TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12418, 30 July 1902, Page 7

TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The forty-first annual meeting of the Taicri Agricultural Socicty was held at the County Council Chambers, Mosgiel, yesterday afternoon, there being about 30 members present. Hie president (Mr Robert Webster) occupied the chair.

Tho following was the annual report pre seated:--

Your committee have much pleasure in submitting to you tho following report for the past year:—During the year your committee he'd nine meetings, which wore well attended by members, and arc pleased to say this year has been the most successful for years piwt. Your committee desire to point out that the principal sources of revenue show a decidcd increaso with the exception of the gate money, which only realised £12 16s fid, showing a shrinkage of £18 2s on the previous year, which result was entirely due to the unfavourable state of the weather. Your committee lmve been able to pay ±59 more in prize money without materially effecting your balance sheet. Your entries for the past year were 402, showing mi increase on the previous year, which was tv record year, of 52 entries. Notwithstanding a- very wet summer, the stock exhibited, as a whole, were brought forward in first-class condition. Your committoe again competed at the Otago A. and P. Society's winter show in the class for county exhibits, and were again this year successful in gaining the first prize. Your committee desire to thank all those who so kindly assisted to obtain this result. Your committee regret the death of a member of committee—Mr John 11. Wilson,—who took a keen interest in our society and all matters pertaining to agriculture. Your committee recommend that Mr John Nilnmo be elcctcd president, nnd that Mr John Miller be elccted vice-president. The following nwmbors of committee retire hy rotalion; and are eligib'e lor re-election Messrs Robert Webster, John Nimino. Andrew Tndd, David Andrew, John S. Kennedy, Jamea Patrick, Wil'jam Jaffray, Thomas Gawn, James Wyllie, John Tumbnll, Donald Mansou, Robert /Cullcn, 'W'Hor Blackie, Alexander Barron, and CHnrles Fiml'ay. In conclusion," your committee take thin opportunity of thanking alt snbscribsvn and donors ot special prizes, and fllso the Indies and j/?n*le"ion who octpd as jwlges, ur,d Mr D, Held lor the use of his paddock for the show.

The Ijalance sheet showed a credit balancc of £78 5s 61 The President, in moving the adoption of the report and balancc sheet, said it was with great pleasure that he laid before those present a review of the past year's work. In comparing the balance sheet with that of previous years, they would see that the subscriptions had increased by some £59 and the entry fees by £18 13s. The expenses had also increased, and they had paid in prizo money and for special prizes some £33 more than they had last year, They had risen their secretary's salary £5, and bad al«o given him n bonus for a like amount. Tho society had competed in the county exhibit class at the Dnnodin winter show. and had been awarded the first prize. In this (kmucetion, great credit was due to the ladies for their assistance in arranging the society's exhibit so tastefully. He might say that when he took office ho had groat diffidence in doing so. He took office somewhat_ against his will, but through the substantial and ready assistance ho had received from all the work had been carried on much more easily and more successfully than ho had anticipated, and he could not wish the incoming president' better tliM that lie might bo as well supported as he (Mr Webber) had beon. Without the assistance lie had received the position would have been indeed an arduous one, and ho thanked them nil for tho kind way they had supported him.

Mr Donald Mai'.«on seconded tho motion for the adoption of the report and.balancc sheet. It was very gratifying to find that, notwithstanding the bad day they had had for tho show, as regarded gate money, it had bpcn such a success. Ho had been very pleased at the turn-out of stock, both in sheep and cattle. At one timo the Taieci show was reckoned a hone show, but lately it liatl improved, and would take a, first place for sheep and eattle, as well as horses. He was pleased to see that they were progressing financially as well as in the display of stock, the latter, however, being the main object of their show. The motion was carried, and the retiring president vacated the chair in favour of Mr John Nimmo, who was received with loud ar.plause. _ Mr Nimmo thanked them for electing him president for the coming year, and said that while he occupied the position he would do his best in the interests of the society. There was only one nomination for the position of vice-president, and lie would therefore declare Mr John Miller duly clcctcd. Mr Miller, in returning thanks , for his election, said it came as a surprise' to. him that he' should 'have been chosen for the position, as other members of ennimittee had been longer in office than he Jiad. Since, however, they wished him to fill the office he would do so, and would do Jh'b best to discharge the duties that would (icvolve upon him. Mr R, A. Kompsk-ll hoped that their next show would be second to none. They bad the horses, tho sheep, and the cattle, and tliey had also got the people. A few years back the Taicri was comparatively a, grain-growing district, but that was changed liow. and it was comparatively a milk-pro-ducing district. He advocated the next show being held at Allanton in order that they mijrht get a. good attendance. > Dr Allan pointed out that there was a rule in their books setting forth exactly where the show must be held.

A. discussion then nrosfl on the subject of obtaining a suitable paddock for holding the next show in.

Mr W. Bl.icbe said he had listened in thn forty-lint report of til's society, and he thought it to a, disgrace tlwt; tlwy hod Hmi a !?I ' nunt ' " ICMr own ' moved— That a committro l«j appointed to report to another meeting as to tho tulvisableness of purchasing a-snitablo ground," for hs. thought it was time thoy had a ground of their own. He had written io Mr CVncross, and n.'knd him if -t'n<iv could sell the P'tco of land they had at Allanton, and Mr Carncro3s had replied that lie could not answer.

The Secretary (Mr ,T. H. Allan) said a few years ago they got legal advice'on the subject, and found tho ground could hi) sold provided tho money wan needed to pav for another ground. Tho discussion ended by it. being resolved, on the motion of Mr Robert Oawn—"This Mossrs .Tames Gnw, .Tames Patrick, and John Nimtno lie appointed a committee to for a suitable paddock in which to hold tho show." On tho motion of Mr Kompshell, Moa=r& D. Manson anil .Tamc3 Wyllio were appointed life mombors of the society. Messrs J. A. M'Kinnrm and William Charters were re-elccted auditors, and the following gentlemen were appointed as committeemen for the ensuing year:—Messrs R. Webster, A. Torld, D. Andrew. ,T. S. Kennedy, - James Patrick, William JafTi'iiv Thomas fiawn, John Turnbull, R. Cullen, Waiter Blackie, 0, Fiudlay, .Tames Miller. D. Etonian, and D. Grant. '• °f thinks to tho retiring president, and to Mr Charters for tho use of a. paddock for show purposes, concluded the meeting.