AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES (REPORTS AND BALANCE-SHEETS OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1886 Session I, H-05a

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1886. NEW ZEALAND.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES (REPORTS AND BALANCE-SHEETS OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to "The Agricultural and Pastoral Association Act, 1877."

COURTENAY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. Annual Report for the Year ending the 31st May, 1886. Youe Committee, in bringing up their report, desire to congratulate the members on the continued progress and prosperity of the association, as shown by the statement of receipts and expenditure for tho past year. A very important and much-needed work was carried out previous to the late show—viz., the improved yards accommodation, on which upwards of £75 has been expended. Your Committee held their annual show on the 27th November last, and with pleasure report a larger number of entries than on the previous year ; added to this, the attendance of the public was larger than on any previous occasion since the show was established. The gate receipts show an increase of £10 12s. more than in 1884. Your Committee have held twelve meetings during the year. Six members have resigned, and one member has been elected during the year. Your Committee regret to say that a large number of members are in arrears with their subscriptions. The sale-yards and sheep-dip continue to be well patronized. Your Committee have to deplore the sudden death of one of their oldest members—Mr. H. J. Mathias. Your Committee desire to record their appreciation of the services rendered by those gentlemen who acted as judges at the late show; also to the marshals and gatekeeper. Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending the 31st May, 1886. Receipts. S, s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. To Balance brought forward (19th May, 1885) 6G 5 10 By Caretaker .. .. .. .. 22 1 3 Members' annual subscriptions .. 57 0 0 Secretary .. .. .. .. 20 0 0 Donations to November show .. .. 19 G 0 Lake and Evans, dipping powder .. 40 16 9 Special prizes, November show .. 110 11 4 Interest on loan .. .. .. 14 0 0 Eeceipts for dipping sheep .. .. 95 3 0 Country Journal .. .. .. 12 0 Beceipts for yard fees .. .. 43 18 8 Clark, building yards contract .. .. 69 13 0 Beeeipts for rent of land .. .. 6 0 0 Griffith, painting contract .. .. 4 15 0 Donation for show, 1886 .. .. 2 7 0 Sandstein, Medals .. .. .. 7 4 0 Sale of timber and cans .. .. 18 0 Water-rate .. .. .. ..126 Discount on printing account .. .. 110 Prizes, November show .. .. .. 133 4 0 Subscription to yards .. .. ■ • 110 Printing and advertising .. .. 12 12 6 Binder ontry .. .. •■ 0 10 0 Band .. .. .. ..500 Luncheon at show account .. 15 12 0 Yards, subscription refund .. .. 3 0 0 Lord, levelling contract .. .. 1 10 0 Stationery, stamps, and incidental .. 7 5 6 Cash in hands of Treasurer, 31st May, 1886 59 7 4 £418 '5 10 glg_BM

TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Rbpobt of the Sub-Committee, submitted to the Annual Meeting held in tho Athenasum, Mosgiah Friday, the 28th August, 1885. The books of the society were duly audited, and everything was found to have been kept in a very careful and correct manner, and we consider the Secretary merits the thanks of the society.

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We regret very much, however, that the financial position of the society shows an alarming decrease, no less than the sum of £77 10s. 7d. having been expended in excess of the revenue. The bank balance shows a little better than that, but members must be made aware that the sum of £26 for rent was paid in advance in addition to the rent usually paid for the show-ground. We began the financial year with £93 6s. lOd.; and this year, including the £26 referred to, we begin with a credit balance of £41 16s. 9d. We would recommend, for the consideration of members, that where there is no competition, or only one exhibitor in any class, only one prize be paid. We would also recommend that when revising the prize list every economy be exercised, and that some of the classes may be done away with. Of course, every care should be used that the usefulness of the society be not impaired, and that the society make special endeavours to get energetic collectors, and also that greater diligence be used, and also to see that the farmers and residents in the Taieri respond more liberally. The annual parade of entire horses, held on the 6th October, was not so well represented as formerly, there being only ten entries of draughts and four thoroughbreds. The annual show, held in Mosgiel on the 26th December, was most successful, the total number of entries being 425 as against 436 the previous year, the small falling off being in thoroughbreds and hacks. Before concluding we would recommend that the show be held in West Taieri this year, if the West Taieri members exert themselves sufficiently for the funds. Peter Geant, President. Samuel Young,) ,» , t n Peteb Dey, | Members of Committee. Eobeet Findlay, Secretary.

Balance-sheet for Year ending 31st August, 1885. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. & s. d To Balance brought forward .. .. 93 610 By paid prizo money .. .. .. 17G 12 0 Subscription and members' tickets .. 119 10 6 Medals .. .. .. 29 6 3 Entries .. .. .. 56 8 G Half rent show-ground, £26 155.; half subGates.. .. .. .. 00 18 0 rent, £16 .. .. .. 40 15 0 Booths .. .. .. 25 16 0 Printing and advertising .. .. 31 15 3 Eents .. .. .. 53 10 0 Expenses at show .. .. .. 18 2 6 Eef and overcharge on medals .. .. 13 0 Labour .. .. .. .. 13 12 3 Deposit on protest .. .. .. 10 0 Timber, &c. .. .. .. .. 14 10 1 Estimated value of special prizes .. 49 14 6 Miscellaneous.. .. .. .. 912 9 Donation, Derby ploughing match .. 10 0 0 Stamps, stationery, and telegrams .. 5 10 0 Protest deposit, returned .. .. 10 0 Secretary's salary .. .. .. 25 0 0 Balanco in bank .. .. .. 41 16 9 Special prizes.. .. .. .. 49 14 6 £466 7 4 £466 7 4 Audited and found correct. —P. Dey, Wm. C. Todd, Auditors. Mosgiel, 14th August, 1885.

WAIEAEAPA AND EAST COAST PASTOEAL AND AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY. At the meeting of the above society at the Council Chambers, on Saturday, the following report was submitted :— " The Committee of the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society herewith beg to lay before the members in general meeting the annual statement of accounts, duly audited and found correct. The balance sheet shows an overdraft on the 30th April last of £262 195., whereas the overdraft in April, 1885, was £8 14s. 6d. This would show a deficiency of £254- 4s. 6d. for the year; but it has to be stated that one of the mortgages for £277 10s. was paid off during the year, and that the bank allowed the necessary accommodation upon certain conditions of guarantee, which were accepted. The debenture debt has been practically removed during the year, and the Committee have not stated any liability under this head. It is therefore a matter upon which the society may be congratulated —the permanent debt has now been extinguished. At the previous annual meeting the statement of liabilities showed a permanent debt of two mortgages at £577 10s. and debentures £430, with an overdraft of £8 14s. 6d. —total £1,166 4s. 6d., whereas the present statement of liabilities shows a permanent debt of £300 in mortgage and a bank overdraft of £262 19s.—total £562 19s. The members' subscriptions have been well kept up, thanks to the efforts of those members of the Committee who undertook to canvass. The roll for the past year stands at 125 against 73 tor the present year. It is a matter for regret that the weather at the last annual show was unfavourable, interfering materially with the success of the whole undertaking. There is no room for doubt that had fine weather taken place the attendance of the public w rould have been the largest yet assembled on the show-ground in any year. The show in the preceding year also took place in the most unfavourable weather, and the gate-money then was £37 195., whereas it was £47 4s. 6d. at the last show. An experiment has been tried by the introduction of a separate show for poultry, dogs, and horticultural and industrial exhibits early in December last, and the Committee have the pleasure in reporting that this has been in every sense of the word an unqualified success. The ram fair held in .February this year has been well attended. During the past year a pastoral and agricultural society has been established at Masterton, and several efforts have been made to prevent what the Committee fear is likely to prove a split-up of the district. Special meetings of the members have been held and well attended, and certain proposals for amalgamation were made; but as the sine qua non was the removal of the shows to Masterton, no

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agreement has been arrived at. In conclusion the Committee would point out to members that, notwithstanding the many drawbacks which the society has encountered, the outlook is by no means discouraging, and on the part of all members there is good ground for hoping to see all present difficulties overcome. A special vote of thanks is due to Mr. Booth for having succeeded in extinguishing the debenture debt, and thus removing one of the great difficulties which have obstructed the progress of the society, and by the time that the mortgage debt and present overdraft have been paid off' the society will be in a position to give substantial encouragement to the object for which it has been established. —For the Committee, W. C. Buchanan, President." Mr. Phaeazyn thanked the Chairman for the kind expressions with reference to himself, and in conclusion said he had much pleasure in handing back to the society the debentures to the value of £60 standing in his name. Mr. Booth, following Mr. Pharazyn's example, said he would make them a present of his fencing account, which amounted to £51. Both gentlemen were cordially thanked for their generosity. Balance-sheet op Receipts and Disbursements for the pariod Ist April, 1885, to the 30th April, 1886. Eeceipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ s. d To Members'subscriptions .. .. 175 0 0 By Balance overdrawn on Ist April, 1885 .. 814 6 Donation in aid of General Fund .. 10 0 Interests paid.. .. .. .. 58 9 6 Rent of show ground —twelvemonths .. 15 0 0 Printing and advertising .. .. 70 7 6 Debt Kedemption Account—balance .. 130 15 0 Secretary's salary .. .. .. 30 0 0 Subscription towards cost grand stand .. 712 0 Commissions to agents and secretary .. 40 18 C> Horse parade—entries and gate-money .. 3 5 0 Audit foe, petty cash, insurance, &c. .. 31 9 G Annual show —entries and gate-money .. 291 12 0 Sundry labour on show ground .. .. 17 15 9 Dog, poultry, and flower show — entries Horse parade—gate-money divided .. 2 0 0 and gate-money .. .. .. 102 0 6 Annual show expenditure .. .. 252 2 5 Ram and ewe fair entries .. .. 15 6 0 Dog, poultry, flower show expenditure .. 98 17 10 Special prizo for show 1886 .. .. 5 5 0 Permanent improvements .. .. 68 3 0 Insurance recovered—flower shed .. 50 0 0 Debentures paid off .. 80 0 0 Balance overdrawn at Bank Now Zealand Mortgage paid off .. .. .. 277 10 0 30th April, 1886 .. .. .. 262 19 0 Paid over to Mortgage Redemption Account 23 6 0 £1,059 14 G U 6 Liabilities and Assets as existing at the 30th April, 1886. £ s. d. £ s. dTo Bank New Zealand overdraft .. .. 262 19 0 By value of real property .. .. .. 600 0 0 Mortgage secured on show ground .. 300 0 0 Value tools and implements .. .. 12 0 0 Proportion of interest accrued .. .. 6 0 0 Members' subscriptions in arrears .. 11 0 0 Sundry accounts payable .. .. G9 18 3 Donations for prizes in arroar .. .. 6 6 0 £638 17_j3 £629 6 0 Carterton, Ist May, 1886. H. H. Wolters, Secretary. Audited and found correct. —F. W. E. Seed, 10th May, 1886. [Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given; printing (1,259 copies), £2 Is. 6d.]

Authority: Geobqk Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB6.