Early Records Give Account Of First Show

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 14

Early Records Give Account Of First Show

The organisers of Hawarden’s first show on March 19, 1907, were well pleased with the venture. On receiving the secretary’s report the following month, and finding they had made a profit of £lOO, they offered the secretary £3O “in remuneration,” but he declined, saying he had been amply rewarded by the show being a success.

This information is contained in the association’s first minute book, now in the possession of the secretary (Mr G. L. Bradbury).

The minutes give a very clear—and sometimes entertaining—account of the association’s early days, and the work which went into holding the first show.

A preliminary meeting to consider holding an agricultural and pastoral show in the district was held on July 21, 1906. To quote the minutes, those present were:—“T. Shields, R. Wright, W. Earl, Campion, Watson, G. Rutherford, J. Power, A. Beaven, G. McDonald, W. A. Banks and O. F. Clothier.”

Little took place at that meeting. Mr Clothier was elected to the chair and instructed to write to several agricultural and pastoral associations, already formed, for a copy of their schedules.

A fortnight later on August 4—a public meeting was held, it being moved “that an agricultural and pastoral show be held in the district.” Mr James Little was elected chairman, Messrs W. A. Banks and James Douglas the vicepresidents, Mr Clothier secretary, and Mr A. Beaven treasurer.

The founders of the new association obviously felt they had a big job ahead of them, for 38 members were elected to the general committee, which had power to add. “After a good deal of discussion it was finally decided that the association should be called the Hawarden Agricultural and Pastoral Association,” the minutes record.

It was also decided to hold the show in the autumn, the date to be fixed by the committee. The subscription was fixed at 10s a year. Mr Clothier must have been a good secretary. Written in a clear hand, his minutes were detailed yet to the point. He must also have been a very patient secretary, for it is obvious the monthly meetings prior to the first show were very lengthy. The association’s first public function was not, in fact, a “full dress” show. A month after naming the association, it held a horse parade, and a newspaper report of the day stated that “the event exceeded expectations, and the local farmers deserve great credit for the quality and form in which their horses were shown.” As well as the horse parade, plans for holding the inaugural show the following autumn, were being pushed ahead. The September meeting of the association’s committee decided “that the sweepstake constitute the prize-money,” but only on the casting vote of the chairman, after the meeting had discussed an amendment “that the entrance money be supplemented by one-third of the gate money.”

A sub-committee met on September 29 to deal with the show programme. It also fixed the entry fees, which were:— Horses, cattle and sheep, 5s for members, 7s 6d for nonmembers. Dogs, 5s and 7s fid.

Poultry, preserves and roots, 2s 6d. Bread Is. Children, 6d. Meeting again on October 27, the association rescinded an earlier decision to hold the show in mid-April. Instead, it decided to hold it at the end of March. Monthly meetings were held right through to March. Nothing was left to chance, as instanced by the final minute of the March meeting, just before the show. It simply read: “The secretary was instructed to .apply for two policemen.” Earlier in the meeting, a tender had been accepted from an applicant to run a booth. A newspaper report of the first show described the function as the reporter saw it. Not one judge was quoted. “The weather frowned on the Hawarden Show yesterday, but it would have required a greater deterrent than bad weather to have marred the success of the society’s initial venture,” the report began. “As it was, the rain held off, there was a large attendance, and everything passed without a hitch. The society can be congratulated upon the excellence of its first show.

“The entries which numbered 800 were a good augury for success, and the actual event was admittedy of a high standard for a country show.

“There was nothing of startlingly good quality shown, but the average was high, especially for the back end of the season when sheep and horses are generally not in the best show condition.

“The district was not expected to draw large entries in cattle but the few shown were fairly good. Pigs were conspicuous by their absence, but the entries of sheep were good and the quality excellent. “The most marked feature of the show was the exhibits of roots, vegetables, grain and other produce, which were decidedly good taking into consideration the dry season and the date fixed for the show.” Reporting to a meeting on April 7, the secretary said the net profit would amount to about £lOO. “So far £123 has been received in general prizes, gate money amounted to £l9 and catalogues to £9, bringing the amount to £l5l. “Taking it for granted that expenses will be about £5O, it should leave a credit balance of £100,” the secretary added. The minutes state that the secretary was then asked to leave the meeting, and on being recalled, was told “the association had unanimously decided to give him a cheque for £3O in recognition of service rendered to the association." As recorded by Mr Clothier himself, the minutes stated: “The secretary declined to take the cheque, pointing out that he was amply rewarded by the show being a success.

“The chairman asked the secretary to retire again, and upon being recalled, was notified that a special committee had been set up and that the association had decided to extend him a public social and presentation.” The first annual general meeting was hUd on September 21, 1907. Mr Banks was elected chairman, while Mr Douglas and Mr H. T. Little were elected vice-presidents. Mr Clothier was re-elected sec-

retary and Mr Beaven treasurer.

It was decided to hold the next show on Thursday, March 19, “if it does not clash with Christchurch ram fair or Culverden sale.” These are but a few extracts from faithfully kept minutes which are undoubtedly a valuable record of the association’s history.