NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3318, 5 March 1868, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Thb annual meeting of the Society was held at the Criterion Hotel on Tuesday, the 3rd instant, at 3 o'clock p.m., Mr. John Wallace, president, in the chair. The number of members present, though Inge, was not so great at it ought to have been, and as was expected, considering the importance of the business to be transacted. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Secretary read the following report : — " ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND AGEIGCL-

TURJIL SOCIBTT. " The officers, in presenting the annual report of the Society, have much pleasure in Announcing that, notwithstanding the dullness of the times, the number of members has nob decreased during the past year.

" Autumnal Show. — It will be in tne reconection of the members that, within a few days after the present officers took office, the Society's autumnal show was held in the Otahuhu Public Hall, and, although ib was the first attempt of the kind, the result showed that the settlers appreciated aa exhibition of that nature. There were ninetythree entries made in aIL Though the number of the exhibits in the various classes was not so great »s could be desired, yet the quality of them showed that if such exhibitions were regularly held and properly supported, a great amount of benefit would result to the settlers at large.

" Ploughing jlnd Draining Match. — The Society held its annual ploughing and draining match on July 19, 1867, in a field near Otahuhu, belonging to Mr. Hume. It is regretted that the committee were not in a position to offer more encouragement to intending competitors at these matches. The work done on the occasion referred to was quite equal to that performed at any of the prerious matches, and experience goes to shovr (especially in these days of keen competition amongst agriculturists) that none of the mechanical operations performed on the toil are of greater importance than ploughing and draining. By these operations mainly ii the soil got into a proper state to receive the manure for the crops intended to be grown.

"Cattlb Show.— The annual cattle show of the Society, which w»s held at the Remuera Sale Yarda on November 13, 1867, was not, the offise-beareri regret to say, such a successful one as tbej hoped it would have been. ' " The committee attribute the non-disposition of stockholders to exhibit their stock to a variety of causes, which it ii not necessary to enumerate here ; but it is to be hoped that, with the return of better times, the Society will be placed in possession of funds sufficient to enable it to accomplish that which such a Society is designed to fulfil." The Treasurer submitted the following balancesheet:— t i

Jamis Robbrtson, Jun., TreMurer. w. T v^,""'! Aadito "- Moved by Mr. Babsett, seconded by Mr. Lewis, that the report be adopted. — Carried. Mr. Andrews, in a few explanatory remarks, moved the adoption of the series of resolutions which he had given notice of at last monthly meeting. Mr. Luke seconded the motion. Several members requested Mr. Andrews to move the resolutions seriatim, as they could not rote for them as a whole, but would be happy to vote for part of them. Mr. Andrews declined to accede to the request, but placed the resolutions entirely at the disposal of the members. Motion put and negatived. Moved by Mr. ktmoniAN', seconded by Mr. Andrews, " Thatthe Superintendent of the province be requested to act us president of the Society for the ensuing year." — Carried. Moved by Mr. Bassett, seconded by Mr. R. Robebtson, "That John Kerr, Esq., be one of the vice- presidents. " — Carried. Moved by Mr. Bent, seconded by Mr. Virooe, "That F. C. Lewis, Esq., be one of the vice* presidents for the ensuing year." — Carried. Moved by Mr. Bassitt, seconded by Mr. Robertson, " lhat Mr. Luke be treasurer for the ensuing year." — Carried. . Moved by Mr. R. Robertson, seconded by Mr. C. T. When, "That Mr. Gordon be secretary for the ensuing year." — Carried. Moved by Mr. Runciman, seconded by Mr. Waits, " lhat Messrs. R. Bent and A. P. Allom be the auditors for the ensuing year." — Carried. A vote of thanks to the retiriDg president terminated the proceedings.

Dr. 'o Cash in Bank On account of Cattle Show Autumnal Show Ploughing and Draining Match Members' subscription! CattlcShow H e. d. ... 198 2 4 ... 7 12 0 ... 10 16 6 ... 15 16 6 ... 21 0 0 ... 94 10 3 i6?4717l

Balance-sheet of the New ZsitAND AgriCtTLTTTBAIi SOCIETI POB THE YEAR 1867*8.

Cr. £ b. d. >y Cash paid on account of Cattle Show 144 0 0 Autumnal Show 19 10 0 Ploughing and Draining Match ... 36 4 0 General expenditure 28 1 6 Cattle Show 55 9 0 Cashinßank 15 12 4 Cash in hand 49 0 9