THE DINNER

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2181, 8 July 1890, Page 3

THE DINNER

Fally «oventy eat down to an exoellent spread provided by Mr 1«\ Bastings at the White Horse H-itei. On the removal <i the oloth, the Oujiirman, Mr H .!\vits"n, said that they bad a.l had thoir dinner anl s-emed to be hap^y. Wuun ho g>t ha dinuer he felt full, and afttrrwarda figbfc, and nobody oould blimo them for ci joi (! g themselves at, a ploughing matoh dinner.

The customary toaßts of the Q.xaen, R >yal Family, feo , were then proposed by the Ouairmau, aad drnnk with tue asml honors.

The nexfc toast, "The Army, Navy, and Vuluutcers," wan coupled with the name of Lieut. Moore, who in response said that he dil not thiuk the volunteer movement waa fl .uriahlng bo well aa ie used to do. Toe movement would, he o>nsidered, at the prt-seat rate of retrogression, soon became a thing of the pant. C >untry orpj were decidedly not encouraged as they should be, and the waut of m-.ans of becoming well disciplined was very much against them.

"The Parliament of New Zialaud" was then druuk, being j/mposed by the Vie - ohairman, and duly respoudod to, in the absence of ai.y paßt", present, or prospective member, by a gentleman who has no ambition to j 'in that distinguished body.

"The Mercautile Interest" was coupled with the names of Mr W. Moore, and Mr Jaa. Reid, of Uamaru, Mr Reid only acknowledged the toast in a very fe.v words. Mr Moore aiid the intcre3t 3tood high in importance. They all depended upon it, and witbi ut it the worid wuuid soon collapse. The universal system of credit mude the welfare of all clasnua aud uracieß ouineofcad with the interest, and of the fanners themselves, of importance to each other. Mr AlHsoD proposed, "The Agricultural loterest," coupled with tho name of Mr Koburl Craig, president of the Waitahuna Fannys Club.

Mr Craig, in rnply, Baid he waa sorry the agricultural interest waa t-till laboring u.der a depression caused by low priors, and that there waa a gloomy outlook for the future. Ho could see no cure. The only h >pc he oomd ccc of impruviug tueir position was by making a Quango in tho system of workiug tiieir 1 -mis. There shouid be more mix^d fanning — Including stock fattening, gn.z':>!i. <.i;;.iryug, &o. But as the produce of !>ur f.'irnii vooid be f.^r beyond what we ou-a.!.vi>» oftjs-p.mo it whould be their aim to pte«ci'/'.' the balance if trade with the other onlHui\ 8. Improvements iv tho construction ot agricultural implements wore always a übup onwards, and as a visitor to the match ho waa well repaid by seeing tho good work done, and especially that performed by the dicing ploughs. Ho hoped tho owner of the paddock woul.l make public the effect fcbo oiffijrent styles ox ploughing had ou the crop. Those kind of experienca were always of benefit to agriculturists. Farmers' clubs existed for tnauy purposes, bat their highest uses were not to get up ploughing matches and shows — those things should be on I}' secondary. They should hold periodical moetings and comp-iro experiences, in fact constitute tbemseiveg Mutual Improvement Societie?. He was afraid the Toko. Club was rather apathetic in regard to nutters of wide interest. Ho was sorry to noiioe that the New Zdaland Farmers' Union was nut adequately supported by tho clubs. The Executive was nob in oonsf-queDce able to cvrry out the functions of auch an importaut body. If the farmers would hoootno really united thero waa not the Bhadow of a doubt but that they would be great gainers politically, commercially, and sooially. As they were almost on the eve ot a general election, they should make up their minda to return members whose interests were identical with theirs. Mr Craig concluded by proposing " Tue Tokomairiro Farmers' Club," coupled with the name of the President,

Mr W. Hewitaon, tho Presideot, in response, said the Tokomairiro Club was not over well supported by the farmers of the district, but did the best they could under 4he oiroumatancee, and were quite prepared to attempt moro if encouraged to do so. Ho eaid it was nil very well to talk abont a ch'iuge in the mothods of working their I&uci, but while the colony as a whole was 80 burdoned with taxation it was hopel< bs for any class to expeot to flourish, Retnova taxation, which debarred foreign capital from fl <wing in, and the good tff ot would Booa be felt by all elates, He c included by expressing gratification with tho hearty man»er in which the toaat had been

recei ved

Tha toaafa of '■ Kiudred SocietSos " was also responded toby Mr Oaij, and " Tuo JuiijHa" by Mr A<l»m M '(Jurkintlale.

•'The Succosslul C 'Qipetiiots" tvaa next ci the list;, mid as tho hour waß then jrrow in,; lus no further toasta were indulged in, ami ihvi diittr<buoion of piiza inform-illy took pl.ioo, after whioh tbo prooeudiaga olosrtd.