Annual Meeting.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1463, 17 November 1881, Page 3

Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the above club was held in Mr Kirkwoods new hotel, Cambridge, on Monday evening, the 14th inst, at 2.30. There were present Messrs J. Fisher, Vice-President (in the chair), E. B. Walker, T. Wells, F. Hicks, H. Buttle, K. Reynolds, Clarke, Brookes, and Captain Runciman. — The secretary submitted the balance-sheet for the expiring year which showed the total indebtedness of the club to be £83 3s. This included the liability for cups won at the last show, and which were not as yet paid, though frequently applied for. Mr Wells handed in a subscription of £2 2a from Mr J. B. Whyte. Mr Clarke, speaking in reference to the club's indebtedness to Mr Fergusson for cups, said he had spoken to that gentleman when in Auckland, and he, (Mr Fergusson), was willing to accept £20, and give the remaining £5 5s to the club. —Mr Wells maintained that if they intended to uphold the reputation of the club all liabilities as to cups or anything else must be paid off at once. — Mr Clarke informed the meeting that he had received instructions from Mr Maclean to purchase a cup for Mr Fantham, which was won at the last Cambridge Cattle Show.— Capt. Runciman, speaking as regards the cup won by Mr J. Allwill for his foal, thought that the club were entitled to to see that he got it, even should Mr Fergusson, who had promised the prize, have a misgiving regarding the condition upon which it was offered. — Mr Walker had seen Mr Fergusson in reference to the cup promised by him, but he maintained that it was offered on condition that there should be thiee entries or no competition. However, he had said that if the club could show that there was an understanding entered into that the cup was to be given if only two entered, it was quite ready for them any time they asked for it. — Captain Runciman moved, "That this club is of opinion that Mr Fergusson waived his restriction of ' three competitors or no prize ' to ' two competitors or no prize,' and in view of that, Mr Fergusson be applied to for the cup." — Carried unanimously. Captain Runciman spoke at some length on the constitution of the club. He thought it urgently necessary that it should be altered, and the future working of the institution immediately considered. It would be a disgrace to them to allow the affair to go down. It was for the meeting therefore to consider how often they should meet, and what should be their combined object, or should they cease to exist as a body altogether. — Mr Clarke informed the meeting, that at the last meeting of the club the question whether they were to exist or break up was fully gone into, and it was decided that the institution should remain intact. — Mr Wella commented sttongly on the apathy of the majority of the members of the club in not coming forward to assist the more energetic members in carrying out the objects for which they as a body existed. They anogated to themseh es the honor of being the representatives of the agricultural interest in the district, but did not tnke advantage of that position. If lesfiona on farming and growing crops, and this was one of their boasted principles, were to make them prosperous the sooner they started into vigorous action the better ; sleeping on their oars would not bring about the desideratum. The working expenses of the club had now been reduced to a mere moiety. If they were to do gnod at all they should a«nume a fatherly charge of the whole of the agricultural interests of the place, and if the fostering of nuch interests was their exciting object why should they exempt from their duties an a club the promotion of shows and ploughing matches in the district, — Mr Clarke thou -ht that tho veiy fact of the members stopping away from the meetings was indicative of the good the club had done in the paHt A large number of original and beneficial essays had been read at the meetings of the club {in the past, and now the members were stopping at home to practice and carry out the dootrinea then incalculated . This he thought was a satisfactory sign. He thought the club should have nothing to do with show? in future. — Mr Walker suggested that instead of having a Cambridge show annually, there should be a Waikato show, which could be held year about at each of the three Waikato centres :—: — Cambridge, Hamilton and Te Awamutu, — Mr Wells thought that a Farmers' Clnb was the proper and only institution to conduct cattle bhows. They had only to appeal to tho public and they would then hee that their call would willingly be responded to The following subscriptions werehanded in by way of liquidating the present liability of the club : — Messrs Walker and Benn, £10 ; Messrs Clark and Gane, £5 ; Mr Hicks, £5 ; Mr R. Reynolds, £2 10s ; Captain Runciman, £2 2s ; and Mr J. Fisher, £2.— Mr Wells then handed in his resignation to the club, stating that on application lie would be happy to contribute his share of the liabilities.

Election of Officers. On the motion of Captain Runciman, it was resolved to ask Mr J. C. Firth to be president of the club. Senior vicepresident : At the request of the members present Mr Fisher agreed to fill this office for another tei m. Junior vice-president : Mr Henry Buttle was unanimously elected to this office. Messrs E. B. Walker, R. Reynolds, F. Hicks, and E. Maclean were appointed a committee for the ensiling year, with Mr Clark treasurer. Mr W. Scott agreed to accept the office of lion, secretary. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Scott for the services rendered the club during his term of office, and for his generosity in accepting the office for the ensuing year, gratis. A day having been appointed for the next meeting, the proceedings terminated.