AN AGRICULTURAL SHOW FOR WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 871, 9 November 1888, Page 14

AN AGRICULTURAL SHOW FOR WELLINGTON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW -ZEALA.ND MAIL. Sir, —Re-opening a matter which has already been discussed in Wellington newspapers, I would suggest to your readers the desirableness of establishing an agricultural show near Wellington, like the Ohistchurch show. The Wairarapa shows, I regret to say, are dwindling into mere local exhibitions, of little use for general competition and improvement. We have for years past mutually admired our own stock. It is time now for us to compete with the outside world. A show close to Wellington appears to me, therefore, admirable ; a show in which Hawkes Bay, the West Coast, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago can compete side by side with our Wairarapa stock. If the show is fixed for about the Ist of November it would not clash with the Hawkes Bay or Christchurch shows. Shearing gets later as wq-travel South, so that the regular order‘of the shows would be from north (o south. Stud stock could therefore attend all the shows and compete everywhere to the general advantage. I need scarcely point out that this matter is of considerable importance to Wellington. -4 Christchurch regards its show as one of 'the most important events of the year..- A very considerable amount of money is-placed, in circulation by that show. (d?he Wellington Jockey Club could also hold one day’s meeting either before or after the show.) Personally, I think the Lower Hutt the most suitable place for the Show, upon some piece of ground there adjacent to the railway line. I would advise that very little expense be gone to at first, nor any debt incurred. If judiciously managed the Show would pay for itself, and leave money to spare. I should think that the Wellington Show can be made to take premier place in the Colony, more especially in the matter of dairy stock, fat cattle, and Romney sheep. The Committee of Management should be drawn from Wellington, the Hutt, the West Coast, and the Wairarapa, and should also include one or two members from Nelson and Blenheim. Mr G. M. Waterhouse. Mr Edward Pearce and Mr W. H. Levin for Wellington ; Sir W. Fitzherbert, Sir J. Hector, E. J. Riddiford, and W. Barton for the Hutt ; Messrs Lysaght, Arthur Russell, W. Wilson, Peat, F. Fantham and Cobb for the West Coast district; Mr Seymour for Nelson or Blenheim ; Messrs J. P. Russell, C. Pliarazyn, J. O. Bidwill, H. H. Beotham, W. O. Buchanan, D. McMaster, E. Meredith, and A. Matthews for the Wairarapa. 1 only suggest the names of these gentlemen whom I think of for the moment as being directly interested in the success of such a show. Others may be added hereafter. It is perhaps obvious that the Hutt Park would be a good place for the first show, it being enclosed, and having many stands and booths already built. It is also connected by railway, and the Wairarapa and West Coast stock could therefore easily be carried over the branch line. Sea-borne stock from Hawkes Bay, Wanganui, Nelson, or Christchurch could be landed directly at the wharf near the Pack. By accepting thisspotforthefirst show or two, no expense would be incured, and sufficient money would be raised to enable the Society to buy its its own ground and erect its own buildings. As to the local shews already in existence, these can be continued in each district. I trust that each local district will waive a little its own special rights for the sake of this one general show. Thore are special reasons of considerable importance to this central portion of the Colony, and the dairying interest, necessitating the establishment of one general show. —I am, &c., Coleman Phillips. Wellington, November, 5.