Waimate holds centennial show

Press, 20 November 1981, Page 17

Waimate holds centennial show

The Waimate Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s centennial show begins today — a day-and-a-half event this year instead of the usual day. Horse and pony events run from 12.30 p.m. today although the dog trials will actually start at 8 a.m. The ’ president of the association in its centennial year is Mr M. C. (Michael) Studholme, whose greatgrandfather, ■ also Michael Studholme, was the first president in 1882, 1883 and 1884. He was incidentally the first white man in Waimate. The present president’s grandfather. Mr E. C. (Edgar) Studholme was also president in 1907 and 1931 and his father, Mr M. D. (David) Studholme. was president in 1952. While this four-generation association with the show is a unique one, Michael Studholme says that other families have had a three-genera-tion association with the Waimate association and have made a significant contribution to it. Michael and his father, farm in partnership the 1200 hectares Te Waimate pro-,-perty, a sheep and -.beef cattle property just across, the road from the showgrounds, which has been in the hands of the family since 1854. While it is not certain at this stage whether her health will allow it, one of those who may be at the show this week is Mrs Ester Dixon, who has been going to the show since about 1907 or 1908 — her family (before marriage she was a Brown) moved to the Ikawai district near Waimate in 1907. She is now 83 years old. Two former presidents, who are expected to be at the show, are Mr T. B. W. Hamilton, who was president , in 1939, and Mr E. G. Hay,.’ who was' president in 1940

and is now a patron of the association. The Waimate association came into existence at a time when the country was in the throes of depression and it has been described as a "brave venture” when strong organisations were already established in Oamaru and Timaru. Although the possibility was discussed earlier the new organisation was formally launched at a public meeting on April 6. 1882, when the records show that "24 gentlemen enrolled their names as members." The first show was held on November 13, 1882, on a paddock lent for the purpose and believed to be where the National Mortgage store now stands. A success, the pioneer show attracted 308 entries in total. Mr Michael Studholme says that entries for this year's show, which are much higher than normal, total about 2800 — nine times as many as for the initial show. The first financial year returned a loss of just over $6 in present day terms — a lot more, of course, if de-preciation?-in the value of money was taken into account — but by the time of the general meeting in May with unclaimed prize money and cash received in the interim the position had changed to a healthy credit of around $20.40. By the time of the next show the association had taken up an area of about four hectares adjoining the racecourse under a lease from the Government. The costs associated with that enterprise saw the infant group in debt to more than $3OO and nine committee men signed a joint and several promissory note to the bank, the remaining part of which was paid off in 1899 under some pressure from

the bank to the great relief and satisfaction of the association. The move, however, gave the association what was considered one of the best showgrounds in the country. In those early days the agricultural and pastoral associations were active in pressing and promoting farmers’ causes, and through the colonial conferences to which they sent representatives brought pressure to bear on governments and other agencies. The Waimate association came into being at the time of the birth of the frozen meat industry in 1882 and as early as the following year it was pressing for the establishment of a freezing works at nearby Morven.. And in that same year it offered an impressive $2l prize for those days for the best pen of 15 wethers, four-tooth or under, best adapted for freezing purposes, the sheep to be shown in the wool and the judges to take into consideration breed quality and weights. In 1898 the association considered a request from the Timaru association for its' opinion on auctioneers “trotting” buyers at auction sales and asking for suggestions “on how to abate the evil.” Waimate agreed that it was something that should be stopped, but just how it did not quite know. After a good start interest began to decline in its activi-’ ties after about 1885 and when a low point was reached in 1898 a suggestion was made that the association should disband and that the Timaru and Oamaru associations should be asked to hold a combined show in Waimate every second year, but that was turned down and the association continued to fight another day. After the turn of the cen-

tury the association went through a period when it was busy building and upgrading the facilities on the showgrounds until in 1908 it became obvious that the grounds were too small and the association moved to the racecourse. But this was not a success and in 1912 the association exchanged its old ground for 19 acres, part of the present showgrounds, with a cash adjustment of $464. The 1915 show earned the unenviable reputation of being the wettest to that point in the association's history. but it was outdone in that respect by the 1968 show when the gate was a meagre $6B. After World War II there was a new surge of enthusiasm and support for the association and membership increased substantially and the shows grew in size. By 1960 pressure on space had become so acute that the association's thoughts turned to moving to another ground, but in 1961 a general meeting of members instructed the committee to proceed with the purchase of 28 hectares adjoining the showgrounds, with funds coming from various sources including the sale of about 13 hectares. To mark the centenary of the association a new produce shed has been built. There is also a new flight of sheep yards on the grounds for this year's show and with $4500 from the Waimate Rodeo Club a new .toilet block has been built. This week-end’s show will be officially opened by the president of the Royal Agricultural Society, Mr I. A. Barnett, who will be an official guest of the association. The society has given a gold and silver medal for the

show. The gold medal will go to the champion sheep of all breeds in a meat and wool cup-type of competition amongst registered sheep. All breed judges will take part in deciding on the winner. The silver medal will go to the champion pony. Due to excellent sponsorship the prizes in some classes will be high. The first prize in the A and B grade centennial F.E.I. is $l5O. There will also be special trophies and trays and every exhibitor or competitor will receive a small potted oak tree, grown from seed, to take away and plant as a token of the committee’s appreciation of their entries. As well as the grand parade there will be a machinery parade and a vintage car and machinery parade. The centennial theme will extend into the home industries section, where the floral bay competition will be based on remembrance of the past. And another similar competition will have as its theme old through to new. Details of the programme for the two days are:— Today: 8 a.m., dog trials. 12.30 p.’m., F.E.I. elimination events and htmter events. 1 p.m 7 dressage, pony jumps and F.E.I. eliminations. 5.30 p.m.. street procession. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., night carnival. Saturday: 9 a.m., hacks, led classes, saddle cobs, harness horses and pony classes. 9.30 a.m., home industries, cooking, children’s classes, pottery, produce and sheep. 10 a.m., quarter horses and western riding, cattle, wool and goats. Noon, horse driving competitions. 1 p.m., dog trial final. 2 p.m., grand parade. 3 p.m., machinery parade. 3.20 p.m., vintage parade. 4 p.m.. jumping finals.