Hawarden Show Tomorrow

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31012, 18 March 1966, Page 15

Hawarden Show Tomorrow

TOMORROW the Hawarden; x Agricultural and Pas-1 toral Association will hold its ii annual show in the Memorial; ■ Park, Hawarden. I; Tomorrow will be an impor-l tant day in the Hawarden and\ i Waikari districts, and farmers I: and their families from allh over the area will come toll the show, some to look at the 11 exhibits, visit the sideshow’s i and watch the horse events. 1i and many to do all this and, show their own stock and produce as well. , Hawarden, about 60 miles I from Christchurch by road, i is a small town surrounded I by easy rolling downs, and 1 running back to semi-moun- 1

tain ranges. It is now the location of many mediumsized mixed farms, some of which give remarkable returns of fat lambs and cereals. The district was originally major run country, but in the late 1800’s the major runs were cut up into smaller farms. Since then the area has grown considerably both in population and productivity. Where there were only three big stations in the early days, there are now 400 to 500 small farms. The area is both good sheep country, famed throughout New Zealand and overseas as the home of the Corriedale breed.

and also a good wheatgrowing area. The Hawarden township was originally part of the Glenmark estate, and its population at the turn of the century was about 60 persons. Official links with other parts of the country were first forged in 1886, when the Hawarden Post Office, then at the store of Mr J. O'Carroll, was opened. In 1906 a small meeting was held to discuss the possibility of forming an agricultural and pastoral association in the area. As the minutes of the first meeting say “In view of the great prosperity of the county we think the time is proper to form an A. and P. association in this district.” The following year the association held its first show. The first president of the association was Mr James Little, the founder of the Corriedale sheep breed. Since then Hawarden has come on through two world wars, the depression, and several droughts. Next year the association will celebrate its 60th anniversary, and plans are already being laid to make the anniversary show the best yet. In recent years it has been suggested that the smaller A. and P. associations should amalgamate and have one show, of two days duration at various centres alternately. Amuri, Cheviot and Hawarden all opposed this suggestion, and the popularity of these shows in the last two years has shown that the days of the country show are far from numbered. This has been an exceptionally good season in the district. The spring was latecoming but stock fattened remarkably well and most far-

mers got rid of the bulk of their lambs before Christmas. This was a contrast to the previous year, which brought the worst drought the area had experienced for 50 to 60 years. The lambs that year were very light, but this year they have been exceptionally good, and the whole district has recovered very well from the drought. The mUd winter helped in this. The spring was a little slow but when it came it was very good. After recent rains, local farmers expect the autumn will be one of the best they have had. Consequently those going to the show tomorrow can expect to see stock in top-class order. The Hawarden show always includes many exhibits from Waikari, which is only about six miles from the Hawarden township. The two towns have close links. A show requires a great deal more organisation than most persons realise, and the planning for Saturday’s show has gone on for many weeks. In the last week working bees from the Hawarden association have been preparing the grounds in the Memorial Park for Saturday’s activities. In the Hawarden area, within about 10 miles of the township, there are six major Corriedale studs, all of which have sold sheep throughout New Zealand and also overseas. The main interest for most at the show will be the sheep and the horses: entries in both classes are up. The quality at the Hawarden show in both sections is also very high. In the horse classes, the pony section has grown tremendously in the past few years.

In addition to the sheep and horse sections there will be the usual sections for produce, grain and seeds, photography, and schoolwork. The Hawarden wheat yield this year was disappointing because of a series of unexpected frosts and some hail damage. The grain and seed section at the show might reflect this to some extent. This year there will be no cattle section at the show but there will almost certainly be such a section next year. Moves in this direction have been encouraged by the success of the cattle section at the Amuri show which was held at Rotherham early this month. It is hoped that with the two shows being held fairly close together a good display of cattle may be seen before long. There are several stud breeders in the districts. As many outstanding riders and horses come from the district it is not surprising that the Hawarden show should feature a fine selection of horse competitions. The Hawarden show was one of the first to introduce F.E.I. jumping, and there are the usual excellent entries for this competition at tomorrow’s show. Altogether there will be 400 to 500 exhibits, nearly all the farms in the area will be represented in some part of the show. There are usually plenty of trade exhibits at the show, and many farmers will find wide interest in these exhibits. The Hawarden Memorial Park, along with the saleyards, has been the home of the show for much of the association’s 59-year history. As its contribution to the amenities of the park the association several years ago provided a pavilion. Conveniences have also been erected.