OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2164, 15 August 1895, Page 8

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

The first meeting of the newly elected committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held at the seerttary's office on Saturday, and was attended by Mr James Smith (in the chair), Hon. T. Ferguß, Messrs Allan, A. Todd, Stewart, Reid, Taggart, Charters, Campbell, Angus, Shiel, Wright, Ferguson, Patrick, M'Farlane, Duthie, and G. Tcdd. Apologies were received from Messrs Brydone, Sinclair, Qow, Pattallo, and Gawn.

A considerable amount of correspondence was received, including a letter from the Royal Agricultural Society of England, notifying that the society had been elect, d to its list of members. The Taieri Agricultural Association wrote asking this society's support and influence in getting the Government to collect the agricultural statistics at early as possible. It was decided that the secretary communicate with the Secretary for Agriculture, Wellington, and ask him to endeavour to circulate the statistics at a much earlier da to than usual so that they might be of some ute and advantage to farmers, and that greater care be taken in obtaining reliable information.

Finance, grounds, and programme sub-com-mittees were elected, and it was decided that several suggestions received from members with a, view to the better working of several classes and to encourage competition be referred to the Programme Committee. To enable them to issue a schednle at an early date it was agreed that the committee should sit at nights. A sub- committee was appointed to draw up a scale of points aud conditions for the farm competitions, and also to take into consideration the advisability of having competitions for the best 10 acres of turnips, potatoes, and different kinds of grain. The annual parade of entire horees was fixed for Thursday, 26th September, and the summer show on Wednesday and Thursday, 27th and 28th November.

The secretary was instructed to communicate with the chairman of the Stock and Station Agents' Association, asking him to arrange that their weekly sale of .stock at Burnside should be held on Tuesday of the she? week , Z.u~ IS was also decided that the usual sale of prize stock be held on Friday morning after the show, so as not to delay the judging on the second day of the show. ,

Oa the motion of Mr John Angus, a 12 months' lease of Tahuna Park was granted to the T&huna Recreation Company as per terms of agreement.

Delegates were appointed to attend tbe conference to be held in Wellington on the 27th inst., to consider the position of the export meat trade, and to suggest a scheme for its improvement.

The Hon. T. Fergus brought under the notice of the committee the position of the sheep tax/- 1 ! and pointed out that the returns being com- j puted from May sheepowners would suffer great hardships from having to pay tax on the number returned on that month, irrespective of the large number of sheep which died during .the winter months owing to the exceptionally severe winter. A large number of runholders had assured him that that they would not , muster at shearing lime one-third the number of sheep, still they would have to pay the tax due in September. He considered it would be much fairer if the tax was collected on the actual number i of sheep shorn, and if this was done the inspector would have some check on sheepowners, and tbe returns would be more accurate. He would move that the following resolution ba forwarded to the Colonial Secretary — •• That this society would respectfully urge the Government to ■ I forego the sheep tax due on Ist September and ' collect the same on the Ist February, to be taken from the actual number of sheep shorn, j | and that all returns in future be computed on I that date." — The motion was seconded by Mr A. M'Fablane and, after several members had j epoken at length on the subject, was carried unanimously. — The secretary was instructed to forward a copy of the resolution to kindred associations asking them to support it. The Chairman informed members that judges would be appointed at next meeting, and in the meantime the secretary would receive nominations. I