WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3106, 11 June 1892, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tub annual meeting <>f the above Club was lield at the close of the ordinary meeting on Monday last, the same members being present.

RrcrOßT. — The report for the past year was as follows : — Your committee iiave much pleasure in presenting their annual report of the proceedings of the Club during its third year, ending June 30th. The finance of the Club is still in a healthy state; as you will see by the balance-sheet to be presented this evening we have still a credit balance to report. There are at present 143 members on the roll, of whom two are honorary members. Your committee would call attention to the fact that a number of subscriptions remain unpaid, and would urge upon members the desirableness of punctual payment, thereby saving the committee and secretary considerable expense to the Club. During the year a most successful stallion parade and horse show was held under the auspices of the Club ; the balance-sheet of recoipts and expenditure connected therewith has already besn laid before you. During the year the Club has endeavoured *o secure better truck accommodation tor the conveyances of fat cattle to tho Auckland market, and, we are pleased to report, a considerable improvement in that direction has been made. The Club has also upon the Railway Commissioners the desirableness of reducing the high rate of freight charged upon sheep sent by rail, hub, up to the present, it has not been successful in obtaining a reduction. When the Railway Commissioner* visited Cambridge the committee interviewed them re tho freights upon lime, manure, etc., and also asked that better yard accommodation should bs provided at the Cambridge railway station for the loading of cattle, sheep, 1 etc. The latter request has been complied ! with. Mr Henry Reynolds (of the firm Reynolds anil Co.), visited the Club last spring, and imparted much useful and interesting information re the Home markets for New Zealand produce that should prove of inestimable value to the members. Daring the year, papers on various subjects have been rend before the Club by the following gentlemen :—Mr H. R. Hyatt, on "Experiments made by himself, and the result of comparing statistical forms from various fanners ; "' The Chairman (Mr John Fisher), on "Horse Breeding;" and the late Major John Wilson, on "Foot-rot in Sheep." These papers and the discussions that ensued elicited much valuable information. The secretary will submit a return of the receipts and expenditure for the past yoar, together with a statement of the present assets and liabilities of the Club. — Signed on behalf of the committee, Joh\ Fishkk, (Chairman.)— The balance-sheet was then submitted. It showed a credit balance of £10 15* 10d, but there are a few outstanding liabilities. Tho balance sheet and report were approved and adopted.— Mr H. Buttle congratulated the Club upon the state of its finances, also upon the good work done during the past year. There was, however, one matter that he thought would be of benefit to the Club, viz., if the outgoing chairman at the end of'his term of office gave a resume of the work dono during his year, a plan generally adopted by Chambers' of Commerce and much appreciated by the members. —Mr R. Reynolds paid the only black spot upon the books was the list of arrears.—The Chairman said most of tho trouble arose through members not paying their subscriptions till the end of th 3 financial year—which with the Club is in June—and some let it go even beyond that time and then, of course, it must appear ae arrears on the books, and some members felt indignant that they appeared in arrears for such a paltry sum as ss. The insignificance of the yearly subscription caused it to be overlooked, but ho trusted the members would pay up promptly and save the extra trouble caused by arrears. —Mr Forrest congratulated the Club upon having become a year older and also upon its having gained strength during tho past twelve months. Ofmckks m>l! Knsuing Ybab.— Chairman . On the motion of Mr Forrest, seconded by Mr Clark, Mr John Fisher was unanimously re-elected chairman. This motion was supported by Messrs Wells, Buttle and Gane, all of whom spoke in eugolistic terms of the manner in which Mr Fisher had conducted the business, and tha great interest he manifested in ihe Club. —Mr Fisher said they all knew that he objected to officers being re-elected, and indeed it wac very reluctantly that he consented to be re-elected, but as it appeared to be the unanimous wish of tho Club he would do the best he could for them for another year. (Applause.) Vice-Chairman: Mr R. Reynolds moved thilt MrJiu. Forrest be elected to the vice-chair. He was a gentleman who took great interest in the proceedings •f the Club and was a vigorous canvasser.-— The Chairman seconded the motion, and it was unanimously agreed to.—Mr Forrest briefly returned thanks for the honour paid him.—Committee: The following gentlemen were app jinted upon the committee : — Messrs R. Reynolds, S. Seddon, Thornton Walker, W. Scott and H. Buttle.—Secretary and Treasurer: Mr Martin Butler was re-elected.—Auditors : Messrs Bond and Hartly also re-elected. Nonce of Motion.—Tho following notices of motion were given for next meeting of the Club:—By Mr Forrest: That the Club discuss the report of the late conference held at Christchurch, and if thought necessary, take steps to counteract some of tho suggestions made at that conference. He was sorry to say the conference appeared to him to hava been a political meeting ; composed chiefly of runholders, for they talked of taking tha tax off sheep and putting it on threshing machines.—By the Chairman: That members in arrears be asked, by circular, if they wish to continue members of the Club.—By Mr Clark : That ho will ask as to tho best method of dealing with the cotton moth.—By Mr Forrest- : That the secretary obtain all information re the taking up land by special association. He said shoemakers, tinkers, and "all sorts and conditions of men " were making application for land ; he thought there should be a "Board of Reviewers" to find out if the applicants were capable of making a living on the land, or if thoy only wanted to get reads made and then sell out at a premium. Votes of thanks to the retiring ofheers terminated the meeting.