Tokomairiro Farmers' Club

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 890, 20 March 1877, Page 7

Tokomairiro Farmers' Club

A meeting of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club xvas held in the office of the Secretary last Friday. Present — Mr James Duthie (in the chair) and Messrs Scott, Gordon, Inglis, Paton, Fraser, Salmond and Porter. MINUTES. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS. The folloxving accounts were presented and passed for payment: — Secretary, £3 12s j A., Parlane, two days' labor, 16s. RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY. The following letter xvas read : — Milton, Feb. 23. To the Committee Tokomairiro Farmers' Club. Gentlemen, — It is my desire to resign my secretaryship of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, and I beg to give you notice to that effect. My business engagements prevent me giving my duties as secretary as much time as I would wish to allot them. I am, yours, &c, J. A. Henderson. On the motion of Mr Fraser, seconded by Mr Gordon, it was agreed that the resignation should be accepted. Mr Scott said that he must express his sorrow that Mr Henderson had seen fit to resign. When he (Mr Scott) was president of the Club he had found him very diligent in attending to his duties. It had been very convenient since Mr Henderson was secretary to call at his office on any business connected with the Club. He was all the more sorry that their secretary had seen fit to resign, because they would find it a very difficult matter to replace him. He would move that a hearty vote of thanks should be given to Mr Henderson for his past services ; also, that tbe President and Vice-President should be appointed to take over the books, and to see tbat tbey were put in a proper place. There had been a great difficulty every time tbey had had a change of secretary- a number of papers had been missing, and those who were appointed to look after them should be very careful in seeing that they were put in a proper place. The motion, which was seconded by Mr Paton, was carried unanimously. - The Chairman said the next business would be the appointment of a secretary. Mr Fraser moved that Mr J. C. Gordon should be appointed. Tbe Secretary said tbat in thanking tbem for tbeir expression of regret, he might state that ; he had contemplated resigning . for . a considerable time, and that as there' would be little for a secretary to do fpr twelve montbi,

he did not think it would be .found necessary to appoint a new one in his place for a considerable time. Mr Scott would object to the Secretary being Treasurer also. Mr Gordon had had, a little experience of the inconvenience of the two offices not being combined. It was a mere farce to have a treasurer when his duties merely consisted of getting the money from the secretary who collected it, and then placing ( fc it in the bank. If the Club paid all monies by cheque, signed by the President and Vice President,; he thought that was all , that was required to satisfy the Club. Indeed if the two offices were not made into one he would resign his position as Treasurer, having had quite enough of it. Mr Fraser proposed that Mr J Inglis be appointed to act as Secretary until the month of August, when the aunual meeting would take place. Mr Gordon seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. SPECIAL PRIZE. It was decided on the motion of Mr Paton, seconded by Mr Gordon,— " That a silver medal be awarded as a special prize to Mr M'Donald, of Milton, for assortment of agricultural implements exhibited by him at last Shoxv." " UNPAID ENTRY MONET. Mr Gordon thought that something should be done with regard to the entry money which Mr Millar had left unpaid. It was due since the Show of 1875, and the Club should either mark it out of the books or see that it was paid. Another matter to xvhich he xvould like to refer xvas the ploughman's champion belt. Several members of the Club seemed to thiuk it should be done axvay xvith altogether. There seemed to have been some neglect in not inscribiug the names of the different winners. As no one seemed to knoxv on what condition it was given, it had not as yet finally fallen into any persons hands. Mr Paton, who bad won it three times, says that as it would cost about £5 to put it to rights, be thought tbat tbat amount of money would be far better spent if given in prizes next Show. He (Mr Gordon) might also inform them that Mr Paton had presented his medal to the Club. Mr Paton said that the Committee pitched the belt to the wiuner in the same xvay as a bone xvould be pitched to a dog. There xvere no conditions as to how the belt should be kept. It might be worn by the winner all the year round. It required two or three clasps already, and would not even make a decent bit of horse harness. It xvas resolved that the Secretary should write to Mr Millar, requesting payment of the entry money. It was agreed that the President and VicePresident should ascertain by next meeting on what conditiqns the champion belt xvas given. The meeting then adjourned.