MAHURANGI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4461, 1 March 1876, Page 3

MAHURANGI.

On Monday list, the 21st, the annual meeting of our Agricultural Society was held in the Public Hall, when 25 setuers were present. The prizes awa xled at the recent Show, amountingfcobetween £Soaud£9o, were paid, but as the account had not all been received nor made up, the balance-sheet could not be submitted, which was therefore deferred to some future meeting. Those present decided to proceed t\ ith the election of a Committee for the ensuing year. Mr. Geo. Moor was called on to preside, and Mr. Angove was requested to act as Srsretary. Relative to the election of the new Committee the Chairman said he hoped they would elect and put in men who would work harmoniously together. The following gentlemen were nominated for the new Committee :—Messrs. Moor, Barton, W. Macklow. Clements, Angove.tC. Phillips, Trotter, and J. Hood. As the result of the voting, the Chairman declared the new Committee to consistof Messrs Mocir, Macklow, Clements, Angove, Trotter, Hood, and Phillips, after which a motion was made from the chair, and carried unanimously, that a hearty vote of thanks should be accorded to Messrs. "Whitaker and Palmer, for their great liberality, and many acts of kindness shown to the Society in connection with the late Show. A resolution was alse carried, altering one of the Society's rules, disqualifying all animals having taken two first prizes, and the rule, as it now stands, is much more liberal, and will have the effect of allowing any animal to take a first prize, so long as in the opinion of the judges it is worthy. Another resolution, to alter the date of holding the Show from February to November, was lost, an amendment being carried to hold the Show in February as usual. A vote of thanks to the outgoing Committee was carried unanimously. .Now that the show is over, we may be pardoned if we display a little vanity at the success of our show of animals, and may fairly congratulate ourselves on our sheep, horses, and bulls, the owners of which may justly and honourably feel proud of their position. Although the remark of Sir Julius Vogel, auent the Abolition of Provinces, that it is not an unmixed good, might be applied to our Society, which, instead of having only 25 or 30 members, ought at least to number from 200 to 300, that number of settlers residing within a convenient distance, and all more or less interested in Agriculture and the breeding and rearing ofg stock, and who, froni some unexplained cause, hold themselves aloof from the Society, and if the Society is to i-epresent the district, and be self-support-ing, or nearly so (as it ought to be), something must be done to awaken an interest, and attract at least a fair proportion of those who held aloof, and induce them to join the Society.

There was one prize awarded, viz., that to the best bred bull, -which calls for some comment and explanation. The animal which carried this off is certainly a fine animal, and creditable to his breeder and owner, Mr. Barton, and no doubt can exist as to the breeding and pedigree on the sire's side, but on the dam's, I never heard that any pedigree was even claimed, whereas Mr. King's bull, bred by Messrs. Morrin, is supposed to hrve a pedigree on both sire and dam's sides, going back for many generations. This is not only a local question, but a very wide public one, and calls for the opinion of breeders of pedigree stock, and all others interested in the breeding of good stock, and although it seems harsh, a verdict is required on the judgment of the judges.

At the termination of the Agricultural Society's meeting, there was another of a sporting character. The attendance had been requested of those interested in having races in Mahurangi, Mr. Augove in the chair. It was agreed that the M e6t should be called "The Kodney Baces." A Committee was elected by those present consisting of Messrs. Munro, Whitaker, Banatyne, Augove, Palmer. C. Phillips, aud Montgomery, of Mahurangi, G. Dilke, of Port Albert, and Stackpool, of Matakana, to arrange for and carry out a programme, to be agreed upon at a subsequent meeting of the Committee to be held at Mr. Montgomery's Hotel on Saturday evening. The officers elected were, chairman, Mr. Whitaker; clerk of course and treasurer, Mr. Banatyne; secretary, Mr. Munro; starter, Mr. 0. Phillips. A subscription-list was liberally commenced with every prospect of being wefi. supported. There is just now being revived a, project for starting a woollen factory, as in any facilities are afforded in the district for the economical carrying out of such business. On Friday last we had the pleasure of seeing the first dray load of produce come through on the new road from AJbertland. The contract for the bridge and approaches over the Hotea being so near completion, that the last of the men employed will probably be paid off this evening.

With great regret I have to chronicle a serious accident on this road, to Mr. G, Eyer, who was proceeding from Warkworth to his home at Tawlioa, when, about 4 miles on the way, his horse, a young animal, shied at some crumbling earth, which rolled down the slope of a sidling cutting, and heavily threw Mr. Eyer, breaking his collar-bone, and otherwise severely shaking him. Happily he was able to proceed, with some assistance, to Doctor Crnickshank of Matakana, who set the broken bone, and Mr. Eyer was able to proceed on his homeward journey. This is the same gentleman who, a few months ago, had the misfortune to have a needle run into, and broken off in his chest.

The contractors for the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches are m.".king steady progress with their several contracts, andbbih are making a show of being conspicuous objects in the vicinity of onr Township. Our Road Board are again giving evidence of their vitality, having accepted contracts for works advertised a fortnight ago, and are also calling for other tenders, as well as putting in hand various repairs found needful on the Kaipara road. There is no doubt they are now in earnest, and appear wishful to. make np for lost time.

Your editorial remarks in Saturday's TTp.pat.ti with respect to the. culture of the olive, must be of interest to a large section of the settlers in the North, as a very large portion consists of rugged hills, broken up into innumerable gullies or small valleys of every conceivable sha])e, some of which, from their sheltered situation will no doubt be founds suitable fortheplive, fig, vine, orange, lemon, and such like fruits. The soil of some suiting the requirements of" one, and some ■ another, but, as yet, we want to know the right thing to jJant, and the right place to plant it in, and to inuuce the Government to undertake the initiative to obtain a practical solution of the question. "£our advocacy r ia

required, and will be appreciated by a large ; body, of settlers.—[Warkworth _Correspondent, February 2S.] :