AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5574, 3 January 1879, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The usual monthly meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural, and Pastoral Association was held yesterday afternoon, at the new’ offices of the Association, Union Insurance Buildings ; present—Hon .John Hall (in the chair), Messrs W. Norman,' J. Deans, A. Duncan, Murray-Aynsley, J. Bruce, MTlraith, W. Boag, G. Qilmour, J- Ferguson, F. C. Tabart, J. W. Motley, W. Henderson, aud J. T. Ford. . ' Accounts to the amount of £125 16s Id were passed for payment. A number of docuhtents connected with the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland were presented to the Society by Mr W. Norman, who stated that he had received them from Mr Wilkin. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to Mr Wilkin for his courtesy in forwarding so complete and interesting a collection. The report of the sub-committee for the Ram Fair was read. It recommended that tho Ram Fair should be held on tho Association Grounds on Thursday, March 6, This was adopted. - The Committee’s recommendations with rogoi’d to the sale on the next .day were referred bock to the sub-committee, Mr Tabart’s name being added to the sub-com-mittee. Tho report of the Committee on trial of reapers and binders was read. It recommended that entries of machines should close on Jan. 4 (to-morrow); that the trial should take place in an 80-acro paddock of Mr Boag’s on some day in January; that seven judgesbe appointed, five practical farmers and two engineers. Tho Committee also suggested the rules to be observed at the trial. The time for closing entries was fixed as recommended. Mr Boag expressed his willingness to have the trial in his paddock. The meeting decided to odd another engineer to the list of judges, and adapted with trifling, alterations the rules suggested. The report as a whole was then adopted. The protest'of Mr JohnGrigg on the matter, of the age of the bull Leo was considered. A'■ telegram from Messrs Dougherty and Co., of i Melbourne, was read, as were also, letter and: statutory declaration from the breeder, Mr • Robert M’Dougall, of Arundel, Victoria, lind * a letter from the last gentleman’s overseer. From, these it appeared that tbe bull in . question was calved on July .l, 1876. A j certificate from Mr Hill, dated Dec. 9, XB7B, i gave his opinion, after inspecting the animal, I that the bull’s age was 2 years and 9 months/ Mr Murray-Aynsley moved, —“That the Committee having heard the statutory deola- ‘ ration from Mr M’Dosgall, disallow the pro-, test of Mr Grigg." Mr Henderson seconded tire motion, which was agreed to. The report of the Sub-Committee to arrange for the auction sale after the Show was, read, and its consideration postponed. A letter from Mr Henry Qualmer, offering to erect an hotel and stables on land dose to' the Show ground, the latter capable of accommodating 60 horses and cattle, was read. The meeting decided that the matter was cine the Association could not interfere in. A letter from Messrs Coates and Go. was read, quoting the approximate pride at which gold medals could bo.supplied from thepre*. sent dies at £2B each; the gold to be 22 carat. It suggested that no action should be taken till they had communicated with their medallist. A letter from Mr Charles J. Hill, enclosing samples and catalogues from the medallist Wyon, was read, ft stated that the cost of making 4dz. gold medals would be about 80s in England. It was resolved to thank Mr Hill for his letter, and .to defer action until Messrs Coates had communicated with their, medallist. A letter from the North Otago P. and A. Association’s secretary, applying for oopies of; the County Journal for a number of that Society’s mein hers, was read, and it was resolved to comply with the request of Mr Church, and to inform ' him that it was intended to send copies of the journal to the kindred societies in the Middle Island. The following new members were elected; Messrs Thomas Eatterson, 0. B. Taylor C. Cuff; G. Franks, T. A. Winter, A. Saunders, W. UUyett, and John Greenaway. : Mr A, Duncan moved —“ That all prizes ’ not claimed within'six months of the date of show shall revert to (be Association." Mr seconded tho resolution which was agreed to. r < : ;i (- Mr Duncan tailed the , ,qf the Association. to the . state in which ihe Show -Grounds had been left by the Foresters after their file bn Boxing Dsy. 'He thought it would be worth wbde ih&t the Association should take into oonsidemtion the question whether or not it Was advisable to let the ground again for any. similar purpose. It was resolved to let this Foresters know, the disgraceful state in wfaieh the ground bad bqen left. . " ; . The meeting then adjourned.