TOKOMAIRO FARMERS' CLUB.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1062, 28 January 1879, Page 6

TOKOMAIRO FARMERS' CLUB.

A meeting of the Tokomairiro FarmersClub was held on Friday evening at the office of Mr J. A. Duthie, Milton. . There was present ■': Messrs J. Inglis (chairman), Lindsay, Tweedie, M'Donald, Parker, J. A. Duthie, Fraser,- and, Gordon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read ahd confirmed. , j TEIAL OF EEAPEES AND BINDERS. Feveral letters were received from the agents' for different reaper and binder machines, expressing the willingness of their owners to compete at the forthcoming trial to be held in Tokomairiro. On the motion of Mr Gordon, it was resolved — ,' That Messrs Parker, Lindsay, and the President be a committee to select a paddock for the trial, and fix the date thereof, and make all necessary arrangements in connection therewith." ACCOUNTS. The Secretary laid on the table a statement of accounts amounting in the aggregate to £12 18 6d. On the motion of Mr Lindsay, the accounts were passed for payment. MIDDLE ISLASTP PASTOBAL ASSOCIATION. The next business before the meeting wes the reception of a report from the delegates appointed by the Club to attend the general meeting of the National Association held at Oamaru. The gentleman first called upon was Mr J. M. Perrier, one of the delegates, who said — I do not know that there is a great deal to report, since most of what transpired at the meeting held in Oamaru has already appeared in the newspapers. I may, however, first state what was done. | In the first place, Mr Parker and myself —-the third member appointed not being able to attend — took the liberty of appointing one in" his absence (Mr George Capstick), in order to have the same voting power as the other clubs. Country associations were largely represented there; in fact they oocupied as good a position as to debating and voting power, sis the Associations of Dunedin, Christcliurch, and Southland. The principal question came up fpr discussion in the form Mr Parker and myself anticipated it would. Although at first it was said there was no intention to confine the shows to particular places; still, in the programme, as prepared by the Dunedin Association there was an evident intention to limit them to the four principal centres, namely, Christchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru, and, if necessary, Invercarcargill.. I may say that I found early — and I think that Mr Parker also foundthat there was no intention of that kind on the parb of the Oamaru people, whose programme Scarcely affirmed any such principle ; and from the minute we expressed our opinions on thesubject, we wore followed by the representatives of a number of country clubs — one gentleman, Mr Bohun, I think, taking up exactly the same line. The result was that the selection of places at which to hold, . .shows in connection with the Association, was left a purely open and the Conference confined itself to affirming the desirability of establishing a National, Association for the Middle Island : the question of an Association for the whole colony not being entered; into in view of, geographical considerations that must interfere with anything of that kind at present. Then a series of resolutions were passed. It was at first proposed there should 500 members. But your representatives pointed put that if, the memberships were fixed at SQO, and that, number was not attained, ,]he > Sflciety> i wonld fail through j so a com.promise was eventually arrived at, and a smaller number fixed. The final result was

that the desirability of forming the Association; was affirmed, a ; certain : num« ber of members of a provisional Committee were appointed, and it vvas left to the Council to decide y where the shows should be held. This latter question, however, X may mention, cropped up again, and it was proposed that members of the Council witbin the different districts of Ohristchnrcb f> , Otago, and Southland should be the local bodies to superintend the general arrangements. A .stand waß was then made by the members ofthe country districts, and: the proposition car. ried was that the members of the Council in the different country districts should be members of the local bodies in questionthat is to say, they were placed in a posi**-, tion to settle their own business, and exercise equal weight in determining the most important questions .in relation to the operations of the society. It was then resolved— -" That the first meeting of the Association should be held in Christchurch, after the Ram Pair, in March next." It was agreed that three members from the district would attend ; and as I understand there will be no difficulty about the attendance of the delegates — who were then present as representatives of this district, > personally, I shall be able to attend, and the I Tokomairiro Club will have equal voting power at the meeting with the other clubs represented. It will be gathered from what I have said, that your representatives have been successful in carrying their views. Ido not say that such was the case, because they happened to be our views ; but they happened to be in accord with the views of the majority present. Mr Parker said — Mr Perrier has given such a satisfactory account of what was done at the meeting, that I need only endorse all he has said. One matter I may mention, which is this : At the time a member for Southland moved, that the members of the Council should be from Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Southland * Mr Perrier moved, as an amendment, that the Council should be formed of the members embraced by any kindred association throuhout the country districts. Mr Perrier said he had the pleasure of speaking to the Hon. Matthew Holmes ; for a few minutes at the Waihola Station, and he seemed to ooncide with what had been done at the meeting. Both the Hon. Mr Holmes and the Hon. John Hall were men who carried great influence as they both lived by pastoral pursuits, and had established a reputation in that direction throughout the country. Another thing that might be mentioned was that it had been agreed to have the head, quarters of the Association at Christchurch for the present. This was thought reasonable enough, as at present there was an organisation there, which would enable the j clei*ical work to be efficiently performed ; j and also, Christchurch had, no doubt, taken the lead at present in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. To have raised an objection under these circumstances would have been impolite, as it might have borne the construction of local jealousy. Mr Parker said the first meeting would be the most important one. One satisfactory feature in the meeting of delegates was that the chief landed proprietors in the Middle Island were present, and the movement promised to be a great success. There was also a promise from the Hon. Mr Holmes, to move Parliament next session for a bonus of £500. Mr Perrier had no doubt that the sum would be granted It was customary in Victoria to igrant such a bonus, one advantage of which would be that the country districts would be placed in a position of greaaer equality, inasmuch as the greater the contributions to the associations, the less would be required from the individual districts to which it was decided to hold the shows in regular order. Mr Lindsay thought the Club had every reason to be satisfied with the manner in which their representatives had fulfilled the trust reposed in them. He moved — "That the Club record a hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Parker, Perrier, and Capstick, delegates representing the Tokomairiro Farmer's Club, for their services at the conference of delegates, held at Oamaru. The Chairman — I do not think it can be doubted that we sent the right men in the right place. Mr Gordon mentioned that he had heard some settlers, who were passing through to tha Southland show, pass some very flattering remarks on the action of the Tokomairiro delegates, and praising them greatly for their support of Mr Perrier's amendment. Mr Fraser seconded the vote of thanks. The motion was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr Parker suggested that the Secretary should be requested to get as many members as possible from the district to join the National Association. Mr Perrier agreed with the suggestion, adding another, that although Mr Gordon (the Secretary) could not enroll members, yet he could do a good deal in the way of preparing the way. Mr Lindsay advocated the idea of having the district well represented pn the Association's roll, as it would increase their influence ; and as the subscription would not be large, the money would not be lost, even if they were to pay for 10 years before a show was held in the district. Mr Fraser said the question was — • Whether they would ever have the show here?— that was, in fact, whither it would be possible to compete with the larger centres of population, who could offer more money. Mr Perrier pointed out that there would*'be rib. fear of bribery in the matter. Provision would he made ,, to render it impossible, as a given sum would be fixed for contribution by the chosen districts,

over and above Jhe amount subscribed from otlier sources to the Association. And with respect to Dunedin, • hepointed out that there were- many who would contribute in that city towards a show to be held in Tokomairiro, in consideration of their interest in the district from acommercial aspect. He would not say Tokomairiro particularly-;" the Taieri would also be suitable — he spake in the interests of the country districts. After some furtner discussion, in which Mr Parker added a few additional remarks of an encourageing nature as to the probable success of the movement from the view ofthe country districts generally. The proceedings then terminated.