AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2986, 6 August 1870, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

A Meeting of the Council was held in the offices of Messrs W. Wilson and Co., High street, yesterday afternoon. Mr R. Wilkin was voted to preside, Messrs Duncan, Norman, Walls, Sheppard (treasurer,) Mitchell, Fereday, Fantham, Bruce, and £. B. Bishop (hon sec); being also in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were, read and confirmed. Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the Treasurer was authorised to obtain a small overdraft at the Bank to meet the six months interest on mortgage, now accruing due, A letter was read from Mr R. H. Rhodes offering to give a prize of £lO for the best cheese made by hired servants who have the entire management of the dairies in which the cheese is made. The Secretary was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter with thanks.

Mr Duncan said he ought to have written to the Council respecting a prize he intended offering. It had been customary for previous Mayors of the city to give a silver cup for competition amongst the Rifle Volunteers, but as there were at present two of these enps still in abeyance, the ownership not having been decided, he thought that instead of following the course of bis predecessors, he might with greater advantage offer a prize to some other public body. In consonance with this he had made arrangements for procuring a cup, value £lO 10s, from England, and be would ask the Council .to accept it for competition by colonial manufacturers of Agricultural implements. He would write formally to the Secretary to this effect. The Chairman expressed the thanks of the Council, and the manner in which the cup was to be offered was left an open matter. A letter was read from the hon. secretary of the Horticultural Society, enclosing a resolution passed by the committee of that society relative to the desirability of bolding another Horticultural Show in connection with the forthcoming cattle show.. The Secretary was directed to reply that the show would be allowed to be held on the same terms as last year.

It was resolved that the annual exhibition should be held as hitherto, on tlw Prince of Wales’ Birthday—9th of November. The Treasurer was authorised to employ a collector for getting in the smnual subscriptions now due. A conversation ensued relative to the holding of a champion ploughing match during the present year. The Secretary said that Mr Brunsden, who had hitherto instituted proceedings for these competitions, being ill, nothing had as yet been done for arranging one. The Chairman said it would be a pity to let these competitions fall throngh, and as no one else had done so, it would be well for the society to commence the matter by offering a subscription on consideration that a committee was formed to second their efforts by procuring furtber amounts, and arranging the match.

Mr Duncan was of opinion that these matches should be got up in connection with the Agricultural Society, who haring agreed upon a donation, should appoint a subcommittee to act in concert with others interested, and solicit the co operation of the outlying farmers’ clubs or match committees. A champion match was of importance to all districts, and they should therefore extend their aid in promoting such a competition. After a brief discussion, this course was approved, and Messrs Norman, Bruce, and Walls, were appointed a committee to carry dut the details of the suggestion, £lO being placed at their disposal. Messrs Gould, Wilkin, Wasbbourn, Higgins, Mitchell. Grigg, and Fereday, were reappointed as a committee to revise the catalogue for the forthcoming exhibition ; report to be submitted to the Council in a fortnight from the present date. The following additional offers of private prizes were notified :—Mr G. Gould. £2O for the best merino ram ; Mr J. Walls, £5 5s for the best yearling colt or filly by Sir Colin Campbell; Mr W. D. Barnard, silver cup for the best calf by either of his bulls; Messrs Coates and Co., £lO 10s for the exhibitor taking the largest number of prizes. On the motion of Mr Fereday, votes of thanks were formally awarded to all the donors of prizes. The Secretary was instructed to advertise the private prizes already promised, and to state that he was prepared to receive further offers from gentlemen desirous of presenting any. The Council then adjourned