OTAGO AGKICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10018, 9 April 1894, Page 3

OTAGO AGKICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of tho committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held at tho secretary's office afc noon on Saturday, and attended by Messrs Thomas Brydone (in the chair), W. C. Smith, W. H. Taggart, James Smith jun., J. Shiel, R. Charters, R. Gawn, A. M'Farlane, Sydney James, James Duthie, M. Sinclair, W. D. Stewarfc, and R. Campbell. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs W. Patrick, P. Pattulio, and C. S. Reid.

• After disposing of a large correspondence, and i dealing with several matters relating to the ; winter show, a circular was read from Mr J. D. Ritchie, Secretary of Agriculture, respecting the New Zealand Agricultural Conference, to be hold at Wellington, and commencing on May 29, and also one from the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association on the same subjecfc. Messrs W. Patrick, P. Pattulio, and John Roberts were appointed delegates, and the various subjects for discussion having been fully considered, tho secretary was instructed to communicate with Mr Murphy and have them placed on the order paper. The following letter was received from the hon. treasurer :— Liverpool street, Dunedin, April 7,1891. The President Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Sir,—With much regret I beg to tender to you my 'resignation as member of committee and honorary treasurer of your society, offices which I have held since its initiation. 1 only do so because I am leaving Dunedin, and I trust to remain a private member for many years to come, and to see the society overcome all its difficulties and take up the position in the agricultural and pastoral world to which it is justly entitled.—Yours faithfully, W. CUNINGHAM SMITH. Mr Sydney James moved aud Mr M. Sinclair seconded—" That tha resignation of Mr W*. Cuningham Smith as hon. treasurer and member of committee be received and accepted with regret, and that the committee's estimation of the many valuable services rendered by him during the past 18 years and timo devoted in furthering tho interest of this society be recorded on the minutes." Several members spoke at length of the sterling qualities of Mr Smith and of the great loss the society would suffer owing to his resignation, all the speakers admitting that it was owing to his energy aud perseverance, when most members had given.up in despair, that the society was kept iv existence and safely piloted through its many difficulties. Pleasure was expressed, however, at the fact that Mr Smith Btill intended remaining a member of the society and was not leaving the colony, so that his valuable advice could at all times be obtained. Reference was also made to the fact that, after several years of anxiety, Mr Smith now left the society in a good financial position. Mr Smith suitably acknowj ledged'the many kind remarks made by the I members, and said that he had not done any more for the society than any other member holding the position of hon. treasurer would have done. Although he regretted that he had to resign as a member of committee, ho would still.iv the future, as he had in the past, have the w'elfaro and interest of the society at heart.

It was unanimously decided to ask Mr John Angus to act as hon. treasurer in place of Mr Mr Smith, resigned.