"THE SHOW" Up to Standard

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

"THE SHOW " Up to Standard

74 Years of Progress TREATING CONCRETE

ILB. A. & p. SOCIETY Ne" Napier's Buildings

QN a summer day 74 years ago theie took place a meeting that is now of historic interest to Napier and the surrouding districts. As it was founded, the organisation known as the Hawkes Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society one of the most enterprising bodies of its kind on New Zealand, and one which has played a constant and important part in the development of tlie province and its farming community. Actually the meeting was called with the object of forming a Graziers’ Association for the improvement of agricui tural conditions and to assist farmers to import the best seed, machinery, and slock. It was held on February 28, 1858, and the chair taken b J’ Mr. Joseph Rhodes, a leading Hawke's Bay farmer. After some discussion it was decided on the motion of Mr. G. S. Cooper, seconded by Mr. E. Take, that the organisation should be named the Ahuriri Agricultural Society. Next the objects of the society were defined. As proposed by Mr. 11. S. Tiffen, seconded by Mr. J, Chambers, it was decided that these should be entirely non-political, "and confined solely to the improvement of stock of various kinds, to increasing the capabilities of the land employed for grazing purposes, to encourage cultivation of the soil, to make regulations relative to stock owners and neighbours, and for the direct importation of stock and seeds from Europe." A committee headed by Mr. Rhodes was set up, partly with the object of securing the co-operation of settlers in various parts of the province. A subscription list was opened to establish a fund for the importation of rams from Europe, and there was talk of founding a model farm as an object lesson to settlers. Title of Society Changed. Thus the society found its feet, and in 1863 its title was changed to that of the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society. In that year, too, the first show was held in Danver’s paddock at Havelock North. The exhibits consisted of 22 horses, 23 head pi cattle, 18 sheep, six pigs, three dogs, and one lone exhibit in the poultry section, together with a number of agricultural implements. The attendance numbered about 400, including many Maoris. In the years that followed shows were held in various centres until 1878 when, for the first time, the Hastings racecourse was selected as the site of the annual rural assembly. From then on this attractive spot was the official showground of the society until tlie opening of the new showgrounds in 1025. One of Loveliest Spots. Tlie present grounds constitute one of the show places of tlie Dominion in more senses than one. Not only is the area an ideal one for the purpose, but it is among the loveliest spots in a province renowned for its beautiful areas. Trees, running water, and acres of green sward lend to it the atmosphere of an English park, and tlie exhibits are displayed under conditions, and witli the aid of facilities, second to none in the country. The circumstances in which tlie present showgrounds were purchased call for more than passing reference. With the introduction in New Zealand of agricultural show facilities of a permanent character, of up-to-date, covered buildings, properly constructed stalls, and accommodation for spectators, it was realised that the society, to maintain its position, would have to follow suit. In doing so it could not continue to use the racecourse site. In 1911 the society advertised for a suitable property, and out of numerous applications the choice fell upon the property at Tomoaua. "lu the society’s annual report for the year 1912 the following comment was made on the purchase :— “Tlie new grounds are admirably suited for the purpose, being dry and sheltered and well planted with trees, and also having a frontage to the railway through a siding. The society is to be congratulated on its acquisition.” Fifty-one Acres Purchased. The original purchase consisted of 51 acres ami the bulk of the purchase money, £5319, was obtained by voluntary subscriptions, the late Mr. J. H. Coleman heading the list, with a sub scription of £5OO and a promise of another £5OO if the whole of the amount was subscribed. Including the original cost of the land, some £-10,000 has been expended on the purchase of additional land and improvements, the area now being 53 acres 3 roods 1 perch. The Great War rather delayed the occupation of this property by the society, however, and the greatly increased cost of building in the early post-war years was a further hindrance. It was actually not until 1925 that the first show was held on the new grounds, and the immediate result was an increase of £360 In the gate money over the record gate for the Hastings racecourse.

QNE of the busiest men in the New Napier—a place of bustling people —is the borough's building inspector, Mr. E. Grant, in whose hands lies the task of supervising all construction activities. Seldom in New Zealand’s history has so much building been carried on at the same time in such a concentrated area, and Mr. Grant must constantly be “on the job.”

“We try to co-operate witli everyone,” he told a “Dominion” representative who visited his office recently. It was a one-storyed bpilding hard by the Napier tramear sheds, now with their doors locked on tlie abandoned electric cars.

“Without co-operation our job would be a difficult one,” Mr. Grant went on, “and I am pleased to be able to say that we have had little or no trouble in that direction. That, I think, says a lot for the manner in which owners, architects, and builders are facing the work of rebuilding Napier, for there is a great deal going on and, after all, human nature plays a big part in determining the quality of building construction.”

Principal among Mr. Grant's tasks is that of testing concrete, this being carried on at regular intervals as long as mixers are turning and foundations, slabs, buttresses, and walls are being “poured.” The tests are not made regularly, and no building foreman in the town knows when his mix is to be sampled, but the inspector or his representatives are never absent from a job long enough for any important section of the concrete work to go untested.

In addition, of course, the architects concerned make tests of their own, as do the clerks of works, many of whom, Mr. Grant has found, take a keen interest in this aspect of their supervisory work. If any doubts arise as to the quality or suitability of the mixes in use, a conference is called and the matter put quietly to rights. To make the tests Mr. Grant sets out in his motor-car armed with a number of brass cylinders about eight inches in length, and witli a surface area of 20 square Indies. These are filled from the concrete mix on the particular job under inspection, the concrete being taken from either the mixer or the barrows, and sometimes even tlie boxing into which the mix is poured. Returning with his spoils, Mr. Grant hands the filled cylinders to an assistant who carefully prepares perfectly flat surfaces at either end of each cylinder. This is important, for when the resultant test block is put under pressure, any lack of uniformity will cause the block to crush sooner than it should, or would if given a fair test under simple pressure conditions. The cylinders are then set aside to dry and harden. Each has been labelled. the name of the contractor and the date being scratched lightly on the surface of the concrete. After tlie cylinders have been removed the blocks are placed in water to mature, afterward again being air dried. The whole maturing process may take several days. When the block is ready for the test, it is taken to a hydraulic crusher and subjected to terrific pressure up to a point at which it crumbles. At the, same time a reading is taken on thei crusher gauge, and on this depends, the success or otherwise of the test, the reading being compared with ai standard chart that determines the; crushing points for concrete of various' ages. About 28 tests have been made each week in Napier until recently, and even to-day'the volume of testing work is still considerable.