PUBLIC WINTER MEETING OF THE BOAED, 



AT NEWBUEYPORT. 



The annual pul)lic winter meeting of the Board was held 

 in Veteran Hall, Newburyport, beginning on Tuesday, 

 December 4, and continuing throus-h the two followino- 

 days. The meetings were well attended by members of the 

 Board and by the people of Newburyport and vicinity. 



The meeting was called to order at 1.30 p.m. by the first 

 vice-president, Hon. James S. Grinxell of Greenfield, 

 who stated that IVIr. F. W. Sargent of Amesbury would 

 preside at the opening session. Mr. Sargent then took the 

 chair and said : — 



The Chairman. Ladies and o^entlemen, it ijives me ereat 

 pleasure to stand before you to introduce to you the speakers 

 of the day. I will open the exercises of the afternoon by 

 introducing the mayor of Newburyport, who will welcome 

 you to this city. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



BT HON. ORRIN J. GURNET, MAYOR OF NEWBURYPORT. 



Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the State Board of Aijri- 

 culture : Since occupying my present ofiicial position I have 

 often wondered if the mayors of other cities find as much 

 difiiculty as I do in knowing what to say when called upon 

 to extend a welcome to the difl^erent oro;anizations visiting 

 their cities. These organizations are of such a varied char- 

 acter, comprising, as they do, military, social, industrial, 

 agricultural, charitable and religious orsfanizations, that I 

 am always at a loss to know just what remarks will be ap- 

 propriate for the occasion. But, Mr. Chairman, a true 

 welcome does not consist so much in the making of an 

 eloquent speech, as it does in the heartiness and sincerity 

 of the "svelcome extended ; and I am proud, sir, to be able to 

 say that Xewburyport is second to no other place in this 



