PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 9 



Treasurer— Sir William S. Walker, K.C.B. Chemist— Dr Aitken. Auditor— Mr Wm. 

 Home Cook, C.A. Chairmen of Standing Committees — Mr Scott Dudgeon, 

 Longnewton ; Mr Irvine of Drum. Rev. John Gillespie in the chair. 



Mr F. N. Menzies reported ajiologies for the absence of the Earl of Elgin ; Viscount 

 Stormont ; Mr Allan, Munnoch ; Mr Balfour of Balbirnie ; Mr Dudgeon, yr. of 

 Cargen ; Mr Elliot, HoUybush ; Mr Kerr, Broonihouse ; Mr Lumsden of Balmedie ; 

 Mr Connal Rowan of Meiklewood. 



The Perth Show. 



A deputation appeared from the city of Perth for the purpose of impressing on the 

 Directors that there was no necessity for putting off the Show. The deputation 

 consisted of Lord Provost Martin ; Dean of Guild Mackenzie ; Mr James MacLeish, 

 Town-Clerk ; Mr Kyd, cattle salesman, Perth ; George Dunn, Balgonic ; and James 

 Tod, Easter Cash. 



The Lord Provost of Perth said he came there as representing the Town 

 Council of the city of Perth. The deputation had come in consequence of a 

 statement they saw in the papers some time ago that it was in contemplation by the 

 Directors of the Highland Society to postpone the holding of the Show in Perth this 

 year in consequence of the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia. They were much 

 astonished to learn this, as the burgh of Perth had been practically free from disease 

 for a considerable time. They had acted along with the county authorities, and had 

 never hesitated in slaughtering all animals that were affected with the disease. 

 The consequence was that the outbreaks were limited to the places where they 

 began ; and, besides, they had adopted the most stringent rules possible with 

 reference to the introduction of Irish cattle at the present time. Altogether they 

 had been acting so that the burgh had been completely free from disease for a long 

 time. They, as a community, would feel very much if the Show were jwstponed, and 

 it would be an immense disajipointment to the general public. He was not stating 

 that in the interests of the trade or of the farmers, but it was the feeling of the 

 general public. Since the paragraph appeared in the papers they had been waited on 

 and asked to do what they could to influence the Directors to carry out their original 

 proposal to hold the Show. There were Directors at the Board who intended to 

 exhibit at the Show, notwithstanding what had been stated, showing that they were 

 not alarmed, and there was no cause of alarm on the part of any one. He had no 

 hesitation in saying there could be no danger in the shape of disease, as it has been 

 so long away from Perth. He could assure the meeting that it would be a great loss 

 to farmers and others if the Show were not held. 



Mr James MacLeish, Town-Clerk, said he was clerk for the Local Authority for 

 the burgh and county of Perth, and he was able to give some information to the 

 Board on the subject before them. In the first place, he might mention with regard 

 to the burgh that there had been only four or five outbreaks altogether, and that 

 they had existed in dairies. They knew that there were no store cattle kept in 

 Perth, and no breeders within the burgh, so that the cattle there were almost 

 entirely connected with dairies. The outbreaks to which he referred were in 

 consequence of purchases made in October or November last year. The last occurred 

 on the 8th of February, and all the animals that were affected were slaughtered at 

 once. There had been no case since the 8th of February, so that for several months 

 the city of Perth had been entirely clear of it. As to the county, the latest outbreak 

 was on the 9th of May, and all the animals were slavightered on the 12th of May. The 

 outbreak before that was on the 4th of May, and the one previous to that again on 

 the 28th of April. He might mention that very large sales of breeding stock were 

 held in Perth early in the spring, and buyers were not in the least afraid to purchase 

 bulls and heifers going to all parts of the country. There were also sold some 1500 

 store cattle every week, and farmers and breeders were not afraid to purchase them. 

 So severe and stringent were the measures taken to prevent the disease that he did 

 not think there was the least chance of any more fresh outbreaks, and he did not 

 think there was any reason why they should not hold the Show in Perth as had been 

 agreed upon. So far as Perth was concerned this year, he did not think it was in so 

 bad a state in proportion as Edinburgh or Glasgow was on all occasions that the 

 Shows were held in these places. He believed there were cases of pleuro-pneumonia 

 at all times in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He did not think there was the slightest 

 risk so far as the holding of the Show in Perth was concerned, and he trusted the 

 Directors would see their way to carry out their original proposal. 



Mr Kyd said that he came at the request of a very large number of agriculturists 

 in Forfarshire and districts lying adjacent to Perth, to express the hope that the 

 Show would be held. They had this idea that the time was not far distant when the 

 claims of Dundee to have the Show held there would be admitted ; and if they post- 

 poned the Perth Show this year it would be putting off Dundee still further. The 

 Lord Provost and Mr MacLeish had given i^articulars as to the outbreaks that had 



