FIFTY YEARS’ EFFORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20289, 23 December 1927, Page 13

FIFTY YEARS’ EFFORT

PENINSULA A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. JUBILEE REUNION. A HAPPY GATHERING. The Otago Peninsula Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which was formed in 1577, celebrated its jubilee on Wednesday night by holding a social in the Coronation Hall at Portobcllo. The reunion was looked forward to with keen interest by residents all over the Peninsula, and there was a large attendance from all the districts extending from Tomahawk to Otago Heads, and even from Dunedin. The celebration took the form of a concert followed by a dance, and the proceedings, which went merrily from start to finish, wore carried on till about two o’clock yesterday morning. Those in charge of the arrangeme: ts have every reason to feel pleased with the success of their efforts, for a more pleasant gathering could scarcely 4)6 wished for. The society was founded by a band of enterprising pioneers, who realised that the prosperity of the province and New Zealand generally depended on the uilding up of flocks and herds of the best quality. They had the competitive spirit, and were proud to bring out the best of their stock to try conclusions with any opposition that came along. This spirit led to great improvements in the breed of cattle, horses, and sheep, and as a result of the work of these pioneers much of the stock in New Zealand has been raised to a high standard. Much remains to be done, but the work of the A. and P. Associations to encourage the bringing out of the best stock must lead to good results. Of the original members of the society only two—Messrs Patrick Ryan and Robert Weir—are alive to-day. Both are hale and hearty, and as far s can be judged should live for many years yet. Mr Ryan is 82 years of age, and Mr Weir is 73 years old. There are four life members —Messrs John Kerr (who is 94 years old), P. Ryan, S. Hinkloy, and H. Allan. In the course of a conversation with Mr Ryan, the writer ascertained that about five shows were hold at Pukehiki. The first was held in a paddock belonging to Mr Sim, and the others on Mr Matheson’s property. There were not many people on the Peninsula in those days, and the members of the society had many anxious times, but with the true pioneering spirit they survived all their difficulties, and won through. Mr John Kerr, who had a, family of 10 daughters and two sons, and Mr Thomas Porterfield, did fine work for the society by collecting money in Dunedin for prizes, but in spite of the assistance received from outside members had on many occasions to put their hands in their pockets to provide the money required for awards. Eventually, said Mr Ryan, it was realised that the society could not carry on at Pukehiki, and as the result of a meeting held in Portobello it was decided to hold its shows at the latter i .ace. Mr John M'Auley generously offered to provide the necessary accommodation, and the shows were held in his paddock for many years, but about 35 years ago the society acquired its. present property on the hill overlooking the township. The society has received splendid service from its secretaries, the first of whom was Mr Archie MKay, while others who had held the position have been Messrs R. Milne, S. Hinkley, H. Allan, and W. Rowlands, the present occupant of the office. It would be difficult to make out a list of those who have rendered signal service to the society, but in addition to the names given above Messrs Cochran Weir, Jas. Weir, Sanderson, Smaill, Hellyer, A. M‘Cabe, John Lewis, James Macandrew, J. M'Tanish, and George Wilson ( Port Chalmers) may be singled out for their most devoted support to an organisation which has been of incalculable benefit to the district. The reunion on Wednesday night was presided over by Mr J. Hellyer (president of the society), who carried out his duties excellently, with the result that there was not a dull moment throughout th e whole of the proceedings. After several musical items had been given Mr Hunter Macandrew (chairman of the Peninsula County Council) was called 'on to make a speech. Mr Macandrew said that one of his most pleasant recollections of the shows was the fact that he showed a horse in the 16 hands class, and that the same animal got first prize in the class for 14 hands. Ho had seen the Royal Show at Auckland last year, and he had come to the conclusion that, considering the scope of the North Island, the Peninsula A. and P. Society had nothing to be ashamed of. The horses and cattle which he had seen here were quite equal to those seen in Auckland. After stating that the Peninsula was a very fine place to live on Mr Macandrew went on to state that its roads were framed from one end of New Zealand to the other, though occasionally one heard that they were no good. Requests had been made for tar-sealed roads, but 1 his answer was that if the_ people were prepared to put their hands in their pockets and find £2o,oo>j to £30,000 they would get tar-sealed roads. He thought that the day was not far distant when they would get decent roads. In conclusion, Mr Macandrew wished all present a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Mr R. Morrison said he was sure that no annual event in the district was more popular than the show, and it was a good thing in a community where farming was the chief pursuit. It was an association of the greatest importance. Farmers got the name of being conservative, and sometimes it was true. The old people had to be conservative, but to-day farming had ceased to h c a conservative pursuit. The farmer to-day, to be successful, must adopt up-to-date machinery and modern methods, and it was at the shows throughout the country that ho got a paiellel demonstration of this by seeing the products of the one and the examples of the other. The shows were the farmers’ schools, and helped to keen abreast of the times. There were some who thought that the money spent on agricultural shows, and especially the prize money, could be devoted to some more worthy object. But he believed that the prosperity of th e district and Dominion generally had been directly due to the keen competition in the breeding of gooa stock, which they excited. The farmer to carry off the prize in agricultural produc e must understand farming, and to carry off the prize in stock h e must understand breeding before hc could do it, and he must make a science of his business, and know how to prepare stock for the show. If they had no shows they would not see the results gained by others, and perhaps would not be driver, by the spirit of competition and emulation to adopt these methods, and incidentally benefit them selves and the country in general The shows have induced them to breed the best types of cows for milk and butter, fat production, the best cattle for beef, the best sheep for wool and mutton, and the horse had been brought to a state of perfection. The shows gave people the opportunity of seeing and judging which of j he breeds were best suited for their own pastures, and conditions and requirements 'enerally. they were present to do honour to the society, and to the men who had made it He ventured to say *hat in no othei community would they find men more wrung to take the rough with the smooth tiian the men who hart associated with the society in the role of managers. The society had experienced its seasons »f depression, hut had bravely ;cd and faced adversity. They heard

much of foreign competition, and ifc was becoming more difficult to hold industry and commerce, but still they managed to carry on, and he believed that in the future, by concentrating on the breeding of good stock and thereby increasing proproduction, and he maintained that they would be able to break the previous good records. Th e shows were held for the purpose of stimulating competition amongst those engaged in the primary production, and he maintained that they were of the utmost importance to the general welfare as a Dominion. The Speaker expressed deep appreciation of the services of those who piloted the society through its very eventful 50 years of life, and said he would like to place on record heartfelt thanks to the band of stalwarts who had enabled them to celebrate such an important event that evening. The Secretary (Mr Rowlands) said that the committee felt that it could not let the occasion pass without giving the president a memento of the jubilee and as a slight recognition of the work which Mr Hellyer had done. The speaker said he did not think that anyone but himself realised the value of Mr Hellyer’s efforts. He was satisfied that success of the last show was largely due to the efforts of Mr Hellyer, who had collected for the prize fund from Palmerston to Balclutha. Mr Hellyer was out for the Peninsula show from start to finish. The society had been very successful in the matter of judges, and he was quite confident that it had never had a better set of judges than it had had this year. They would not even take their expenses, and the society was very much indebted to them. Mr Rowland's concluded by presenting Mr Hellyer with a gold medal in commemoration of the jubilee year. In the course of his reply, Mr Hellyer stated that what he had done had been a labour of Tove in the interests of the society, of which he was very proud. If the society got the support to which it was entitled its shows would be amonestthe best in the country. He thought he had got what should have been given to 10 or 12 members, who had done excellent work. Mr ifellyer expressed the gratitude of the society to the donors of prizes, who had done a great deal to stimulate competition. He thought that the display of trophies on view that night was as good as that at any show which he had •attended, and ho was satisfied that they had a lot of backing behind the show. A remarkably fine display had been made by the ladies, and he was sorry that they could not all win prizes. All the exhibitors could not be winners, and he hoped that they would have the spirit to compete again next year. He paid a special tribute to Mr George Walters, the donor of the cup for most points in the show, and went on to express pleasure at the presence of Mr Matheson, representing Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., who had made a special effort to attend the gathering. Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. had been very loyal supporters of the show, and had presented no fewer than about seven cups to the society. He was assured that it was a pleasure to the firm to assist the society in any way it could. Mr F. J. Conn was another very keen supporter of the society. His trophy (a teapot) had been won outright this year, but already they had been advised that another would be presented next year. Mr Conn had also presented a ribbon for the champion hack. Another strong supporter which he would like to mention was the Waitaki Dairy Company, which did its best to stimulate interest in the show by the young people. The business people of Dunedin had also been very good. On behalf of the committee he wished to thank the performers, who had presented one of the finest programmes that had been heard in Portobello for a Jong time. One of the most enjoyable features of the evening was the presentation of a gold medal to Mr D. H. Taylor, in recognition of his excellent work as a collector for the society in Dunedin. In making the presentation, Mr Hellyer said that Mr Taylor had been one of the best friends the society could ever hope to have. He had worked most energetically, and if they could secure a few more men like him the Peninsula show would be the best in the country. Mr Taylor had a very fine record, and the hoped he would bo long spared to assist the society. Mr Taylor said that what he had done had been a pleasure to him, and he hoped to be spared to do as much in the future aa he had done in the past. Mrs Taylor was presented with a cream jug and a sugar bowl in appreciation of her husband’s efforts. During the evening concert items were given by Missses Drye, R. Stubbs, and R. Weir, Mrs Gardner, Messrs G. Walters, W. Newland, J. Niven, C. Moller, and L. Moller. The music for the dancing was supplied by East’s Gaiety Orchestra.