A SOCIAL GATHERING

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 26

A SOCIAL GATHERING

A \ery convivial gathering took placo in the A. and P. Society's reading room on Fr»Jay evening, when the executive officers of the- fcoeiety, the judges, and visitors foregathered to — figuratively speaking — shake hands with themselves on the biicoe-ss of the show Mr James Smith presided in the absence of the newly-elected president (Mr Fergus), and instead of Mr Jame3 Gow (vice-president), who bad to leave early. Sundry tontts were proposed and replied to in a "delightfully informal manner, and if the recipient of the honour felt disinclined to make a spoech he at leaot tried his fckil! as a raconteur, and, if 6paco permuted, some of the stories would prove interesting indeed Close to the top of the list was a toant, "The Wuimate Visitors," which Mr Smith proposed m happy terms, complimenting the ieiJrc;eut.i-

itives of that county on their fine contribution to tho attractiveness of t<he show. Messrs Millar and Mitchell, of Waimato, replied, and congratulated the society on the exceJlenoe of this year's show. The former made a suggestion worthy of the attention of tho new committee, to the effect that in view of tho expense tho respective counties were put to in competing for the county display, a larger monetary prize should be given to recoup in a measure the oast of preparing tho exhibits. Another toast received wilih acclamation was the. health of Mr Fred. T. Stronach, who is severing his connection with the firm of M-eesrs Stronaeh Bros and Morris, to take am appointment in the service of the Canterbury Farmers' Cooperative Company. The Chairman referred to the readiness with which Mr Stronadh responded to any call made- an his time to assist the 6oci'e.ty in running its shows, and said that hi« services were always cheerfully given. Mr Stronach, in thanking the g-entlemeni present for the compliment, expressed his regret at leaving Dunedin, and hoped that his friends l*ere would not fail to look him up if they ever went to Christchurch. Mr W. F." M. Buckley, of Duaisandel, also spoke during the evening, and in the course of his Temarks said ke> had never seen a finer lot of sheep than those' exhibited at the winter show. Mr Buckley a^o enlarged on the iirane-n-e benefit agriculture- generally received from the fact that the winter show brought farmer* from all parts ©f the colony to- j gethor and enabled them to exchange id«as and lea.ru nsw end up-to-date methods. Mr D. G. 'M'Gowan, in an interval between the songs and anecdotes, complimented the society on tho excellence of its cheese exhibits* this yeat, and he did not think the display had ever been equalled in the I Australasian colonies. As far as the quality was concerned it was really choice, and it wtL3 a matter of great difficulty to select the winners. Speaking of farming generally, ] Mr M'Gowan stated that although his dutios took him all ovpr the colony and enabled him to moat all elapses of farmers, he ronld state confidently that tho farming methods in Ofago and Southland were superior to those of any part of the colony. The Canterbury vi-itor* were also toasted, and therpweseutativesof the siater province i>r?s<Mit, Me.=.Frp Stewart and .To-enh, replied. Ti>e prcoeodings were marked with, tho best of feehng, and appeared to be keenly •enjoyed on all sides The Winter Show- c'.osed down on Saturday ©voning, after a most successful week. The takings almost touched £600. which ia a considerable advance on those of last year, when they reached £534. Saturday being bhe day on which most of the country visitors returned home, the rcoeipts for the day fell away, and the rain aLso affected tho attendance in the evening. Notwithstanding thi», about £E0 was taken at the doors.