PAHIATUA A & P. ASSOCIATION

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5355, 12 February 1916, Page 4

PAHIATUA A & P. ASSOCIATION

SEVENTH ANNUAL SHOW.

YESTERDAY'S EXHIBITION.

A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING.

One of the most useful institutions in this district is the Pahiatua A. and P. Association, which lias done a great deal in encouraging an improvement in the breed of stock and making known the resources of the country. The Association, which came ine) existence about eight years ago, is making steady headway, as indicated by the support received from all sections oi the community and the increasing und representative character of its membership, the total of which is getting toward the 400 mark. Yesterday the Association held its seventh annual show on the p\~- . turesquely situated grounds ucquir>V # about three years ago on the 19, T * | Estate. The run rjf bad luck whicn the Society encountered for -ome >ears in the matter of weather seems to have turned. Lost year a fine day was experienced, and yesterday the atmospheric conditions were ideal. Although in the early morning the indications were not • too promising, the frowning clouds fortunately disappeared by ten o’clock, when people were to be seen making their wav to the grounds in all directions. *The day came out very warm, and many little parties pic-nicked in the shady bush adjoining the grounds, where hot water was provided fo- them. The attendance was large, and included visitors from the surrounding towns. A sum of close on £6O was taken at the gates and grandstand. In the afternoon the stand was crowded, and the ring events were watched with greet interest. The excellent horsemanship displayed by several of the in the jumping classes aroused rounds of hearty applause. I The grounds were looking very well. The show ring lias been ploughed, levelled, and sown down in | English grasses, a picket fence has been erected around the grandstand. i the enclosure has been banked, and | shelter trees hove been planted. A' further improvement, so far as the catering is concerned, is the erection }of a kitchen house. The cost of the : various improvements has amounted i to a considerable sum. but they hrve become very necessary and justified by the liberal- support the Association ’j is receiving. This year there was a ’ very gratifying response by settlera and business people in the canvass ’ for special cash prizes and trophies. ) Coming to the show itself, while there was a falling off numerically in entries, the quality of the exhibits, on the whole., was well maintained.

The Pahiatua district is now generally recognised as one of the best dairying and sheep-raising di.-tricts in the Dominion, and those interested m stock look forward to seeing stock of quality at the local show. The decline in the numbers of exhibits this year is attributed t« various causes, other shows clashing, the unsettled mind of the community consequent upon the war, and the scarcity of farm labour.

In the cattle section. Jerseys and tie 1 dairy class made the best showing. Champnjn'hips were awaided to M essrs F. Cresswel 1 (.Ba I lance) and W. Scott (Pahiatua) for Jersey bull and cow respectively. The most successful exhibitors of dairy cattle were Messrs E. Darley. G. H. Brown. L. S. Polgla.se and M. Alpass. In Hoisteins. Messrs Alpass, Checkley, P. C. Neilsen and H. R. W'ilton secured the principal awards. Ro-mney sheep were a strong feature of the show: in fact it was one of the bigeest. if not the biggest, exhibition of Romneys yet made locally. Messrs A. McKay. W r . Mitchell and

A, D. Eglinton were the leading prize-takers. Mr H. R. Wilton was very successful with his Lincolns, while Air C. Avery secured a number of awards. Kenner ley and Cohad no competition to face in the Southdowns. Air W. E. C. Tylee. of Alakuri, had a very good pen of sheep in the special utility iclass, while the fat sheep were also most excellent. The fat sheep exhibited by Alessrs McKay, Eglinton. Johansen and Avery were those that most caught the judge’s eye. The horse section filled fairlv well.

Air W. Howard Booth's “Lonely” was the most successful hack. Prizetakers with harness horses were Alessrs S. Turnbull and C. AlcCardle, and with draughts. Alessrs ALcFarlane. C. Avery, Bicknell, Harvev and AlcKinlav.

There were three classses for dogs, and Atiss Bennison and Al. F. P. Lloyd gained prizes.

One or two spills occurred during the progress of the jumping competitions. but no serious results followed. The principal event— the Open Hunters l ompet it ion—was won bv a Palmerston North visitor. Air D\ 0. Smith s "Bill. the ■ locallv-owned “Saltation” getting second prize. The positions, however, were reversed in the Ladies’ Hunting Competition. The Maiden Hunters’ Competition was won by Airs L. Johansen s Corouella.

The publican s booth was conducted by Mr F. Paget-Jones. of the Post (iff ice Hotel A light luncheon was servtxl under the grandstand by Mr J. S. McNiool, who also had a fruit ami soft drinks stall. There were numerous side->hows. These proved a source of attraction* and lent an air of animation to the gathering.

The usual stock weight-guessing competitions wore held and nittnv tickets were sold. The r('suits wiil tiot be known for a day or two

The president (Mr C. Avery! and the officials at' the Association worked enthusiastically and diligently to ensure a Miccessful gathering, and they must bo congratulated on the result of their efforts. The secretary (Mr ,T. A. Walsh) and his assistant (Miss G. Hughes) were also very mergetio and courteous in the performance of their duties. JUDGES’ COMMENTS.

Mr E. Eagle, Jun.. of Carterton, who judged the cattle section, said the number of exhibits were not up to the previous year’s. The champion Jersey cow and bull were very good, the dairy class was a very good orre and the animals placed first and see-

Slid in this class were of excellent quality. The younger cattle were good, the pair of grade heifers standing out well. There wa3 plenty of i jooip for improvement in showing the 1 cattle to better advantage. He also recommended that all dairy cattle exhibited be shown with milk. At present they are milked on the ground before judging. >r ™ The judge of the draughts (jlr K. j D. Knight) considered that the tliree-year-old class was very good for a j country show . There was also some fair quality shown in the yearling !

class. but the competition in draughts, with the exception of the , three-year-olds, was small. The quality of the jumping was as good as last year, the ladies’ horse- j manship being especially good, and in ! the opinion of the judge (Mr W. T). : "Watson) the ladies rode letter than the gentlemen. v * RING COMPETITIONS. ■ jr>

The following are the awards in the various ring events, the judges, being Messrs W. D. Watson and G. H. Perry, Master ton: Bov rider, for boys under 13 years: Rex Davy 1, Eric Dixon 2, lan Taylor 3.

Girl rider, under 13 years: Ethel Johansen l, Adrienne Boyd and Mary O'Reilly tied for second place. Ladies' Driving Competition, single horse: Mrs H. M. Row 1, Miss Angus 2. Miss E. Bennison 3. Ladies’ Hunting Competition: J. J. Guerin's Saltation (Miss Walsh) 1. D. 0. Smith’s Bill (Miss B. Bolton! 2, Mrs L. Johansen’s Corouella (Miss Angus) 3. Pony jump: W. Scott’s Coker’s Chestnut 1, Oswald Johansen’s Cookie 2, E. Sullivan’s Polly 3. Maiden Hunters' Competition:. Mrs L. Johansen’s Coronella (W. Reid) 1. G. Seales’ Pohiitu 2. L. Johansen's Cookie 3.

Open Hunters’ Competition: D. O. Smith’s Rill (owner) 1. J J. Guerin’s Saltation (owner) 2. N. Avery’s Commodore (Mr G. Buchanan) 3. Consolation Jumping Competition : J. J. Guerin’s Saltation (Gs Scales) 1. N. Avery’s Commodore (owner) 2. Mrs L. Johansen’s Coronelln (Mr O. Johansen) 3. Tilting the ring (in motor ear): Mts Row (Bunnythorpef 1. Miss M. Whitcombe 2. Miss Whitcombe 3. The prize list in the other sections appears on pages - and 3. TRADE DISPLAYS. There were a number of displays by local firms and outside firms. Messrs Baucke and Co. (Crown Carriage Works) exhibited vehicles and tanning implements. A solid-looking metal dray, constructed to the mu**, of an Akitio contractor, possessed a new design in the tail-board ahd. the s’de standards. The vehicle, which will hold a yard and a half of metal, cost £26, whereas a quotation from a Palmerston/ North carriage builder, delivered in Pahiatua. was over £'27. The firm also had on exhibition a three-seater khaki-painted gig, hand-, fconuly upholstered, and embodying the very latest ideas. An up-to-date spring dray, a patent rotary harrows, and other articles were shown. Messrs A. and R. motor and cycle importers, exhibited two five-seater Studebaker cars, one Humber. Clyno and B.S.A. motor cycles. A Triumph motor cycle, used for the last twelve months, and which has been subjected to some severe test*-, was displayed to show the splendid condition of the machine after its strenuous trips through the backblocks. Mr A. Weston exhibited a Ford machine, the advantages of which as a family car. for hard work, and cheap running, were explained by the agent. Messrs Bnstin and Avery exhibited Buiek and Perry Cars for which they are agents. Both these makes are claimed to be comfortable, vasy-rtm. ning, and under ordinary circumstances. cost very little ifor repairs. Messrs Bastin and A very are also agents for the Overland car. several of which are runnring about the district.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, represented by Mr R. Frater, Masterton. displayed agricultural seeds, station stores, and MeDougall’s Sheep Dips. The Pahiatua “Herald” as an advertising medium was brought prominently under the public notice with a conspicuous signboard.