106 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ava., 1899. 
Officers of the Department of Agriculture: Peter McLean (Under Secre- 
tary), John Mahon (Principal, Agricultural College), J. C. Briinnich (Agricul: 
tural Chemist), R. W. McCulloch (Valuator, Sugar Works Guarantee Act), J. 
O’N. Brenan (Principal Polynesian Inspector), A. Watt (Farm Foreman, 
Agricultural College), J. P. Orr (Stock Department), R. S. Nevill (Instructor in 
Tobacco Cultivation), Dr. S. Hunt (Government Pathologist), A. A. Ramsay 
(Sugar Experiment Station). 
Messrs. Uleoq (Brisbane), M, O’Keefe (Blenheim), and a number of 
Mackay gentlemen also attended the sittings of the Conference. 
Tn opening the proceedings, the Hon. J. V. Cuaraway said: His Worship 
the Mayor of Mackay—Mr. S. Lambert—is anxious to address to you, gentlemen, 
a few words of welcome, which he will now do. 
The Mayor, in response, said: Gentlemen,—As Mayor of this town, I beg 
to extend to you a most hearty weleome, and I am very pleased indeed to see 
our esteemed representative—the Hon. J. V. Chataway— occupying the position 
of Chairman of this Conference. I feel sure that it is principally due to his 
influence that this Conference is held here at the present moment; and I also 
feel pleased that it is held here, because I am given to understand that it was 
from Mackay that these conferences were first mooted. We are also indebted 
to the Department, over which our esteemed representative presides, for the large 
number ot delegates who are now present. And I feel sure that this Depart- 
ment has discovered that it is by the medium of these gatherings, by the 
interchange of ideas and of practical knowledge, that the interest of the agri- 
cultural industry can be furthered, and be more satisfactorily developed, and 
that more good can result by meeting in this way periodically than by any other 
means. I trust that your deliberations will be profitable; that your visit to 
‘Mackay may be pleasant and enjoyable ; and that in years to come you may be 
able to look back to this Conference of 1899 with pleasure. I have to inform 
you that, for your entertainment this evening, there will be a performance of 
+ Aladdin” in the School of Arts, given by the School of Arts Entertainment 
Club, and that you are all cordially invited to be present, seats having been 
reserved for the whole number of visitors. I am also to intimate, on behalf of the 
School of Arts Committee, that the reading-rooms and library are at your disposal 
during your stay here. The School of Arts Entertainment Club have placed 
their chess and card rooms at your convenience. On Wednesday and Thursday — 
the Pioneer River Farmers’ Association hold their annual shaw, and you are 
also cordially invited to attend it. Mr. Norris, our schoolmaster, has wished 
me to intimate also that anyone who would like to visit Mount Oscar is at 
liberty to do so. I may say Mount Oscar is about 2 miles distant, and from it 
you can get the best view in the district—in fact, on a fine day, one of the 
prettiest views in Queensland. Mr. Norris extends a hearty welcome to anyone 
who desires to go there. There are, I believe, further means of delegates 
spending any leisure time at their disposal. I understand the farmers at 
Homebush are making arrangements to entertain them there. However, if 
your time should not be fully oceupied, perhaps our esteemed member, Mr. 
Chataway, will give us an address on federation or on something else of interest. 
I think this would be a good opportunity for him to do so. We are all here 
pretty well in the dark as to this matter, and I feel sure that we should be 
guided a good deal by such an address, because Mr. Chataway has had more 
opportunity of discussing and hearing discussed this Federation Bill than we 
have, I shall not detain you much longer, gentlemen. I feel sure that every- 
thing you ask for you will get. You have here Mr. Chataway, the Minister for 
the Department, and I know he will do what he can to help you. You haye 
got Mr. McLean and Mr. Mahon, and I think everyone you want. I can only 
conclude by expressing the hope that your stay here will be pleasant and 
enjoyable, and anything I can do to make it so will be done. (Applause.) 
Mr. Cuarawar: I think on behalf of the delegates I must thank the 
Mayor for his kindly welcome. The President of another body in this district— 
the Pioneer River Farmers’ Association—also desires to say a few words. 
