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1898 29th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
Description
Title1898 29th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association 
DescriptionA special meeting of the General Committee was called in November 1897 to nominate a member of the Board of Governers of the Lincoln Agricultural College to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement by rotation of Mr Overton, Mr H. Overton was nominated. Also Mr T.B. Howson was nominated by the Canterbury members of Parliament, for a seat on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Agricultural College (N.B. Now Lincoln University). Both men were appointed.
1897-11-27 p10 CHP, 1897-11-30 p5 LT
The final committee meeting for 1897 attracted a large attendance.
It was pointed out that in contrast to past years when people were sampling butter with their fingers now they were now committing wholesale thefts and taking bottles of wine, home-made edibles and dairy produce and there was a need for protection of these exhibits.
Also it was pointed out that weight guessing competitions were on the decline therefore should be discontinued.
Dangerous congestion of traffic at end of show showed that there was a need for a second exit.
From the number of entries and amount of prize money given out at the Ellesmere show, it ranked next to the Christchurch show, but the gate money collected was considerably less than several other shows of Canterbury. [1897-12-01 p3 LT]
At the first committee meeting for 1898 held in April, correspondence from the Canterbury A&P regarding upcoming meetings provoked much discussion on avoiding the dissemination of weed seeds and the ways in which Canterbury soils could be irrigated economically and practically.
It was decided to send a delegate to each meeting.
Further discussion on irrigation occurred in the newspapers [1898-04-20 p1 TS, 1898-04-20 p4 LT, 1898-04-20 p6 LT, 1898-04-26 p7 LT]
The AGM was held at the end of May, in the Leeston Hotel, with an exceptionally large and representative crowd.
A slight financial deficit was reported which was to be expected given the amount of progress that had been made, much of which would serve the Society into the future.
It was reported that the irrigation conference had concluded that progress should be made with consideration, including advice from overseas experts and small scale projects should be attempted initially. This was supported by the AGM.
The second exit from the Show Grounds proved difficult but it was decided to try splitting pedestrians from other traffic and getting permission to cross the railway line and then go through private property.
There was discussion of putting a sheep dip in the show grounds as the one in Leeston yards was a monopoly and expensive. However, it was pointed out that the Leeston dip used more expensive chemicals.
The practice of a veterinary inspection of all horses brought into ring to weed out unsound ones was raised at the meeting.
A. Werner, an engineer from Doyleston, called for more prominence to be given to machines at the show as they were considered the future of agriculture.
[1898-05-17 p1 CHP, 1898-06-01 p3 EG, 1898-06-01 p6 CHP, 1898-06-02 p1 TS, 1898-06-02 p6 LT]
At the National A&P Conference, Ellesmere suggested, among other items, that a united autumn & winter show like Royal Show of England be held in New Zealand. [1898-06-02 p4 TS]
A motion calling for prize winning animals to have their ticket attached to head and led round ring twice was passed and sub-committees were elected. [1898-06-15 p1 TS, 1898-06-15 p6 LT]
At the Conference of A&P Associations there were many motions discussed including dipping dates, animal diseases and the benefits of irrigation. Ellesmere was represented by Mr Job. Osborne [1898-06-17 p2 CHP]
William Bishop, of Bishop’s Corner, one of the oldest and respected Ellesmere members was given a valedictory meal at the Leeston Hotel. [1898-06-22 p2 EG]
There was a large attendance at the July 1898 Committee meeting, a plan to swap judges from North Otago South Canterbury & Ashburton shows was approved.
The possibility of supporting a scholarship for Lincoln Agricultural College students was raised, also new classes for agricultural implements for general cultivation and land clearing were adopted. [1898-07-13 p3 LT]
There was a large attendance at a public meeting held at the Leeston Town Hall in mid-August.
Twenty one new members were admitted and a proposal to introduce a winter show for grain roots and seeds, dairy farm & home produce and a horticultural exhibition was rejected.
The main purpose of the meeting was the presentation of papers on the fertilization red clover, the value and cultivation of lucerne & breeding ewes.
T.B. Howson suggested that a Farmer’s Club be formed. [1898-08-17 p2 EG, 1898-08-20 p2 LT, 1898-08-20 p5 TS, 1898-10-18 p2 LT, 1898-08-27 p5 LT]
There was general optimism about the success of the next show in a report in the Press.
The committee had reinstated four classes of implements and offers of special prizes were coming in.
While the season was backward the stock were progressing well.
Judges coming from further afield than they had in the past. [1898-08-23 p4 CHP]
The August committee meeting decided that there was no money for a scholarship.
Also, while the railway crossing had been approved, it would have cost £12 and crossing keeper would have had to have been employed for show day. Thus it was decided not to do it.
With the successful lecture meeting it was decided to hold another in September consisting of short papers as before. [1898-08-24 p2 LT]
Tenders were called for the publican’s booth, the luncheon for public and committee, fruit sales and a brass band with more than 12 instruments [1898-08-31 p2 CHP, 1898-09-12 p8 CHP]
It was revealed at the September committee meeting that discussions with railway over the crossing were still ongoing.
A ban on games of chance and boxing booths was upheld after a long discussion and a date for the horse parade was arranged with Mr W. Spring’s recreation ground lent for purpose.
The Woolston Band was selected to supply the music and it was decided that the dairy produce exhibits required further protection. [1898-09-21 p3 CHP, 1898-09-21 p6 LT, 1898-09-22 p3 LT, 1898-09-26 p1 LT]
The lecture meeting was advertised as a talk about TB in cattle and other topics with the hope of a dissection taking place. The program was extended to heredity diseases in horses and a new treatment for milk fever in cows and details of the talks were subsequently published. [1898-09-21 p1 LT, 1898-09-23 p3 TS, 1898-09-28 p3 TS, 1898-09-30 p4 TS, 1898-09-30 p6 LT, 1898-10-01 p4 CHP, 1898-10-05 p8 CHP, 1898-10-10 p2 LT]
Details about the show were advertised and it turned out the in 1898 it was not the first show of the season as the Peninsula show was held at Duvauchelle’s Bay before Leeston Show and total entries were 21 behind the previous year mainly the result of reduced cattle entries. [1898-09-24 p1 LT, 1898-10-08 p1 LT, 1898-10-18 p1 CHP, 1898-10-19 p4 CHP]
A&P Show report, 29th Show 1898
Weather for the 29th show started with a rough nor-wester all Wednesday night and the day broke with a heavy southwest gale which later moderated and became a little cold but bright and fine.
Most of tents were blown down or had to be lowered.
Two dry seasons had proceeded the show.
Some 50 new members had joined in 1898, who with their wives and families were admitted free, and therefore numbers at around 2000 were probably greater than the previous year.
There were several new exhibitors but some well-known breeders’ stock were not ready and thus animal condition was not up to the usual standard.
The cattle were almost entirely shorthorns.
District was as usual well represented in hacks, hunters, and carriage horses. For many years the Ellesmere Show has had some of the best Clydesdale and light horses, but the lateness of the season and scarcity of feed meant that there was a reduction of numbers and quality at the 1898 Show.
The vet checked the horses and disallowed some.
There was a superiority of mares vs males and young horses in the Clydesdale class.
There was a poor number of pigs at the show although the quality was good.
There was keen competition in dairy produce while grain and roots were only fair.
The poultry showed some improvement with a few pens of very good stock but it was suggested that better accommodation was still needed.
There were strong classes of working dogs and the implements made a good show and because of amount of crop planted there was more than usual interest in the binders.
Saddlery exhibits were well worthy of notice Messrs W.R. Devereux & Co of Christchurch and Dunsandel were represented by a really good assortment of gig harnesses.
Mr J. Pearson exhibited a number of photographs of local celebrities and local views and many people were constantly admiring them.
Of side shows the kinematograph (several types of motion picture film mechanism) was the most widely patronised.
Mr W. Edwards, of Sydenham, again produced a most satisfactory luncheon and T. Hickson from Hororata ran the licence booth.
The Woolston Brass Band elicited satisfactory comments, sweet music or acceptable music depending on the newspaper account. [1898-10-21 p3 CHP, 1898-10-21 p3 LT, 1898-10-22 p2 EG]
The train travelled at 11 mph which was the speed of a stage coach in England in 1800. Suggestions were made to increase the speed of the train and to leave later in the afternoon. [1898-10-21 p4 LT, 1898-11-23 p4 CHP, 1898-11-23 p2 LT, 1898-12-26 p5 LT]
There was a large attendance at Christchurch stores of NZ Loan & Mercantile Agency Company seed and grain cleaning machinery which had been exhibited at the Show. [1898-11-01 p3 LT]
The election of officers resulted as follows :— Patron, G.E. Rhodes, Esq. President, Mr Job. Osborne. Vice-President, Mr Jas Stackhouse. - Treasurer, Mr C.C. Smithson. Committee : — Messrs John Boag, Senr., T.D. Boag, Jno. Barnett, W.F.M. Buckley, A. Chamberlain, D. Cant, Frank Coe, J.M. Furze, H. Hight, T.B. Howson, F. Jackson, W.G. Lunn, R. Lochhead, D. McMillan, W. A. Nixon, P. O'Boyle, H. Phillips, D. Scott, G. Stephens Senr., Jas. Storry, C. Sanderson, T. Tolerton, C. Withel, and R. Wright. Auditors :— Messrs R. Lochhead and Jno . Rennie. [1898-06-01 p3 EG]
Mike Noonnan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1897-1898SourcePapers PastLocationLeeston
DescriptionA special meeting of the General Committee was called in November 1897 to nominate a member of the Board of Governers of the Lincoln Agricultural College to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement by rotation of Mr Overton, Mr H. Overton was nominated. Also Mr T.B. Howson was nominated by the Canterbury members of Parliament, for a seat on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Agricultural College (N.B. Now Lincoln University). Both men were appointed.1897-11-27 p10 CHP, 1897-11-30 p5 LT
The final committee meeting for 1897 attracted a large attendance.
It was pointed out that in contrast to past years when people were sampling butter with their fingers now they were now committing wholesale thefts and taking bottles of wine, home-made edibles and dairy produce and there was a need for protection of these exhibits.
Also it was pointed out that weight guessing competitions were on the decline therefore should be discontinued.
Dangerous congestion of traffic at end of show showed that there was a need for a second exit.
From the number of entries and amount of prize money given out at the Ellesmere show, it ranked next to the Christchurch show, but the gate money collected was considerably less than several other shows of Canterbury. [1897-12-01 p3 LT]
At the first committee meeting for 1898 held in April, correspondence from the Canterbury A&P regarding upcoming meetings provoked much discussion on avoiding the dissemination of weed seeds and the ways in which Canterbury soils could be irrigated economically and practically.
It was decided to send a delegate to each meeting.
Further discussion on irrigation occurred in the newspapers [1898-04-20 p1 TS, 1898-04-20 p4 LT, 1898-04-20 p6 LT, 1898-04-26 p7 LT]
The AGM was held at the end of May, in the Leeston Hotel, with an exceptionally large and representative crowd.
A slight financial deficit was reported which was to be expected given the amount of progress that had been made, much of which would serve the Society into the future.
It was reported that the irrigation conference had concluded that progress should be made with consideration, including advice from overseas experts and small scale projects should be attempted initially. This was supported by the AGM.
The second exit from the Show Grounds proved difficult but it was decided to try splitting pedestrians from other traffic and getting permission to cross the railway line and then go through private property.
There was discussion of putting a sheep dip in the show grounds as the one in Leeston yards was a monopoly and expensive. However, it was pointed out that the Leeston dip used more expensive chemicals.
The practice of a veterinary inspection of all horses brought into ring to weed out unsound ones was raised at the meeting.
A. Werner, an engineer from Doyleston, called for more prominence to be given to machines at the show as they were considered the future of agriculture.
[1898-05-17 p1 CHP, 1898-06-01 p3 EG, 1898-06-01 p6 CHP, 1898-06-02 p1 TS, 1898-06-02 p6 LT]
At the National A&P Conference, Ellesmere suggested, among other items, that a united autumn & winter show like Royal Show of England be held in New Zealand. [1898-06-02 p4 TS]
A motion calling for prize winning animals to have their ticket attached to head and led round ring twice was passed and sub-committees were elected. [1898-06-15 p1 TS, 1898-06-15 p6 LT]
At the Conference of A&P Associations there were many motions discussed including dipping dates, animal diseases and the benefits of irrigation. Ellesmere was represented by Mr Job. Osborne [1898-06-17 p2 CHP]
William Bishop, of Bishop’s Corner, one of the oldest and respected Ellesmere members was given a valedictory meal at the Leeston Hotel. [1898-06-22 p2 EG]
There was a large attendance at the July 1898 Committee meeting, a plan to swap judges from North Otago South Canterbury & Ashburton shows was approved.
The possibility of supporting a scholarship for Lincoln Agricultural College students was raised, also new classes for agricultural implements for general cultivation and land clearing were adopted. [1898-07-13 p3 LT]
There was a large attendance at a public meeting held at the Leeston Town Hall in mid-August.
Twenty one new members were admitted and a proposal to introduce a winter show for grain roots and seeds, dairy farm & home produce and a horticultural exhibition was rejected.
The main purpose of the meeting was the presentation of papers on the fertilization red clover, the value and cultivation of lucerne & breeding ewes.
T.B. Howson suggested that a Farmer’s Club be formed. [1898-08-17 p2 EG, 1898-08-20 p2 LT, 1898-08-20 p5 TS, 1898-10-18 p2 LT, 1898-08-27 p5 LT]
There was general optimism about the success of the next show in a report in the Press.
The committee had reinstated four classes of implements and offers of special prizes were coming in.
While the season was backward the stock were progressing well.
Judges coming from further afield than they had in the past. [1898-08-23 p4 CHP]
The August committee meeting decided that there was no money for a scholarship.
Also, while the railway crossing had been approved, it would have cost £12 and crossing keeper would have had to have been employed for show day. Thus it was decided not to do it.
With the successful lecture meeting it was decided to hold another in September consisting of short papers as before. [1898-08-24 p2 LT]
Tenders were called for the publican’s booth, the luncheon for public and committee, fruit sales and a brass band with more than 12 instruments [1898-08-31 p2 CHP, 1898-09-12 p8 CHP]
It was revealed at the September committee meeting that discussions with railway over the crossing were still ongoing.
A ban on games of chance and boxing booths was upheld after a long discussion and a date for the horse parade was arranged with Mr W. Spring’s recreation ground lent for purpose.
The Woolston Band was selected to supply the music and it was decided that the dairy produce exhibits required further protection. [1898-09-21 p3 CHP, 1898-09-21 p6 LT, 1898-09-22 p3 LT, 1898-09-26 p1 LT]
The lecture meeting was advertised as a talk about TB in cattle and other topics with the hope of a dissection taking place. The program was extended to heredity diseases in horses and a new treatment for milk fever in cows and details of the talks were subsequently published. [1898-09-21 p1 LT, 1898-09-23 p3 TS, 1898-09-28 p3 TS, 1898-09-30 p4 TS, 1898-09-30 p6 LT, 1898-10-01 p4 CHP, 1898-10-05 p8 CHP, 1898-10-10 p2 LT]
Details about the show were advertised and it turned out the in 1898 it was not the first show of the season as the Peninsula show was held at Duvauchelle’s Bay before Leeston Show and total entries were 21 behind the previous year mainly the result of reduced cattle entries. [1898-09-24 p1 LT, 1898-10-08 p1 LT, 1898-10-18 p1 CHP, 1898-10-19 p4 CHP]
A&P Show report, 29th Show 1898
Weather for the 29th show started with a rough nor-wester all Wednesday night and the day broke with a heavy southwest gale which later moderated and became a little cold but bright and fine.
Most of tents were blown down or had to be lowered.
Two dry seasons had proceeded the show.
Some 50 new members had joined in 1898, who with their wives and families were admitted free, and therefore numbers at around 2000 were probably greater than the previous year.
There were several new exhibitors but some well-known breeders’ stock were not ready and thus animal condition was not up to the usual standard.
The cattle were almost entirely shorthorns.
District was as usual well represented in hacks, hunters, and carriage horses. For many years the Ellesmere Show has had some of the best Clydesdale and light horses, but the lateness of the season and scarcity of feed meant that there was a reduction of numbers and quality at the 1898 Show.
The vet checked the horses and disallowed some.
There was a superiority of mares vs males and young horses in the Clydesdale class.
There was a poor number of pigs at the show although the quality was good.
There was keen competition in dairy produce while grain and roots were only fair.
The poultry showed some improvement with a few pens of very good stock but it was suggested that better accommodation was still needed.
There were strong classes of working dogs and the implements made a good show and because of amount of crop planted there was more than usual interest in the binders.
Saddlery exhibits were well worthy of notice Messrs W.R. Devereux & Co of Christchurch and Dunsandel were represented by a really good assortment of gig harnesses.
Mr J. Pearson exhibited a number of photographs of local celebrities and local views and many people were constantly admiring them.
Of side shows the kinematograph (several types of motion picture film mechanism) was the most widely patronised.
Mr W. Edwards, of Sydenham, again produced a most satisfactory luncheon and T. Hickson from Hororata ran the licence booth.
The Woolston Brass Band elicited satisfactory comments, sweet music or acceptable music depending on the newspaper account. [1898-10-21 p3 CHP, 1898-10-21 p3 LT, 1898-10-22 p2 EG]
The train travelled at 11 mph which was the speed of a stage coach in England in 1800. Suggestions were made to increase the speed of the train and to leave later in the afternoon. [1898-10-21 p4 LT, 1898-11-23 p4 CHP, 1898-11-23 p2 LT, 1898-12-26 p5 LT]
There was a large attendance at Christchurch stores of NZ Loan & Mercantile Agency Company seed and grain cleaning machinery which had been exhibited at the Show. [1898-11-01 p3 LT]
The election of officers resulted as follows :— Patron, G.E. Rhodes, Esq. President, Mr Job. Osborne. Vice-President, Mr Jas Stackhouse. - Treasurer, Mr C.C. Smithson. Committee : — Messrs John Boag, Senr., T.D. Boag, Jno. Barnett, W.F.M. Buckley, A. Chamberlain, D. Cant, Frank Coe, J.M. Furze, H. Hight, T.B. Howson, F. Jackson, W.G. Lunn, R. Lochhead, D. McMillan, W. A. Nixon, P. O'Boyle, H. Phillips, D. Scott, G. Stephens Senr., Jas. Storry, C. Sanderson, T. Tolerton, C. Withel, and R. Wright. Auditors :— Messrs R. Lochhead and Jno . Rennie. [1898-06-01 p3 EG]
Mike Noonnan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1897-1898SourcePapers PastLocationLeestonConnections
CollectionEarly History of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral AssociationOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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1898 29th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association (1897-1898). Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5688
