REUNION AT CHEVIOT.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14347, 6 May 1912, Page 10

REUNION AT CHEVIOT.

—— —t A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. For somo years past it has been tho custom for tho members of the Cheviot Agricultural and Pastoral Association to holil an annual dinner. This function provides .1 good opportunity lor a pleasant reunion, and lias become justly popular with tho Cheviot settlers. ■ Tho dinner that was held in the Town Ifa 11 at ITackenzio on Friday evening I last was one of the best that has so far I taken place, and a thoroughly rep re- j sentativo gathering-of about .sixty sat down. The chafr was taken by Mr It. Blac.kley, tho president of tho Association, .and anions thoso present were .Messrs A. "W. Rutherford, sc'nr., and junior,. A. K. Maude, president of the KaikoiiV.i A. and P. Association; I). Archibald, R. Sloss, J. Fleming, T. (J. Robinson, E. l>. Giles, A. McQueen, C. M. Bruce, and T. Gee, tho secretary of tho Cheviot A. and. P. Association. Apologies wero' received from Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P.. W. T. Kobinson, and tho editors of "Tho Press," and tho "Lyttelton Times." The absence of Mr J. H. 13. Olliver, wlio has always taken a. very prominent part in these gatherings, was keenly felt. During evening a very lengthy toast list was honoured, and vocal items wero rendered by Messrs Pnschell, B. Skinner, A. Allen, C. Holton, and tho President. Following the toast of "The King," tho Rev." Wγ Wilis proposed th»' toast of the •■"Parliament of New. Zealand." Pie said that they had in the House many men of sterling integrity, and he looked ■ upon the Legislative Assembly Fis a popular one in a broad aanse of the word. Many-of the most illustrious members" of' their. "House were drawn frbm-:th6 l'nnks of tho farming eonnnuj nity, «fld, he jWasj-'urq power conferred had seldeni, 1 if "ever, been abused:' ' " • Mr A. W. Rutherford, senior, in respomling, said he spoke, in tbo absence cf their member, .Mr G. AY. Forbes. Ifo did not quite agree with the previous speaker when" lie '(Mr Wills) inferred that there was not much room for improvement in tho constitution of tho House. Ho considered that the fanning class should be very much better represented than it was. They had only one farmer in tho new Ministry, and tho proportion of countrymen in •thtt .Hoiwo was very much too smalt when tljey considered that £18;000,000, oiit oft the total value 'of "the exports of tho Dominion,.which was £22.000,000, came from the farmers and pastoralists. Ho did not think tho farmers had .fair or adequate representation in tho House, but the electors were somewhat to blame, for this, and tho men on tho land should rouse themselves and return more farmers. As ah instance of. what organisation and self-sacrifice could .do he pointed out 'how in "Australia, , Labour had Avon great victories' -.ill along tho line and now dominated the Government. Why should tho farmers of the Dominion not organise effectively and moke their power felt? 'They must havo farmers in the House-to look after the. interests of the country. A man naturally legislated i for what 'benefited himself, tlr.it was .only human nature, and if the-bulk of the" ir.ombei-3 of Parliament wero towns- - men, following professions, the interests ■of ■the men on the. land .would l> c reflected, although ho would not ,-issert that the monitors would not do their }>:;8t according to their lights. I lie farming community in New /p.?land wore- very much richer than the Labour people in' Australia.'and with swh an example befoi-.» them he could not sec wliv belter representation shr.ukl not i 'jo'obtained; but they must be. pnrrd'to put their binds in their [ofkets and pay for tl:oir politics. i Mr T. Sullivan proposed tbe toast of ; flic Agricultural and Pastoral Association KinOreviot,/ aiui oliaractcris'jd it as the most important toast en the- card. Tl»c~ hrgc v' :| t':'or-itig there that evoniijjr ; spoko volun-'.'s for the popularity i and orgnnisation of the Association, and ' l-ohoTK-.l he could say that their annual ; .show, was- now on If second in Cnulor- ' tni,ry to the Metropolitan Show. ' At the ;.lnst fixtiiro they bad loaehi'd'lCCo entries; and '!•» trusted that it would not .' be long be."ore- they reached -the 2iKX) mark- The show: started in v amall way. but owing'tii tho hearty ami cordial <•;> operation of almost every individual, in tho district. .it bad now reached its present "Very creditable position. „ Mr It. niackloy, in responding, said it was a matter of congratulation that the hist show bad turned out so well. It tested with the farmers of Cb.'viot to prc'.luco tin; stock to exhibit, ay.d they "•.)uld do it, for -.hey were on the finest M.K'k- of country in. the Dominion, 'i'hon , '" \iti-> now signs of a good d«~.tl o! ' i-ut.sMiv colli p<: tit ion at tho'"show, and C.i'vi iv.Ta a'hecU-by feature that deserved f!jro'.ir:\«:o:>ient. Mr 1). Archibald ai.su spoke to the onst, and brol.-? tresh ground in oom-i:tt'ii*"-C Knglisb shows with New Zeal- ■ !;!iul ones. He ssid that considering the . M7.-> of the population, the Metropolitan Snow at Christi burch was better than the Jtoynl at Home, but eompar- • ing the snows on their actual merits tl ,, llqnu , «xhibitii!iis lead easily. He did 'lot b<>lio\»> that they would t-ver have k national show for New Zealand. l>:cau.«o r,r> man who valued his stock would keep on f-hipping it about tor long dist.nroc3, but he thought it wns quite pesr iblo to have a national show'for each. i-i-'-.d. Mr Flerring pronosod tb.<? to.it r.i the '• President"' and reterrol \o -]>o gcQ-1 work that Mr It. β-ack!--- ,,- ---h->d dMV3 for the Association. Mr Blackley'i strong norsonal int"re«t hvj\ ' acconip!fshed for thei~ ' \rc\\ organisation and he hn.d a grr.?t derl of pleasure in referring to th? they intoiulo.d to irsr.h" i their prfsiiltnt. who, V.c vr;?s torry *c> ! say, wa» geing to leave them.

Mr BLackley deprecated the praises that had been showered upon him and sonorously yuve the credit to tho officials who had worked'-with him, mentioning in particular Mr T. Gee, the- energetic see rotary who, said the. speaker, ; " is practically the 'Cheviot Show." Mr IJlaekley then prosciit-jd a silver tea service, to Mr E. J>. Giles of Mount Parnassus, who won the most points at the recent show. Mr Giles thanked the Association heartily for the handsome, presentation which ho assured them ho had no idea of winning -when lie returned to : Now Zealand in' March. He agreed that ;>s Mr Archibald had said the Dominion 'A. and P- shows could nob compa'rb with, the biy Home ones from-au. all— roimd point of view, hut he might -ny that tho interest taken in shows :t Homo was small. On ho day at the last Koyal Show was the attendance more than «'K)0(), while at Christcuureh it was over 30.0C0 and at Chevioi. nearly 1000 which was highly credit-, able. Mr L. LaujK'son proposed the toast of the ,: Agricultural, * Pastoral and Commercial Interests "' and Messrs i. C- Robinson, A. W. Puitherford, and ■\Y. Pay no responded. Tho applause that greeted the proposal of the toast of' the secretary. Mr T. .Gee, was conclusive proof of that energetic official's popularity. Uoth Mr Jilackley and Mr Archibald spoke most enthusiastically W -MiGee's valuable services. . Mr (ice snid that though he lino taken the position of secretary for oik: year, he had been there for five, ami ho thought it was tiriu" for some fresh blood. (Xo! No!) Mo.!paid a hiiih tribute to the help he had received from hi.s colleagues, especially the, treasurer M.r,.Osborne, who was inval.iable. Very many thanks were aLso .'luo to fi'iends and helpers who Jiad. Riven prizes and funds. The speaker dwelt ■on the ■ importanco of keepin.; their show open-for all, rich or poor; there "shobld l>e no limit'ationK whatever, and all should "feel that they had an interest in. tho function.' if outsiders came in with better stock and beat them, then it was to the visitors' credit, and it was up to the Cheviot oeople to-try" and do better .next tinu>. The speaker said that the Association did not intend to stand still, l>ub it> ihnned. to always progress, and he detailed the imt)rovcments that" v.itcs .needed and that it was hoped would soon be accomplished. l>r. Samidors proi>csed : the toast of " Kindred Associations '.' '• whieli. was responded to by'ijlessrs A*. R. Maude and C. JJruce. Mr A. McQueen proposed the toast of <: Past Presidents " and Messrs R. Sloss and D.' Archibald responded. . . ; ,'.''." Othec toasts honoured , were '• Exhibitors north of the AVaiau," •'•Maiiufaeturinu: Interests, " "Tho Press, " and -"The President." Tlie yatherinb broke up at a la to hour.