PAPAKURA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1458, 6 December 1861, Page 7

PAPAKURA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

(from ouu own kkpobter) The annual meeting of the Papakura Agricultural Association was held in that town on Wednesday last The weather, in the morning, looked most unfavourable , but as the day advanced it brightened. Owing to the fact that Wednesday uas the monthly sale day, for the disposal of stock, there were many beasts in the nruket, but no entries were made for the association prizes for the best yearling hoifer and yeailmg bull, icaied in the district. The competition m othei classes of li\e stock was not gicat, but tins is no proof of apathy on the p-vrt of the Papakma settleis In fact, the inteiest manifested in the piocecdmgss of the day was gieafc, and it is most certain that next yeai there will be keener competition and a laigei dis tribution of pii/es Every society his had its small beginnings , and agricultural associations, inviting district competition, have alwajs had much to contend with on their fust establishment. Prejudices exibt, which experience alone can remove, and theie is the appiehension that jealousies will be created inimical to good neighbouihood as the lesult of awaiding the prizes But after a little, it is seen that the only jealousy cieated by competitive exhibition of htock in a distnet, is to beget a spirit of geneious emulation, lesulting in the improvement of the breeds Information is also communicated at the meetings ; and thus, while each one benefits his neighbour by the inteichange of ideas, a kindly feeling i-. generally diffused. So it will be with the members of the Papakiua association. Ilitheito they confined them selves to the exhibition of vegetables and daily pio duce , and by combined oneigy and deter minalion, they succeeded also in opening up their district somewhat successfully with loads On this occasion it was also determined to have a show of live stock, but owing to the shoit notice, and a variety of minor causes, the entries, as aheady stated, weie not large, although the young horses shown weio admiiable specimens And heie we may state, that the association has cause to be grateful to Mr. Fisk, to whose libeiahty in offering pii/es for the best yeailing colt and filly, by " Honest Tom," may be attributed the show of young horses in the yard. Next season the show of young hoises will be far greatei, for Mi Fisk has promised to piesent a silver cup, value ten guineas, as a prize for the best yeailing filly, got by "Honest Tom." Mr. Gaidner and Mr. Wells, sen , have likewise handed to the secietary, Mi. Middleman, handsome sums of money to be appiopuated as pii/es for live stock. Mr. Robinson has likewise placed in the secretaiy'i hands a hbeial prize for the best cheese, weighing 80 lbs , to he shown as one of three cheese", each not of less weight, the produce of any dairy in the district. Several minor sums have liken ise been placed at the disposal of the association as prizes for vegeta bles , and accessions having been made to the list of members, the geneial prizes at the next annual meeting will be more libeial and vaired than they weie this year We deem it right, in repotting the lesult of the operations of the past year, to foiecast those of the cinrent season, to prove that wo may anticipate a good result. There is only combination among the settlers required to make the Papakura association a fiist class district agricultural society ; .and we hope to be able to report favouiably, from time to time, of its pi ogress The show of butter and vegetables was not laige, but the specimens of dairy and garden pioduce exhibited reflected gieat credit on the produceis The following prizes weie awarded — ITo) scs. — For the best colt or filly, rising 2 years old, suitable for farm purposes, reared in the district. — Awarded to Mr. Geoige Gaidner, Blink Bonny, Papakura, for his colt " Invincible," 11 months The prire for the filly in this class was awaided to Mr. Wells, senior, Papakura hotel. The special prize, offered by Mr. Fisk, for the best two-yeaul old colt and filly, got by "Ilonest Tom" was awaided — for the colt, to Mr George Gardner, Blink Bonny (colt 22 months) ; and for the filly, to Mr. Wells, Papakuia hotel Judges of hoises — Messrs. Smith, Papatoetoe ; and Wallace, Flat Bush. Suiter. — Ibt, from Mr. Well's farm, made by Mis. Cooper ; 2nd, Mr. Thomas Runcimau, Dairy. Vegetables. — Prize awarded to Mr Wheeler, Papakura, who exhibited fine grown ash-leaf khidney pota toes, broad-beans, and peas, fiom the same gaiden. Judges of cheese, butter, and vegetables — Messrs Joseph May, Robert Robeitson (Otahuhu), and John Mai tin (Rama-Rama)

The Annual DiNNrn Was held in the Papakura hotel, and deservedly sus tamed the rep\itation o£ the host, Mr. Wells. The viands were excellent, and the wine of choice vintage About sixty gentleman sat down, presided over by Major Speedy. Mr. Hay and Mr Geoige Gaidner acted as croupiers. After dinner, the Chan man proposed the usual loyal toasts, which were duly honoied " The health of the Governor " was next drunk, the vocalists singing " Auld Lang Syne." " The General Assembly of New Zealand " followed, and Mr. Hay proposed the toast of the " Army and Navy." The Chairman lesponded, remaiking that although it might be thought the troops in the camp at Otahuhn had been idle for the past six months, it was his opinion they had preserved the peace of the country (Hear.) The tioops might not bo lequiied again in active bos tilities in this country, although he very much foaied they would ; but if circumstances arose which compelled action on the part of those at the head of afiaiis, he was sure the fine army now in Now Zealand, and that portion of the fleet in their waters, would do their duty. (Hear.) " The Papakura Agiicnltural Association " (Cheeis ) The Chairman said this was the next toast on his list, and he proposed it with veiy gieat pleasiuo, and he joined most heartily with its promoteis in wishing it every success. He leoollected very great nnpiovement in the district since he camo to it, chiefly through the operations of the association ; and although the progress made had not been so maiked as he could have deslied, still the unsettled state of the countiy for the past 12 months, hod been o, great check to them. He would

connect with the toast the name of thoii worthy secictary, Mr. Middlenias (Hear ) Mr. Hay wished to make an obsei vation before the toast was drunk. The toast had been placed on his list, ag one to be pioposed by himself, but he would merely supplement what had fallen from the chairman by a few remaiks, touching the foundation and operations pt the Papaknra association. The way in which it was originated was this. He (Mr. Hay), with four or five other settleis in the diatiict, met to conaider the best means for cairying out ceitain necessary improvement'?, and they ' determined, at their dehbeiations, to form themselves into an agricultural asbociation. They saw what the country wanted ; and, knowing that union was stiength, lesolved on combined action Other names woie soon enteied on the list, for the scttkus were not slow to see the gieat advantage there^ was in applying to the government, in then associate capacity, when they lequired certain woiks to be completed A number of men were usually attended to. when an individual would hardly be heaid By means of their association then, they had had public woika completed or enteied on in then district, which had greatly improved it They had got bi ldgcs aci oss the swamps ft om the action of the assoc 1a tiou ; and it was its influence brought to bear, that had forced the roads to be made afterwards It was also by means of this association that coal had been discovered in thib piovince. (Applause.) It was after one of their meetings, at which the subject had • been discussed, th it four 01 five membeis took their spades, picks, and shovels on their backs, walking into the bush, and did not lest satisfied until they had demonstrated the fact that a coal mine existed in the immediate neighbourhood (Fleai ) These facts showed that the Papakiua association was wanted in the countiy ; and it was his belief that if it was more liberally suppoited it would effect a far gi eater amount of good than lntheito had maiked its operations But ho did not wish to see all the benefits resulting from . united action confined to the Papakura distiict Let the settleis elsewhere associate themselves together foi similar objects, and like results would follow. (Hcai.) They had now extended the held of their operations in the way of offoung pri/es for ceitain classes of stock, reared in the distiict, and it was to be hoped that they would have the suppoit and coopeiation of the settleis around. (Hear ) He had groat pleasuie in lecommending to them the toast of the " Papakiua Agri- , cultuial Association," coupled with the health of Mi. j Middlemas, as pioposed by the chairman. (Applause ) Mi. Middllmas responded — He Raid such occasions as the piesent weie beneficial to the geneial community. If tint was not the case, they weie of little woith , because it was natuial to suppose that subjects of geneial inteiest would be laised, and thoie was no knowing how much an opinion, utteied at an agucul tural meeting, might influence others beyond the lange ' of the society's operations In letuining thanks on behalf of the Papakuia association, he would say that it showed signs of healthy vitality It had gone on tlnousjh difficulties to which he need not lefcr , it had been suppoited so fai, and he would mention a fact woith knowing, that tho sales of cattle that day, in the maiket lealised about £500 (Heai ) That was a fact, on which he must eongiatulate the association, foi it was through it a monthly inaiket had been established at Papakiua It was also a subject foi congi atulation to both buyois and sellcis, because the loss of time and deteiioiation in value, consequent on driving their cattle to Newmaiket was saved to the selleis, while the buyeis did not sufFei fiom purchasing deteriorated stock. Coming to the last subject mentioned by Mi Hay — the discoveiy of coal in their district — he would conoboiate what that gentleman sUted. It was a wet, miseiable day, when he, with Mi Claie, and some otheis, went into the Hunua, with then woikmg tools on their shouldeis, to seal eh foi coal, and if any good should lesult to this colony fiom the publication of the " Ciuise of the ' Novaia,'" it was entnely to be attii buted to the fact nanated The two tons of coal, which the membus of the Papakura association digged out of the caith, and foi wauled to Sjduey, and to which Sn William Denison alluded, had the efltxt of causing the Austnan frigate ' Novai.i,' then lying in Sydney, to \ lsit New Zealand for it had not been in contemplation to visit this countiy dining the ciuise This showed them that cncumstanccs, often tirvul in themselves, might have gieat effect on the destinies of a countiy, and also in advancing tho cause of science (Hear ) But tho association had a dueet local bearing , and theiefoie commended itself the moie to then sympathies Then combination had nothing political in it They were combined with .a view of developing the agiicultiual mtoiests of the distiict, and thcicfoie it was the duty of all the scttleis to join (Heai ) He hoped thei c would be considerable accessions to the list of membeis dm ing the cunont year. Mi Middlemis then lefened to the subject of fiee trade, and suggested that tho membeis should think ovei the mattei, foi Ins opinion was that fiee tiacle was not desnable for young communities when they had to contend with old countiics, possessed of wealth, and having then natuial iesomi.es fully developed Mr livi pioposed " The agncultuial iuteiests of the distiict ' He said they could not say much foi then ngiicultmal advancement, but tlioic were good giounds foi congialulation ntveitheless The chief drawbacks had been that they had had no maikets to send then pioduce to ; and if they had had a maiket, them weie no loads on which to cany their pioduce, until lecoutly, to Otahuhu 01 Auckland But now that the roads weie made, he hoped they would be kept in lepan, and not let fall into the state of the Ofcahnhu loads last winter, which weie woise than tho tiaeks in the Papakiua district, foi then they had had no roads made. (Ueai and laughter ) Tho appearance of tho cattle at the maiket that day spoke well foi the distiict; and the maiket itself was of gieat s*uvice One of their late settlei-j had lecently put in then pos session a feitilisei — lime — winch could be had at their own doors at compaiatively little cost, and thus save much expense and laboiu in piocuung bone dust, guano, or other aitificial niamuos The feitilisni" qualities of the lime had not been geneuilly tested, but ho hoped these would soon be ascettained Anothei fact testifying to the agiicultui.il development of the distuct was the pioduce of the cheese dames in tho Wanoa, foi m no othiu distiict, taking a cncuit of ten miles lound Auckland, could they name a place which produced so many tons of cheese in the yeai as the W.ai ion (Hear ) He would give " The agucultural and pastoial iuteiests of the distiict " Mr. llendfbson lesponded. 110 said he had seen gieat impiovements effected w lthin tho last ]S months, but he had not been long enough lcsidcut m the locality to estimate accuiately what had been done He would do his best to assist m eveiy way he could. Roads weie the chief thing. Having got the mam load, they should see to have the blanch loads completed as soon as possible He was gl.ul to find a, maiket for the sale of stock established at Papakiua, for it would bo a matter of deep legtet to him if they weie compelled to drive then beasts to town befoie they could sell them Mr. Awked BucktvND pioposed the health of the ''successful candidates," and made special lefereuce to the libeial prizes of Mr. 3?isk, to whom much of the success of the show was to be attubutod Theie had been difficulties m their ■nay, which he hoped they would not encountei ue\t year, and besides theie was not enough time to cany out the auongements foi the show. Kov Mr. NonEir responded He said it was owing to puiely accidental cncuinstances th.it he called on to icspond to tho toast, foi it was his friend, Mi , Geoige Gaiduer, who was not then piesent, that ought to have acknowledged it He was totally unacquainted with agiicultiual pui suits when he came to their distiict, but had learned much from expeuenco, and could sympathise with the eaily settleis m the dif ficulties they weie called upon to encountei He had hoped, when sitting down to dinner, that he would have escaped making a speech, seeing that the toast of " the clergy," usually duuikat agiiculluial lestivalsat home, could not well be given, as he was now the only minister in the distiict But fiom the effoits being made, at no distant day tint toast mi^lit be given He would now say that he would welcome cveiy woikei with himself in the good cause in their neighbouihood, and when other oig.unsations than that with which he was connected had been completed, and they had ministers of other denominations among them, ho would endeavour to provoke his bi other cleigy to jealousy, not in the spmt of envy, but to emulate each othei in good woiks. (Hear) Tli.it spirit, he was sine, would animate the members of the association , and he would at all times bo ■willing to render what assistance he could to the Papakura association m the impoitant woik of developing the agiicultmal lesources of tho distiict. Mr. & Gaudnek also briefly lesponded. He came into the loom befoio Mi. Nonie had concluded. " The health of the judges." Mr Wallace acknowledged the toast "The Pi ess" was pioposed by Mr. Oiusp, and lesponded to by Mr. Crbimiton, Southern Cross, and Mr Yon Stunner, New Zcalander. Mr. Middlfmas, in complimentary terms, proposed the "health of Mr. Pisk," who had clone so much towaids encouraging their association, although he was the hon. secietaiy of anothei society. The toist was diunk with honois. Mi PISK lesponded. He said he was not desirous of appropriating praise where it was undeseived He had, in tho first instance, offeied a pn/e to the best colt got by " Honest Tom," to bo competed for at Newmaiket. The committee at first accopted his offei, but afterwaids declined it on the ground that the owneis of the other entire horses in the distiict might be displeevaed. He then determined on. splitting the siun, and,

offering two prizes at the Papakura show, with the view of securing a laiger exhibition of young stock, got by his own horse. The Papakura association, therefore, got the prize at second hand, and had nothing to thank him for, because he gave the prize to be competed for, not to benefit the association, but he would honestly admit, to benefit himself. (Applause.) With that- view, he would next, year give a silver cup, value ten guineas, aa a pii/e for the best foal out of " Honest Tom." (Eenewed applause ) And now he would make a remark on this subject which might not be out of place. In his native county it was customary for the owners of every entire horse, walking a district, to give a prize to be competed for annually at the local sho-v, by the foah got by his hoi so In that way the fanners were able to tell the best horses ; for the relative merits of sires could notbe known unless their gets were brought together foi inspection. If some such plan was adojited hero it would be of sjreat hei\ice in enabling breeders to decide which was the best sue. Theie weie now some twenty five or twenty-six entne horees walking the district in Auckland, and he could not help saying that it would be bettei for the owners of some of these hoises, and indeed for all parties, if they were placed in the hands of Mr. Austin, oi some other veterinary surgeon. (Hear.) He had gieat pleasure in acknowledging the toast of his health. " The health of the chairman " was given and responded to. A variety of complimentaiy toast? and songs followed , and the company separated after spending a veiy pleaiant evening It should be added that although no dogs weic exhibited, to compete for the prues, a collie was bought by Mr. Hay for £2.—" Southern Cross," November 8.