Old news from Armidale and New England

Wednesday 1 April 1903, The Sydney Morning Herald

WALCHA, Tuesday.

The tenth annual show was opened by the president (Mr. E. Norton) this morning. Contrary to expectations, many local fat cattle were exhibited, but sheep of a high order were not numerous. The chief prizes went to Mr A. A. Dangar. The new pavilion was well filled with fruit and garden products and domestic manufacturers. The poultry pens were well filled with good exhibits. In the cattle classes the chief prizewinners were Messrs. A. Hooke, James Moore, E. Morton, C. Elliott, New Zealand and Australian Company, and G. Boulton. The farmers’ section was well filled. During the afternoon a heavy shower was experienced, which stopped the jumping. The attendance was slightly better than usual on a first day, and the show can be termed a great success.

In opening the show the president spoke of the serious handicap to the district owing to the absence of railway communication, and pointed out that in consequence it was necessarily an almost entirely local show. He trusted that before long the repeated promises of Minsters and members of Parliament would bear fruit and the long promised railway to Walcha would be accomplished.