EARLY NORMANBY

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 21 May 1932, Page 6

EARLY NORMANBY

SHOW SOCIETY’S FORMATION. HISTORY OF FIVE! DECADES. At the annual meeting of the Norman by Horticultural Society on Thursday night the secretary (Mr. H. D. Hughes) gave a brief summary of the events leading up to the formation of the society, and in a discussion which followed some of the older members recalled interesting events of the early shows. Much of the information presented was gleaned from copies of the

“Hawera Star”—or “Hawera and Normanby Star,” as the paper was then termed. The “Star” had been made full use of in recording the history of the society, and from the very first show 49 years ago, to the present time, copies containing reports of meetings and the various shows have been filed with each year’s documents.

In appears that in the early eighties there was a fairly large population in the Normauby district, many being settlers on small holdings. Naturally there was a leaning to the agricultural and horticultural side of farming, rather than to the then prevailing practice of grazing stock for fattening purposes, this being more suited to large holdings.

On of the first recorded moves in the direction of fostering the small holdings was the holding of a public meeting in the Normanby town hall on Saturday night, April 16, 1882, to consider the possibility of developing the hop-growing industry in the district.

Mr. F. Brett was appointed to the chair and read a letter from a Mr. Mackay, of Nelson, giving advice on the matter. Mr. Robert Pettit, who had experience of the Nelson methods, offered to give an address on the subject. The offer was aeepted, and the following week Mr. Pettit spoke to a large attendance. Following a long discussion at this meeting it was decided that “in order to do something better with land than use it only as a means of grazing rough stock, the bush clearings in the vicinity could be well utilised for liop-growing.’’ The “Star’s” leading article of next day said that it was hoped the matter would be taken fip whole-heartedly, as with this rich land utilised in various directions it would advance prosperity.

A further meeting on May 14 was attended by Messrs England, F. Hunger, AY. Ro\ve, Epping, Morrison, Dacre, Tlios. Robson, Jas. Robson, F. H. Brett, A. G. Brett, Pettit, Collins, Dolan, and C. E. Gibson, the latter being voted to the chair. It was decided that all present subscribe £lO each towards a commencement of the scheme.' M l '- AY. Rowe was appointed manager and five acres were leased from Mr. Morrison at £2 10s per acre, as an experimental station. Messrs Epping, Morrison and Tlios. Robson were appointed a management committee.

It appears that the experiment was tried for a couple of seasons, but, probably due to frosts and insufficient heat in summer, the scheme was abandoned. Air. G. YY. Bane, who was present at the meeting, said that he could remember when at school this hop-grow-ing association applied to the school authorities and was granted a twodays’ holiday for the school, during which the pupils were engaged in picking the hops. Among other items seen in glancing through the pages of the “Star” of those days was the advertisement by Mr. AY. Rowe offering his catalogue of 32 pages to anyone interested. “Mr. Rowe’s nursery was a very large one even for. these times, and though it is many years since the business was relinquished there still remain many beautiful and rare specimens of plants and trees,” said Air. Hughes. The “Star” correspondent of those days stated that “rinking,” as he termed skating, had commenced in the town hall, and he also mentioned a grievance some person had against the local branch of the Government savings bank. He also stated that the hop experiment was doing well and attracted much attention, visitors coining from many parts. A visit of the truant inspector to the town was noted, and it was reported that several families had received attention as a consequence. A paragraph of interest to presentday readers stated that the correspondent had noted a boxthorn hedge growing in a garden in the town. It was, he wrote, growing so rapidly that it was taking possession of the garden and in spite of repeated attention was difficult to keep in check. In his description he said that the branches had “spikes” on them several inches long,

“presenting a formidable obstacle to get through. It was unpleasant stuff and might one day develop the nasty habit gerse had of spreading.” Tobacco growing began to occupy some considerable attention about that time, but private experiments failed to reveal much promise of success, and about the only-cultivators of this plant were eventually the natives.

As a. natural outcome of the many meetings to discuss agricultural topics the matter of a horticultural society arose. The suggestion came from the late Air. Thomas Robson, who before leaving the Old Country for New Zealand had been much impressed by a visit p>aid to a show in one of the large centres. A meeting was called and Messrs T. and J. Robson, J. Morrison, Epping, Mabey, Alautel, AA r . Rowe, Brett and O. E. Gibson were appointed a committee to make preliminary arrangements. Mr. C. E. Gibson, when the society was launched, was appointed auditor, and the first secretary was a Air. AVoodward, manager of the Normanby branch of the Bank of New Zealand.