AN INTERESTING CAREER

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 5

AN INTERESTING CAREER

NORMANBY ANNUAL SHOW UNBROKEN RECORD SINCE 1884. INCIDENTS OF THE EARLY YEARS. Forty-seven years ago, on Tuesday, January 15, 1884, a little group of 15 settlers deliberated in the then flourishing township of Normanby. The meeting place* was the smart, newly-erected, and for those days, capacious Normanby Town Hall. To say that they gathered to discuss something of great moment would perhaps be an exaggeration, but at least their aim was enterprising, and, in the light of after events, their decision was justified. They decided to form the Normanby Horticultural Society. To-day the society’s 48th annual show’ will be held, in continuation of the unbroken line of annual shows staged since the society was inaugurated. There are very few horticultural shows in New Zealand that can boast the interesting history and the triumph over vicissitudes that Normanby can claim. The Normanby show was the first'horticultural show in Taranaki, and

among shows of New Zealand. A few years after its inception ..special trains 'brought visitors from New Plymouth’and'Wanganui, and exhibitors were present from all over ' the North Island. The Normanby show was one of the largest of its kind. The . society was among the earliest in New 1 Zealand to affiliate with the Royal Horticultural Society, which it did in 1900.. The aims of the society were clearly set out at the first meeting, which was convened by Messrs. Thomas Robson, James Morrison and Thomas Mabey. It was hoped to induce the better cultivation of numerous sections lying idle in and around Normanby, and also to indicate to .small bush settlers additional methods of turning their- land into account. Though the commencement would be in a small way, it was thought that 1 something good might eventually come of it by persuading people to grow small fruits for which there must be an ever-increasing market, to say nothing of vegetables of all kinds. LOCAL INDUSTRY FAVOURED. 'z z•- '.A . ' J . • » If success attended the effort; it was considered that it would not be long be- ■■ fore- locally manufactured preserves, picsles, etc., drove out of the stores the expensive, and. often not very whole- , some, compounds, the principal recommendations of which, to quote a speaker, were the painted tins in which they ' were sold. There was a general feeling that if the show could be held and a start nmda with a society, nothing but good could come of it. It , was therefore unanimously resolved to set up a committee consisting of Messrs. James Morrison, Thomas Robson, F. H. Brett, W. G. Epping, J. Hunger, W. Niooll, Joseph Wilson and W. A. Earle to collect information and draft suggestions and to report to a meeting on the following Friday night. At this second meeting a general committee was appointed consisting of the above men and Messrs: F. Finlayson, D. McGregor, A. G. Brett, James Robson, H. Sanders, R.. McDowell and H. J. Southey. Mr. • H. M. Woodward, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Normanby (now no longer operating). was appointed secretary, Mr. Joseph Wilson president, and Mr. C. E. Gibson auditor.

Outstanding success attended the first show, held in 1884. Agreeable surprise

was expressed '.at the number of. entries. Quantity and quality were good. Strong support was received' from Ngaere and New Plymouth, the most successful exhibitor from the latter town being Mr. W. K. Hulke. The, first show gave an idea of what could 'be done in the district, and, as was stated at the time, it ■would be disappointing if future exhibitions did not prove that many persons had not taken advantage of the natural facilities afforded by the soil and the climate! for producing. STARTING IN A BOLD WAY. ; As many as 217 classes were provided in the first schedule, which could, hardly be described as “starting in a small way.” Early in the new century 496 .were listed, but it has been found advisable .to eliminate some of thesq classes. To-day the total stands at 359. Features of all early shows were classes for various seeds such as oats, cocksfoot and rye, the idea being to encourage the growing and sowing of these crops. As soon as the, exporting of produce in refrigerated vessels promised success, the society immediately took jSteps to add incentive to this new industry. Handsome trophies and prizes were offered, and at the third show a prize of £5 ss. was given for the best four, pounds of fresh butter suitable for export, the competition being open to all comers. The growing of potatoes also'received special attention from the society,, which in 1898 imported 100 varieties from America and tried them out among various settlers. In later years as many as 14 nurserymen had their displays arranged around the hall so that visitors had the chance of seeing the best blooms, shrubs and pot-plants from as far afield as Auckland, Pahiatua, Carterton, Lower Hutt, Awahuri, Masterton, Wanganui and New Plymouth.

The early shows were in the days of the old four-wheelers, carts and bullockdrays. Many old residents still recollect how the roadside near the show was lined with these clumsy vehicles. Bullock drays, it is said, were as numerous as any of the conveyances. Then there were the crowds who arrived by the special trains, hundreds and hundreds of them, who made a dense procession from the station. It was Normanby’s annual gala day. It is of note, however, that though there were thousands of Maoris in thedistrict at the'time, few were seen at the show. - An art union, probably a novel method of raising funds in those days, was arranged in 1897 to obtain money to build the present show building. Various useful articles such as farm implements and milk-cans were offered, as prizes. Mr. Thomas Lloyd, who'was secretary at the time, canvassed- the North Island and was meeting with great success when proceedings were taken against the society, as dt was claimed that the prizes were not art subjects. The society had perforce to change the prize's, substituting pictures and other objects of art, but lost heavily on the changeover. Subsequently the secretary was charged in the Hawera Court, but the magistrate dismissed the case, remarking that he sympathised with the society and wished that more of these societies, instead of facing clubs and other less useful organisations, were encow«ured.