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West Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, First Show
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A meeting was held at Noble�s Hotel in July 1875, with Pierce Power residing as chairman to consider establishing a Pastoral and Agricultural Association. James Mooney was appointed honourable secretary and treasurer. Mooney was to give notice advertising a meeting on 7th August 1875 to gauge interest with a view to the next appropriate steps. On 29th April 1876 John McKellar convened a meeting where a resolution was passed for an association called �The Tapanui and Central Districts Pastoral and Agricultural Association�. James Mooney acted as Secretary and the committee appointed were: David McKellar, (President) John Fry Kitching, (Vice-President) G F B Poynter, (treasurer) John Francis Herbert, John McKellar, John Mackie, James Rodger, Hugh McIntyre, James Logan, Captain MacKenzie, Robert Elliott and John Dickison. At the committee meeting held directly on the same day, a suggestion was made to hold the first show in January 1877 with a large pool of prizes.
James A Mooney, Secretary of the Tapanui Pastoral and Agricultural Society received a letter in May 1876 from the Superintendent, Macandrew, approving 12 acres of use for show purposes on the Tapanui Commonage. Other members added to the committee at a further meeting in September were John Nugent Wood who was the Magistrate and District Coroner, Doctor Thomas Kennedy Douglas, James Keddie Cameron and Alfred Hare, manager of Conical Hills Station.
One of the first events David McKellar was involved with was the first Tapanui and Central Districts Pastoral and Agricultural Association show. Held in the paddocks beside the saleyards of R G Creagh and Company, on 11th January 1877, it was a huge success. Prizes were given for categories in sheep; Lincoln, Romney Marsh, Merino and Leicester; Shorthorn cattle, swine, horses draughts and thoroughbreds, poultry and dairy produce. There was also a prize should agricultural implements of notable importance be exhibited. For the show the Committee of Management were: David McKellar President, John Fry Kitching Vice-President, George F B Poynter Treasurer, James Mooney Secretary, John Francis Herbert, James Rodger, John McKellar, Alfred Hare and Captain MacKenzie.
There were rules and regulations for the show:
All stock must be the property of the exhibitor for at least three months prior to the show,
Entries for all classes except sheep taken up until 8 pm 10th January and sheep prior to 10 pm on 8th. Tickets issued stating the classes for entries given on those dates as well as the person in charge of the exhibits,
The entrance fee to all classes was 5s members, 10s non-members, except dairy produce and poultry 1s,
The age of stock given on the dates for horses, September 1st, cattle July 1st and sheep August 1st,
All livestock and dairy produce to arrive before 9 am on the day with implements by 10 am. Poultry exhibitors to provide their own coops and all sheep exhibited with their wool unwashed, accompanied by a certificate of when they were last shorn; an exception for fat sheep. Judges may require sheep too be shorn on the ground,
Only one person to be in charge of each stock exhibit,
Admission to the show ground, 1s,
The butter exhibit was to have no distinguishing marks and the cheese was not to be pierced or tested prior to the show,
In no case was there to be a premium awarded unless the judges felt the stock or produce was of sufficient merit, or sufficient number of entries,
Protests, if any, were to be in writing lodged with the Secretary before 4 pm on show day with a decision from a quorum of five, Committee of Management to be final,
Owners were required to make a declaration on freedom from disease of their stock with no diseased stock on show and the stock was not to be removed from the show grounds until after 5 pm without leave of the Secretary.
Judges were as follows:
Cattle and horses: A McLean, W Sheath;
sheep: merino G Bell and J Anderson; Lincoln J R Mitchell and W Miller;
poultry: G F B Poynter and J F Kitching;
dairy produce: W Washer and J Stock.
The prize list:
Cattle: Bull any age - 1st J F Kitching, 2nd J Moffat
Bull, one year calved after 1st July 1875 - no entry
Heifer, one year old calved after 1st July 1875 - 1st J F Kitching
Cow any age - 1st J F Kitching, 2nd D Robertson
Bull any age or breed belonging to bona fide farmers occupying not
more than 500 acres - 1st J Moffat (shorthorn, 4 years), 2nd James
Duncan (Ayrshire, 2 years)
Milch cow any age or breed in calf or with calf at foot - 1st J McKellar
(shorthorn), 2nd W Waddell (Ayrshire)
Sheep: three 2-tooth merino rams, 1st J F Kitching
Merino rams any age, 1st H McIntyre
Lincoln ewes, 1st and 2nd J F Herbert,
Leicester and Romney Marsh best cross-bred rams any age, 1st and 2nd
John Edgar,
Three crossbred ewes with lambs at foot, 1st G F B Poynter,
Five full crossbred wethers, 1st G F B Poynter,
Best merino ram, 1st J F Kitching,
Best merino ewe, 1st J F Kitching,
Best long wool ram, 1st John Mackie,
Pair of fat merino wethers, 1st and 2nd J McKellar,
Horses: draught, 1st J F Kitching with Ivanhoe (dark bay), 2nd J F Kitching
With Sir Colin, 3rd Mr Waugh with North Star (dark chestnut),
Draught mare, 1st J F Kitching, 2nd J Boyle, 3rd J F Kitching
Thoroughbred entire, 1st W Logan with Trip (chestnut)
Thoroughbred mare of any age, 1st and 2nd J McKellar,
Best hack, 1st Thomas Dwyer of Lawrence with Yeoman, 2nd Mr Kidd,
Swine: 1st J McDuff with a Berkshire,
Butter: 1st Mrs J Finlay, 2nd Mrs D Robertson,
Poultry: Cock and pair of hens, 1st Mr Mason,
Pair of Spanish roosters, 1st Mr Mason,
Pair of ducks and a drake, 1st Mrs Christie
Eggs: Hen, duck and turkey eggs 1st prize in each to Mrs Christie.
In many classes a silver cup in the shape of a goblet was given for first prize. They were purchased from Mr John Hislop, Jeweller in Dunedin and the cups had engraved on one side the society�s name, the other the winners name and class or prize it was awarded for. Silver medals for second and bronze for third prize were obtained from Goldstein and Moller, Dunedin.
The above notes are part of my book West Otago - 150 Years, Farming and Families. If you would like to read more about agricultural implements, the book will be available towards the end of 2008. You can contribute and have your family included in the book if they lived or worked in West Otago.
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