A RECORD GATHERING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19488, 18 November 1926, Page 16

A RECORD GATHERING.

LARGE GATE EECEIPTS. GRAND PARADE OF STOCK. ARISTOCRATIC CAVALCADE. POPULAR FEATURE OF SHOW. The gate receipts at the Royal Show yesterday amounted to £1989 14s, compared with £564 on People's Day of the Auckland Show last year. The receipts for the first two days this year amounted to £2136 14s, as against £625 for the two days last year. As against this it must be taken into consideration that the charge for admission this year was 2s. compared with Is 6d last year. The attendance yesterday is officially estimated at 30,000, which is easily a record. The grand parade of stock, which is a popular feature of every agricultural show, had thousands of spectators yesterday. It was very well arranged and carried out, but conditions on the trotting ground prevented the animals from being seen to the very best advantage. The cattle were paraded upon the main grass track and the horses upon the dirt track beyond. As a wide lawn separates the grandstands from the grass track, the seated spectators saw tho parade from u considerable distance. Those who fared best appeared to be the people who lined the rails outside enclosure, and some of the hundreds gathered upon the mound. The hacks, hunters and ponies made a brave show <u they trotted and cantered about in a cavalcade beyond the two linos of fences. After them came the trotters; light harness horses in gigs and vans, with magnificent teams of draughts bring iug up the rear, bright ribbons, polished harness and shining coachwork making a pleasing sight. Nearer, the cattle moved slowly in Indian file, each breed grouped together with the Royal champions in the lead. There Was so much for the eye to take in that many must have wished a longer view had been possible. The whole display showed, to the expert and, by inference, to the layman, that New Zealand is determined to raise her dairy herds to the highest possible standard and that the whole country is behind the effort. It indicated also that in spita of motor transport the horse still has a; place in the scheme of things apart from his use for the national sports of racing and trotting. The kennel snow provided its good quota of the parade. The prize dogs, a diverse collection, ranging from collies to the , smallest toy terriers, with an in credibly ugly bulldog in the midst, were led across tho lawn, aloiig the track and back again to face a battery of cameras. They were remarkably bad sitters, foi most of them, when the semi-circle was formed, promptly turned th<«r backs on the photographers. It was some minutes before things could be straightened out and even then many of the animals would not do as they were bid.

BOYS FROM THE .'.NAVY. CLEVER FIELD-GUN DISPLAY. SMART PERFORMANCE GIVEN. A novel attraction at the-show was the field-gar display by a gun-crew of 18 boys.from H.M.S. Philomel, The display, which was most successful, represented a typical sequence of evolutions which would bo carried out by a warship's landing party ashore for active service. The first movement . represented the changing of the gun wheels for -those of the limber, owing to an imaginary ghat taring ot the gun wheels by enemy fire The enemy sighted, the gun was brought into action and tbrea rounds were fired. I The gun was then brought into '' Action j Rear" and a further three rounds fired. Owing to the advance of the enemy in force, the crew retired, taking with them sufficient gear to put the abandoned gun out of action. The fourth movement showed the gun being remounted and as a finale three more rounds were fired to the front. Afterwards the boys showed wtiat was done when a wheel was disabled and when the gtm had capsized. The display was in the highest degree creditable to the boys and their instructors. The lads are all New Zeaianders, averaging only 1<?" years of age, and aP with only • a few months' service. The gun and limber were both heavy, but the !.Dys lifted them about with speed and precision The movements were followed with interest apdfche team was heartily applauded. ATHLETIC GIRLS AT PLAY. INTER-HOUSE EXHIBITION. LARGE CROWD INTERESTED. The displ?iv -by the Auckland Interhouse Girls' Sports Association, presented on the lawn at the Royal Snow yesterday, was enjoyed by an immense crowd of spectators, and was one of the most . spectacular features of the pro gramme. There were 12 teams of girls, each re presenting an Auckland business house, and together they presented a kaJeido scopio array* The brilliant colouring of the costumes was most effective and the girls marched as steadily as trained soldiers. As each team tiled part it was saluted with rounds of applause from the spectators. The march past was followed x by a series of interesting competitions, which were witnessed with keen interest. They included games with hoops, a '"zigzag" team event and physical drill. Each team-gave its war-cry or "yell." The enthusiasm of the hundreds of people in the grandstand, who had an excellent view,, cjearly showed that this form of athletics for women has come to stay. Competitions held resulted as follow Hoop Team Event.—First beat ;R. Greer's team, 1; Macky, Logan and Caldwell's, 2. Second heat: Milne and Choyce. 1; George Court, 2 Zig-zag Team Event.-—First heat: A Clark and Sons. 1{ Ambler and Company, 2. Second heat*. George Court, lj J. Court, Ltd., 2. The e\ nts were not completed. TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME. more riding competitions. CYCLE RACE FROM HAMILTON. To-day, the last day of the Royal Show, oram™ , evot f d f0 an attractive pro-£a<-lv j raat * e "P of riding events. in I Zt " W will compete "ether witv . J ontra p competitions, totests. ° anc * steeplechase con i >«» entered for will be given for e ° P P ortunit y journey round the fine ° ° omi ' e their Further sftlea of " r ,;,ce on the Ciound if io Tm to da^