The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1890.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9143, 14 November 1890, Page 2

The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY).

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1890.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Indepewlent, established 1345, and the New Zealander,

The Show of the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association is the great agricultural event of the West Coast. It is, wo will not say the best, but the largest of the country Shows. , Standing without arrival, in a most convenient situation, the Palmerston Show has taken first place for number and variety of exhibits, and for the crowds of people who assemble from all parts of the West Coast to see them. An exhibition without people is like display ing limohght effects in a school for the blind. Such an experience was given by the Mining Exhibition a few weeks ago at the Crystal Palace. It only shows us that what the united strength of Australasia, all pulling together, cannot do in London, can be performed readily by the agricultural and pastoral community of one quarter of a small colony like New Zealand. The Show is the great centre of interest in the country district. Everyone goes (here to see his neighbour, and to see what his neighbour is doing. There is the community of interest which is wanting in the theatre of the Australasian exertions at the Crystal Palace. The localities have the torch of life. They can compare wtth the distant great exhibition that the world condescends to talk of, in but one thing. They are alive ; that distant specimen of their order is dead. To read of a living exhibition which breathes with the same breath of life as that which a large district breathes is one of the moat pleasant things on the face of the earth.

There are many of those in our island. Napier, Wanganui, Masterton, Carterton, and many other centres of industry and enterprise give us their shows, representative in their various degrees, and well attended. Of all the country Shows the greatest is the Palmerston Show. Amongst the local associations the Manawatu Association is recognised as the first. The exhibitors come from the widest area. From distant Hawera and Kai-Iwi, from Waverloy and Patea tho stock are sent in pink condition and of priraest quality, telling of the herbage of those low steep sided hills unrivalled in New Zealand —which means unrivalled anywhere on tho face of the earth—and of the rich bottom lands carrying root crops in a way undreamed of elsewhere. From the plains of Palmerston green, far-stretching onwards towards the forests and tho Napier uplands, there are sheep of all the long wool varieties, and cattle of pedigree, and beeves of primest quality. They tell of the value of the pasturage that has replaced the forest timber, they are eloquent of the fields from which the stumps left by tho disappearing trees have rotted away ; they speak by size of carcase, weight of bone, plumpness of condition. From the Otaki country, now beginning to be cleared and planted, there are a few specimens full of promise of the future. The Oroua Downs are represented in all their rich fatness, and the valley of Wanganui with the hills on either side. Among the exhibitors there are the names of Russell and Cobb, of Pratt of Fitzherberfc, of Scott of Rangitikei, on whose pastures tho greatest of our steeplechasers , Ahua was reared; of Lyeaght, of Hawera, famous for a thousand cattle on a thousand hills ; of AVlleoti of Bulls, time-honoured name ; Allen, of tho Wairarapa; Saxon, of Fielding, of meat companies galore, and exhibitors more numerous than we can find room for in whole columns of space. Round about their exhibits are the people, healthy, sturdy, and strong, enjoying life, taking a keen interest in the proceedings, giving realistic promise of the splendid population: that is filling tho back country fuller and fuller from day to day, making it richer and stronger and bettor in every way. Such is the Manawatu Show. Its chief feature this year is that it has been more numerously attended than ever. In some respects experts have noticed a falling off in quality; but, on the whole, tho advance in quality has been as remarkable as the advance in’ quantity. Another feature is that, unlike the experience of former days, the agricultural interest does not die when the end of the Show comes. There is the metropolitan exhibition still to look forward to the great sun round which all the country events now revolve as worthy satellites. The Shows of the districts have hitherto given their people some idea of their agricultural possessions. The metropolitan will extend their horizon by enabling them to compare with one another and with the Southern breeders, attracted by the enlarging Northern market. The Manawatu having ended so well, we have simply to congratulate all concerned.