PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3846, 11 March 1874, Page 3

PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

[FEOII OBK OVT>- COI'*iESi'ONT>EKT.] The show of live stock and produce held here on Wednesday, the 4th inst., was the moat successful that has yet taken place, and shews tho unmistakable evidence of the advancing condition of the district. The show was held at the head of the Whakapirau creek, and great praise is duo to those living near the spot, and to some others who came from a distance to assist, for the large amount of ti.ee aud labour expended gratuitously in erecting the necessary cattlc and sheep pens, and the buildings for the produce and the dinner, and also to t he ladies who prepared and served dinner and tea. We cannot as yet compete with our neighbours at ilahurangi in our show of cattle, horsps, and sheep. That settlement is ten years older, and has at present a muoh larger area of "land fenced aud grassed ; but for fruits and agricultural produce our show, by their own confession, -was greatly superior to theirs, of which the Ueeaxd of the 21st u'.t. gave such a glowing account. We can safely say this, without iear of boing guilty of presumption, for our friends from ilahurangi were the self cor.siiluted judges on the question, and we do but quote their words. Aud we were unable onrseivesto attend their show. We hope soon to have a good dray road between the tyro places, which will allow of and tend to create - spirited and energetic, but- quite good-riatureci rivalry, finding its expression in these annual shows. Xhi3 year Port Albert earned oil' several prizes at the Mahuran;*i exhibition, an: l , in return a ilahurangi visitor took the first prize in one of the- classes here. Our friends made; us pay double entrance fee a.-, " jutsiders. 1 ' We were far too liberal freetraders to return the mistake. The exhibits u[ cattle, sheep, and horses were all moro numerous and better than last year. The cereal.-,, too, ■were good, but the fruit was excellent, there being r.o less than 10 exhibits of appius, besides pears, pliuna, peaches, and grapes ui very fine quality. But r/e must not omit the ploughing match, where some good work was done by the Oso teams, considering, as one of tho judges s::id, the nature of the ground— a piece of newly cleared fern land as hard and dry as the earninor drought could make it, • PRIZE LIST. Cattle.—Jndges : il. Angove (ilahurangi), J. West, J. Williams. Best bred bull, 2 entries : First prize, G. Dibble ; no second prize awarded. Best cow in calf or in milk, S entries : First prize, J. Shepherd ; second prize, A. Elliott; commended, R. Lester. Best heifer under 3 years, 9 entries : First 'prize, Mrs. HefFord second priie, A. Elliott; commended, A. Elliott. Best calf under 6 months, 2 entries : Second prize, J. Burdett. Qoeses. —Best horse for agricultural purposes, 6 entries: First prize, J. Williams (Mahurangi) ; second prize, G. Dibble ; commended, G-. Dibble. Best riding horse, 8 entries: Firßt prize, A. Q. Stuart; second prize, 0. Pearman. Best foal, 2 entries : First prize, C. Levet; second prize, C. Dibble. Sheep.—Best ram, 3 entries: First prize, R. Lester; second prize, J. G. Turner. Beßt ram lamb, 5 entries : First prize, C. Rußhbrook; second prize, J. G. Turner; commended, J. G. Turner. Best pen of 5 ewes, 4, entries : First prize, C. Rusbbrookj second prize, J. Gr. Turner; oommended, J. Q-. Turner. Best pen of 5 3 entries: First prize, A. Elliott; second prize, J. G. Turner; commended, C. Rushbrook. PlOS.—Best boar, 2 entries : First prizo, G. Dibble. Best sow, 2 entries : First prize, G. Dibble. Poultry.—Judges : F. Ward, E. Harcroft, and J. Jackson. Best 3 fowls, 2 entries : First prize, W. Pettet; second prize, A. Dibble. Best 3 ducke, 2 entries : Eirst prize, E. Ingar ; second prize, J. Legge. Best goose and gander, 2 entries : First prize, G. Dibble ; second prize, A. G-. Stuart. Daiex PBODtrCE.— Judges : H. Mnrcrofb, J. Jackson, and C. D. Cray. Best 2 lbs. fresh butter, 12 entries : First prizo (a rocking chair made and presented by J. W. 0. Smith, value 20a), R. Chitforth; second prize, J. Grant. Best keg of salt butter, 3 months old, 1 entry: First prize, M. W. Armstrong. Best cheese, 4 entries : First prize, G. Dibble ; second prize, A. Elliott. GnAIN, &C.—Judgera : J. Williams, Philips, Moore. Beßt sample of wheat, 20 lbs., 11 entries: First prize, J. G. Turner; second prizo, Gr. Dibble. Best sample of barloy, 20 lbs., seven entries: First prize, Jos. Becroft; second prize, A. Becroft. Best sample of oats, 5 entries: Second prize, M. W. Armstrong; no first prize awarded. Best sample of field beans, 3 entries: First prize, W. HefFord ; second prize, A. Elliott. Best field peas, 4 entries : Firet prize, R.'Cutforth ; no seeond prize awarded. . Best maize, 3 entries: First prize, J. Watson ; seeond prize, W. Partridge. Beat ryegrass seed, 8 entries : Second prize, W. Worker; no first prize awarded. Best cocksfoot grass seed, 6 entries: First prize, E. Marcroft; second prize, W. Worker. Gabden Produce.—Judges: W. Pettet, R. Nicholson, H. Marcroft. Best Hobart Town potatoes, 8 entries : First prize, J. Watson; second prize, Mrs, Bird, Best white potatoes, 9 entries : First prize, 3. Grant; second prize, J. W. O. Smith. Best of other kinds of potatoes, 5 entries : First prizo, C. Levet; second prize, W. Paitridge. Best mangold wurtzel, 3 entries: Firdt prize, W. Worker ;

socond prize, J. W. C. Smith. Best- swede turnips, 2 entries: First prize, J. W. C. Smith; second prize, A. Becroft. Best mangold seed, 3 entries : First prize, J. I/eggo ; second prize, 3?. Ward. Best collection of vegetables, 2 entries: First prize, F. J. Utting: eccond prize, A. Becroft. Best pumpkin, 2 entries : First prize, W. "Worker ; Second prize, M. W. Armstrong. Best onions, 6 entries : First prize, A. Woodcock ; second prize, W. Partridge. Best potato onions, 2 entries : First prize, W. Partridge. Best onion seed, 2 entries: First prize, Jos. Becroft; socond prize, J. H. Turner. Beit Windsor beans, 4 entries: First prize, F. Ward; second prize, A. Becroft. Best garden peas, 6 entries : First prifce, A. Becroft; second prize, J. W. C. Smith. Collection of garden seeds, 1 entry : First prize, F. Ward. Collection of fruit, 3 entries; First prize, W. Worker j second prize, F. J. Utting. Plato of plums, 3 sorts, 1 entry : First prize, W. Worker. Best 6 cooking apples, 10 entries : First prize, 3. Shepherd ; second prize, F.Ward. Best dessert apples, 7 entries: First prize, A. Becroft, second prize, W. Worker. Best 6 pears, 1 entry : First prize, W. Workct. Best grapes, 5 lbs., 2 entries : First prize, C. Lovet; second prize, F. J. Uttin.'. Miscellanijous.—Jam?:—Best plum, 3 ontries : First prize, W. Worker; aeeoud prize, W. F. Judson. Best peach, 8 entries : First prize, Q-. Plummev; second prize, B. Cutforth. Some apple jolly was pronounced excellent. Some Cape and English gooseberry jam was also Bhewn. Dried apples, 5 entries : First prlzo, G-. T. Hartuell; aeeoud prize, Gr. Plummor. Dried peaches, 4 entries : First prize, G-. T. Hartnell j second prize, 0-. Plummor. Peach leather, 1 entry: First prize, Emily Utting. Pair of socks, wool grown and spun in the district, 1 entry : First prize, Airs. if. W. Armstrong. Bushel of stone lime, made in tbo district, 1 entry : First prize, A. Becroft. Bricks, made in the district, 1 entry : First prize, A. Becroft. Best drain tiles, made in tho district, 1 ontry : First prize, A. Becroft. Plough, with horses or bullocks, 5 entries : First prize, F. Dibble; socoud prize, J. Lovet. A well-made butter keg, made by M. W. Armstrong, was commended. Soma other things worth notice, not. conveniently included in any defined class, were exhibited—a very fine trombone, and some potatoes of a new American variety, by Mr. F. J. Utting; two collections of apples, trefoil seed, a fine rock melon, and some largo cucumbers. THE DINNER. After the judges had examined tho exhibit and awarded the prizes, the company sat down to a good dinner. After, dinner of couybo came tho usual review and criticism by tho judges of what they had been examining. Mr, Angove, ofMahuraugi, spoke with pleasure of tho decided improvement in tho stock during the year, which lie ..could perceive, having actcd as judgo both years. Ho also, as well as the several other gontlemen fromMahurangi who bad acted as judges, complimente-' us highly upon our show of fruit and produce, being especially pleased with tbo splendid show of apples. Tho only class thought poor being tho exhibits of oats, while the wheat and barley wero especially fine. Tho challengo was boldly thrown down to usj "To come to Mahuranpi and toko as many prizes as we could," in such a way as to hint wo should havo some difficulty in taking them all.—A sincere and cordial vote of thanks was given to the judges, which they certainly deserved for the troublo they had been to without any remuneration. In the evening tea was provided. I do not know the number present during tho day, but should say there must have been nearly threehundred persons. After the tea, under tho light of the silvery moon, the light of foot and heart allowed their pent up feelings to find expression in a dance,, on tho "velvet lawn" — fern stubble, — and all went merry as the proverbial marriage bell, proving beyond a doubt that the Port Albert people, nye, and any others who will try it, can spend a pleasant day, and havo a holiday without any of the detestible drink which has often marred days which could have been equally pleasant but for the drunken squabbler of a lew and the clouded brains of many more. Nothing stronger than tea, giugerbeer, and lemonade was to be bad or was wanted at our show. GOOD AT POET ALBERT. A Good Templar's lodge was formed at Port Albert on Friday, the Gth instant, inaugurated by Brother If. Murcroft (with ever so manj mysterious letters after his name ; I can't venture to give them for fear of putting them in tho wrong order, quite auilieiont for us that lie was duly qualified), and ajsiated by other gcntloiTiCu vrho have boon initiated into tho mysteries, I run sorry I coUki not attend and give a full ' report of tho interesting cwetuony, but it must be enough lor you, Mr. Editor, to knew that the thing was done and done properly ; there being some: iii:jg between a dozen and a. score of persons present, and all of them, except!'-,.; one, tn infant. in arms, appointed to oiHeus.