CAMBRIDGE FARMER'S CLUB. Monthly Meeting.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1308, 16 November 1880, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE FARMER'S CLUB. Monthly Meeting.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Club House Cambridge yesterday. There were present, Messrs. E. Maclean (President), Wiliains, E.B. "Walker, Fantham, R.H.D. Fergusson, Jobn Runciman, R. Reynolds, Clark, Kallender, Jno. Fisher, Buttle, Owen, G-. Macletm, Tucker, Seddon, Blocks, and (Japt. Runciinan. The minntes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed and the outward correspondence was read and approved. The gentlemen proposed for membership at last meeting were balloted for and duly elected. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members took place immediately afterwards the same members being present. The minutes of the previous anriual meeting having been read and confirmed. The Secretary read the following report and statement : — Report of the Committee of the Cambridge Farmers' Club for year ending 31st October 1880. Your Committee in presenting their fifth annual report cannot congratulate the members on the success which has attended the Association during the past year. Why [such apathy exists in the interest, its members take in the wellbeing of the institution your Committee are unable to say, but feel assured if the Club is to retain its position as one of the recognised institutions of the colony, very considerable increased activity and anxiety for its future success must be shown. Number of Members. — The number of subscribing members is 67, against 68 last year, in life members a satisfactory increase may be noted, viz. 8. Attendance. —The attendance at the usual monthly meetings of the Club shows a sliglit jailing off from the two previous years. This may be accounted for in a great measure by the Club holding its meetings in the afternoon, instead of the evenings. If any of the members are of opinion such is the case, notice of motion can be given to have the sitting time altered to that originally obtaining. Papers. — During the past year five papers have been read before the Club, viz. Mr Fantham, on "Pleuro Pneumonia," Major Wilson, "on the Culture of Grasses," MrF. Hicks, " on the Culture of Wheat, " Mr Jas. Runciman, "onPigbreeding and Management, " Mr R. Reynolds, "on Rearing of Young Stock. These papers are in the hands of your committee and may be had for reference on application to the secretary. Ploughing Match. — A committee was appointed to carry out a ploughing match, but so few entries coming forward, the project was abandoned. Cattle Show. -The usual exhibition was held on the third Thursday in October. Accounts. — A statement of the Club's financial position will be laid before you. In conclusion your committee most urgently begs the members present will take the position of tne Club into consideration, and adopt measures to popularize the institution. Every Macleax, Chairman, Walter Scott, Secretary Statement of Assets and Liabilities — Liabilities : Overdraft Bank of New Zealand, £377, 9s 6d ; interest to date (say), £7 10s ; Amount due to Mr Keals, £500 ; interest due, £8 los ; amount due to Mr Halley, £106 ; sundry expences, salaries, &c, £135 ; champion prize, £20. Total, £1148 Us fld. Assets. — Unpaid subscriptions (good) v £25 ; building and land, £900 ; interest in lease of Marshall's 2 acres, £200 ; furniture, £50. Total, £1175. Mr Buttle said there was a proverb which stated that open confession was good tor the soul. He hoped therefore that the confession of the Committee contained in their report, would have a good effect. He thought it was good k to criticise the report. The affairs of the Club had been suffered to get into a bad state. The annual ploughing match had fallen through, aud the Show had been next to a failure. However, the Club might be congratulated on having arrived at this state, because when things were at the worst they began to mend. Next year he hoped to see a great improvement. He had heard it said that the Club was jroina 1 to the bad, but he did not believe it. The Club had been in existence five years and had unquestionably done muoh good, aud he did not think the members would sec it go down. He, for one, vould not, without making some effort to save it. The cause of the Club's decadence lay in the apathy of the memb3rs. He could name nearly a dozen gentlemen who had been elected members within the past year who had never yet attended a meeting. He considered it to be the duty of every fanner in the district to support the Club, and not try to write it down as a correspondent to the Waikato Times had done. The managing committee had been very lax in their duties, but he hoped to see a change in the coining year. Mr Brooks considered that too much laxity had been shown in regard to the finances of the Club. There should be a rigorous supervision of this department, anil he doubted not that the Club -would pull through easily. After some further remarks the report and statement were adopted unanimously - The Club then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing year. Captain Runcimau hail great pleasure in moving that Mr R. H. D. Fergusson be President. He had hoped for the pleasure of seeing, re-elected, the gentleman then occupyiug the chair, and whoWcis the father of the institution, but he had positively declined. He had therefore much pleasure in proposing Mr Fergusson. The nomination was seconded by Mr Buttle, and there being no other candidates, Mr Forgusson was declared duly elected, and took the chair accordingly, Mr Maclean, on leaving the chair, thanked the members for the uniform courtesy which they had extended to him during his year of office. He was glad to find they had elected as his successor a gentleman whose interests were bound up in the district, and who would, he felt sure, fill the position with credit. Mr Fergusson suitably returned thanks for his election. Mr John Fisher was elected senior vice-president, aud Mr Fantham junior vice-president. The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee of Management : — Messrs Buttle, F. Jlicks, R. Reynolds, and S. T. Seddon, Mr Maclean declining to be elected as he wished to see new blood infused into the management. Mr G. E. Clark was elected Treasurer. The appointment of a Secretary was left to the Managing Committee. Messrs Brooks and Williams were appointed Auditors. Mr Maclean said the Club had received an offer for the purchase of some of their property, and he begged to move that the whole arrangement be left in the hands of the Managing Committee. This was seconded by Captain Runciman, and after some discussion, carried. In answer to Mr Buttle, Messrs Fisher and Walker, as members of the Domain Board, assured the Club that every endeavor would be made to secure to the Club the right to use a portion of the town belt as a show ground. On the motion of Mr Reynolds, it was agreed that for the ensuing six months the

meetings of the Club be held at 7 p.m., instead of at 2 p.m. as heretofore. * The usual votes of thanks to the retiring officers having been passed, the meeting terminated.