CORN EXCHANGE AND FABMERS' CLUB.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3893, 14 January 1878, Page 3

CORN EXCHANGE AND FABMERS' CLUB.

An institution novel to Christchurch, and interesting to a large section of the community of Canterbury, was formally and successfully inaugurated on Saturday. A Corn Exchange and Farmers' Club Booms were opened under circumstances which give promise of their becoming a favorite resort of the farmers of the district, more particularly on market days, and of their some day expanding into an institution of very considerable local influence and importance. , The preliminary history of the institution referred to, and its purposes, will be best indicated by quoting the circular in which the project was submitted to the public. Some months ago Messrs H. Matson and Co., of Tattersall's, issued a circular to grain growers and others, in which they said : — The want of a Corn Exchange and Farmers' Club Rooms in Christchurch, is one that has long been felt by the producers in this province, and at the suggestion of several gentlemen interested in farming operations, and more particularly those connected with the sale of groin, we have set apart suitable zooms on onr premises—) meet this requirement. The convenience of such a Corn Exchange and Farmers' Club Rooms will be a great benefit to the subscribers, and it will necessarily be a centre for transacting business generally, and offering facilities which at present do not exist.

We purpose sparing no expense in furnishing these rooms, and supplying the leading papers and market reports of the various groin markets in the Australian colonies.

The annual subscription of one guinea will entitle each member to the advantages arising from such Corn Exchange and Farmers' Club Rooms, and they -n ill be open to them at all times during business hours. It has been proposed to form an influential committee to carry out the management of the some, and we may be allowed to state for your information, that several stakeholders In this province have already signified their full approval of the establishment of such an exchange, and their. willingness to use their influence in forwarding its success.

As Boon as we have a sufficient number of subscribers, the rooms will be open for their use. To this circular so many favorable replies were received that a second was issued, calling a meeting for Saturday last, to be held for the purpose of forming rules and regulations for the management of the proposed exchange and club. The meeting was held in the rooms already provided and furnished under the roof of Tattersall's extensive building in Cashel street, and on the motion of Captain Willis Colonel Brett was chosen chairman.

Colonel Brett, on taking the chair, thanked those present for the honor which they had done him by placing him iv the position of E residing on such an important occasion, and c referred at some length to the advantages which must inevitably follow from the opening [of a Corn Exchange and Farmers' Clubroom in Christchurch. A want which had existed for a long time would now be supplied, and for the achievement df this they would be indebted to the present spirited proprietors of Tattersall's, Messrs H.Matson and

Co. One great object would be gained by the smaller farmers. To them, more than to the larger farmers, the Exchange would be a great advantage. The smaT.er farmers wonld no longer have to hawk round their samples, receiving a variety of offers, and often making no sale after all. There would now be established something like a uniform rate; the latest information from the various import markets would be posted up, and a regular price would be established Having read the circular calling the meeting, he left it to those present to form a committee and to frame rules and regulations. The following ten rules were then submitted and, on the motion of Captain Wi"is, seconded by., Mr Paterson, adopted, and a committee, consisting of the gentlemen whose names are undermentioned, was duly constituted :—

1. That the Corn Exchange shall be open for the conducting of business in the grain trade and all farming produce, to its members, every day, except Sundays and general holidays, from the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. until 4 p.m., immediately upon the enrolment of 200 members.

2. That each member shall subscribe, in advance, one guinea per annum, to entitle him to the privileges of the Exchange. 3. That all subscriptions be paid to Messrs H. Matson and Co., in consideration of which they undertake to find and furnish the Corn Exchange rooms, and supply the leading papers, and market reports of the various grain marketin the Australian colonies.

4. That for the first yearthe following members shall constitute a committee for carrying out the rules of the Exchange:—Colonel Brett, Captain Willis, Rev. A. P. O'Callaghan, Messrs Thomas Patterson, Alex. Paterson, Chas. Bourn, Herbert, Parker, Hugh Mcllraith, Henry Weston, James Mcllraith, Wm. Strachan, G. B. Woodman, J. N. Tosswill, D. Patchett, J. Overton, W. B. Tosswill, H.. Mathias, E. Amyess, H. J. Hall, Henry Gray, — Gebbie, A. C. Knight, W.A.Brown, Bruce,H.Matson, Joseph Clarke, C. R. Leadley, John Grigg, Job Osborne, Wm. Henderson, H. G. Gardiner, with power to odd to their number.

5. That after the first year intending members shall be introduced by two subscribers. 6. That at the beginring of second and subsequent years the members shall have power to elect in person a new committee, consisting of not less than thirty members, or re-elect the retiring one.

7. That five members shall form a quorum, and that the decision of a majority shall in all cases be final, binding, and conclusive. 8. That if at any tune any member shall misconduct himself, and upon a complaint in writing from any other member, addressed to the committee for the time being, who shall investigate the same, and who shall have power for such misconduct if proved to expel the offending member, and thereupon he shall cease forthwith to have the advantages of the Exchange. 9. That every member upon paying his subscription shall sign the undertaking in a book to be kept for that purpose, to observe, keep, and be bound by the existing rules, or by any subsequent ones, which the committee for the time being shall think fit to make.

10. That a weekly meeting of the committee be held every Saturday at 10.30 a.m.

Mr Joseph Clark, before a vote of thanks was proposed to the chairman, took occasion to point out the absolute necessity there would be for farmers to produce samples from bulk to avoid disputes and misunderstandings. Their character was at stake, and to prevent these their samples should be fair and reliable.

The Chairman pointed out that one of the objects of the Corn Exchange would be to support anyone who produced a fair sample, and who Bold by it. On the other hand it would be the duty of the members not to countenance anyone who sold by an inferior sample.

On the motion of Mr Thomas Patterson, seconded by Mr A. Paterson, thanks were then voted to the chairman for explaining in lucid manner the objects of the Exchange, and for presiding at the meeting. Colonel Brett thanked those present, and impressed npon them the propriety of inducing their neighbors to join. He then formally declared open the Corn Exchange and Farmers' Club.