ho was President of the Association. Ho .remembered the late Mr Lowes coming to him arud saying, "Masterton is in low .water; can yoo help us?'' At that time he (Mr Beetham) never doubted that'Masterton would eventually possess the premier show of tiie district. He regretted that there had been am amount of enmity between, the two ends of tllie Valley. They, still had a siiqw at Carterton, which was uim by very capable a.nd energetic 'men. But Ma.stcrton had, as 'he anticipated, provided the premier shew of the Wairarapa. Other small shows were growing up around thorn; but these would, in his opinion, act as feeders to the larger fc-hows. Ho had been pleased to have been able to assist the Masterton Association. Its sho ; w had become a great f-rucoesS, and they should all feel proud 01" it. When they had men like Mr, Perry at the head cf affairs there was no doubt that they would go on and flourish. —(Applause.) Mr James McGregor said lie had accepted' the position of Patron of the Aissociaitipn as a.u honour, a* there were few honours that it could give. Usually the most it provided was plenty of work.—(Laughter.) Mr McGregor paid a warm tribute to the work dono for the Association by the. Beeitliann family. "They did more in the early d'a<vs of the Association," said Mr McGregor, "than all the other members of the Association' put together."—.(Applause.) He said this without fear of contradiction. Mr McGregor then referred to the good "Work done by the Messrs. Beetham in improving the Lincoln flocks of the district by importations. The late Mr Lowes had said that unless Mr Beetham had' taken up the Presidency aaid another individual the Vice-Presidency, he would "throw up the sponge." , ' A voice: Who was the other individual ? . 3 Mr MjoGregor: I think it was this, little cliap.—'(Laughter and ' applause.) Mr McGregor expressed his sincere thanks for the honour that had been done tihe past Presidents, He remarked that the young men, of the Association had done splendidly, and concluded by .sa.ying, "The.old men are willing to take on plenty of honour, but very little work," and by expressing tho hope .that Mr Beetham would long be .spared to he Patron of the Association.—(Applause.) The toast of the President (Mr Hugjh Mormon) ,was then proposed by Mr R Gray in a felicitous speech, and was enthusiastically honoured. In returning thanks, Mr Morrison expressed the hope that an effort would he made to bring the membership of the Association up to 1200. A vote of thanks, to, the Chairman terminated a most enthusiastic gathering.