The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1878.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 325, 29 May 1878, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays) WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1878.

The balance sheet lately presented at general meeting of the Pateu District Agricultural and Pastoral Association meeting, showed a balance to credit of £SO. That may he considered a good start for next season. The operations ®f the Society for the year may be voted a success —the show at Waverley being betterthan any thing which had previously taken place, and attracted competitors and visitors from far afield. There is little reason to doubt but what the next show will be a further improvement on the last. Many new settlers have arrived in the County, and more general interest is being taken in farming pursuits. The successful harvest appears to have encouraged land owners to try again and on a larger scale. Machinery of various kinds is also being introduced to lighten the labor. Some members of the Association convinced of the utility and importance of putting the Association on a firmer basis, are moving to have it incorporated under the Agricultural and Pastoral Association Act of last session. As the objects enumerated in the Incorporation Act embrace all matters connected'with Agricultural and Pastoral pursuits, there cannot possibly be any objection to the Patea Association being, brought under the provisions of the Act.: It would rather be an'advantage, and as a yearly statement of affairs would require to be sent to Government, and which would be published abng with other official returns, the incorporating of tl e Association should put the settlers of Patea on their mettle, and stimulate them, to renewed effort, for the sake of showing up to advantage as against other similar Associations. One very important

branch of agriculture is that of ploughing. From our exchanges we learn that preparations are being made in various parts for ploughing matches. At the last meeting of the Patea Association a committee was appointed to arrange for match. In spite of the very successful meeting at Waverley last year, some lukewarmness appears to he felt as regards ploughing matches —the young folks do not turn out to compete in the manner they ought to do, and as the merits of the old stagers are pretty well known, the intercstscems to have flagged. It is the young folks who would specially benefit by competition, and there should be. no backwardness on their part in stepping forward. By taking part in ploughing matches they could test their own qualifications, and be able to pick up a few wrinkles by comparing their own with the acknowledged good work of older men. The As so c i lie >n is in. good working order. The Secretary himself (Mr Cowcrn) takes considerable interest in the progress of the Association, and would work well to make a ploughing match meeting successful, in connection with the members. If ploughing match shonid take place this year, its attractiveness might be increased by the exhibition of root crops, and samples of grain from last harvest. Wo hope soon to learn that more heartiness is being shown, and that there are indications of a good gathering with plenty of competitors for ploughing honors.