TAIERI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 10

TAIERI A. AND P. SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The forty-fifth annual meeting of the Taieri Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held in the County Council Chambers, Mdsgiel, on the 31st ult. Mr John Callendar (the retiring president) occupied the chair, and there were present — Messrs C. Findlay (president-elect). J. Gow, J. W. Blair, R. Cullen. J. Nimmo, J. H. Jaffray, W. H. L. Christie, A. Todd, D. Wyllie, M. Carmichael, A. Moynihan. D. Andrew, J. Craig, R. Muir. J. Williamson, J. Patrick, D. E. Grant, W. R. Gawn, W. Charters, G. Gordon, and J. Miller. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs John Campbell, A. Johnson, Walter Blaekie, and R. Webster. ANNUAL BEPORT. The annual report was read by the Secretary (Mr J. H. Allen), as follows: — In submitting ths forty-fifth annual report, your committee held 11 meetings, which were well attended by members. We have again to record a loss to the society by the death. of one of its youngest members, Mr James ■ Shand. Jn referring to the balance sheet here j submitted, you will notice that there is a sma.ll t decrease in the bank balance of £12, owing j •principally to the falling off in the membership, and although your committee of the past ye*r, in its report, drew the attention of members to this matter, your committee is still of opinion that the farmers of the Taieri do not support the society as they ought, and would ask the new committee to use its best endeavours to increase the membership. You will also notice by the balance sheet that the entry fees show a slight decrease, but that is accounted for by the smaller entry fee charged fop sheep classes. The society was again very unfortunate in tihe weather for show day, but although it rained all day, the public attendance was not much short cf past years, your -gate money being only some £3 short of last yea.r. The show of stock considering the unfavourable season, reflected credit on the exhibitors. The draught horses and other stock wculd hold their own in any show ring in the colony.

Your committee again competed at the Otfrgo A. and P. Association's winter show, and was again placed first for tiie county •bay 9, which win secured for us the valuable trophy presented by Messrs Duthie Bros. Your committee takes this opportunity to piece on record its ■thanks, especially to the Indies who gave their help so willingly, and abx> to those who placed their produce at the disposal of the committee, and in any other way helped with the ccuinty bay. Your committee recommends that Mr Charles Findlay be elected president, and that Mr James Patrick be elected vioe-preßid«nt. The following members of committee retire by rotation, but are eligible- for re-election, and have been nominated: — Messrs John Callander, Charles Findlay, Robert Webster. Andrew Todd. James Patrick, Thomas Gawn, Robert Cullen. Walter Blaekie, James Miller, D. Heen&n. N. Reid, P. Robertsom. D. E. Grant, and Dr W. H. Allan. The following have a-lso been nominated : — M«sars John Campbell, John Sutherland, A. Mdynihan, James S. Blair. Jajnes Williamson, George Gordon, and John HenderEOn.

In conclusion, your committee begs to express its thanks to aT.I subscribers and donors of special prices; to all ladies and gentlemen who acted M judges; to the auditors; and to Mr Donald Reid for tie uee of his aaleyards. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £38 12s lOd, as against £50 0s lid for the previous year. The subscriptions received amounted to £138 18s, entry fees £52 sa, and the prize for county bay at the Otago A. and P. winter show £35 15s. On the debtor aide the prize money paid amounted to £135 4s 6d, whilst the expenses of the exhibit at the winter show (after allowing for the sale of produce) came to £32 10s lid.

The President, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said it could be noticed that there was a fallingoff in subscriptions —a fact which should not be. In looking over the books, he found that the society had been going back since 1902. In that year the income was £416, whilst this year it was only £294. In 1902 the subscriptions totalled £159. or £21 more than for tilts last year. The decrease had been a steady one, and showed that a more systematic canvass should be made by the committee. It was the duty of every farmer in the distriot to support the show. Dunedin supported the society very well, and there should not be much difficulty in raising more money than was the case. Nearly every farmer was able to show something; if not a draught horse, then a cow, or a pig. or perhaps some scones. He tl*l»st^d that His successor would ha\e a better story to tell at the next annual meeting. Regarding the summer show, there were good entries for first-class stock, but the weather militated against the attendance. They had again wen the county court exhibit at the Dunedin winter show, and after a keen and rather long competition they were now the owners of the shield, and it would be for the meeting to say what was to be done with it. The secretary (Mr Fraser) had resigned during the year, and Mr Allan had taken over the duties, and was willing to carry on for another year. Mr Callander warmly expressed thanks to the ladies who had c o kindly and ably assisted in preparing the goods for and arranging the county exhibit, and al'o to the many others who had supplied produce for the exhibit. He pxpre»'."d regret at the lo. e s the society had su^t-tincd in the deaths of Mr Rutherford and Mr Jaine- Shand, who had been very _hard working and helpful members. In conclusion. Mr Callandor thanked the members foi the manner in which they had worked clr.nng the year, and bespoke hearty and lojal support for his successor in the chair.

Mr J. W. Blair seconded thp motion for the adoption of the report and balance sheet, which wa< agreed to.

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS

Mr Charles Findlay. being riie only one nominated, was declared elected president for the ensuing year. Mr Findlay. on assuming the chair, thanked the members for the honour conferred upon him, and promised to do his utmost to look after the affairs of the society during his year of office.

Mr James Patrick was unanimously elected vice-president, and. in shortly returning thanks, expressed the hope that a more thorough canvass of the district for members' subscriptions would be made The retiring auditors, Messrs S. A. M'Kinnon and W. Charter*, were reelected.

Nineteen nominations, were recehed for the 14 ■vacant place- on the committee, and a ballot resulted in the follow int> being elected :— John Callondc-. Dr W 11. Allan R. Webster, A. Todtl D. Andrew, Thomas Gawn. R. Gawn. James Millor. D E. *j!rant. James Williamson. J. H. Jaffray,

W. Blaekie, John Sutherland, and George Gordon.

THE COUNTY SHIELD. The question of the disposition of the | shield won by the society in the rountv competition at the winter show was considered, and it was decided to request the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society to ho.'d the shield in trust for the Taieri Society, and to exhibit it at the winter shows, the Taieri Society to be allowed to have the use of the shield for exhibition at their annual show. COUNTY EXHIBITS AT DUXEDIN WINTER SHOW. ♦ The Secretary of the Otago A. and P. Society wrote forwarding the society's resolution thanking the various representatives who, during a number of years had been responsible for the exhibits of agricultural and pastoral products from the various counties, and further expressing high appreciation of the magnificent and attractive display made by all counties, which was admitted on all hands to be one of the chief attractions of the winter show. — Received.

The Secretary of the Otago A. and P. Society also forwarded the following communication : — The Secretary Taieri Agricultural Society. Dear Sir, — By direction of my committee, I wish to advise you that at the monthly meeting of the committee held on sth inst. the question of county exhibits was considered at some length. It is recognised by every member of the committee that the county bay exhibits at oar late shows are one of the chief attractions. Several suggestions have been received ac to how these excellent displays can be encouraged, and the committee unanimously decided that before doing anything they should confer with those counties' representatives who in the past have been responsible for the attractive exhibits. I have therefore been requested to ask you if you have any suggestions to make which in your opinion would in any way assist in reducing the cost to exhibitors, and also to induce counties to still continue their support. It is recognised that the present arrangement of granting £20 towards fitting up the bays, as well as offering certain prizes, does not cover the financial responsibility even of those who are successful in gaining first prize. My committee would therefore be pleased to receive any proposals from you, and would submit the following suggestions for your consideration. It is not necessary to enumerate all the various suggestions that have been received, some of which are practically impossible from a financial point of view, but we may mention the following- — (1) That the society shall bear the entire cost -of erecting the four stands required for the display of the exhibits, and thus relieve exhibitors of any responsibility in that direction. (2) That this competition shall include New Zealand manufactures, minerals, and similar classes of goods. (3) That the society shall bear the cost of conveyance of all goods required in connection with the county exhibits. (4) That the system of judging be somewhat altered, the points for artistic display to be reduced, and that the different classes of exhibits in the courts be judged by separate experts ; then the combined points to be handed in to the secretary, and the totals to bs the final award. (5) The society to award money prizes to the extent of £75, provided there are four exhibits, which is aa much as ca.n be afforded. In the event of county courts not being gone on with, it has been suggested that a provincial court might be got up, or smaller exhibits from county, club, society, or others interested. In conclusion, you may rest assured that any suggestion made by you will receive the most careful- consideration of my committee. — Yours faithfully, H. V. Fulton, Secretary.

The matter was discussed, and it was generally agreed that the exhibits were becoming too elaborate, and consequently too expensive, and it was admitted that unless something was done in the way of simplifying the matter there ■vjas a probability of the count}' exhibits being discontinued. Exception was taken to the inclusion of manufactures and minerals, on the ground that to do so would tend to not only further increase coat, but would also handicap counties in which there were no manufactures.

It was ultimately decided to agree to the suggestion that the Otago A. and P. Society should bear the cost of erecting the four stands required for the display of exhibits, provided the stands were erected according to the desired designs of the exhibiting counties, and to disagree to the proposal to include New Zealand manufactures and minerals in the competition. The clauses dealing with the cost of conveyance being borne by the Otago A. and P. Society and the altered system of judging were agreed to, whilst that referring- to the amount of prize" money was left to the discretion of the Otago Society. DATE OF THE NEXT BHOW. It was decided to hold the annual show on November 13, a proposal that a date in autumn be selected being defeated. THE LATE MR RUTHERFORD. Sincere regret was expressed at the death of Mr George Rutherford, of Outram, who for many years had been an energetic member of the gocietv, and on the motion of Mr Blair, seconded by Mr J. Patrick, a resolution of condolence was directed to be forwarded to Mr Rutherford

Votes of thanks to the retiring president, members of committee, and the auditors were carried by acclamation.