WAIRARAPA and EAST COAST PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2581, 25 April 1887, Page 2

WAIRARAPA and EAST COAST PASTORAL AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

■ .r «*t — ■— ANNUAL JIEETLN'O; The annual general meeting of this Society took place at the Council Chambers, Carterton, on Saturday last, _ The principal business of the meeting was to receive Committee's report, annual statement of accounts, and to elect officers for the ensuing year. The meeting winch was presided over by the President (Mr W. 0. Buchauan, M.H.R.'j" was largely attended. . ■■ The minutes of tho last annual meeting were read and confirmed. . The printed report, which was ■taken as read, showed the assets and liabilities as. follows: of show grounds and buildings, £600; tools and sundries, £l2; subscriptions from members' tickets outstanding, ,£44; total value of assets, £656; Liabilities—Bank of New Zealand overdraft, £l6B 2s 4d;_ mortgages secured on show grounds (interest £6), '"$300; estimatedhability on debentures not surrendered, £6O; total amount liabilities, £529 28 4d, .showing a balance in favor of the Society of £126 llf Bd. ....-,, ;; -'The President, in moving the adoption of the report, expressed the pleasure lie felt on the improved position of the Society's finances. The Bank overdraft, whioli, at the conimencemegt of last year wai £262

19s, had been reduced to 1168 2s 4d, and a further liability of £62 16s Gd, incurred in the erection of the grand stand, had been paid off. He con-

siderod the result of the year's transactions very satisfactory. The £44 outstanding at the beginning of the year for members' tickets, had been reduced to about £l7. Notwithstanding the many disadvantages the Society had to contend against, they had made a clean advance of over £IOO during the year. He complimented the 'Committee on'the-manner in which they had worked to get in subscriptions to wipe.off .the permanent debt. He believed if members generally would interest themselves a little more in the direction of getting new members, their present roll of members could be doubled. Although the Society had lost a great portion of support from the Northern end of the Valley, owing to the establishment of a similar Society in Masterton, they had been enabled to hold their own as a representative of pastoral and agricultural interests for tho whofe Valley, ho' could not help but again express the regret he felt at the opposition show being held in Masterton. Although somewhat discouraging, it was a source of congratulation to find themselves in such a good position. The nett debt of the Society, in round figures, did not now exceed £4OO. Taking the results of last year into consideration, he was of opinion they would be more successful in the next. At the present time they had 142 .names entered on the books, and anyone who was" conversant with the size and population of tho Lower Valley knew how easy it would be to increase that number, if properly canvassed for. It was impossible to see this in an out-of-the-way-place like Carterton. He would like to direct

the special attention of members to the advisability of swelling the roll of membership. If this suggestion was carried out they would find their gatherings more successful. Eeferriug to their last annual Show, he considered it was, without doubt, a very successful one. The stock exhibited

compared favorably with similar exhibitions held in other parts of the colony, and he hoped that next yearwould seo still greater improvements, If owners would pay a little more, attention to their stock before the winter sat in they would be well repaid for their trouble by seeing them in even much belter condition. If stock was allowed to got low in condition during the winter is was impossible to got them up-in good form by show time. Evening to the .debt..of the Society he said there were many settlers who would give, if only asked to do so, and ho hoped many members' individually, would give their assistana and the debt still further decroaiad. Having pointed out the advantages gained by the, Sooiety he alluded to the depression which had been experienced by runholders and farrnors. Wool and stock had been sold at unprecedently low prices. Lately there was an improvement in the farmer, which he trusted would continue. The outlet for stock was not sufficient. The freezing industry .was a groat boon to stockowners, in fact, he did not know what would have been the result if it had not been for' this outlet. Inferior .stock, at the present time was a drug in the market and the encouragement of raisin hotter stock was the aim of the Societies.

Mr H. E. Bunny, in seconding the adoption .of the report, congratulated the Sooidty on occupying suck a favorable position. All they required was another Hue day for thoir next show and they would be enabled to wipe out their present overdraft of £l6B 2s 4d. Ho did not think the North Wairarapa Show would be detrimental to thoir own and recommended one and all to their best in improving the prospects 1 of the Society, If they acted consistently and awarded the prizes to those who were'deserving of them they had nothing to fear as far as the future success of the Society was concerned. The report was put to the mooting, and carried unanimously.

The election- of officers for tho ensuing year was then proceeded with, Mr Booth proposed that Mr Buchanan be re-elected President. Last year he intimated his unwillingness to occupy that office any longer, but after a little persuasion ho consented, and he hoped Mr Buchanan would see his way to again do so. His billet last year was an easy one, and. ho did not think it would he much harder during the ensuing year. Seeing that Mr Buchanan and himself wore answerable for the Bank overdraft, he should regret to see him out of the • office, Should the Society meet with the same success during tho coming year as in the past, he had every reason to believe that the overdraft would be paid off, Tho greater portion of outstanding subscriptions had come in during the past few days. Ho moved that Mr Buchanan ho re-elected President of the Society. Mr Buchanan, whilst thanking them declined the honor. By not accepting the Presidency, he did not mean to lessen his interest in the Society. It could always rely upon having his heartiest support, In the interests of the Society lie believed a change would bo beneficial. In other Societies they had changes, and why should'nt they in this. The office of President should not bo a permanent one, and it was only fair that some other member should be appointed to the position. He was deeply conscious of the honor, they had con'erred upon him in the past, and hoped Mr Booth would withdraw his proposition. Mr C. Pharazyn would have had no objection to &ee Mr Buchanan again elected President, hut as it was understood at the last annual meeting that he should only serve this term, and that ; Mr H. E. Bunny should be asked to accept the position, he would move that the latter gentleman'be elected, President.-

MrN. 6|ace seconded, Mr E E, Bunny's .candidature, which, on being putjlvaß carried unanimously. At thisTstage Mr Bunny took up his new position at the head of the table, and was greeted with a round of applause. Mr Bunny thanked the members for placing him in the honorable position as President of the Society. He

bad great hopes of being able to control the affairs of the Society satisfactory, knowing that he would always havs the advice and assistance of their latte President. He would always two life best endeavours to do his duties equally as well in the capacity of President as if he was one of the rank and file of the Society. .'..;.,,"■■. On the motion of Mr -W;, Beetham, soaonded by Mr W. C. Buchanan, Mr Jas. Stuckey was elected Vice Presi* dent. •'.•■■

.Mr Pharazyn proposed, and Mr Buchanan seconded, the election of Mr Booth as treasurer. Carried;. . Mr Seed was re-elected auditor.

Bofore proceeding with the election of five members to the general committee, Mr Deller inquired whether those members who were in arrears with their subscriptions were allowod to vote,

Tho President, in reply, road into i, which states that no members in arrears over throo months is entitled ito a vote. '

The rotiring members oftho.com- 1 initios were—Messrs Armstrong, ;B. I Boys, W. Booth, Jas. Donald, Alex f McKenzie, J. P. Bussell, and Jas. 1 Stuokey. Messrs Stuckey and Booth < had to retire owing to' tlioir being I elected to the positions of Vice Presi- I dent and Treasurer, respectively. i Out of twelve nominations the fol- \ towing were elected to the General i Committee —Messrs W. C. Buchanan ! C,. Pharazyn, Alex McKenzie, J. P.' 1 Eussell, Monckton, J, Donald and J. : C. Vallance. The President stated that it was with regret that he had to inform members that Mr Woltcrs had tendered his resignation as Secretary to the Society. It was his intention to have done so last year, hut- on being pressed he had consented to act for a while longer. MrWoltersnow finds, owing to pressure of other bttsinoss, his inability to contiuuo to hold that office any longer. The matter would bo one for the Committee to deal with. Personally he hoped Mr Wolters would reconsider his decision, having the work of the Society at his (Mr Wolter's) finger ends, he would have been of great assistance to tho speaker. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Wolters for past clerical services in connection with the Society. Mr Buchanan, in seconding tho vote of thanks, highly oomplimentod Mr Wolters for the valuable services he had rendered the Society over siuce he bad boon its secretary. He had been saved a great deal of worry aud anxiety, through the close attention M'r Wolters had paid to the business of the snd was very sorry indeed to hear of his severing his connection as their Secretary, They were in debted, to a great extent, to him, as sacretary, for the success which had attended their shows in the past.. In conclusion, he hoped, at the eleventh hour, that Mr Wolters would re-con-sider his resignation, ' The vote of I thanks, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. ' Mr Wolters suitably responded, and whilst regretting to leave the' Society, he expressed'the pleasure he felt in Iwing able to do so, after holding the position of Secretary during the past seven or eight yearn His chief reason ' for resigning was so that he should be enabled-to take up other work, He would he willing to act for another month to give them every opportunity of filling his place. Mr W, Beetham proposed, and Mr Anderson seconded, a vote of thanks to the retiring oih'cera of'the Society, which was carried unanimously, i Mr Buchanan returned thanks on ' behalf of retiring officers, intimating i that thoy had done their best and hoped . their successors would do the same. i This concluded tho business, and ' the meeting adjourned.