PROCEEDINGS AT GEXEIJAL MI:i:TIXGS. 41 



of proi)erty than giving the committee instructions how lliuy couM Imy the first suit- 

 ahlc jircmisfs in tlie market. 



Mr Myi.nk, Nidilric Mains. thou;,'ht the iiKeting might give authority to procure 

 lireHiiscs tor a hiliorat(iry. 



Mr FKUiiUsoN of Kinmundy niovcil " Tliat power lie given to the Hall and Chamhei-s 

 Committee in releriMiee to tlie third suggestion, and that in the meantime the com- 

 mittee have ])0wer to take temporary jiremises I'or a laboratory it they see fit." 



Mr Mki.vin, IJonnington, said it seemed to iiim that, in the ])resent state of the 

 Society, it would be very injudieious in tiiem to leave their ju'esent jiremises ; but, as 

 the ehemist must liave accommodation for carrying out the e.\]ieriments in connec- 

 tion with tlie experimental stations, lie tliought they should simply ailoiit the proposal 

 to give the directors power to look out for premises to allow the chemist to carry on 

 his experiments. 



This (iroposal was agreed to. 



ItEVisuiN OK THK C'HAUTEU. — Mr T. G. MuunAY, W.S., gave in the report of the 

 committee on the motion adopted at Perth to the efl'ect that a committee be appointed 

 to revise the Society's charter, and consider any changes which the altered state of 

 matters now existing may render necessary. On communication with Mr Mollison, 

 the mover of the motion, it was found that what he iirojiosed was that the charter 

 should be revised to the extent of not making it imperative that the directors should 

 be chosen from the meniliers of the Society usually resident in Edinburgh ; and that in 

 regard to the extraordinary directors, the number should be increased, and a jiropor- 

 tion of them at least chosen from the district in which the show of the year is to be 

 held. The directors were (piite agi'eeable to these alterations as ]iroposed. The ques- 

 tion then came to be — How were these to be carried out? He might say that he would 

 advise the Society to be very cautious how they went for a siip]ilenieiital charter or 

 revision of their charter. If they did so they must go before tliat depart'iient of the 

 ollicers of the Crown who had charge of such matters, and that dejiartment not only 

 held that they had jiower to deal with the jirovisions proposed, Init the provisions of 

 the previous charter. Tliey therefore, while knowing what their condition was before 

 they went to the department, <lid not know what it might be before they came out. 

 But it so happened, very fortunately, that alterations proposed could be effected 

 without any supplemental cliarter or revision of the charter. The charter contained 

 ■within itself a jiower autliorisuig the; Society to alter the provisions of the 

 cliarter in regard to certain jioints, and amongst these was the composition of the 

 body of the directors. It was therefore within the power of the Society to pass a bye- 

 law which should declare what was to be the condition nnder which the directors were 

 to be elected. He consequently jiroposed the following bye-law, which would carry 

 out the alterations desired : — " The -jociety shall amuially, at the general meeting iii 

 January, choose out of the ordinary members a board of thirty ilirectors, special 

 regard being had to the convenience of one-third of that number for attending meetings 

 of the board held in Edinburgh. The Society shall also at same meeting choose twenty 

 extraordinary direi'tors, of whom at least ten out of the whole number to be resident 

 in the district in whieli the show of the year is to be held." The bye-law which 

 regulates the duration of ofht'e would be altered to the efl'ect that the ten senior 

 extraor<linary directors should retire annually. With these e.\planations Mr Murray 

 concluded by moving the adoiitioii of the report. 



The motion was uuanimously agreed to. The bye-laws will come up again for con- 

 firmation at next general meeting. 



D1STHKTC0.MPKTITION.S. — Mr Cami'Bei.l SwiNTOXof Kimmerghame said — I have to 

 report that the system of district shows continues to receive the lively support of the 

 Society, and that during the i>ast year money iiremiums [or medals have lieen in 

 operation in 200 districts — namely, stock, 43 ; minor premiums and medals, ,^9 ; 

 ploughing conqietitions, 98. The premiums awarded amount to £812 10s. 6d. The 

 directors have been for some time engaged in adjusting the premiums for the current 

 year, and it has been their endeavour to disjiense the Society's grants to local shows 

 among those applying in the manner most consistent with the claims of the different 

 •listricts. The directors have therefore to propose that premiums shoultl be given to 

 10 districts for cattle ; 7 for stallions, and a similar number for mares and for colts 

 and tillies ; 10 for sheep ; and the usual number of medals in the intermediate years 

 in the classes of cattle and sheep. The special gi-ants consist of £'fi0 and a medium 

 gold medal to the Edinburgh Christmas Club ; £20 to the Ayrshire Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation in aid of the Dairy I'roduce Show at Kilmarnock. To the Rousay, Westray, 

 Orkney, Egilshay, and Unst Societies it is ]irojiosed to continue the small grants of 

 £3 to each. Also the usual numlier of medium and minor silver medals to agricultural 

 and ploughing societies -making the total sum offered amount to about £1000. 



CoTTACK Competitions. —Mr Camphkll Swinto.n, in the absence of Mr Maxwell 

 luglis of Logan bank, next said — I have to report that during the past year competitiou.s 

 have taken place in twenty-four parishes or districts, and tliat £35 10s. in money and 



