A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6955, 7 January 1888, Page 6

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Committee of this Association was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Messrs J. Deans (President), W. Norman, W; Henderson, J. Anderson, jun., J. Gilmour, S. Garforth, P. Duncan, J. Mcßeath, K. Sutherland, and J. Feather.

Mr Garforth gave notice to move at the next meeting—" That the fees for the use of the new grounds be reduced; school treats, from £5 to £3 ; other people, from £10 to 7 guineas." He afterwards decided to leave the amount blank.

Accounts atnouuting to j£24B 13s 7d were passed for payment. Letters, the purport of which have been published, were read relating to the Sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions. Mr Bryden, New Zealand and Australian Land Company, wrote suggesting that the sheep classes at the show should be less cut up. He advised the omission from the catalogue of the classes for housed and clothed sheep. The discussion on the matter was postponed to the annual meeting. The hon. sec. of the Tapanui Farmers' Club asked for the Association's opinion on a dispute which had arisen. Mr W. Sheenan and Mr D. Murray both claimed a champion cup given at the Tapanui Show , for the exhibitor taking the greatest number of points in sheep. The former obtained the points on sheep not bred by himself, and the latter on sheep of his own breeding. The Committee was of opinion that the cup went to Mr Murray, provided he could produce proof of the sheep taking the points being of his own breeding. JSlr Murphy submitted a report on the Californian thistle pest. He stated the places where the thistle was growing, and suggested a method for its extermination. ' Mr Feather thought it was not much use crying out about noxious weeds while the Government sowed seeds broadcast from trucks. Mr • Henderson observed that the Government were in the habit of putting refuse into trucks for packing. This dried and the wind blew the seeds out as the train travelled. It was suggested that a Sub-committee should take the report into consideration. Mr Gaueorth said that the Committee might also consider what means could be adopted to stop the spread of gorse. It Was useless to try and eradicate the rabbit pest while the gorse was allowed to grow unchecked. The report on the Californian thistle was referred to a Committee consisting of Messrs Cunningham, Garforth, Deans, Ferguson, Norman, and Feather, who were also requested to consider the gorse question. A letter was read from Mr Inwood, Winchester, respecting the spread of the Californian thistle, and stating that he had noticed the appearance about his place of a strange kind of fly. A general meeting of the Association takes place on the 3rd February, to confirm certain rules.