No. 4.] SPECIAL MEETING. 13 



The committee are therefore of the opinion that no further legis- 

 lation, or amendment of the by-laws of the Board, is required, but 

 that societies may at their option continue their present methods or 

 adopt such other management not to conflict with the statutes as 

 seems to each most conducive to its especial prosperity. 



On motion of Mr. J. G. Avery, it was 

 Voted, To accept the report of the committee. 



The hearing on the request of the Worcester Agricultural 

 Society for approval by the Board of its vote at a special 

 meeting, duly called and held on Oct. 2, 1897, "that a com- 

 mittee of seven be empowered to sell the property of the 

 society at a sum not less than $200,000, and give a good and 

 sufficient deed thereof, and that the committee be appointed 

 from the floor," being in order, at the request of the officers 

 of the society, because of their inability to be present at this 

 hour, the hearing was adjourned to Thursday, December 9, 

 at 9 A.M., in Odd Fellows Hall, Taunton. 



Taunton, Dec. 9, 1897. 



The adjourned meeting of the Board was called to order at 

 9 o'clock, Mr. E. W. Wood in the chair. 



The hearing on the request of the Worcester Agricultural 

 Society being in order, the secretary of the society, Mr. John 

 B. Bowker, presented the records of the society, from which 

 was read the call for and action of the special meeting held 

 on Oct. 2, 1897 ; also there was presented by him copies of 

 the papers containing the advertisement of the said special 

 meeting and also copies of the papers containing the required 

 advertisement of the hearing of the matter by the Board of 

 Agriculture. 



The petitioners presented the reasons for the action of the 

 society in voting to sell its property. An opportunity was 

 then given for protests against the approval of the above- 

 ' quoted vote, and several gentlemen spoke in opposition to 

 the granting of the request of the society. After rebuttal 

 testimony had been presented the hearing was closed. 



