'A few days ago, a meeting of Shanghai notables took place at the}? remises occupied by the Tang Ch'ang company in Nantao, It was convened magi fr. Tien, for the parpose the auspices of the district
of establishing a branch of the Agricnltars! Association in Shanghai.
Mr. Li Piog-sha opened the meeting with so explanatory speech on the function of such an association, and impressed open those present the importance and even necessity of so representative body to guide and courage the mass in whatever reforms China wished to introduce whatever branch of the people's oceapation, and most of all, in agricultural matters. He ssid: "Common people need guidance, aod I am alive to the fact that in oer country, with the exception of the literati, who head the list of the four people, all other persons are still rally uneducated, and the agricalare almost entirely composed of ignorant but peace-loving men. It is for as, who are either officials, members of the gentry or literary men, to take the initiative, and to endeavour to better the condition of all our fellow countrymen irrespective of classes. Hence today's gathering has been called in order to carry out this project a opening branch of the: Agricaltural Association as a first step."
Then some draft regulations were proposed and passed by the meeting, care being taken that none should be made that might in apy way conflict with the Roles of the Ministry of Agricaltare, Works and Commerce, Lastly, sixteen members were elected to form part of a Committee, which, scoording to the Rules of the Minis-|°5," try, is to have a President and thirty members in all, thus leaving fifteen vacancies to be filled by elections from the outlying hamlets and villages. Mr, Cha Kai-chieh, polling' the greatest number of votes, was daly declared the Chairman or President of the Committee.
The regulations, which were adopted by the meeting, consist of ten clauses sad sch-lans, to the following effect (1) This local Branch is established in conformity with the Roles of the Ministry of Agrioultare, eto.
(2) As required by the Bales, Chairman or President and thirty mem-bors have been elected by ballot to form (3) Persons not elected to serve on the Committee may be members, (4) The Branch association shall be the sole authority on all agricultural matters of this district (Shanghai), and tract or tracts of land shall be pro-
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369 cared for experimental purposes. Kiangehing, " spacious piece of plain lying west of the city, is considered to be suitable for such purposes.
(5) A half-day school, teschiog the science of agriculture, shall be opened in Kiaogohing to begin with.
(8) Lecture Halls shall be provided, bat at first lecturers may be engaged to propagate agrionltaral Kkoowledge io temples, teashops snd other public laces.
(1) This Branch will open offices in various bamlete and villages to investigate into the nature of soils at different points, and find out what kinds of products they are fit for, how to improve them, and report apon the the cultivated (8) Two general meetin to be beld every year, one in spring and one in automo. Members will be summoned 0 attend by the Chairman, and reports submitted and read at such meeting. may be convened. Thos: in charge of village offices shall also attend and make their reports.
(8) At each general mesting, members shall each feo of one dollar,
will only appoint " secretary to handle (10) For the time being, this Branch correspondence, register the names of members and make out liste, schedules and 80 forth.
Rales and regulations may be altered snd amended by majority.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.