2 PROCEEDINGS AT BOAED MEETINGS. 



^ADJOURNED MEETING OF DIRECTORS, Sth MARCH 1876. 



Present — Mr Copland, ]\Iill of Ardlethen ; Mr Gillon of Wallhouse ; Mr Hutchison 

 of Carlowrie ; Mr Irvine of Drum ; i\Ir Mackenzie of Portmore ; Mr Smith, Stevenson 

 Mains ; Mr Stewart of Ingliston : Mr Swinton, Holjm Bank ; Mr Pettigrew Wilson ot 

 Polquhairn. — Mr Mackenzie of Portmore in the chair. Mr F. N. Menzies reported 

 apologies for the absence of Mr Graham Binny, W.S. ; Mr Hunter of Thurston ; Mi- 

 Kenneth Mackenzie, C.A. ; Mr Martin, yr. of Auchendennan ; Mr Munro, Fairnington; 

 and Mr Walker of Bowland. 



Chemical Departme>"t. — At the meeting of the Board on the 2d of February it was 

 reported that Sir Thomas Biichan Hepburn had resigned the chairmanship of the Com- 

 mittee in charge of the Chemical Department, when the Dii'ectors unanimously resolved 

 to request Sir Thomas to withdraw his resignation, and in the event of his declining to 

 do so, Mr ]\Iackenzie of Portmore was requested and agreed to act. At a meeting of 

 Committee held on 23d February, it was stated that Sir Thomas adhered to his resig- 

 nation. The minute of that meeting bore that the Committee could not commence 

 their report without expressing their regret at the loss of the valuable services of Sir 

 Thomas Hepbui-n, who took so lively an interest in the Chemical Depai-tment, and who 

 had for many years devoted so much time to the duties devolving upon him — first as a 

 member, and latterly as convener of the Committee. The minute also stated that, 

 after the reading of the remit to the Committee, a prolonged discussion ensued as to 

 the course of action which should now be taken with reference to the instructions of 

 the last general meeting of the Society, and it was ultimately unanimously resolved: 

 that the best manner of can-ying out those instructions is, in the first place, to adver- 

 tise that a chemist is required by the Society to organise and conduct the experimental 

 stations about to be established, and who shall devote his whole time to the service of 

 the Society ; and that if the Directors are able to secure the services of a competent 

 chemist on the terms proposed, they can then in concert with him arrange a plan of 

 action in accordance with the report of the Directors to the general meeting in Jime- 

 last, Avhich Avas then agi-eed to by the Society in all points regarding the establishment 

 of the stations. The Secretary was accordingly instructed to prepare an advertisement 

 to chemists in general terms, and also a statement to be printed and shown to intend- 

 ing candidates, containing the salary and duties, and in accordance with the above- 

 mentioned report of Ji;ne last as modified at the last general meeting. The Board 

 approved of the minute, andithe Secretary Avas instructed to send to Sir Thomas. 

 Hepburn an excerpt from it, with reference to the loss of his very valuable 

 services. 



Aberdeen Show. — Thoroughbred Stallions. — The report of the competition for th& 

 L.50 prize offered by the Societj^for the best thoroughbred stallion to serve this season 

 in the district of the show was submitted, from which it appeared that the competition 

 took place at Aberdeen on 4th February : that seven animals had been entered ; 

 and that the judges — Captain Carnegie of Lour, and Colonel Innes of Learney — had 

 awarded the premium to Mr Thomas Bland, Greystone, Alford, Aberdeenshire, for his 

 bay stallion "Blucher." 



Shoicyard. — Letters were submitted from Mr William Gordon, Town Clerk, Aber- 

 deen, intimating that the Town Council had granted permission to the Society to use a 

 portion of the links, extending to about twenty acres, for the show to be held from the 

 2oth to the 28th of July, both inclusive ; and that the Water Committee had resolved 

 to give a supply of water free of charge — both privileges being subject to the usual cou- 

 ditions. 



Stock at Birmingham Shoic. — A letter was read from Mr H. M. Jenkins, Secretary 

 of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, stating that, at the meeting of the- 

 Council of that Society held on Wednesday the 1st inst., the following resolution had 

 been carried imanimously : — " That the exhibitors of stock at the Birmingham meet- 

 ing be allowed to remove such animals belonging to them as have been entered for the. 

 Highland Society's Show at Aberdeen at four o'clock on the afternoon of ^londay, 

 July 24, on furnishing to the stewards satisfactory proof of such entry for the Aber- 

 deen Show." Mr Menzies was instnicted to inform Mr Jenkin,s- that no alteration can 

 now be made in the Aberdeen arrangements, and to request that the stock referred to 

 may be allowed to leave the yard on Saturday evening. 



Agricultural and Fore'strt Examinations. — It was intimated that the exam- 

 inations for the Society's agricultural certificates and diploma, and for the certificates 

 in forestry, had been fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday the 21st and 22d current, 

 candidates being required to lodge intimation, on or before the 10th, with the Secre- 

 tary, from whom further information may be obtained. 



Philadelphia Exhibition. — A letter was read from ^Ir B. T. Brandreth Gibbs. 5 

 Craig's Court, Charing Cross, S.W., stating that the entries for the Philadelphia Exhi- 

 bition referred to at last board meeting should be made soon, as it was necessary to 

 let the authorities in America know before 1st May what to exj^ect from this. 

 count^5^ 



