FIRST DAY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8946, 9 November 1894, Page 5

FIRST DAY.

The great bucolic holiday of the year— the Metropolitan Show—was duly inaugurated yesterday on the grounds of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association at Addington. Yesterday being the judging day, not a large attendance ia looked for, particularly as the more potent attraction of the Derby Day took a number of our visitors out to Riccarton, but, still, there was a fairly good number on the ground. His Excellency the Governor arrived on the ground in the afternoon, and was conducted over the Show by Messrs A. E. G. Rhodes and E. G. Staveley, the President and Vice-President, and Sir John Hall. Hia Excellency went moat thoroughly over all the exhibits, and expressed himself as highly pleased with what he saw. Another very welcome visitor arrived on the Show Ground during the moring in the ?erson of Mr John Anderson, jun., an ex'resident of the Association, who has just returned from an extended trip to England in time for the annual Show.

As uaual, Mr Murphy, the Secretary, had everything in working order, and the whole of the arrangements" worked very smoothly indeed. It ia not generally known that the first cattle show held in Christchurch was under the auspices of the Horticultural Society. This was held in the Market place on October 20th, 1854, temporary pena and yarda being erected where for the occasion. There were nine classes for cattle, no competition for sheep, three classes for pigs and two for poultry. This was, it must be remembered, prior to the inception of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. There ia perhaps no Association in New Zealaud which has achieved such great results as that under whose auspices the successful show of yesterday was inaugurated. Yet it began in a very unostentatious and bumble manner. The first show of aheep at which it was resolved to form an agricultural and pastoral aesocia* tion waa held on September 14th, 1859, at the Btation of Mr B. Moorhouse, Raugitata. Up to then the cattle shows, such as they were, had been held under tbe auspices of tbe Horticultural Society, whioh had added to its title that of Agricultural Society. At the show now under notice, which was exclusively of sheep, there were only eight classes, and it is a matter of some interest to reprodnce the fiist prize list of the first aheep show held iv Canterbury. The first prize for five finest woolled rams of any age bred in the colony waa taken by Mr D, lunes, who also took the prize for five under two years. The first prize for five finest woolled ewes of any age bred in the colony was taken by Mr A. Cox, and that for under two years by Mr E. H. Fereday. Mr B. Dowiing took the prizes for both rams and ewes tor five imported sheep of any age. Mr E. Chapman took the prize for the best ram of any age, imported or otherwise, with a ram bred by Mr E. H. Fereday. As a memorial of the first meeting of sheep farmers in Canterbury in friendly rivalry, and in recognition of the kindly hospitality extended by Mr Moorhouse to the visitors it was decided to present one hundred ewes to the infant Bon of Mr B. Moorhouse. A meeting was held at the conclusion of' the show and it was resolved to form an Association to be called the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The subscription was fixed at £1 Ib per annum. The Superintendent was elected as Patron, Mr B. Dowiing being appointed as Honorary Secretary. It was agreed to hold the first show ] under the auspices of the Association' at Turton's accommodation house, ABhburton, on the third Wednesday in August, 1860. The first show under the direction of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on August 18th, 1860, at Turton's accommodation house, Ashburton, when there wero eight classes of sheep. It is only necessary to compare this day of small things with the record given below to see what progress'has been made, The Chriatchurch Press Company had a tent on the ground/where the popular piper of the colony, the Weekly Press and Referee, was greatly in evidence. The half tone illustrations which have appeared from time to time in this favourite paper, were displayed in front of the tent and attracted s, gooddeal of atteutiou. . No doubt to-day Una will be one of the centres of attraction for the visitors. The W.C.T.U. have a well • appointed luncheon booth on the. ground. The luncheon yesterday was well patronised, and high praise was accorded to the . _f ternoan tea dispensed' by those ladies who have charge of. the arrangements. Today the ladies will be glad to welcome all and sundry who may desire to pay them a visit. " '- 7 The following table shows the comparison of entries for the past few years :4-'.

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