OPENED TO-DAY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 5 July 1921, Page 5

OPENED TO-DAY.

A GREAT EXHIBITION

The twelfth Dominion Winter Sh o v was opened at Hawera to-day. XJtie show is bigger, brighter and of a greater educational value than any of its predecessors. Every inch of space has <been taken up, and the applications far exceeded^, the area the committee had for allotment The organiser, Mr- L. 0. Hooker, has had a difficult task m dealing with the space so as to ensure the (best display and meet the exceptional demands of exhibitors within the limitations the building prescribes. This year the committee has not the use of the West Coast Refrig- | eratmg Co.'s buildings, which <were formerly used for motor car exhibits. This has meant less cars, But, as visitors will readily agree, not necessarily a poorer show. By utilising every loot of space and exhibiting only the best the effect has been improved, and there is more to merit attention than ever before. Judged on the number ot entries the show is far ahead of last y«ar's, and there are many new features. The machine room shows that the inventor has been busy during the year, and new ideas for the improved ■working of the farm are embodied in various machines and appliances on exhibition. Changes as compared with previous shows are noticable in this department. The exhioit by the Hawera Acclimatisation Society, .•which last year was in the lower end of the room, has been changed to one of the sample rooms, and a new exhibit by the New Zealand Bacon Curing Co. has made its appearance. The roots could I not fail to arrest the attention of every visitor. They are certainly a credit to the exhibitors and ibear undeniabletestimony to the productivity of Tara^ naki land when, farmed under proper" conditions. The exhibits of school work are stated to be the best that have ever been shown in the Dominion. Practically all parts of New Zealand are represented, and the prizes have been well distributed. This year there are three school 'bays, compard with two last year, and the o>space allotted has been increased from 10ft to 15ft so as to permit of >a. more comprehensive display. A ibetter use has been made of the sample rooms. One of these 1S occupied by the Acclimatisation So-, cirby's exhibit, and another by the Wamganui . Technical School, wliile two others are devoted to fancy work and home industries. The bottom half of the Lloyd George Hall has been set aside for motor exhibits, among which Continental and English cars are prominent. The cheese and butter look very attractive, 'and the neatness 6i* the get up and finish by the factories has been assisted by tasteful decoration with manuka and holly, for which Mrs Hooker and Misses Whyte and Jury have been responsible. Large spaces • have been taken by (business people, furniture houses making particularly alluring displays, and the value of different brands of artificial foods for farm stock is brought under notice in quite a- number of different stands. Several nurserymen have taken spaces and their flowering and foliage plants are securing a full share of attention. There are the usual number of sideshows and stalls, and everywhere there is something to amuse or interest the visitor. Good arrangements have been made for serving refreshments. As large a space as possible has been reserved for this purpose, and the walls of this part of the building have been prettily decorated with artificial flowers. For the first time admission to the show iwas 'by turnstile, a method which simplifies the work of the dov- okeepers and prevents crowding through the entrance. So as to assure proper control and the successful staging ot exhibits each section has been placed under the care of experienced people. Mrs Frisk is in charge of the fancy work, Mesdames J. Quin and TL Hicks of the home industries, and Mr '.RegBoyes has charge of the poultry section. The whole of the exhibits have •been exceedingly well staged, and everywhere there are signs of good organisation and good management. The large spaces preserved for the pubHe permitted free 'and easy movement of the crowd, and1 there was no congestion at any point.

A very distinctive and a very interesting and valuable exhibition is to be found in the SOUTH TARANAKI EDUCATIONAL ROOT GROWING HALL. Here the various sections are shown in co-ordination. There is, first of alt, the stands exhibiting roots grown at the Manaia Demonstration Area and the Stratford Model Dairy Farm and Demonstration Area—farms to which farmers may go to learn the best methods of growing root crops and the 'best varieties to grow. Then there is a display of roots selected from crops that competed: in the recent field competitions held tinder the auspices of the Farmers' Union, namely, Matapu, Otakeho, Riverlea and Manaia. The Toko Settlers' Association also had entries. This exhibition demonstrated the. very great improvement made in the quality of crops due to these competitions. It was very useful, too, in that" the cards gave the weight of each crop from which the roots were Selected, the variety and the kind of manures used, etc. Some or the. roots exhibited here were of supedlative quality, and one would scarcely look for or expect better. Then there! was the excellent display of roots grown in connection - with the South Taranaki Boys' and Girls' Agricultural j Clubs. This was the largest display in the room and" comprised many fine mangolds and swedes that reflected the greatest credit on the youthful growers. These were all neatly labelled an-i divided: into groups. This exhibition should be very useful to the younger generation of competitors, enabling those competing to compare their exhibits with competitors in other groups and thus stimulating them to endeavour to improve the quality of their next crop. The stands from the two demonstration farms were tasteful h' set up, and here again every exhibit was carefully labelled so that visitors could compare varieties, manures used and so on. Altogether this hall is quite one o>the- features of the show and a distinct credit to all who are concerned-in .its production. The staging, so completely and effectively done, was carried out under the direction of Mr Deem, assisted by Messrs Glasson and bchwass, of the Agricultural Department. In one section of the hall -was «n exhibition of notebook work from our primary schools and several excellent charts in connection with the recor« ■work associated with the boys' ana girls' clubs adorned the wall. Further reference to these will be made later on.