OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 10398, 20 August 1897, Page 2

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The animal meeting of .the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society . was held in the Board, Room of the Agricultural Buildings this ■pfternoon. Mr James Smith (president) occupied , the. chair, and- there were present—Messrs T. Brydone. W. Jaffray, W, Blaokie, J. Angus, J. Gbw, Chatteris, W. Charters, J. Allan, Douglas, J. Oughton, A. C. Begg, Souter, A. M‘ifarlane, R. Campbell, W.Tatriok, J. Reid, A. Bartleman, T. Callender, Waters, Thompson. Jeffs, H: Vi Fulton, G. Moir, Bart, London, G. S. Lintott, Roberts, Dr Smith,' Arthur, C. Turnbull, Landells,' A. Sligo, Todd, W. A. Moore,' Morns, Millar, Wood, Elliott, James Allan, M. J. S. Mackenzie, J. Shiel, J. Smith,, jun., Gray, J. Hazlett, Sinclair Thomson, J. Wright, Johnston, Lethbridge, J. Duthie, Henderson, A, S. Paterson, John Mill, D. Baxter,, J. Stephenson, Hon. T. Fergus, J. Burrows, A. Stronach, Hislop, H. Keenan, R. M. Clark, J. A. Millar, P. Williams, J. C. Short, Scott, Sinclair, Dr Fulton, M‘Ghie, E. Fulton, Orhell, apd Johnson.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report, which has, previously been published, was taken as read. The Chairman said ; In the drat place I would remind you that this society was founded in 1876, twenty-one years, ago, therefore it has now attained its majority. Although in its boyhood it had many ailments and difficulties to contend with, yet the success it has achieved daring the last few years leaves no doubt in my mind that it has cast aside all the weaknesses'of youth B>nd has blossomed nut into a vigorous and healthy manhood. ' If it has the success in the future it has had for the last few years, there is no doubt it will increase in usefulness year by year to the farming community, and by benefiting the farmeri it is helping the whole, community! for after all the farmers afe the backbone of the country. I am pleased to say the farmers are beginning to recognise the utility of our society, as is evidenced by the number of them wishing to uecome members. .We are under a deep debt of gratitude to the three or four gentlemen who originated the movement fop building this magnificent hall. Without such a hall for our winter shows we were handicapped in either not having room enough for our exhibits or for our visitors to inspect the exhibits; indeed it was painfully evldent to us at our last winter show that wo had not left room enough for our visitors. Notes, however, have been taken by the various members of committee of any defects there were, which will be remedied in future as far as lies in our power. ,We found out last year that we were hampered for room at Tahuna Park. We therefore approached the Ocean Beach Domain Board and obtained from them an additional six acres at a peppercorn rental. This neoessitated a lot of new fencing, new cattle and ißheep pens, and a lot of extra shed accommodation, the total cost of which was £603.' This seems a large sum, but your Committee thought that as it had to be done it should be done properly, and all the improvements made were of a most substantial character. It is satisfactory to state that the whole amount has been provided for out of the year s profits, and is therefore written off. At present I cannot see that we will require to spend much in improvements this year unless proper office accommodation is provided, which is urgently needed. This is a question your Committee will have to take into consideration Lvery shortly. The - balancesheet shows that our subscriptions are fGo more than last year, our gate money £366, and out entrance fees £239 while our interest has gone down £72, i m th , ink > , ia very satisfactory indeed. The large increase in gate money is no doubt due to a large extent to the phenomenal success of last winter show. ✓ held during the week of the record reign festivities. Some people say; “ You will not have such an attendance again. It was only on account of the Jubilee you had so many peop! o this year.” I do not agree with this, as I maintain that the bulk of the visitors to Dunedin came to see the winter ahow. All the other things—illuminations, etc.—were only looked upon as side shows, and I feel sure the truth of this will be borne out when the next winter show comes round. There is a very general feeling of regret amongst your Committee at the lack of interest taken in the farm oompetitions. To think that there are only eight farmers in Otago and Southland who consider their farms well enough kept to enter for these prizes shows that they are either a very modest or a very careless lot. You will notice that Mr Gilroy, having won tho shield outright for the small farm competltion, is determined that this contest shall nob die out, and has presented the society with two very handsome bronze ornaments to take the place of the shield and has made a proviso that the winner and runner-up be excluded, from competing. It is to be hoped that with two ji. 0 ™ a^ e competitors as Mr Gilrov aud Mr Blackie put of the way farmers will roll up in large numbers and try to secure this coveted honor. The field turnip competitions, suggested two years ago by Mr Begg, have helped to popularise the society m ore than any thing else it has taken up, and will, 1 think, become more popular year by year. Yoar Committee feel very grateful to the two gentlemen who gave np so much time and did so much travelling this last year to inspect all the fields entered for these competitions. I must now thank the Committee for the very generous support accorded me during the past year. They have all given a great deal of time, and have worked hard to make our fixtures a success. I am sure they will agree with me when- T say their work has been a pleasure to them, for the simple reason that they had every confidence that all the details would faithfully carried out by their able, eneraetic up-to-date secretary, Mr Duthie— (hearty applanse)-who, to put the thing in a'nutshell is the kernel of the whole concern. Gentlemen, I have much pleasure in moving IV-TlpX.t tep " t “ a congratulated the society ou their financial he® founl ing the ba k™e.shee6 he found that the society had started tho yearwßh a debit balance of £6l 18s lid, £BB hed With - a credit balance of fwA A d -’ 8hovn “« thafc these two items dnrfn« fl! mproVed T heirpOS^tionb y £lso49 7d yea i' J addition to this £350 of debentures had been paid off during the year, and had been replaced by £250 deposits, wmch made another £l,O by which 1 * m P roved their position, making £-50 4s 7d altogether. But if thotr took the £6O3 p los 8d on improvement at Tahuna Park and added that to the amount, the society had improved their poaiturn to the extent of £853 15s 3d.—(An. plause.) With regard to improvement ah Tahuna Park, while the- Ocean Bomb ■ a The contract had now been let, and .no doubt when the planting was done it would Lro P nnd e Bhel^ r and the heauty of the ground. .The society were touch indebted to the two bodies he had mentioned. The society were to be heartily congratulated upon the possession of the palatial pile of buildings they now occupied; The society now had a visibility which was lacking before. Formerly, when one wanted to know where to find tho society or to communicate with them, he had ta search about, but the Agricultural Buildings now stared the people in the face. As tothe necessity for the society, farmers, graziers etc., were scattered all over the country* and hence were not so much in. touch with one another as some people, were, and they wanted some society which should voice the common opinions and wishes and desires of farmers throughZl all kl *w that farmers had many difficulties to contend with—difficulties of all sorts in the vegetable kingdom, m the animal kingdom, and in the political l Lau B bter *> Beginning at oneend of the scale, they had the turnip fly, the' Hessian-fly, the sparrow, and the rabbit.

On the other end of the scale they had the rabbit inspector, the rabbit agent, and the land valuer, and probably these were as great pests to the farmer as the other animals.—(Laughter.) And one of the most dangerous enemies the farmer had was the theoretical politician.— (Applause.) Unfortunately, for our sins, there were many of these in New Zealand, and farmers had to see that they did non suffer from the designs and machinations of these persons, who as a rule never grew a patch of potatoes or a field of turnips in their lives, but spoke with confidence begotten of dense ignorance. That was the explanation of how we had so many schemes affecting farmers—schemes on the subjects of land tenure and land taxation. These theoretical politicians always had some scheme warranted to regenerate mankind. Farmers who were the sufferers ought to see that these schemes were not carried out, and the society should serve as a bulwark to them. The society should be able to speak with authority tho minds of tho farmers, and thus prevent results in legislation or otherwise such as he had indicated.—(Applause.) The motion was carried amid applause. ADDITION TO THE GOVERNORS. The Chairman said that he wished to move that another gentleman be added to the list of Governors—Mr Robert Campbell. —Mr Bbydonb seeond tho motion, which was carried with enthusiasm.—Mr Campbell briefly returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him. election of president. The Chairman said that as Mr James Shiel was the only gentleman nominated for the position of president he had much pleasure in declaring him duly elected.—(Loud applause.)—Mr Shiel then took the chair, and thanked the society for the position in which they had placed him. YICB-PRHSIDENT. There being only one nomination for the position of vice-president, Mr Andrew Todd was declared duly elected.—Mr Todd, who on rising to return thanks was enthusiastically received, thanked the members very heartilyfor electing him to the honorable position of vice-president. He would have preferred that some of the older members, with more experience, had been elected to fill the vacancy, but he would do his utmost to aid the president and Committee as far as he could to further tho interests of .the society. BLBOTION OF OTHER OFFICERS. Mr John Angus, proposed by Mr A. C. Stronach and seconded by Mr George Roberts, was elected to the position of treasurer. Messrs J. A. Gilruth, A. Hamilton, and W. D. Snowball were unanimously elected honorary veterinary surgeons of the society. Mr Thomas Callender was re - elected auditor, on the motion of Mr Bartleman, seconded by Mr J. A. Stewart. Mr James Hislop was elected honorary architect of the society, on tho motion s of Mr Brydosb, seconded by Mr James Smith. For tho vacancies on the Committee eighteen persons wero nominated, and a ballot resulted in the election of Mr James Smith, jun.. (Dunedin), Mr Allan (Allanton), Mr W. H. Taggart (Dunedin), Mr Robert Gawn (Mosgisl), Mr Walter Biackie (Mosgiel), Mr William Jaffray (East Taieri), Mr A. C. Stronach (Dunedin), Hon. T. Fergus (Dunedin), Mr A. M’Farlane (Dunedin), Mr J. A. Stewart (Dunedin), Mr William Charters (Mosgiel), and Mr Alex. 0. Begg (Dunedin). complimentary. Mr James Allbn, M.H.R., proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the officers and Committee of the society for their;services during the past year.—Mr J. Sinclair Thomson seconded the motion, which was carried with enthusiasm. Mr Scobie Mackenzie moved, and Mr A. Sligo seconded, a vote of thanks to the promoters of the Agricultural Building, to the judges, to friends who have donated special prizes, to tho Press, and to all others who have assisted to further the ends o! the society; and this was also carried without dissent. CONCLUSION, la accordance with custom, the ChairSIAN asked if any members wished to make any suggestions or speak on any subject in •connection with tho objects of the society, and, there being no response, the meeting closed.