PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. II 



Bruce, yr. of Sumburgh ; Lewis Francis Uraphray Garriock of Berry. Toivn of 

 Inverness. — Provost Eraser, Bailie William Smith, Bailie William Macbean, Bailie 

 James Melvin, Bailie Matthew Elliot. 



At a meeting of the Local Committee held at Inverness on the 15th inst. ,the 

 following sub-committees were axjpointed : — Admission to ParoAe Gallery — Mr Mac- 

 kenzie, yr. of Kintail, convener ; Mr Anderson of Lochdhu, and Mr Cran, Kirkton. 

 Forage Arrangements — Mr Ross, yr. of CYomarty, convener ; Mr Paterson, Balrobert. 

 Police — Tlie Mackintosh of Mackintosh, convener ; Mr Biscoe of Newton ; 

 Major-Gen. Warrand, Bught ; the Provost of Inverness. President's Dinner — 

 Lord Lovat, convener ; Major Warrand, Ryefield ; Colonel Davidson of Tulloch ; 

 Captain Eraser of Balnain. Ball— Brodie of Brodie, convener ; Sir Kenneth Mac- 

 kenzie, Bart. ; Major Rose of Kilravock ; Mr Mackessack, )t. of Ardgye ; Capt. Lyon 

 Mackenzie of St Martins ; Mr Dougall, Inverness ; Mr Hebden, Nairn ; Mr Duncan 

 Shaw, W.S., with jDOwer to add to their number. Accommodation of Strangers — 

 The Provost of Inverness, convener ; Bailie Melvin ; Mr James Anderson, Inverness ; 

 Mr Dougall, Inverness ; Mr Cameron, Fettes. The Directors' and Judges' Dinners will 

 be held on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday ; and the President's Dinner, which is 

 open to members, will take place on Wednesday evening. The headquarters of the 

 Society will be at the Caledonian Hotel. Tickets for admission to the yard have been 

 sent to all members residing in the United Kingdom whose addresses are known, and 

 on no account will duplicates be issued. All members not producing their tickets 

 must pay at the gate, and the admission money will not be returned. 



On giving in this report. 



Colonel Gjllon of Wallhouse, said he regetted verj^ much to state, what he had 

 never had to do during the many years he had been a Director of the Society, that it 

 was very doubtful indeed whether the Show on which he was reporting would take 

 place. From the numerous outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease over the country, it 

 seemed very doubtful whether people would send their stock through districts where 

 there were restrictions against the transport of cattle. Even if these were waived, 

 which he believed they were willing to do in the neighbourhood of Inverness, yet, if 

 they once got to the Show, he <lid not very well see how they were to get back again, 

 because disease might break out there, and there would be groat difficulties in the way. 

 The Directors, at a meeting that forenoon, had discussed the matter most seriously, 

 and came ultimately to the decision that it would be rather rash to decide that day as 

 to whether there should be any Show or not at Inverness. They therefore adjourned 

 to that day week, when from the condition of the country then they would be better 

 able to give a decision as to whether the Show should be held or not. They hail hear<l 

 that day that foot-and-mouth disease had broken out in the market of Edinburgh. 

 They did not know whether that was true or not, but they were well aware that it had 

 broken out very recently in East Lothian and West Lothian — for the second time, he 

 believed, on one farm in East Lothian. There was also an outV)reak reported from 

 Forfarshire, so that it .seemed there was a good deal of disease in the country. The 

 taking of cattle and sheep there would thus be risky, an<l the Directors had come to 

 the conclusion that if cattle, sheep, and swine were excluded from the Show none shoidd 

 take place, as the entries of horses would not be large ; indeed, very few were generally 

 shown at Inverness. 



The Chaikm.\n .said he was sure that the Society joined with the Directors in 

 lamenting that there was any doubt about the holding of the Inverness Show. But in 

 the circumstances, he thought the meeting would support the view the Directors took 

 in postponing a definite decision on the matter for another week. To come to a de- 

 cision to-day was very like legislating in a panic. In another week they might bo able 

 to arrive at a calm antl just decision. 



Mr MoLLiso.v, Dochgarroch Lodge, urged that in considering this matter the Direc- 

 tors and the Society should not overlook the interests of exhibitors. Great prepara- 

 tions were being made for the Show, and he did not think three outlireaks of foot-and- 

 mouth «lisea.se in Scotland — which were all that could be mentioned at that moment, 

 unless there was a ca.se in the market that day — were sulHciently alarming to warrant 

 even the Directors considering the matter. These outbreaks were a long way from 

 Inverness, and they must not forget that those who were exhil>iting stock were 

 exhibiting valuable animals, and were ready as a rule to take the greatest precautions 

 that they .should not come in contact with disea.se or diseased centres. In the trans- 

 mi.s>ion of stock to the Sliow the owners of animals would see that the trucks and 

 cnrringes in which they wrn; cojiveyeil were thoroughly cleansed and the greatest 

 possible care was taken. He therefore did not think that the present meeting should 

 indicate its voice in regard to the matter. If there were any fresli outbreaks before 

 the day on wliich the Directors met they could then pronounce whether there was to Ih» 

 a Show ai Invenie.s.s. Speaking as a member of the Local Authority of Inverness, he 

 was .sure every means wouhi be taken to t)revent infection, and these, amongst others, 

 would include tlie suspension of sales ami markets witliin a certiiin radius of the town 



