NORTHERN A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 34, 17 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

NORTHERN A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

* ■ BOLD IDEALS. No account of the Rangiora district could be complete if it did not deal, at least briefly, with the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the district between the Waimakariri and Humnni Rivers. One may quote from the official account published in 1912: *'With August, ISC6, the project of forming an association matured in the minds of the progressive and far-seeing early settlors of North Canterbury. The district which they proposed to include

was estimated at 1,554,170 acres, much of ■it the; .richest agriculture,land im New Zealand, jfcrat chiefly this acreage was dcVfctedVto runs for pastoral" purposes. -The development of- arahte fanning, and thfe of land. i£ "this part p£ the Dominion to-day, is valued at. £6,798,393 for land tax purposes. Within its area the latest returns record 889,426 sheep, 16,519 cattle, 7724 dairying cattle, 10,116. horses, and 5191 pigs. As part of the great-wheat-growing district of .the Middle Island, the founders of the association must have foreseen the .vast possibilities of the'country, and the survivors of the noble band of pioneers can reflect .with pride upon the work which the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association has aided .its more active members' being in "the forefront in building up "the national prosperity and contributing immensely to the volume of the Dominion's export trade."

This was three years after the formation of the Canterbury A. and P. Society, so that it conies second in seniority in the South Island. It was formed by Mr James Wylde at a meeting of the Mandeville Farmers' Club; held in the Kakanui Hotel, Kaiapoi. At a later meeting held in Messrs D. and D. Cameron's hotel, at Saltwater Creek on October 11 of that year, it was decided that the objects of the society should in-, elude: — 1. Holding exhibitions in centres between Hurunui and Waimakariri Rivers, to encourage the best methods of farm cultivation and improvement of station and farm stock. 2. To correspond with similar association's, and to embody scientific and other useful information in a journal or report, to be published by the society. 3. To procure analysis of soils and manures. 4. To encourage the manufacture and cheap conveyance of materials "for build : ing and general farm purposes. 5. To encourage the application of science to the construction of implements and the establishment of manufactures which derive their raw material from the farm or sheep run.

6. To procure and 3na£ibft to_ check destructive pre-vent-spread of noxious .weeds, against* spread of diseases atnong'stocK, • "7." 'To encourage plantingTof most suit' ." -atefe<;£brest frees, ■'-•- -'' 3§ ~ : : ' "r' '• 8. To collect ;£ia£istscs of agriculture "" from time to time," > ' . t> :^ The First Exhibition. ;] , ; Quoting again: "The initial exhflri* tidn of Stock was held on Friday, Becember 28, 1866, in a fiel<J( le»* by Mr Buss. The -weather!', was so hot that a pig died n i and' others had their skins .severely blistered. As it was six years 'feefore . the : advent oi the "railway, a largfc six- - I horse Cobb and Co.'s coach brought the Superintendent of the Province,.and,a large contingent of the .leading gentlemen of Christchurch to the ground. The efficient band of the Kangiora Vol- v

unteer Rifles discoursed a- selection of popular music, and a hand organ also took a turn." . . . ~ "At the first annual meeting held at Baugh's Rangiora Hotel (nearly opposite the present Plough Inn), the balance-sheet showed the receipts had been £3lO 12/1, of which £SO w r as a grant from the Provincial Government. The balance, after paying the Secretary £SO, was £92 7/7; but the total paid in prizes was only £26 11/-, most of the exhibitors' accepting lithographed and officially signed certificates, and, after electing officers under the presidency of Hon. G. L. Lee, it was decided the next'show be held at Kaiapoi." For four, years, 1870-74, there was no show, but in July of the latter year the society. was resuscitated in Rangiora, the Mandeville Road Board offices being made its headquarters, with Mr W. Buss as secretary. Again quoting:. "The 1875 show had 384 entries. The gates produced £95 12/6, and, after paying £303 in prizes, the balance in band was £lO4. Messrs C. Merton, H. Blackett, G. Cone, and Ca'pt. Parsons were the dinner committee for 1877. It may be noteworthy, as showing the spirit of. (Continued on page 11 of THE SUN.)