TUAPEKA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4897, 5 October 1901, Page 3

TUAPEKA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of the Tuapeka Agricultural Society was held in the Borough, Council Chambers on Thursday atternoon when there was a fair attendance of members ; Mr T. E. Williams presiding in the absence of the President, from whom an apology was received; also from Mr Wood (Beaumont) /The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.

T^rom fcae secretary Southland Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Association as follows:— "I am duly in receipt of yours of 21st instant asking for particulars of the. sheep shearing competition which we held in the year 1898. The immediate financial result of the exhibition was a distinct loss to the Society, There were seven entries of 5s each, or a total of £1 15s. The prize money amounted to £6, and the cost of preparing pens, shearing floor, oa KB iQ S tne wool i &nd disposing of the same, probably came to a good deal more. It is impossible to say what indirect advantages were obtained from the competition, but it was never thought worth while by my directors to repeat the performance. In addition to this there was the inevitable unpleasantness due to competition among men who regarded themselves as crack shearers. I regret that I have no copy of the rules Which were prepared by myself for the competition, buc they were exactly similar to such «s would be used in any well regulated woolshed and you need have no difficulty, therefore, in getting these prepared in your own district. The most unpleasant feature in the whole affair was the bickering among the competitors, to wbioh the event gave rise. The principal object was to interest the town people by letting them see what sheep shearing really meant, but I should imagine that in your district that would be no novelty to the greater part of the visitors to your show." — On the motion of Mr Jno. Sojuu, sQGQU<iQ<i by Mx Jno. Nicoll > \t> was resolved that aheap shearing be not included in the Society's show programme. From Jas. Rennie, Winchester, owner of the selected stallion New Hope, requesting to be informed as to the date he should arrive in Lawrence with his horse.— Moved by Mr Beard, seconded by Mr Osborne : " That Mr Rennie be informed that he is expected to arrive in Lawrence on the I7thinst. — Carried. — On the motion of Mr Geo. Walker, seconded by Mr Sullivan, it was resolved that the action of the sub-com-mittee with reference to the selection of an. entire horse be approved of.

SHOW JUDGES.

:>: > ,A number of names of proposed judges at the Society's forthcoming Show were submitted to the meeting, and the secretary was authorised to oommnnicate with them with the view of securing the, aery ices of those required.

SMALL BIRD PEST.

" Mr John Smith moved, and Mr H. Beard seconded : " That the price paid by the Society at the forthcoming show for birds' eggs and heads be the same as last year, and that the arrangements in connection with same be carried out on similar lines." Mr Sullivan moved as an amend caenfc f and Mr Hayes seconded ; " Th&ti 2d per dozen be paid fo? eggs and 3d per dozen for heads." The amendment, on being put to the meeting, was carried. Mr Gunn suggested that some poisoned grain should be procured for distribution among the members. The present moment wasjnosb opportune for that pnrpose, and he thought very useful work in^fche vray of small bird destruction might be done if farmers made a second sowing of it on their ground after the spring sowing. He might say that he had bought some grain irom Mr Taylor, one of the local ohemists, and fonnd it very destructive. Mr Nicoll suggested that very effective work might be done by farmers if they distributed poisoned grain along the road on their way to or from home. He considered that phosphorised oats was the most destructive agency.' That was his experience. The Chairman thought the experiment of throwing poisoned grain along the main road might prove a dangerous experiment. V Mr Brook said he had poisoned within the last -few days and he found that the birds would not touch it. Mr Hayes said he had tried all kinds of poisoned grain and found that the grain ordered from Ashburton waß both clean and effective. Mr Sullivan moved: "That the Society buy £5 worth of poisoned grain from the Ashburton Drug Co. for distribution among members." Mr Hayes seconded. — Carried, Mr.Osborne said he thought members should be charged for the grain. If it was so very effective he did not think it was too much to ask members to pay for it. In fact he saw no reason whatever why it should not be paid for. He would move : " That members pay cost price lauded for the poisoned grain." Mr Jno. Smith seconded.

Mr Gunn objected to the motion on the ground that at present when ie was distributed free there was a difficulty in getting many people to take it and use it, ' It was clear if they had to pay tor it they would be still farther off from using it. The only inducement was to give it to them for nothing. ""The Chairman said he held the same Opinion. He thought it would be much better and more satisfactory to give it (0 tihem free of cost, espaoially as they

would get subsidised by the County Counoil for whatever money they exponded. Mr Drysdale thought that if the Society purchased the grain there should be a free distribution of it. He would move as an amendment : " That the grain be distributed free to the members of the Society." Mr Grann seconded, ' I The amendment was carried. Mr Walker said that some months ago the Southland Agricultural Society brought the srn all bird question under the notice of Sir J. G. Ward and asked him to offer a bonus or reward for some satisfactory poison as a destructive agency that the small birds would take free'y at all seasons, .^thing, however, came of the suggestion but he thoagbb their Society should take action on similar lines and cc« if something of a permanently effective character might not result from it. He merely threw out the suggestion. A SHOW GROUND FOR THE SOCIETY. The Secretary (Mr Browne) said in the absence of the President he bad a suggestion to make wbich he thought would be well worth the consideration of the Society. It was with regard to making arrangements for acquiring a show ground of its own upon which per"manent buildings might be erected. It was, however, necessary before entering into such an undertaking to see whether it would be profitable to the Society to do so. He asked them to take into consideration that every year a certain unavoidable expenditure took place that I brought no permanent return to the Society. For instance, last year there ; there were two sums of £5 3s 6d and £3 13s 6d for labor in connection with the erection of buildings on the ground, Wclusive of the money spent on timber inquired for the building, which had to fe subsequently sold for whatever they c^uld get for it. Then there was the hte of the ground and the expenditure onputting up hnrdles and taking them doin again, the whole amounting to sonething like an expenditure of £14 for Vhioh there was absolutely nothing of &, permament character to show. Bvenif they put down the annual expendiiure at £10 it would represent interest on a considerable amount of money and they would have the further ad van Uge of haying ground of tbeir own. It seenud to him it was worth while taking the matter into consideration. Until the Society had been firmly established it was not deemed advisable to embark da such an undertaking, but he thought ihe time was now ripe for it and that itshould not be any longer deferred. The qoesfcion was whether they BuO\tf& b&Vb a piece a$ gronnd eA feWi** own, whether freehold or leasehold^ oa which they could erect permanent buildings. His suggestion was that a subcommittee might be set up to decide, among other things, what area of ground would be necessary and advertise asking for offers ior sections, either on sale or on lease. Having received offers | they could then go into the matter and bring up their report by next meeting, after which the means to be adopted for raising the money required would remain for consideration. One way -of raising the money would be by the issue of debentures. If, for instance, a sum of £300 was required, that would mean that each member would take up on an average £4 worth of debentures, on which they would get interest. The Society afterwards might consider as to how they would redeem these debentures ; whether out of their ordinary revenue or otherwise. Tie recommended fcn&b fcne matter be taken ia hand a 6 once if they wanted to have a Bhow ground o< their own by next show.

Mr Sullivan approved of the suggestion and thought it would bo a good thing if they could get ground close to the town, whether leasehold or freehold. That, he thought, would be the chief difficulty. The Chairman said the euggestion was a good oue and advised that a Babcommittee should be appointed at once to take the matter in hand. Mr Mnllins also approved of the suggestion and thought no time should be lost in dealing with it. Mr J"uq % South mjmd. ; " Th&t> ft swb« ' committee be formed to carry oub Mr Browne's suggestion, to consist of the President, vice-President, Secretary, and Messrs D. L. Christie, B. Gunn and. N. O. Potts, a report to be submitted to I next meeting of the Society."

Mr Drysdale seconded the motion which was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. This concluded the business.