A. AND P. SOCIETY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 43 (Supplement)

A. AND P. SOCIETY

Steady Growth Over Long Period FORMATION IN 1858

1858 — Januarv 30: A meeting was held in the Roval Hotel at Napier and the Ahuriri Agricultural Society was brought into existence. The chairman of that meeting was the late Mr. Joseph .Rhodes. 1863. — On October 14 the initial show was conducted in D'Anvers's paddoch at Havelock. The attendance was 400 and the entries were 73. The name was changed to the Hawke 's Bay Agric."'tural Society. 1866 — March 15: The society held the first show in the southern district of Hawke 's Bay, the, venue being Waipukurau. Six days later a second show was conducted in Havelock North. 1867. — On March 8 a show was held at Meeanee, and on the last day of the month a second one was held at Waipukurau, 1872. — On September 14 the name was again changed, this timo to the

Hawke 's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society. In October the first A. and P. Show was held at West Clive. 1873. — Tho society returned to Havelock 1874. — First show in- Hastings wa® held in yards purchased by the society in the vieinity of the present poJiee station. The entries were 35 horses and 306 sheep. 1878. — An addition made to tho ploughing match in this year was the honling of a grain and roojts show at Clive, In this year the society, having £164 15/6 in hand, purchased on November 27 some 80 acres of land which ultimately the Hawko's Bay Jockcy .Club took over. 1000. — This year was the comineneeuient of a most progressive time for the society and for the- first time the entries reaehed the 1000 mark. '902. — On Apri] 2.°, the first Autumn Show was held. • •'904. — As the resuJt of an organising uampaign, tlie niembership, which had Ha" vet only brouglit in about £200. was so inereased as to bring revenue from this source up to £853. 1911. — A great forwurd move was

made on July 14 of this year when the society purchased from Mr. William Nelson 02 acres at Tomoana for £7567 10/-, althouth it was not until 1925 (partly due to the Great War) that the grounds were offieially opened. 1923. — The society held its Diamond Jubilee Show. The entries constituted a record, attaining the figure of 2645. 1925. — On October 21 the new grounds at Tomoana were offieially opened by Thoir Exc-ellencies the Gov-ernor-General. Sir Gharles and Lady Fcrgusson. 14)26. — The entries received for this show broke all previous records" just raissing the triple thousand 1927.— Entries totalled 2952, a record, and the attendance on People 's Day also constituted a record, being estimated at 22,500. * 1928. — Entries again broke previous records. The total was 3002. Atten-

dance also inereased. Train and ous services alone carried 4400 passengers, a gre-ater number thah evor before. ,1929. — The number of entries was 2774, a slight fallirig ofE from the previous year, but attendances again inereased. - At this show the Pioneers' Memorial rest-house was offieially opened 1930. — This was a Eoyal Show, and the entries reaehed the record total of 3677, an inerease^of 675 over 'the previous record. The show set a fresh standard of quality in many classes, espeeially with some of the sheep brccds. Tho attendance also broke all previous records. 1931. — Tho entries this year reaehed 3154. which, althougli a long way behind tho Royal total, was stilJ over 150 above the previous best with that exceotlon. The attendance kept up well, ea -Ii yoai showing a growing tendeney. /952. — Exhibitors again made a splendid rosponse in the maiter of entries, the total being 3346, nearly 200 above the previous best record for the Ilawke 's Bay A. and P. Society 's own shows. The membership and attendance continued to show satisfactory

increases. 19.33. — This year the society reaehed its pealc year m the matter of entries, and set a record which will take some beating, the total reaching 3728, or 51 ahoad of the Royal Show figure of 1930. Almost every section showed a markod increase on previous years. 1934. — The dry season atlected tlie entries for this show, which were 3279, but this figure, under the circumstances was conaidered highly satisfactory, and it. ?s a splendid indication of .tho so ciety's progress that not since 1927 have the entries been belpw the 3000 mar'v, a very fine record indeed. , In tho matter of attendance previous Hawke 's Bay Show figures were again exceeded. I'he following is a list of the presidonts who have led the Hawke 's Bay A. and P. Society through its long caraor: — 1S63-69. — Sir Donald M'cLean. 1869-71. — The Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L.C. 1872-75. — Mr. Joseph Rhodes. 1876. — Mr. Thomas Tanner, M.P "1877.— Mr. Chas. Watt. IS78.— Sir (Capt.) William R. Russell- .. 1879. — Mr. R. Farmer. 1584. — The Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L C. 1855.— Mr. J. H. Coleman. ' 1856. — Mr. Thomas Tannei, M.P. 1887. — Mr. W. Shrimpton. 1585. — Mr. R. Wellwood. 1889. — Mr. R'. D. D. MeLean. 1S90. — Mr. J. S. Bennett. '891. — Mr. G. A. FitzRov, M.P. 1892. — Mr. Alex McHardy 1893. — Mr. Cartwright Brown. 1894. — Mr. Arch. McLean. 1895. — Mr. H. Gaisford. 1896. — Mr. J. Anderson. 1897. — Mr. J. H. Coleman. 1898". — Mr. T. E. Grosso 1899. — Mr. J. N. Williame. 1900-06. — Mr. Jos. H. Williams. .907-10.— Mr. N. Kettle. 1911-12.— Sir A. H. Russell 1913-14. — Mr. T. H. Lowry. 1915. — Sir Geo. Hunter, M.P. 1916-17.— Mr. F. W. William?. 1918-20. — Mr. G. R. Beamish. *- 1921-26. — Mr. H.-A. Russell. 1927-29.— Mr. R. H. Tod. 1930-31. — Mr. H. A. Russell. 1932-35. — -Mr. . H. Macniven. 1935-1937.— Mr. J. H. Absolum.