THE LATE PALMERSTON SHOW.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 27 December 1880, Page 2

THE LATE PALMERSTON SHOW.

(By a Visitor.) Apart from the general oonfusion which seem to prevade all agricultural and pastoral shows, there is a good deal of that stirring and energetic element which form 3 of itself a particularly pleasant feature of these annual events. To an old identity like myself, in re-visiting Palmerston and its neighborhood at Buch a time, much of this feeling manifested itself. The sight of old faces and young ones in which the memory of something I e'onging to somebody one knew long might be traced, the kindly smile, warm grasp of the hand, and words of welcome were not the least pleasureable of the experiences which fell to my lot during the day. But, passing from reminiscenoea of the past to the practical, I found myself at a loss to distinguish between the

■tjck for show and which formed the ioeans of conveyance of the worthy farmers and settlers to the show grounds. Clusters of horse 3 comprising draughts and hacks were to be seen here and there on the western side of the ground, in a gully where, from carts evidently belonging to small settlers from Waihemo or elsewhere, the occupants in high spirits were laughing, aud chaffing, and cracking, about this horse or that, whose butter would take the prizes, what ham, cheese, or rolled bacon wa3 likely to be deemed the best; the state of the crops and gras3 lands, the money and matrimonial markets j all these and others formed topics of conversation and general interest. The arrangements for judging the stock exhibited were certainly very comprehensive, and calculated to enable the work to be gut through in the most expeditious manner possible. The ring w»3 divided by a wire fence, meeting at each centre at the Secretary's booth, which wa3 rather a temporary structure _ constructed of iron and furnished • with a rough table and desk, and the roof covered with calico of the most light and airy character. Here I may observe that pressmen ought to have more consideration shewn them by the way of accommodation at these shows; not that they do not receive the utmost courtesy and information from secretaries, stewards, and committees, but because in case of a Budden downcome of rain, the unfortunate fellows are driven to their wits' end to take dry notes, as was the case at the late show at Palmerston. X noticed one gentleman in particular, who managed to find just six inches clear of drip or direct downpour under the table ; another who got hi 3 notes under the precarious shelter of a corn sack ; a third, whose report was evidently intended for immediate transmission, found his calligraphy to blended with spots, dabs, and blotchy® that he was compelled to to szf & «rs t ion ch°- f -S Wa 'v r r,«f ahed .' table, and a bench ; at an J" ri, j, prould confer a public boon opon th.£ self-sacrificing and long-suffer-*nJT peop_. jf some such attentions were paid them. In horseflesh there were a of very weil-shaped £ane"'while l«sessing plenty of hair and tome hack, opw ono particularly handwhoee well-c.'idfctione^ cs i' a ' fine head, and beautifully glossy pronounced a hack of the first water. Some capital entires also on exhibition. The show of Ayrshire stock was co«<lin«ly good, while a considerable nuJIP her of useful dairy cows were also. «hown. Of sheep there were a number of pens ; of pig 3 there were a few, which were cle-in, unpainted, and The dairy produce exhibition was held in the Court-honse, outside, but contiguous to, the show ground. The arrangements in thi3 building were exceedingly convenient, but the promenade accommodation for onlookers was not sufficiently ample for the crowds which flocked in to look at the exhibits. After the judges had got through their arduous labors, the stewards enclosed the exhibits with high wire serenes, which effectually prevented the disgraceful scenes enacted at other exhibitions of the kind, where wholesale picking and trying of butter and cheese i 3 the order of the day among yonng and old of the male persuasion. On this occasion, however, the

Sadies constituted the majority, and, from the keen competition, there vera a goodly number of fair and buxom dairymaids present, who mnch admired the exhibits of their neighbors, bu* had so much respect for their own pro'.actiona a3 to deter them from indatging in the usual work of disfiguration and spoliation. Of the hatns and bacon, the former had none of that nasty " essence of smoke" about them that is •called point by some people, while they evidenced some skill in cutting and curing. The cheese had the appearance of beimj veil made, and the sarden stuff and bright flowers surrounding it formed a pleasant garniture, and one worthy of imitation in other shows of this class. The advantages of the Dnnedin market to dairymen evidently contributes in a great measure to the success attained in this department. The strawberries were particularly fine, and very suggestive of cream and powdered loaf sugar.