Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Image
Linked To
Map
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
1876 7th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
Description
Title1876 7th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
DescriptionAt the November 1875 committee meeting the railways presented the Association with a bill for £13 19s for the special late train, but Bluett pointed out that the Government ran a late special train on the northern line every week and should not charge for one special train on the Southbridge line once per year. [29 November 1875 p2 CHP]
As occurred in the past, the AGM followed immediately after a committee meeting to approve matters presented at the AGM.
Members were updated and officers elected. [4 February 1876 p1 CHP, 1876-03-03 p3 LT]
A general meeting held at the end of April, decided to fix the date of the show as the last Tuesday in October, as thus avoid overlap among country shows.
The meeting also discussed ways of reducing the loan and replacing trees that had died. [1876-05-01 p2 LT]
The August meeting considered offers of special prizes and a subcommittee was set up to select cups and pieces of plate suitable for private prizes, to be presented to the winners at the annual dinner, the cups to be purchased from those jewellers in Christchurch who had promised to support the association.
It was decided to have a mutual exchange of judges between Leeston and the Timaru and Oamaru Associations. [1876-08-02 p3 CHP] but it was only later that this idea was in operation. [11 September 1876 p2 CHP]
The last committee meeting before the show did not start until 11 pm because exhibitors delayed until the last moment to make their entries.
Tender of Mr Blackler for the sole right of erecting a publican’s booth was accepted, and also Mr Loe for supplying dinner.
This year the railways insisted upon a guarantee of £15 before a special train could run on the night of the show to take the diners home.
The gaps in the belt of trees around the ground had been filled and the fences trimmed. [1876-10-27 p2 CHP]
The show was advertised for Tuesday 31st October [1876-10-21 p1 CHP] and that meant that the Leeston Show was the first for the season.
Also the country shows occurred before the Metropolitan show so that the best exhibits could be sent more easily into Christchurch Show now that the railway had penetrated into the countryside.
7th Show 1876
The day was splendid, if a trifle hot and windy.
In the morning rain threatened, but kept off.
Leeston held the first Agricultural Show of the year.
According to the Press, the greater majority of Christchurch visitors used the special train in the morning, while the Lyttelton Times denied the existence of a special train.
Generally there was an increased number of entries but a falling off in some items especially sheep as the Timaru show was held on the following day.
Timaru had altered their date and H.J. Hall, who usually sent many sheep to Leeston, exhibited at Timaru.
The number of horses showed an increase and there was a doubling in pig numbers, so that 31 pigs were exhibited. Mr Maydwell was again mentioned as a top pig breeder.
Poultry were exhibited for the first time at the Leeston Show.
The newspaper reported that a greater number of colonial manufactured implements would be desirable as the district contains a large number of implement makers who have won honours elsewhere.
The number of implement exhibits doubled as compared with 1875 but the Press stressed that there should be more colonial manufactured implements than were present.
The dairy produce was disappointing, far below that of 1875, except for the small number of excellent cheeses. The bacon was very good but the number of entries very small.
The bacon was good but number of exhibitors few.
Attendance was larger than in 1875 with over 1200 persons paying for admission.
The Southbridge brass band played excellently throughout the day.
The sheep section was limited to Leicester and Lincoln breeds, Crossbreds and fat sheep, as no Romney Marsh and Southdown sheep appeared. A large number of the sheep had pests in their wool and had rubbed themselves so much that the look of their fleeces was spoiled.
The shorthorns were a feature of the cattle section but the rest of the cattle not as good as might be.
Horses were numerically in excess of that of 1875 and in some respects the quality was excellent, especially the entire draught horses.
Dairy produce showed a falling off in the quality of fresh butter.
Patron— W. Rolleston, Esq,, Superintendent of Canterbury. President Thomas D. Acland, Esq. Vice-Presidents —Messrs C.A. Fitzroy, R. Gillett, W.D. Laurence, and G.B. Woodman. Hon Treasurer— Mr D. Marshall. Secretary —Mr James Lewis. Committee —Messrs J. Rennie, H.P. Hill, C. Bourn, W.G. Lunn, J. Cunningham, D. Moorhead, C.T. Dudley, J.J. Loe, H.J. Hall, R. Lochhead, G. Sandry, J. Boag, W. Graham, G. Stevens, J. Smithson, T. Rowe, Job Osborne, J. Barnett, J. Overton, A. Frankish, W. Bishop. [1876-11-01 p3 CHP, 1876-11-01 p2 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1875-1876SourcePapers PastLocationLeeston
DescriptionAt the November 1875 committee meeting the railways presented the Association with a bill for £13 19s for the special late train, but Bluett pointed out that the Government ran a late special train on the northern line every week and should not charge for one special train on the Southbridge line once per year. [29 November 1875 p2 CHP]As occurred in the past, the AGM followed immediately after a committee meeting to approve matters presented at the AGM.
Members were updated and officers elected. [4 February 1876 p1 CHP, 1876-03-03 p3 LT]
A general meeting held at the end of April, decided to fix the date of the show as the last Tuesday in October, as thus avoid overlap among country shows.
The meeting also discussed ways of reducing the loan and replacing trees that had died. [1876-05-01 p2 LT]
The August meeting considered offers of special prizes and a subcommittee was set up to select cups and pieces of plate suitable for private prizes, to be presented to the winners at the annual dinner, the cups to be purchased from those jewellers in Christchurch who had promised to support the association.
It was decided to have a mutual exchange of judges between Leeston and the Timaru and Oamaru Associations. [1876-08-02 p3 CHP] but it was only later that this idea was in operation. [11 September 1876 p2 CHP]
The last committee meeting before the show did not start until 11 pm because exhibitors delayed until the last moment to make their entries.
Tender of Mr Blackler for the sole right of erecting a publican’s booth was accepted, and also Mr Loe for supplying dinner.
This year the railways insisted upon a guarantee of £15 before a special train could run on the night of the show to take the diners home.
The gaps in the belt of trees around the ground had been filled and the fences trimmed. [1876-10-27 p2 CHP]
The show was advertised for Tuesday 31st October [1876-10-21 p1 CHP] and that meant that the Leeston Show was the first for the season.
Also the country shows occurred before the Metropolitan show so that the best exhibits could be sent more easily into Christchurch Show now that the railway had penetrated into the countryside.
7th Show 1876
The day was splendid, if a trifle hot and windy.
In the morning rain threatened, but kept off.
Leeston held the first Agricultural Show of the year.
According to the Press, the greater majority of Christchurch visitors used the special train in the morning, while the Lyttelton Times denied the existence of a special train.
Generally there was an increased number of entries but a falling off in some items especially sheep as the Timaru show was held on the following day.
Timaru had altered their date and H.J. Hall, who usually sent many sheep to Leeston, exhibited at Timaru.
The number of horses showed an increase and there was a doubling in pig numbers, so that 31 pigs were exhibited. Mr Maydwell was again mentioned as a top pig breeder.
Poultry were exhibited for the first time at the Leeston Show.
The newspaper reported that a greater number of colonial manufactured implements would be desirable as the district contains a large number of implement makers who have won honours elsewhere.
The number of implement exhibits doubled as compared with 1875 but the Press stressed that there should be more colonial manufactured implements than were present.
The dairy produce was disappointing, far below that of 1875, except for the small number of excellent cheeses. The bacon was very good but the number of entries very small.
The bacon was good but number of exhibitors few.
Attendance was larger than in 1875 with over 1200 persons paying for admission.
The Southbridge brass band played excellently throughout the day.
The sheep section was limited to Leicester and Lincoln breeds, Crossbreds and fat sheep, as no Romney Marsh and Southdown sheep appeared. A large number of the sheep had pests in their wool and had rubbed themselves so much that the look of their fleeces was spoiled.
The shorthorns were a feature of the cattle section but the rest of the cattle not as good as might be.
Horses were numerically in excess of that of 1875 and in some respects the quality was excellent, especially the entire draught horses.
Dairy produce showed a falling off in the quality of fresh butter.
Patron— W. Rolleston, Esq,, Superintendent of Canterbury. President Thomas D. Acland, Esq. Vice-Presidents —Messrs C.A. Fitzroy, R. Gillett, W.D. Laurence, and G.B. Woodman. Hon Treasurer— Mr D. Marshall. Secretary —Mr James Lewis. Committee —Messrs J. Rennie, H.P. Hill, C. Bourn, W.G. Lunn, J. Cunningham, D. Moorhead, C.T. Dudley, J.J. Loe, H.J. Hall, R. Lochhead, G. Sandry, J. Boag, W. Graham, G. Stevens, J. Smithson, T. Rowe, Job Osborne, J. Barnett, J. Overton, A. Frankish, W. Bishop. [1876-11-01 p3 CHP, 1876-11-01 p2 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1875-1876SourcePapers 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
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
loading google map....
1876 7th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association (1875-1876). Selwyn Stories, accessed 30/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5710
