AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AT MINTARO.—A public meeting was held on Monday evening last, at the Devonshire Hotel, Mintaro, for the purpose of forming an Agricultural Society. It was largely and respectably attended. Mr. Peter Brady, a member of the Clare District Council, who was called upon to preside, expressed his disapprobation of the manner in which the Society at Clare had been formed, the meeting having been held at a private house, and public opinion not having been consulted in the matter. Mr. Wright expressed a similar feeling, and stated that when he attended at Mr. Gleeson’s house, upon the invitation of Mr. John Hope as Hon. Secretary, he went with the intention of assisting in the formation of a Society, but he found to his surprise that it was already formed, and he was told by Mr. Gleeson that if he wished to speak upon the subject he could do so at the meeting to be held the following Monday at Watervale. He went there, and was, in company with several others, turned out of the room by the police, although they had not conducted themselves in any improper manner. He wished to have everything public, and to submit to no class legislation. Mr. Lennon considered the present Northern Agricultural Society too much in the hands of the squatters, who, though they subscribed largely, would probably get all the money back in prizes, farmers having little chance against them in showing horses, sheep, or cattle. He believed the Clare Society had first been formed to distract the people’s attention from the survey question, the District Council having recently induced the Government to survey land north, east, and west of Clare, in blocks of not more than 160 acres. He went on to say that the public at large knew nothing of that Society, and read a certificate to that effect signed by a large number of persons. He also protested against its appointment of delegates to attend the conference at Watervale, and concluded by proposing the formation of a new Society, under the name of the ‘Northern Public Agricultural and Horticultural Society.’ Mr. Hunter seconded this, and endorsed the remarks, of the mover, adding that he himself was one of the four who were turned out of the room at Watervale. Mr. Jessup expressed his cordial concurrence with the previous speakers, and the resolution was carried ‘nem. con.,’ as also another, moved by Mr. Webb and seconded by Mr. Larkey, appointing a public meeting for the election of officers. Subscriptions were handed in amounting to about £25, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.
