CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 3057, 9 June 1875, Page 3

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the committee of the above association was held yesterday afternoon at the secretary's office, Hereford street. Present —Messrs B. Wilkin, Fantham. Norman, Ferguson, Duncan, Mcßeth. Walls, Egglesone, J. Anderson, jun, Freestone, Sutherland, Mann, Cunningham, Garfortb, Newton, Alport, and Brace. Mr B. Wilkin was voted to the chair. At the instance of the chairman, the words " with the Government, Mr Gould, and others who assisted," were ineerted in a paragraph of the minutes of the previous meeting. The minutes were then confirmed. The chairman said he was sorry that their vice-president, Mr Murray- Aynsley, was not present, as it was that gentleman who had, in theabsenceof the secretary, framed the advertisement calling the meeting. It was stated that the meeting was called to consider important business, bnt the only important business he knew of was the proposed alteration of the site for the mid-winter show. The alteration contemplated had received the consideration of the aub-commitree, and they had come to the conclusion that the drill-shed and ground would be far preferable to where it was first intended to hold the show. Colonel Packe had been waited upon by the sub-committee, and had expressed himself as personally favorable, but he would have to see the Superintendent first to obtain his consent. This he had kindly done, and his Honor was quite agreeable to the society , using the shed and ground for the purpose contemplated. Messrs Norman, Bruce, and Garforth had visited the shed, and pc/haps they would tell the meeting their opinions of its suitability. The three gentlemen mentioned said they had visited the drill shed, to which was attached two acres of ground, which would be sufficient for the erection of pens for the sheep and cattle, and the shed itself would afford ample space for the produce, &c. They felt that by holding the show there a larger attendance of the public would be obtained than if held at Tattersall's and the other places wheie first intended, and the public could also be admitted at one gate, which would be ajsaving of expense. A more admirable site to hold the show could not be desired, and the sub-com-mittee had felt justified in asking that a special meeting of the general committee might be called to obtain their opinion on the matter. Mr Cunningham thought that before proposing any resolution altering the site of the show, the former one, fixing that it be held at Tattersall's and elsewhere, should first be rescinded. The Chairman thought that one resolution for the rescinding of the previous one. and holding the show at the Drill-shed would do. Mr Mann moved—" That the resolution bearing upon the question passed at a meeting of the committee held on Tuesday, 16 th March, be rescinded ; that a letter of thanks be forwarded to Messrs Wilkin, Matson and Co, and J. and B. H. Campbell, for their kindness in placing their premises at the disposal of the committee, and that as the premises of those gentlemen are not sufficiently large for its requirements, the midwinter show be held at the Drill-shed." Mr Walls seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. It was resolved that a copy of the foregoing resolution be sent to Messrs B. Wilkin, H. Matson and Co, and J. and B. H. Campbell, and also that a letter of thanks be forwarded to Colonel Packe for his efforts in procuring the drill shed for the use of the committee. The chairman said they were no doubt all aware of the manner in which Mr Gray had interested himself in endeavoring to obtain from the Provincial Council a vote for the association; a vote he (the chairman) felt was altogether too small; but Mr Gray did succeed in getting arrant of £250. To accomplished this must have taken considerable effort on the part of that gentleman, as even one of the leading papers had not only taken up the matter, but also took the trouble of not only sneering at the society for applying for the money, but at the Provincial Council for granting it. It was somewhat of a private matter between himself and Mr Beeves, but he had no objection ' O its being made public, that that gentleman had disclaimed to have any connection with that article, and when he saw him, had told him (Mr Wilkin) that he had just given the writer of it a piece of his mind. In further conversation, Mr Beeves agreed with him (Mr Wilkin) that the vote was rather small, but did not agree with him that the paper had sneered at the society. It waa moved by Mr Mann, seconded by Mr Bruce, and carried unanimously—" That a vote of thanks be passed to Mr H. F. Gray for his exertions in procuring a grant from the Provincial Council for the society." Some remarks were made as to the indiscretion shown by the reporters of the last meeting in publishing the names of the judges for the mid-winter show, and it was stated that this had never been done before. The Chairman said he was sure the mistake had only been made in error, and a gentleman in the room stated that the reporters copied the names in the presence of some of the members of the committee, and no objection or remark was made at the time. It was resolved—"That Messrs Norman, Henderson, Ferguson, Bruce, Garforth, and Duncan, form the ground committee for making the necessary arrangements for the mid-winter show." Mr Duncan said that, seeing the show would be held nearly in the centre of the city, it would hardly be fair to the publicans, most of whom subscribed liberally to the association, that the committee should sell the booths, at any rate for the sale of strong liquors. They might have one confectioner's stall, where sandwiches, kc, could be purchased. He wonld move— " That only one confectioner's booth be sold, and no publican's booth permitted on the ground." Mr Norman seconded the motion. Mr Fantham considered that, as there were so many confectioners in the city, it would also be unfair to them to only allow one booth on the ground. Mr Bruce would either have the refreshment booths put up to competition or have none at all. Mr Fantham moved as an ameudment— " That there be a publican's and confectioner's booth, and that they be submitted as usual to public auction." Mr Fergusson seconded the amendment. ' Before the amendment was put Mr Brace would like to observe that the verandah of the shed would answer admirably for the purpose of a bar. and save expense. On being put the amendment wag declared to be carried. Ou the motion of Mr Duncan, seconded by Mr Mcßeth, the ground committee were given full and discretionary power to make the best arrangements for the erection of cattle pens for the show, and also for the letting of the booths. Mr Wilkin, who vacated the chair, said he had a motion to propose which he felt was rather opening up a new course for the committee, but which he felt, if approved and passed by them, wonld have a very desirable result. They all knew that a great fear existed concerning the disease of ergot which was found on rye grass. He had given great attention to grasses since a boy, and after his arrival.in New Zealand, but until discovered here he had never known that ergot existed in rye grass. He did not however think that ergot would prove so great a scourge as some people imagined, but he considered that this was a question the society should give their attention to, as their doiDg so might be the means of very useful information being disseminated. He would move—" That a sum of ten guineas be giveD by the Association for the best, and five guineas for the second best essay on the recent appearance of the disease called ergot on rye and other grasses; embracing the nature of the disease, the causes, and the best mode of curing the same. The essays to be sent into the committee not later than Ist June, 1876, and the decision of the committee to be given on Ist Jnly following. Each essay to be distinguished by a motto, and to be accompanied by a scaled envelope with the same motto on the outside and the

J writer's name endorsed. The prize essays 1o be the property of the Association, and the others to be returned upon application." He had allowed the time to be at a somewhat I distant date, as the writers would no doubt I have to read up the subject. Of himself he I believed that overworking the pasturage was I oue great cause of the ergot. Mr Fantham would second the resolution with pleasure, bat would have liked the amount to be larger, as he did not think that there was any man who owned an acre of grass, but would gladly contribute towards obtaining the best information on this subject. He did not think the disease was so prevalent in the colony until he visited Napier, and there he saw it everywhere. On returning to Canterbury, he looked for it and found the ergot in his own garden, with spurs about half an inch io. length, and this ground had not been manuied for three years. Mr Cunningham considered that Mr Wilkin deserved the thanks of the committee for bringing his motion forward, but he felt that one prize of twenty guineas would be better than two prizes for lesser amounts, as each writer would go in for the first prize. Mr Wilkin accepted the suggestion, and by permission amended his motion to read " twenty guineas for the best essay." Mr Anderson felt that a difficulty would be experienced in obtaining judges, as those persons who would take the trouble of reading up the subject and obtaining the best information o.i the subject would no doubt compete for the prize. He thought the prize committee should coneist of scientific men. Mr Duncan thought that practical men would be the best judges, as scientific men would no doubt give them the cauße of the disease, without suggesting a remedy, and what the committee wanted was practical information from practical men, which would 1 tell the means of getting rid of the ergot by manipulation of the land. Mr Wilkin, in reply, felt they would have no difficulty in selecting judges from the committee sufficiently competent to judge any essays that might be sent in. They did not want to know that if the other side of the moon was towards the earth there would be no ergot, what they wanted was the best information as to how they were to get rid of this pest by the ordinary operations of agriculture. [Hear, hear.J The motion was put, and carried unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.