My Account
Warkworth A&P Lifestyle Show 150th Anniversary Show – Saturday and Sunday 28 & 29 January 2017.
Newspaper reports of A&P shows over the past 150 years can throw up fascinating, and sometimes bizarre, glimpses into what life used to be like for Mahurangi residents.
The Daily Southern Cross, reported on the very first Mahurangi and Matakana Agricultural Show on November 13, 1867.
“It is a pleasing task to record the progress made in the district of one’s adoption; and certainly Mahurangi has of late been making rapid strides to the fore, her last step having brought to her a cattle show. Three years ago Mr Meikle was the only farmer in Mahurangi who owned a flock of sheep; now there are several. Five years ago one of the settlers, who was the fortunate possessor of a pair of horses, made a very good thing by going round to plough for his neighbours. Now nearly every farm can show its team, whilst several boast a useful nag.”
The sheep shearing class took a while in 1867 – 40 minutes was allowed per animal!
“The winner was within an ace of being a loser, 39 minutes having expired before the sheep was turned adrift without his jacket. The work was pretty, but the time would never do for general work.”
The correspondent had other pithy observations, too. On the butter class:
“The judges seemed to experience greater difficulty in making up their minds in this class than in any other. From the trouble they took, and the repeated tastings which they found necessary, they will, I should think, eschew butter for some time to come…”
And on the after-dinner speakers at that very first show:
“Mahurangi oratory is not what it should be. I will therefore not inflict upon your readers an account of the speeches.”
Hawks were viewed as a problem at the time, and the agricultural society offered a reward for their destruction.
“In a country which swarms with crickets and caterpillars, this is of great importance. The poultry, at present, are afraid to wander any distance from home, whereas they might be of the greatest service in consuming our omnivorous pests.”
In 1873, Mr R. Whitson spoke – and at some length – on a potential crop for the district:
“He was sure that in the course of a few years Mahurangi would be a great hop-growing district. He did not think they would be a profitable crop to grow on a large scale, but for those who had a family of two or three growing children a more profitable crop could be grown … For good, locally-grown hops he was sure that not less than 3 shillings per pound would be paid this year.”
The centre of Warkworth must have been quite a sight on show day; picture the main streets of town filled with cattle, sheep, horses and pigs. In 1875, the Herald observed:
“In one place, a man might be observed using his best exertions in endeavouring to lead a refractory pig, which always persisted in going in any direction but the right one; while in another, horsemen were busily engaged in driving a number of very obstinate bulls.”
Show results reveal that good wine was being made locally long before Matakana took off as a wine region 30 years ago. In 1875, two bottles of local wine were shown by Mr J. Morrison, which were declared to be “light, of very good quality, and apparently only requires age to enable it to rival the best Australian brands”, and in 1881, “a fine sample of wine was shown by Mr James Matthew of Matakana”.
The entertainment was certainly varied in the late 1800s – dancing, singing, comedy acts, even horizontal bar exercises, followed by balls where locals danced until the steamer left for Auckland at three in the morning. They were also innocent times.
In 1873, Mr McCornish’ s band “was a great centre of attraction. It performed a great number of choice pieces of music during the day, to the intense delight and wonder of about a hundred young folks, who had never heard a band before”.
It wasn’ t just the horses, sheep and cattle being appraised in those early days. Correspondents saw fit to report on local womenfolk, as well.
From 1873: “The number of well-made, handsome-looking young girls which Mahurangi can put to the fore on such gatherings is amazing,” a reporter gushes. “And who would advise our young bachelors, with serious intentions, to pay the district a visit.”
And in 1876: “Your special reporter … was overcome with the galaxy of beauty which he saw there. Connoisseurs who desire to see female beauty in that vigour and freshness and independence of art which flourishes in the pure air and healthy exercise of the country will find many admirable types at Warkworth.”
