HISTORY OF THE OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

HISTORY OF THE OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

The association which to-day marks eue'h an important epoch in its history rose from unpretending and humble beginnings. On the 13th April 1876 a meeting was held in the Criterion Hotel, Dunedin, for the purpose of promoting a Christmas Fat Stock Exhibition. There were present — Messrs John Roberts, H. Driver, Wright, J. M'Lean, Henry Campbell, A. N. Campbell, T. Brydone, W. Sherman, M'Donald, M'Laren, and W. Cuningham Smith. Mr Roberts was

elected chairman, and the society was duly constituted, the following gentlemen being office-bearers: — President, Mr W. J. M. Larnach ; vice-president, Mr E. Menlove ; working committee — president and vice-president ex officio, Messrs J. Stephenson, J. M'Lean, H. Driver, J. Koberts, W. Ouningham Smith, Henry Campbell, T. Brydone, James Shand, David Grant, James Allan, E. B. Cargill, G. M. Bell, J. F. Kitching, James Smith (Greenfield), D. Corsan, Cummine, W. L. Philp (Tokomairiro), W. G. Maitland, P. Smith (Inch Clutha), John Keid (Elderslie), John Reid (Corner Bush), Hon. Matthew Holmes, Sutter (Flag Swamp), Macleod Orbell, Neil Fleming (Oamaru), F. D. Rich, and John Douglas. Mr W. Cuningham Smith was chosen hon. secretary pro tern. It will thus be seen that the society commenced operations with considerable impetus and enthusiasm ; and the executive lost no time in getting to work, and arrangements were speedily made for holding the exhibition on December 19 of the same year. There was some negotiation about the site, the choice ultimately lying between Forbury Park and the Caledonian ground, and the latter was

selected. Such was the success of the show that on the evening of its date an enthusiastic meeting was held in Wain's Hotel, when it was decided to merge the society into a more ambi-tiously-styled body, to be called the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The infant body thus created was not without its pecuniary troubles. It inherited an overdraft of £100, but against this there were assets valued at £130 ; and 221 gs were subscribed in the room, as was announced by Mr Sydney James, who had acted as executive secretary for the show, and was now recommended as a suitable person for a similar office to the new association. It was then hoped that a sufficient membership at an annual fee of one guinea would be attracted to enable the commiteee to give away £1000 in

prizes at the next show. It should have been mentioned that Mr W. J. M. Larnach was chosen president of the association and Messrs E. Menlove and J. F. Kitching vice-presidents. The first show by the new association was held at Forbury Park on November 28 and 29, 1877, and the committee in their first report were able to congratulate members on the number and quality of the exhibits, and on the fact that the debit balance had been wiped off, leaving a credit balance of £13 5s 9d. The prize money distributed at this show was £528 16s 6d, and the gate money received £152 18s 6d. During the next year of the association's history, Mr G. M. Bell being president, it was incorporated under the act, and an arrangement was instituted with the Taieri Agricultural Society for the joint occupancy of a piece of land near the Mosgiel railway station. It was then presumed that the Forbury site might cease to be available, and this has happened, but not with the results expected. It was also during this year that a conference was held at Oamaru for the establishment of a National Society, but nothing eventuated from it. For some reason the association's shows, which continued to be its sole object of solici-

tude, did not attract the public so extensively as the shows at Christchurch, for an invidious comparison was drawn in this year, showing the respective gate money receipts to be £900 and £204 16s Id, and it was then a frequent charge made against the tradespeople and public of Dunedin that they did not support their show heartily. That reproach has since been removed. In the year 1879 the show days were inclement, and the attendance consequently small, but exhibits continued to improve in number and quality. It was during this year also that the Lincolnshire farming representatives, from whose inquisitorial visit much was expected, were welcomed to the province by the association's committee. The 1880 show was remarkable for the display

in Lincoln sheep and for shorthorn cattle, but the weather was again unpropitious and the public attendance small. Mr Thos. Brydone was president during this year. In 1881, Mr James Shand being president, it was suggested that the date of the annual show, about November 30, was too late, and that it should follow the show at Christchurch, held on Nq-vember 9. The suggestion was so far accepted that the dates were made November 22 and 23 in the year following. Up to this period the association had no show ground of its own, leasing for a small sum annually a part of Forbury Park, and successive annual reports bear witness to the uneasiness caused by want of permanent show appliances. Therefore during 1883, Mr Roberts being again president, a reserve of 20 acres near Musselburgh was granted by the Government, and levelling and general improvements were at once commenced. This reserve is now known as Tahuna Park, which was opened on November 27, 1883, by the Governor of the colony. The money expended up to date on the park was £3248, and the bulk of this was raised by debentures. But this saddled the association with a large annual expenditure for interest; and while it

was giving away about £600 a year in prize money the gate receipts remained at about £250, thus indicating scanty public interest. The retiring committee in 1885 were able to announce that an act had been passed in Parliament vesting the park in the association, and recommended the issue of another £1000 of debentures to meet the heavy expense of improving Tahuna Park. Meanwhile an annual horse parade had been inaugurated, and had for several years continued to attract good stock, and now it was decided to institute an annual ram fair. This has remained one of the most important adjuncts of the association. But financial difficulties were serious, from the heavy outlay for interest and the impossibility of raising money at lower rates from the imperfection of the title to Tahuna Park. It

was therefore decided in the year 1889 (Exhibition year) to substitute handsome prize certificates for money prizes. The entries were numerous and excellent, and Lord and Lady Onslow were present on both days of the show. The result was that a surplus was shown on that year's accounts. This favourable condition of affairs was renewed in the following year, and has continued since, so that the eternal want of pence which vexes public institutions no less than public men is not likely to hinder the work of the association. In 1891-92 .the association leased the park to the Tahuna Park Recreation Company (Limited), but retains its exclusive use for its own fixtures. During the following year the association began to look farther afield, and had under its consideration sundry matters affecting the public welfare, especially that section of the public engaged in rural pursuits, and also held a conference at which delegates from the kindred societies were present to fix local show dates so that none would clash. In the year 1893-94 the association made several important departures. The most noteworthy of these was its establishment of a winter show, which was held in the Garrison

Hall and was a signal success. It was attended by some 4500 people on the two days, and created a most favourable impression of the variety and excellence of local products. Sir John Lawes presented two challenge shields, valued at 50 guineas each, for the best managed small and large farms respectively, and the competition for these has aroused great interest in farm management ; Messrs Niramo and Blair presented a challenge cup, valued at 50 guineas, for the best scwt of factory-made butter suitable for export ; Messrs John M'Nairn and Co. gave a challenge cup, valued at 25 guineas, for the best lOcwt of factory-made cheese suitable for export; the Milburn Lime Company gave 20 tons of lime as second awards in the farm competitions. These, among many other special prizes, indicate

the large amount of interest that 'is being taken in the association's operations. The year ending June 1894 saw the association lose a valuable member in the person of Mr W. Cuningham Smith, who had rendered invaluable and untiring service as treasurer and president since the foundation. Mr Sydney James had retired from the secretaryship in the preceding year amidst regret, having been secretary since the establishment of the association. The present secretary, Mr E. F. Duthie, took office in 1893, after the resignation of Mr W. Philp, who had succeeded Mr Sydney James. Mr Duthie's untiring energy and great organising ability have already made themselves felt and appreciated. Mr P. Pattullo was president in the year 1894-95, and the success attained during that period indicated most satisfactory progress. The grounds and extensive buildings at Tahuna Park were maintained ; the summer show was successful and profitable ; the winter show had an attendance of 9000 people, and demonstrated the insufficiency of the Garrison Hall as a place to hold it ; the horse parade was successful ; the ram and ewe fair at Burnside filled its appointed duty; a reaper and

binder contest was held at Outram , marram grass was imported from Port Fairy to plant on the sandhills ; tests of turnips fertilised by artificial manure were instituted ; the services of Professor Black were secured to analyse for members at low rates ; seventeen competitors entered in the farm competitions, as against nine the previous year ; the publication of an annual journal was resolved 'on- -in fact, the area of the association's operations has immeasurably widened, and bids fair to extend almost indefinitely. And now to-day, which sees the opening of a winter show that promises to. put the cope stone on a year's successful effort, the association lays the foundation of a magnificent agricultural hall, which will, be a standing embodiment' of the spirit that dominates rural affairs here, and will greatly facilitate the operations of the association, and be of immense advantage to members, as well as. convenience to the public. Its exchange, its library, its meeting halls, its testing and sample rooms prove that the old order of farming has given way to •the new; that combined intelligence ■ takes the place of isolated painful experiment, and that commercial instinct guides the plough where formerly it was animal force.. In bringing about this consummation the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association has .played a worthy part. It has seen gloomy days, but there has always been a faithful band ready to assist with money, with wise counsel^ and^ if need be, actual hard work. It would not be invidious to mention among these Mr Thomas Brydone, • Mr John Roberts, and Mr Cuningham Smith.

Of course there have been others, but these three have been conspicuous Jor the fidelity with which they ' Have stuck to their posts. The association is now reducing its debt year by year.! Its income will be largely increased by > the employment of the Agricultural Hall, which, it may be added, is being built on terms entirely favourable to the association, therefore its usefulness should proportionately increase. We attach a list of gentlemen who have held the office of president since the foundation of the association :—: — 1876— W. J. M. Larnach 1877 — J. Stephenson 1878— G. M. Bell 1879 -J.Roberts 1880— T. Brydone 1881— J. Shand 1882— D. Stronach 1883— J. Roberts 1884— T. Brydone 1885— T. Brydone 1886— G. G. Russell 1887- J. Roberts 1888— A. M'Farlane 1889— T. Brydone 1890— W. CSmith 1891— W. C. Smith 1892— M. Sinclair 1893— W.Patrick 1894— P. Pattullo 1895— John Roberts.