WAIRARAPA AND EAST COAST PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1366, 30 April 1883, Page 2

WAIRARAPA AND EAST COAST PASTORAL SOCIETY.

The ; 1 aiinu aV r ; meeting : of the above' Society was held in the Institute, Car--terton, on Saturday afternoon, about thirty members being present,: include ing the President; and Vice-President, Messrs W. 0. Buchanan, M.H.R., and B, Boys. The secretary having read the advertisement convening the meeting, tho, minutes of the last annual and intermediate "meetings were read' and confirmed. The Committee's report for the past year (which we, published 7 in our last issue) w»8 then read, Tho .President, inmoving the adoption of the report, called attention to the fulling off in memberssubscriptions, and taking' into: consideration the progress of the district did not think sufficient attention had been paid to this by members, and'.thought that if a little more interest was taken in canvassing for' new members a-more favorable report would be the result next year. He congratulated them on the success of the Flower Show,' and I thought that great credit was due' to the committee for arranging matters I connected with it,' notwithstanding, great difficulties. In pointing; out the great interest taken in other districts in holding ploughing matches, he thought an effort should be made to hold them annually in connection with the Society, a,nd although this was not an agricultural., district, still, something might be done to follow the example set by other places. He instanced-the nature of the country ploughed in Otago, where hills and valleys were cropped, which would be thought impracticable here, He would reconv mend that a committee be appointed to see what could be done in [that direction. Agricultural implements' were not exhibited to the extent that they ought to be, and he hoped that an effort would be made: to forward this section of the show. He referred to the great success of the hop harvest in Nelson; the gross returns of which reached £100,000; and .thought there were large, areas of land in this district that could be turned to good account in the culture of hops, In conclusion the president spoke of the Wellington Meat Export Company, and. thought it was a matter of congratulation that in two years, tilings have arrived at such a satisfactory issue with them. It was also a matter in which the Pastoral Society were to congratulated,

Mr H. H. Beetham seconded the adoption of the report..

Mr John Smith called attention to the fact that there were no receipts in the Balance Sheet from the Flower Show. Mr W, Booth explained that although the show was an unqualified success the expenses were very heavy, this ■ being the first year, and had swallowed up the whole receipts. From what he had heard a considerable amount of support had been promised for the next show, which could be looked forward to with more success, and no doubt there would then be a credit balance in connection with it, In referring to the debt of the Society, Mr Booth said • they suffered in . common with other large committees. If there had been three committeemen instead of so many, things would have been more satisfactory, and unless something were done before long they would find that they would: have to pay money back to those who had come forward to asssist them. He thought that £SOO could easily he raised in the district to reduce their debt. He quite agreed with the President that the falling off of members wa3 due to the members themselves, and was of opinion that the Society ought to come in for a share of the continued prosperity of the district, and if members took a little interest in the affairs of the Society, they could induce more to join. In alluding to the meat freezing trade, stated that Mr C, Pharazyn previous to leaving tbo colony on his trip to Europe, in common with others, was satisfied that or 6d per lb would he obtained for the mutton in England. It was now more than likely that 7d would be the price, This was more than they expected. There was also a prospeot of other than first-class mutton finding a ready market in England, The • report was then unanimously adopted. At this stage a telegram was received by the President, apologising for the absence of Messrs W. H. and G. Beetham, who were attending the East. County Council meeting. The President apologised for appointing this meeting on the same day as tho Council meeting, but, had quite overlooked the fact at the time. The election of office bearers was then proceeded with. • ; v Mr James Donald, in'lproposing Mr Buchanan for re-electionj;passed o high eluogium on that gentleman's abilities for the office, and the great interest he had taken in times >yhen there were difficulties to contend-, with. He had greatly added to theiivsuccess, aud as he 'had done so well in the past, he thought they could do no, Wter-than re-elect him to the office of President. Mr Matthews seconded the proposition, Mr John Smith proposed Mr W. Booth as President. Mr Booth objected to stand for the office, and as he did not believe in over-working the willing horse, as would be the case in, re-electing Mr Buchanan, ho would like to move that MrW, H. Beetham bo asked to stand, Mr H, H. Beetham on behalf of his brother declined the honor. : Mr Buchanan said he was deeply sensible of the compliment they paid hiiri in again proposing him . as President. They must all know it was a general rulo to elect men to become office bearers in succession, He did not know of any one Society of the! kind in the colony : who had in succession twice eleeted their , President, It was of great importance to spread the management over-as wide a ground as possible. A ■ change ought to be made, and haying the interests of the Society at wished to: avoid being re-elected. Mr Buchanan'was then unanimously re-elected amid applause. • ; ■ Mr B, Boys was proposed by MrH, Bunny and seconded by Mr Braithwaite for re-election as "Vice-president. ; Mr Boys thankfully declined the

office. He was glad Mr,Buchanan had consented.to ; ta k e office; fcivtlfe Society could, no^. do without,Vhim', at their head;: as for himself;.- they-,could do .without'; liira; YNo'l I,No !);WHe believed in Mr ; Buchanan's idea 'of ichoos,ing officers in succession. ' Mr Jno. Smith proposed and Mr Jos, Bennett seconded Mr H. R, Bunny for the office.

Mr Rhodes Donald proposed and Mr H, McMaster seconded Mr W. H. Beetham.

Messrs Bunny and Boys retired in favor of Mr. Beetham, who was elected as Vice-president.

'Mr W. Booth was re-elected as Treasurer/ '" 1

Messrs F./\V, K, Seed and L. Wilson were elected as auditors.

The following gentlemen were balloted outofthe Committee Messrs J. Barton, J. Burrow, J. Drummond, H. H. Jackson, and H. S. Wardell. The following were elected in place of those retired:—Messrs< D. Donald, B. Boys, J. Drummond, John Smith, and I.H.Wood

The Chairman next said the only other items of the report they had to deal with- were the ploughing match and permanent debt of the Society, on which some gentleman .would perhaps m'ovo a resolution.

Mr Braitlnvaite proposed that an annual ploughing match. be made one of the rejiular lixtnres of the Society. : Tho Chairman' suggested' that with regard to Mr-Braithwaite's proposal, it might, perhaps, be -better ;to name a sub-committee who ' would inquire into 'the matter, and report to the general committee. : . The Chairman then suggested that a special ploughing match committee be appointed. •.. . ■; : Ultimately, after a short conference between a few members present, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Braithwaite, seconded by the Chairman— That in the opinion of this committee it is desirable to have an 'annual ploughing match under the auspices of the Society, and that the matter be referred to the show committee to make the. necessary arrangements. Mr H, R, Bunny , then moved that' a committee consisting of the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer be appointed, with power to add to their number, to concert the best means of reducing the permanent debt of the Society,: and carrying. the same into effect. He perfectly agreed with what Mr Booth had.said in an earlier part of the day. He had had some experience on committees, and he concurred with him in favoring small qnes. In large committees, the work almost invariably fell on the shonlders pf a few, and he had more faith in two or three picked men. He felt sure if the meeting were willing to elect those gentlemen lie had named they, with any others they might elect to help them, would effect the object they had in view if it could be carried out,

Mr Seymer Tancred seconded the resolution. He had to excuse his want of success by having got into a quagmire in going up to Bowlands, and lie' believed lie'owed his safety to his list —which had nothing on it. ; The v President supposed Mr Tancred referred to the lightness of his list. He might state;that instead of ,£23,' really £350 had' been offered in cash and debentures, but he bad felt that these offers had been made dependant on the matter being made a general thing among members, which it hardly seemed to have been to the extent that had,been anticipated; but lie hoped that before the next' annual meeting the committee would have to report that the support was more general than it had been. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. This completed the business of the annual meeting, after which a meeting of the general committee took place, when, on the motion of Mr Matthews, seconded by H, R, Bunny, the President, Yice-Presidcnt, Treasurer, and Mr Braithwaite were appointed a finance Com mittee.

The finance committee then met, and passed outstanding accounts, mostly for advertising and printing, amounting torn