CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 996, 9 November 1878, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held at the Club House on Monday last. Mr A. M. Wainwright, of Te Awamutn was admitted a member m the usual manner. THE NEXT CATTLE SHOWMr James Runciman, m accordance with the notice which he gave at last meeting, moved. " That this Club do hold its next Show at Hamilton East m Sydney Square, provided that our neighbor settlers m chut locality give a guarantee to the Committee of Management of this Cub within six months from date, that they will be m a position to carry o\\t the Show m a similar spirit to which it has been carried outou ihepasttwoyt ars in Cambridge, viz. by having Sydney Square levelled and fenced m. and undertake to erect suitable yards and pens previous to the time of holding the Show, and that this Club publish the result at once m the Waikato Times and Auckland newspapers. Mr Runciman said thai; m moving this resolution he had not done so hurriedly or unadvi>ably. If the Show was held at Hamilton, it would demoustrate 'hat the Cmibridge people did not think there was no other place m the world where a Show ought to be held but Cambridge. The Shows held here had been t-> all interests and purposes local Shows, but if the next show was held at Hamilton, the Cambridge Farmers's Club Show would become the great Show of Waikato, and if properly carried out would no f'oubt m time become the Show of the provincial district of Auckland. In a conversation with Mr Thomas Morrin on the subject, that gentleman had promised to quadruple his subscriptions if the Show was held at Hamilton. He had also aaid he would undertake to raise a large sum of tnonev m Auck- 1 lav.l for the Show. Mr Alfred Buckland had also told him that they had made a raistak" m holding the Show at Cambridge. Oembridge was so difß cult to (jet at with sock fmm a dia tance. If it was lipld at Hamilton another year, he and others would contribute largely. He. (M> Rnnci- 1 mann considered that if the resolution was carripd out it would alter the position of the Club very greatly, by showing a spirit of liberality towards the other parts of the Waikato districts. When we had a railway to Cambridge there would not be the slightest objection to holding it there. He had not asked anyone to second his resolution, but he had no doubt some one would do so ; he hoped tha matter would be fairly and impartially cussedMr Henry Reynolds said he had great pleasure m seconding the resolution. He thought it would show a liberal spirit on the part of the Club to hold its next show at Hamilton. He had no doubt that if they did so, they would collect considerably more than double the amount of subscriptions than before He quite endorsed all Mr Runciman had said on the subject. Mr Patrick' Leslie wanted to know who could guarantee that Sydney Square could be had to hold the Sisow ? It was his belief that if the Show was held at Hamilton East, no power on earth would make the Hamilton West people come.' If the Show is held m Hamilton East the Club will for ever maka enemies of Hamilton West, the Hamilten Wet ppople trill come to visit 'the Show if held m Cambridge, bnt if held m Hamilton East., they would sooner be hanged first There was only one place where they could hold the Show m Hamilton which would he supported by both West, and East Hamilton, and that was too small an area- He meant the Hamilton punt He thought they should keep their Show at. Cambridge. If heid a* Hamilt n, and it was a failure it would injure the Club very much. As to whnt Mr Runcimann said abmit Mr Morrin's promises, he, (Mr Leslie) was one who believed like David that all rapn were liars. Had Mr Morrin eiven ny guarantor* m writing. He would no' give h fig for any man's verbal promise of what he would do twelve months hence. He lived three and a-ha'f miles from Hamilton and nine and a-half from Cambridge, but he preferred sticking to Cambridge. Mr Runciman here asked permission to read a letter which had been just put m his hands- It was as follows : — The Secretary, Cambidge Farmers' Club, Cambridge : Sir, — The Hamilton Borough Council, with a view of encouraging agricultural pursuits m the Waikato district, offer to the Cambridge Farmers' and other Clubs, for show purposes, the use of a piece of ground m Hatnilton, and, further, guarantee to fence and level it. — We are, &c, I. B. Vialou 'Mayor), James Hume, John Kuox, Edward Gaudin, N. E. Cox, Richard Gwynne, Albert Potter, B. O. Beale, D. Gardiner. By this letter, it would be seen, they werfe prepared at Hamilton to get ready a piece of ground for the Show. While he was on his legs, he (Mr Runciraan) could not but take exception to Mr Leslie's remarks on Mr Morrin . Mr Morrin was a gentleman who had done a great deal for this district, and everyone would bear him out m saying that his word was as good as his bond. Mr Leslie said Mr Morrin was a gentleman he esteemed and I'esppcted, and he wonld be quite willing to take Mr Morrin's word as long as he was m the land of the living. He would take Mr Morrin's word as far as he would take any man's word ; but the letter from the Hamilton Borough Council said nothing about Sydney Square. They would, very likely, want the Show at Hamilton West, as nothing was said about Hamilton East. Mr F. A. Whitaker said it was left to the members of the Club to choose a suitable piece of ground for themselves. Mr Leslie said he did not think Sydney Square would be large enough. Mr Runciman said it was ten acres. Mr Leslie said they could not fence m ten acres there. Mr William Graham said it was ten acres without the roads. Mr Peter Walker said he did not know anything about those deadly feuds which Mr Leslie spoke of between East and West Hamilton. He thought Hamilton the most con r

venieut place 10 hold the Show. The Ohaupo, Te Awamutu, and Rangia- , ohia people would, no doubt, support the idea ; they would, also, receive support from Auckland. If the Shows were held at o'her places than Cambridge, tha usefulness of the Club, he thought, would be extended far beyond the Waikato district. Mr G. E. Clark said Mr Runcimau had been premature m bringing forward this m tion. He would move, us an amendment, that the consideration of the question be postponed for six months. He would not like to be pledged to do anything twelve months hence ; the position of affairs might be very much altered by that time. Who could tell what would be the relative positions of Hamilton and Cambridge by thnl. tim-ii If tho Hamilton people and the people of the other pirta of Waikato would rouse their energies and bestir themselves — and, instead of grumbling at Cambridge, try to excel her, — they wonld make the district second to none m the colony. If the other parts of the district had ' shown the energy which characterised Cambridge m every undertaking, Waikato would have occupied a prouder position than it does now. Mr Robert Fergusson seconded Mr Clark's amendment. He did not think it possible to hold peripatetic shows m this district with any success. If they wanted the Show at Hamilton, they should offer more inducement than merely levelling and fencing the ground. They wanted good accommodation for their stook. Mr Fantham thought they would all agroe about Hamilton being the proper place for the Waikato Show. However, ho thought they should hold local shows m the different parts* of the district. Then, they would all support one central Show to be held, say, at Hamilton. Let them hold a local show at Te Awamutu, and by-and-byp, when the Piako district was further advanced, they would want one there, as the district was eminently suited to breeding castle. He did not believe m the system of going round and begging from house to house for the Show — .£lO from one, <£5 from another, and £1 from another ; but let all the settlers become members at £1 c- eh. He had no doubt that, very soon, there would be 400 or 500 members. Farmers could not afford to give their ten guineas every now and then to tho shows He thought they should hold their Club Show at Cambridge, but support a good central Show to be held at Hamilton. Mr Lake said he had taken an active part m the discussion on this question before, and had moved a resolution m the Clvb — that three shows be held : the first at Cambridge, the second at Hamilton, and the third at Te Awamutu. In the Waikato Agricultural Association, he moved the same resolution, but putting Hamilton first. However, lome sought to shelve it by putting Te A.wamutu first. At the last meeting of the Club, it was resolved that tho prize-takers of the Show, who were members of the Club, would be asked to refund half their pr'ze money, to enable the Club to erect covered yards; but he thought that, if a general interest were taken m the Show throughout the whole district, they would be able to erect, covered yards anywhere they wished. He would like to see some provision made for the erection of covered yards. Those who had seen valuable stock exhibited m uncovered yards on a raioy day would see the neces sity of this. He thought it ought to be embodied m a r jsolution that something practical m ths way of yards should be guarantedd. Mr Whita'<er said he yns doing his utmost to destroy all these localisms, as they had a most deterrent effect upon the advancement of the district. He had done all he conH to support the Cambridge Farmers' Club, and would continue to do so. He would like to see the use fulness of the Club extend to other districts. The Club had brought Cambridge out prominently m the eyes of the agricultural world but Cambridge was not the only ptace m Waikato worthy of consideration. He thought Waikato should be represented as a whole, and if the next show were held at Hamilton, or some place other than Cambridge, thia object would be furthered. Mr Leslie said it was from the journal of which Mr Whitaker was proprietor that he had learned of an existing antipathy between Jiiast and and West Hamilton, which might injure ths prospects of the show. He had noticed the endeavors on the part of that journal to try to cement the two townships, and destroy the jealousy that existed. Mr Whitaker said that the endeavors had been crowned with success, the two townships were per. feotly at one, no fend existed between them now. Mr William Graham said he belonged to the Cambridge district, but had interests m both West and East Hamilton. He thaghfc it would be an. advantage to have the Show taken to Hamilton East. It would be better supported and would tend to clear Cambridge of the charge of its exclusiveness. Mr J. B. Whyte said that if they did grumble at Cambridge they grumbled and paid theii subscriptions. He had subscribed liberally to the first Show, and would have done to the last if there had been a little more consideration. Mr F. Hicks thought that perhaps they had appeared rather exclusive. From what he had seen of Shows m Jtfew Zealand, they could have one m

Waikato second to no-ie m the colony. He did not think that the district could support two or three Shows. But one good Show for tho whole district would be a success. He thought fchat it should be stated m Mr lluncinian's resolution that suitable yards were to be erected. He thought they should try and meet the Hamilton people as far as possible. He would support the resolution. Mr William Marty n said there were lots of places about Hamilton which were suitable. He thought it a good thing to hold the Show at Hamilton, bin not under the auspices of the Cambridge Farmers' Club. There would still be the same jealousy against Cambridge. The Committee of the Club would not be able to sea that the arrangements were carried out, it being too far from their homes. He approved of the Show being held at Hamilton, bat thought a committee should be appointed their to carry out and complete all arrangements. Mr John Fisher said it seems from the discussion thfl-t the question as to whether or not to hold the next show at Hamilton, depended oi\ the question as to whether the Cambridge Farmers' Club should bo merely a local institution, or the Crtmbridge Show merely a local one. He was of opinion that they should hold the next Show at Hamilton, and if properly supported and the other parts of the district came forward as they ought to do there would soon be forthcoming sufficient funds to erect the required yards m three or four places m Waikato. He thought it manifestly unfair to postpone the question for v 'six months, it wonld be tantamount to shelving it altogether. Mr Clark's amendment was then put to the meeting, and five hands were held up m favour of it. For Mr Unncimnn's motion, a show of hands was next called for, and eighteen were held up. The motion was, therefore, declared carried. ES3A.Y ON CLASSIFICATION OF WOOL. Mr Henry .Reynolds proposed that, m consequence of the lateness of the hour, the reading of Mr Walker's essay on the classification of wool should be postponed till next month. Mr William Martyn seconded. Carried. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Jame Runciman gare notice that, at the next meeting of the Club, he should move that a reward be offered to auy person giving a proper solution of the cause of the disease on the peach trees, and an effectual cure of the same. Major Hay gave notice that, at the next meeting, he should move that the Cambvidge Farmers' Club | take steps to hold a Horticultural Show, m the month of March next. This was all the business.