WAIRARAPA PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1671, 28 April 1884, Page 2

WAIRARAPA PASTORAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the above Society was held,. at the Council Chambers on Saturday afternoon. Present Messrs Buchanan (President), Stuckey, Booth, Braithwaite, H. .R, Bunny, H, H, Beethain, Boys, Armstrong, Smith, Wood/ Anderson, Reynolds, and Grace. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed, the secretary Mr Wolters, read the following " REPORT. In laying before subscribers the annual statement of accounts made up to the 31st March 1884, and duly audited and found correct; the Committee liavo again pleasure in stating that steady and satisfactory progress has been made during the year. The annual show which to held on the Ist of November numbered a total of 531 entries as against 529 in the previous year, was well attended by the public, closo on 3000 people haviug visited the grounds. The Flower Show was banded over to a Committee under whoso auspices a fairly attractive flower show was held, notwithstanding that the season-had been especially unfavorable to horticultural pursuits; The Bam and Ewe Fair, hold the 20th February was well patronised, and the numerous entries of sheep attracted buyers from all parts of the Wairarapa. The only event in which anything likepublio iiitorest does not appear to bo evinced is the horse parado, and your Committee have under consideration the advisability of throwing the gates open with a view of fostering a larger, attendance of: the public. During the year the experiment m tried of establishing as one of the Society's fixtures an annual ploughing match and a separate sub-Oommittee was entrusted With the management of this event which took place near Masterton on the 13th September, 1883, it being understood that if circumstances: would warrant ploughing matches to be hold'annually, tha next rnatoh would take plaoo'eomewhere in the southern part of the Wairarapa, Your Committee have during the past year erected a handsome entrance gato to tho show yards, and havo enclosed two skies with board fence, planting a number of ornamontal trees near the fence. This leaves one side of the grounds, next the railway line, with open wire fenco at present, and it is contemplated to fence this side uniformly with the others as soon as funds permit. The Committee also propose to erect substantial booths to serve as publicans' and refreshment buildings, 'Several efforts have been mado from time to time to reduce the permanent debt ot the Society, consisting of £GCO debentures, and £576 mortgage, but up to tho,present no tangible result has beeu arrived at, meantime both mortgago and debentures fall due in July of next year, The meeting will be called upon to ballot out five members of the General Committee and to olect President, Vice-President, Treasurer, aud fivo members ot the Committee (in lieu of those balloted out), also two auditors,

_ The President in moving the adoption of the report, noticed that the credit balance of the previous year was £139 as against'£3s on the present occasion. This was accounted for by their having spent £72 on permanent improvements to their property during Hie past year, and to a loss of £l7 on the ploughing match. Notwithstanding the depression which existed, the Society had been able to l.old its own, and might fairly be congratulated on the position it held. There were two things that should be borne in mind in the future, (1) the reduction of the the permanent debt, as the Society would be in a very different position if it got rid of its annual charges for interest, and would be able to offer better awards to exhibitors; (2) that the increase in their subscription list should advance with the increased population of the district, If members put their shoulder to the wheel he felt certain that that their subscription list, which was their foundation, could bo deepened aud broadened. At their annual show their entries numbered only two more than in the previous year, but visitors from a distance had expressed an opinion that the quality of them was much improved. This independent testimony must be very gratifying to the exhibitors of this district. A flower show had .been an item in their programme during the past two years. Last time the season was against them. This should not discourage them, indeed he felt confident that this section of the show would yet prove to be one of its most attractive features. .He had entertained grave doubts whether the ploughing match could bo made a success. The want of success at Masterton need not make them . pull up, but if the one which was proposed to be held next time in the Lower Valley•! failed the Society would be hardly justified in continuing this item in its' programme. Speaking generally ho thought the depression in the price of wool, on the one hand, and the growing importance of the frozen meat industry j on the other ought both to bo incentives to members to make the best use possible of the Society. Another point lie would like to allude to was the establishment of two dairy factories in this district. The price of dairy produce was at a very low ebb, and the operations of the Companies had not been so successful as they had hoped, He had recently seen a telegram from an Auckland firm to a Canterbury merchant offering to sell ten tons of Canterbury cheese, f.0.b,, at 4cl per lb. This example of prices for cheese shewed the difficulties with which dairy factories had to contend, Ho expressed a hope that times would mend during the coming year, and concluded by moving the adoption of the report—(Applause.) The Secretary then read a list of the assets and liabilities of the Society, the latter amounted to £1217 8s 3d, the former to £1567 12s sd, including value of freehold £ISOO, subscriptions in arroar £G, entrance fees 17s Gd, special prizes £ll Bs, tools £l3, and cash £35 ss,

Mr Matthews seconded the adoption of the report, which was put and carried. Some discussion ensued at the instance of Mr Anderson on tho members tickets unpaid for, and the question whether members of the committee , selling tickets should not be responsible ] for the payment of all that they issued, Mr Bunny then rose to propose the re-election of Mr as president. It-might be said tbat'by retaining him in that position they were running in a groove,' but' he maintained that if they had got in a good groove they had better keep in it. Mr I. H., Beetham seconded the motion, which was put by the Glerk' and carried unanimously;' ; • Mr Buchanan said that' last-year he had protested ; ,being put in : a sort of perpetual President position, • but joking apart ho believed that it was to

the interest of the Society for some otliev member to take a turn as President. In kindred ' societies suck a change was almost an invariable rule. If members desired kirn to retain his services for another year he thanked thorn very much for their confidence in his efforts to advance the interests ot the Society, and only hoped that its progress in the future would be as great as in the" past. (Applause). On the'motion of Mr Smith seconded by Mrßeetham, MrE'jJ. Bunny was unanimously elected Vice President,

" Mr H, K. Bunny thanked the members for his appointment. He had always endeavored to do his best for the Society, and would continue to do so during the ensuing year,—(Applause.) On the motion of Mr Matthews, seconded by Mr Braithwoite, Mr Booth was unanimously re-elected as treasurer live members of the old Committee were then ballotted out, viz.: D. Donald, J. Bennett, J. Strang, J". Smithami H. R. Bunny (elected as Vice, President,) "'; The following members were nonri-, nated for the vacant seats:—W. Lowes, J. Smith, J. Strang, A. Anderson, J. Herbert, P, P. Tanorecl, J, Martin, junior, P. Moore, J. 0. Vab lance, and D. McDougal. ! A ballot was taken which resulted in the election of P. I, Tancred, J, Martin, junior, D. McDongal, J. 0. Vallance, and A. Anderson. .. The President called attention to the fact that an old supporter of the Society, to whom they had been much indebted, Mr J. P. Russell, had not been nominated, as it was understood that he was unwilling to serve. He had just been assured that Mr Russell was willing to act on the Committee. • General regret was. expressed round the table that this intimation had not been given prior to the nominations closing. Messrs Seed and Wilson were unanimously elected auditors. • The President asked if any member * desired to bring any general business before the meeting, Mr Booth; Times are too bad I suppose to talk about reducing the debtl" ■ .• The raeetin»then adjourned.