NORTH OTAGO A. AND P. ASS0CIATION.

North Otago Times, 24 May 1909, Page 4

NORTH OTAGO A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

.. ♦ ■ The following report will be submitted to the annual meeting of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association to be held on Saturday, 29th inst.: "In presenting their annual report your Committee are again able to announce a satisfactory financial position, as shown by a reduction, of the bank overdraft of no less than .£682 17s 3d. This, together with £3L3 10s lid spent during the year oil the siding, enlargement of the ring, and other improvements, show, an improvement in. the Society's position of £1296 14s 2d during the year. ' _ "The proceeds, of the sale of sections in Brownlce township, n gross amount of_ £1330, were- koi/ght to credit 'during ■'the year, and members will.see that this has'been Sppliedto bring about the reduction in liabilities 'abovo referred in. '•*■'• '■" The statoment of assets and liabilities showa an excess of the former amounting to £2579 13s"Id, and this after- a very 'conservative estimate of the value of the';property and plant, which might'easily: be valued at considerably more,than tho'amount set 1 down. / ' ' ;

"I f'Tlib annual show was'hold o» the I ]fll)i and'2l)thNovember,; and, though tho entries wore scarcely, 'equal in iUumber to'itlioso of someJopraa' years, the .quality of exhibited nncl .'tliij, interesting character of the ovents' •\vcfo such as to'maintain tho 'high reputation of the fixture. • "As on formor occasions/ tho Committee have to acknowledge with most hearty thanks!;the handsome contribution? given by private firms and individuals to'itbe prize list. Mr John Rcid's, Messrs Quibcll Bros.', and Messrs Coopsr and Duncan's magnificent cups caused some keen com-

petition in the classes for which they were awarded, and the host ot lesser prizes presented by friends of tho So-

ciety did : much to increase tho .number

of entries. , '•'Your Committee are satisfied that it only requires a little more interest on tho part:of. members to increase tho entries to a record number and re-

place tho Oamaru Show in its former positipn-'tliat of the Premier show of the Dominion. Ifi.farmers would only pneo'send an animal to the show.they would realise that the experience gained in getting it into show condition, and comparing it there with othor3 in--its class, was worth far mora, than the slight amount of trouble, and. expense incurred in exhibiting, and there would not be nearly tho same number of classes in which tho wsnlt is a foregone conclu-sion-a walk-over for tho solitary exhibitor who had tho courage to make his entry, "After strenuous efforts, the Committee were, ablo to obtain a, railway siding for. the grounds at an . expense of oyer £3OO, i and ,<when .this is better known it will no doubt form. an inducement for stock-owners from a distance to patroniso our show. Tho thanks of .tho Association are due to the Hon. T. Y. Duncan for his assistance and hearty -support in this connection.

"Theannual parade of entire horses was held on the North road ground on Saturday, 27th Septcmbor, when _ 18 draughts, 2 thoroughbreds, 1 carriage stallion, ,and A .trotting horses were shown to, tho public in tho highest condition,, and , under, the most favoidable- circumstances.

"The ram fair, held on the 7th of April, contained fewer entries than usual, but capital .business was dono and excellent prices, wero obtained—better than any of tho surrounding fairs.

"A special general meeting of members was held on Hth July for purely formal business, which was satisfactorily accomplished. "Since last report there have been j 2 ordinary and special meetings of the Committee, tho attendance at

vhicli was as follows: H. S. Orbcll 12, }. Brownlee 11, J. Blyth 10, J. Macphersor, 10, B. Soth-Smith 9, W. ' Jowau 9, A. Douglas 9, T. little 9, ! ft. Gardiner, junr., 8, W. W. Wylio 1, ; T. Hcdl'ey 7, G. Livingstone 7, G. ; Harvey 7, J. S. Anderson 7, G. Macloiiald fl, W. W. Dawson G, J. B. Taylor 0, W. H. Meek C, J. O'Brien 5, J. 51'Culloch 4, D. Sutherland 4, W. Gardiner, senr., 2, J. A, Macplwison 0. Also 12 sub-committee meetings vj.etc held, at which the attevtdanco >ras satisfactory. I "VJumg We yeav yow ComunUce. \ in, common with many in Novth I liavo had to/ deplore the untimely death, ci My Johw Mvuv:, owa whom, the Committee and the Association could ill spare. Mr Muir was a very active and \isetul momte, and though most unobtrusiv© in manner, was the hardest and most efficient worker on the Committee. The sympathies of the Committee and district are most earnestly given to Airs Muir and l&mWy in tkiv severe affliction. "Thanks are due to the gentlemen who acted as judges at the show, and whose knowledge and skill were freely placed at the disposal of the Association. "Messrs C. W, Beid, W. Gardiner, junr,, J. O'Brien, H. 8. Oi'bell and George Brownlee have guaranteed the I bank overdraft ever since the beginning of negotiations for the acquisition of the new ground, and are deserving of most hearty thanks ior so greatly assisting to make the fimineing of the undertaking possible. "The following members retire this year, according to rule 'i, ami arc eligible, and offer themselves for reelection: Messrs IT, S. Orbcll, J, Blyth, A. Douglas, Geo. Mnedonnld, ,L S. Anderson, Jos. Mitchell, V. W. Dawson, D. Sutherland, J. Macpherson, J. Hcdlev, J. A. M'Bhcrson, W. W. Wylie, and'j. Bews. "Before closing this report your Committee wish"to draw attention to tiic membership of the Association. A roll of 339 members in a district containing nearly 2000 farmers is neither creditable to the farming community nor satisfactory to the Association, especially when it is considered that a great number of the 339 are not farmers but private individuals who support the Association through sympathy with its' objects, without deriving any benefit from its operations. "A glance at the balance-sheet will bo sufficient to demonstrate that the show is not self-supporting, bijt that its revenue- must be supplemented by funds from other .quarters, chiefly from the sunseriptions of members. "Other, districts number their members by the thousand, and there is no good reason why we should not do the same, thus increasing the usefulness of the Association and the prestige of tho show. "It is hoped that the fanners of the district who are not members will recognise it to bo to their interest to join, and forward their names to the secretary, without waiting to be specially asked to do so, and that those who are members will do their utmost to indurc their friends and neighbors to do likewise."