PROCEEDINGS AT GENEliAL MEETINGS. 15 



GENERAL MEETING AT INVERNESS, 2oth JULY 1883. 

 The Right Hon, Lord Lovat, Vice-President, in the chair. 



In opening the proceedings, Lord Lovat said that it was with regret he had to meet 

 them here in such dreadful weather. The meeting had been called according to rule to 

 hear any motion of which notice had been given. Mr Menzies informed him, however, 

 that no notice of motion had been given, so that the business would be very short, and 

 merely of a formal character. 



Lord Lovat then moved the following resolution : — " That the Highland and 

 Agricultural Society of Scotland deem it their duty to record the deep and sincere 

 regret with which they have received the intimation of the death of Mr Whyte-Melville 

 of Bennochy, convener Jof Fifeshire, who at the time of his decease, was father of the 

 Society, having been elected a member in 1819 ; and their sense of the services rendered 

 by him as a member and as a Director." 



The motion was unanimously adopted. 



Sir James Gibson-Craig, Bart., moved — "That the thanks of the Society are 

 eminently due to the Right Hon. Lord Lovat, convener of the Local Committee elected 

 by the counties embraced in the district of the Inverness Show, for his personal 

 exertions in promoting the interests|of the Show ; and to the individual members of that 

 Committee for the co-operation in carrying into eflect the wishes of the Society, and the 

 purposes of the meeting." Wherever, he said, we go into Scotland, we always meet 

 with a pleasant reception, and we never got a better chairman than we have in Lord 

 Lovat. His Lordship is well known all over Scotland, and especially in this district, 

 for the interest he takes in all the matters which this Society was formed to promote, 

 and the way in which he personally shows attention to the rearing of fat stock in this 

 country is of great importance to the district with which he is connected. I am sure 

 that on the part of this Society, I can say how deeply indebted we are to the Local 

 Committee for carrying out the Show, for the hearty welcome we have received in 

 Inverness, and for the manner in which, despite the weather, we have been enabled to 

 enjoy ourselves. 



The Rev. Mr Gillespie, Mouswald, seconded. The motion was agreed to unanimously. 



Lord Lovat acknowledged the compliment in his own name and in the name of the 

 Local Committee. 



Colonel GiLLON of Wallhouse moved — " That the thanks of the Society be given to 

 the Commissioners of Supply for the counties of Inverness, Elgin, Nairn, Ross, 

 Caithness, and Sutherland, for the liberality with which the auxiliary funds were pro- 

 vided by them." 



Mr Mylne, Niddrie Mains, seconded. So long, he observed, as the Commissioners 

 were liberal, and so long as the people of the north were anxious for the Show to be 

 held at Inverness, the Society would continue to pay them a visit regularly, and see 

 this magnificent country. 



Mr Scott-Dudgeon, moved — " That the thanks of the Society be given to the Inver- 

 ness Farmers' Club, the Northern Counties Pastoral Club, and the Easter Ross Farmers' 

 Club for their contributions towards the Inverness Show," 



Mr Macqueen of Crofts seconded the motion, which was adopted. 



General Burrougus moved — "That the thanks of the Society be given to the 

 Provost and Magistrates of Inverness for their co-oi)eration in carrying out the arrange- 

 ments connected with the Show, and for tlieir contribution to the funds of the Society." 



Mr Henderson of Stemster seconded the motion, which was agreed to. 



Lord Lovat moved — " That the thanks of the Society are due to Colonel Gillon of 

 Wallliouse for the zeal with which he discharges the duty of chairman of the Standing 

 Committee on General Sliows." 



The Mackintosh of Mackintosh seconded the motion, amid applause. 



Colonel Gillon — I thank you most sincerely for having accorded a vote of thanks to 

 me, I have been a long time connected with the Society, but my duties liave V)eon 

 very light indeed. 1 am delighted to serve the Society wherever it meets, and I am 

 more pleased when I come to the north than when I go anywhere else ; for this 

 Society was instituted not to become a central affair at all, but to visit })eriodically 

 the far northern districts. And we shall continue to visit this district, and never miss 

 a turn. We never, I hope, shall miss a turn. It is nine years since we la.st visited 

 Inverness, and if I maybe allowe«l to say something comjthmeiiUiry of it, I must say 

 that 1 see on this occasion very many improvements, and ilistinct signs of advance- 

 ment. We have met very many old friends, and, notwithstanding the weather, we 

 have been exceedingly happy ami delighted on this visit to Inverness. 



The resolutions were formerly put and agreed to. 



An opportunity was given for suggestions, but none were given, and on the motion 

 of Lord Arthi'r Ckcu., a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, which 

 concluded the proceedings of the meeting. 



