TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXIX, Issue 12142, 10 August 1903, Page 3

TIMARU AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The committee of tie Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association met on Saturday. : . Present: Messrs W. Hay (president), D. Grant (vice-president), W. J. Bassett, J. S. Rutherford, A. Bissett, G. Lyall, Sf > : Maze, W. Cunningham, J. Scott, A. Scott, R. Irving, R. Davie, R. Parry, A: R.'Allan, H. Lowry, G. Talbot, and Miller. Apologies were received from Messrs D; McLaren, P. Wareing, OrbeJJ, and - ■' "

-The sub-committee appointed to consider the Stud Bill, reported as follows :—" The committee is of opinion that the provisions respecting examination are too arbitrary, arid much too drastic in the case of hereditary- unsoundness, in consequence of which if the Bill becomes law, some of the very best horses in the country will be debarred from use, whilst any badly bred, ill-shaped beast, may (if found sound) go about under disguise of Government license perpetuating the bad breeding and ill shape. The committee also think that the stringency of the measure will tend to stop the introduction of fresh blood into the colony, inasmuch as few would care to risk the possibility of having a costly animal disqualified as a consequence of some accident during importation. The committee, therefore, passed the following resolution unanimously :—' That- this committee, after having carefully considered the proposed Stud Bill, is strongly opposed to tie measure becoming law."" —The secretary said that a copy of this resolution had. been sent to the Minister for Agriculture.

The president stated that he had seen Mr McNaught, the wool expert, and arranged with him to give two lectures under the auspices of the- Association, the first tot be given this month. Mr Gilruth had not yet been able to fix a date for his lecture on the diseases of stock.

The president drew attention to what he considered an error in the manner of con-; dueting the elections of officers and committees, at the annual meeting. It had been the practice to close the nominations a week before the annual riftetißg, and on looking over the Act under whiclfttlie Association -was incorporated, he believed that this was wrong, and that nominations must, if offered, be received at the annual meeting.—After a little discussion, it was decided to obtain a solicitor's opinion on the matter.

The architect, Mr Turnbull, reported that good progress was being made with the erection of the stalls and horse-boxes, and they should be completed early next month. ■' ~ v

An application for advertising in the "New Zealand Farmer" was left to the secretary. Some correspondence was read regarding a sum of .£2 10s which went astray in 1899. In that year a Southland gentleman acted as a judge of draught horses, and in due /course £2 10s was forwarded to him- in November, to cover his. travelling expenses, together with a printed form pi' receipt to be returned, and a letter stating what the payment was for, and- thanking "him for his services. The receipt was returned, signed as by the 'proper recipient. A short time ago a member of the committee met the former judfce, and the latter, seriously or chaffingly, complained that he had not been paid" lus expenses for ' 1899. On this .complaint being made to the secretary, he. turned;up the .receipt,;and .sent it to the gentleman, who returned it with. a statement that he never received the money or the letter accompanying it; and that the signature $o the; /receipt was a forgery, as by comparison with the signature to the letter it evidently was.—The secretary explained that he receives many postal notes in payment of entry fees, and he had been in the habit bf making payments at a distance by using these notes.to save exchange on 'Cheques, It was evident now that that was a mistake, as the postal rotes could not be traced. —It was decided to take steps to endeavour to recover the money from the person iwho wrongly took possession of it. The Canterbury Agricultural- and Pastoral Association wrote sending proposals for ;a co-operate winter show in Christchurch in August, 1904, at least three, country; s'ecieiies to cooperate, and subscifibe Sai igiikrantee fund of £2oo.—After a "'discussion it was decided to have rothing to do with; the guarantee, but to assist as far as possible by trying to. send, est: hibits. A, circular asking for support for the> protest of the Marlborough barley and hopi growers against licensing legislation inimical to their interests was "received"; a reply to be sent that this Association is tot "sufficiently interested to take any part if:.the matter.. The pay of the caretaker of the show: grounds ; was increased to- £l2 10s . i*i annum.

Mr Bassett said he, had been asked to recommend that, notifies be put up tlat the public must not-go among the s:<w ■pens!of sheep until the judges .have completed their' work. This was opposed, by several class'stewards, as quite uhueces-., sary; thsy had never had any. trouble 6© that sort. •' ~:...'-:..' ■' • -: The committee then, proceeded; to select .class: stewards and nominate, gentlemen to ■be asked to act. as''judges. - .:.-' '■■-■■"■ ';lt was resolved to grant £5 5s to the' Geraldine Ploughing Match Committee. .'; . Thirteen new members, proposed by Mr M. Maze, were.elected.' :. ? - .-. .'.