SOUTHERN DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 839, 30 March 1867, Page 3

SOUTHERN DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

[from a correspondent.] In probably every colony of the World, the uncultivated earth has been for some years content to spontaneously give forth sufficient fruits for the sustenance of its earliest settlers. But as mankind increases, and the wants of civilization become more imperious, the earth becomes reciprocally urgent in its demands on the science of agriculture for assistance in yielding not only the necessary increase of food but products of luxury as well. The soil of New Zealand follows the same rule, Time was, when even the most apathetic squatter had only to set foot thereon, with just sufficient means to collect around him a few hundred sheep, in order to emerge frora a brief pastoral retirement -with sufficient affluence to administer to every personal comfort, if not to conciliate the admiration of even a belle. These Tityrean days have now passed away. No longer is it a remunerative pastime to bask among the silent pine-glades, or recline in the shady recesses of. a New Zealand flax-bush * indolent, laborless, thoughtless of all care beyond the operation of coloring a cutty pipe. No longer can we exclaim, Deus nobis hac otia fecit. . The time has come for agriculture to assert its sway over the province ; and, to those who compare the third Exhibition of the Southern Agricultural Association, held at Waipukurau on the 14th ult., with the initiative shows of this district, the spirit of agricultural progress will be proved to have made a rapid stride. The possessors of valuablo stock have manifestly been inoculated with a common enthusiasm for maintaining periodical meetings, presenting a common ground on which every class of settlers may meet together on the basis of a mutual interest, and in the display of the best specimens of their respective breeds, compete fairly in producing a perfection useful to all. One element only was wanting to the perfect enjoyment of the late exhibition— namely, the element of fair weather. Tbis, however, only affected the attendance of spectators. Nearly every exhibitor was present in person, and it will be seen by the list of entries that nearly every stockowner in the district provided more or less contributions. Of course, in all countries some lukewarm agriculturists are to be found, but in the present case most of these were composed of those fair creatures of sunshine, who, as a rule, exhibit the greater regard for a milliner than a grazier. In fact, the ladies in general made themselves conspicuous on this occasion, in what they probably conceived to be the most effectual method — that is, by their absence. Among the exhibitors present were Messrs. H. R. Russell, R. Stokes, J. D. Ormond, Major Lambert, Messrs. Gollan, Purvis Russell, A'Deane, B. A. Carlyon, W. Hunter, C. Nairn, Philip Russell, S. Johnston, Tanner, W. Nelson, Shaw, Gaisford, Fleming. Lieut.-Colonel Whitmore, Messrs. G. S. Cooper, and Canning, were unavoidably absent. In the sheep class upwards of 50 pens were filled for competition ; besides several others sent merely for exhibition. In the latter class, no less than 16 pure-bred animals were exhibited, with about the same number of half-breds. For the rest, it will suffice to append the entries, with the remarks of the judges thereon. The judges were as follows : — For horses, Messrs. Nairn, Bayly, Fleming, J. Donnelly, li. Donnelly * for cattle, Messrs. Fleming, Shaw, Donnelly; for sheep, Messrs. Ormond, Nairn, Shaw; for pigs, Mr. John Heslop, junr.