CANTERBURY A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12550, 11 July 1901, Page 2

CANTERBURY A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the General Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association wag held yesterday afternoon, when Mr F. A. Archer presided, and sixteen members were present. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, referred to the less the Association ■had'sustained in the death of the late Mr 5. pari'orth, an ex-president of the Asso-. ciation. He. moved that a letter of condolence should be. sent to the bereaved relatives. This was carried unanimously. The election of three members of the committee resulted in Messrs Charles Lewis, R. Chapman, and C. DampierCrossley being returned, _ The Chairman said the mexfc business would be to fix the date of the Association's Metropolitan show. He, with the committee, had interviewed the Chairman of tho Canterbury Jockey Club regarding the dates, and tiie Secretary of the Jockey Club had stated that the dates fixed, for the c üb's spring meeting were Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, Nov. '&, 4, 6 and 9 respectively. That being so, the Association could hold its show _ on Wednesday,* Thursday and Friday, Nov. 6,7, and 8. , ~ A member moved that the show should be held on Nov. 7 and 8 only. Mr W- Boag asked how the three days show had compared with other shows as to finance. ■ Mr Macdocald said there had been record takings. Mr M'Farlane asked whether the committee that, had been set up should- nob have reported on. the advisability of a two or thfee days' show, as well as to suitable dates. .The Chairman said the committee had been onlv appointed for the purpose of selecting 'suitable dates, so as not to clash with the Canterbury Jockey Club's fixture. Br I/evinge «iaid tne matter was worthy of the most careful consideration, and it J was an important question whether the ' Association having instituted a three days' stow should not- continue it. He would move, as an 'amendment, that the question should bo -referred to the committee appointed to select dates. Mr Hugonin proposed, as a further amendment, that the next November dhow should last for three days. He considered the Association should not go back; to a two-days' show, especially as several shears in the North Island would last for three days. .' After some further discussion Dr Levinge withdrew his amendment. Mr J. Anderson said that, as there was some risk in taking sheep to a three-days' show he would suggest that the first day should be devoted to implements. Probably, by next year, tiho Association, might be able to get the sheep pens boused in, and thus be able to .have stock thwe for the three days. Several other members- spoke in favour of a three-days' show. t Mr Overton objected to a three-days show, on the ground that tJhe Christchurch shows did not compare .favourably as-re-garded'takings with. North Island shows. J Dr Levinge said the 'last shew had been a most successful one, and he thought it compared most ■favourably with other shov/s. Mr OverUm said a great many would not take their stock to the show at all if it was to Qast three days. Mr John Deans said there was a feeling amongst saufche-ra breeders that three days wa,3 too long for stock, bub lie thought one day should 'bo devoted■■to' machinery and the other two to stock. The Chairman asiked if the motion for a three-days' show meant that stock should b? kept for three days. ■' Mr Hugonin said the motion was simply for a three-days' show on the lines of last year, the arrangements could bo left to the committee. .',.'■ Mr J. Anderson said'-it ..was the■" Association's duty-to educate. the, community up to a three-days' show. He' thought a sub'-committee should he appointed to report on the question. T3m Chairman said the best way out of , the difficulty would he for Mr, Hugonin to add to this amendment that a committee should be appointed to decide the time stock should be kept and en what days. Mr Hugonin's amendment was tost on a division by 9 to 8. Tha original motion, that the show should be held on Nov. 7 and 8 only, was also'lost'by 9'to 8. _ ' Mr J. Anderson, then mc.ved that Messrs Overton, M'Farlane, Hugonin, Staveley, Deans, and Dr Levinge and the mover should be appointed a _ sub-committee to draw up a recommendation as to what ea:- . Kbits should be shown at a three-days' show. _ ~ This -was seconded, and Mr; K. M. Macdonald moved, as an amendmenVthat that committee should repeat on the whole question, including tire questions of the number of days aradl what exhibits should be on the grounds on any day. The amendment was carried. A letter was read from the New Zealand Sheep Breeders' Association, stating that, at a meeting held jn.Dunedin. on June 28, a letter had been read from Mr R. Parry and' others, complaining of delay in forwardin.c stock to the Christchurch show and ram fair. The breeders were in the habit of trucking their sheep to both of the fixtures on, the Tuesday before the events), bv the 11.30 a.m. train from Tknaru to. Christchurch, and upon that train's airrival at RoHestoft the sheep trucks were shunted intp the siding- there, and 'left for a time (one writer.had said two hours),.and sent on to Addington. % a much later train. The owners were thus obliged to untruck and drive their stock to the Show Grounds in the dark, causing considerable risk of injury. The Traffic Manager had been appealed to, but had replied that no alteration' could' be made in the arrangements, as the stock were not left for any length of time at RoUeston. The Association therefore desired, through its Secretary, Mr M. Murphy, to bring the matter under the notice of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Mr Deans suggested that the President, the Vice-presidents and the mover, should interview .the Railway authorities in reference to the matter, with a view to obtaining better accommodation for stock and to obtain special trains for stock travelling to the show. This was carried. A letter was read from the Canterbury Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company, asking that, in accordance with the company's Articles of Association, the Association Committee should nominate one of its members as a director of the company, to take office after the next general meeting of shareholders. Mr Staveley, who retires, was eligible for re-election. The Chairman said the Association had three miennbers on the directorate, and Mr Staveley retired by rotation. Mr S'taveley was unanimously re-elected. Accounts amounting to £lO4 9s 9d were passed for. payment. The Agricultural Arch Committee reported that tike various Associations had subscribed £65 12s towards the erection of the Agricultural Arch, ou the occasion of the Royal visit. The expenditure was i £2 14s lid in excess of that sum. Tlis i committee, therefore, asked the Association to take over, at that sum, the arch proper, which had cost fully £lO, and which was 'lying at the Show Grounds in good order, with the hope that the Association would make use of it oh some future occasion. The committee had been ably assisted hy Messrs Seager and Donne. For emtributions of roots, the committee way indebted to Mr F. Barker and Messrs Macdonald Bros., of Orari; for ferns and evergreens to Mr Montgomery, of Little River; to Mr Deans, jim., of Homebush, as well as many others, for roots, cereals, etc., and to Sir J. Hall, and Messrs Cham-ber-lain and Boag for the use of live stock. The committee also desired to thank the ladies who, with Messrs Reid, Parlane, Greaves and M'Donald, assisted to decorate the arcli. Mr Macdonald moved that the committee's request should be acceded to, and this was carried. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the committee for the creditable manner in which they had carried out the work. ' ! Dr Levicme moved, that a, .special meeting ,

should be held to consider th'3 question of holding future winter shows. He thought it would be advisable to hold a special meeting to thoroughly discuss the question, as it was an important on&, and there was a feeling that it was neb worth while hold' ing a winter show. There iseenied to be a regrettable 'lack of enthusiasm, Mr Deans seconded the motion, which was carried. It was decided that the special meeting should b» hiekl on the same day as next General Committee meeting, at 11 a.m. Messrs William- Wright, of Barry's Bay, and IT. Kingston, of Robinson's Bay, were elected members of the Association.