Tokomairiro Farmers Club

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 59, 26 August 1875, Page 7

Tokomairiro Farmers Club

The annual meeting of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club was held at Phijp, Henderson & Co 's office, on AuglO,M.r J. Scott, President, occupied the chair, Minutes of last -general meeting* read and confirmed. The committee pre--' Rented the members with the following eporfc- : — ... At the close of the eleventh financial" year of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, the committee beg to lay before the members a report of their operations durng* their term of office. The first work of importance which the committee felt called upon to undertake after their election, last year, was the consideration oi the best means by which a first class draught entire could be secured to travel the Tokomairiro district. After due consideration it was resolved that the Club offer a bonus of L4O for the best entire to travel the Tokomairiro dirtrict within a radius of ten miles of the town of Milton. There were, also provisions made by which all members ofthe Club could be served at a lower rate than the general public, and the Committee expected that an increased number of tickets would be sold in consequence. Although a firstrate animal, Mr Bryce's " Southorne " was selected, the farmers generally did not respond to the opportunity offered, and the payment of the above bonus has been a considerable charge on the general funds ofthe club. Ail the shows held under the auspices of the Club through the past year, with the exception of ihe grain show, have been highly successful. The walking show in October brought forward a number of fine draught stallions. The Annual Stock Show in December was also successful, exhibits in sheep ijeiug remarkably good, and showing the greatly increased attention which is now beino; given to their breeding and til more particularly so in the long woolled ela-ys, A silver cup, the gift of Messrs Oajistick, Duthic, arid Co., for this class of sheep was won by Mr James Allan. ~in the month of May a grain arid j butter show was held. The exhibits in grain '.vers not- numerous. A cup, tho gift of Mr A. Mollison, for the best fifty bushels of wheat, was competed for, but not- awarded, as the Judges did not consider the exhibits of sufficient merit. The exhibits of salt butter were pretty numerous, and according to the verdict ofthe Judges every lot deserved to be commended. The ploughing match held in July was creditable to the district under the circumstances. The paddock iv which it was held did not prove very suitable, and ihe work done was thereforre scarcely np to average ; but the turn out of teams was above the average of former years, and the financial result was very satisfactory. In laying the financial statement before the Club, the Committee would call the attention ofthe members to the fact that the bonus of L4O has been a severe, tax on the funds, and thataltho 1 all the shows were a success, the club is in debt. The Committee regret to have to state that the farmers generally do not contribute to the funds of the Club, or take as much interest in its affairs as should be expected from them by an institution which might be s'yled peculiarly their own. The Committee would wish to record their sense of obligation to the tradesmen and others of Milton for their hearty support in the Annual Show and Ploughing Match, and for the liberal manner in which they have always responded to any calls made on them by the Club. STAIEMEXT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. EECEIPT3. £ S. d. To hsihmcc From last year - 52 310 „ Profit plou-jliinq- mutou 1874 - 3 4 0 „ Profit walking show, 1374 - 2 16 „ Profit stock show, 1874 - 116 „ Pi of it yniin and butter show, 1875 0 15 0 „ Profih ploughing match, 1875 ' - 16 3 6 „ Cash for medal - - - lIS 8 „ Members' subscriptions - 2ii 10 C „ .Balance clue bank - 23 3 8 £132 I 8 EXPENDITURE. £ S. (1. By medals for 1873, shows - - 53 13 C „ ttcnt of hall, 3874 . - - 3 0 C „ Bonus to Secretary _ - - 3 5 C „ Bonus to draught entire - 40 0 C „ Secretary's salary and commission 17 13 C „ Sundries - - - 14 12 5 £132 1 i The report was adopted: The meeting then re-elected MrScoti President; Vice-President, Mr W. L Philp; and a Committee of seventeen. The rate for membership was fixed a 1 ten shillings. Resolved that there be a Walking ' Show on 12th October.