TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3220, 26 March 1900, Page 4

TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The thirty-fourth annual meeting of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held in the Sophia Street Hall on Saturday morning. There were present at the meeting, the President, Mr R. H. Rhodes, the vice-president, Mr G. Rutherford, hon. treasurer, Mr W. Priest, secretary Mr Wood, memoers of committee, Messrs J. Austin, A, S. Bruce, A. S. Elworthy, J. Goldie, senr,, D. Grant, R. Hay, W. Hay, R. Irving, E. Kelland, R. Kelland, T; Mitchell, D. McLaren, ft. Parry, G. H. Rhodes, J. S. Rutherford, W.Stevenson ; other members, Messrs W . B. Holwell, 8. Cain, M. Maze, R. H. Blssett, J. B. Wareing, W. J. Baasett, E. Carter. Twenty minutes were spent in waiting to complete a quorum. The following annual report by the President, Mr R. H. Rhodes, and committee, had been printed and circulated:—"Your committee have very much pleasure in presenting the thirtyfourth annual report and balance-sheet, which they feel certain will meet with your continued approval. To sum up shortly, the position of the association, as shown on the other side, has much Improved. We started the year with a credit balance of £70 3s 2d, against which there was a liability to Mr William Grant of £100 ; this has been wiped off, leaving a credit balance of £59 18a 9d. The land, yards, and buildings are put down at bare cost, against which there are no liabilities whatever. The total money expended on the new grounds up to date is £1366 8a Id, made up as follows: —Land, £524 Is 3d; railway siding, half cost, £297 IDs; repairs, improvements, and costs incidental in removing £544 16a lOd. The annual show was held, which turned out a great success in every- respect, all previous records for entries and gate receipts having been broken. 'Xherealso appears a small profit over the horse parade and ram fair. Since the last show your committee have had the grounds cultivated, levelled, nnd sown down in grass, which will be in good order for next show. Members subscriptions have increased from £177 to £19i't; and a further increase of members wtfuld greatly assiet the sssociation. If every member would take upon himself to introduce one member during the year, it would have the effect of obtaining the deßired result. Your committee desire to thank the judges, cliss stewards, and all contributors of private prizes and donations;. also, the Levels County Council for free use of their room for holding meetings of com- - mittee." The following is the statement of accounts for the year, presented by Messrs W. Priest, treasurer, G. P. Wood, secretary, and C. S. Fraser, auditor :-- Receipts— Bank balance, £70 33 2d ; members' subscriptions, £l92 ; donations and private prizes, £111 4s ; entries,£236 9s 6d; privileges.— (Booths, £65; eale catalogues, £18 ; gates, £273 19s ; weight guegßing, leas £6 prizes, £4 6s; si^e Bhows£9;) £370 59; rent of grounds £20; horse parade, £7 14s; ramfair,£9llslld; total receipts, £1017 17s 7d. Expenditure :— Prize money £456 11s 6d ; printing and advertising, £56 7s 6d; salaries and wages— (auditor, two years, £4 48, secretary £60, show wages £23 Is, band, £9 Is, caretaker £10) £106 63 : general expenses, £40 16s 3d ; donation War Fund, £1010s ; luncheon and judges expenses, £35 9a 9d ; Mr W. Grant, balance loan, £100 ; repairs and improvements, £151 7s Id ; credit balance, £59 183 9d ; total, £1017 7a 7d. The balance sheet showed :— Assets : balance in bank, £59 18s 9d ; land (cost price), £524 Is 3d; improvements on land, £150 ; total £734. Liabilities, Nil The President was sure members had perused the balance sheet with pleasure. The £100 paid to Mr Grant made the ground their own ; it would not occur again. The £150 for improvements was large, but the improvements were of a permanent nature— draining, planting, fencing, and levelling and reaowing the ground. The balance in hand was not so large as last year, but there was no liability against it. He congratulated the association on being in a better position than ever before, and they would, be able to go on improving the ground, until it was one of the most perfect in the colony. He thanked the committee for their willing assistance, especially the chairman of the ground committee, and the secretary, who had been most assiduous and energetic. In reply to Mr Cain.the President gave the details of the item of £150 for improvements, and mentioned that the placing of a gate on the freezing woiks road had enabled them to sell the feed for a fortnight for £10. Mr D. McLaren seconded the adoption of the report, and in doing so said that the association was in the best position of any association in New Zealand, and he hoped that they would keep.it so. He asked that Mr Hay's notice of motion that £700 be borrowed to effect further improvements, be discussed before the election of committee, as the vote on that motion must affect the election,seeing that if the money was borrowed it could on y be on personal guarantees. The President ruled that he could not take that motion first. It would not affect the committee at all, for ihero would be no ballot, the nominations just completing the committee. The report and balance sheet were adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to the retiring President, on the motion of Messrs McLaren and Priest. Mr E. Kelland vsaa the only person nominated for the office of President and was therefore declared elected. Mr Kelland on taking the chair thanked the members for doing him j such honour, and he accepted it knowing that it was the wish of the whole committee that he should do so. He hoped that they would get on as successfully as last year ; he would do his - level best to ensure that, and was certain that he would have the support of the committee. He thanked the, meeting for the honour done him. (A pplause.) Mr O. N.Orbell was elected vice-Presi-dent, Mr W. Priest was reelected treasurer, and Mr C. S. Fraaer auditor. The following were elected a committee :— Messrs J. Austin, A. S. Bruce, R. Davie, A. IS. Elworthy, J. Goldie Senr. D. Grant, W. Hay, R. Irving, R. Kelland, G. Lyall, J. Mundell, S. MacKenzle, D. McLaren, R. Parry, R. H. and G. H. Rhodes, J. 8. and G. Rutherford, W. G. Smith, W. Stevenson, G. Talbot, T. Teschemaker, B. E. H. Tripp.A. 8. Thomson. On the motfon of Messrs Cain and Mitchell it was resolved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that the secretary be instructed to insert in the annual report a statement of the number of meetings attended by each member of Committee. A formal resolution was passed voting £1000 to the Committee for ordinary expenditure during the year. Mr W. Hay. moved, pursuant to notice, that it be an instruction to the incoming committee that a sum not exceeding £700 be borrowed at not exceeding 5 per cent, for the purpose of erecting horseboxes, new sheep pens and yards, enlarging the secretary's office, new ladies' cloak and tea room, concrete cistern for water supply, and other necessary improvements. Mr Hay said that he would have preferred that one of more influence on the committee had taken up this matter, but as no one else had done it he would not shirk the responsibility of moving in the matter. It waa tine, as Mr McLaren had said, that they could not give the ground as Becurity, but they could get the money in various ways ; it was merely a question of the advisability of borrowing. They boasted of being In a better position than any otut r association, and yet the appointments of the ground would not compare with those at many smaller places. He contrasted the fittings at Timaru and Oamaru, and argued that it waa the duty of the committee to study the convenience and comfort of exhibitors and visitors. It was admitted that horse-boxea were required; the sheepyards were a disgrace to the coamii - tee, to the grounds, and South Cai ! terbury. The secretary's office was simply a box, and if they did not provide more comforts for the ladies they would lose interest in the Show, and if they lost the ladies as visitors, they would lose the other sex too. A concrete tank for water supply would cave paying a large sum for water, and would enable them to get a better rent for the ground. He did not think the whole of the sum named would be required, but they should take power to borrow enough to carry out properly what they undertook. Mr W. Priest seconded the motion. They had a first-rate ground, but were far behind other places in regard to con-

veniences He suggested that the money could be raised by debentures. Mr Bruce said they did want the things mentioned, but they Bhould be content to want them for another year. Carting materials over the newly cultivated ground would make permanent ruts. He urged postponement for a year. Mr McLaren strongly deprecated borrowing. He had had experience of clearing off a debt, and did not want such another. They should keep out of debtj and be content to make further improvements out of annual profits. He would absolutely decline to become responsible for the loan or any share of it. Mr J. S. Rutherford supported the motion. The former experience was in connection with the old show ground, a very different thing. They wanted horse-boxes very much, and the better their improvements the more exhibits they would get. Mr Mitchell contended that a water supply should be placed first , not last. •Jttr R. H. Rhodes said that some of Mr Hay's proposals were wanted, others were superfluous. A concrete tank would be useless unless they also built a lot of iron roofs. A tank would not be a satisfactory supply, being at only one point. A number of taps from a Pareora supply would be worth having. It was quite unnecessary to spend a lot of money on new sheep yards. People did not go to see sheep yards, and the present ones would serve for some years. He would strongly oppose any loan. They would have about £250 of clear revenue each year, and in a few years could get and pay for all that they wanted. Mr G. Rutherford approved of a loan, and of raising the money by debentures. He likereit the ground to a building without furniture, and as to the sheepyard?, < hey should have a fires tick put to them. Horseboxes were indispensable. The committee by raising £500 need not cause anxiety to any individual member, and he was ready to become rearoneible for his share." He did not think that carting material now would injure the ground more than in a year or two. Mr R. H. Rhodes protested against members of tlie committee being challenged to put down money for the association, and Mr Rutherford s^id he would withdraw that. Messrs Cain and Mitchell proposed that the matter be postponed and referred to the committee for consideration. Mr Hay hoped thst the matter would not be hung up, but settled on its merits at once. The President was positive that the sheep yards were aa good to-day as ten years ago, and he would be sorry to see any money spent upon them, and sorry to eee the association landed in debt again. He agreed that horse-boxes were much needed. Mr Cain's amendment was put and lost by a bare majority. x Mr Hay replied. There was something, bufc not much, in Mr Bruce's objection. .With regard to the sheepyards, the annual expense in keeping up the old ones would almost pay the interest on the new ones. He saw one gentleman nearly break his neck through leaning against the yards and their giving way under him, and had himseli been hurt by them. New sheep yards were as much wanted as new horse boxes. He did not believe in getting the improvements piecemeal ; such work was never satisfactory. The money could be. easily raised, and the interest would be only £35 a year j their average profits would pay that and enable them to reduce the debt by nearly £100 a year. Mr Rhodes asked if the motion was carried the committee would be bound to carry it out, and was told they would be. The President said the motion would place the committee in a very awkward position, as the committee would not be agreed about it. A desultory discussion took place, lasting some time. Mr Hay was urged to withdraw his motion, but he declined ; he had seen too much of things being dragged on year after year. The motion was finally put and lobl by 11 to 7. The meeting then closed.