THE WAIRARAPA SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 339, 28 October 1908, Page 5

THE WAIRARAPA SHOW.

WELLINGTON'S NEAREST CALA. " ■ OPENING TO-DAY. SOME THOUGHTS OF- THE OLD DAYS. (f'hosi our special bepobteh.) Whether it rains in torrents, or blazes with the'heat of a midsummer sun, or just tempts one out with the crisp, clear air of WairarapaV typical springtime, the great show .at Carterton'to-day is going to be, in some ways, a record. It' is almost a record for number of. entries. It ranks second in that respect to tho year 1896, when the total was 1478. This year the number is 1418. Wairarapa show, therefore, is on the up-grade again: The Story of Wairarapa. < But the story of Wairarapa begins back in the time when Wairarapa show, no roads; when what is now a wide fertile plain was a wilderness, a tangled bed of a perished lake of prehistoric days, a iand of rocky, meandering riverbed and thick impenetrable bush. Wairarapa as of old was a land of light Maori, romance and black tragedy. :;lt'was in those days that the Carters, the Renalls, the Oates, the Matthews, the M'Masters, the Buchanans, the Moores, the Booths,: the Callisters, the M'Lachlans, ..the Strangs, the Beethams, the M'Gregors. the M'lienzies, the Pharazyns, the Bidwills, the Martins, and the Kemptons broke into the district over the terrible Rimutakas and established their kaingas. The First Wheel. To Mr. S. Oates history ascribes tho honour of having wheeled the first, "wheelbarrow over the Rimutakas: its freight was a-100-pound bag, of flour, and its arrival- opened : a new era in the domestic life of the district. Mr. Oates had wheeled it from Wellington, a distance of over 50 miles—and'lie did it in two days. Founders of Settlements. V j Mr. C. R. Carter, the founder of Carterton, and Mr. A. W. Rcnall (both members of tho old Provincial Council), broke . through .the Rimutakas together.' Mr. Carter set up, his "sticks" on Carter's Hill, and Mr. Rcnall settled, at Mastertoii, and started a flourmilling industry there. It is strange that the settlements, which these bosom' friends and travel mates' helped to found should now. be" at fierce rivalry over their respective

Bhows. Til. Then there is Martinborough, founded by Mr. John Martin; Greytown, named after Sir , George Grey, who is ] alleged to have had a hand in the early arrangements there; Keatherston, named, after Dr. Foatherston. a New Zealand statesman; and- Masterton, christened after an early settler'there. , Just as some of .the farms along the new portion of,'the Main Trunk line are alleged to have been purchased , by money-won in \ jattersall's . so Wairarapa has its little stories of finance —-stories wrapped up with tales of treasure trove and - other bits ' of romance. Pioneer Farmers, 1 Mr, Matthews, father of Mr. Afred Matthews, the famous -Romnoy judge, was. a pioneer farmer at Waiorongomai. Mr. M'Master, another early settler, has been an exhibitor at the Wiararapa show every year till the present'year, when,he I has-dropped out of. the lists, owing . to. his...haVing_.sold his famous Matawhero shorthorns to Mr. . W. ' Howard,' Booths Mr. W. C. Buchanan. on his first expedition'into Wairarapa put up at an inn at. tlie "foot'pbf the'Rimutakas, called "Abbott's':Hotel, arid thence crossed the Otaraia, where''he'made his first deal in" stock.' • It was only by a stray chance that Wairarapa got Mr. Buchanan at all. It is said that he had intended to go to Queensland, but wlien in Wairarapa buying stock he-was persuaded to make his home there, and purchase" Tu--.purupuru. ■ - Meat and Cheese Industries. Mr. Buchanan was closely associated with the frozen meat industry, the establishment of. which' in 1880 was one-of the incidents that helped to turn Wairarapa—and all New Zealand—into its flood-tide of fortune. The cheese industry advanced with spasms . of unceartainty for many years, and did not get down to'really sound progress till well on in the '90s, when there came also the cooperative factory movement. * • The Wool Men. Sheep-breeding in those days was not aided by the wealth'of scientific knowledge available to the breeders of to-day; but there was no less shrewdness' and determination shown olid much more fortitude than is-,now often necessary! J. and D. M'Gregor,. Beetham, Matthews, Gray Bros., and . W;.. B. Allen are names' that come to the mind prominently in association with the big ,wool, industry. The early cartage of wool was.'a herculean task'. Some early settlers who say they' remember the bullock-waggons 'that ' dragged the bales out of Branccpetli assert that at times, the bullocks, in fits, of perversity, would send the load tumbling dowii into ravines,-, themselves following ungracefully. The "packing" of wool :in, pockets on the backs 'of- horses was, , of course, a familiar procedure. ' Legends of the District. It is .inevitable thati. a district of such hoary.'history possesses • its legends. Some, of these will bear scrutiny, but others smack of a pakoha origin. There is a legend, for instance, that' a taniwha (a Maori ovil spirit) once had" its abode in tho precincts of a certain lagoon on the Ruam.ihanga River, not. far from Carterton. Persons who were interested in spirit land matters used to visit the lagoon,'and on-numbers of occasions the taniwha was actually seen. But some people who are rather too well informed on the matter rudely shatter it with a new version. They, state that a certain settlor.in the vicinity addicted to practical jokes evolved the taniwha from his: own fertile brain, and by devious processes got it duly announced in the newspapers, whereupon curious people began to frequent the spot. For their benefit a mock taniwha was occasionally displayed for a few seconds, and quickly withdrawn and concealed. But a more genuine origin attaches to the legend of the three hills ol Kupe, near Martinborough. They resemble somewhat three, huge canoes, bottoiii upwards.' Maori legend has it that they are the canoes in which the original Maoris came to New. Zealand. The Present Day. But to-day Wairarapa is one of New Zealand's best settled counties. Tt possesses ■ some of the best roads in the Dominion; somo of:the best sheep flocks and cattle and dairy herds; some of the cleverest breeders; and some of tho wealthiest men and most palatial residences. Wairarapa is settling down to enjoy the comforts of a well earned citizenship after a career of strenuous pioneering. Tho Wairarapa showground to-day will ' prove the quality of the stock, and doubtless to-morrow, if the sun will deign to shine, the best frocks of a fashionable county will be on view. Wellington visitors are specially ~ welcomed .at this nearest big agricultural show. The competitions are specially gooa at Carterton, and visiters will not be disappointed at what the society gives them to look at. i The Presidents. In connection with the list of presidents of the society, it is noticeablo tha ; t Mr. W. C. Buchanan has occupicd tho position no fewer than sixteen times. Following is the complete list of tho presidential officials since tho inception of the society in 1877: — Mr. C. Pharazyn, 1877 to 1870; Mr. W. C. Buchanan, 1880' to 1886, 1890 to 1895, 1899 to 1901; Mr. H. It. Bunny, 1887 and 1308;

Mr. A. Matthews, 1888 to 1889; Mr. H. H. Beetham, 1896; Mr. J. O. Bidwill, 1897; Mr. A. Anderson, 1898; Mr. W. E. Bidwill, ■1902; Mr. G. Tully, 1903; Mr. O. H. Tully, 190-1; Mr. Q. Donald, 190-5; Mr. J. Strang, 1-906; Mr. H. M'Phee, 1907. , Of the above, Mossrs. C. Pharazyn, C. H. Tully, and A. Andersen aro dead. SHEEP. Sheep, with 31G entries, represent the largost exhibit, this notwithstanding the defection of a number of Masterton breeders. Amongst those absentees aro Messrs. W. Perry, who last year won the Quibell Challenge Cup in Lincoln sheep, and Gray Bros., in Romney Marsh. Mr. W. C.. Buchanan is the chief exhibitor in Lincolns this year, ' but he has opposition in Messrs. W. Howard Booth, A. V. Collins, of Hawke's Bay, and, J. W. Compton. . '. Tho Romney Marsh class numbers 72 exhibits, all the classes being particularly well filled. Messrs. A. V. Collins' and G. E. Allen, who divided championship honours at the Hawke's Bay show, are again trying conclusions, and amongst the other exhibitors are Messrs. W. B. Allen, of Clareville, W. Gibson, of ICiwitca, W. T. Lovelock, and Slack Bros., of Palmerston North. The Romney class, with the Southdown class, is likely to provide the keenest competition of all the sheep classes. •* Messrs. G. Sievers, Styck Bros, and Nel'son Bros, are the enly exhibitors in Border Leicesters, which aro poor on the whole. In English Leicesters there should be an interesting! fight amongst Messrs. Slack Bros., W. C. Buchanan, and ]S. R. Lancaster, all of whom are recognised as firstclass exhibitors in this type. There are in all 72 entries in the Southdown class, the principal exhibitors being Messrs. W. Howard Booth, Nelson Bros., of Hawke's Bay, Ellis Bros., of Bulls, James Knight, of Feilding, S. R. Lancaster, of Palmerston North, A. H. Rollo, of Otaki, and H. Ranish, of Martinborough. It seems as if most- of the honour in this section will go either to Mr. S. R. Lancaster or to Messrs. ■ Nelson. Bros. Shropshire Downs are confined to Messrs: W- Fisher, C. Campbell, T. -Inglcy, and C. L.> Reynolds, local exhibitors, with Mr. W. T. Lovelock. - - -Farmers' classes are fairly well filled by local, exhibitors, but:the freezing sections aij not/represented so well as one -'would .ex--poet: in a'district'which has such a reputation for this sample of sheep. ' . Mr. E. Eagle, 'jun'., .is responsible .'for the first' exhibits of Angora goats to be seen on a Wairarapa showground. He has three entries, a "billy" and two "nannies." i CATTLE. Possibly cattle form tho most interesting exhibit, and from the aristocratic Shorthorn to the most plebeian but serviceable milker' all are represented.., In the Shorthorn class one notices the absence- of tho well-known name of M'Master—an\exhibitor who in past years has . always been, mentioned in. con-nection-.with' this breed. Since tho inception of the show, over thirty years ago, , there had been an exhibit of Shorthorns by a' M'Master, and keen regret is expressed at' the passing of an. old. and honoured.name: It is rather pleasing to record* that Mr. W. Howard Booth, who purchased the.'M'Master. Shorthorn herd, is a resident of . tho Wairarapa, and ho may be e-spected to givo prominence to a splendid herd. Messrs. W. 0. Buchanan, Dalziell Bros., and: R.- Douglas M'Lean are the only exhibitors of Shorthorns, the numbers of which run to 39, Grade Shorthorns have only four entrie's.

Mr. A. -S. Carlyon, of Hawke's Bay, is the only Hereford breeder showing, and Messrs. W. C. Buchanan aud C. lleid are alone in fat cattle, but _ dairy, cattle loom large,, as - befits a dairying' centre. _ The whole--of: the' dairy, farmers of the district are; in... keen competition, and. their exhibits could v er y. well hold .their, own on any showground in New Zealand. Messrs. W. H. and A. E. Booth, C. M'organ, J. Standen, E. Eagle, jun., W. Abbott, and H. Feast are Woll-known local • breeders, and amongst those up against them are Messrs. D. Buchanan, of Longburn, and Paul Hunter, of Porangahau. , Tho triangular duel between Messrs. Paul • Huntor, E. Eagle, jun., and W. H. and A. E. Booth in the Jersey classes should provide a warm contest, owing to the fact that all parties have met, and won, and lost many times on showgrounds in different portions of tho Island. Also each succeeding year has .found each of these breedors stronger than' before. Tho struggle really provides a splendid -educational lesson to the industry generally. Milkers provide 48 entries,' which include • those of the principal local breeders, together with the exhibit of Mr. W. T. Lovelock, an .outsider. The champion butter-fat competition, which was won by a ShorthoniAyrshire cow .owned by Mr. H. Feast,- of AJiikouka, near Greytown, closed witli 25 entries. , * ~ HORSES. Horses have always been a strong point in a Wairarapa Show, and there is no exception this year. The total entries' are 255. Thoroughbred light horse stallions aro represented by Messrs. 0. M'Cullough's . Conqueror, W. Corlett's, Boris, and R. Ross, Chatsworth and Canada. It is worthy of note that Conqueror and Chatsworth, who, so far, have an unbeaten record in the show ring, are meeting for the first time Conqueror's record is eleven championships. Ho is an older horse than Chatsworth, who has three similar honour's attached to " his name. King George, Boston, and Wicklow are amongst the trotting stallion classes. Tho hook, classes are exceedingly well filled. Amongst the most noticeable are Juggler' (last year's champion hack and an old-timo. champion), and Mahomet, who won the ladies' hack class also last year. The draught classes are only fairly well filled. Mr. J. W.' ■Harding,, of Hawke's (Bay, is contesting tho-four-Var-old . stallion class with his well known imported champion, Baron Graceful, bred by Messrs. A. and' W. Montgomery, of Kirkcudbright, Scotland. The local champions are Heather Jock, Tho Saxon, Brilliant Boy, and Federation, last year's first and champion. Messrs. W.' Howard Booth and O. A. Cadwallader are the-principal competitors in the remaining classes, which, it maybe said,' are not by any means an adequate representation of 4 the Wairarapa from a draught-horse point of view.- There is excellent competition in all the pony classes. COMPETITIONS. , ! There are in all 117 competitors in the competition and jumping events. Eight competitors aro entered for the Maiden Leaping Match, fourteen for the Ponies' Leaping Match, arid thirteen for the Hunters' Leaping Competition, all of which are scheduled to take place to-day. Amongst the hunters are such Well-known horses as Hikorangi (champion at Wanganui last year), Mignon (winner of numorous championships), Moonlight, Rata, Caroline, and Prospector. The same horses, with the - veteran champion, Pickpocket, and others, will fight out the big.' jumping .event to-morrow for the challenge cup. Twelve champion North Island horsemen will give a bareback riding competition. THE CHEESE EXHIBITS! Largely increased prize money has brought about a record list of cheese entries. Following'is tho complete list; — Factory cheese, 3 (coloured). First £3, second 305., third 10s.—II. R. Bunny, Ahiarulio (James M'Caun, manager); Belvedere Co-operative (T. P. Saxelby); Dalefield Cooperative (M. T. West); Dyorville Cheoso and Butter (N. J. Daysh); Featherston Cooperative (J. Adamson); Greytown Co-opera-tive (T. C. Irving).; R. W. Nunn, Longbush factory; Parkvalo Co-operative (C. Bower); Jas. Nathan and Co., Whakaronga (C. E. Wood) ; Taratahi Co-oporativo (A. M'Kenzie). Factory cheese, 3 (white). First £3; second 305., third 10s. —H. 11. Bunny, Ahidruho (James M'Cann, manager); Belvedere Co-oporativo (T. P. Saxelby); Dalefield Cooperative (M. T. West); Featherston Cooperative (J. Adamson); Greyt-own Co-opera-,

tivo (T. C. Irving); "I'arkvale Co-operative (D. Bower); Jos. Nathan and Co., \\hakaronga' (C. ,E. Woods); Taratalii Co-operativo (A. M'Kenzio). Fivo hundred-weight of factory cheese. First £10, second £4, third £2. Belvedero Co-operativo (T. P. Saxelby, manager)Daleiield Co-operativo (M. T. West); Featherston Co-oporative (J. Adamson); Greytown Co-operative (T. C. Irving); I'arkvale Co-perativo (D. Bower); Jos. 'Nathan and Co., Whakaronga (E. 0. Wood); Taratahi Co-oporative (A. M'Kenzie). Factory cheese, not less than two cases, to be judged at show and forwarded to London and graded there. Prizes on . judging at show—Firstj £2, second £1, third 10s.; prizes! on judging in London—First £2, sccond £1, third 10s. —11. It. Bunny, Ahiaruho '(James M'Oaun, manager); Belvedero Co-oporative (T. P. Saxelby); Dalefield Corporative i(M, T. West); Featherston Cooperativo (J. Adamson); Greytown Co-opera-tive (T. C. Irving); R. W. Nunn, Longbush factory; Parkvale Co-operative (D. Bower); Taratalii Co-operative (A. M'Kenzie). LIST OF JUDCES. Leaping and Trotting Competitions.—Mr. F. Armstrong, Dannevirke. •Thoroughbred and Light Horses. —Mr. F. Armstrong, Dannevirke. Draught Horses. —Mr. J. Mitchell, Hawera.' 1 ' Shorthorn. Cattle. —Mr. W. Hay, Christchurch. Jersey Cattle.—Mr. R. T. Cornwall, New Plymouth. Ayrshire Cattle.—Mr. H. Olsen, Inglewood. Milkers.—Messrs. H. Olsen and R. T. Cornwall. Fat Cattle. —Mr. W. Clarkson, Featherston. Fat Sheep.—Mr. W. Clarkson, Feathers-, ton. Lincoln-and also Leicester Sheep.—Mr. R. Bremiier, Waverley. Roinney Sheep.—Mr. P. Mungavin, Porirua. ' Down Classes.—Mr. W. Little, Argyll' East/' Pigs.—Mr. S. R. Lancaster, Palmerston North. Dogs.—Mr. Paul Hunter, Poultry.—Mr. J. Currie, Wellington. Cheese and Butter. —Mr. D. Cuddie, Chief Dairy" Commissioner, assisted by Mr. Grant, Government Grader. Bread-and Scones. —Mrs. C. Phillips and Mrs. J!'irman.> School Garden Plots.—Mr. A. R. Hadfield. ' PROGRAMME. I FIRST DAY. 9 .a.m.' —Judging thoroughbred light horses arid hacks, all cattle classes 'except milk- . .. erS; sheep, farm and fairy produce, and industrial exhibits. 7 ' .Competitions. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. —Judging Lincoln sheep by ' yming vfarmers ; walking and trotting; maiden leaping; pony jumping; hunters' ' jumping. SECOND DAY. 9 a.mi—Judging thoroughbred horses, hacks }: and draughts, poultry and pigeons, dogs; ■... and pigs. 10. a.m. —Judging draughts by young farfn- • :■■■ oris. : \ • 10 ;a.m. to 3.30 p.m.—Riding and driving ■, competitions. 2 p.m.—Grand parade of stock. 3.30 p:m.—Jumping for challenge cup. ' ■HERETAUNGA DAIRY COMPANY. • Our Hastings correspondent writes:—ln their sixteenth annual report, the directors of the Heretaunga Dairy .Company state:— Tho balance-sheet shows a profit on the year's working of; £10S7 19s. Thero is now to tho credit of profit and loss account the sum of £1-141 lis. 7d., to be divided as follows:—7 per cent, dividend on subscribed capital (£3130 Bs.' 3d.), £205 ' 195.; Id. per lb. bonus on 143,5411b. of butter-fat supplied, £616 18s.; balance to reserve fund, £618 17s. The following figures show a comparison between this, year; and last, the figures for. 1906-7 being given first aiid 1907-8 follow-, ing:—Gallons milk received, 378,085 (347,544); butter made, 82 tons 5 cwt. (71 tons 16 cwt.); 'avorago number of suppliers, 62 (55); cost of manufacture, 1.58 (1.64); milk to make lib. butter, 22.57 (22.49); cash paid to suppliers, £5928 (£5790). ; CODLIN MOTH. Theisplendid returns obtained from orchards in which the great remedy for Codliu Moth, Swift's Arsenate of Lead, was used last season, and the fact that its use. is strongly recommended by, the Inspectors have resulted in inquiries being received from North Cape to the Bluff.-.. Supplied by all Merchants and Storeke'opors. '.Murray, Roberts and Co., Now Zealand Agents--!. ,