Port Albert Agricultural Show

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 53, 16 March 1887, Page 3

Port Albert Agricultural Show

TilK annual Agricultural Show is tlin pr in cipal event of tho yoar in this district, and each year tlio interest is greater and more general. It is not entirely owing to tho attractions of tho .Show that tho settlors moot togothi r in such largo numbers. Socialistic feelings havo a strong hold on the Albortlandors. For several years now tho Show day has been choson as n favourable time for family gatherings, and tho mooting together of friends, until tho number is such as to cause ;in Auckland gentleman on his lirst visit to express his surprise at seeing so many people present. On roferring to the "Albertlnnd Gazette" of Doccmbar

_>'), ISG3, I road, "On tho motion of Dr. Roll tlio following resolution was carried with acclamation: 'That a friendly com petition fur farm and garden produce bo hold at Port Albert oil the market, day in March.'" A Show was held, but if on market day 1 know not. Tho holding of a market depended on the

caprice of t!io Mam-is in bringing wild-pork and kumeraa. Whon tho first Show was of four-Messrs Piummor, Jtidd, Loggo, anr! Chipman. At to day's Show, 2-1 years after, threo of tho.-e four eottlors took a prominent part. Tho first was Chairman of tho evening meeting, tho second one of the principal exhibitors and prize-takers, and tho third a gpoaker that declared that " Port Albert was tlio most beautiful plaoo in the world." The fourth i. dead and bnii.d on the Thame. goldfiold. Twenty shows havo b_on held sinco, and if the sanguine and enterprising proprietor of tha late " Albortland Gazette" had beon pre Fent ho would havo declared many of his

prophecies fulfilled. At tho first Show tho meeting was concornod and advised to oxerciso groat caution in obtaining cattlo from Auckland, on account of an outbreak of pleuro - pneumonia. Today it was another enemy of tho farmers —tho Codlin moth—tbo Chairman told us to bo watchful of. That to-day's Show has been a snecoes is generally agroed to ; and, considering tho extraordiuary drought we havo had, tho cattlo looked well. Each

year's Show the fact ia plainly seen that tho horses exhibited aro an improvement on the previous ono. Mr Judd's draught inure Duchess, for tho fourth time, is awarded tho blue ticket; Mr R. Rasa, of Kaiwaka, tock first p.-!/,a in gentlemen's hacks with a tine horse ; A Elliott and Sons awarded eocqnd prize for gentlemen's hack, and first for best pony; Mossra Wyatf, Eyre, Balchar, Dibble, and J. G. Tumor received prizes foshoep; J. A. Shepherd first and second for best sows, and J. Coupland first for boar. For butter Mra T. Gubb was awarded t'.vo fir.-t and E. Maroroft ono fir-it priza. Mr B. M. Gubb und Messrs Becroft received most of the prizes for fruit. F. Utting got second prize for collnetion of fruit, and Miss S. Shepherd and Mrs D. Becroft eoveral prizes for jam. There were eoverul special exhibits. A tine cheffonier made by J. Powell was admired. The enterprising firm of J. Wilson and Co., of Mahnrangi, showed concrete blocks made of rubble and their Portland cement. This firm is now successfully competing with the imported article. Butter was shown in Pond's patent but.or-boxos, and a favourable opinion expressed on the utility of the boxes At the moderate charge of one shilling Mossrs P. and D. Bacroft provided lunch on tho grouud, and gave very general satisfaction. The evening m-eting in the Temporatice Hall was one of the largest ever hold. Thoro wero fully -100 present. Mr Geo. Pl.immor was Chairman, and ho congratulated the settlors in being able to meet in a respectable building. Messrs W. and G. Nicholson, .is on many former occasions, asssiatcd in the musical part of tho programme. A special feature in tho evening's outertoitiment waa the violin playitu; of Mr ,1. Hera us and the

singing of Miss McMillan. Messrs J. Coup land, A. Elliott, and Matthews addressed the meeting. Mr Elliott favourably contrasted tho meeting of that evening with those hsld in other districts. M Port Albert there were no drinking toasts to the hoalth of tho Royal Family, &c., and the singing of " We'll not go homo till morn-

ing " Mr Coupland warmly advocated a general gathering of all tlio Albertlanders who could conveniently assemble at Port Albert on the 29th of May next, tho 2!ith annivoraary of tho settlement. Mr _ lien, of Mount addressed the meeting, and expressed his personal interest in tho welfare of the district.- (Correspondent).