A SHOW OF THE PAST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1584, 30 October 1912, Page 10

A SHOW OF THE PAST.

THE DE4D WELLINGTON SOCIETY. Although the Wellingtoninns of to-day practically look upon. the. flourishing Mnnawatu show us a species of Wellington triumph, it is not many years since the Empire City was a. direct "competitor with the big Palinerston gathering. While this Manaivatu fixture has become more and more popular each year, Wellington city is no more as a show centre, and the decease of the city society wns on» of the stepping stones b/ , which the. Mnnawatu Association rose to its present supreme height.

The past history of the Wellington Society is almost forgotten ' to-day, and something of thet history may bo of sufficient interest to recall. The defunct Wellington show had its inception at a meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce in December, 1888, amongst those present behig Sir "Win. Pibdierbert, the .Hon. .0. M. WaterJiouse, Dr. Newman, Messrs. J. Martin, C. B; Izard, W. H. Levin, K Mills, J. Drausfield, J. H. Ccck, Andrew Ycaing, Colcman Phillips, nnd Jacob Joseph. Early in its career the show ; wfls brought face to face with the Iground problem, a. difficulty which was nlirays to the fore. At loJijfth arrangements were made for the use of tho Hutt I'ark racecourse. Tho first show was held there on November 19 and November 20, 188' J. In 1801, when Dr. Jsewman was president and Mr. W. ft. Bidwill vice-president, the last show was held on tho ilutt Park vacecoutfc, as )»tiveeji that date and November, ISD2, the society scoured acres of land at Petone, which ground for many years bore the name of the show' ground. On this ground the annual shows were hold until the society was wound up- in 1807.