WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 136, 20 May 1897, Page 3

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

TllK usual monthly meeting of the above Club was held at Cambridge on Monday There wire present: WWPr IT. Gilett (Pro.il.nt), Jno. Fisher, W. Tucker, E. Allen, J. Potts, W. T. Cair. li, Fisher, J. Forre-t, W. H. Wright, J. Cane, J. W. Souter, G. K. Clark, T. Haitly and others. SUGAR hkkt —The President, had received the fol owing from Mr A. L. Harvey, under data Kith April :—" Just a line to fay that my mission to Wellington was successful in s> far that ' bict ' was dead if I bad not goli" ; it is very much alive now. I saw Ministers and they promised, as you said, to in troduce and support a Bilk We have cabled our friends at Home and on icply will have meetings up Waikato to go ahead."—On the sth May the following te'eg'Uin was sent to the Club by Messrs Leweuberg and Hirvcy : " Douglas retired from Beet Syndicate. Enterprise going on rnercctically."—This in t'me was followed by a letter from the New Zeahnd Sugar-beet Synd cats, of which the following U a copy :—" lam writing to confirm our telegram of oth inst. re Douglas. His unfortunate c'rcumstanccs will make no difference to the prosecution of the en'erpiise, which is going on most eatisf .ctorily, the capi nli-ts leing quite satisfied with farmers' guarantee and Government assurance Mr W. A. Giaham will probably sec you and explain matters hilly. He was with me in Wellington, as you areuwa'e. We draw jour atten'ion to the establishment of our present ollice. wlerc all communications may be sent, as >u ring you of my unremitting at'enticn to the interests of the iudustiy." One member present said he saw the Chairman of the syndicate was the Hon. N. Lewenberg. He did not know where the title " Hon. " came from, but he was sure the Waikato farmers would think it was a misprint—Another said a couple of men might meet in Queenstreet and form a syndicate, but it would not be a very powerful one. However, CapUvn Haivey would try and make it a success, for he had risked a considerable amount on the venture, and ho wished that gentleman eveiy succi ss. New Zealand AGWCCLTPRAr. Coxfekenck. -The following communication was received fiom the Secretary :■—" I beg leave to forward for your information the following resolution passed by the Otago Agiicu'tural and lVtoral Association at a recent meeting of committos: 'That the committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoiul Association regret the apathy shown by kindred Associations throughout Neiv Z"ahud in replying and nominating delegates to at'end an Agricultural Conference, and leluclantly recommend that the Conference le portponed indefinitely.'—Regretting the necessity for this notice, your obedient servant, J. M. MrKi'iiv, General Secre'ary." Stoats and Weasels.—The Secretary of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association wrote :--•' The Committee of the above Association would be glad to know whether the stoats and weasels are doing serious datnaae in your district, and whether the statements made that they arc attacking the lambs are Well founded. They would also he g'ad to learn whether" your Committee are of opinion that the restrictions against destroying them should be removed in districts that are not infested with rabbits. The next Auckland Agricultural Show is to be held on Friday and Saturday, the 12th and 13th of November.— I remain, yours truly, Edwin Hall, Secretary."—Mr Forrest moved : " That the Club endeavour to get the restrictions taken off, ami that everyone proceed to kill tlie vermin as fast as possible." At the same time he believed the stoats and weasels had done good, for he had left corn in the stack for the past fifteen months, and it was almost clean from rats and mice. He had not seen any weasels in the stacks, and he thought if they killed as many as they could there would still Le sufficient left to keep the rats in check.—Mr John Fishersaid they had found weasels in the corn stacks ut Pukerimu, and had killed them —Mr Tuckir seconded the motion.—The President supported the motion, which was unanimously agreed to, and the Secretary will write to the Auckland Assoc'ation accordingly, and also state that the Club has no definite information as to stoats and weasels killing lambs.

Suisak nicKT Again to the Fork Captain Runciman wrote the secretary from MarshmeadouS on the 15th iiut : ''l duly received the show schedule you were kind enough to send me. On perusal the classes teem varied enough to anticipate a good show if they are responded to as could be wished for, but I see the augur-heel special prize that was spoken of and advertised some months ago is omitted. Was it oni tted by dc-ign or neg'ect.'d? The lunest truth h I remember little about it, only I know I undertook to collect half the money and someone the other half, and that not le?s than half or quarter an acre was to he pown. Will you kindly let nio know the decision of the committ'e, for if I have to get up the money it's nifih time to set about it. lam sending you by Monday's mail a paper, (California Fruit Grower) containing a very good article on beet culture and the benefits to the country which has embarked on the industry Should there be time and opportunity it is well worth reading btfore the Club."—The reason the special prize for sugar-beet had been omitted from the prize schedule was because the time for entering for it had passed without there being any sent in.—The Tress was asked to publish the paper kindly forwarded by Capt. Runciir.ari. (A. portion of the article is printed in another co'unin, uniler the heading "California for Beet Sugar.") The Rout Show.-Messrs W. Snnter and Co. wrote to the President under date as follows : Dear Sir, you ot 28th April, and your iufrview, in which you said that the Committee oou 1(1 not sec their way to accept .Sutton's piizes of £lO and Do Pars prize of lOcwt. of superphosphate! as offered by us, we may st'.te that we shall be pleased to meet the ("omnnttet'a views in every way, except upon th.it of the entry fee of one shilbng being charged upDii each exhibit in Sutton's classes ; and we think that the half ton of De Pars superphosphate we offer should do mote than cover the cost of entrance fees to Sutton's ch'.sse*, and that the Club would therefore in no wise be a loter by allowing free entrance to these classes. "We regret, therefore, that the Committee decline our offer, and we have only to thank them for the attention they have given the matter. We may add that we shall rot distribute the amount at any other exhibit'on, as it iright be thruuht tint this might militate against the success of this show."—We are, Sir, your obedient servants, "W. Soi'TKK and Co.

—The President .saiil the conditions originally asked for by Messrs Souter unci Co. were that the entries for Sutton's prizes should be free, that those exhibiting for snsh prizes should lie admitted to the show free, and that Messrs Souter should be allowed to arrange the exhibits of those competing for Stlttons' prizes. Mr Souter had now waived all but the free entry and for that hu offered to give half a ton of mipcrpliosphate. The matter had been discussed by the executive sommittec and they had decided that in the face of o'.her seedsmen and manure merchants giving special prizes without any restrictions, they could not accept the term 4 <>fl*eied by Mr Souter. For himself, lie hardly anything but Sutton'.-, 'feeds. He would suggest that Mr Souter sell the half -ton of super phosphate and re f urn the farmers the entrance money. Mr Forrest said ii free entry was permitted to Sutton's

clas-es it would ii, win that to coir pi te for £3 would cost nothing, while to =t.ind ii chance of waning a f>s prize would cost Is. Hecntainly nndersto.d when lie purchased Mit'on's seeds from Messrs Souler and Co. that prizes were pron ieed for them (Mr Souter : No !), however he should exhibit the roots, prizes or no prizes, and he hoped the show would lie a success.—Mi- K. Fisher said it was merely a quibble abut selling the mperphosphat■*. —Mr Souter said he had talked the matter over with son:'.' of the fanners, and he was sure they would feel insulted if Ik were to offVr them the entrance money lack again ; indeed one had said he vou'd fl ng it back at him Fanners would hesitate to tpenil los or £1 in entrance fees with the chance of not winning anything. He d d not think he should be ectng n the interest of the farmers or of the Cub by giving way. If the ftee entries caused so large a competition that there w..s not r. om in the Hall, he would provide a tint for Sutton's loots.—Mr Jno. Fisher s.yil last year there were, mly 40 entries for Sutton's ptizes, so if Mr Souter sold the superphosphate and paid the entry fees, he would at that rate be the gainer. Tie personally was a erc.it supporter of Sutton's and used nothing but their seeds.— Mr .Souter said if the Club would take the superphosphate and grant the free entiy, he would buy the super back agiin, so the Cub would the-eby gain. - Mr Jno. Fisher thin moved: That Messrs Souter and Co be thanked for their liberal cffVr of prizes to the Boot Show, but the Club cannot give way in accepting entries free of charge, and suggest to Messrs Souter that they become responsible to the secretiny for the entrance fee.— Seconded by the Piesidenf and carried.—Mr Souter thankel the Club for the manner in which it had received his offer and he regretted it could not accept his terms. He was unable V> give way in the matter of entry fees but would perhaps make an otter in another way that would meet with the approval of the Club

Moke Aiiopt Fnthy Fee.". —Mr .1. Forrest moved that the maximum fee for any numl cr of entries the bona fide pro perty of one individual at the Root Show Le 10s.—Seconded by Mr R. Fisher and carried mm con.

Sl'iaUAli PRIZES —Messrs Wright and Clark announced having collected the following special prizes amnpgst the business people of Cambridge, the domra in many cases having stipulated to what classes their prizes should be allotted : R. Davis, class, 3G, os ; P. O'Toolc, e'ass 43, 5s ; W. Creamer, class 44, 7s G 1 ; B. Rugs, class 45, value 5s ; Jas Holly, class 50, 2s Gd ; W. Little, chsa 51, 2s Gd jJ. S. Bond, class, 53, value 5s ; W F. Buckland, best cock or hen (any b eed) 5a ; W. H. Wright, class 40, 5s ; class 41, 5s ; T. Wells, cla'S, 39, value 10j G 1 ; S. Howard, cl ss 37. 7s Gd ; V. Plescher, class 33. ;W. Escotl, class 38, value 10s 6d ; S. Harker, class '2O, value 7s Gd ; W. Kinoaid, class 34, 5s ; Dfverill and Co., 5s ; C. Boyce and C. Roberts, eacli ss, and Mr CI. E. Claik 5s for best «ix A! erdcen turnips, and os for six Impeiia! Green Globe ; the seed to have bem purchased through his agency. Where the value prizes arc only to the amount of 5«, the Club decided to supplement that sum with 2s Gd ill cash. The two tons of manure was allotted to be first prizes in classes 3,4, 5,8, 0, 12, 13, 14 and 22, that is a 2 cut. bag to each of them, and the remaining one will be added to the Champion prize for the best six swedes of any kind, for which the second pr'zo will be 5s and the third 2s Gd. The judges were appo'nted—subject to their accepting the office—and all the necessary arrangements for holding the .Show were made. The Executive Committee will act as Steward*. The Record Reign.-—Mr Forrest said the 22nd of June was fast approaching and uo steps had, so far as he knew,been taken in Cambridge, to celebrate the Queen's Record Reign. He had becu against the Premier and the contingent going Home, but had changed his mind and he thought they should,as Britishers, be proud of their countiy and their Queen. He could suggest several methods of celebrating the remarkable event ; the members of the o'd Cavalry corps could muster up in as many of their old accoutrements as they could rak? together—give three cheers for the Queen and spend a short jovial time together talking over the old times ; in the after neon they could have a hunt and in the evening a concert or dance in the Public Hall. If that did not suit they could muster all the school children of the district together, feed them on buns and milk and git them to give three cheers for the Queen. He hoped something would be done and he suggested a small committee should be formed to make ihe necessary arrangements.— Mr Jno. Fisher would bke to see the old cavaby corps n uster onca more, but was afraid it was almost impossible, for death had thinned the ranks till only a few were left, and they wire getthg too old to hunt. They certainly should take iiuasu es to join in celebrating the record reign of their Queen, who had gained the love of millions of subjects who had never even seen either her or the land of their forefathers —lt was eventually decided that the President, vice-President and .Secretary should wait upon the Mayor of Cambiidge and ask him to call a public meeting to consider the matter.

The Dairying Industry in Dancer. —Rule ten was suspended to enable Mr Gar.e to introduce a matter relating to dairying. He read an extract from the Auckland Star which contained some correspondence between Mr Ritchie, Secretary of the Agricultural Department, and Mr Sprigg, of the D iry Association, re a shipment of butter sent by the Rotomahana to Wellington for transhipment to the Euapehu. He moved : " That this Club having noticed 'hat some friction exists between the Auckland Dairy Association and the Hoard of Agriculture, begs to place on record its opinion that the dairy industry is of immense importance to hundreds of settlers in the province of Auckland, and Is deserving of every encouragement and assistance the Government can give to it ; the Club therefore is astonished to find that in a recent issue of the Auckland Star elated April 1, 1897, an extract of a letter from the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, as follows:—"I will, therefoie, only say that unless better arrangements are made for the proper coastal conveyance of butter to the final port of shipment, it will be necessary for the Department to consider whether the present facilities for freez'ng provided at Auckland can be continued," and asks the favour of a reply from the Department as to the real signification of the words referred to —The motion was seconded by MrR, Fi her and carried.

Rates on Parcels.—Mr G. E. Clark drew attention to the fact that because the Cambiidgc railway station is 35 chaiir; over 100 miles from Auckland, it rinks as 150. The Executive Committee will deal with the matter Next Meeting. Tide will be the annual one, when new officers will lie appointed.