CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 960, 17 August 1878, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

The usuil monthly meeting was held at the Club House on Monday, August 12, at 7 p.m. The following gentlemen were present: — E. Maclean, Esq. (President, in the chair), Captain. Waimsley M«jor Wilson, Messrs A. A. Fantham, 11. M. D. Peason, John' Ruuciman, F. Hicks, James Hunciinan, P. J. Brooks, Geo. E. Clark, William Martyn, H. A. C. Fergusson, Henry Byron, Henry Reynolds, Richard Reynolds, R. R. Huut, Henry Buttle. The minutes* of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 'CORRESPONDENCE. A telegram was read from Mr McMinu, dated 10th inst., stating that dr&ft of Scab Act had been forwarded., and that he would lay any suggestion before the Committee, Hansard would be forwarded during session. A letter was also read from Mr J. H. Mandeno, secretary of the VYaika<,o Agricultural and Pastoral Association., which is referred to in -aJiothor pait of the report of this meeting. Ml* Thomas Jolly was elected a member of the Club in the usual manner. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT. Mr Henry Reynolds, in accordance with notice given at last meeting, moved that Mr Clark be elected to that office. Mr James Runciman seconded. Carried unanimously. Mr Clark returned thanks for the honor conferred on him. THE SCAB CASE.

Mr Hicks then rose to move the resolution of which he gave notice at last meeting, " That the Government be requested to appoint a Commission to enquire into the recent scab case of Mr Thomas /oily." He had thought it best to consult a lawyer on the subject, and while in Auckland bad got Messrs Hesketh and Richmond to draw up a petition to the Honse of Representatives, to be signed by farmers and residents of district. It should be taken round for signature to all parts of the Waikato. Mr Fantham seconded Mr Hicks' motion. He always thought the Auckland Sheep Inspector had made a mistake. If the petition was carried round, every former would be wlad to sign it. • The petition, as publishedi hi the last publication of the .Waikato Times, was here read by the Secretary. Mr Clark thouo-ht it desirable that the matter should be thoroughly investigated. It was stated that at the first meefciusf afc which thev considered the question, they had said too much, and at the last too little. But he thought that in order to be thorougly satisfied that there was no scab, the flock should be inspected once more. Mijor Wilson thought it perfectly impossible for one sheep to have been found scabby and the rest of the flock not infected. He thought that if the flock was pronounced clean by their local iospector they ought to be satisfied, Mr James Runciman asked if the luspector had inspected the sheep since the Commission had done so ? Mr John Runcimaa said he had ridden through them several times. He had ridden through them today, and saw no indication of scab. Mr Fantham said they had a Sheep Inspector present ; if he saiil that the flock was cleau they ought to trust him, if they could not, he ought to be driven out of the district. Mr Maclean said he thought they were a little too early in presenting the petition to the Government! Six months ought to have elapsed. He knew of an occasion when one sheep was found rubbing 1 against a post, and found to be scabby, it wah

not till six months after that scab broke out in fcho rest of tho flock. He sincerely hoped that Mr Jolly's flbck may be found clean, but he would uot like to endorse Mr Hick's motion and sign the petition until a longer time had elapsed. He had been surprised to hear that there wore too flocks scabby in the Waikato* at Ohaupo. Mo thought Dhat it should be generally known that these flocks wero scabby. He should like to see it published in the Waikato Times. Mr John Huncirnann said that thosa two flocks, those of xVlessrs (Hutchinson and Qualtrore ?) were passed as clean before they came to Waikato by Mr Lewis. He had had them continually dipped, but they were never clean. He could say a good deal more, but would refrain. The Club here went into committee to discuss the question. Major Wilson said he had had a great deal of experience in scab, and if Mr Maclean knew of a case where one sheep was found to be scabby, and the rest of the flock not found to be infected (ill six months after, it must have been vm«y exceptional. Mr John Runciman had heard thi-< story of a sheep found rubbing, and after being examined found scabby. The sheep w»s a stivvy oue, a wandersheep) and got in from some outside Sock, and bavins: been takenout and removed it was no doubt some time bsfore any other sheep rubbed against the same post and so became infackd. The insect will live for a long time on an inanimate object. klf it did not how was it that wool from shabby sheep was sold at such loss in the English market 1 They mint be able to tell it nfter having been -packed and sent home. Mr James Runciman said he could understand a strange infected sheep getting among a flock, but that conld not have been the case according to Mr Lewis's statement and the evidence. Mr Fanthani said ' he had never had scab in sheep, he knew very little about them but he had had Ins sheep quarantined. The Inspector at Canterbury had told him that if his sheep were infected and if they hud a little warm rain the insect would bres'd very fast, and show uvlications of scab in three weeks. Now the weather they had had since Mr Jolly's sheep were condemned, was just the kind of weather to favor the spread of the scab. If after having such scabby weather for so long and there was still no indications of it, fhey ought to be thoroughly satisfied that it did not exist iu Mr Jolly's flock. If the poor insect could not live in such favorable weather there must have been no insect at all. Mr Hicks iu reply said he wished to draw attention to one point. Mr Lewis had seen the sheep andjumped to the conclusion that the wound he saw was scab, he told thejndgeon the Bench that he could not be mistaken, and when "asked why he did not look for the insect, he said it was not necessary as the indications of scab, were too palpable. Mr Lewis had erred iu jumping to the conclusion that it was scab, without looking for the insect. He hud no personal feeling against Mr Lewis, but a whole district could not suSmit to sutler tamely for the mistake of one man. The loss he had experienced was considerable from the effect of the convictions of Mr Jolly's sheep for scab, upon the market. Mr Hicks motion was then put and carried, and the petition was adopted. The suVvject of manures and seeds from America occuoied the attention of the Club for some time, and the discussion on the subject will be given in a future issue. THIS CATTLE SHOW. Mr Clarke asked the Secretary whether lie had received any communication from tlie Mayor of Hamilton, relative to what they would be willing to contribute towards the Cattle Show, if it was held in Hamilton. Mr Buttle said the only communication he had received was the letter read at last meeting, which contained no definite proposal But he had received a letter from Mr J. H. Mandeno, containing the resolution passed at. the meeting of the W. A. and P. Association, held at Ohaupo on the 9th. of July. It is to the effect that a proposal for co-operation be made to the C. F. Club for three years, on condition that the first show be held at Hamilton West, the second at Cambridge, and the third at Te Awamutu, and that the Secretary be instructed to forward this resolution to the Secretary of the C. F. Club. Mr Geo. E. Clark said, in reference to holding a Show, he would move, " That as no definite proposal had been made by the people of Hamilton, for holding the Show in that Borough, and from the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, that the Show Committee of the Club take immediate steps, and complete all necessary arrangements for holding the show at Cambridge." Mr Buttle thought they could hardly say they had no definite proposal when they had received Mi- Maudeno's letter. Mr Clark said he meant no definite proposal as to -what funds would be raised. Mr Byron said lie should have been at the last meeting of the Club, but was prevented by illness. He did not like to give up the idea of holding a joint show, without another struggle. He was extremely sorry that there appeared to have been a little personal feeling in the matter. First, that the Club had not held a meeting as soon as was expected, | and again that the members of the Committee of tho W. A. and P. Association had not met the members of the Club at the last meeting of the latter. On behalf of the AV. A. and P. Association, he would ask if they could not make one more effort to co-operate, and have one good show. Tho W. A. and P. vlssociatioii meet at Ohaupo to-morrow, and something might yet be done before they close the question 'entirely. Mr John Itunoinuui said that, as it was now ton o'clock, and the- members of the club arc always complaining of the late hours, he would inovo that tho consideration of this question bo postponed for another week. That wouid give them time to sue if the W. A . and P. Association would make a definite proposal.

Mr Wm, Martyn said that lie was fortunately or unfortunately (lie did not know which) a member of the Show Committee. They had only two monthsmore to make their arrangements iiif lhey, therefore, could not afford the time to postpone it any further. Mr<;larko hore stated, on bohalf . of the Show Committee,' that, in accordance with the powers vested in them by the Club, they had added to their number, the principal breeders of the district, viz iy Messrs E. Maclean, A. A. Pantha : m, Patrick Leslie, and Captain Walmsley, as they feel their assistance was necessary to carry out the arrangements of the Show. Mr Maclean said that, at a meeting of the Show Committee, great regret was expressed that their efforts to amalgamate •with the .f astoral Society^to.ha-ve.a joint show— had entirely, failed, and- that they were reluctantly obliged to , cpme to the conclusion, that the Agricultural Show should' be 'held this year at Cambridge. They were led to this final conclusion, owing to the shortness of time (barely two months) that remains before the exhibition for the erection of the necessary yards and sheds, and that they felt it too late to risk another postponement, more especially as the Pastoral Society have proved apathetic, and have not shown the earnestness necessary for success. The overtures, also, made to the Hamilton municipal authorities, asking for assistance in the event of -the show being held in that town, did not meet with the promptitude and support that was expected. Xpoaking for himself, he thought they could not go to Hamilton West. It would never do to sond unbroken horses and bulls across that punt. If they had a bridge it would be different. At Ohaupo, the yards were not suitable. ■He had known ; valuable stock to be injured by being, exhibiteji in unsuitable yards. If they had a bridge at Hamilton, and a suitable structure, it would have been different, but as it was, he thought it best to hold the show at Cambridge in their own yard's. ■ -' '•' : Mr John Runciman said that no doubt, in consequence of the hunt, there were no members present from the other parts of the country He thought they should make another effort to have one show for the whole of the Waikato, or hold none at all for three years. That wou'ld be far better than to have paltry shows for every little place. Mr Fantham thought they should go on with their work, and complete arrange ments for holding the shew in Cambridge. He could not wait any longer for an agreement to be made with the W. A. and P. A., but they ought to hold their show at Cambridge, and no doubt many of the settlers from the other side would subscvibe towards the Cambridge Show, and exhibit at it. And many from Cambridge would do the some to the Show of the Agricultural Association. He would subscribe towards it, and also exhibit. Mr Byron said he thought they might still make some arrangement for holding a joint show. He would, therefore, second Mv Runciman's proposition, that the consideration of the question be adjourned. Mr Ulark said, at the last meeting, they did not come to any arrangement, and. could not do so now, and that a further postponement of the question would do no good. They had appointed several meetings for the consideration of the question, but nothing had been done. Some years ago they had held a show in Te Awamutu, and the people of the other part of cho district thought that that was the proper- place to hold the show, and the Cambridge settlers had let them have their way for three years. The first year the show was a partial success, and the second it was better, the Cambridge settlers had exhibited at it, and taken away all the prizes, this had offended them. The third year the show was a failure. The Cambridge farmers had not scut any of their stock to exhibit, and this effended them more than takin* away all the prizes had. He suggested that they should go steadily on holding annual shows in Cambridge, and the show held here would, in time, come to be acknowledged as the show of AVaikato Some four months since, they had commenced making arrangements for holding their second annual show, and at their last show they had declared that they intended to hold on this year also. It was simply waste of time to postpone the question any further. Mr Buttle said, he would move, as an amendment to Mr Ruuciinau's motion, " That this Club find it utterly impossible to cany or.t arrangements in time to hold a joint show, together with the W A. and P.' association, and that the Secretary write to the Secretary of the W. A. and P. Association, acknowledging the receipt of his letter, and informing him that the Club does not see its way clear to hold a show at Hamilton West this year." Mr Henry Reynolds said he thought it best to proceed with arrangements for holding the show on their own grounds. He would second Mr Buttle' s amendment. The amendment was then put to the Club, and carried. The report of the Show Committee was then read as follows:^-" It has been decided to hold the show .in the yards of the Olub at Cambridge 'on October 24. The prize list is nearly the same as that of last year, with the addition of a leaping match. Champion prizes of ten guinea cups would be given for horses, cattle, and sheep, to be won two years before they are kept. A special entry of ten shillings would be charged to competitors for these prizes." The list of the judges was also read, and one or two other names added. The items of the report were adopted. The names of several gentlemen to be elected as members at next meeting were given in. This Avas all the business.

After the Club had dispersed, some dozen or more of the members met at the hotel, when the subject of the bridge sit' Hamilton was freely discussed. Mr Clark suggested that a special meeting of the members of the Club bo oallecl fnv fur- Saturday next, to assist the Hamilton people in urging- upon the Government the necessity of bringing the railway into Hamilton East The great benefits this would confer on the districts of both Cambridge and Fiako would be apparent. The President was requested to convene a meeting for Saturday next. It was nearly twelve o'clock when the members of the Club finally dispersed.