MANIOTOTO FARMERS' CLUB

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 28, Issue 1431, 2 April 1897, Page 4

MANIOTOTO FARMERS' CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. The adjourned annual meeting of the Maniototo Farmers' Club was held at Millar's Hotel, Eweburn, last Saturday, when there were present a larger number of members than usual. The President (Mr J. J. Ramsay) occupied the chair. The meeting had been called specially to discuss the club's -1 position, and decide what should be done with its finance. BALANCE SHEET. The statement of the club's finances, read by the secretary, showed a credit balance of £5 17s lOd. RECORD OF. THIS CLUB. The President, who announced his ntention of severing his connection ■with the club as he was about to leave the district, read the following short resume of the work done by the club since its inauguration as a farewell Address. He apologised for its incompleteness as ha had not had time to go through the minutes, but- had zo depend upon memory :

" Gentlemen.—As I am now about to leave the Jinniotuto district aul this is my last appearance as president of this club. I desire with your kind indulgence to grive you a brief resume of the work accomplished by us during the past few years. Want of tinis has prevented me from dealing: elaborately with the matter, but I hope to be able to show that the Maniototo Farmers' Club hns Lacn on the vrho'e a "live" inst tntion. able during its existence to accomplish some good work and help in promoting the welfare of this district. "This club was formed in November. IS9O. and the following <re n tlpmen have occupied the portion of president in the order named : —Mr John Law, senior.. Gimraerbnrn ;Mr «J:imes Howell. Hamilton* ; ' Jlr ■ ■'Robert Logan. Kyeb'im ; and Mr J. J. 'Ramsay, Hyde.'

•' Oar first work was to agitate for a proper method'of valuation of the Oo'-mi lands of this district prior to their proclamation for snle or lease, and I think it must be admitted that tlie values of land have been made more uniform during the past six years. My own opinio" is that even now hind is to dear in this locality, but that by the way. I need hardly remind members of the good work done by this club during the first two years of its' existence in connection with the opening of certain blocks of land. It will also be remembered that owing to oar exertions the Government were induced to sink an artesian ■w ell. an"experiment which mi«. I regret to s''y. unsuccessful. We were also able to have established at Naseby a bran-h office for leristiaion of brand <: :n I ve have succ eded after considerable ir nhlu, and many refusals in inducing the Government to abolish the obnoxious branch rates which were for a time charged on the Otago Central Railway. Early in oar career we asked the Government to set aside as a Recreation Reserve the Taieri Lake Island, and some two years ago that request was granted, and the reserve, now vested in a local Domain Board, is let and being improved. A more efficient mail service has through our exertions been established on the plain, and many other advantages secured to the district. Add to thi.s the fact that the club has always been an-official body representative of the farmers of this district, and recognised as such, and I think it must be admitted that the work accomplished by the Jlaniofoto Fanners' Club during the six years of its existence is a record we need not be ashamed of and a proof that sneb aa institution as this can do a great deal for the district it represents. " It has been asserted that the politir-al discussions which took place at this table damaged the club, but I do not think that assertion is borne out \>y facts, because it must be admitted that during the " political period" the club was more thoroughly. '■ alive "than at any other time whilst t>e interest taken in its proceedings both inside the club and outside was never greater than then, and I am not at all sure 't-iata little political discussion at the present time would in any way injure t v 'C club : indeed, lam of opinion that turners would do well to carefully watch present poli'ical movements because it seems to me that at no period of New Zealand's history was there more need for honest candid criticism of political questions than at .the present moment when the air is full of all sorts of rumours of bank | transactions and -other matters seriously; affecting the welfare of the toilers of this colony of which the farmers form no inconsiderable portion. " It.seems to me.' gentlemen, a great pity thatyou should allow this club to die. Had I remained amongst you it would have been iny endeavaur to help to keep the thing alive, but! regret to • say that ; l am going to leave you. Jly connection with you has neon a pleasant one. and you have in.' many ways been very kind to me."•-You did me the honour of electing me your first seeretaTy. and have elected me to other positions, including that which I now occupy. ;■ I regret to say that daring the past ynar I have been unable to devote as much time to your interests as I could have desired, but I can assure you the interests of Centra! Otago have always been my interests because I have grown from boyhood to manhood amongst yon,-fought my battles and made my friends:here, and received nothing but kindness at your hands. One cannot say what the future may have in store for any of ns, and whether I shall ev«r move amongst, you again or not; ; but whether Ido or not. believe me Central Otago will always have a warm corner in my heart, and I will often think of the Maniototo Farmers' Club and its pleasant associations. "Before concluding. I must refer to the attention paid to this club by The Mount Ida Chronicle, and speaking personally, I must pay my own little tribute of praise to that paper. Of course the Chroxiclb is not infallible, but neither- is ' the Jlaniototo Farmers' Club, and although that paner has often given some of us. myself especially, some hard knocks I think on the whole we have reason to be proud of our local press and to congratulate ourselves on having such a paper to represent ns. For my own part my earliest lucubrations were published by The Chronicle and my training as a public man commenced in that way, so I cannot let this occasion pass without referring to the good points of The Mount Ida Chhoxicle and congratulating it on the good service it has rendered to this district.

Mr Ryder expressed his regret at Mr Ramsay's loss as he had been a most active worker in the club, and lie thought they should place on record in the minutes of the club their regret. Unless he intended going out of Otago he. hoped he would not sever his connection with them entirely, and he •would be in favour of electing him a honorary member of the club for life. The club owed him a great deal. He was sorry that Mr Ramsay had not had time to go more .lengthily into the transactions of the club, as the minute book contained a great deal of interest to farmers in Maniototo. With repaid to the club dealing with political questions, ho thought politics were part of the aH'n'rs of the club, but personal and party politics were apt to raise a good deal of feeling. He fully endorsed Mr Ramsay's remarks in connection with The CiiHosiCLU, and he thought the warmest thanks of the club wore due that paper. So far as this existence of the club was concerned, it would be a gre:it pity to allow it to fill through. Thf> meetings were tarter when hold at the- different centres, and this might bo reverted to, jf ths-y might form local committees which couid report to a central committer, opd meetings could then be held as required.

Jlr John Law, _ sen., said perhaps they should not say they wore sorry for the loss ■of ..their ■ president,' as it might be for his benefit to leave the | district, and he might find his proper j sphere somewhere else, where he would have a higher outlet for his talents and energies. He quite agreed in electing him a honorary member, but there was nothing to prevent the club giving him something more tangible in reiijembvnnce of his connection with them. "With regard t'i the paper read by the president, it did not cover half the ground traversed by the club. There was a great deal to be done in the immediate future, and he was quite, prepared to assist in keeping the club going.

Mr'J. J. Ramsay thanked them for their kind remarks. He was sorry to leave the district, but he thought he. was going to better himself by doing so, and he'must study himself and his family. At the time of the last meeting of the club he had no intention of leaving. A few days ago a. man had asked him to place a value on his property. He did soandit wasaccepted, the whole business being done in a- couple of days. He knew he had made some .enemies in a public way, but did riot think he had-.made any private ones, and he had made a great nnmber of friends. It would take a lifetime in a new district, to gather so many around him. acrairi. He hoped always to retain the friends he had made here, and that he would not go so far away but that he could see them occasionally.

Mr Howell suggested that before

proceeding with aty other business they should pa--s a resolution to the effect that the club be.hot wound up. Owing to pressure oil private business he had not attended the meetings or the club as a farmer should do, but he came there on that occasion principally to vote against any such course being adopted. He therefore moved—That consideration of the disposal of the club's funds and winding-up be allowed to lapse, and the ordinary business of the annual meeting gone on with. Seconded by Mr Chapman, and carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Mr Law proposed, and Mr Howell seconded—That Mr Scott be elected president for the ensuing year. Mr Scott, while expressing his sympathy with the objects of the club and his willingness to support it, declined to stand on the plea of want of time He moved as an amendment that Mr Ryder l>e elected to the position.

Mr W. Mawhinney seconded the amendment, and Mr Ryder was declared elected.

Mr Ramsay then vacated the chair, aid Mr Ryder, in taking the position, thanked them for the compliment'they, had done him. He asked them all, not in a general way but personally and individually,, to. help to increase the. value of the club and make it a live concern.

Mr Chapman moved That Mr Thos. Ramsay retain the secretaryship. Seconded by Mr Howell. Mr T. Ramsay thought the club would be better served by; having a man in their midst to act as secretary, the distance he had to travel to get to the meetings—about 30 miles—being too great for the proper carrying out of the business of the club, He proposed Mr James Hore for the position.

Mr Howell, on consideration of Mr Ramsay's reasons for not desiring reelection, seconded Mr Jas. Horc's no"iunation.

Mr J. J. Ramsay said that the chairman and secretary would find it greatly to their own convenience that the secretary should merely keep the minutes while the president attended to i the correspondence, as he would often find ifc more convenient to do so than to communicate with the secretary. As the club did not care to lose the services of Mr T. Ramsay, who had worked so efficiently on its behalf, the matter was compromised, by re-electinfj him secretary and Mr Jas. Here assistant, on the motion of Mr Scott, seconded by M.r Law. MINUTES. The minutes of the annual meeting held on Saturday, 27th February, 1897, were read and confirmed on the motion of Mr J. J. Ramsay, seconded by Mr Duncan. ..VALEDICTORY. Mr Law, as the first president of ; the society,' Had much pleasure in proposing—That this meeting desires to place on record its sincere regret at the loss of Mr ; J. J.-: Ramsay's active connection with this club, and to accord its most cordial thanks to Mr Ramsay for his valuable services as Ihe club's first secretary and subsequently as president. Further'"that Mr Ramsay be hereby elected an honorary member of this club, with the club's best wishes for his future success and welfare.

• Seconded by Mr laowell (the second president) and carried unanimously. Mr Law then went on to say .that it was a cold and formal tiling to place on paper a motion. Considering the battles the club had to fight, they should show their appreciation o£ those who had prominently assisted in the past, and; show that the world is not so cold and thankless as to altogether neglect its public men. If a man began to think the public a hard taskmaster, he would commence to grind his own axe, so when they found a man who had no axe to grind they should show their genuine goodwill. The tune had now come to do so to their lace president. The question was allowed to stand over for consideration in the ordinary meeting. ORDINARY MEETING. The minutes of the last ordinary meeting were rend, and.confirmed on the motion of Mr Howell, seconded by Mr Chapman. PRESENTATION- TO MR RAMSAY. The question of a presentation to Mr Kau>s;iy was then considered at length. Several thought the club should head the list of subscribers, while others were, of opinion that they shouldnot appropriate its funds to such a purpose. Eventually Mv Law moved---That this club head the list with five guineas, and a committee be appointed to take it round amongst the farmers with -iview

of raising funds to present our retiring] secretary with a token of their esteem"" I

•Seconded by Mr \V. Mawhinney, and carried.

On the motion of Mr Scott, seconded by Mr Law, it was resolved that the presentation be made at a meeting held in .Naseby on Saturday, the 17th April. Mr Howell then moved—That the President, Messrs Pcott, Law, Bleach, W. Mawhinnev, Hore, Howell, Harris, Gordon, W. J* ..Millar, K. Williamson, G. L. Stewart, J. ■ Weir, W. Hall, sen., W.Hal!, jun., and A. Pearson, with , power to add to their number, be . appointed a committee to arrange a banquet and carry out the foregoing resolutions ; that five members form a quorum ; and that the. president of the club act as chairman of committee. Seconded by Mr Chapman, and carried unanimously. BONDS TO THE SECRETARY. Mr Howell said that as the club was greatly indebted to Mr Thomas Ramsay, who had to travel so far to attend the meetings, at a deal of expense and inconvenience to himself, he would move—That the sum of £2 10s be paid to Mr Thos. Ramsay as a bonus for his past services. Seconded by M r Shaw and carried. Mr Ramsay briefly returned thanks. He had performed the duties of secretary as he liked the work, and was glad to assist the. club in any way. CONCLUSION*. In conclusion, the chairman thanked those present for their attendance, and thought the fact of so many being present, and the interest taken in the discussions, augured well for the success of the club during the coming twelve months.

The meeting then terminated with the usual vote to the chair.