The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1917 A SIGN OF PROGRESS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 February 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1917 A SIGN OF PROGRESS.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News).

Taumarunui is giving that unmistakable evidence of the progress of settlement and production, the inauguration of an Agricultural and Pastoral Association. This new body has a membership that would be creditable to any district in New Zealand. On Wednesday, 34th March, the first annual show of the new society is to be held, and there is not a settler in this territory that will not wish it success, and many will -help to achieve it. Farmers hereabout realise that the hinterlands of Taumarunui are rapidly being taken up, the bush felled and brought into a condition for helping to swell the aggregate annual production, and sequentially the wealth of the district and the whole Dominion. There is nothing more effective the

farming community of Taumarunui could -have done to let the outside know the value of their land and what it will produce than to associate and hold these annual exhibitions. A keen, astute, shrewd, successful old settler remarked at a gathering of farmers on the evening of a first show day, many years ago, in the Wairarapa, that when the Agricultural Show came it was time to buy a section oxtwo in the town. Experience has shown that almost from the first agricultural and pastoral exhibition in any district values of land commence to harden and soar upward; both in town and country, and the demand for it rapidly increases. Taumarunui has reached a stage of progress when it could not very well longer postpone the holding of a farmers’ annual show. It is the best investment its farmers and businessmen have made since the district was settled; it is a method of advertising that will easily double the value of their estate, be it large or small. There is nc» exaggeration about this estimate; one has only to lock back over the recent history of Taihape. Only a few years ago, before the agricultural and pastoral association came, land that is now eagerly bought at from twenty-five to thirty pounds an acre could be purchased at from ten to fifteen pounds. There are old Taihape settlers around Taumarunui at this moment who are lamenting that they ever sold out their Taihape holdings, but with a well-sup-ported and thoroughly organised annual show they may rest assured that the rise in values they missed in Taihape will come to them in Taumarunui. The first Taumarunui Show, with a membership of two hundred

and u list of special prizes supporting it that would make an older association envious, cannot help being a success from all points of view.