AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY OF OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2118, 18 November 1868, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY OF OTAGO.

A meeting of the Council of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society of Otago was held yesterday afternoon in tho Athenxeum Chambers. There were present :—Mr Henry Driver (who presided), Messrs W. D. Murison, R. M. Robertson, R. B. Martin, W. A. Williamson, W. Kennedy,* and Mr Sydney James, tho Secretary to the Association.

Tho minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

The Secretary presented Mr W. D. Murison's resolutions, which had been approved of Rt tho general meeting, and had been remitted io tho CouncU. The resolutions wero as follows :—

That the various Agricultural and Pastoral Associations throughout the Provinco be invited to adopt tho following scries of resolutions :—

1. Thatthe Societies agree to contribute their share of the Government sa y sidy to a fund to bo devoted towards prizes in connection with an Exhibition of Stock, Grain. Agricultural Implements, feci, to be held during the present season, within one of the following districts, viz. :—Oamara, Waikouaiti, Dunedin, Taieri, Tokomairiro, and Clutha.

2. That a Commit)oo, compoaed of repre ficntatives from tho Societies, bo at once appointed, to fix upon the date for holding the hhow, to decide as to the district within which it should be held, and to draw up a programme. .'{. That the delegates from the Societies be invited to agree that tho Government subsidy should, in future, be similarly applied, and that a like exhibition be held "annually within one or other of tho above-men-tioned districts in rotation.

" Tliat tho meeting is of opinion that the first show shonld take place within one of the Country Dibtricts.

Tho resolutions wero unanimously adopted by tho Council, and came under discussion.

Mr Murison said that in moving tho resolutions, lie had not done so with tho idea that their adoption would necessarily involve a change thie season. The object would be gained, if tho resolutions were approved of by Local Societies. A meeting of tho Provincial Council would take place beforo the next season, and ho would suggest that if some members of tho Council wero to take tho matter up, it would be successfully carried through, fie believed that the Government heartity concurred in the proposal, and would aid the introduction of a measure into the Council with regard to the subsidy. Somo misconception existed in the upcountry districts as to the object of the resolutions. Some of tho country papers, ono in particular, had stated that it was lo do away with country societies. He emphatically stated that this was not his intention when he moved tlie resolutions, nor would the adoption of tho scheme tend to that result. The country societies had only received tho subsidy for one season, and they would be placed in exactly the same position as they wero beforo they wero subsidised. The adoption of the plan would not affect country shows, and it was not intended to favour Dunedin. He had specially spoken of this at tho annual meeting. He would propose that Messrs Driver and Robertson, as members of the Provincial Council, bo requested to tako stops at the next meeting of the Council to carry out the objects of tho resolution. Mr Kennedy seconded tho resolution, stating that in his opinion the concentration of tho subsidy would be a good thing for all classes of producers, and for all the districts.

Mr Rohkrtson heartily concurred in the proposed scheme. It would be of great benefit, and would bo an encouragement to improve stock. He had I cen io shows whero prizes had been offered from the subsidy, and had lapsed, there being no beasts to compete. Ho did not sco how it would interfere with local shows. The successful exhibitors there would send to the general show. The Chairman said that tho resolutions had his heartiest concurrence. As to the imputation of unfair motives, he knew that everything that originated in Dunedin would be impugned ; but the imputation would not hold good The proposal was to hold the show in each of the districts in turn, and each of the shows would be under the management of delegates from all of tho districts, so that all interests would le well looked after. At present, there were country shows got up on nothing but the subsidy. Mr Murison' said that one of the subjects that came up before tho Agricultural Conference, was the withholding a subsidy from country Societies, where the revenue did not come up to a certain

amount.

Mr TonD approved of the resolutions, but recommended caution. It would nof do to interfere with the shows of this year, and caro would have to" be taken, if tho scheme was carried out, to prevent jealousies. He referred to the mode of procedure of the Highland Society. The Chairman poin'ed out that it was not intended to interfere with the shows of this year, and said that it was a welK known fact that tho Highland Socieiy had not attained anything liko the position it now held until it moved about, until tho shows were held in different places each year. After further discussion the motion was agreed'to, and it was resolved that the Secretary forward copies to country societies and solicit co-operation. The question arose as to whether it would be advisable to hold a wool show at the same time as the! General Show. The Chairman pointed out that wool exhibitors would require longer notice. It was also suggested that there should be a trial of sheep shearing for prizes. Both matters were left to be dealt with by the Committee of Management.

The Secretary read a letter from Mr W. Dalrymple, jun., asking to be admitted a member of the Association. He also read the following extract bom a

letter written by Mr Dalrymple, and published in the Otago Daily Times, in reference to tho establishment of a market on the Reserve, Princes street south :— " That a market should be in Dunedin, is unquestionable ; but it, like other things' must have a commencement; and, to effect this, I would suggest that the Agricultural Association, whose business properly it is, I think, to proclaim and contrive to do so, one day in tho week as tho market day in Dunedin —say Thursday— and although not at once, yet eventually "Thursday, the market day in Dunedin," will become an established fact: farmers, millers, growers, dealers, and others in the district -would ultimately feel it thpir duty and interest to be present on tho market day as certainly and regularly as ono week follows another." The following letter on tho subject was also read :— To the Council of the" Agricultural and Pastoral Society of Otago. Gentlemen—l have the honour to acquaint you that a memorial, signed by nearly 700 of the inhabitants of tho ci'.y. praying tho City Councd to establish a market oa tho Market Kcservc, Princ-es street south, now lies beforo ths said Conn il for consideration. As this is a matter which may very properly be brought under your notice, with a view to the expression ' f opinion on tho part of the members of your Society individually ; or if, wbich wonld he preferable, yonr Council wonld pass a resolution to the effect that such a movement on the part of the citizens is entitled on publio grounds to the encouragement of your Socioty. I feci assured that the support thus afforded would be highly beneficial ahd calculated to promote the attainment of the end desired. What the memorial's!s seek is a market house, complete in all its details, together with a corn cxch.ingo, weighbridpe, tc. and they totally discountenance the idea of the City Council expending any further sums on sheds alone. 1 have the honour to be, &c, For the memorialists, . E. Dk Carls. Dunedin, 17th, Nov., IBGB. Mr Morwon said that was a subject taken up by tho Agricultural Conference, and was one of importance. But he thought it was hardly advisable that the present meeting shonld take up tho matter, there not being a large attendance. If it was a question for tho consideration of tho Society, that consideration should be postponed, so that more information Icould bo obtained before a recommendation was made.

Mr Robertson . was of a different opinion. He thought that the matter was ono in which the Society should take an immediate interest. The great object was bringconsumer and producer together, and it was a disgrace to the town that some attempt to do bo had not been mado before. Such attempts had always been successful in other places.

Tho Chairman said his belief was that buildings did not make a market, and that from some reason or other—from some peculiar habits of our settlers, there did not seem to be so great a necessity for ono aa there was in other places. He thought that if a market was made of marble, it would not ensure a supply of produce, hay for instance. Even if you ordered a load now, the selling of it was considered a compliment, and you wero asked if you lived up ahill. The Council did intend to provide some accommodation, but it must be remembered that those who signed the requisition resided near tho place where the market was wanted, and that the residents of other districts hod equal rights-

Mr Kennedy approved of the establishment of a produce market as a means of doing away with a monopoly, and with a regulation of prices by that monopoly. He thought it should be a sample market

• Mr Todd thought it should be a placo whero a farmer could, if he failed to sell his load of hay or other produce on ono markot day, leave it in safety until the next.

On tho motion of Mr Rorkbtson, seconded by Mr Kennedy, the following resolution waa unanimously carried : — "That it is most desirable that a market for produce should bo immediately established in Dunedin, and the Society should uso its best efforts to havo the markot established without delay."

Tho Secretary suggested that s resolution should be passed to tho effect that all prizes not claimed within the current year should lapse. He did so, l-ecause, in Bpite of notices by advertisement, applications for prizes won in 1806, had been delayed until recently, and he thought there should bo a limit. The suggestion was approved of by tho Council, and the resolution passed. Tlie Secretary intimated that the medals which had been ordered from England, wero expected to arrive by the next mail.

The following wore appointed a Committeo of Management for tho annual show, which it wns resolved should tako placo on the 7th of January next: —Messrs Driver, Murison, Williamson,G.Mat thews, W. A. Todd, R. M. Robertson, J. Kennedy, G. Murray, W. Shennan and R. B. Martin.

Tlie meeting was adjourned for a week, when the list of prizes will be compiled and tho judges appointed.