MANIOTOTO FARMERS' CLUB. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2249, 8 April 1897, Page 25

MANIOTOTO FARMERS' CLUB. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

The adjourned annual meeting of tho Maniototo Farmers' Club was held at Miller's JCwebutn Hotel on Saturday, March 27. There was a better attendance than usual. The President (Mr J. $. Ramsay) occupied the chair. 'Uie special objact of the club meeting wns to consider its position and disposal of funds. The statement of the club's fiaunces showed a balance in hand of Jt'o 17a 10(i. The President, who announced his intentiou of leaving the district, and consequently being obliged to sever hn connection with the club, read h short resume of the club's proceedings since its inauguration, and apologised for tho incompleteness of his paper, as he had not had time to go fully through the minutes. " The club," he asserted, "had been a live institution, and nad accomplished some good work for the welfare nf tbe district since its formation in Nowmbsr 18!)0. Tbe following genilemen had occupied the poMlion of president in the order named — Mr John Law (Giminerbiu-n), Mr James Howell (Hamiltona). Mr .Robert Logan (Kyeburn\ and Mr J. J. Ram-ay (Hy le). The club had -gitate.i for a proper method of valuation o£ Crown X<an3s of the district prior to their being sold or leased, and he thought the values of laud had been made uniform during the last six years. The club had also do,ie good w<.rk iv conn ction with the opening of ceitaiu blocks of land, and had induced the Government to sink an artesian well, which ho was sorry to say had been an unsuccessful experiment. A branch office for registration of brands had been opened at Naseby, alid after much agitation the club had induced the Govern luent to abolish the branch rates on the ptago Central railway. He refei red to the Taieri Lake island, which the club had got set aside as a recreation reserve, and other works which the clubhjid done, and concluded by hoping they wou'dTceep the club alive. He also compliment-d the Mount Ida Chronicle, and congratulated it on the good service it had rendered to the district. Mr Ryder expressed h ; s regret at Mr Ramsay^s severance from the club, as he had been a mo«t active worker, and he thought the club should place on record in their minutes their regret at the lohs they were sustaining by his departure. II •> hoped Mr Ramsay would not sever his connection with them entirely unless he was going out of Otago, and be would be in favour of electing him a life member of the club. The club ovvei Mr Ramsay a great deal, and h/i was sorry be had not had time to go into the transactions of the club more lengthily, as the minute book contained a great deal that was of interest to Maniototo farmers. As to dealing with politics by ths club, he thought ifc, was part of the club affair-, but he was of opinion that personal and party politic were apt to raise a great amount of feeling. He thought the heartiest thanks of the club were due to the Mount Ida Chronicle. It would be a great pity to allow the club to fall through. The meetings were larger when held at different centres, and they miprht revert to that pUn, or they might form local committees. Mr John Lawson thought that perhaps they should not say they were sorry for the loss of their president, as it might be for his benefit to leave the district, and he might find a higher outlet for his abilities elsewhere. He was in favour of electing him au honorary member of the club, but there was nothing to prevent the club giving him something more tangible in remembrance of his connection with them. The paper read by the president only covered p»rt of the ground traversed by the club. He was quite prepared to keep the club going, as there wus a great deal to be done in the immediate future. Mr J. J. Ramsay thanked them for their kind remarks He was sorry to leave the district, but he had to study himself and family, and he thought he could better himself by the change. He had no intention of leaving when he last met the club, but a few days ago a man had asked him to put a price on his property, and it was accepted, and the whole thing was done in a couple of days. Although he had made some enemies in a public way, he did not believe he had any private ones, and he had a great many friends, and it would take a lifetime in a new district to gather so many again. Mr Howell said that bafore the club proceeded any further with its business they should pass a resolution not to wind the club up. Owing to pressure of private business he had not attended as often as he would have liked to, and he came there expressly that day to oppose the winding- ; up of the club. He moved— "That the considera- , tion of the disposal of the club's funds and wind* j icg-up be allowed to lapse, and the ordinary j business of the annual meeting be gone on j with." 'j Mr Chapman seconded the motion, which was . carried unanimously. ! Mr Scott was proposed for president for the i ensuing year, but declined, saying he had not ! sufficient time at his disposal to attend the meetings. He moved "That Mr Ryder be elected president." Mr W. Mawhinney seconded the amendment, and Mr Ryder was declared elected. Mr Ramsay then vacated tho chair, angJVlr

Ryder taking it, thanked the olub for the honout conferred upon hiru. Ho had been obliged ta decline the position once before, and he now 7 asked them to personally and individually do alt they could to make the club a real live success. Mr Chapman moved that Air T. Kainsay ba re-elected secretary. Mr Howell seconded. Mr T. Ramsay said he thought the club would be wiser to elect a secretary living iv their midst, who would be able to see the farmers personally, at the distance he lived from them— 3o miles— was too great to allow of his satisfactorily carrying out the duties of the club. Ho proposed Mr Jag. Hore for the position. As the club wished Mr Ramsay to retain thf position it was agreed to elect him secretary and Mr Jas. Hore assistant secretary on the motion of Mr Scott, seconded by Mr Law. The miautes of the regular annual meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Law, the fmt president of the club, moved— That this meeting desires to place on record its sincere regrot at the loss of Mr J. J. Ramßay's active connection with this club, and accords Its most cordial thanks to Mr Ramsay for his valuable services as the club's first secretary, and subsequently aa provident ; further, that Mr Ramsay be hereby elected an honorary member of this club, with the club's best wishes for his future success and welfare." Mr Howelt. (the second president) seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Lvw went on ♦o say that it was a cold and formal thing to place a morion ou paper. The club should show their appreciation of thode who had prominently assisted them to fight their battles in the past, and show that the world is not so cold aud thankless as to altogether negleot its public men. If a man began to think the public a hard taskmaster be would begin to grind his own axe, and when they found a man who had uo axe to grind they should show their genuine goodwill, and the time had arrived to do go to thote late president. The matter was adjourned till the ordinary meeting ORDINAKY MEETING. The minute* of the last ordinary meeting wera read, and on the motion of Mr Howell, seconded by Mr Oiiavmvs, were confirmed After some di«r.ussion, Mr Law moved — " That this club head si list with five guineas, and a committee be appointed to take it round among tho farmers with a view of raising- funds to present our retiring president with a tokon of our i"«tßQni." Mr Mawiunnev seconded the motion, which w.it, carried unnuimouoly. O/i tlis motion of Mr Scoxr, seconded l>y Mr Law, 't was resolved that the presentation he made at j meeting to be .held in Nasoby on tha 17t,h April. The President, Messrs Scott, Law, Bleach, W. Miiwhinuey, Ilore, Howpll, Harris, Cr.,nion, W. J. Millar, R. Williaiji&on, J. L. Stewart, Weir. vV. Hail, sen., W. Hall, jun., and A. Pearson were elected a committee, with power to add to their number, to carry .out tho foregoing resolution ; fivetne/unere t > form a quovum, tho president to act a« shairman Mr Howell said tho club was greatiy indebted to .Mr T. Ramsay, thoir secretary, who had io travel eg fir at a deal of expense aud inconvenience to hiia"»lf, and he would mcva — "That the sum of £2 10s be paid to Mr I'homaa Rimsay an a, bonus f- n r his past services." Mr Shaw seconded the motion, which was carried Mr It imiay thanked the club, and »'ud hs had found thfc work congenial, though the distanca was great, and be would do hia best fo assist the club The Cif A.IRMAN thanked those present for thoir attendance, and a vote of thanks to the ch^ir ter> minated the proceedings.