A. and P. Association.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7286, 14 August 1893, Page 2

A. and P. Association.

The monthly meeting of the committee of the limaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday. Present— Messrs J. Sing (president), E. Kellsnd, Wylie, Hay, McLaren, Campbell, Murray, Lyle, Balfour, Strutbers, and Pringle. Beplies wore received from the local M.H.B.’s to correspondence covering the resolution passed at a special meeting condemning the Noxious Weeds Bill. The Hon. M*jor Steward concurred with the resolution ; the Bill ought not to be passed unless shorn of its objectionable features. Mr Hall Jones thought the Bill altogether of too drastic a character, but it was not likely to pass this session ; he would oppose : t unless were greatly modified Mr Rhodes wrote that the Bill had no chance of passing in its present shape. The Eilesmore S ciety also expressed it# concurrence. I'he Bill if carried would mean ruination They, however, recommended a ehort Bill to prevent the introduction of burrs aud Californian thistle j and one or two others. The Minister of. Agriculture acknowbgeil receipt of the Society’s letter, and the contents would I “ receive careful consideration.” Messrs Morson Bras., —who with others at a distance, had baen written to asking them to exhibit this year, the committee intending to shift the show grounds, if possible, before i next year—wrote that if the show ground were shifted to a ground more convenient to the railway they wouid be pleased to exhibit, and get others in their district to do so. , A discussion took place on the motion of which notice had beeu guen by ilr W. Hay that the days of the show be made ‘■Vednesday and Thursday, if this would not interfere with the Ashburton show The change was advocated in order to obtain whatever advantage might arise from Thursday being the regular half holiday. As it was still unknown what afternoon will bo made the statutory halfholiday, dud it may possibly bo Wednesday, Mr Hay was requested to withdraw his notice, the secretary to bring up the matter ut the next annual meeting. Mr Hay drew attention to a cup prize for poiute which bad been added to the catalogue after this had been passed by the revising committee and the general committee and ordered to be printed, and also to several error# of description in the class listThe President explained that there was soma money to spare, and oq the recommendation of some sheep breeders he had added a cup to the Merino classes to encourage a better show of them. The action of the President was approved, and instructions given to have the errors referred to corrected. Mr Hay also objected to tbe insertion of four classes for “inbred half-bred sheep," after the prize schedule bad passed both com- / mittees and been ordered to be printed. I He objected to tbe irregularity of the ? manner in which (be addition wea made,

and also to any class fc.*irg provided for the alleged new breed. If, he remarked, they were to provide desses for every new-fangled breed, they would soon have tbeir book full of them. f iho proper place for such sheep were the pane for sheep “ for exhibition only,” until it was proved that they were a variety worth encouraging. Most of the members agreed with Mr Hay that * inbredhalfbreds ” are a usefieas kind of sheep but Mr Pringle defended them. Mr McLaren explained how the addition came to be made. He did not approve of the sheep himself, but was spoken to by a man who desired to see a class for them, and with a view to improving the show he and others who took the same view, advised the President to add the prizes for them. It would be egotistical in any of them i o say, because they did not approve of a breed of sheep, that those who did—some of them good sheep men—were mistaken in them. After a good deal of discussion, Mr Campbell moved that the President’s action be approved, and this was carried. Mr Hay said he drew attention to this matter at a special meeting, to give a chance to someone to move in that direction, and disarm bis criticism. The committee then proceeded to select gentlemen to be asked to act as judges at the show.