WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 199, 21 October 1897, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB

Tins adj lurned meeting of the above Club was held at Cambiidge mi Monday evening, at 7.30 p.m. Present : Messrs 1!. Gillotl (president), E. Allen, (J. K. Clark, J. McLean, T. Wells, W. 11. Wright, W. Tucker, \V. Morgan, N. I. Hunt, Arohd aeon Willis, T. Hartly, J. Fisher, G. Keolcy, It. Caley, J. I). I'. Morgan, ,T. R. S. Richardson, ,7. T. I licks, J. W. Soilter, J. C. l'otts and S. Harker. Ntw Member.— Mr J. W. Ellis, of Otorohanga, was made a member of the Club. Mr Ellis had generously made a donation of CI, is he felt he should have been a member years ago. Tun Tklki'ho.ve Asked Foil.— The General Manager of the railways wrote stating that the Minister could not sec his way to make the connection between the Cambridge, and Frankton Stations by telephone as asked for, but. that the railway station at Cambridge should he connected with the public telegraph oflice at that place, w hicli would ex pedite the despatch of telegrams from the Cambridge Station to Frankton Junction.—Mr Clark said that would leave them no better off. If there was a telephone they could get the information required as to trucks being available, etc., without cost ; whereas at the present if you wanted a truck for the next morning after the train had gone you had to pay for a telegram. Ho had been told the cost to the department would only be about £lO for a telephone.— After considerable discussion the matter was adjourned till next meeting, Mr Clark undertaking to ascertain the probable oust in tiie meantime. SuciAn-iiEET.—Mr A. L. Harvey, the Secretary of the New Zealand Sugarbeet Syndicate, wiote under date, October !)th : —" We may say at once that if the Bonus Bill is not passed the establishment of the industry in all probability will be postponed. You know what that means for Waikato. We have already written members and we urge upon the Ciub the imperative iui| »rtance of bringing ail their weight to bear, even to sending a deputation to Wellington. The bonus promised by the Government and assured to capitalists by us is the main inducement to bring capital here, and we trust tint New Zealand and ourselves may not be stultified. Action must be taken and that at once."—The President said they had seen what the Premier had brought forward, it was not what they wanted, but was aft aid it was all they were likely to get. The Club had done all it could in the matter.—Mr Wells bad received a telegram from Mr Lang asking what the Club thought of the Government proposals, to which he had repbed that he would let hint know after the meeting that evening. Mr Lang had said he would sei,d a copy of the Bill as soon as it was printed. Mr Welis had also written Capt. Harvey on the matter and had received the following reply by wire that afteriioan : " Memo not understood. Think Bill will satisfy capitalists." He wanted to know what rep'y he should send to Mr Lang. He understood Money lli'ls could not bo increased after they had once been introduced, so the better way would ptrhaps be to petition the Premier to increase the bonus or extend the term of years over which it should run.—The President thought the nttiii her of yeirs should be extended.—Mr fisher thought they should ask for the reenuc'tnent of Mr Ward's Bill.—Mr Wells pointed out that the Premier had said definitely I licit the Bill would not be the same as Mr Ward's. They had sent a numerously - signed petition to both Houses and an influential deputation of members had also waited upon the Ministry, and there could be nothing Stronger than that. —Mr Fisher was still of opinion that the 030,000 should be asked for. The oiler of the Government to lend money would not be any inducement to capitalists, as th-y could get it cheaper outside the colony.—After some further discussion it was resolve I on the motion of Mr Wells, seconded by the President, that Mr Lang be asked to interview the Govcrnmint and ende.t votir to get the prayet of the petitioners answered, and failing that, to ask that the term of years upon which tho t'sooo will be payable be extended ftotn four to six. The Moiiaka Hunan:. A reply was received from the Lnds and Survey Department stating no funds were available for ic e ccting this bridge, but that it wotdd probably be provided for in the estimates tor tho current year. Tin. AcuKEAN't)Snow. —The Secretary of the Provincial Agr cultural Association wrote asking the Caib to nuke representations to the railway authorities, with a view to special facilities for attending the Auckland Show. The committee invites members of the Waikato Association to alien 1 a lecture by Professor Thomas oi Monday, November 15th, on •' The Pari.-ilio Diseases of Animals." The meeting of delegates Will be held on the same date.—The Secretary lequests that he may be early inhumed of any questions the Waikato delegates might w i.sh to bring forward. —The Secretary asks that all will give thc'r assistance towards making the Auckland Show a success, lie calls spoe'al attention to the valuable prizes olfcrcd this year.—The appointing of a delegate was left over till next meeting. The Radiator Butter-maker. Mr J. W. Ellis, of Otorohanga, wrote the Chairman : —" Some lime ago 1 sent yon a few papers ic the Radiator Buttermaker that appeared to in'.crct your members. 1 now send you a later circular, from which you will soj that a great advance has been made by doing away with the necessity for ice. I am no' acting as agent for the machine, but it seems a very desirable one for the district, ;is it enables any outside settlement that can ra'so 200 or 300 cows to have a complete butter-making plant at any c'livei.ient centre ami topiodticca uniform product of high quality, to say nothing of the considerate and amiable way suppliers would ha treated by the present facioiy people win n they know that such a formidable competitor to their monopoly was available and known to their clients."—A vole of thanks was accorded Mr Fllis for tho information.— [We have published lengthy extracts irom the paper referred to, explanatory of the machine, the process and results. -!•:», W.A.| Co operation. The following circular had been received from Mr S. A. Brown : -Clevcdon, August ISth, 1597. Sir,-—At the farmers' meeting held in the Metropolitan Hotel on Angus; ISth, 1 s; »7, the following suggestions were pa.--■ 1 : I. That a co-op'rathe society be Mailed, to be called '« The Auckland Fanner* Union." 2. That, the province he canvassed to secure the majority of producers and eon- inneis, and the producers be educate.l to Union by lectures and articles in the p ip r-\ .'!. That ,-. Board of Directors be torn ed and have correspondents, in (he sin iller placej. I That when sullieienl membership and cash has in en received, stores be opened in the chief place-. -The President said a meeting w as to be held in N'ovenib, r to rcci in: the rcplio.--. As I hey were aware, he attended the nnoting held on the ISlit of August, but it was a small one, only ah ut |5 being present. Tin. Auckland farmers felt' the nems&ity of cooperating, and they wanted the opinion (fib ir I rethren up the country, lie was afraid the mutter would not meet with any success, itn'ess .someone thoroughly well up in the matter went round and explained it. He I elioved the farmers Were badly in want of some nmti.od of eo-opcMition whereby th-y coul I L'et a fair shire of the money pud fi r ih-'ir | r< ,1 lie would like to see the maMei' itunddi red by :| committee if the members w. iv really in earnest, lie then moved : Th i! a committee be formed to consider w hat reply should be sent to Mr Brown, and form .some plan oi eo-upeiat on that may be ot use to the

district of Waikato.— Mr Allen asked if the Auckland people wiinted a trading concern ? -The President replied " Yes ; liitt that is rot what wo want in Willkato."— Mr Morgan seconded the motion and sucgested Hie same committer should deal with the matter of Fanners' Clubs affiliating.—Mr Allen aould not see how any benefit wus going to be derived without trading, and that would kill it as- far as Waikato wai concerned. The produce merchants said the trade was ruined by competition.—Mr Wells hoped the motion would ba passed, and that at least two farmers would join the President in thinking out a scheme whereby the farmers would bo benefitted.—Mr Hunt said there were several successful co-operative societies in the South ; why not get sonic hints from them.— The President stud they wanted some method of regulating the markets, but Mr Morgan wanted combination to be able to insist on u reduction on freights.— Hi Wells said to he successful co-operative societies wanted an abundance of cip'tal, gold management, and trading on strictly cash lines. —The motion was then put and unanimously agreed to. —The following committee of five was then appointed : Messrs Cillctt, Hunt, Allen, Morgan and Wright. Kxi'Eiu.uKST.s With Manuius. Mr 13. C. Shepherd, of Whatawhata, wrote the President as follows : —" I would respectfully bring before you the advisability of our Club initiating a system of experiments with manures upon various 01 ops, including pastures, so as to assist in doing away with the present haphazard system of manuring, which to largely obtains in Waikato ; and which must entail considerable losses upon its agriculturists. This may to m at first to be rather a large order, but you will agree with mo that in view of the thousands of pounds spent annually by Waikato agriculturists iu artificial manures, the subject is of great importance, and it is equally clear that with the varieties and combinations of manures that are used by different farmers, often for the same class of crop-, many expensive mistakes occur ; showing that inure definite and authoritative information is needed on the subject, in obtaining wh'ch it is surely the duty of our Club to assist. At first sight it might seem that having a knowledge of the con stituent parts of the crops we wish to groiV, nothing could lie easier than to choose such manures as are known to contain these elements, and success would ho .sure to follow ; but to this must be added a compete knowledge of our soil, f.itli its capabilities and defieiences, in which important reipect I contend we arc at present greatly deficient. Again, the marked varieties of soils in the Waikato, ranging, as they do, from sandy and gravelled deposits, through light and medium loams to the heavy clays, a re so manifestly dissimilar in their characters and fertility,that it is practically certain that the sun; manures cannot he equally applicable to them ad, and nothing short of carefully conducted experiments will ever give us the required information, if such were inaugurated by the Ciub and eat lied on year after year by its member::, and the results recorded, the farmeis of Waikato, including our members, would ere long be possessed of a fund of valuable information as to the correct fertil zers to apply in raising crops on the different soils of the district, that would be of great and far-reaching value. Such experiments might be carried out under the auspices of the Club, by its members, at no great expense, and it would be a work worthy of the best, efforts of all who have the interests of our district, at heart. Trusting that 1 am nit presuming in bringing this under your notice, 1 am, etc." —The Pre.-idont said he had met Mr Shepherd, and lie had told him tlt.it it was more a matter for the Lincoln College authorities than for the Farmers' Club.. —The soils of the Waikato were so varied that the farmers had to get their knowledge by experience.-—Mr Shepherd was chunked for his letter, Xauanaki Fakmdus' Ci.ri; The Seeictary of this club wrote : I should liite some particulars of the field trials which you have hi Id and tin; prizes awarded. We have thought of getting an authoritative cable from Home fortnightly with quotations of butter, chesse, wool, tallow, frozen meat, etc. If we can get the Other Farmers'Clubs to join with us, 1 should like an expression of opinion ai to whether the clubs of the colony should he alliliated with some central body in one of the cities, say Chfistchiiivh. Uhe time, perhaps, is not ripe, but should this lei brought aho.it it might conduce to general advantage. Stack System Petition. —Mr Latham, of Ngaruawahia, forwarded a number of copies of a petition to the House of Representatives and letters to Messrs Ling and Merries, M.ll.lt.'s, re the system being tried on the New /calami railways, to wlrcii he asked the Club to obtain signatures.—The President read several letters connected therewith, and also related some conversation he had had with Mr Latham on the matter. Ifc further said the Kxeoutivc Committee had considered both the petition ami the letters, and had decided that they could not recommend the Club to comply with Mr Latham's request.—The subject was considerably discussed, but the recommendation ff the committee was unanimously agreed to, Clause -I of the petition being strongly objected to, it being considered contrary to facts. The following resolution was then moved by Archdeacon Willis, seconded by Mr Wells, supported by the President and carried unit tint : " That the Club thank Mr Latham for the trouble he has taken, ami whilst they might have joined with him in asking for a trial of the stare system, the}' feel debarred from signing the petition and letters by the extraneous matter they contain." Vaii.k's System.—An "open letter" was received from Mr Vaile re his system of railway fares.—The consideration of it was adjourned till next meeting, at which Archdeacon AViilis will read a paper on the same subject. Tin: Dar.um/KK or Mtt Richard Reynolds.— Mr John Fisher referred to the early departure of Mr Key nobis from amongst them, and said that the club would lose an energetic member, and the district a good settler, lie should have been sorry to see Mr Reynolds depart without the club in some munu.r recognising the good work he (Mr Reynolds) had done' while he hid been a member of it, which was from its inception, lie had filled tinny offices in the club, and had always, done so it) a manner that reflected credit on the institution. He was sure they all grieved liiiit Mr Reynolds was going, but, nevertheless, the fcttlers of Waikato should he proud that an English syiidiciitcfcli'iuldseudaUlhe way across the woil,l to select, a manager for their big estate front this district. Mr Reynolds had been closely identified with the \\ a kato for a' out 30 yea's, and dining tiuit time he had taken more than his share iu advane'ng the district both in public and social matters. 'I h y all wi 'lied him success in his new undertaking, and tr.lsted he Would return a .-a iu ere many years to live amongst them again. Mr Fidler then moved : "That the Waikato Farmers' Club, while congratulating Mr Reynolds on being chosen to m mage an extensive estate in Mexico, cannot but regret the 10-s to the d strict of an experienced practical fanner and public spirited settler." Mr Wells said he had known Mr Reynolds daring the whole time lie had lived in the Waikato, and he fully reechoed all that Mr Fisher had said. There was no sphere in which he (Mr Reynolds) had moved in which he had not made his mark, and particularly as a settler and farnn r. In the show-ground he h id been triumphant, an 1 no man had done more to improve thehrieds ot the various kinds of stock. No more hospitable man or better ho-t could I.e found, and he had discharged his duties in itn e.ble maimer reflecting credit on the

community. This was no fulsome adulation, for Mr Reynolds' depaiturc would he itii alums'; inepa"able loss to the district, and although thvy could not but feci proud that lie had been chosen to manage all estate of ;i')0,O0O acres, it was with great regret that they heard of his intended departure.—Mr Wells then seconded the motion.—ln supporting the motion, Mr G. E. Clark said no one in the district had perhaps known lbReynolds family better than ha had, and when he said that Mr Richard Reynolds was a worthy representative of his father, they would all know that he could not be spoken of in higher terms. He had been a prominent man in making the history of the district. Continuing, Mr Clark said no ir.an wou'd miss Richard Reynolds more than he should, for he had always found him " straight as a line and true ai steel," and a friend who would not desctt you when in adversity.—The President said he had not had the experience of the former speakers with Mr Reynolds, but from what experience he hail had with that gentleman be could endorse all that had been said.—The motion was also spoken to by Archdeacon Willis and Mr W. Tucker in laudatory terms, after which it was carried by aeclammation. —A copy of the resolution was ordered to be signed by the ['resident and Secretary and be forwarded to Mr Reynolds. Notice ok Motion.—Mr J. D. I'. Morgan gave notice that at the next meeting be shall move : That a ploughing match and implement trial be held under the auspices of the 01 üb.