SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 26

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Junk I.— The arrest of De'.ective Kirby, erstwhile of Timaru, js the topic of general conversation at present in South Canterbury, and there are tumours upon rumours respecting the nature of the alleged critue of Herman's that Kirby is supposed to have blackmailed him for. Gkraldink Farmers' Club.— At the last meeting of the Geraldine Farmers' Club the president (Mr M. C. Orbell) reported that the club had received a circular asking it to agrte to a postponement of the Agricultural Conference for another year. He strongly deprecated such a course, and said that many subjects had cropped up for discussion since last conference. He was also opposed to the resolution of last conference that future conferences should be held independent of Government. The follow ing resolutions were carried — "Thatthis club is of opinion that it iaa retrograde step to postpone the Agricultural Conference, as t here are always matters of great importance to farmers to be discussed, and also that it is not in the interest of small associations- and farmers generally in not allowing travelling expenses to delegates to be paid by the Governrneur, as per resolution passed at last conference." The club alfo agreed to consMer tbe matter of holding a ploughing match this year, as the previous annual ploughiug matches lield under its auspices have been attended with every success.