1861

This is a report in Adelaide's newspaper the Register on the dinner after the inaugural Yankalilla Show. Mr Septimane Herbert is the brother in law of my ancestor John Norman. I note that the Royal is the Hotel in Normanville owned by John's brother Robert (Adelaide's first dentist), and where John was publican from this point of time until his death 12 years later.

Register 16 February 1861.

THE DINNER.

At 6 0 clock in the evening a company of at least 100 persons sat down to a very excellent and plentiful dinner, which was laid out in the large-room at the' Royal Hotel, Normanville, decorated with great taste round the walls with designs and wreaths in evergreens. Nothing in the way of ample provision was omitted; and the banquet was praised for its abundance, quality, and the punctuality with which it was served.

Mr. S. Herbert, J.P., occupied the chair. Amongst the guests of distinction were Mr. D. Ferguson, Mr W. Ferguson, Rev. Mr. Cooper, and Mr. C. T. Hewett. Nearly all the Judges were present.

After the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN gave the usual Royal Toasts for “The Queen, Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family”, and “The Governor”, which were received with great enthusiasm and accompanied with musical and patriotic honours. He then proposed “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers”, in a speech highly commendatory of the conduct of the British volunteers throughout the world. He was proud of having the opportunity of proposing a toast associated as it was with the noblest sympathies of the British people.

Song, Mr COWAN “The Rose of Allandale”.

Mr. SLATER replied. He was very proud of the honour of acknowledging the toast. Some of the highest dignitaries in England were used to respond to the toast; and he not only felt honoured individually, but also as a citizen of the great British nation, of the prowess of Englishmen. They were proud of the achievements of their countrymen at Cressy and Poitiers. They had equal reason to be proud of their exploits at Inkerman, Alma, and other scenes where English valour had displayed itself. As a proof of the discipline observed in the Navy of England, he had read that during a terrible gale, when a large portion of the English navy was out in the Channel, a man fell overboard from one of the ships. The whole fleet hove to, the man was recovered, and all the fleet came in safely to an English port. (Hear, hear.) It was a volunteer who first shed his blood in New Zealand, and practice with a bow and arrow was a national institution in old times, of which our ancestors were very ambitions. There was no saying what the result of the next few years might be. It was supposed at the time of the Great Exhibition that war and tumult had ceased altogether, but such an opinion experience had proved to be groundless. He contended for the civil and religious liberties of Englishmen as an object worthy to fight for. When the enemy had made his appearance it was too late to commence arming: -the preparation should be made beforehand. (Hear. hear.) With the Enfield rifle it was impossible that any armed with an inferior weapon could hope to withstand them. (Loud applause.)

Mr. WILLSON, on behalf of the Committee, read over the list of the prizes as given above.

'Mr. JAMES SMITH proposed “The Health of the Judges”, which was drunk with loud and hearty cheers.

Mr. D. FERGUSON responded. He gave “The Health of the Successful Competitors.'' He thought it was singular that the Yankalilla people should send such a distance for him when there were so many competent judges in the district. It was about, eight or nine years since he had visited the neighbourhood, and he was very much surprised at the progress which had been made in that time. He could see that Yankalilla was one of the foremost districts in all the colony (cheers) and the show which they had witnessed that day would prove an example to older districts, not excepting the district of Mount Barker. (Hear, hear) He believed that the barley sown that day would bring 7s. 6d. to 8s. a bushel in town. The Cape barley and oats were not so good as he had seen, but still the samples were respectable. He complimented the competitors on the favourable specimens which they had exhibited; and he had much pleasure in proposing “The Successful Competitors”.

Mr R. BROWN returned thanks as one of the successful competitors in a very humorous speech which caused much merriment, and was loudly applauded.

Song, Mr. GREENSHIELDS “Ye Banks and Braes”

The CHAIRMAN remarked that such exhibitions as the present would be better managed if a permanent Society were established, and it was proposed that all such exhibitions should be merged under the management of a permanent Society like the Adelaide Society; and he thought that the interests of the district would be better served by such a procedure. He therefore called upon the meeting to express their assent to or dissent from such a proceeding.

Mr. D. FERGUSON here offered to furnish any information which, lay in his power as a member of the Metropolitan Society.

The offer was warmly received.

Mr. WILLSON remarked that some few years ago a Society was proposed but nothing was done further in the matter. He was of opinion that working men only should be proposed to sit upon any committee which might be formed. He proposed Mr. Herbert as Chairman of the Society.

Carried by acclamation.

Mr. WILLSON recommended Mr. Martin as a Secretary to the Society.

Carried.

Mr. WILLSON was elected by a show of hands.

The CHAIRMAN then submitted that Mr. Roads should be Treasurer for the ensuing year.

This proposition was also carried by a show of hands.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed a Committee, consisting of the following members: Messrs. D. Cowan, W. Diprose, J. Bradbury, J. Dodd. W. Ferguson, J. Smith, AV. Moorhouse, L. Lovelock, E. Butterworth, with power to add to their number.

Mr. SHADWELL observed that the district could not grow, either wheat or fruit so early as the Adelaide people, and he thought such a member of Committee should be added who would bear this circumstance in mind.

Mr. Shadwell’s name was added to the Committee, as was also that of Mr. G. Williss, of Rapid Bay and Mr. W. Randall, of the same place.

Mr. WILLSON called upon the meeting to subscribe funds to the value of half a guinea per annum. It would be much better that the Society should take all the duties of the arrangement of ploughing matches. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. J. SMITH proposed that every subscriber should contribute one guinea, and no person should be allowed to exhibit unless a subscriber of half a guinea.

The CHAIRMAN remarked, in reply to a suggestion to ask the opinion of Messrs. Ferguson as to the practice of the Adelaide Society, that no opinion would benefit them at that moment. The money was necessary, prizes would be expected, and must be found from subscribers.

Mr. J. FERGUSON explained the rules of the Adelaide Society. He believed that the majority of the Committee gave a guinea; but the farmers of Yankalilla were better able to give a guinea than the poor farmers on the plains. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. DAVIS called attention to the circumstance of the presence of Mr. D. Ferguson, who was a member of the Central Road Board, and he thought his attention should be directed to the state of the roads in Yankalilla.

Mr. D. FEKGUSON was of opinion that the repairs alluded to were necessary, but the funds at command of the Board were not available for the purpose. He would, however, mention the circumstance to Mr. Manton, the Surveyor of the Southern District. (Applause.)

Mr. HUNTER was of opinion that the employment of horses instead or bullocks for farm purposes would render a certain amount of repairs to the roads unnecessary.

Mr. DAVIS proposed “The Health of the Chairman”.

The CHAIRMAN replied that many years ago he had settled in Yankalilla, and. in those times he had thought how strange it would be if he should ever see a steamer in the gulf, but he had seen many steamers since then. He had been attacked in the paper lately, but he had the fullest confidence that his conduct would stand a severe scrutiny. (Hear. hear.)

The VICE-CHAIRMAN proposed “The Press”, which was properly acknowledged by the representatives of both the papers.

The CHAIRMAN proposed “The Chairman of the District Council”, coupled with the name of Mr. James Smith.

Mr. J. SMITH replied. He had done his duty to the extent of his ability. He was a baby in political matters; but he was not too old to learn. He would do his best.

After the toast of “The Host and Hostess'' the proceedings terminated.