HUTT AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 360, 5 March 1879, Page 2

HUTT AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

To-day the annual show of the Hutt Agricultural, Horticultural, and Pastoral Society was held in Messrs. Barber's paddocks, Patoni, which were kindly placed at the disposal of the committee. The morning did not look promising, and this doubtless had an appreciable affect upon the attendance in tbe early part of tho day. The rain, however, kept off, and the sun occasionally penetrated the clouds, and the visitors gradually became more numerous, many arriving by the ordinary and special trains from Wellington and from the Hutt, all of which stopped on the line opposite the show-grounds, for the convenience of those visiting the show. Takpn a* a whole, tho show was fully equal to that of any previous year, but the exhibits in one or two departments showed a falling off. This was especially noticeable in the cattle, and was mainly due to the absence of Mr. George Hunter's well-known stock, his herd having been sold by auction yesterday— a step rendered necessary by the sale of his farm at Karoi. There was a singular lack of exhibits in the implement department. Not even a plough was on the ground. This was remarked by many visitors, and tbe lack of enterprise shown by our local merchants was commented on with some bitterness by country visitors in search of farm implements and machinery. One or two country carts, by Mr. Pringle, of the Hutt, and Mr. Collett, of Petoni, with a set of saddlery exhibited by Mr. Pringle, and another by Mr. Wiggins, of Wellington, formed absolutely the only exhibits under the head of " Implements." The judges performed their d uties with great care, and gave general satisfaction, though of course some disappointed exhibitors thought their stock had been undervalued, Messrs. J. Knight, J. Hill, and R Somerville were judgesj udges of horses ; Messrs A. Matthews, Ed. Vaughan, and D. West of sbeep ; Messrs. T. Hay ward, H. Braithwaite, and J. Patterson of cattle; Messrs. Hollis, Barlow, and T. Smith of poultry: Messrs. R. M'Culloch, P. Bruce, and J. Hill of implements; Messrs. J. Hill, P. Bruce, and R. M'Culloch of dogs. In the horticultural department the judges were — Messrs. F. Cooper, J. M'Nab, and Jay, for amateurs; Messrs. Mander, Valentine, and Heighten, for gardeners. 01 horses the show was not large, and only two or three are worth noticing. Foremost was Mr. Riddiford's recently imported Arab stallion Littlo John, a beautiful little animal, which, it is said, has won over £1500 in stakes in races in Bombay. Mr. Riddiford, | we believe, intends to race him as well as to use him for stud purposes. All day he was tho centre of a knot of admirers. This was tbe only entry in the thoroughbred department. The fine draught stallion Black Douglas, owned by Mr- Dick, Wainui-o-mata, was also tbe only entry in his class. Mr Parker's heavy bay mare took the first prize for mares in foal. The prize for roadster saliions fell to Troubadour, owned by Mr. Mitchell, Greytown Slieep were fairly represented in p int of numbers, and some very fine animals were shown. Mr. Dick, of was the principal prize-taker, three first prizes and one second falling to his share. Mr. T. P. I Allen, Watwetu, was very successful with his | cross-breeds, several prizes falling to him. Messrs. Bryant Brothers, Ohauru, took four j prizes for fat animals; and Mr. Campbell, Wainui-o-mata, obtained one first and two second prizes. Tbe show of cattle was small, but some fairly good animals were on the ground. Mr Ridditord, the Hutt; Mr. Buick, Petone; Mr. P. Laiog-, Wellington; and Mr. E. Barber, Petone, look tbe prizes — tbe first and lastnamed baing most successful. Some very fat pigs were exhibited. Mr. Buick, Petone, was the chief prize-taker, tbe exhibits of Mes-r*. J. and H. Barber and J. Gear also taking prizes. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the prizes in the horticultural department were allotted, we are unable to give anything like a complete list of tbe numerous prize-takers. In Class I, pot plants, Mr H. Willis and Mr F. Cooper took tbe chief honors, some of their plants being exceedingly fine speci- < mens. In Class 11, cut flowers, the same two exhibitors were again to tbe fore. Some very fioe fruit was exhibited in Class 111. by Mr T. Mason and Mr. P. Laing, who took nearly all the prizes. The dark grapes shown by Mr. F. Cooper and Mr. M'Nab were very large and fine, the firmer taking tbe chief prize, as well as a prize for light grapes. In Class IV — vegetables— the exhibits were numerous, Mr. P. A. Buckley and Mr- F. Cooper taking numerous prizes. The potatoes, with the exception of those of Mr. W. Russell, which obtained tho prize, were not very good. Among the amateur*, Messrs. Sanson, Valentine, Jordan, anl Hall, were successful ex- j hibitors. During the afternoon the Hutt Bind, the members of which kindly gave their services gratituously, played several selections, and added to tha success of the show.