SUMMER SHOW.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 December 1929, Page 7

SUMMER SHOW.

a Rotable exhibition.

3USCORD DISPLAY DESPITE BE CENT ROUGH WEATHER.

A record exhibition was made under :fche auspices of the Levin Horticultural «nd Industrial Society in the Century Hall yesterday; when the Summer Show, was held in the afternoon and evening. The entries numbered well over Jive hundred, and in ail sections they were of such a character, as to earn fvourable oommenta from the judges. sueii a result in the case of the cut flowers waa remarkable when the state •|£= the weather during the preceding aaaonth is, considered. Much dryness had. been experienced in the latter part *f November, and for several days before the Show thero was unfavourable .weather of another kind, the condi--izpna becoming stormy and culminating in an electrical disturbance on Monday evening. mueh wind has prevailed of late that it would have been surprising if a small quantity of blooms of show standard could be found; but it was a revelation to the public to :seo, on entering the hall, that tho .stands were crowded with a wealth of beautiful flowers. The vegetables, although not a large section, were of ligh merit, and it was quite evident lha* homo gardening is carried on with ■energy and enthusiasm. In the decorative classes competition was as usual, very keen, and the brightness .and originality of the designs added mueh to the worth of the Show. Tho .needlework section was an exhibition 4a itself; it attracted a record number +£ gntiriea, and the quality of the work waa undeniable. Children's exhibits, feotk im needlework and cooking, were Mierttorious, but small in number, and it is hoped that parents will encourage >tho young folk to enter heartily into tho spirit of these competitions. The jgirla of Form IV. home science clasß at the Levin. District High School are deserving, of credit for the well thought--out speeial exhibit, showing a meal laid for two persons, and accompanied by'instructive diagrams and menus. What will be remembered, perhap*, more than any other feature of the waa the wonderful collection of ".satire foliage, flowers and berries. This waa mounted on the back portion of tho stage, and was constantly under ex.amination by fascinated spectators. It included specimens from ! the principal trees of our forests, besides mountain -and lowiland flowers, orchids, and bruits and seeds of variouykinds. To <aach sample was attached a label giving tho Maori and the botanical nam«a, and, where they exist, tho English Such rarities as celmisia ignaphalium a nd ourisia indicated that, in their search for pretty indigenous blooms, the exhibitors must have gone to extraordinary trouble. There was <iven a spray of the rare blue bush violets, from Mt. Egmont. In all there were 71 specimens in the collection; •everyone was in its fresh condition, sind the achievement, of bringing so smany together was one that left people wondering how it eould be brought -about. Two ladies, Miss Alison Keb*ell and Miss Pyke, were responsible for tho display; they certainly deserr•<sd the highly laudatory comments that tjiwq passed regarding the collection •and tho enterprise and resource of ■*hose who had placed it thero to interest and educate tho public.

Another feature "for exhibition only:",.was a collection of strawberries of roally astounding size and l)Ioom, shown by Mr J. W. Melville -and accompanied by the intimation that persons interested in the cultivation of this popular fruit would bo welcomed •on a visit of inspection to his garden in .Queenwood Road. The function was well patronised both in. the afternoon and evening, and -all attending were in a thoroughly appreciative mood. Pleasure was added ■to the occasion by. the provision of afternoon tea, under Mr & Fletcher's direction at which the Girl Guides assisted, as waitresses; and in the evening the Show was enlivened by pianoforte music by Mr S. Parsons. Tie- judges, whose comments will be joubiisßed to-morrow, together with the list of point prizes and a comparison -of the. entries with those at the last "Summer Show, were:—lndustrial section, Mr M. Pcrreau (Foxton); cut flowers, Mr A. J. Shailer (Palmeraton North); decorative classes, Miss Murray (Wellington); needlework, Mrs L. Oroucher (Palmerston North). THE OFFICIAL OPENING. -The President, Mr A. J. Alloway, •welcomed thoße present, in the afternoon, and expressed the hope that many •of them who had come to admire the •<iiaplay would become in their turn exhibitors. He considered it marvellous, ■considering the recent weather conditions, that such a great showing of flowers had been made. The President ■then asked the Mayor of Levin- (Mr <J. Blenkhorn), wwho with the Mayoress waa present, to officially open the :Show.

His Worship apologised for the ab:sonco of the Patron, Mr J. Linklater, M.P., due to the visit of the Governor<3eneraLto Palmcrston North. He went on to s&y that if was with a very great -deal of pleasure that he had this duty to -perform. A show of this kind distinctly appealed to him. It was one -of his chief enjoyments when he could look round and, on occasion, take rather 41 prominent part in such a function. 'The- display was really a marvellou&i •one after the adverse weather that had been experienced during the past ■week. He did not know whether that -circumstance had put exhibitors m their mettle, but he had never seen such a display at any previous shows he had attended. The secretary had assured him that the entries were a record, for the last five years at any rate* They exceeded five hundred, and ■of that, number two hundred or more Trpro ia the industrial classes. That was very pleasing indeed; it showed that the Society were catering for the practical as well as the aesthetic side. Special attention should be drawn to the needlework; it was not possible to tsfco a piece of work that had been •dona laat or the year before and it year after the en--tries were original, and thafmade then •very much more ereditablo. The cookcry section was an entrancing sight to Aim. at tho distance at which he was

viewing it. Mention must be made of the High School girls, who, by their special exhibit, showed that their education was on practical linos; accompanying their display of a meal spread on a table, were specimen daily menus whieh were very attractive. The decorative work was always a feature of this Show, and he thought that this year it was a finer collection than ever; the judges must have had •extreme difficulty in awarding the prizes, but theiT decisions had given great satisfaction. The exhibit whieh appealed to the speaker more than any other was the collection of native flowers, foliage and berries, comprising ovar seventy specimens. It was a most instructive display, and "the people on viewing it would realise the trouble and pains that had been taken and tho knowledge evidenced in forming that handsome collection. He felt sure that the two young ladies responsible for it would be given great credit. Hia Worship then referred to the visit of -the Mayor of Foxton, Mr M. Perreau, who was one of the judges engaged at this Show. It was very good of Mr Perreau to come over, and it could be said that he took a very keen interest in tho exhibits generally. The time was opportune to signify their appreciation of his visit and his services. (Applause.) Mr Blenkhorn also stated that, while theJ3ocioty was not an importunate body; it occasionally solicited a small trophy in order to stimulate interest. Beyond that it was not out to weary tho public with incessant appeals, and for that reason it deserved all the more credit; but he would remind his hearers that the yearly subscription was only 2a 6d, and it entitled the holder to admission to two Shows and to a voice in their managements It was a most reasonable fee, and if the Society could got more members through the kindly offices of the public they would be doing it a very good service. He was sure there were quite a number of people in the town who did not realise the benefits wrought by a. display of thiß sort —not only through the display itself, but becau.s« of the trouble, pains and loving thought and care that must be given to a garden before such a Show could be produced. Ho had much pleasure in declaring the Show officiailly open. (Applause.) Mr Perreau expressed his thanks for the welcome which the Mayor of Levin had extneded to him, and spoke appreciatively of his own visit to such a bright town as Levin and such an excellent Show as this. He congratulated the officers and tho committee on the very able way in which they had carried out tho organisation, not only on this occasion, but in past years. The speaker had come over to learn some points from the Levin Society's Show, and had to admit that there, were embodied in the affair some ideas which Foxton could borrow with advantage. Some visitors from his own town had had their eyes opened to some innovations, and would recommend similar departures to their own society. Thu residents of Levin and the district were to be complimented on the very fine exhibition, particularly of flowers. In connection with tho cooking classes, he was very pleased with the exhibits up to a certain point; he had been disappointed in the children's section. That was a department in which the! older people should give eneouragoment to the younger ones, so that there would be a largo representation. "He thought that the ladies and parents would be prepared to take an interest in the little girls' cooking classes and enable them to bring forward mora exhibits. Mr Blenkhorn had said that I the Society did not worry people for ! donations. However, he (Mr Perreau) i would have pleasure in offering a small prize for the children's section at the I next Summer Show (applause).