A PEEP INTO THE PAST

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 9

A PEEP INTO THE PAST

THE SHOWS OF FORMER DAYS TWO MEMORABLE CUCUMBERS. VICISSITUDES OF POPULARITY. The early doings of the winter show authorities in . New Plymouth are shrouded, in antiquity, and complicated .by' the-fact that at first there were two associations catering for agriculturists in North Taranaki. In addition, there seemed to be some confusion between .what we now term autumn shows, and winter shows. It' was not until, late in the sixties that any appreciable amount of interest was disclosed in shows.' The struggle .for existence in a pioneering com mun--1 i.ity, harried' by the ravages of inter.'racial warfare", was not a state of affairs suited to a close attention to the embroideries of farming life. However, it: is fairly certain that the first show was held in 1868 under the auspices of the Taranaki Agricultural Association at, the Oddfellows’ Hall. This society, which had its headquarters at Omata, staged its second show ;on March 25, 1<8.70, and of this parti- . cular event there is a full record. We z □earn with interest that the most striking exhibits were “a couple of cucum-

Ibers, grown by Mr. Wells, of Mango-. (rci, very straight and cylindrical and rather over two feet long.” Further, “a packet of Taranaki hops, grown by Mr. Martin, was a cheering feature indicating the commencement of the growth of a product almost new to Taranaki.” A new industry is always encouraging and there was a counterpart in the 1930 show where for the first time there is a dass for industrial rabbits. The third show of the Taranaki Agricultural Society was held on March 24. 1871. A newspaper report of the period deplored the lack of .support given the movement by the “put-settlers generally in not sending things for exhibition.” A number of members' spoke more strongly as the dinner proceeded. Mr. Hulke asked ‘‘what had the farmers sent to the show ?—really nothing but three fleeces of wool and a sucking pig that had died of measles.” After all this it is not surprising to hear that in 1873 the society became defunct. In the meantime, a new association had arisen in 1872 and was operated as'

the Bell Block Agricultural Society with headquarters at Hua village. Shows were held in November, 1872, and 1873, and the third on December 2, 1874. On June ’24, 1872, the Bell Block body changed its name to the Northern Agricultural Association. but the third exhibition was held under the name of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, •' which name it retained for over 50 years. ■ 4 The winter show in its present form lapsed for some time although exhibits of produce continued to be shown. However, ill 18'83, a horticultural, grain, root and dairy produce show was revived after a lapse of 17 years, and a display very similar to the annual winter show, though, of course, on a smaller scale, was' opened on April 11 in the new Alexandra Hall. ' : The show movement progressed slowly, the winter display having a chequered career, fading at times into oblivion, until it received new life in 1910, and since then has gradually gathered momentum until what is now termed the 22nd. annual Winter Show promises to reach the high-water mark.