THE PAPAKURA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1740, 8 November 1862, Page 4

THE PAPAKURA AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Tins long looked for event came off on Wednesday last in the village of Papakura, and was numerously attended. The show of stock was exceedingly good, and the advancement on last year’s exhibition veiy striking. By one o’clock a largo crowd of settlers from the sui rounding district and many gentlemen from Auckland had assembled at the gates, waiting for the opening of the exhibition, which of course could not take place until after the decision of the Judges had been arrived at. The first rush was to the horse stock, at the further end of the paddock, and the sight was well worthy of the eagerness with which every one seemed to be imbued. Some of the animals exhibited there, more especially those of Mr. Benj. Newell, than whom no man in the province can claim to have done more for advancing the breed of agricultural horse stock in New Zealand, would have taken prizes, we believe, had they been exhibited at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Exhibition in England. The show of sheep was also excellent, and we were surprised to see sucli a collection ot the various breeds and e osscs of this animal, from a comparatively new district such as that of Papakura. Indeed it would have puzzled any, hut one who well knew the country, to have guessed, in looking at the thinly peopled district around, where the assembly of persons gathered there hud sprung from. The last four or five years, however, has by the facilities afforded of obtaining good agricultural land for the occupation oi bona fide settlers, filled our backwoods and valleys, such as those of the Wairoa and Papakura, with hundreds of families; ami it needs only such an interesting occasion ns that of Wednesday lust to draw forth from their woodland homes the men who arc gradually and peacefully, but surely and effectively, pushing the bound of civilization farther and farther with every passing year. Although the show of cattle was nothing like that which a few years of cultivation will render it, or what even it might now be, were the suggestion of Mr. Alfred Buckland—“ that the show should be held not in November, but in January, afier the full flush of feed” —acted upon, it was, for a new and rough district, quite equal to what might have been expected, and the Papakura settlers may well afford to smile at the joke of the “ Papakura brand,” ever ou the lips of their Otahuhu friends; for with artificial drainage at Papakura, as prevalent ns natural drainage is at Otahuhu, there is no reason why the pastures ol the one should not equal those of the other, or, indeed, during the heat of summer, excel them. The great want ol Papakura and Drury is a tramway, by which the expense of transporting produce to Auckland, and manure in return, might be brought to a comparatively nominal cost. Nor would the project tic one merely of benefit to these districts so much as it would be for the general prosperity of the province. The Drury coal—lime and stone—and the introduction of anew industry, the transformation of Drury and Papakura clay into the finest china, would, with the increased agricultural productions consequent on the facility of carriage, redound to the general wealth and prosperity of the Province. The subject of a Drury tramway has been before the Provincial Council dnrinj: its last Session, and will in all probability be again, and, wc hope, again introduced, until its merits become fully appreciated.

We missed from the show this year the accustomed sight of the different vegetables, &c., though afterwards were refreshed by the sight of them on Mr. Wells’ well spread table in their most acceptable guise—hot from the hands of the cook. The butter exhibited was all most excellent, and some of the cheeses deserving of praise. We should not omit to mention one feature in this year’s exhibition, which added greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion,—the presence of several of our Volunteer Rifle Band, under the able superintendence of their conductor, Mr. Beale. A booth on the ground was provided, as an orchestra for these gentlemen, and the Volunteer Band came in for its full share ot attention by the good folks of the district. At five o’clock about one hundred gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner, in the new hall added to Mr Wells’ establishment during the last year. Mr Wm Bucicland presided on the occasion, and was supported by Mr. Hay. After the dinner- to which as good justice was done by the company, when placed upon the table, as had been previously done to it*by Mrs. Wells in her especial department— Mr. W. Beckland (the Chairman) rose to propose the toast of the Queen, which, we need not say, was enthusiastically received, the Band striking up the National anthem.

The Chairman then proposed the health of the Koval Family. This toast was likewise drank with the same enthusiasm. Air, “Grand Ma ch.”

In proposing the Army aud Navy, the Chairman observed, that it was by tln iraid that we were enabled to hold the pre-eminence, as a nation, which our commercial enterprise hail won. A better class of men than those of cither service could not be found, ever ready, where duty called them, let the danger be ever so great. Drank with cheers. Air. “ British Grenadiers.”

Capt. Calvert returned thanks in a long and humorous speech, portions only ot which wc were able to catch. He had served lor 34 years in the Queen’s army, and never had he known either service fail in their duty. In a colony like this the people were as young children, and to support them an army had been sent; but now, he thought, the time had arrived when the people of New Zealand were too big to require such assistance. (Cries of “ No, no; you’ll know better when you’ve been longer here.”) Well, then, he would maintain that the settlers were able to defend themselves by combinations such as these; which were, after all, the best defence, lor who having homesteads, and stock such as that shown to-day, would nut fight for them? When he came here, twelve months ago, he came under the impression that 10,000 troops could clear the island of the Maoris; he found out now that he was wrong, and, after all, such an Association as this, in its results on our agricultural prosperity and progress, did more lo advance the stability of the Europeans, and to command the respect of the natives, than force of arms could do. One advantage in these Associations arose from the fact that if a man came here to exhibit and was beaten, ho went away and produced a better article next year, and so progress went on.

The health of “ The Governor” was then proposed by the Chairman, who said “ that whatever their opinion might ho us to his native policy, they must acknowledge the sacrifice lie had made in his own affairs in coming to New Zealand; and the confidence they had in his high ability. It was his literary work on the treatment of aborigines that had first brought him, as Captain Grey, under the notice of the British Government. And it was worthy of notice that in that work Sir George had insisted on first teaching aboriginal races a knowledge of the British law, and then making them respect it. Blamed as the settlers had been for wishing for war, he believed they rather desired to see Sir George Grey’s policy carried out.” The toast was drunk amid loud applause to the air of “the New Zealand March.”

The toast of “ The Clergy ” was then proposed by Mr, Hay, and responded to by the Rev. Mr. Calvert, of the Church of England, and the Rev. T. Noruie, Presbyterian. Air: “ Waltz” to a slow time.

The next toast was that of “ The Papakura Association,” and proposed by the Chairman, who remarked upon the large attendance and the marked superiority of the exhibitions over those of last year. The large attendance in the field and at the dinner would show how all were impressed with the value of such institutions. Others than the quardrupeds were benefited by them. They served, indeed, to rub off much of that rust which was apt to gather about country people. Especially was the Papakura Association worthy of their regard, for it took under its care the advancement of the district as a whole. There were two things, in his opinion, to bo done. Firstly, the land about Papakura was not of a first rate character, though there was near it a district between Papakura and Wairoa not to be surpassed in New Zealand, The truth was the Papakura land was ruined for want of drainage. He believed that if the landowners united for the purpose, they might effect the drainage of the district without even getting an Act from the Legislature. He had been till lately under the impression that Mr. Abraham, the largest landowner in the district, was opposed to joining such an undertaking; but he was glad to find that he was altogether mistaken in his supposition. Secondly, there was the want of a railroad or tramway to Auckland—the effect of such a work would be to the whole district north of the Waikato, like guano to sterile soil. It would be stimulated into action and productiveness. But while he was anxious that sucli a work should be undertaken, he must impress upon the inhabitants the necessity of preparing a traffic for it. He need not tell them of their coal; the Drury mines were too well established a fact for that; but there was the clay which ho knew, and which Ur. Hochstetter had declared could be manufactured into the finest china. Pottery would, ho believed, one day become a staple industry of this district. There was the powdered silicia in abundance; and above all, he believed that within five miles of where they now stood was an alluvial gold field. [Mr. Buokoanu here entered into his reasons for his supposition]. These hints he would throw out with a desire that the Association might foster and encourage, by rewards belli out for prizes in pottery, &c., a staple traffic in the district; and thus firing about, as early at

possible, so desirable an object as the projected tramDrunk with three times three and one cheer more. Airs: “ Wait for the wagon,” and “Id choose to be & daisy.” Mr. Middlemas, in retaining thanks for the Association, said he must return to the old theme—t e progress of the Society Seven years ago it was difficult to get half a dozen settlers together; indeed, the Society started with only five members; and it was a fact tla the minerals and products ot the district had been brought to light by this Association. As an instance of the estimation in which their coal was held, he would only allude to the mention made in the Canterbury Press of the 200 tons lately shipped to that Province from the Drury mines. They had, too, limestone in abundance; and he only wandered how the builders in Auckland could go on using rotten shells when fine lime like theirs could be procured at Bd. per bushel on the ground. There was, too, he agreed with the Chairman, an alluvial gold field on Mr. Burts farm, within five miles of where they now were. Golden quartz had again been picked up only the other day. As to a railroad, he believed it would pay 14 or 15 per cent, on the capital expended. One fact had been accomplished—the line had been surveyed by the Government, The district was indeed progressing; only compare the show of to-day with that of last year. He believed that in cattle and produce this district would compare favourably with any in the Province. Their pastures might not now be so green as those of Otahuhu; but they had the land and the bone and sinew to make it equally good. One thing, the money lenders must be more liberal, and not look, as they did, on land as the worst of all securities. The list of the awards which we will publish in a future number, was then read by Mr. Middlemas; alter which the judges, the successful competitors, and the unsuccessful competitors, were severally toasted, and the toasts responded to. At this juncture, Mr. Gardiner rose to propose the health of Mr. B. Newell, which was drunk by far the most enthusiastically of any of the toasts of the evening. Mr. Basset, in Mr. Newell’s absence, returned thanks in a speech most complimentary to Mr. Newell; glasses were again charged and Mr. Newell’s health was most uproariously drunk; the band taking up the air, and the company, led on by Mr. Crispe, the words, “ For he’s a jolly good fellow.” The next toast—“ The agricultural interests of the Province of Auckland ” —was given by Mr. David Graham, who remarked that the prosperity of the whole Province was dependent on those of its agriculcultural inhabitants; for it was indirectly through these that the commercial interests w r ere maintained. He was proud to say that in England, Ireland, or Scotland he had seen no agricultural districts so prosperous and happy as those of this Province. lie was, however, sorry to see money sent out of this country to California and elsewhere for wheat; and the reason why this was so was, he thought, a legitimate subject of enquiry for this Association. He had his own ideas upon the subject, as regarded the district where they now were; namely, that the want of a good tram or railway was the cause why wheat was not grown for exportation. If the inhabitants of Papakura would show the capitalists of Auckland that they would grow the produce, he could state for a certainty that the Auckland capitalists would provide the money for a railway. Mr. Graham then made some remarks relating to the excellent show of horse stock, signifying his intention of of giving silver goblets, as prizes for horse stock at the next year’s show. Mr. Wheeler briefly returned thanks; and the toasts of “ the Commerce of Auckland,” “ the Ladies,” and “ the Press ” having been severally proposed and responded to, the company, before breaking up, proposed and drank the health of their worthy host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Wells.