THE DINNER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 649, 16 January 1864, Page 5

THE DINNER.

Shortly before 5 o'clock, about seventy gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner, in the large room of the Rorinp1 Bank Inn, undar the pre- ■ i.lency of Mr G. Murray, President of the Society, Mr Gto Shand, vice president, acted as croupier. In the room were Messrs Jas. and Jceph -llan, W. Stevenson, A. Todd, W. Jaffray, Jno. Andrew, and other well-known friends to the objects of this society, resident in the district. Ample justice having been done to the good thinss provided. The Chairman in a few appropriate remarks proposed the health of "Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and the rest of the Royal Family," which was received and drunk by the company with great enthusiasm ; after which, the vice chairman gnve " The Superintendent and Xx ciuiyu Council of the Province," which was received w th applause, and duly responded to. Song, by Mr Cullea. The Chairman asked for bumpers on proposing "The Taieri Agricultural Society, and err* at prosperity to it" It was now nearly three-y-ars old. and every year since its establishment, (he number of member* had increased ; they had year by year more members- and more stock, so that they aa a society improved, not only in quantity, but in qu dify.—(Hear.) He trusted by the time the Exhibition was open, their district would be able to contribute its quota, and would not he behind any district in the colony.— (Hear) He would agree with those who said " Speed the Plough." It was, however, of. perhaps greater importance to sive proper attention to the breeding of stock. The toast was drank with applause. At the request of the Chairman, Mr R. Somervilie, Secrttiry, read over the list of prizes awarded by the Judges, and observed that Mr M*Leod, of Paterson and M'Leori, had been asked to be one of the judges of butter, and in dec'ining, had handsomely given a service of china to be awarded to the competitor who had the first prize. He (the Secretary) was happy to.stnte ihat the friends of the Society' were exerting themselves in its behalf. Mr Smith, the owner of famson, hns collected L3l and present ther LlO to the Society to be given as prizes for bis own stock. Mr Smith, saddler, Hope street, Duneiiin, had also given a head coiiar; other friends wee equally desirous to see the Society prosperous The Chairman give " The Health of the Judges/ whbh the company received as bsfore. MrW. Duff, in returning thanks, said itwasnot to be expected that they could please every one; but the Judges had that day found it .exceedingly difficult in many cases in what way to decide, owing to the excellence which-prevailed. For ! his own p;it he n*ver expected to have seen such an exhibition as lie had witnessed that day ; and he felt persuaded no other society in New Zeiland could exhibit anything like so good in i nil respects. No similar society coul<l furnish so many i ntries for draught horses ■as theirs, while the mares were v^ry haudsomeiy represented; j and if so judicious a selection continued to be made, the Society would be a great success. ■] Every exertion should ;be made to increase j th'-ir income, as it was high. . prizes i that brought tha stock forward. He j felt persuaded thei" society would be the 1 ading one in the colony. In their district they j had artificial grasses coining on which would produce "stock of the right kind. He woald remind, them that they could not fully develop the breed

of young stock without artificial graces. 'I h< y all knew that. He was glad to find tli»t x'nu shorthorns were ably represented; so much to. that the Judges had great (Tffi'tilty in giving their award. Tbere^were splendid little arshires, which would scarcely have benn siconu in sme of the Exhibitions ot Btork hi iSctlnin!. intymust remember that if they made chiese, they could not do bo without Ayrshire Cow*. On a.'uture occasion V would like to see a hit her premium given for short uorns. <'n the whole, there was a great improvement in both tlie quality and quantity of stock as compai»i v.itli last season. Other toasts having been proposed and rsfponled to, the meeting • isperfaed. Til consequence of our Keporter having armed en the ground aba late hour, and having aiterwafds experienced some difficulty in ibuiining a full and correct return of the awards of tin Ju c,ea, the foregoing list may not be exactly corret-t. We shall, however, be glad to rectify any omission or error when pointed out to us We have to complain that the Se rretary did not accord to our Reporter the assistance and iaformauou wa had a right to expect at his hands.