THE PROPOSED CATTLE SHOW.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1077, 20 May 1879, Page 2

THE PROPOSED CATTLE SHOW.

Sib,— Seldom having an opportunity of expressingmy views,but being m a position where slock can very well be taken, opinion formed and judgment passed on the various matters which, for some time back, have been, and are still uppermost m the minds of the residents of the townships of Hamilton and Cambridge, I crave space for a few remarks on the Cambridge Farmers' Club, and the question of the Cattle Show. The Club is an institution which has been m existence for now nearly four years, and which rapidly worked itself into notice, by its successful shows of last year, and more especially the year before, and by the interest it took m agricultural matters throughout the whole Waikato district, and also by the publicity given to its proceedings m the columns of your paper, and the pluck displayed m building a magnificent Club House. The institution still thrives, and seems likely to do so, but outside interest has appeared to flag a little, m consequence, probably, of a charge of selfishness which, justly or unjnstly, has been indirectly brought against it.. And, also, perhaps, because the broom is no longer new. Last year an attempt was made to amalgamate with the waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to hold a joint show. It originated, no doubt, with some settlers who were members of both institutions. The Club wanted the Association to make definite proposals, and the Association wanted the Club to make a guarantee, and arrangements were attempted to get both bodies to meet, to disouss the matter, but each took its stand on its dignity, and remained there, The consequence was, the Show of 1878 was held at Cambridge, and was a fairly successful one, though it did not come up to its predecessors. At the next meeting the Club held after the Show, a resolution was passed, almost unanimously, that the next Show be held at Hamilton East, if certain conditions were complied with. The Borough Council was considered the proper body to communicate with, and to it was the resolution sent. Some months afterwards, a letter was sent to the Club, asking if it would guarantee that the Show should be held at Eamilton, if Sydney Square (the proposed site) was t levelled and fenced. This letter was quite unnecessary, as the Club, by passing the resolution referred to, pledged themselves to do so, if the conditions were fulfilled. The fencing and levelling of the ground was only pare of the conditions. This elicited a reply from the Club, merely refering to the resolution passed at the former meeting. This was all the Club oould do under the circumstances. The Clerk of the Hamilton Borough; Council acknowledged the letter, and stated that the Council would communicate officially with the Club, on the matter. This official communication had not been received up to the date of the last Club meeting. But, the Mayor finding the majority of the Councillors apathetic, calls a public meeting; at which a committee is appointed, and the "Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Club were asked to appoint like committies, to consider the matter, and confer together, at " Hatnilton." Now, the Borough Council, m the first instance, are much to blame, m not sending the official communication to the Club, which they promised. But they ought to have sent it whether or no. They might have rejected the Club's proposals, or referred them to another body, but to ignore the question as they have done, was very unbusinesslike, to say the least of it. Again the Hamilton public meeting 'had no right to take upon itself, what had been delegated to the Borough Council, without the consent of the latter and the concurrence of the Club. Again, the Club had made certain proposals to Hamilton, and it is said that the public meeting was fqr the consideration of those proposals, and to request the Club to alter the aito from East side to West, near the Railway Station. It would not then have been so bad, and the (Jlub would not have felt its dignity so much wounded, if the "Waikato A ssociation had not also been brought m. It seemed very like throwing over the Club's proposal altogether, and making a fresh one. It this case, it would have been far better to have communicated with the Club alone, and then afterwards, if it was thought necessary, recommend co operation with the W. A. and P. Association. To make matters worse, the gentleman communicating with the Club, on behalf I of the committee appointed at the HamilI ton meeting, signs himself " Secretary and Trqasttrei? qf the Hamilton Cattle Show Committee," which made it look as if it^vas wanted to take the management of the Show out of the hands of the Club altogether. This, probably, was not intended, but it did no good, Wh.en the ' Club received the letter, it stoqd upon its dignity again, and replied m similar terms. The Hamilton Committee had no other Committee to meet, and oould merely receive the Club letter, -which has not been replied to. At the last meeting of the Club, it was • decided to write to the Borough Council, asking its intention with regard to the proposed show. So the matter now stands. Wh.at aught to have been done (jt was suggested by one of the members, at fche last meeting) was to have authorised the Officers and Committee of the Club to invite the Hamilton Borough Council, or any other responsible body at Bamilton, to confer with them on the matter. But this was not done, an 4 ! things are nq nea.ri?v, but, perhaps, further from a settlement than they were six months ago. As long as letters fly through the post once a month, between Hamilton and Cambridge, on this subject, nothing will come of it. Each party should come down from, its stilts., au4 shake hands and discuss face to face. It remains to be seen who will be the first to do so. Hamilton has the best right, and the first opportunity. It is, no doubt, rather wanting m condesceusiqn qii the part of the Club not to comp do,wai a little from its dignified, sfcancl, and not ,

pocket what it may consider an affcont, tor, the sake of the welfare of the whole district. It may be aaid (mind, I don't sa y 8O myself) that Hamilton merely wishes the Show held there, for her own selfish interests. But even if this were th J c f. se » r lo °k upon the matter as one affecting the whole Waikato. It would tend to cement m unity, the various townships of this district, and help to pub down petty jealousies. Let the Club look t.i 6i 6 , VQry lar S e number of visitors which the show will receive, if held afc the Hamilton Railway Station. On this, I believe, quite as much as on the number of exhibits depends the saccess of any ?. , w ' Cambridge can afford to stoop a little, if she has to do so, to concede what will be for the whole Waikato. ber prestige will not suffer, if she bends a little from her dignity. The Farmers' Club may, with advantage, hold its next show at Hamilton West," even if the residents there fail to give proper co-opera-tion, or suitable guarantee. Let the Club decide, at its next meeting, to hold the Show there, and throughout the Waikato, settlers, one and all, will strive to make it a grand success.

Some of the members of the Club appear to want the Show at Hamilton East, some at Cambridge. With regard to these last, some have been iUjB/txired enough to make the remark (and I 'only repeat it, that it may be refuted) "that amongst them are the principal breeders, who scored one point for the Cups, which were guaranteed by the Club, as Champion Prizes, to be won two years m succession, or throe times altogether. It has been said that those who were successful last year, would not be so likely to be so next time, if the Show was held at Hamilton, but if it is held at Cambridge, they are sure of them. It is astonishing that persons can be found so ill-disposed as to impute such intensely selfish and paltry motives to others. What now remains to be done by the Hamiltonians is this : I^et those gentlemen who were appointed on the " Hamilton Cattle Show Committee, and who are also members of the Club, attend the next meeting of the latter, fortified with definite proposals. If they do this, I believe that the motion, of which Mr Buttle gave notice at last ' meetin, * That the Show be held at Hamilton West,' will be carried with an overwhelming majority. As matters between the two townships stand now, it reminds me of a very old metaphor, ' Like unto children sitting m the market place, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.' "

One more word, the Farmers' Club is now the only institution ■of the kind m Waikato, now bhe W. A. &P. Association is defunct. If, therefore, they would show a little more catholic spirit, their usefulness might be much extended, and they would be far more largely supported by influx of members from outside the Cambridge district,.that they might, with Very great advantage, extend their title to the " Cambridge and Waikato Farmers* Club." Something might be done, to show that Cambridge is not selfish, by holding the next Annual Ploughing Match and Exhibition of Roots and Implements, if not at Ohaupo, as near the Narrows Bridge as possible. On other matters of like importance, you shall hear from me again, if my present letter is not a surfeit. — lam, &c, A CHIEE A3IANG YE, TAKIN' NOTES. P.S. — Could not some arrangement be made with the contractor of the Hamilton. Traffic Bridge, that he should receive some substantial benefit, if the bridge be finished m time for the Show, if held at Hamilton West?