RANGIORA SHOW.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19770, 7 November 1929, Page 3

RANGIORA SHOW.

THE DIAMOND JUBILEE. TO-MORROW'S EXHIBITION. The agricultural and pa»u>ral show at Rangiora tomorrow will be the 1 Diamond Jubilee exhibition ot* the Association. The Association was actually founded in l*6ti, liut for a few years in the early '7'i's the shows were not held. The oeeasiun is a notable milestone in the history nf one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the Dominion. The all-embracing title given the infant of t>.'» years ago—the "Northern" A. and P. Association —indicates that the parents possessed some imagination in regard to its future. It was not to be a purely loeal affair. Time has proved that their eontbleiu-e was warranted, for with varying hut increasing success the annual functions have been held, sometimes with a sound profit, at other times with a rather perturbing loss, and all the time fulfilling the main function of a stock exhibition of the verv best class. In no other part of the Dominion, it can safely be claimed, is an agricultural show of the size and standard of the Northern Exhibition held in sneh close proximity to a metropolitan centre. The big exhibitions almost invariably a r e fatal to the success of the smaller shows within a 40 or 50 mile radius. Bangiora is only 20 miles from the leading show in the Dominion, yet it has pursued the even tenor of its way quite unaffected by the proximity of its big colleague. This emphasise! one outstanding Joyalty of the farmer! of the district to the organisation right down through the 60 odd years of its existence. An idea of this loyalty is gained from the numerically impressive list of members, drawn from the ranks of business people and farmers alike. At present the membership numbers over 330. Another feature over which the Association has cause for gratification is the splendid building in which its staff is now accommodated, and where the meetings are held, and the reeords of the Association kept. Few of the larger Associations can boast such an amenity. In the committee-room there is a gallery of portraits of past presidents, and it is claimed that it is one of the niost complete of its kind to be seen in the country. Thq valuable site on which the edifice stands was presented to the soeiation by one of ita most enthusiastic members—Mr T. Leech—and the struction of the building was made possible through the holding of "stock drives" and donations. The building is certainly something that many of the larger metropolitan associations would like to possess. The Origin of the Association. The Association was fortunate in possessing from its earliest days until some years ago an historian to whom it is indebted for a very complete history of the origin and development of the organisation. This gentleman was Mr J. Lowtluan Wilson, for many years the Kainpoi agent for The Press. Mr Wilson tells us in an historical sketch, published some years ago, that the Association is one of the two oldest in Canterbury. It was first mooted by Mr Jas. Wylde at a meeting of the Kaiapoi Farmers' Club, held on August 3rd, 1866. Tho objects were not restricted. As the mover states, they were "to go in the direction of improving arable farming by obtaining analysis of soils, information as to artificial agents to promote the growth of crops, and the holding of exhibitions of stock, besides instituting regular meetings for discussion of subjects for the advancement of husbandry and improvement of animals for the station and the farm." Mr Marmaduke Dixon, who seconded the motion, said "that beyond the annual show they should publish a journal instructive to farmers on subjects affecting their interests." There was some discussion as to whether the society should be called the Mandeville Agricultural and Pastoral Society, but this point was withdrawn. A strong committee was formed, and the gist of its resolutions was comprised under eight headings, the first of which was that exhibitions be held in centres "between the Hurunui and Waimakariri rivers." Another was "to encourage the application of science to the construction of implements, and the establishment of manufactures which derive their raw materials from the farm or the sheep run," whilst a third was "to procure and disseminate information to check destructive insects, prevent the spread of noxious weeds, and guard against the spread of diseases amongst stock." Early Catalogue. Thanks to the interest and method of Mr Wilson, the Association has now in its archives catalogues from the date if the first show in 1866. Much interesting matter can be culled from their pages, which are enlivened occasionally bv comments on conditions and happenings at the various shows right on down through the years. The initial show was held on Friday, December 28th, 1866. We are told on the fly leaf in a pencilled note that "John Matson and Co. report hot as blazes." The catalogue comprised 26 pages, and it was printed by Ward and Reeves, Gloucester street and Cathedral square, Christchurch. The patron of the first show was his Honour the Superintendent, Mr Sefton Moorhouse, the president Mr F. A. Weld, "pioneer of New Zealand," and later its Premier, the vice-presidents the Hon. George Leslie Lee, Marmaduke Dixon, M.P.C., and W. M. Maskell, M.P.C., the treasurer Mr Josiahi Birch, and the hon. secretary Mr Jas Wylde, M.P.C. There"was quite an imposing array of 241 entries at the show-, and the competitor whose name first appears in the catalogue was Mr Dixon, a name still prominently associated with the activities of the district. The sheep section comprised Merino. Lincoln, Cotswold, Romney Marsh, Cheviot and Southdown, any cross breed, and "extra stock." They were apparently not very particular about the breeds of cattle in those days, as the section is simply marked "cattle," nothing more. However, there were only a dozen entries. At the '67 show we are told that it was a hot day. From 1370 to 1873, inclusive, no shows were held, and on resuming operations in 1874, the show was held on November oth. That year Mr John Macfarlane was president and Mr W. Buss secretary. There was a great display of Lincoln sheep, and well-known names such as P. C. ThrelReld, Judge Gresson, Robert Chapman, and F. M. Rickman appear in the prize-list. The 1873 show drew wonderfully keen competition in the draught horse section, there being no fewer than nine competitors in the aged stallion class with most of the other classes carrying from five to seven. The sheep classes then commenced to form a strong section, Ihere being 117 under this heading, of a total catalogue of 384. Each succeeding year the number of entries and the extension of the classes indicated that the gatherings must have been qnite successful. Passing through the years we come to the ISB4 show, of which we are told, it was a "beastly wet day and we were fed at the Junction by Mr King." The record gate up to the beginning of the present centurv was in 1891, with takings exceeding £IOO. borne light on the causes of the suspension «f thft ahov in tie early *v(rß

is provided by a note in th© catalogue of 1869: "At a meeting on March 2nd, 1869, Mr Dixon, the president, suggested to the Canterbury A. and P. Association that the Northern Association should amalgamate but it was resolved that it was not desirable to carry out the suggestion."' Instead, apparently, it was decided to suspend operations for a few years. In 1891, the show was held for the first time on "our own ground." The movement to purchase the excellent site where the exhibition is now staged was started in 1886, when the property was purchased from Mr J. 8. White, of Ohoka, for £240. A large amount of levelling and filling-in work had to be done to make it suitable, but in 1891 it was handed over to the Association free of exoense by Mr Wm. Pearson. A list of the past presidents appearing in the catalogue recalls names that the development of North Canterbury owes a great deal to. Following Mr F. A. Weld appear the names of Messrs G. L. Lee, M. Dixon, E. Brown, J. Macfarlane, P. C. Threlkeld, W. Buss, W. Macfarlane, C. Dampier-Crossley, E. Chapman, W. Pearson, H. F. Gray, M. Macfarlane, J. W. Foster (all up to the beginning of the present century), and since then Messrs J. Stevenson, Alf. Home, W. A. Banks, F. Lance, K. Mcintosh, T. Willie, C. Leech, A. S. Clarkson, A. Mcintosh, T. Leech, J. D. Wyllie, R. Mcintosh, W. Stalker, W. A. Kelchef, C. Mcintosh, T. S. Hanna, and R. Peach (the present occupant of the position). Length of service amongst the secretaries was headed by Mr A. S. Clarkson, who filled the position for 13 years; Mr B. Jordan for six; Mr A. Templer and Mr W. J. Young for five, Mr W. R. Pike for four, and Mr W. C. Prosper (the present occupant of the position) for four. The foregoing brief sketch describes the origin and early days of the institution that the pioneers started with a considerable amount of hope and which has developed so llatily. So little is known at times of ffte old matters that any information about them is new. The very complete historical record in the possession of the Association does not, or should not, allow this to be the case as far as the members of the Association and the townsfolk of Rangiora are concerned, but there is a general interest in the progress of such institutions. Up till prior to the war the show was making very pronounced strides in the entries, and from 1910 to 1913 inclusive they totalled over the 1000 and 1100 mark. Leaner years followed during, and subsequent to, the war, but last season there were over 1000 entries. There is a reduction this year, but the season has not been a favourable one for the preparation of show stock. However, the main sections of the show have filled well, and the competition will be right up to the usual standard. Moreover, all the available space set aside for implements has been taken up, and this department should provide the best display in the history of the Association.