AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10214, 9 December 1898, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the committee of tbe. Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral, Association was held at 2 p.m. yesterday, when there were present—Mr W. Recce (president, in the chair), Sir John Hall, Sir-Geo. Clifford, Dr. Levinge, Messrs W. Henderson, W. Boag, T. W. Adams, S. Garfdrth, F. C. Murray, W. F. M. Buckley, Geo. Gould, R. M. Macdonald, P. Duncan, C. Withell, A." Cbamber-lain, Geo. Jameson, F. A. Archer, G. E. Rhodes, J. Anderson, H. Overton, and H. P. Murray-Aynsley. Apologies were received for tie absence of Mr E. G. Staveley and Mr R. H. Rhodes. a A letter was read from Mr J. F. Reid, of Eldershe, ret_rning the cheque forwarded to him as expenses as a judge at the recent show, and offering it as a special prize for the best ladies' hack at the next show. It was decided to thank Mr Reid for his donation. t The manager of the' New Zealand Fanners Co-operative Association wrote drawing attention to the fact that Hie weigh-bridge ordered through them from England had arrived; and. asking tho 'Association to immediately take delivery of it. * ■ The Finance, and Committee, to whom the matter had .been referrecVr recom-. mended that the Association should not accept delivery of" the machine, on account of the delay that bad taken place in filling the order. The machine, according to the drawings, was a stationary one, and not a portable one, as ordered.. Mr-Macdonald moved— .the machine is not in accordance with the instructions given, the, Association decline to accept delivery of the machine.'' Mr Buckley seconded the motion. Mr Jameson said that if the machine was not in acconiahce. with the order sent Home, the Association would, not be asked to take

it. Sir George Clifford suggested that the matter should be held in abeyance till the machine itself was examined. It might be quite as suitable for their purpose as the one ordered.

The motion was put and carried. Upon the recommendation of Mr Geo. Gould, who had been appointed.to see the Christchurch Meat Company, it ;xas resolved to pay over the company's special prize as awarded by the judges in the class for ten pure bred merino ewes suitable for breeding halfbred lambs.

Mr T. W. Durant, secretary of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association, wrote asking that better ticket accommodation should be provided at> the railway siding- at the Show Grounds, to prevent the block that took place this year, .and suggesting that arrangements be made with the railway authorities so that passengers may purchase entrance tickets with their railway tickets. It was also asked that the morning train from Southbridge should run at the ordinary time table date instead of being delayed an hour on the show day. ' It was decided that the letter be entered in the suggestion book. Mr Murray moved —"That a substantial prize be offered at' the next Show for a combined seed and manure drill, to be subject to a two days" trial, and that a J subcommittee, consisting j)f.Messrs Overton, Anderson, Chamberlain, Adams, and. the mover, be appointed to arrange necessary, conditions. Sir Overton seconded the motion, which was agreed to. .Mr Adams moved—"That a sub-committee be appointed to visit those farms where irrigation has been carried out for several years, and report upon the results obtained." The motion was agreed to, and Messrs Overton, Buckley, Adams and the J*rae3ent were appointed the sub-committee. The meeting then went into committee to consider a number of recommendations regarding the' management of the entrance gates and admission to the Show Grounds. On resuming, the President reported that the following resolution had been carried: — "Mr McKellar, the Association's treasurer, appears to be misinformed as to what occurred in committee with regard to certain imputations against himself , and as the committee have every confidence in him, he be requested to withdraw his resignation." On the motion of the President a hearty vote of thanks was passed to those who had acted as jud<j<3 at the late show. Mr Macdonald said it appeared to him from the report that appeared in a newspaper as if the committee, at their last meeting, tad passed a vote of censure on one of their members, Dr. Levinge. It read as if Dr. Levinge had been a marshal and had not carried out his duties properly.and that a resolution had been. passed that an exhibitor should not be a marshal. Dr. Levinge was not a marshal, and had merely been asked to to assist in conducting the milking trial, as n<> one else who knew anything about such triab would act. He bud nothing to do, however, with the weighing and testing of the-milk/and had not acted unfairly to another exhibitor. They must admit that Dr. Lovinge was a most useful member of the committee. Mr Qsamberlain "said he had been appointed a marshal in connection with, the milking trial, and had refused to act unless he had some one with him. Dr. Levinge hod assisted him. but he had net interfered in any way with other exhibitors. . The subject then dropped. It was resolved that the Bam Fair be held on March ioth and 17th, and the Finance and Bam Fair Committee were , instructed to bring up a report upon the entry fees to be charged. Accounts to the amount of £120 2s' were passed ior payment, and the committee adjourned.