CAMBRIDGE FARMER'S CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1371, 14 April 1881, Page 2

CA MB RIDGE F ARMER'S CL UB.

An ordinary meeting of the above named Club, was held the evening of Tuesday. Iv the absence of the President, Mr John "Fisher occupied the chair. The other members present vrero, Mesars. Grice, Fanthum, Maclean, "Walker, Kalendar, Buttle, Rhodes, John Runciman andCapt. Runciman. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and other preliminary proceedings taken.

Threatened Resignation of the President. Gorton, Cambridge, April 7th. To the Secretary of the Farmuri' Club. Sir,—l beg to tender to the members of the above club, through you, my resignation of the post at present held by me as President of the club. Yours faithfully, Romkrt Fbrgussov. The Chairman explained that the above had been submitted to a meeting of committee held at an earlier part of the evening, and it had been agreed to suggest that it should stand over for consideration at the special meeting' proposed to be held shortly for the purpose of considering the financial condition and other matters connected with the institution. If agreeable to the meeting he would suggest that that course be followed. Mr Maclean did not suppoae there was any great need for following the course proposed. If Mr Fergusson thought fit to resign, he could not see any good reason why he should not be allowed to do so. He moved " That the resignation should be accepted," adding that the Club would easily find another member to fill Mr Fergusson's place. The Chairman said there might be reason shown why the resignation should not be accepted. That was the reason the committee desired to delay it. They felt that other things had to be taken into account before the resignation was accepted, and it was with the view of considering these things the delay wa3 asked. His resignation at the present moment might complicate matters somewhat seriously. Mr Fantham agreed in the opinion that the resignation should not be accepted. If men of Mr Fergusson's class were to be allowed to resign whenever they thought fit, and thereby evade the responsibilities incurred, then the few people who were left would have to put their hands in their pockets and pay somewhat smartly. The Club had been a great benefit to the whole district, and to none more so than to the large landed proprietors, who ought not to bti allowed to escape a fair share of its liabilities. He wa3 sorry Mr Fergusson had not thought fit to be a little more explicit, and explain the reason he had for resigning. He (Mr Fantham) contended that the Club was being dealt with discourteously by its President. No person could be justified in sending in a letter of that kind without adducing some kind of reason. He felt very sore, indeed, upon this matter. He believed he was in some measure connected with the offence taken by Mr Fergusson, and he desired to say, for the information of the Club, that if he had done wrong he was quite willing that his action in the matter should be judged by the Club. By doing wrong, he referred to the lecture given by Mr Mclvor. He had been instrumental along with others in getting the lecture delivered in the Public Hall, instead of the Club-room. Mr Buttle rose to a point of order. It was out of place to allude to that circumstance, seeing Mr Fergusson had not stated either that or any other reason for resigning. If the Club was not satisfied, it was competent to delay accepting the resignation, and in the meantime pass a resolution calling upon Mr Fergusson to state his reasons. If Mr Fantham was the reason, he ought to make a motion to that effect. Capt. Runciman also condemned the course followed by the President. Considering the circumstances under which they had placed Mr Fergusson in the position he occupies, his resignation at the present moment was most unkind, and as things stand it was most unwiso and he for ono, would oppos» its acceptance to the very utmost. To tender his resignation as he had done, was acting towards the clnb in a moat extraordinary manner. He (Mr Fergusson), knew the position in which they were placed. Indeeed he was largely renponaible for their getting into that condition at first. He would strenuously oppose the resignation being received. It was in his opinion simply an attempt to slip out of office. Mr Buttle deprecated the imputations made, and argued that it was only fair to Mr Fergusson that an opportunity should be afforded to him for stating his reason. When they had that raason it would be time enough for them to discuses its value. He moved as an amendment that Mr Fergusson be requested to furnish his reasons for tendering his resignation at a time so very inopportune as the present. The motion was withdrawn and the amendment put and carried. It waa further agreed that the letter of resignation be allowed to stand over for consideration at the special meeting on the 26th inst.

Mr. Maclvor's Visit. Mr Maclean moved that a letter be addressed to Mr Maclvor, expressing the regret of the Club that while in Waikato he was not afforded an opportunity of visiting other parts of the district beside the one explored by him ; and adding, as an opinion on the part of the Club, that he (Mr Maclvor) was in consequence only enabled to form a very imperfect idea of the capabilities of the district as a whole. Representing as the Club did tho agricultural interests of the place, it would only have been right if they had been more fully consulted with respect to Mr Maclvor's movements. That gentleman had spent one week at Matamata, and upon the observations he made there he formed his opinion of the whole district. That inspection was not sufficient for the purpose, and what he (Mr Maclean) aimed at was, to disabu»e his mind of the opinion that what he had seen at Matamata was a fair representation of the district throughout. Captain Runciman agreed that it was a Eity steps had not been taken to get Mr [aclvor to spend more of his time throughout other parts of the place. That, however, was the fault of the Club. They knew he was here—at all events, they knew he was in Auckland, and if they did not choose to take the trouble to invite him to come amongst them, the blame rested with the Club, and nobody else. Mr Walker said they could, if they had chosen to take the trouble, have secured the services of Mr Maclvor just in the same way as Mr Firth had done. Mr Fauthara said that all he could say was, that they had had a good man amongst them, and through their own laxity they had allowed him to Blip through their fingers without taking that advantage of his visit they should have done. Mr Firth took the bull by the horns and having done so surely they did not mean to blame him. On the contrary he considered Mr Firth was deserving of every praise. Not only did he show Mr Maclvor over his own place but he spent a considerable sum in horseflesh driving him round other parts of the district. He had been to his (Mr Fanthams) place and he knew other places he had gone to. He believed Mr Maclvor was quite willing to be shown over as much of their lands as possible, but if they did not choose to show him over the fault was their'a and no one else's. He could not see what good waa to be got by the letter proposed in the motion. '

The Chairman mentioned the fact that a meeting of committee bad been called to consider what steps should be taken by the Club in view of Mr Maclvor's visit. He had not attended that meeting, still he understood from what' had appeared in the newspapers that Mes-rs Whitaker and Graham who were in some way connected with Mr Maclvor's visit would consult with the Club on the subject. Mr Buttle explained that the meeting referred to by the Chairman had been convened but it lapsed for want of any attendance; he (Mr Buttle) being the only member who put in an appearance. Mr Clark stated that he had spoken to Messrs Whitaker and Graham on the subject and had ascertained that not withstanding what had been said in the newspapers, these gentlemen knew nothing about Mr Mclvor's movements. Eventually it was agreed that the letter should be framed expressing the thanks of the Club to Mr Mclvor for his lecture, expressing regret that he had not had an opportunity for making a more extended inspection of the district, and hoping that if his business engagements again brought him to this part of the colony he would pay the district a more lengthened visit.

Finance &c. Mr Clark tabled a motion to the effect' that the linancial affairs of the Club demanded immediate attention with the view either of extending its usefulness as a Farmer's Club or else winding it up altogether. The discussion of the motion was deferred for a special meeting to be held on the 26th inst., at 3 o'clock p.m. Explanations were made to the effect that a paper set down on the evening's programme, on foot-rot in sheep by Major Wilson was not forthcoming in cousequence of that gentleman having met with an accident, permission was given to have it read at n*»xt meeting. The names of Messrs J. Barugh, J. Barugh, jun., and M. Pickering of Wartle were down on the paper for election, but in consequence of their proposer (Mr Fergusson) being absent it was not gone on with.