WAITAHUNA FARMERS' CLUB.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1213, 13 January 1886, Page 3

WAITAHUNA FARMERS' CLUB.

A. meeting of the Committee of Management of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club was held in the Good Templars 1 Hall, Havelock, last Saturday evening. Members present— Messrs Livingston (President), .Oriiig (Vice - President), Corry, Ryan, Redpath, J. Robertson (Oraigie), Scott, Cowen, M'Taggart, Friis, Stevenson, and Crozier. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, a protest was received from Mr T. M'Kenzie, claiming the first prize in class 8, on account of the stock awarded first prize having been entered in class 7 and taken a prize. After discussion, the following motion was moved by Mr Corry and carried ; " Thaff oi», account of the practice com-

plained of in Mr MKenzie's protest lm- x ing been carried out at previous shows, the protest be not sustained, but the Committee of Management would recommend that the rules be altered it subsequent shows, so as to prevent a similar case occurring in future." |

The next business was Mr M'Kenzie's request for an inquiry into the charge made by him at a previous meeting of the Committee, to the effect that three members of the Clvb — viz., Messrs Livingston, Robert Craig, and John Robertson — had exhibited and obtained prizes at the late show with stock not their own property. Mr M'Kenzie stated that he had justifiable reason to suppose that the horse entered and exhibited by Mr Livingston in class 40a at the late show was not that gentleman's property, he having known the | horse to have been worked in Lawrence for over a year past by another person, whose property he supposed it to be. Mr Livingston, in reply, stated that the horse in dispute had been lent by him to the person using it ; that it was and is still his property, aud had never been sold by him to anyone. After discussion and hearing other evidence, it was moved by Mr Stevenson and seconded by Mr Scott— "That the evidence submitted to the Committee is sufficient to prove to theijr satisfaction that the horse entered by Mr Livingston in class 40a is his property."— Carried. The inquiry re Mr Robert Craig was then entered into. Mr M'Kenzie stated that he had reason to suppose that a cow entered in class 4 and a heifer in class 18 entered and shown by Mr Craig at the last show were nothis property. Mr M'Kenzie, at some length, gave his reasons for supposing the stock stated in the charge against Mr Craig to be other than his property at the time of the show.

Mr Craig, upon being called upon to reply to the charge, produced a stamped receipt for the purchase of the stock entered by him in the class named, dated some time previous to the show being held.

Oa. the motion of Mr Cowen, seconded by Mr Friis, it was resolved : "That the Committee are satisfied, from the receipt shown by Mr Robt! Craig, that the stock complained of was his property at the time of the show."

_Mr Robertson's case was next considered. Mr M'Kenzie gave his reason for supposing that stock entered and exhibited at the late show by Mr John Robertson in classes 7, 8, 30, and 11 was not his property, but had been borrowed for the occasion,

Mr Robertson, in reply, said that the stock exhibited by him was his property, and had been purchased by him — one beast from a person in Milton and the other from Mosely Bros. It was moved by Mr Corry and seconded by Mr Stevenson : " That there is nothing before the Committee to prove that the stock exhibited in the classes named is not Mr Robertson's property." — Carried. It was moved by Mr Cowen aud seconded by Mr Corry : " That Mr M'Kenzie is only exercising a right of any member of the Club in asking for an inquiry : and as there were grounds for inquiry, we exonerate him from all blame, as it is in the interests of the Club that such an inquiry should be instituted."— Carried.

The President again entered his protest against Mr Howie receiving first prize in class 47, as it was awarded to No. 6 pen, and that was the number by which he was entered, and his ram was in that pen. — On the motion of Mr Cowen, seconded by Mr Corry, it was decided not to pay the first prize in class 47 until further information is obtained in the matter.

Mr Robert Craig tendered his resignation as a member of the Club. The Treasurer acknowledged the receipt of £137 14s on behalf of the show prize-fund from all sources up to date. Accounts to the amount of £17 8s 8d were passed for payment. During the inquiry re protest against stock improperly entered, the chair was occupied by Mr Martin Ryan.