CARTERTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1938, Page 9

CARTERTON

WAIRARAPA SPRING SHOW. INCIDENTS IN THE PAST. (“Times-Age” Special.) Although some years ago the Wairarapa P. and A. Society had a reputation for heavy rain always falling on show days, records kept over a period of years have shown clearly that the weather has not been as antagonistic as alleged. Many shows have been held with beautiful spring weather prevailing both days, while in other years, although the first day has not been promising, the sun shone brightly for People’s Day and vice versa. There have been, of course, occasions when rain started on the evening before the first day and fell practically continuously until the show concluded, and then cleared up for a perfect day on the Friday! But rain has not been the only disability the show has experienced. Many patrons will recall a few years back the violent gale that sprang up in the middle of the afternoon on People’s Day, and blew with hurricane force. Sideshows were quickly put out of action and business suspended forthwith. Some of the ring events had to be abandoned. The society has also experienced a number of violent gales just on the eve of the show, when buildings and equipment, including the newly-erected dog pens, were damaged, and were just as surely “made good” by energetic “working bees” convened from the committees and show members generally. In the 1934-storm the worst damage occurred. The grounds after that memorable October 1 resembled illustrations that have been published of whole villages which had been destroyed after a similar storm in the tropical islands. The expenditure necessary to repair the damage totalled a considerable sum of money, but Show enthusiasts will recall the vigour with which the position was faced, and before the Show opened the grounds were normal once more. The untiring “working bees” again did-a worthy part in the tremendous amount of work that was necessary. In 1913 the waterfront strike was on in Wellington, and volunteers were enrolled on the ground to cope with ■ the position, as there was every danger of all produce being prevented from being shipped. The following year a recruiting meeting was held on the ground, when volunteers were accepted, for service with, the Expeditionary Forces in the Great ,War, which was to last for another four years. In the early years of this century the Show received entries for the jumping competitions from the then Governor’s aide-de-camp, Captain Hill Trevor, who rode the gelding Bruno very ably. Another of the staff, Captain Campbell, also rode Satanella, both riders being accomplished horsemen. During a period within the writer’s recollection there have been a wealth of jumping horses competing, "the earliest recalled being the roan gelding Two Up, who was ridden by Harold Welch, and was always one of the best competing. Then followed the late Mr W. Strang’s The General, Mr Riddiford’s Gay Boy, Miss Beetham’s The Skipper, Mr W. D. Watson’s Yeast, Mr J. H. McNiven’s Pickpocket, Mr McCombes’s The Duchess, Mr Short’s Scout, Mr W. Howard Booth’s Hikurangi, and Mr H. Hassell’s Mickey Free and Grey Dawn, while the Tilson Bros from the Lower Valley have for years past shown jumping horses which have with their excellent manners and leaping ability always reflected credit on their owners.

For some time now Clinker, from Castlepoint, has been almost invincible and although this gallant performer is getting up in years, he appears to thrive on his numerous trips to district and provincial shows. The horses mentioned cover a wide range of animals, differing in conformation, size and style of jumping. The Duchess was a beautiful black mare who had a splendid disposition and her effortless jumping always provoked rounds of applause. Pickpocket was of quite a different type, a steeplechaser, who raced over his hurdles as if pace was the essence of'the contract. Hikurangi was just as good a jumper, but measured his hurdles in a very intelligent fashion, and then took them in his stride. The performances in a bare-back jumping competition when Owen Cadwallader of Greytown rode a pony—a wonderful jumper—owned by John Warrington of Waihakeke —and was awarded first prize and of W. Howard Booth who rode Hikurangi and received the second award will be recalled by old show patrons. Scout —a roan —and Grey Dawn were both bold and capable jumpers. Yeast was very much after Clinker’s build, but not quite so consistent a jumper. He gave the late Fred Secombe rather a bad fall one year at Masterton. Mickey Free was a big horse and a safe, if not a spectacular jumper. Totara Lodge Meeting. At the monthly meeting of Totara Lodge, Arch Druid Bro D’Arcy Gayfer presided. Four members returned hospital accounts amounting to £33 8s in all from which they will be relieved of payment, as they are all members of the Friendly Societies Hospital Association. Two members made claim for maternity allowances, payment for which was authorised. \ The August quarterly return, showing 251 financial benefit members, was read and favourably commented on. Stonehenge Lodge, of Masterton, reported that Bro. N. R. Armstrong, at present in Masterton Hospital, had been visited and was making fair progress.