METROPOLITAN SHOW

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 11

METROPOLITAN SHOW

Fine Weather For Farmers’ Day To the farmer appraising the livestock, his wife inspecting the latest household equipment, and their children riding ponies in the ring or clutching balloons and sticky handfuls of candyfloss, the second day of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Metropolitan Show could not have been better. A pleasantly warm, sunny day with a slight wind cooling the air made conditions ideal; high standards in the competitive sections made for general apprecia- *° d 0 ?"■*,?«' S™ » carnival air to the traditional farmers holiday of the year. a g day for , the association, too. Gate takings were again up on last year with £1359 being paid, compared with £1143 last year. This was a recovery of more than the £2OO drop last year on th? previous show.

The tractors and machinery gleamed in the sunlight, the ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds revolved to the accompaniment of scratchy canned music, the barkers called their wares and invited everyone to come and “have a go,” and in their stalls and pens the cream of the province’s livestock stood or lay smugly content with their well-ordered existence.

There were no serious problems involved with show traffic yesterday and traffic officers said there had been a steady flow of vehicles all morning with no rush peaks. Drivers had been considerate and in general the position had been exceptionally good.

Only one minor hold-up of traffic occurred in the afternoon when the tarsealing of the shoulder of part of the roadway in Moorhouse avenue, from Selwyn street to the intersection of Grove road, was not completed until about 4.30 pun. Thia caused traffic officers some con-< cern when the show traffic coincided with a build-up of vehicles in Deans avenue' but any delays were only slight. If full • advantage is taken of the parking facilities at Wigram airfield today and the free bus service to the Show Grounds and trotting course there should be few delays in traffic movements.

The parade of cattle in the ring wax-headed by the champion Beef Shorthorn bull, Glastyllfich Legend, an imported bull shown by W. M. and F. Mcßride. It made its way majestically and ponderously around the arena. The cattle paraded in continuously moving lines, following the pattern which willJsaaet.today with the grand parade'of champions. . The inevitable calf broke away

from a small boy and cavorted around the ring and in the middle a small goat and an equally small handler wrestled. The goat obstinately refused to budge and did not join in the parade. Because . . . “no burglars were engaged in their employment or pursuing their felonious little plans” . . . the police dogs Buck and Ace were able to attend the show and be put through their paces by their handlers, Constables L. Peterson and W. Stickings. For spectator appeal there was nothing to beat them on the ground. The ringside was crowded and each turn was marked by loud applause. Unarming 3 pistol-firing man shooting blanks, arresting a recalcitrant Constable K. Gallagher by seizing his heavily padded arms in their strong teeth, disarming him when he tried to hit at them with a stick and by generally showing the public the strong teeth of the law, the dogs were a great attraction. Their greatest round of applause was received when, after they had demonstrated their prowess at restraining evil-doers, they solemnly sat and shook hands with Constable Gallagher.' They then went into a routine of leap frog, piggy-backing and jumping through their handlers* circled arms. Other features of the day included the shearing contest, the ring events, the Clydesdale horses (reviving memories of the days before the tractor), the radio-, controlled tractor, the completion of the cattle section and the Merino sheep section. Today there will be the sheep dog trials final in the ring, the grand parade of champions, saddle horses and ponies, the actton classes and in thtraftfernoon the remaining F.EJ. ring events.