Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1845, 3 February 1888, Page 2

Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

A meeting of the general committee of the Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Thursday. Present — Messrs. Lysaght (President), Fantham (Vice- President), Caverhill (Secretary), D. McLean, Dive, J. Mason, Riddiford, Davidson, Babbage, D. Buchanan, Hicks, Heslop, Hastie, Yorke, and Winks.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Secretary read a balance-sheet setting forth the financial results of the show held on November 30, as follows :—: —

Receipts. — To special call, nine members at 10s each, £4 10s ; life member's subscription, £5 ; members' subscriptions, 1887-8, £87; do, overdue, 1886-7, £2; special prizes, £37 4s 6d ; booths, £1 ; catalogues, £6 4s 6d ; gate money, £61 16s; entries, £113 7s 6d; refund prize money (P. Petersen), £1 ; balance, 8s 7d ; total, £319 11s Id.

Expenditure. — By balance, £32 18s 6d ; G. V. Bate, overcharged, 1886-87, 19s 9d ; advertising, £9 8s Gd ; judges' expenses, £5 ; stationery, £1 Is 6d ; prize money, £176 16s 6d; expenses 6how, £10 5s 9d ; ground improvement, £7 17s ; band, £5 ; advertising, £3 ; judges' expenses, £17 3s 8d ; luncheon, £7 19s 6d ; postages, etc., £9 ; secretary's commission, £31 ; cheque book, 8s 4d ; interest on overdraft, £1 14s Id ; total, £319 11s Id.

Assets.— Yards, etc., coßt £120, £75; hurdles, £29 ; members' subscription, £6; members' special call, £12 ; total, £122.

LuBiLiTiES.-Advertising : Daily News, £1 ss; Wanganui Herald, £2; Star, adverttsing, printing, and etc., £28 13s 6d ; Taranaki Herald, £1 10s ; ground improvement : Sash and Door Factory, £3 9s ; Robbins and Pierard, £1 4s Id ; hurdles, Sish and Door Factory, £9 ; balance, £75 Gs 8d ; total, £122. Wm. J. Caverhill, Treasurer.

Hawera, February 2.

The President thought tbe result must be regarded as very satisfactory. Starting with a debit balance from the last year of £49 8s 3d, they now had only liabilities amounting to i-46 13s 4d outstanding, against which there were of available assets, leaving some £29 liability. Their assets included some £9 worth of new hurdles, besides £.20 worth in hand from the year previous, so that if the hurdles were sold they would Btart next year with yards valued at £15 and a clear sheet. The list of subscribers showed a considerable augmentation and the accession of strength to the association coupled with its improved financial position should encourage other settlers to join tbe ranks. After some discussion as to the items in accounts presented they were passed by tbe meeting subject to the finance committee making enquiry as to the items queried.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Mr. Fantham asked whether it would not be possible to hold the annual meeting shortly so as to get the new officers elected and let the work of the association be gone on with without delay. Many thought this year's show was held too late in the year. And if a show were $o be held earlier it would be necessary to secure judges, &c, much sooner than had been done this year.

It was pointed out that the rules fixed the annual meeting should be held in June. This left five months to make arrangements which should be sufficient.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION.

Mr. Yorke said he noticed tbat the new Wanganui A. and P. Society fixed their subscription at 10s. He suggested that the advisableness of lowering the subscription to tbe Egmont Association should be considered.

Several members agreed that it would be inadvisable to move in that direction at tbe present time.

MEAT-TINNING ADVERTISEMENT.

Tbe President said be had omitted to draw members' attention to the fact that 36s charged to the society for advertising was in connection with the meetings called to consider meat-tinning proposals. The advertisements had been issued under the authority of the society, and he supposed it was liable ; he only mentioned the matter so that anyone who might object to such expenditure should have a chance of protesting, and not say the item had been smuggled through. He believed it was the duty of the society to foster any proposal intended to benefit farmers and graziers.

It was pointed out that many farmers an<l others not members of tbe society were likely to benefit by the expenditure without having become members or contributed to the expense. It was hoped, however, that they would recognise the fact, and make amends by joining the society.

NORMANBY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Attention was called to the fact that the Normanby Horticultural Society had last year voted £2 2s to a prize given by the A. and P. Society. The Secretary asked whether the committee proposed to make a similar grant to the sister society? After some discussion it was resolved, on tbe motion of Mr. Fantham, seconded by Mi. Dive, to grant £2 2s to the Normanby Horticultural Society as prizes for the best grass seeds locally grown ; the committee of the Horticultural Society to allot the prizes as they thought best.

SITE OF SHOVT.

Mr. I. Bayly said he quite agreed with the position of the society was much better than it had been and that it was now after a highly successful show decidedly better than it bad been a year or so back. He would move, tbat a committee be appointed to enquire into what arrangements can be made with Mr. Fantbam and with the Egmont Racing Club for obtaining the race-ground for A. and P. show purposes. The committee to consist of Messrs Davidson, D. McLean, Dive, Rirfdiford, Winks, Buchanan, Heslop, E. Mcßae, W. Caverhill, Yorke, and the mover.

Mr. Davidson declined to act, he had always opposed any attempt to shift the show-ground, and should continue to oppose it, though be alone opposed it. Messrs. McLean and Buchanan would also oppose tbe proposed change, and did not wish to act on the committee, but agreed to act later on when the resolution had been slightly amended. Mr. Fantham thought- the committee should not be tied to any one site*. Tbe present site was too far from the railway to be suitable,- and without going to the racecourse there might be other sites convenient to the railway station where the

'show could be held. From bis ex^te*. c with the Eaoing Clab, he was not tattoos to have any more dealings with a^pjnblio body under lease. The Racing Cjub^was 'trying to take advantage of him then, even on that very day ; and from wh& bad been said, be should probably be constrained to putting the club straight on the matters in dispute. The lease was so framed that it was possible to evade some conditions. There were other mat* ters in connection with the A. and_P. Society the sub-committee would do well to enquire into. Mr. Bayly said the Bacing Club was not like the A. and P. Association. The latter only wanted .the ground for a day or two ; the Eacing Club wanted it fre-'

The motion having been amended so^afe to require the committee to report on the best site for holding future shows, was carried without dissent.

THANKS TO SECEETAEY.

Mr. Winks desired tbat the society should not omit to recognise that the success of the last show was chiefly doe to the secretary's offorts. He trusted the, society would recognise that in a substantial manner.

Mr. I. Bayly said tbe secretary had worked early and late at show business, ~ and had largely helped to make it a success. He had, however, received a per centage on the receipts, which Mr. Winks having come ofter the balance sheet had been read over, did not seem to know.

Mr. Dive moved a cordial vote of thanks " to the secretary, who had devoted c6nj£ siderable time and much trouble to the affairs of the society.

Mr. Biddiford in seconding, said that he had heard their secretary's conduct of tbe business referred to in most complimentary terms by members of .other, societies and comparisons very favorable" to Mr. Caverhill had been- drawn 'by ; visitors as between the Egmont Association secretary and others. ' ' ' ' - Mr. Fantham suggested that the' annual : general meeting in June was the proper time to consider such a resolution as mat' before the association. •'■:/,; This view met with much support. But the vote was passed unamiously, so as not to let the occasion pass without one recognition of the secretary's labors. The meeting adjourned at 5 p.m. '

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