CLUTHA AND MATAU A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 12

CLUTHA AND MATAU A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Long and Creditable Career SOME EXCELLENT STOCK RAISED. As far as can be gathered from the records the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society, which was for many years quite distinct from the Matau body, came into existence chiefly through the activities of the settlers in "the Warepa district. Hie first committee of management was set up in 1867, so that the society h a record of some 56 years to its credit The first function held by'the society was a ploughing match, which took place on the property of Mr William Christie, Keithmore, Warepa, on October 8, 1867. The first committee of management consisted of Messrs J. \V. Thomson (a member of the Provincial Council), South Clutha; D. P. Steele, South Clutha; Geo. Richardson, South Clutha; C. H. Curtis, Warepa; Peter Ayson, sen., Warepa; D. Monfries, Warepa; William Renton, Warepa; Thomas Sandilands, Warepa; John Cn»,vford, Warepa.; Robert Robertson, Whitelea; Peter Ayson, Finegand; David Dickie, Kaihiku; and John Somerville (secretary and treasurer), Warepa. In commenting on the formation of the society the Balclutha correspondent of the Bruce Herald stated that the provisional committee appointed to carry out the ploughing match consisted of first-class men for the work—men with minds and means, who were not so wedded to oldfogeyism as to be blind to the advantage of° introducing the elements of science into their practice. There were 26 competitors at the first ploughing match, and the work done on that occasion was highly commended by the judges (Messrs Kemp, Thomson, and Macfarlane). The following awards were made: J. lajlor (owner J. M’Neil), 1: A. Rutherford, 2; J. Cousins, 6 ; A. Peat, 4; H. Hogg, 5; John Crawford, 6. In the junior class first place was secured by J. Sheddan, junior, with G. Poison, junior, second. The prize for the best feering was secured by H. Hogg, and that for the best finish was awarded to J. Stewart. Although there was no hotel within six miles of the ground a dinner was held on the evening of the ploughing match, Mr Crawfords barn being used as a dining-hall and Mr Crawford being pressed into service as host. The first exhibition of live stock and produce in connection with the society was held in Balclutha on January 3, lboß, a paddock belonging to Mr John Barr, of the Crown Hotel, being utilised for the occasion. The directors appointed for this show were: President, Mr J. P. Maitland, It.M. ; Vice-president, Mr C. Curtis; treasurer, Mr Wm. Christie; secretary, Mr G. Spooner; managing committee — Messrs G. Richardson, J. Robson, John M‘Neil, D. Watson, W. Ferguson, J. Somerville, and P. Bell. The weather for the show was bad, but it is recorded that those who ventured out must have been gratified to see such a turn out of first-class animals. There were very few entries in the draught horse sections, but it is stated that some good brood mares and voung horses were shown. Ihe display in the class for pair of mares or weldings was good. Cattle were fairly well represented, but in only a few cases was an unusual excellence apparent. The sheep of the Merino class were very superior, but the Leicesters were disappointin' in type. The dairy produce was very creditable, although the entries were not* very numerous. Ao poultry or implements were shown. In 1869 the show was. held under unfavourable conditions, but it attracted a lav I*o attendance, every district within a considerable radius being represented. This show was n't considered to be quite as successful as its predecessors owing to the bad weather deterring many intending exhibitors from bringing their stock forward. -1111 In 1870 the weather was again bad, but there were large entries, and some ex cepimnallv fine- stock was exhibited. About this time steps were taken to secure the amalgamation of the Clutha and Tokomaiiro Agricultural and Pastoral Societies, and the first show under the. combined bodies was held at lokomairiro on December 20, 1871, proving an undoubted success The second show held by the amalgamated b-dies was held at Balclutha on December 4. 1872, in line weather. The entries fce.mcd to he disappointing, but this drawback was countered to somo extent by the excellent quality of the stock. In 1875 the show was held at Milton, in a gale of hurricane, force, which largely militated against the success of the show. Disappointment, was felt, owing to the fact that, a number of prominent breeders bad failed to enter. Apparently the amalgamation between the Clutha and Milton bodies was terminated in the course of the ensuing year, as the shows were held annually in Halclutha afterwards- Matters progressed smoothly until 1886, in which year the Clutha and Matau societies were amalgamated. This arrangement had been in contemplation for a long time before it

was actually achieved. The sanguine expectations which had been entertained regarding the success of the show were only partially realised. Cp till this time the show had been held in various places, and the second show of the Glut ha and Matau Society took place on a ground which had been selected on Hasborough road. The weather on this occasion was perfect, and the show r was a great success. In fact, one of the judges expressed the opinion that it was the best country show in New Zealand at that time. It was considered by some people, however, that the ground was too far away from Balclutha, but it was contended by others that it was too far from Matau.

During the next few years the society made steady progress, the entries being good and the displays quite successful. In 1893 t-be society abandoned its ground in Hasborough road, and made arrangements for holding the show on the Clutha Park.

Up till this time it had been the practice to engage two judges for each section, but in ISO 4 the, society decided to entrust the work of adjudication to single judges. The results of the change wore entirely satisfactory, and it was decided to adopt the system of having single judges at future shows. Successful shows have been hold in later years, though the entries showed a falling off on some occasions during the war. Early in 1915 the society decided to erect buildings to the value of about £2OOO. After numerous schemes had boon discussed the society decided to sell the freehold of its properties at. North Balclutha, Kaitangata, and Balclutha, and to buy a section from Mr Dcnniston. This proposal was carried into effect and the society is now' the possessor of a very desirable section in as central a position as the one formerly occupied. No time was lost in getting the ground ready for the jubilee show in 1916. The ground was ploughed and sown down in grass. The erection of new buildings and a grand stand was entrusted to Messrs McDonald Bros., contractors, of Dunedin. Since then the society had made satisfactory progress. Some excellent stock is raised in the splendid district of which Balclutha is the centre, and the society has carried out most creditably the work for w'hich it was brought into existence. With capable officials at its head it may look forward w r ith confidence to an equally successful career in the future. The success attained was in no small measure due to the excellent services rendered by Mr Thomas M'Donald, who carried out the duties of secretary with marked ability for well over 20 years.