THE CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW, 1879.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 22, 15 November 1879, Page 4

THE CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW, 1879.

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The show ' of reaping machines was large,and Messrs Reid and Gray’s exhibit was the one Which met with the judges’ approval, the Osborne being second ; and in mowing machines the Timaru firm also gained first honors, with a very compact which they sell at £22; the M'Oormack, at ten shillings more, taking second. A' forest’s hay loader was awarded a first prize, and ought to be a very useful implement on a farm. The reaping and binding machinery were not awarded any prize, as.it is intended to have a competition during harvest, so as to arrive at their qualifications ; and the same teat will be applied to the rye grass strippers, of which two were shown by Messrs Duncan and Scott Bros. The gorse cutting machines, by Hornsby are ponderous looking affairs, and are also to be subjected to a trial before having any award made. Wind pumps had two representatives by local manufacturers Croll and Scott Bros., but neither of them were equal to the Althouse, which was not shown this year. The show of . churns again asserted the superiority of colonial manufacture —|Mr Mathew Hall gaining first Mize against three American exhibits. He also obtained a first prize for a set of cheese vats. All these goods are made of kauri pine, and are very neat and clean-looking. In the extra exhibits, a turn-wrist plough, shown by Mr Booth, is a most ingenious implement, having two mould boards, which, by a very simple leverage action can be thrown in and out of place by the ploughman,, the share also being turned the opposite way by the same movement. Ati American gang plough, which ought to do well in light land, was highly commended. There was a number of clod crushers, chaff-cutters, bone crushers, drills, and other implements shown—all of which attracted a deal of attention from the visitors. DAIKY EBODUCE. ■ In dairy produce there was a keen competition, no less than 25 entries being made for the prize for fresh butter, Mrs George Thompson taking first for fresh, crifl Mrs HenshaW for powdered, the letter also gaining the “ Press ” special gift of a piece of plate. * The quality of the cheese showed that the . Canterbury farxrlera are still able to keep up their reputation in this product, Mr C. B. Candy obtaining first for old, and Mr C. Brade for new. The cured and -preserved meats were splendid.. Mr T. H. Green took three firsts for ham, bacon, and spiced beef, besides the £lO 10a “ Times ’’ prize. Mr W. H. Mein’s assortment of tinned meats was particularly good, and some of the tins* which had been prepared over a year ago, had their contents as fresh and sweet as the day they were put up. They deservedly obtained first prize. There was a fair lot of entries in jams, pickles, and preserved fruits. COLONIAL nmUSTKIES. Malt found a prize taker in Messrs Boyse, Stead, and Co., with a very nice bright sample. Beer was shown in thirteen entries, Manning and Co. taking first and second; and in porter Messrs Wood and Co., of Ashburton, took first and second, in an entry of eight competitors. New Zealand rope was shown by Messrs Seed, and Hall and Forbes, the former taking the first with a particularly fine quality of cordage made from New Zealand flax—which can be sold at from £36 to £4O per ton; and Messrs Hall and Forbes showing a very fair sample at as low a price as £3O per ton. The Mosgiel and Kaiapoi Woollen Factories’ exhibits took us fairly by surprise at their unexpected variety and quality. Colored yarns, in every shade, hoiaexy, tweeds, serges, blankets, and shawls, in new and handsome patterns, * were admired by all, and, being innocent of shoddy, are certain in time to drive the .' imported goods out of the market. 'Theshow of leather by Mr Thomas Wilson was of a very, superior quality, the harness 1 leather being particularly good. In boots Mr George Hyde was the only exhibitor, and some very pretty specimens ■of the shoemakers’ art were shown. Basket ware, of Christchurch manufacture, was represented by a good variety of baskets of all sizes, birdcages, perambulators, Ac.—Mr James Silvester being the manufacturer.

In casks, Mr B. Hall took apprize with some very nice butter firkins, at the low price of 4sßd each. Drain pipes * fire-clay goods, and pottery ' were shown by Mr W. Neighbours; and Messrs Austin and Kirk show a great improvement on previous years—the drain pipes, elbows,- and joints being more cleanly moulded - and more evenly burnt than usuaL ' Austin and Kirk’s pottery shows what can be done in this line by colonial enterprise, as milk pans, dishes, flower pots, vases, &c, are now manufactured, by the firm. ' There was a very largo and varied assortment of cooking ranges on the ground —Messrs Scott Bros, being the largest exhibitors.' This firm also had a stand of ' ornamental castings for fences, &c, and -they .attracted a good deal of favorable comment. !

■■ ‘ Theshow of seeds was not large. The Association are to be congratulated on the glorious weather, and the attendance consequent upon it. We hear that close on £9OO gate-money wae taken. It is evident that as the show is increasing in importancd and number Of entries yearly, the present ground will icon be totally in- ' ' adequate'for the Association purposes.

AHVBHTDBB WITH AN OCTOPUS. —A rather amusing incident was witnessed in the Scarborough Aquarium recently. It appears that the keeper, whilst engaged - in dimming out the tank occupied by the “octopedes, was suddenly seized by the leg (fortunately he bad sea boots on) by the largest-of the octopedes, which fastened r, four of his tentacles round the leg of the . * boot,- sad with the other four held firmly on to the rocks forming the back of the fan If A struggle took place, during which tlw*manfound he- could not diseniglgahimselt without killing the animal, ’* ’ajadTfinaliy bit upon the expedient of slip- ' .pingdus leg out, leaving the boot in the . writer and betting a retreat. The hungry , yctopus stuck to the boot for 20 minutes, ’ when it,relinquished its hold.