MANAWATU WINTER SHOW

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 15

MANAWATU WINTER SHOW

Entries Constitute A Record FIXTURE TO EXTEND OVER SIX' DAYS GENEROUS SUPPORT BY BREEDERS

WITH the total number of entries exceeding those received for last year’s fixture, the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Annual Winter Show, in conjunction with which is held the National Dairy Show, will open at the Palmerston North Showgrounds to-day. The fixture will be brought to a close on Tuesday next, King’s birthday. The fixture gives every promise of marking yet another milestone along the association’s path of progress. Special efforts have ben made by the association’s officials to .make this year’s event one which will rank among the most successful yet staged by the association. Given favourable weather, this ambitious objective should well be reached.

Generous support has again been accorded by stock breeders and industrial firms; factors which in themselves bear striking testimony to the popularity Of this annual show, and the confidence with which the association has imbued its patrons in former years. Conclusive proof of the ever-growing popularity of this association’s fixture is evidenced by the fact that the entries constitute a new record, even though special efforts were made for last year’s golden jubilee of the association.

Despite the fact that almost 100 fewer entries are accounted for by the elimination of certain live stock classes from the schedule, the total number of entries for this year’s fixture exceeds that of last year's National Dairy Show by approximately 50, the actual figure being in the vicinity of 3900, whereas the total for last year was 3860. The high standard of exhibits always associated with the show is well maintained, and in many classes is bettered, giving definite proof of the recognition of the value of the fixture by every kind of exhibitor. Dairy produce sections have met with continued support, although entries in the classes for farm produce have dropped by nearly 210. Home industries have also suffered a drop of about 140, while there are 100 fewer entries in art needlework classes. The competitions classes, however, have shown au outstanding increase of over 250 entries, and sections for poultry, rabbits and cats have increased by a like number. Classes for models, school displays and photography have all remained about the same as last year, but practically every class compares more than favourably with those of the two previous years. In view of the longer period of the show this year, a feast of attractions for visitors has been arranged which, from the standpoints of variety and comprehensiveness, promises to excel any previous shows, including last year’s jubilee fixture, which was rated as the best to date. During recent years, it has been the policy of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association to provide a wide range of attractions catering for every section of the community, and with this objective steadily in view, the programme committee this year has gone to considerable trouble in sfiranging a comprehensive list of outdoor and indoor attractions for each day of the show. Outdoor attractions this afternoon include a representative hockey match .between Manawatu and Wellington, this match being scheduled for 1.15 p.m. At 2.30 p.m., the old favourite of Rugby football fans will bo staged, when Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Te Ante College first fifteens will meet in their annual match. To-morrow the dog trials.

for which splendid entries have been received, will begin at 0 a.m. and will be continued at 1 p.m. ’ »

At 1 p.m. on Friday, the hunting and other horse competitions, for which this year’s entries constitute a new winter show record, will be held. Saturday afternoon is the big day of outdoor attractions. The will include amateur cycle races and the finish of the road race from Levin, this section being scheduled lor 1.30 p.m. At 2.30 p.m. the Manawatu senior hockey representatives will play the Auckland representative eleven for tbc New Zealand Hockey Shield, the premier hockey trophy in the Dominion. Auckland are reported to lie sending down a particularly strong team to defend the trophy, so that a really good exhibition of hockey is promised. In addition to this a Rugby trial imitcb, North versus South, will be staged. Ou the afternoon of next Monday, the famous "Hell Drivers” will be rehearsing for their exhibition on the following afternoon. In view of the importance of next Tuesday, the first public holiday in observance of tiie birthday of King Edward VIII, an outstanding outdoor programme has been arranged, and promises to excel any other any other single day in the association’s history. At 11 a.m.. the woodebopping competitions, an innovation at this show, will be staged. Ar 1.15 p.m., the famous ‘’Heli Drivers” will present a demonstration of carobatics on the oval. This particular hour promises to be packed full of thrills and should not be missed by anyone. “Always full of thrills arid spills” aptly describes the steer-riding competitions which will be staged at 2.15 p.m.

In addition to this comprehensive list of outdoor attractions, a splendid programme of indoor entertainments has also been arranged. On Saturday, the national dancing competitions, for which record entries have been received, will be held in halls 5 and 6, while a free vaudeville entertainment will be staged indoors at intervals during each afternoon and evening of the show. Furthermore, each afternoon and evening an added attraction of outstanding merit will be staged in one of the halls by the Aerial Coleuos. These clever performers, who have just completed an extensive Australian tour, made their New Zealand debut at. the recent Waikato winter show, where they were acclaimed by all who saw them as the finest exponents of their art yet seen in Hamilton. Renowned for their extremely clever contortionist act, the Colenos also perform many daring and death-defying stunts on the flying trapeze, and conclude their performance with a great thriller, thriller of all. “The Slide lor Life.