SHOW’S EARLY HISTORY (Cont’d.)

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 November 1933, Page 14

SHOW’S EARLY HISTORY (Cont’d.)

PJxANS FOR NEW GROUND

On July 19 a number of plans of yards and show grounds from all parts of the colony were considered, and if was left in the hands of a sub-com-mittee consisting of Messrs. Dive, irdijve and W. Mitchell to prepare 'rough plans of yards, to fix the site subject to the approval of the -Racing Committee, and report to the General Committee on August 2. A draft lease of the racecourse show ground was referred for examination to a sub-com-mittee.

c-A-' proposal by Mr. I. Bayly that members of other associations competing at the Egmont show be charged half fees only, conditional upon the association of which they were members allowing Egmont members a like privilege, was carried '■ The sub-committee, after again interviewing the Racing Club trustees, reporting to a meeting of the general committee on September 20, stated that no further progress Iliad been made through the conference li«ld on the Ist. inst., nor yet through correspondence subsequently entered into. The sub-committee had inspected other sites and had entered into correspondence in- the hope of obtaining an offer whcih might prove more eligible. The sub-committee did not feel justified in delaying any longer, in view of the nearness of the date of the show. The committee mentioned several suitable sitei which had been inspected, and m respect to one or two of which offers had been made On the motion of Mr Bttidgo, the sub-committee was authorised to obtain offers of suitable sites for holding future shows near Hawera. for l.ease with the right to purchase at : any time at a sum to be named by j the owners when offering the use of j their land. I Ef FORTS TO SECT RE GROUND. ‘

The next report from the sub-com-mittee was considered at a meeting o,* the general committee on October 16, 1888, and read: “On September 21 we received a final reply from the Egmont Racing Club to the effect that they were not prepared to make any further concessions than those already named. ... Efforts have since been made to secure offers of suitable sites, and the following have been inspected: Fantham, 52 acres, Glover .Road; Brown, 52 acres, adjoining cricket ground; Mason, 95 acres near railway station; Iredale, 90 acres, IVhareroa Road, railway station- Reid, 50 acres, J slaughter paddock. The two sites which we consider most suitable are: (1) That held by Mr Fantham; (2) that held by Mr Brown. Mr Fantham has offered the use of liis land for show purposes free of all charge for live years, except that the society undertakes to give either one or two prizes amounting in value to one-tenth of the gate money. The society, too, have the right to remove their yards and other fixtures at any time during that tex-m. Mr Brown offers liis 52 acres for a lump sum, and a few gentlemen interested have secured the fee simple of the land with a view to a transfer of the property to the A. and B. Society should the latter be in a position to take it over at any time, within the next 12 months. The site is admirably suited to our requirements, and should the society not be able to obtain the fee simple we look forward to make arrangements by which the society could obtain the use of. the land for show purposes in future- years.” t A sub-committee consisting of Messra vXorke and Caverhill was appointed to wait on the purchasers of the land and ai-range for a definite proposal of! terms. A report came before a

general meeting of the association on October 26, and the following proposal with .regard to Mr Brown’s land was put forward by the committee: “That the association shall have the use of the gx-ound for this year free of charge, and they shall be allowed five years to complete the purchase, provided that the association guarantees to hold the present holders free from loss, the price to be £ls per aci-e.”

To test the feeling of the meeting Mr. Foreman moved that the site of the show be not shifted this year. Mr Robert Hicks seconded pro forma. Mr Fantham said that his offer, not having been accepted within a month, was withdrawn. He had no desire to push his section forward. Mr Mitchell moved that the offer of the gentlemen who had bought Mr Brown's section be agreed to. The rent, he said, would pay for the interest, and there would be no £lO to pay and no 10 i>er cent. There was a price fixed' on the freehold, whereas in the ease of Mr Fantliam’s there was not. Mr. Caverhill seconded the amendment, which was carried, Mr. Fantham remarking that he would not vote, but would accept the will of the majority and would endeavour to make the show a success FIRST SHOW OX PRESENT SITE. The first show on the present grounds was held on Wednesday, Pecember 5, 1888. At that time Sir H. A. Atkinson was patron, Mr J R. Lysaght president, and Mr W. J. Caverhill treasurer and secretary. “The general verdict,” says the “Star” report, “was that the show’ was a decided success. The weather was simply perfect, and as fine days have been long conspicuous by their absence the welcome change tempted a great concourse of visitors. There was a far greater crowd than we remember seeing previously. The general arrangements were good and worked well, as was shown by the fact that the programme was got through bv about v> p.m.” It was anticipated that the financial results of the 1888 show would leav e the association in about the same position as it was before, and that the receipts and expenditure will about balance. The cost of shifting the yards is included, but owing to the wort personally done by members of the asso ciation this did not represent a heavy expenditure. The question of finance was discuss* Jed at a general meeting on April 13, 1889, and several proposals were put forward for raising funds with which to meet an indebtedness of about £67. A motion by Mr Riddiford that the district be canvassed for life members at £5 each was carried, and the following gentlemen in the room put clown their names as life members: Messrs. J. 11. Lysaght, M Hunter, J. C. Yorke, J. B. Innes, A. W. Budge, F. Riddiford, Richard Hicks, W. E. Dive, J. Davidson, F. Lysaght, G. Wilson, Robert Hicks, R H Nolan, Isaac- Bayly, and J. L. Perry. This gave fifteen names, or more than enough to wipe off existing liabilities. At a meeting held on September 12 in the same year it was reported that there was a membership of 144, including fourteen life members. It was estimated that 2000 people attended the November show in 1889. An interim balance-sheet presented at a meeting on December 12 disclosed a debit balance on the show of £67 8s lid, but it was stated that about £IOO had been spent upon improvements. The total receipts, including members’ subscriptions, amounted to £471 Os lOd, and the expenditure £538 7s 9d. The assets above liabilities were set down at £122.