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1885 16th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
Description
Title1885 16th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
DescriptionA moderate number of members attended the 1885 AGM held in August of that year.
At the AGM the president reported that balance sheet showed a healthier credit than last year.
He also reported that the continuation of the annual horse parade was in doubt as it was not a success in 1884.
While plans and tenders had been gathered for erecting a permanent building for a luncheon and refreshment booth, this required further thought.
Owing to the exceptionally fine weather the 1884 show was a success with 386 entries in all classes, a slight increase on the previous year.
Thought had been given to allowing members tickets to admit their wives and families to the show but this would have reduced gate takings.
Thought had also been given to giving awards for the best kept leasehold and freehold farms and to reducing the entry fees in nearly all classes. [1885-08-12 p5 CHP, 1885-08-12 p6 LT]
At an August committee meeting it was decided to hold the annual parade of entire horses as usual but the majority of the committee thought that the building should wait until more funds were available.
A subcommittee was set up to look into reducing the entry fees. [1885-08-26 p4 LT]
The 1885 stud horse parade was advertised in September [1885-09-19 p2 CHP]
The show was advertised to be held on Tuesday November 3rd [1885-10-12 p1 LT] but it was noted that there was a scarcity of feed and therefore be stock exhibited may be of lower quality than in previous years. [1885-10-07 p3 TS]
At an October committee meeting it was decided to prepare a ring for judging cattle.
It was decided to allow exhibitors of implements to enter for exhibition only at half the usual rates.
As usual there was to be a call for tenders for the publicans and refreshment booths.
J.R. Campbell wrote offering a special prize of £5 5s for a shearing competition on the show ground and this may be the first mention of shearing competitions at the show which have remained popular throughout its history. [1885-10-12 p4 LT]
Information published before the show included the announcement that A. Werner of Doyleston had invented a self-feeder for threshing machines which would reduce the number of men on the machine by one and he was to exhibit this invention at the show. [1885-10-23 p4 LT]
Railway arrangements were also announced. [1885-10-31 p4 LT]
16th Show 1885
The Press reporter stated that "For the first time in its 16 year history, the 1885 show day was a pouring wet day". The reporter went on to say that
"At the best of times, an agricultural show was not a wild scene of revelry and joy; far from it, even under the inspiriting influences of blue skies and sunshine, but with a howling sou’-wester,..... it is a desolate waste and howling wilderness".
Worse still, the rain increased in vigour as the day progressed.
A committee meeting was held on the morning of the show to consider whether to postpone or not and was decided by a majority of 1 to go on as the stock was on the ground, much of it having been brought from a distance.
A large number of entries did not turn up which made the show somewhat meagre. Visitors were few.
There were only half as many implement exhibits in 1885 compared with 1884, but stock classes were well filled.
There was a decided increase in light horses and dairy produce and contrary to earlier predictions, the quality in all classes was satisfactory.
Railway arrangements kept changing and rather than a special train, the ordinary train left at a very early hour and did not return until an hour later than usual, which would have reduced the number of visitors.
The luncheon and refreshment booths had been let to H. Britton of the Royal Hotel, Southbridge, and the light refreshments to Messrs Fuljames and Doyle.
Mr Britton had to adjourn to the produce shed as he was washed out of the booth originally intended for that purpose.
Some ladies who were interested in the awards for the butter prizes, conquered, for a time at least their regret for damage to their finery by the rain, which poured incessantly, but it looked as though they would rather have been by their fire sides than tracing about a muddy show yard.
Even the roundabout was not working although an enterprising gentleman who allows a monkey to pick lucky cards for 1 shilling, was there in great form.
Gate taking were only 10% of the usual collection which meant that there were 158 visitors who paid the 1 shilling entrance fee.
In the sheep and cattle classes the majority of the entries were restricted to 1 or 2 or at the most 3 exhibitors.
The blood stock horses were especially good as a whole. The show of draught stock was, as usual, a good one.
Many of the pigs that were entered did not show up.
The exhibit of local industries and NZ manufacturers was small, and it was postulated that owing to the hard times farmers were not buying.
Because if the rain the shearing was put off to a later date.
One reporter again remarked that sheep and cattle dogs could not be judged without trials and these trials would likely be of considerable interest to spectators. A speculation which proved correct in later years.
It appears that the 8 butter exhibits disappeared, as in the past, as the officials were too slow to erect the wire netting barriers. The cheese was well made and of good flavour.
There was a small but good exhibit of grain.
The Springston band did not arrive until afternoon and their playing failed to dissipate the gloom. They played several pieces under the shelter of the produce shed where the judges had luncheon. A hand-bell ringer of local repute was to have delighted the crowds with his skill.
Seats had been erected around ground but were not used in the rain.
The most popular exhibit was A. Werner’s ingenious elevator for loading sacks of grain on to dray.
Job Osborne’s ingenious appliance for well sinking, a “monkey” worked by horse power was also worthy of notice. [1885-11-03 p3 TS, 1885-11-04 p4 CHP, 1885-11-04 p6 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1885SourcePapers PastLocationLeeston
DescriptionA moderate number of members attended the 1885 AGM held in August of that year. At the AGM the president reported that balance sheet showed a healthier credit than last year.
He also reported that the continuation of the annual horse parade was in doubt as it was not a success in 1884.
While plans and tenders had been gathered for erecting a permanent building for a luncheon and refreshment booth, this required further thought.
Owing to the exceptionally fine weather the 1884 show was a success with 386 entries in all classes, a slight increase on the previous year.
Thought had been given to allowing members tickets to admit their wives and families to the show but this would have reduced gate takings.
Thought had also been given to giving awards for the best kept leasehold and freehold farms and to reducing the entry fees in nearly all classes. [1885-08-12 p5 CHP, 1885-08-12 p6 LT]
At an August committee meeting it was decided to hold the annual parade of entire horses as usual but the majority of the committee thought that the building should wait until more funds were available.
A subcommittee was set up to look into reducing the entry fees. [1885-08-26 p4 LT]
The 1885 stud horse parade was advertised in September [1885-09-19 p2 CHP]
The show was advertised to be held on Tuesday November 3rd [1885-10-12 p1 LT] but it was noted that there was a scarcity of feed and therefore be stock exhibited may be of lower quality than in previous years. [1885-10-07 p3 TS]
At an October committee meeting it was decided to prepare a ring for judging cattle.
It was decided to allow exhibitors of implements to enter for exhibition only at half the usual rates.
As usual there was to be a call for tenders for the publicans and refreshment booths.
J.R. Campbell wrote offering a special prize of £5 5s for a shearing competition on the show ground and this may be the first mention of shearing competitions at the show which have remained popular throughout its history. [1885-10-12 p4 LT]
Information published before the show included the announcement that A. Werner of Doyleston had invented a self-feeder for threshing machines which would reduce the number of men on the machine by one and he was to exhibit this invention at the show. [1885-10-23 p4 LT]
Railway arrangements were also announced. [1885-10-31 p4 LT]
16th Show 1885
The Press reporter stated that "For the first time in its 16 year history, the 1885 show day was a pouring wet day". The reporter went on to say that
"At the best of times, an agricultural show was not a wild scene of revelry and joy; far from it, even under the inspiriting influences of blue skies and sunshine, but with a howling sou’-wester,..... it is a desolate waste and howling wilderness".
Worse still, the rain increased in vigour as the day progressed.
A committee meeting was held on the morning of the show to consider whether to postpone or not and was decided by a majority of 1 to go on as the stock was on the ground, much of it having been brought from a distance.
A large number of entries did not turn up which made the show somewhat meagre. Visitors were few.
There were only half as many implement exhibits in 1885 compared with 1884, but stock classes were well filled.
There was a decided increase in light horses and dairy produce and contrary to earlier predictions, the quality in all classes was satisfactory.
Railway arrangements kept changing and rather than a special train, the ordinary train left at a very early hour and did not return until an hour later than usual, which would have reduced the number of visitors.
The luncheon and refreshment booths had been let to H. Britton of the Royal Hotel, Southbridge, and the light refreshments to Messrs Fuljames and Doyle.
Mr Britton had to adjourn to the produce shed as he was washed out of the booth originally intended for that purpose.
Some ladies who were interested in the awards for the butter prizes, conquered, for a time at least their regret for damage to their finery by the rain, which poured incessantly, but it looked as though they would rather have been by their fire sides than tracing about a muddy show yard.
Even the roundabout was not working although an enterprising gentleman who allows a monkey to pick lucky cards for 1 shilling, was there in great form.
Gate taking were only 10% of the usual collection which meant that there were 158 visitors who paid the 1 shilling entrance fee.
In the sheep and cattle classes the majority of the entries were restricted to 1 or 2 or at the most 3 exhibitors.
The blood stock horses were especially good as a whole. The show of draught stock was, as usual, a good one.
Many of the pigs that were entered did not show up.
The exhibit of local industries and NZ manufacturers was small, and it was postulated that owing to the hard times farmers were not buying.
Because if the rain the shearing was put off to a later date.
One reporter again remarked that sheep and cattle dogs could not be judged without trials and these trials would likely be of considerable interest to spectators. A speculation which proved correct in later years.
It appears that the 8 butter exhibits disappeared, as in the past, as the officials were too slow to erect the wire netting barriers. The cheese was well made and of good flavour.
There was a small but good exhibit of grain.
The Springston band did not arrive until afternoon and their playing failed to dissipate the gloom. They played several pieces under the shelter of the produce shed where the judges had luncheon. A hand-bell ringer of local repute was to have delighted the crowds with his skill.
Seats had been erected around ground but were not used in the rain.
The most popular exhibit was A. Werner’s ingenious elevator for loading sacks of grain on to dray.
Job Osborne’s ingenious appliance for well sinking, a “monkey” worked by horse power was also worthy of notice. [1885-11-03 p3 TS, 1885-11-04 p4 CHP, 1885-11-04 p6 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1885SourcePapers PastLocationLeestonRight- F. Jameson (Secretary)
1885
Connections
CollectionEarly History of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral AssociationOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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1885 16th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association (1885). Selwyn Stories, accessed 30/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5701
