Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society.

Hastings Standard, Issue 416, 3 September 1897, Page 3

Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society.

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the committee of the H.B. Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held in the Borough Chambers, Hastings, this morning. Present —Messrs Coieman (chair), FitzRoy, Hislop, Well wood, Potts, Hunter, Campbell, A. McLean, D. McLean, Crosse, Osmond, J. H. Williams, Captain Russell, McHardy, J. N. Williams and Smith. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from W iiliams and Kettle asking for an alteration in the programme affecting the exhibiting of English seeds. The committee decided not to make any alteration. It was decided to interpret the expression "local seed" as meaning New Zealand seed. The following judges were appointed : —Dairy cows, John Anderson ; pigs, Mr Lancaster, Palmerston X. ; bacon, Mr Lancaster, Palmerston N. Stewards : Leicester?, G. W. Heslop ; sporting dogs, Mr Drummond. The secretary suggested expending £1 each in advertising with the following papers :—Manawatu Standard, Wairarapa Star, Waipawa Mail, Wanganui Chronicle and the Hastings Standard.—The chairman thought the Hastings Staxiard should get more support than it received hitherto. —Mr Wellwood though it was just throwing £i away. He would suggest advertising in the Napier papers and the Standard. —The chairman could not agree with the last speaker, as to follow out his argument there was no necessity to advertise in the Standard because every one in Hastings knew about the show.—Mr J. N. Williams remarked that many people in Hastings take the Standard and no other paper. —The chairman said he pitied them. He saw a copy once by accident and had no desire to see it again. It was behind the times. — Mr Fitzßoy said it contained later news than the Napier papers. —Mr Wellwood proposed that the Standard Waipawa Mail, and the Napier papers be the only papers advertised in. There being no seconder the motion fell through. —It was decided on the motion of Mr T. Crosse to advertise in the five papers mentioned, at a cost of £5. The secretary asked for instructions with regard to what Band should be engaged to play a t the Show. The local band was £0 cheaper than the Napier one and was very good. Captain Russell thought in a question of merit in bands the balance always lay with the one possessing the biggest drum.—lt was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the out committee. The secretary was instructed to make inquiries with regard to the facilities for running a special train from Palmerston North on show day. The* Jockey Club wrote, stating that the second stand was dangerous and needed repairs, amounting to £">s, and that they intended to enlarge the grand stand at a cost of £9O. 1 hey asked the society for a contribution towards the expense.—A. desultory discussion ensued. It was ultimately decided, on the motion of Captain Russell, to contribute half the cost, £72 10s, of this •work on condition that the facilities for collecting entrance fees will not be interfered with. Mr Anderson proposed that all future meetings of the A. and P. Society be held in Hastings. There was no reason for being dragged down to Napier. He could come to Hastings in one day whilst going to Napier meant losing three days. Mr Fitzßoy seconded the motion. Captain Russell said he would vote for the motion on the ground that go-

ing to Napier was a waste of time, but his principal reason for doing so was that ho found when the members of the committee got to Napier they had an appointment with their dentist or lawyer, and were constantly leaving the committee-room to attend to their private business to the detriment of the society. He noticed when the meetings were held in Hastings the members displayed much more interest in their work; for instance to-day the debate on the question of contributing to the Jockey Club was gone thoroughly into. Mr Well wood had beard it said that the removal of the headquarters would incur the displeasure of the residents of Napier, but be gave the people credit for more sense. The whole affair, if it were discussed, would be forgotten in three months. It was a great expense and a loss of time so much so that the small farmer class, who wero scarcely represented on the committee, could not aftord to sit on it. The consequence was that the society lost the services of these good useful men, who though they may not be able to speak brilliantly possessed a fund of sound practical experience and common sense which would be invaluable to the Society. Mr R. D. D. M'Lean asked what about the Napier rooms if the resolution was passed. Mr Beilby (secretary) explained that the lease was just out. Mr J. D. Ormond thought the removal of the meetings to Hastings would be detrimental to the Society. No other society of this kind that he knew of held its meetings at any town other than the principal one of the district. With regard to Mr Wellwood's argument about the expense to small farmers he wculd remind Mr Well wood that there were a great many small farmers in the Taradale district. Mr Fitzßoy thought the convenience of the majority should be considered. Mr Smith said that the Labor Association of Napier held a meeting the other day and it expressed a hope that the Society would not change to Hastings as an idea was entertained by them to snare the rooms of the Society, thus lessening the rent. The Chamber of Commerce would also make use of the rooms, for their meetings which would reduce the rent by two-thirds. He opposed the idea of changing the Society's headquarters. Mr J. N. Williams said if he consulted his own convenience he would decide in favor of Hastings, but he felt it would damage the society, and would tend to limit the field of ils operations. People living outside Hastings would call the society the Hastings Agricultural Society. It of course remained open to the members to hold occasional meetings here, but he opposed changing permanently. Captain Russell could not see how the fact of some country gentlemen belonging to a country society meeting in the country could possibly matter to any one. What did it matter to Napier holiday makers who wished to attend the show where the committee met. It was ridiculous that people who bad to come a long distance to Hastings should be compelled to proceed another 16 miles further to-attend a meeting which could be held here. Mr Hislop said he would support the motion if the annual meeting were held in Napier. Mi* R. D. I). McLean, M.11.R., deprecated such a sudden change, which would not be conducive to the welfare of'the Society. He would rather have occasional or alternate meetings in Hastings. Mr Anderson did not see why Napier should be considered; if they wanted a holiday they would have it no matter where the committee met. He agreed with Captain Russell that the business of the society would be better conserved by holding the meetings here. On three occasions he rode from Kereru to the meetings at Napier only to find there was not a quorum. In reply to the chair, he said these three occasions extended over six years. Mr A. M'Lean supported the motion on the ground of economy. They could save the £34 annually they were paying for rent. The Chairman put the question, which resulted in eight members voting for the motion and eight against. The Chairman gave his casting vote against the motion, which was declared lost. The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister for Public Works with reference to building the Mohaka bridge. This concluded the business.