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1877 8th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
Description
Title1877 8th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
DescriptionThe November committee meeting decided to increase the prize money, to be on a par with kindred organisations, as the association had received a grant of £50 from the Government. [1876-11-27 p2 CHP]
The 1877 AGM was advertised to be held on Thursday 1 March at 7pm, [1877-02-17 p1 CHP] but the attendance was not large.
The £200 loan had been paid off and the receipts showed an increase of £100 over any previous year.
The amount of prizes had been increased by 30%.
The report stated that the committee had held nine meetings during the past year the attendance at the show had been more numerous than on former years.
The annual dinner was not a financial or social success, to some extent prevented by the lack of a special train and attendance of members at the Timaru show.
The award of cups and not money to the recipients of private prizes met with approval.
It was noted that C.J. Bridge and D. Moorhead, both enthusiastic members had died.
Mr Bluett was again elected President and a working committee of 25 members was appointed. [1877-03-10 p3 CHP]
At the May Committee Meeting, correspondence from the Timaru, Oamaru, Lincoln, and Northern Societies was received, advising the dates on which the respective shows would be held during the ensuing year to ensure no clashes.
The meeting chose Thursday 25th October which did however manage to clash with an Ashburton race meeting.
The usual subcommittee was set up to revise the Show’s programme and a motion to limit objections to 30 days after the prizes were announced, was passed. [1877-05-28 p3 CHP].
A further meeting was held in June to consider the programme and ways to encourage private prizes. [1877-06-27 p1 CHP, 1877-07-03 p2 CHP].
While the July meeting failed to reach a quorum, [1877-07-27 p1 CHP, 1877-07-31 p2 CHP] the secretary made a special plea for the August meeting and there was a very good attendance. [1877-08-16 p1 CHP, 1877-09-03 p3 CHP]
A letter from Mr Fitzroy M.H.R. stated that the railways were considering free carriage of exhibits to shows.
120 guineas in had been promised as special prizes and were allocated as prizes varying from £2 2s to £5 5s.
Cups and plates rather than money was retained for the Association prizes.
This silver ware was displayed in the jeweller’s shop windows to encourage entries. [1877-09-19 p2 CHP]
The last meeting before the 1877 show was held to appoint stewards and to abandon the dinner in favour of a luncheon.
Tenders were called for the usual services. [1877-09-21 p2 CHP, 1877-10-01 p4 LT, 1877-10-01 p2 CHP]
The show was advertised to be held on Thursday 25th October 1877, [1877-10-09 p2 CHP] and special arrangements had been arranged with the railways [1877-10-23 p1 CHP].
Optimism was displayed in an article soon after entries closed [1877-10-23 p2 CHP, 1877-10-24 p2 LT] where it was pointed out that entries had increased especially in the cattle, horses, and dairy produce classes, “which is in a great measure due to the liberality of those who have offered special prizes”.
Also the Committee “have also offered increased facilities to persons providing extraneous amusements, and have placed the catering of creature comforts in the able hands of Mr Spring. They feel confident, from the nature of the ground, which is admirably adapted for gatherings of the sort, that the show of this year will be largely patronised, not only by local residents, but also by visitors from a distance for whose convenience special railway accommodation has been provided”.
8th Show 1877
The Lyttleton Times wrote “The Ellesmere Exhibition seems predestined to be unfortunate in point of weather”.
The weather was described as "a strong Nor-Wester blew with clouds of dust" or "of a most unpleasant character, a dull sky and a cold boisterous wind from the north-west".
"Attendance was down" or "a large attendance".
Also in spite of the promises, little or no facilities were afforded by the railway authorities.
While there was a strong Christchurch contingent, the ordinary trains only were run and these notwithstanding the fact of the double holiday, there were few carriages.
The only concession the railways made was to grant return tickets at single fares.
The judges began at a very late hour and the public were kept waiting for the results.
There were many amusements at the show. Mr Barlow’s circus gave a performance which is seldom seen. “Our friend the unicycle circus with the asthmatic organ as orchestra was in his usual to the fore”. A gentleman with a pictorial representation of the Russo-Turkish in the style of a penny peep-show was also present.
Several other means of spending money common to country meets were there and seem to do well.
Near the secretary’s tent the display of silver private prizes was set up.
Mr Bashford provided a very excellent luncheon and the Southbridge band played some capital music at short intervals.
At Ellesmere, donors cannot compete for the prizes they have presented in contrast to the Christchurch and other shows.
The sheep exhibited were not quite as numerous as last year but the quality in most instances was good.
Mr E.J. Lee was the principal exhibitor of Leicester sheep and secured most of the prizes.
Of the Lincolns, Mr Hall’s exhibits fully maintained that gentleman’s prestige as a breeder. The fat sheep were excellent.
The cattle as a whole were not up to the standard expected although some exhibits were exceptionally good.
The horses were numerous and for the most part very good, but the draught horses were the feature of the show.
The pigs were neither numerous nor of high quality.
The implements were far better represented this year than last and there were some really excellent implements, again local manufacturers were not well represented.
In the dairy produce, entries were very numerous, especially fresh butter, whilst in hams and bacon, there was also a good show.
Some very nice pigeons were exhibited.
Patron, W. Rolleston, Esq, M.H.R.; President, W.J.G. Bluett, Esq.; VicePresidents, Messrs W. D. Laurence, R. Lochkhead, J. Osborne, J. Rennie; Hon Treasurer, Mr D. Marshall; Secretary, Mr James Lewis.
[1877-10-26 p3 CHP, 1877-10-26 p3 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1876-1877SourcePapers PastLocationLeeston
DescriptionThe November committee meeting decided to increase the prize money, to be on a par with kindred organisations, as the association had received a grant of £50 from the Government. [1876-11-27 p2 CHP] The 1877 AGM was advertised to be held on Thursday 1 March at 7pm, [1877-02-17 p1 CHP] but the attendance was not large.
The £200 loan had been paid off and the receipts showed an increase of £100 over any previous year.
The amount of prizes had been increased by 30%.
The report stated that the committee had held nine meetings during the past year the attendance at the show had been more numerous than on former years.
The annual dinner was not a financial or social success, to some extent prevented by the lack of a special train and attendance of members at the Timaru show.
The award of cups and not money to the recipients of private prizes met with approval.
It was noted that C.J. Bridge and D. Moorhead, both enthusiastic members had died.
Mr Bluett was again elected President and a working committee of 25 members was appointed. [1877-03-10 p3 CHP]
At the May Committee Meeting, correspondence from the Timaru, Oamaru, Lincoln, and Northern Societies was received, advising the dates on which the respective shows would be held during the ensuing year to ensure no clashes.
The meeting chose Thursday 25th October which did however manage to clash with an Ashburton race meeting.
The usual subcommittee was set up to revise the Show’s programme and a motion to limit objections to 30 days after the prizes were announced, was passed. [1877-05-28 p3 CHP].
A further meeting was held in June to consider the programme and ways to encourage private prizes. [1877-06-27 p1 CHP, 1877-07-03 p2 CHP].
While the July meeting failed to reach a quorum, [1877-07-27 p1 CHP, 1877-07-31 p2 CHP] the secretary made a special plea for the August meeting and there was a very good attendance. [1877-08-16 p1 CHP, 1877-09-03 p3 CHP]
A letter from Mr Fitzroy M.H.R. stated that the railways were considering free carriage of exhibits to shows.
120 guineas in had been promised as special prizes and were allocated as prizes varying from £2 2s to £5 5s.
Cups and plates rather than money was retained for the Association prizes.
This silver ware was displayed in the jeweller’s shop windows to encourage entries. [1877-09-19 p2 CHP]
The last meeting before the 1877 show was held to appoint stewards and to abandon the dinner in favour of a luncheon.
Tenders were called for the usual services. [1877-09-21 p2 CHP, 1877-10-01 p4 LT, 1877-10-01 p2 CHP]
The show was advertised to be held on Thursday 25th October 1877, [1877-10-09 p2 CHP] and special arrangements had been arranged with the railways [1877-10-23 p1 CHP].
Optimism was displayed in an article soon after entries closed [1877-10-23 p2 CHP, 1877-10-24 p2 LT] where it was pointed out that entries had increased especially in the cattle, horses, and dairy produce classes, “which is in a great measure due to the liberality of those who have offered special prizes”.
Also the Committee “have also offered increased facilities to persons providing extraneous amusements, and have placed the catering of creature comforts in the able hands of Mr Spring. They feel confident, from the nature of the ground, which is admirably adapted for gatherings of the sort, that the show of this year will be largely patronised, not only by local residents, but also by visitors from a distance for whose convenience special railway accommodation has been provided”.
8th Show 1877
The Lyttleton Times wrote “The Ellesmere Exhibition seems predestined to be unfortunate in point of weather”.
The weather was described as "a strong Nor-Wester blew with clouds of dust" or "of a most unpleasant character, a dull sky and a cold boisterous wind from the north-west".
"Attendance was down" or "a large attendance".
Also in spite of the promises, little or no facilities were afforded by the railway authorities.
While there was a strong Christchurch contingent, the ordinary trains only were run and these notwithstanding the fact of the double holiday, there were few carriages.
The only concession the railways made was to grant return tickets at single fares.
The judges began at a very late hour and the public were kept waiting for the results.
There were many amusements at the show. Mr Barlow’s circus gave a performance which is seldom seen. “Our friend the unicycle circus with the asthmatic organ as orchestra was in his usual to the fore”. A gentleman with a pictorial representation of the Russo-Turkish in the style of a penny peep-show was also present.
Several other means of spending money common to country meets were there and seem to do well.
Near the secretary’s tent the display of silver private prizes was set up.
Mr Bashford provided a very excellent luncheon and the Southbridge band played some capital music at short intervals.
At Ellesmere, donors cannot compete for the prizes they have presented in contrast to the Christchurch and other shows.
The sheep exhibited were not quite as numerous as last year but the quality in most instances was good.
Mr E.J. Lee was the principal exhibitor of Leicester sheep and secured most of the prizes.
Of the Lincolns, Mr Hall’s exhibits fully maintained that gentleman’s prestige as a breeder. The fat sheep were excellent.
The cattle as a whole were not up to the standard expected although some exhibits were exceptionally good.
The horses were numerous and for the most part very good, but the draught horses were the feature of the show.
The pigs were neither numerous nor of high quality.
The implements were far better represented this year than last and there were some really excellent implements, again local manufacturers were not well represented.
In the dairy produce, entries were very numerous, especially fresh butter, whilst in hams and bacon, there was also a good show.
Some very nice pigeons were exhibited.
Patron, W. Rolleston, Esq, M.H.R.; President, W.J.G. Bluett, Esq.; VicePresidents, Messrs W. D. Laurence, R. Lochkhead, J. Osborne, J. Rennie; Hon Treasurer, Mr D. Marshall; Secretary, Mr James Lewis.
[1877-10-26 p3 CHP, 1877-10-26 p3 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1876-1877SourcePapers PastLocationLeestonConnections
CollectionEarly History of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral AssociationOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
Written ByMike NoonanClick on the image to add
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1877 8th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association (1876-1877). Selwyn Stories, accessed 10/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5709
