THE MANAWATU SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 3

THE MANAWATU SHOW.

OPENS TO-DAY. . v 'A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH. '■ To : day. tho. flags will bo flying in Palmerston North, and the interest of the .West Coast will bo fqcussed on the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association's twentySecond show. The First Show. . r 'It .was in the year 1885 that the Society first threw its gates open to the public. For a year or two previous to that tliero had been various agitations in progress in Palniorston, but the first movement of a practical naturo was made by. that much-honoured pioneer, the lato Mr. G. W- Snclson, who applied to-tho. Government for an area of nine acres for a show ground reserve This the ..Government' granted, and the reserve was acquired,-and became part of-the present show grounds. Logs arid, fallen trees encumbered its' surfacq in those,days, and .x few hundred fe'et from its, confines was the' edge of a great block.pf almost virgin bush. It was;on a portion only of this ground tho first show was held. In response to the Society's advertisements, 272]entrics camo forward, tho majority of which were sheep. Horses numbered 26 and cattle 45. Tho at tondanco wis estimated at'2loo, and tlw | visitors would bo, drawn almost exclusively from the town and the -immediate confines. N In thosp days.Palmerston was little better. than a bush-girt township, though making : rapid progress. The Manawatu Railway existed on paper only. Some of the finest portions of the. district were still standing bush. /The 'sound ofthe ; bushfellcrs' axo mingled # -vv-ith the call of t'ui; over tho Hokowitu.flat, which' is nojy a prosperous and thickly-popu-lated portion "of -the Borough. ■ The whole of thewestern end : of thoßorough was standing. bush, hardly touched' as yet,-; and along the' Manawatu River banks was the' same thick fringe. . Many of the'now principal suburbs wero log paddocks or swampy flats. There were n6 broad Kairanga lands then to act as feeders to the show, and to. astonish visiters' .with tho records of,their marvellous productiveness. ■".' The undulating Fitzherbert . pastures were'"considerably less in dimensions, and the bush earned far'downfrom the ranges. Yet those that'possessed flocks and herds m those days sent;in'their picked representatives to the Show, and lent their patronage arid support. The early records disclose that many of the prosperous men of to-day werj Sinong those early exhibitors. Some aro still found pushing; the Society, steadily along, and showing an interest in its affairs as keen as they die! then.' 'Many, no doubt, haw since reaped a reward from tho means of advertisement the shoiv has provided for their stock, but'the .key-note of the early desire ■ was,'thjt advertisement,of the district,, and all efforts were directed to' that unselfish I end. The first president,of the Society was Sir James Prondergast,, and the first secretary; Mr. Clark (who- is still a resident of the .district).,/.' ."',,■. .-,-...,

Rapid Progress. V .'.,., .'•'•'.' , From the ; start the Society mado rapid progress. One factor that assisted was . the temporary suspension of the Wanganui Shoiv. Each year-saw a.bigger entry list, and the humblo prize-money of.,the plucky Vpionoers grew larger and more enticing. 'Soon competitors began to come from further abroad. The', opening up.of the railway connection with Wellington on the one side and with ihe Wairarapa'and Hawke'.s Bay on the other added a fillip.' Presidents came'.and went, ind each vied^in,.making,his year the most successful. The secretarial work passed into the hands, of .'Mr. C. C. Miles, who was also secretary to the Manawatu Racing Club. -Towards •the latter, nineties'when, the .-town was ! lifted on -a' wave of prosperity,. the Association's .officers struck out sturdily on.tho samotide, arid in the two.or three'years had left the old, state of affairs for ever behind. From this time the Show was a competitor for seniority with Chnstchiirch. Surrounding, fixtures were dwarfed. ... ''■•"''. ■ / A Challenge to Christchurch. ..It was at this time, that Mr. A. H. M'Hardy became president, and mapped out a .new career for the Society.- Full-of faith for the future, he advanced money and initiated a, great enlargement scheme, which also included, the erection of the present big members' grandstand,/and the formation of the show ring: He started an energetic cant vass for members and/prizes, and thus laid the foundation of the present huge membership list. ,To the great grief of tho district, this worthy public-spirited man was suddenly stricken down, but his work'for tho Society will, never be iorgotten, and his' memory wi'll ■ always' be treasured . by his old colleagues. During his presidency, the secretaryship was ciistrusted rto Mr. David' Watt, who afterwards "gave place to Mr.< J. C. Lane, the present valuable secretary. Mors Recent Improvements."* - It is unnecessary to traverse the more recent years of the Socioty's qareer. Each year has given-place to a better. Each year has seen some new tangible evidenco of progress. _ Tho grounds have been . enlarged from time to time and the buildings': extended. Instead of tho small ; leaky lean-to, the-business exhibitor has tho great Winter Show which to display his wares. A few years. ago the only building for exhibition purposes - on:the ground was the Agricultural Hall. Herein was usually displayed all produce and home industries. Now, this building takes a humblo position at the rear, of the new Agricultural Hall, - where it has been moved, and bears the sign "Dogs Here." Its comparison with its overshadowing neighbours is a tolling illustration of the progress of the past five years. Two extensive pavilions have been erected for the exhibition of, sheep, and it is hoped that before long all classes' will be shown under cover. This has been a great inducement to farmers to: enter Valuable animals. Several of the cattle classes also have shelter. Y'ct another improvement . demands -mention, viz:— the erection of the secretarial offices at'the showground.. Until two years ago the' Society hired rooms in town. Now they have their own'council chamber, every office convenience and a' large meeting hall for dairy conferences—all in .the 'same two-storied building. ,

Distinctive Characteristics. As the Show has progressed it has assumed a distinctive character. '.. Of latter years there has come into existence a class of stock kept-almost exclusively for show purposes. For theso exhibits'.ind their progeny, or any latest additions from Home jr abroad, Palmerston is the recognised convincing ground. ' Thus farmers who attend can rely from an educative point of view oil seeing the very- best stock. The flock-book standard adopted by the Association also forbids any but purebred sheep ■ from being hibitcd. But another side of the show has received careful attention, and' that is • the means of attraction for people who care little about stock. For this purpose, side shows, competitions, art and industrial exhibits havo been encouraged and fostered. 'They now form a. distinctive feature of the Show. The most blase of sightseers can find enough to iiitei-fist for an afternoon. .Another departure has been the specialising in various departments, and to that end control, has been given to responsible bodies. For instance, the New Zealand Kennel Club have charge.of the dog show, and tho Palmerston North Camera Club manage the photography exhibit. This has resulted beneficially. ' The Present Show. ' . The promises for the present arc bright, The entries arc largo and havo come from the leading exhibitors. Tho horses .entered total 263, 'the cattle 220, sheep 440, and tho dogs 324. A good display will bo made of utility poultry, while the public schools' exhibits'number 383 (a largo proportion going from Wellington), art needle work 145, and photography 89. There will also be the

usual comprehensive) display of machinery and business exhibits. Last year tlio attendance on People's day {i'riday) reached 25,000—as many, or more, thousands than tliero wore hundreds on the first show day. This year it is expected the number will be quite as large, and the success of the sho/a still greater advance on past records.

An Interesting Table. In the following table will bo seen at a glanco the growth of the Manawatu show' from its birth: — Gato money

The show of 18S7 extended over only one day-; but in tho next year, and until 1901; it was continued for a second day. In 1902 the first three-days' show was held, and it has remained a three-days' show ever since. In 1888' the gates-were sold outright.for £136. manawatu's roll of honour. •"show presidents, past and ;;:;.-■.; .. present. ■ • 1886—Sir James Prendergast. ■ 1887—Mr. J. G. Wilson. . 1888—Mr. J. G. Wilson. 1889—Mv. J. G. Wilson. 1890—Mr. J. G. Wilson. ■• 1891—Mr. J..G. Wilson. . ' 1892—Mr. J. G. Wilson.. ■•:•" 1893—Mr. G..Wheeler. i 1894—Mr. J. R. forster-Pratt: ■ .. " ' 1895—Mr, L. Walh's. 1896—Mr. l*'.\Pirani. . •..-■;■ . 1897—Mr. A. M'Hardy. 189S—Mr. A. M'Hardy. - , 1899—Mr. M'Hardy,. half-year, and Mr. W. T. Wood, half-year. . . .1900—Mr. A. E. Russell. 1901—Mr. J. 0. Batehelar. ~. 1902—Mr. Hugh Gillies. : ■■•.1903-rMr: C. Dunk. 1904—Mr. S.W. Luxford. 1905—Mr. M. Cohen. : 1906—Mr. P'. A. M'Hardy. 1907—Mr. W. ¥. Jacob.

Year ami Members' Prize Donacncleil stands, subs, money, tions. £. £. £.' £■ 1S37 117 . 271 87 70 ■—1888 136 215, 135 -48 •1889 105 • 161 172 70 1830 204 : 161 . 281 103 1891 262 151 346, 10a 1892 326 176 365 • 151 ' 1S93 453 255 414 ,161 1894 460 2G9 459 154 1885 481 284 , 471 iUQ 1890 ' , 475 313 49S , 245 1897 369 436 566 , 1893 617 749 1107 •. 1899 709 958 901 1900 794 950 883 1901 S68 867 967 1902 1125 915 979. 1903 1192 1059 1375 1904 1086 1147 1116 ■ 1905 1137 1302 1100 1900 1291' 1444 1462 1907 1168 1451 1487