AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2727, 27 January 1872, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of thlra*** ciation was held yesterday at White's Hok* Previous to the general meeting, the cobj mittee met. Present—Messrs G. #?<¥* (chairman), A Duncan, W.Norman, Fantasy E. Mitchell, Henderson, Shand, WW, Washbourn, J. Qebbie, Sheppaid (hoa treasurer), Ford (hon. sec.) , J The minutes of last meeting were read ■» confirmed. ,^j Several accounts were passed and oraew to be paid. „ M \> A letter was read from Mr George GoW . resigning his position as President or association, so that the members m, S"j' t the annual meeting, appoint the pn*w as well as the other officers of the , "a letter was read from Mr Wilson, rdfttijj to the awarding of the prize to Class 33, and staging that he felt ft*m decision of the judges having been givu». him, the committee had no power tow. , _ such decision, the rules stating that pr* * , ~, should be made within a certain times , , t the awarding of the prize, ' < test was not made until abojit .PnomojJ ~ . afterwards ; he therefore hddjtbj* JJJI* : '. cision of the committee was am. , therefore asked for a reconsideration Of w, ; _, decision of the committee. v J

jjtxx some discussion, Mr Fastham moved —"That the secretary write to Mr Wilson, and inform him that the matter was disposed of at the meet j D .r of committee, and could not be re- ° jut Henderson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Sechetary reported that he had accepted the teuuf-r of Mr John Wilson, for rutting the gorse fences at Is 6d per chain. The action cf th« secretary in the matter approved by the committee. The report of the committee appointed to consider the prof** lodged by Mr Page Lord of Lorn, was read as follows :■ — •' Messrs Mitchell. Wilkin, Boasr. Fanthr.m, ri J T Ford, appointed .".s a si' i !ec* committee to hear evid-n<*" hi tho matter of Mr Pace's protest against the hill Lord of Lorn, tat Mr MitchslVs oilice at neon ou Saturday the fith Hist?r.t. "•Mr Mitch-'!' was elected to the chair, and tne ' following evidence was brought forMr Doojrlas Graham, on being called, handed in <i Te-rtcrfrom Wm. Ward, formerly chanre cf cattle at Home Bush, stating +- 1 t the an : trial in question was calved at Home Bush in July, 1869, and was three montY old when branded with the other caWes in October following "Mr James M'Hraith also produced evince confirmatory of this statement. The had therefore no alternative but to ~\ t their evidence in preference to Mr Will's professional opinion, which only to afiinn that, judging by his teeth, thVbnll should be two years and six months , old, and have decided that Mr Page's protest ?bi£med) Edwd. Mitchell, (oi fe " Chairman." "Jlv A. DUSCAN moved—-" That the report be received and adopted." Mr Henderson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The annual report for presentation to the annual meeting was read and received. It waT resolved—" That the Treasurer be instructed to get the instalments paid on Recount of the mortgage on the association s ground endorsed on the deed, and the endoraement .registered m the Deeds' Registry Office." The meeting then resolved itself into a general meeting, Mr Gould in the chair. The annual report as follows, was read and adopted.— v chrigtchurcbi 26th Jan., 1872. »The committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association beg to present to the members the following report of their proceedings for the yew just ended:— "The annual show, which came oft as usual, on the Prince of Wales' birthday, proved, the committee are pleased to state, the best attended and most successful ever vet held. ■'The entries reached to 596 in number, that is 80 in excess of last year. "A full and excellent description in the show was reported in the Lyttelton Times and Fress newspapers of the 10th and 11th November, which was no doubt read with interest by the members of this association and the general public. " The treasurer's account will also be laid before you. It will be observed that the receipts at the gates amounted to £345 14s 3d, being £37 9s lOd in excess of any previous year. "With reference to the balance in hand, the committee have decided to appropriate the sum of £200 in liquidation of the principal of the mortgage, and it is hoped that future committees will continue to do this, unless it is considered advisable to improve the ground? by planting or otherwise, with a view to letting the same for public amusements, &c, thereby making them more remunerative. " A list of subscribers for the past year will be laid on the table, and published "with the report. " During the year the " Herd Book " has been published, and has been much appreciated by breeders. At the present date the " Herd Book " account stands thus :— Receipts for entries and books sold ... £26 5 0 Expenditure for printing, &c. ... 23 10 6 Balance in hand 2 14 6 - "The thanks of the Association are due to their President, Mr George Gould, who again ordered and presented the prize books to the Association. It must also be noted that Mr Gould has again repeated his prize of £20 for the best pen of five Merino rams, New Zealand bred. Mr W. A. Tolmie, of Dunedin, is the winner of this prize." " The thanks of the Association are also due to the merchants of Christchurch and other gentlemen who gave private prizes. This has enabled the committee to present a more attractive programme to the public, and has had the effect of stimulating emulation among the exhibitors. The Committee have also to notify that the Provincial Council passed a liberal vote of £200 to the Agricultural Societies in the province, of which the Government apportioned £75 to this Association.

"Your committee, acting on the suggestions of your late secretary, Mr B. B. Bishop, this year took in hand the management of the annual show of entire horses which was held in-Mr John Anderson's paddock in Cashel street. The arrangements were systematic,, and gave great satisfaction, but fnruier improvements may be made for the next show. The last, however, was a decided improvement on those of previous years. " The thanks of the Association were tendered to Mr John Anderson for the use of the paddock; also to Mr Pearce of the Repository for bis kindness in taking the entries. "Dnri_|r the year Mr E. B. Bishop who, for so many years, has so ably performed the duties of secretary gratuitously, has found it necessary to retire in consequence of pressure of private business. It is scarcely necessary for the committee to point out to the Association the great advantages derived from Mr Bishop's services, and to doubt the members will endorse all the committee feel on the subject by a cordial vote of thanks. "Mr W. A. Sheppard still continues to fulfil the duties of honorary treasurer in a aighly satisfactory manner, and also deserves t-e thanks of the Association. "Upon the retirement of Mr Bishop, Mr J.T. Ford volunteered his services as honorary secretary, and now performs the duties of the office. -J'& consequence of an alteration in Mr vvjn. Wilson's office, the committee have had to change their place of meeting to a room in mt White's Commercial Hotel, the use of *™eh is kindly given gratuitously by Mr white, and for this liberauty the committee desire to tender their thanks. "iou will now be called upon to elect a committee of office bearers for the current year," On the motion of Mr Duncan, the report and adopted. The Treasurer then read his statement of the finances for the past year, from which » appeared that the receipts during the year naa been £llSl 5s 3d, including a balance «om 18/0 of £237 11 s Id. The expenditure gad been £846 life lid, leaving a balance in nana of £334 lis 4d. Mr Wilkin- moved—"That the balancetheet ha received and adopted •" and observed that great credit was due to Mr Sheppard for the manner in which he had managed the affairs of the association, and it was very satisfactory to find the association in such a favorable position. MtGebbie seconded the motion, which *as carried. The Chairman said that the treasurer had ■aid on the table a list of their annual subscribers, from which it appeared that there been a large increase during the year. There were now 130 subscribers on the list, *Jjd ths number of members last year was moved—" That a cordial vote Of thanks be given to the president, vicepresidents, h-jtiurary secretary and treasurer, for the able services they had rendered to «c association." Mr Skand seconded the motion, which w *§ agreed to most cordially. %r Sheppard said that owing to business engagements he was obliged to resign his veasurersbip. The busiest time of the asso-

ciation was just at the time when he was most engaged. He would have no objection to continue to hold the office if he was allowed to be relieved from the duties in say three or four months. He would continue it with pleasure if it wn3 clearly understood that lie might be relieved in a few months. The election of officers was then proceeded with. Air Wilkin moved— 4 ' That Mr G. Gould ba re-elected as President of the association." Mr Norman seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The following gentlemen were elected as office-bearers of the association for the ensuing yi-ar : —Vice-President, Mr E. B. Bishop ; Treasurer, Mr W. A. Sheppard ; Hon. Sec, Mr J. T. Ford. General Committee—Hon. Col. Brett, Rev. W. J. G. Bluett, Messrs H. P. Murray-Aynsley, A. Duncan, Boag, R. Wilkin, H.Washboum, Fantham, C. Newton, J. Ladbrooke, W. A. Sheppard, D. Gebbie, J. E. Brown, W. Norman, M. Dixon, T. Bruce, R. W. Fereday, J. Grigg, R. L. Higgins, J. I Mcllraith, J. Miln, J. T. Matson, J. Page, J. Shand, W. Tod, J. Walls, W. Marcroft, E. | Grey, J. Hall, James Hay. Mr Wilkin moved — "That the cordis! thanks of this Association be tendered to Mr E. B. Bishop for the unwearied manuei i.j which he discharged the duties of Hon. Secretary and Treasurer during the years he has been connected with the Association," and further that in recognition of his services he be elected a life member of the Association. Mr H. P. M. Aynsley seconded the motion which was agreed to unanimously. Some discussion ensued relative to the advisability or otherwise of disposing of any portion of the Association's grounds, after which Mr Sheppard moved—" That it be an instruction to the committee not to receive any proposition for the sale of any portion of the Association's grounds." Mr Wilkin seconded the motion which was agreed to. The meeting then adjourned.