TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8794, 2 June 1890, Page 2

TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

SPECIAL MEETING,

( Continued from Town Edition Saturday.)

Mr Halcombe, speaking, said : The matter now was to get a reply from the representatives of the Freezing Company, and also in the steamer question. He wished to know if any communication had been received in these matters. — [The Secretary stated that the Hawera people had had the offer of a steamer.] — He considered that a guarantee of sheep could be given in this district, as many farmers were now devoting themselves to sheep farming, and with such a prospect in view as the re-opening of the works they would increase their efforts. He was also williug to go round the district with others to see what guarantee could actually be given by the settlers. On the question of where the steamer should lie, he said no doubt the owners of the steamships would themselves decide that matter; they would come to the port that best suited them. He was a Waitara man, but he was willing to be ruled for the best. If the steamship owners thought New Plymouth to be the better place for tho steamer to lio he would abide by that decision. He looked on the matter as a provincial one, not a local one (hear hear). In conclusion he added that a direct steamer would mean a great thing for the dairy industry. Mr Halcombe thenseconded Mr Kyngdon's motion. Mr T. Bayly stated they were somewhat in the dark in this matter. The letter from Hawera was dated May 17, and to-day was May 31, and there was ample time to communicate with Auckland, and yet nothing was known as to tbo Freezing Co.'s intention. His opinion was that the Auckland Co. would not open the works, but would sell them to persons desirous of starting them. Mr Sadler pointed out to tho meeting how a direct steamer ■would benefit this district. He said he had a letter at home which he had got from Messrs Trengrouse & Co., of London, who bought a quantity of produce in this district last year, and who lost on the same produce. This he believed was mainly due to the frequent handling of the produce before being shipped. The Chairman, in answer to Mr Bayly, pointed out that tho object of the meeting was to ask the Auckland Company to re-open tho works. Mr Okey said that it was to Auckland's advantage to stop in this district, as the Wellington and Wanganui companies were trying to get the whole coast to supply their companies.

Mr Halcombk then spoke on the question of what advantage it would be to Auckland to come into this district, or to any enterprising firm. The first thiug they had to find out was, if the Auckland Company was willing to re-open, and, if so, what guarantee would be required.

Mr Z. W. Wells said that they should ask the Company what they wanted for the old works at Waitara if they would not re-open them.

Mr J. Elliot said that tho course they would have to pursue would be through the Uawera Farmers' Association. (Hear, hear.) He then spolie on the advantages of a direct steamer, and gave an instance of how butter had beon treated in his view before being diieetty shipped.

The Chairman said that the letter under discu°sion was from the Egmont A. and P. Association, and not from the Farmers' Association.

Mr Elliot pointed out that the day after the meeting at Hawera one of the direct steam companies inado certain advantageous offers to put on a direct boat to be tendered at Waitara.

Mr Kyngdon'g resolution, " That this meeting is willing to heartily co-operate with the settlers at Hawera in getting a direct export of meat and dairy produce 'rom this district," which was seconded by Mr Halcombe, was then put and carried.

tvr Halcombe suggested that a Committee should be appointed, and statistics collected of exports from here for data.

Mr W. Bayly said the meeting was representative enough to give an idea of what stock this district could send away. As Hawera would export far more than this district they must leave it to the Haweia people, to whom they could give all information respecting this district. Mr Ballantyne told him that he would guarantee 200 head of cattle to re-open the works. (Hear, hoar). He considered that from the profits made from frozen meat it would be cheaper for him to shut up butchery and go in for the freezing. He pointed out that his brother Isaac, at Hawera, had shipped home 400 head, all of which, with the exception of 15, were cows and heifers. His brother netted £5 8s per head over the shipment, whilst he, inputting the beasts "thiough the mill" as he termed it here, only netted £3. He would be quite willing to guarantee 200 head of cattle, like Mr Ballantyne. (Hear, hear). A guarantee list was then passed round the room.

Mr R. Cock informed the meeting that tho Chamber of Commorce was now collecting all statistics of exports from the district for the past ten years. Messrs A. Kyngdon, Halcombe, J. Honeyfield, T. Bayly, P. C. Morton, G. V. Tate, J. Elliot, W. Bayly, H. King, R. Cock, Nicholson, H. Okey, J. B. Connett, J. V. Dingle, and the chairman were appointed a committee to gather statistics on the past export from the district, and canvass the district.

Mr Cook pointed out tho difficulty there was in shipping butter as at present, and wlut an advantage a direct boat would be* Hi <*U thai h« m\ \W H* »t fitter tf

tho same dairy away last season. The shipment was sent in two lots of 50 kegs each from here, which went by different modes to Wellington, and were then taken home from Wellington in the same steamer. On sale in London one lot realised 545, and the other lot 955. This was a usual experience, ho added, with him in the butter trade.

It was decided to inform tho Egmont A. & P. Association of the result of tho meeting.

Mr W. Bayly said that Mr Nelson, of Nelson Bros., was in the district at present, and thore was talk of his firm buying the freezing works. It was to be hoped that was a correct surmise.

The list, when the meeting broke up, showed that ten persons had guaranteed 750 cattle and 4,000 sheep. Thcae figures of course do not represent the whole guarantee.

The meeting then separated with thanks to the Agricultural Society, its chairman, and hon. secretary.