Following the success of the first competition, entries double and competitors vie for honours in music, poetry, literature and criticism in front of over 1000 people who crowded into Skipton Hall to watch the ten day event.

A cooking contest is also introduced for women of the colony to showcase their skills. The following year, the contest is confined to unmarried ladies below 30 years of age, presumably in an effort to attract a husband.

“Probably unnumbered young swains suffered severely in cooking rehearsals. Many doubts were cast as to whether every contestant was under 30 years of age. A difficult problem to solve!”

Screen Shot 2015 10 26 At 2.05.14 PM