SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 3

SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS.

(by telegraph.) (fkom our special cokrespondents.) •-PRIZE-WINNERS ANNOUNCED. Palmerston North, October .29. Manawatu to-day is wrapped in expectancy. Warm sunshine streams down from rich blue skies which are say.mg as.clearly, and as.sweetly as ever.skies can spoak that there will be summer this week. Tho ; air is a-buzz with the salutations of brawny farmers foregathered for the . week's great ovent, and' 'committeemen with blue rosettes jostle you at every turn. • '- ■ ' Fighi for Championships. ' The gathering at the Show is obviously the only occurrence in Manawatu this week. It will be massive. The spirit of competition; has seized Manawatu and Wairarapa and J-lawke'srßay l 'farmers .'by- the throat, and the ordinary occupations of the fanning craft are becoming mere sido lines to the fight for championships. It is the man who becomes champion who glides before tho footlights of'.public notice and who can walk home after Judge's day with'a gentlo'voico whispering within him that in l]is particular profession he is. on Jop., To win that thfy piece of coloured cardboard iien cross tho oceans and spend'hundreds of pounds of their hard-earned money in England. Messrs. Short havo all taken this ptungo and made New Zealanders' sheep flocks more valuable in consequence., ■■ ' » ' The Industrial Sections, This great spreading spirit has engulfed also the wives and the'little ones, making .tho'industrial'sections become suddenly a huge exhibition. To-day for the- first, time in history those who have 'nursed this feature into maturity are satisfied—they have staged over 1100 exhibits. There is much in this branch of the show that works for good. There may be sonic, who glance down the long decorated walls of the industrial rooms and ask themselves 'discjainingly XJWhat is, the uso of it all?" We have succeeded with little effort "in seeing much value in 'these classes. They knit the .young people, and the women with a Show whose destinies are becoming yearly more and more intimately bound up with the lives of the fathers and the'husbands. They breed in them the lust for conquest,-the spirit of emulation,'the love of success, of perfection, neatness, and art. Those apparently useless paper diagrams have trained tho eye to form, and tho, memory, to system in shapes,, and the whole mind to an. appreciation of symmetry: the patterns for wall papers and tiles have developed a sense of fitness and contrast in curve and colours: the plasticine models of birds' nests, and the' paintings of moths, birds, and other animals have created an interest in Nature'; and neatness; the carpentry and plan drawing will leave decp\ cut traces so that in years to come the habit of finish will show itself, even in such matters as tho building of stables, tho tillage of farms, or the care of the dairy premises. Tho industrial sectio/ii with its avalanche of competition this year will give a lasting impetus to the studies of tho schoolroom. There is keen rivalry between individuals, between schools, and between districts, and the quality has been so good and so even in those classes already judged that tho judges found it hard to decide which to leave out of the prize list.

Sheep Glasses— Maiifiu-atu and its neighbourhobd possess some clover young people. In slock the crash of champions and ex-champions can ■ in imagination be almost heard.. ■ Already Mr. Short is showing three imported Hohiney rams in the hope of dislodging Mr. Wheeicr's champion Royalist, the best ram hitherto shown in New Zealand. In addition to three imported ewes Mr. Wheeler's imported exhibits are confined to Royalist and Loyalist,, but both exhibit largely of their local products. The chief exhibitors in other classes who may figure near the championships are: Lincolns—Messrs. ' W. Perry, Wyboumo, Gadshy, T. Tanner. Raynor, and the Hon. J. D. Ormorid; Shorthorns—Mt. Herbert Estate, and To Auto College; Horofords— Messrs. G. Moore, G. Wheeler, C. J. Levett, and D. P. Buchanan; Jerseys—Messrs. R. Lancaster, and Paul Hunter. Horticulture ■ Unrepresented. Horticulture finds no plaoo in the Show. The first and last attempt to cultivate a horticultural feature occurred in 1006, ami attracted forty-seven exhibits. The absence of machinery will be very marked here. The Biggest Association. The Palmerston Association has the largest membership of any A and P. Association in Nov.- Zealand, exceeding a thousand. It has the biggest aggregate attendances, amounting to a total of 40,000, but the at-, tendances are more'evenly distributed than those of Cbristchurch, where 30,000 pcoplo .will sometimes 'throng the ground in oncday. Palmerston also has the biggest city Show ground in the Dominion, covering over thirty-seven acrqs. It has been forunate in keeping''its secretaries. Although the Show is twenty years old. it has only seen four secretaries,. namely, Messrs. A: A. Clarke, C. (J. Miles, David Watt, and J. C. Lane. Accustomed as wo now arc to Palmorston's big gates, it sounds strange to hear that the gate of the second Show was sold for. £I.IG. Obviously the spirit of gambling possessed the members in those days. Whether they

lost or made on the deal history does not record, but' it is significant that they did not repeat the lottery, and next year tho gato was £30 more. The Entries. Tho entries this year number as follows: — Horses: Thoroughbreds, '14; ponies, 45; s'addlo horses, 100; harness horses, 4i; draughts, 66; total, 265. Cattle: Snort-horns, 31; Hereford, 20; Aberdeen, 4; Ayrshire, 4S; Jersey, SO; dairy, 14; fat cattle, 23; total, 220. Sheep: Lincoln, 94 ; ltomney, 156; English Leicester, 46; Border-Leicester, 27; downs, 80, farmers' class and fat sheep, 37; total, 440. Pigs,'so; dogs, 324; poultry, ,109; art and industries awl photography, 80; technical schbols, 318'; public schools, 480; needlework, 145; home industries, 105; final total, 260. The Jutiges. • . ' Tho list of judges is as follows:— Horses.—Military competitions — Captain H Browne, Defence Department, Auckland; Leaping and hunters—horse judges; Thoroughbred horses—Saddle horses and ponies— Mr. J. U'Bricn, Oamaru; Harness horses and driving—Mr. H. Newman, Bnghtwater, Nelson Uraught horses — Mr. Arthur Smith, Christchuieh. Cattle.—Shorthorns—Mr. W. f Taylor, To Awamutu; Ayrshires—Mr. Archibald Gillies, Hampden, Otago; Jerseys — Mr. E. D. M'Lonnan, Pap'akura," Auckland; HolstoinFriesans—Mr. D. C. C. Gebbie, Matapu, Hawora; Dairy cows — Mr. Allen Donald, Fcathorston; Fat stock, cattle, and sheepMr. F. C. Cornford, Johnsonville. Sheep.—Lincolns — Mr. J. B. Sutton, Thor.ibury, Southland; Leicestcrs (English)— Mr. V. C. Murray;' Lincoln, Canterbury; Leicestcrs (Border) — Mr. John" M'Kercher, Woodlands, Southland: Romney ewes—Mr. Thomas Hunt, Wakefield, Nelson; Romnoy rams—Mr. R. Matthews, Fcathorston; Shropshires—Mr. Rupert Parry, Salisbury, Timaru; Southdowns —Mr. Henry Overton, Fendalton, Canterbury. Pigs.—Mr. D. C. C. Gobbie, Hawera; Dogs—Mr. S. Johnson, Pahnerston North; Poultry—Mr. S. Johnson, Palmerston North. ■■■ Art and'lndustrial Classes.—Photography— Mr. F. J. Denton, Wanganui; Writing—Mr. J E. Vernon, Palmerston North; Public School drawing—Mr. G. H. Elliot, Palmerston North; Home industries —Mr. W. S. Dustin, Wanganui.

SHOW TIME-TABLE. -WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30. 9 a.m. —Exhibition of machinery, implements, permanent stalls, and vehieles. - 9 a.m. —Judging produce; homo industries, and poultry. • -;, 10 a.m. —Horses—Judging pony classes 23 to 34 inclusive. Harness classes 47 to 50 inclusive. 1 p.m. —Pigs to be penned and ready for judging. 12 noon to 2.30 p.m. —Competitions— Best gentleman, rider.. Best bareback rider. Tandem and single Lady's trap and horse. 3 p.m.—Maiden hunters' competition. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31. 8.30 a.m. —All horses, except where otherwise stated, to be on the ground and ready for judging.—Note: Pony classes and double harness classes judged iirst day. 9 a.m. —Exhibition of machinery, implements, permanent stalls, vehicles, pigs, poultry, and exhibition"'hall. 9 a.m.—All sheep and cattle to bo penned 'and'ready'for judging. ~ 9.30 Kennel Club—Judging dogs. 1 p.m.—Judging ladies' hacks. 1.30 p.m. —Judging boy and girl riders. 2 p.nu—Victoria Cross competition. 3 p.m^ —Lady riders' competition. ( 3.30 p.m.—Leaping competition (Steeplechase style). FRIDAY, NOVEMBER'I, .

9 a.m.—Exhibition of machinery, implcmcnts;v permanent stalls, vehicles, and exhibition hall. • , ' ' . . 0 a.m. to 5 p.m. —Dogs and poultry to be penned for exhibitions ' ' x 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Horses, cattle, sheep, pigs,' fat cattle, and fat sheep to he penned for exhibition. 10 a.m.—Air horses in competitions to be at stalls. , ;., 10.30 a.m. —Pony jumping. 12 noon.—Ladies' driving and best lady driver. 1.30,p.m.—Grand' parade of ■ horses and cattle. 2 p.m.—Hunters' competition. ■. 3 p.m.—Military competition.' This time-table is subject to alteration by the committee should circumstances require it. ■ .