FARMERS' CLUB.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1582, 2 December 1867, Page 2

FARMERS' CLUB.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Farmers' Club was held on Saturday afternoort at four o'clock, in the Market-hull. Mr W. Wilson was called to ihe cliHir ; nnd on the platform in the hall were

Mt-Bsrs Gcigg, Roundtree, Phillpot, Sheppard,

Pre-tton, Recce, Wylde, Tisch, Turton, Ward, Htakine, Kerr, St. Quentin, Crinser, Searall and many others.

The Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting. ' The meeting was no doubt aware that two preliminary meetings bad been held, and a committee appointed to draw up rules, &c, which they had done, and which would be submitted at the present meeting. They were aware that the farmers were now often at a loss to obtain reliable information on matters relating to their own particular calling and interest, and it would be one of the objects of the society to hold meetings at certain times and to disperse such information. Most other classes had their clubs, and he could see no reason why the farmers should not have theirs. It was true that there was

the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, but that was not enough, as it had failed to embrace all the interests of a farmer.

The Secretary pro tern t Mr E. D. Bust, then read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were confirmed.

A letter was read from Mr Gk Gould, declining to act as vice-president of the society on the ground that his time was already fully occupied.

A letter was read from Mr W. E. Tosswill, stating that he would act on the committee, and stating that his absence bad been caused by an accident.

A letter was read from Mr E- B. Bishop, stating what had been done on a former occasion towards the establishment of a club, and the reasons which he considered had led to its failure. They bad now the Northern as well as the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and he thought that it would be better instead of forming a club in Ohristchurch to establishdistrict clubs, which should elect members to represent them at the meetings of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

A letter was read from Mr Grigg, declining to take office ac president of the society. Hie sympathies were altogether with the club, but he had not the time to devote to the purpose He hoped that the club might coon be united with' the Agricultural Association,. as they would thereby attain an amount of usefulness pot to'be arrived at by Vdivided'elbpt in so ■email & commM&r ! The following propqged;rijleß were then read jby Mr Bust :— ' '

i "1. Thafc the i club, be, called thedCanterbury Farmers' Ciub. , M 2. That t he'object df fche cltib shall be to encourage, legitimate moans, the advancement "of agricultural,' stock-breeding and grazing pursuits ; to ;: encourage the delivery of suitable lectures and debates on Bucb. of the leading features of British, Continental, American and Colonial farming as are applicable to the climate and soils of New Zealand, and calculated ! to increase the productiveness of the country j to aeaist in establishing similar clubs in outlying district*, and to encourage such .district clubs to unite in obtaining in their . respective localities statistical and other information, to be compiled by the secretary to this club for the benefit of fche provittee; also when any subject arises which is likely to materially atfect the farming interest it- is proposed that this -ehib shall immediately correspond., with the district dubs, and if desirable a general meeting of the dab,will be £onvene&;to be open to all the members of each of suoh, district clubs. , "3. That the club shall cSueist of president, vice-president, treasurer, \ and secretary, honorary memberaatjd ordinary members. '" 4. That the subscription shall be for honorary ■'. membersi- , one' guinea per annum, payable in advance ; and for ordinary memmembers ten shillings per annum, payable by quarterly instalments, also in advance. "5. The president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary,- and a. managing committee shall be elected ; annuallj .at. a r genfiral meeting of members, duly convened by advertisement in one or more of the local papers, at which election no member shall hare more than one vote.

"6. A committee of twelve mombora ehall be elected for mtnngir.g tho details connonterf with tho working of the olub, tliu prwM.l on t viTO-nn-sHont, tivasur«r und w.-rc: 'Vγ ),, C e.r qfflclo im-mbei-* of such ooinmiueo, of whom li™ slmll f.ir-n a quorum. "7. I hut suitible, rooms m:iy bo t,il<on hv the. committee for tho purpose of holdinr tl, meetings of tho club and iho transaction Z other business, to bo open to tho menihers I m library mid reading-room between the ho of eleven a.m. and four p.m. dnilv ..»,,! Sundays nnd public holidiiys. pt "8 Meetings of the club shall ho held on the first L< ndny in euch month for the p lrn of hearing lectures, ruling papers, or dehiin" .in subjects iiir«otiTig tho producing interna f this iMlaiid ; tho nature of the lecture p ', ln or subject of debate, and other bminL ?' be transacted at such monthly gathering shall bo made known by advertisement in or more of the local papers ton days nrior 7 each meeting. Ft 0

»9. Members of similar olub* formed in outlying districts ahull he entitled to attend of the lectures, publio readings or debates'" this club • ol " 10. That as fast as the funds pf the rI.,K will admit of, the committee shall be enincm erod to provide sush books, pamphlets, perm" dicale and papers as they may deem likely tn become serviceable to the club ; if practical] the British and Colonial Stud and Herd boot' to be included in the library. "11 That any member may introduce a friend to the use of the reading-room and library for the space of one month, on entcrin the name of such visitor, with date of' glu | introduction, and signing a book to be kent for that purpose ™ " 12. Any member or visitor removing or defacing any book, pamphlet, periodien] 0 » paper belonging to tho club shall be liable to such fine or expulsion as tho committee uiav choose to inflict. ' " 13. A book shall be -kept in the rooms of the olub for the use of any member wishing to make a request or remark. *" " 14. That if any member desires to tnifo any alterations in, or additions to, tho rafe or regulations of tho club, he ehall give notice thereof in writing to the secretary fourteen days previous to the then next monthly meeting. ' ' " 15. That tho secretary be empowered to open and (as far as practicable) maintain correspondence with kindred clubs in Britain the Continent of Europe, America, the Au»! tralinn Colonies, and neighbouring provinces of New Zealand, interchanging information oil overy new or leading sabjeot connectod with the agricultural and pastoral interests. " 16. At all ordinary or special cf the club (except tho annual meeting for el«c« tion of officers) the president, if preeont, ehall occupy the chair ; or in tho absence of the president, the vice-president ehall preside, but in the absence of both a chairman for tho occasion shall be elected by a majority of tho members then present. "17. Retiring-officers and committee-men' shall be eligible for re-olection, and at all such annual elections a chairman shall bo ohosea from amongst the members present on tho occasion, voting to; be by a show of hands the chairman to have the assistance of two tellers ; but in case of tho voting appearing equal or any doubt arising, a majority of tho members present may call upon the chairmen either to give a casting vote or demand that each member present shall rogistor his voto with the secretary in presence of tho chairman or teller. " 18. In case of the death, removal, or resignation of any officer of the club, or member of committee, the vacancy co created ehall be temporarily filled up by the committee, subject to the approval of the members present at the next monthly meeting. "19. That, except at the first general election of officers and committee, no member shall be entitled to rote unless he has paid his subscription for the then current quarter. " 20. The secretary shall register the names of members attending each meeting of the club, and keep correot minutes of all tiaasactions connected with the club; and shall receive all moneys from the members, and pay the same over to the treasurer, taking the treasurer's receipt for the money co paid" " 21. That the treasurer ehall reoeiyo ail moneys from the secretary,, and pay the same into the Bank of New Zealand-to the credit ol the olub, and shall produce the bank and other books and papers when called ifor by the committee, and shall make all disbursements

by cheque, to be signed also by the chairman of committee, and countersigned by the secretary.

" 22. The committee shall examine and paas all accounts prior to payment, and no account shall be paid without being presented to, and passed by, the committee, and being certified as correct by the chairman ofoommittee during a sitting thereof.

" 23. That two auditors shall be appointed at the monthly meeting next preceding the general annual meeting. "24. A general report and audited balancesheet of receipts and payments shall bo made, and kid, duly audited, before the members of th« club at each annual genorai meetin». "25. If any member or visitor should bo misconduct himself iia to interfere with the proper working of the club, or unnecessarily to disturb any of its meetings, the president, vice-president, or chairman for the timo Being shall be empowered to cause the removal of such refractory member or visitor; and if the person so offending does nptj' prior to the com« mencement of business at the next meeting of tiie club, apologize to the satisfaction of the majority of those present at the time of the disturbance, then the meeting may order the nume of such member to be expunged frpra t,ie r ?'l and whether a member or visitor he shall be excluded from the rooms or moetiuga of the club.

"26. The committee shall have power to frame by-laws for their own guidauee in debirtd or otherwise, which shall be sanctioned &t the next monthly meeting of the club ; but in the absence of special , by-la we to guide She meetings of members the president, vice , president, or chairman for the time feßg sliall (as far as practicable) act in accordance with the usages of Parliament, or other public, bodies, and the chairman's decision shall ba ; final."

Mr Wylde, bofore the rules wore confirmed, wished to state that he had received a

letter asking him to become a member of tho committee, which he hod declined ddirig bocause he did .not know what tjiii i rules of the club were likely to. be.— The Chairman »t*ted that only a provisional committee had as yet been formed. Tb<9 working committee .would bo elected that aftet ,, noon. . ... . ; ;/ • *

The rules as read were ittten put to the meeting and adopted. , , ; Mr' Sheppard proposed that Mr Delamain be requested to act as president of the club. Mr Tisch seconded the' proposition. Mr Grigg, before the meeting proceeded any further, wished to make a few remarks. It had been stated that the Agricultural »nd Pastoral Association did not fully represent the farmer's interest; but he wished them to consider whether what they were now doing would not come in conflict withit. He could not see why_the club and association could.not be amalgamated, and a united effort made. lie was fully convinced that in carrying out their present objects they mu.tt, although their intentions might be entirely different;, come info conflict with the association. With a view of testing the feeling of the meeting ho would move—"That this meeting, recognising tin*, importance of united action in tho formation of tho Agricultural Association, resolves that the committee appointed confer with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, with a view to the amalgamation of tho two eluba, and shall report at the next meeting." Mr St. Quentin said that the motion coa'fl not be put, as it had already been decided that the club should be formed.

The Chairman ruled that the motion wa? out of order; it might be brought forward afc a subsequent period, when the committee bad been appointed.

Mr i)uluinain was elected president. Mr Tistth proposed Mr W. Kennaway M vice-president. Mr Wyldfl. thought that the present was the time to settle whether it would be better to form a fresh club, or to amalgamate with foe

and. Pastoral Association. He Ar nuite in favour of what Mr Grigg had <md that the proposals oftFe club came 'ta&thfethe scope of that society. If Vnifffini? wore allowed to goon electing « we and it was decided the proposed club S necessary, there would be the difficulty Threakine it «P againMrJ> Bicharda said that he hoped the f-fLtioaof the club woull bo at once proved iith. He had been a member of the <*t c ] u t, and knew that it had broken down «h being neglected. Mr ; St. Quentm said that the club wa« i^dv i n existence, and all they had then <to was to pi*oc w l^e appointment % officers. With regard to the question of aieamating with the Agricultural an I lateral Association, a committee should be X * dinted t0 inquire into the matter. The a^ c i 9 tion, for aught they know, might refme to'eebWfe its sphere of action. Mr W. Kennaway said that they must proa or at once pass a resolution declaring Sit the dub had no existence. Sfr Wylde stated that he did not wish what , jj fl( j B aicl to be conetrued into opposition to Mr'Preaton could not see why the two clubs wjuld not work together for the good of the munity- jt was the duty of the associates to aak the fanner to amalgamate, not the Lmerto ask the association. After some further discussion, the Chairetated that he thought it better that the ting should be allowed to proceed ; a committee could afterwards be appointed to confer with the association. j Mr Walter Kennaway was then elected vicefollowing officers were then elected : — Treasurer, Mr W. Wilson ; secretary, Mr E. T) Bnst • committee, Messrs. J. Smith, J. plrin p. Tisch, P. Kerr, E. Sheppard, E. SS'J- W - Phill P°*> J - Hill > J - W ? lde ' G - Duncan and J. Moffat. Mr Bichirde moved —" That this club has nothing to do with wool interests." There being no seconder, the motion fell to the ground. The Chairman said that he thought Mr Grieg's resolution could now be brought forward? It was merely appointing a committee from the club to wait upon the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The" motion was put and carried. After passing a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated.