WANT OF METHOD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 20, 5 November 1935, Page 9

WANT OF METHOD

THE INAUGURAL SHOW.

NORTH-WESTER PREVAILS. “STATE OF ADMIRED DISORDER.” Old newspaper files and the excellent memories of several old pioneers of the district, furnish a colourful account of the conditions prevailing at the first show held by the Association on November 15, 1878. Settlers on their way to the Show Grounds at Timvald battled with one of those fierce north-westerly gales which swept across the County with almost hurricane strength, spoiling the enjoyment of the public holiday as thoroughly as a drenching rain could have done. Incidentally there were many farmers who, after, spending the day .at the show, returned to their properties to find the fields battered and almost levelled to the ground. One such fatmer told how, passing his wheat paddock in the morning, and estimating his crop at 30 bushels to the acre, he returned at night to find the field in a sorry state. He only threshed 10 bushels of wheat to the acre that season.

Contrasts of Organisation. On the question of organisation the Association has little or nothing to learn from kindred associations. The machinery of the shows leaves little to be desired, and for this the Association has to thank its secretary (Mr W. H. Amos) who has proved himself to be an able organiser.

This state of affairs is in sharp contrast to the conditions which prevailed at the show held in 1878. In the -newspaper account of the function the comment, “prizetaker not ascertainable,” is frequent. “A spirit giving order and method to the day’s operations,” it is stated, “was nowhere to be found within the area of the exhibition.” And one is told of “a distressingly palpable want of method in the management,” of “everything at sixes and sevens,” of “a state of most admired disorder, the result, perhaps, of the dust and wind,” and—a final apology for any possible errors in the report—“the beggarly opportunities offered reporters to obtain information.” This same critic, however, acknowledges with becoming appreciation, “the credit due to those who undertook the work of inauguration,” and singles out for special praise the display of implements, which “would liaye done credit to a more pretentious exhibition; and there is no exaggeration or selfflattery in saying that the locally manufactured implements and vehicles were quite able to hold their own with those brought from a distance.”

Summary of Entries. A summary of the entries at the first show is as follows:—Sheep 58, cattle 11, horses 82, pigs 8, implements 50, dairy produce 13, poultry 11, dogs 8, manufactures and produce 1.9, extra exhibits 18—total 288; At a meeting held on January 6, 1879, Mr Calvert was appointed secretary, at a salary of £25 per annum, and 10 per cent, commission on members’ fees. Mr Calvert’s duties do not seem to haye been onerous, . for the minute book, which exhibits signs of a severe mangling, said to be at the teeth of an early secretary’s dog, dogs not disclose any entry in his writing, and except for one meeting in January the exact date of which -is obliterated by the dog’s teeth marks, there is no record of any meeting until September of ’79, when Mr George Jameson was acting-secretary. On January 22, 1879, was held the first reaper and binder trial managed hy the Association. The contest took place at Tinwald in a paddock owned by Mr Carter, and the field was a heavy crop of wheat —about 50 bushels, well upstanding, and as good a general test of a machine’s reaping powers as could: be found. The judges were: -Messrs Joseph Clark, W. Benmson, D. Rutterick, John Stalker, D. Camicross, W. Eraser, Duncan Campbell, G. Kimmington, Isaac Sargeant, Joseph Hunt, Thomas Taylor, Daniel Evans, James Scott E. F. Wright, Hay T. Smith, Octavius Digby, M. iStitt, A. Letham, and Duncan Cameron. For some years later the annual show was held on the first site which had been selected—now occupied by the Ashburton Saleyards—the Association eventually taking up its present grounds. The present Showgrounds have been constantly improved

by the Association, so that the greater number of tbe cattle and horses can now be kept under cover. From 1914 to 1922 the annual shows were held in the autumn, but in the latter year the spring fixture was reverted to, after numerous debates on the both an autumn and a spring show*' being held in that period of 12 months.

The Association's Officers. In its past presidents the Association has had the services of many highly respected and capable men. They are as follow:—J. Grigg, 1887-8-9; Hon. W. C. [Walker, 1880; J. Carter, 1881; E. S. Coster, 1882; O. G. Hawdon, 1883; D. Cameron, 1884; C. T. Dudley, 1885; M. Stitt, 1886; T. Bullock, 1887; J. C. N. Grigg, 188889; D. Thomas, 1890-91; R. Friedlander, 1892; D. Williamson, 1893; W. M. Lyttleton, 1894; G. A. M. Buckley, 1895; J. Brown, 1896; T. Taylor, 1897; J. Studholme, 1898; G. W. Leadley, 1899-1900; C. Reid, 1901; T. Stone, 1902; J. Tucker, 1903; T. Harrison, 1904; James Small, 1905; R. B. Coward, 1906; T. E. Upton, 1907; T. Blackley, 1908; T. Mawson, 1909; D. Wood, 1910; J. Stringfellow, 1911; W. Anderson, 1912; A, Drummond, 1913; J. Cairns, 1914; D. G. Wright, 1915; J. Bruce, 1916; F, Frampton, 1917; J. Cow, 1918-9; A. Horsey, 1919; W. J. Taylor, 1920; H. Morris, 1921; J. Findlay, 1922-23; A, Brown, 192425; J. H. Grigg, 1926; P. Shearer, 1927; W. J. Doak, 1928; J. Bland, 1929; H. C. B. Withell, 1930; H. C. Barton, 1931; R. D. Cochrane, 1932; W. Letham, 1933; A. P. Bruce, 1934; G. H. B. Dili, 1935. Treasurers who have held office are Messrs A. H. Shury, 1877-80; W. H. Zoueh, 1880-82; Alfred Harrison, 188286- J. J Rested, 1886-87; David Thomas, 1887-90; J. J. Restell, 189092; David Thomas, 1892-93; R. Friedlander, 1893-1904; Joshua Tucker, 190420; C. Reid, 1920-25; J. Cow, 1925-27; A. Brown, 1928 —. Past secretaries of the Association are as follow: —Messrs B. Metcalfe, 1877-78; G. Jameson, 1878-83; H- H. Secretan, 1883-86; J. G. Bested, 188687; H. J. C. Quane, 1887-93; W. Simpson 1893-1903 ; J. B. Christian, 19031927; H. Christian, 1927; W. H. Amos, 1928 —. The 1935 committee comprises the following:—Messrs S. Andrew,' JBed, J. Bonifant, H. Brown, Hugh B. Brown, J. W. Butterick, B. Crosson, D. J. Doak, J. A. Fleming, J. C. Guinness, A. Gregory, C. Hale, R.. Houston, J. M. Johnston, J. Lowery, 14. J. Martin, F. Merrin, D. A. Morgan, R. A. Oakley, W. A. Sheate, J. Small, J. W. Smith, J. .G. MeLachlan, and g* P. Taylor, with whom a number of past presidents regularly confer.