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1873 4th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
Description
Title1873 4th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association
DescriptionMembers at a March meeting and the June 1873 AGM were informed that the Chairman had applied to the government for 20 acres of the 30 acre shingle reserve on the main road between Leeston and Doyleston.
The government had no objection as long as the local Road Board agreed to it, which it did by a considerable majority, but unfortunately the Road Board had no legal right to it. The Government bought a bill into the Provincial Council for making a reserve of the 20 acres for agricultural and pastoral purposes and the bill was passed although C.J. Bridge regretted that the supply of shingle for the roads might be compromised. The site would be central to Ellesmere.
It was also convenient that the railway reserve was adjacent to the grounds and Mr Bluett was confident that the Railways would provide a siding with platform for easy access for passengers and stock.
Since the Association did not have sufficient funds to develop the land, it borrowed £200 on the personal security of 10 members. Work would be carried out as funds allowed.
It was agreed that the ground be fenced and a belt half chain wide planted with blue gum seed all around the paddock.
The date of the show was thoroughly debated at this meeting and for many years into the future.
The advantages of country shows preceding the Christchurch show were emphasised but it could not be too early as stock condition invariably suffered during winter, and 27 November was selected. [1 March 1873 p3 CHP, 1873-06-27 p3 LT]
By August of 1873 tenders were advertised for the erection of sheep and cattle yards on the new grounds and for the cartage of timber from Christchurch. [12 August 1873 p1 CHP]
The works committee approved the tender [21 August 1873 p2 CHP]
A meeting was held to revise the catalogue for the forthcoming show and this practice has continued over the years. [25 September 1873 p1 CHP]
The date for the show was advertised and an extension for receiving entries. [11 October 1873 p3 CHP, 21 November 1873 p2 CHP, 24 November 1873 p2 CHP].
4th Show 1873
The 1873 show, was the first to be held in the new grounds and was the first one held in the rain, but it was still regarded as a great success in the quality of stock shown and the way in which classes as a whole filled even though some visitors and a few exhibitors failed to turn up. The number of visitors from Christchurch was no less than in previous years.
The cattle and sheep pens were erected across the grounds from east to west and the horses on the right, while the booths were on the left.
Even though it had only been 4 months since the Association had taken over the land, the whole of the ground had been fenced, cattle and sheep pens had been erected and grass sown except around the edge where trees for shade and shelter were to be planted. The bottom rails in the cattle yards were too high which allowed calves to escape.
The secretary’s office was in the tent where the dairy produce was exhibited and this was not satisfactory.
The C.Y.C. band bravely defied the soaking rain under a very primitive shelter.
Mr Loe did good business with his large publican's tent. Sporting games including "over and under seven" attracted large public attention.
The catalogue was very good and an improvement on 1872.
The sheep were of splendid quality and the classes were well filled although exhibits in the Merino class were inferior. Cultivation had meant that there were less Merino sheep in the district.
Many of the cattle shown were low in condition but overall be cattle were good quality and the classes were very large and the pens had to be divided to accommodate the entries.
In this show the committee introduced classes open only to residents in the district and the reporter thought that this might work to encourage local show stock of their own raising, open classes should be retained as well.
The large display of horses taken throughout showed well, particularly the young stock.
The number of pigs exhibited was small but were of good quality as a whole.
Mr Maydwell, who took the lion’s share of the pig prizes deserves every credit for his selection while in England, and this importation has gone a long way towards improving the breed of pigs in the district.
There was a scanty show of implements, not one of the district implement makers was represented.
Dairy produce, except hams and bacon, were exceptionally well filled and there are so many entries of such high quality in the fresh butter class. The salt butter were the finest shown for a long time.
Patron: W. Rolleston, Esq., Superintendent of Canterbury; President: the Rev W.J.G. Bluett; Vice-president: A. Frankish; secretary: W. G. Lunn; treasurer: R. Gillett; committee: Messrs W. Bishop, 0. Bourne, J. Rennie, T. Acland, D. Moorhead, W. D. Lawrence, R. Lochhead, G. Sandrey, J. Smith, G. B. Woodman, D. Marshall, J. Osborne. [1873-11-28 p2 CHP 1873-11-28 p2 LT]
The annual dinner was very similar to the 1872 event. [1873-12-01 p3 CHP, 1873-11-28 p2 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1873SourcePapers PastLocationLeeston
DescriptionMembers at a March meeting and the June 1873 AGM were informed that the Chairman had applied to the government for 20 acres of the 30 acre shingle reserve on the main road between Leeston and Doyleston. The government had no objection as long as the local Road Board agreed to it, which it did by a considerable majority, but unfortunately the Road Board had no legal right to it. The Government bought a bill into the Provincial Council for making a reserve of the 20 acres for agricultural and pastoral purposes and the bill was passed although C.J. Bridge regretted that the supply of shingle for the roads might be compromised. The site would be central to Ellesmere.
It was also convenient that the railway reserve was adjacent to the grounds and Mr Bluett was confident that the Railways would provide a siding with platform for easy access for passengers and stock.
Since the Association did not have sufficient funds to develop the land, it borrowed £200 on the personal security of 10 members. Work would be carried out as funds allowed.
It was agreed that the ground be fenced and a belt half chain wide planted with blue gum seed all around the paddock.
The date of the show was thoroughly debated at this meeting and for many years into the future.
The advantages of country shows preceding the Christchurch show were emphasised but it could not be too early as stock condition invariably suffered during winter, and 27 November was selected. [1 March 1873 p3 CHP, 1873-06-27 p3 LT]
By August of 1873 tenders were advertised for the erection of sheep and cattle yards on the new grounds and for the cartage of timber from Christchurch. [12 August 1873 p1 CHP]
The works committee approved the tender [21 August 1873 p2 CHP]
A meeting was held to revise the catalogue for the forthcoming show and this practice has continued over the years. [25 September 1873 p1 CHP]
The date for the show was advertised and an extension for receiving entries. [11 October 1873 p3 CHP, 21 November 1873 p2 CHP, 24 November 1873 p2 CHP].
4th Show 1873
The 1873 show, was the first to be held in the new grounds and was the first one held in the rain, but it was still regarded as a great success in the quality of stock shown and the way in which classes as a whole filled even though some visitors and a few exhibitors failed to turn up. The number of visitors from Christchurch was no less than in previous years.
The cattle and sheep pens were erected across the grounds from east to west and the horses on the right, while the booths were on the left.
Even though it had only been 4 months since the Association had taken over the land, the whole of the ground had been fenced, cattle and sheep pens had been erected and grass sown except around the edge where trees for shade and shelter were to be planted. The bottom rails in the cattle yards were too high which allowed calves to escape.
The secretary’s office was in the tent where the dairy produce was exhibited and this was not satisfactory.
The C.Y.C. band bravely defied the soaking rain under a very primitive shelter.
Mr Loe did good business with his large publican's tent. Sporting games including "over and under seven" attracted large public attention.
The catalogue was very good and an improvement on 1872.
The sheep were of splendid quality and the classes were well filled although exhibits in the Merino class were inferior. Cultivation had meant that there were less Merino sheep in the district.
Many of the cattle shown were low in condition but overall be cattle were good quality and the classes were very large and the pens had to be divided to accommodate the entries.
In this show the committee introduced classes open only to residents in the district and the reporter thought that this might work to encourage local show stock of their own raising, open classes should be retained as well.
The large display of horses taken throughout showed well, particularly the young stock.
The number of pigs exhibited was small but were of good quality as a whole.
Mr Maydwell, who took the lion’s share of the pig prizes deserves every credit for his selection while in England, and this importation has gone a long way towards improving the breed of pigs in the district.
There was a scanty show of implements, not one of the district implement makers was represented.
Dairy produce, except hams and bacon, were exceptionally well filled and there are so many entries of such high quality in the fresh butter class. The salt butter were the finest shown for a long time.
Patron: W. Rolleston, Esq., Superintendent of Canterbury; President: the Rev W.J.G. Bluett; Vice-president: A. Frankish; secretary: W. G. Lunn; treasurer: R. Gillett; committee: Messrs W. Bishop, 0. Bourne, J. Rennie, T. Acland, D. Moorhead, W. D. Lawrence, R. Lochhead, G. Sandrey, J. Smith, G. B. Woodman, D. Marshall, J. Osborne. [1873-11-28 p2 CHP 1873-11-28 p2 LT]
The annual dinner was very similar to the 1872 event. [1873-12-01 p3 CHP, 1873-11-28 p2 LT]
Mike Noonan
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date1873SourcePapers PastLocationLeestonConnections
CollectionEarly History of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral AssociationOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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1873 4th Year of the Ellesmere Agricultural & Pastoral Association (1873). Selwyn Stories, accessed 30/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5713
