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
1874 5th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
Description
Title1874 5th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
DescriptionCommittee meetings were held through the year [13 December 1873 p1 CHP, 25 February 1874 p1 CHP] and in the March meeting [1 April 1874 p2 CHP] the members were told that owing to an error in conveyance, the deeds to the grounds could not be executed at present.
It was also resolved to erect 30 new pens to help with the overcrowding that occurred at the last show.
After August the annual task of revising the programme , fixing the show date and appointing judges and stewarts began.
Members were instructed to canvas for special prizes that became a large part of prize giving. [24 August 1874 p1 CHP, 10 September 1874 p1 CHP, 11 September 1874 p2 CHP, 16 September 1874 p1 CHP].
A grant of £50 was applied for from the Provincial Government and received and the CYC band was again engaged. [28 September 1874 p2 CHP, 23 October 1874 p2 CHP]
5th Show, 1874
It was back to exceptionally fine weather and a record attendance at the 1874 show held on the 29th October, the first show in Canterbury.
But now the complaint was that the show was held some 6 weeks too early.
The stock especially cattle, had no time to put on condition after the winter although the dry autumn and late spring did not help.
Visitors from Christchurch showed a marked improvement and they now had the option of a train to Dunsandel and a coach ride from there to Leeston. The coach from Dunsandel was "crowded to excess".
The grounds themselves had been much improved since 1873 with the grass being more established.
There were two hotel booths, J.J. Loe from Leeston and Johnston from Irwell. There were also several booths devoted to confectionery and fruit.
Unfortunately, there were only 3 or 4 implements on display and that meant that farmers are deprived of an opportunity to compare machines. This display was more disappointing than occurred at past shows.
Sheep entries were 71 compared with 54 in 1873 and 62 horses compared with 83 last year.
The sheep and horse categories, also in terms of quality, showed a very decided improvement on 1873. The sheep were a leading feature of the show.
Cattle numbers declined from 63 in 1873 to 41.
The small number of pigs exhibited was surprising when considering the large trade in export of bacon and hams.
Bacon and hams were disappointing but there were two particularly good cheeses.
Every fresh butter exhibit deserved a warm commendation and the judges had difficulty picking winners.
To the majority of ladies who visited the show, the produce proved very attractive, each lady being anxious to note the fortune or otherwise of her neighbour.
It is interesting to note that visitors could sample the dairy produce themselves and this lead to whole dairy exhibits disappearing in later years and measures taken to keep fingers out of the produce.
During the day the CYC band gave general satisfaction.
Two Wheels of Fortune appeared to be doing a thriving trade.
The shearing prize, which was one of the features of the show, attracted a large number of spectators and was well contested.
President—The Rev W.J.G. Bluett. VicePresident— A. Frankish. Secretary J. Lewis (changed his name to L.V. Desborough). Committee Messrs; W. Bishop, C. Bourne, R. Gillett, T. Acland, D. Moorhead, W. D. Lawrence, R. Lochhead, G. Sandrey, J. Smithson, G. B. Woodman, D. Marshall, and J. Osborne,
[1874-10-30 p2 CHP, 1874-10-30 p2 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1873-1874SourcePapers PastLocationLeeston
DescriptionCommittee meetings were held through the year [13 December 1873 p1 CHP, 25 February 1874 p1 CHP] and in the March meeting [1 April 1874 p2 CHP] the members were told that owing to an error in conveyance, the deeds to the grounds could not be executed at present. It was also resolved to erect 30 new pens to help with the overcrowding that occurred at the last show.
After August the annual task of revising the programme , fixing the show date and appointing judges and stewarts began.
Members were instructed to canvas for special prizes that became a large part of prize giving. [24 August 1874 p1 CHP, 10 September 1874 p1 CHP, 11 September 1874 p2 CHP, 16 September 1874 p1 CHP].
A grant of £50 was applied for from the Provincial Government and received and the CYC band was again engaged. [28 September 1874 p2 CHP, 23 October 1874 p2 CHP]
5th Show, 1874
It was back to exceptionally fine weather and a record attendance at the 1874 show held on the 29th October, the first show in Canterbury.
But now the complaint was that the show was held some 6 weeks too early.
The stock especially cattle, had no time to put on condition after the winter although the dry autumn and late spring did not help.
Visitors from Christchurch showed a marked improvement and they now had the option of a train to Dunsandel and a coach ride from there to Leeston. The coach from Dunsandel was "crowded to excess".
The grounds themselves had been much improved since 1873 with the grass being more established.
There were two hotel booths, J.J. Loe from Leeston and Johnston from Irwell. There were also several booths devoted to confectionery and fruit.
Unfortunately, there were only 3 or 4 implements on display and that meant that farmers are deprived of an opportunity to compare machines. This display was more disappointing than occurred at past shows.
Sheep entries were 71 compared with 54 in 1873 and 62 horses compared with 83 last year.
The sheep and horse categories, also in terms of quality, showed a very decided improvement on 1873. The sheep were a leading feature of the show.
Cattle numbers declined from 63 in 1873 to 41.
The small number of pigs exhibited was surprising when considering the large trade in export of bacon and hams.
Bacon and hams were disappointing but there were two particularly good cheeses.
Every fresh butter exhibit deserved a warm commendation and the judges had difficulty picking winners.
To the majority of ladies who visited the show, the produce proved very attractive, each lady being anxious to note the fortune or otherwise of her neighbour.
It is interesting to note that visitors could sample the dairy produce themselves and this lead to whole dairy exhibits disappearing in later years and measures taken to keep fingers out of the produce.
During the day the CYC band gave general satisfaction.
Two Wheels of Fortune appeared to be doing a thriving trade.
The shearing prize, which was one of the features of the show, attracted a large number of spectators and was well contested.
President—The Rev W.J.G. Bluett. VicePresident— A. Frankish. Secretary J. Lewis (changed his name to L.V. Desborough). Committee Messrs; W. Bishop, C. Bourne, R. Gillett, T. Acland, D. Moorhead, W. D. Lawrence, R. Lochhead, G. Sandrey, J. Smithson, G. B. Woodman, D. Marshall, and J. Osborne,
[1874-10-30 p2 CHP, 1874-10-30 p2 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1873-1874SourcePapers 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....
1874 5th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association (1873-1874). Selwyn Stories, accessed 24/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5712