KAPONGA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9302, 8 March 1907, Page 8

KAPONGA.

» NOTES ABOUT THE SHOW. ! I 1 The Horticultural Society's show held yesterday was the best that has been held in the district. The Morshead Co. intended coming, but at the last moment j found they were too busy. This was im- j fortunate, as the company have always i made a very good display The- entries numbered 580, which is over 100 better than any previous show. Much more care had been taken in thje laying out of the sections than usual and the public were afforded a splendid view. The attendance in the afternoon was Irager than last year. £8 16s 3d being taken at the door. The takings in the evening amounted to the respectable sum of £14 4s. Some difficulty was experienced in moving round the room. The lighting of the hall was very satisfactory. Acetylene gas is used, and it is on occasions such as that the good lighting is recognised and appreciated. Mr C. B. Major. M.H.R , was expected to open the show, but ho found himself unable to attend at the last momieint, an-! telegraphed wishing the Society success. 1.the temporary, absence of the President Dr Madagan) Mr W. Swadling (Vice-Pre sidlent) declared, the show open and made a few complimentary remarks Lunch, afternoon tea and supper were provided by the ladies in the aide room. On a3l sides the spread was highly appre coated . One visjjor was heard to remark, "Well, they have got a splendid show, and the ladies certainly know the way to put on a good lunch in aKponga." i "Oh," was the modest reply? "everybody does a little." The takings in this direction were not inconsiderable. The -usual competitions were run in connection with the show. Outside, judges were arguing about the weight of a sheep and inside others were guessing (or calculating, some said) concerning the number of peas in a bottle and potatoes in a bag. The vegetable classes were among the best in thte show — certainly the best from the average farmers point of view. There were f no 'less than sixteen entries of \tegetable marrows, -and all. worthy of a prize. There was the same number in the caiTO: class, thirteen in turnip®, and twelve in mangolds. The potatoes covered a large bench, and there were numerous kinds of excellent quality. The winner of the sheep guessing competition turned up in Mr J. D. Smtfli, of Whjuigamomona, who put in the correct weight — 1221h5. By the way, that is not a ■ bad scaling for a lamb 'six months old. The guessing of the peas was not quite so easy ; the estimates Tanged from 800 to 6000. The real number was 2950, and Mr 1 C. Bates .reckoning 3020 was the closest to the mark. There were 348 potatoes ' ( in' the .sack, and Mr Hesilop won the prize, 1 gueising 369. One of the side "attractions" was "a wonderful freak of nature, more remarkable i because it was produced in this district.' At least so it was described by the manager of the department. It was ■o> curiosity in the shape of a calf four months old and yet standing only a foot high. ■ During the evening the Kaponga Band played a number of selections at the entrance to thte hall. The band is a most popular institution, and under Bandn raster Eccleston • has • attained considerable proficiency. At the conclusion of the show Mr J. Hobbs auctioned a quantity of fruit, purchasers getting real bargains. A sack of potatoes was put up and sold for 12s. The show was excellently managed. The committee is composed of those who were prepared to work to make the affair successful. The President (Dr Maolagan) and tlw> Secretary (Mr W. T. McKay) especially spent a great amount of time both before and during the day to get the various divisions in full, working order. Nor must the ladies be forgotten, but any attempt to individualise would be unfair, for aAI j worked with a will in thoir particular sections. Mr J. Heslop (Inspector of Noxious Weeds) was highly indignant at finding amongst a collection of wild Powers some excellent blooms of rarwort. Perhaps it is incorrectly catalogued as "wild," for the weed is tame and cheeky enough to stick its head up in quite a number of fields in this district M" Hes!op protested against its being shown, and indeed it was perhaps out of place in a sliow where one 's'< supposed to learr what flouvrs are worth ! growing and how tlvv ought to be grown

to destroy, for quite a lot at the show not previously acquainted with it.

There wiere two entries in the section for collection of native flowers and berries. This was instituted for the purpose of encouraging the boys and girls of the district to take an interest in the native flora. The prize was won by Master Roylston Grace, who also won Hie .section last year.

After school hours a considerable clatter announced the arrival of the children s.t the show. There were 107 of them, the school committee at its last meeting having agieed to pay ihe cost o? the attendance at 3d per head.