ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XXX, Issue 4097, 13 September 1878, Page 3

ASHBURTON AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of this association was held at Mr QuiU'e hotel on Tuesday, 11th instant. The chair was occupied by the president, Mr John Grigg. The hon. secretary, Mx B. Metcalfe, read the following report :— The committee hare to report that since the commencement of the association, ten months a=p>, sixty-five memlera Lave joined, who hare paid their subscriptions, and there are also thirty members who hare not yet paid their subscriptions. The Government have granted the association twenty acres of land at Tiuwald for the purpose of a show ground, and the County Council have erant-ed a snm of £ 100 to be expended in planting and fcndnjr tie same. Thefercing of the show around will be proeeeVfcd with immediately after the surrey, which will shortly be comPl euccweful pioa ? hing match, under the auspices of the association, w*s held -on the 17th Jufr, in Mr Hay T. Sauth b paddock, when. £90 in money, several ? peaal prizes were given. Owing to the delay m collecting -him promised aabscnptxons, the accoonts of the plooghiog match haw not been made up, but it is anticipated that there wil. 03 a small balance to their credit ,ior next year c mutch. ' -. ■'. ■ ■._■ ~. , ... ' ■'■■' ' ;>

In consequence of the show ground not being surveyed in time, the committee propose holding aa exhibition of live stock, agricultural implements, dairy produce, to,ia a paddock kindly lent for the purpose by Sir Carter, at Tinwald. f n tie 12th November, or as this meeting shall decide.

There have heen three general mee'-ings of members of the association and five committee meetings held during the year. The accounts of the association have been duly audited by Mr Sbury, and show a balance to the credit of the association of £31 14s lid, exclusive of the £100 granted by the County Council.

John Griog, President. On the motion of Mr Bullock, seconded by Mr Thos. Taylor, the report as read was adopted. A discussion then ensued as to the ground on which to hold the show. Eventually it was decided to proceed at once with the survey of the site, and that a portion ol the yards should be erected permanently, The Chairman intimated that the next business was the election of officers for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen wore then elected: —President, Mr John Qrigg; vice-presi-dent, Mr Joseph Clark; hon. treasurer, Mr A. H. Shuryj hon. sacretarv, Mr JB. Metcalfe.

It was resolved—" That a working' committee be formed, consisting of nine members, ac follows : —Messrs J. Carter, J. Clark, Thomas Atkinson, J. Beswick, A. Daweon, Joseph Hunt, B. Jeffs, H. T. Smith, "and B. Thomas; five to form a quorum." It was resolved—" That all mombere who Have paid their subscriptions, be members of the general committee." Tne treasurer was authorised to arrange ,with the Bank for a temporary overdraft to complete the yards, so that the show may be held in them.

Mr Bullock moved, and Mr Thomas seconded—"That the entrance fees in each clafs be fixed by the yard committee." It was resolved—" To advertise, asking each member of the general committee to collect subscriptions, and to hand them to the treasurer before the 12fh October."

It. was resolved—" That the programme of the Elleemere show be adopted." It was also resolred—" To hold a horse parade on the 24th September in a paddock at the corner of East street and the North town belt, and that the officers of the association make the necessary arrangements." It was decided that in each class a first and second prize, and "highly commended" be given. The meeting then adjourned.

The working committee then met, and it was decided to invite tenders for fencing show grounds at once, and to' have the programme printed. The election of the judges was deferred till next meeting. The secretary was instructed to advertise, asking those who intended giving special prizes to send in their names as soon as possible, to be inserted in the catalogue.