1 
General  Meeting  of  Governors  and  Members, 
present  at  this  Show.  He  was  sure 
that  eyery  Member  of  the  Society 
echoed  Lord  Derby’s  wish  that  the 
success  of  the  Show  might  increase 
year  by  year.  He  knew  well  that  in 
the  old  days  every  farmer  liked  to 
come  up  for  Smithfield  week,  and 
more  than  that  every  countryman  in 
Loudon  liked  to  go  to  Smithfield  to 
smell  again  the  fresh  odour  of  the  cow 
byre.  (Laughter.)  He  certainly 
hoped  that  those  many  millions  who 
flocked  from  the  country  districts  to 
the  Metropolis  would  not  forget  that 
within  easy  reach  of  London  was 
annually  to  be  found  in  far  pleasanter 
circumstances  and  better  weather  than 
they  could  ever  get  in  winter  an  ex- 
hibition that  would  gradually  come  to 
be  recognised  as  one  of  the  great 
institutions  of  the  London  season. 
He  asked  them  to  record  a hearty  vote 
of  thanks  to  Lord  Derby  for  his  great 
kindness  in  undertaking  the  Presidency 
of  the  Society,  and  to  join  in  congratu- 
lating him  upon  the  successful  work 
which  he  had  done  in  their  interests. 
Sir  John  Heron-Maxwell 
seconded  the  resolution,  which  was 
then  put  by  the  Secretary  and 
carried  unanimously. 
The  President,  in  reply,  thanked 
Lord  Onslow  and  Sir  John  Heron- 
Maxwell  for  their  kind  words,  and  the 
meeting  for  the  cordial  way  in  which 
they  had  received  them.  The  presence 
of  Lord  Onslow  was  an  indication  of 
the  interest  which  the  Board  of  Agri- 
culture took  in  their  Show,  as  well 
as  of  his  lordship’s  wish  to  cultivate 
the  acquaintance  of  those  who  prac- 
tised agriculture.  He  should  always 
treasure  the  recollection  of  his  year  of 
office  as  President,  although  it  had 
not  been  an  unchequered  one,  and  he 
would  keep  a lively  recollection  of 
those  kind  friends  and  acquaintances 
whom  they  had  made  in  connection 
with  the  great  agricultural  pursuits 
that  so  deeply  interested  them  all. 
Vote  of  thanks  to  the  Railway  Companies. 
Sir  Jacob  Wilson  said  it  had  fallen 
to  him  to  propose  the  next  resolution, 
and  he  undertook  the  duty  with  un- 
qualified pleasure  and  satisfaction.  It 
was  that  the  best  thanks  of  the  Society 
are  due  to  the  various  railway  com- 
panies for  the  facilities  accorded  by 
them  in  conneetion  with  the  Show, 
and  especially  for  the  advantages 
given  to  the  country  Members  in  their 
railway  journeys  to  and  from  the  Show. 
He  said  that  age  had  its  responsibilities 
as  well  as  its  privileges,  for  it  was  now 
more  than  thirty  years  since  he  com- 
menced to  take  a somewhat  active  part 
in  the  administration  of  the  Royal 
Showyard,  and  during  that  time  he 
had  had  ample,  and  perhaps  excep- 
tional, opportunities  of  observing  the 
very  efficient  manner  in  which  the 
Society  and  its  Members  had  been 
served  by  the  railway  companies. 
The  casual  visitor  found  everything 
in  apple-pie  order,  and  did  not  stop  to 
inquire  how  this  had  been  brought 
about.  An  inquiring  mind  would  be 
able  to  tell  him  that  from  the  moment 
when  the  showyard  was  but  a bare 
piece  of  ground,  every  stick  that  had 
been  used  to  erect  the  sheds  had  been 
brought  by  the  railway  companies. 
When  the  sheds  had  been  erected — in 
what  he  hoped  they  would  admit  was 
a substantial  and  efficient  manner — 
they  had  then  to  be  filled  by  the 
exhibits  of  heavy  machinery  and  by 
animals  brought  by  the  railway  com- 
panies from  all  parts  of  the  country. 
When  all  these  were  ready  thousands 
of  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  country 
had  to  be  brought  by  rail  both  by  day 
and  night.  With  regard  to  the  Show 
at  Park  Royal,  he  would  remind  them 
that  three  of  the  principal  railways 
had  thought  it  worth  their  while  to 
extend  their  lines  up  to  the  Showyard, 
and  to  make  special  sidings  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  public  wishing 
to  come  to  the  Show.  This  year  the 
companies  had  shown  a very  special 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Society  by 
offering  their  Members  the  most  liberal 
privilege  of  travelling  at  the  rate  of  a 
single  fare  and  a quarter  for  the 
return  journey.  The  Members  had 
not  been  slow  in  their  appreciation  of 
that  boon.  He  hoped  that  the  Members 
would  support  him  in  passing  this 
resolution,  and  show  how  thoroughly 
they  appreciated  the  privileges  con- 
ferred by  the  railway  companies. 
Mr.  Percy  Crutchley  seconded 
the  resolution,  and  said  that  he  had, 
as  Honorary  Director,  exceptional 
opportunities  of  realising  the  work 
which  the  companies  had  done. 
