Depression Wave Rolls Back

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17610, 28 October 1931, Page 8

Depression Wave Rolls Back

Brilliant weather favored the second .day-—People’s Day—at .the annual Show of the Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association at Makaraka to-day, and from the appearance of the roads in Ihe vicinity of the association’s grounds, and of. the grounds themselves, at a comparatively early hour there seemed every prospect of attendance records being approached. Considering the times, the public interest displayed in the Show constituted a triumph for the association, and on every hand there were signs that, for the time being at least, the wave of depression was receding.

Gay colors featured in the frocks of lady patrons combined with the bright posters of the sideshows and trade exhibits to 'create a brilliant picture against the background of green fields and-graceful trees which formed the setting for to-day’s gathering, and the competition ring, the centre of attraction for the majority of the show visitors, was full of movement. Judges, stewards, and other officials worked at top pressure to maintain tho success with which the Show was opened yesterday, and the programme went forward in every section with a proper regard to timetable, and to the public interest in the awards.. Sections opened for the first time today 'comprised fat lambs and sheep, pigs, poultry, dogs, pigeons, fat cattle, the dairy classes, and these attracted much attention throughout the day. Sidesjiowmen were doing well, the attenhance to-day including a large proportion of children, to whom the varied attractions in tho sideshow row were tl,e chief features of the gathering, while the trade exhibits, smaller in number than last year, must have been regarded as successful by those progressive firms which wero represented in this section. Yesterday’s attendance was one of the largest for a first day experienced by the association. Judged by the gate takings, it was considerably ahead of the first day last year, although not quite sio large as that for the Jubilee Show two years ago. Yesterday’s gate receipts totalled £43 15s 6d, compared with £CI 12s for the corresponding day last year and £4B 18s for 1929. This is particularly gratifying to the association in its attempt to firmly establish the Show on its own grounds. Early indications to-day were highly favorable, and it was noted with satisfaction by many Show officials that Coast and country areas were strongly represented in the attendance. GREAT SHOW ASSET Visitors to the showgrounds to-day cannot have failed to be impressed by the growth of tho shelter-belt of trees about the ground, since the date of last year’s gathering. The plantation of euealypta is one of the finest assets in the possession of a public organisation in Poverty Bay, and tho present officials of the association owe much to the foresight of those who, several years ago, undertook tho planting of the trees. To have tho ground so enclosed means a great deal indeed to the appearance of the Show in general, and conduces to the impression of compactness which every newcomer to the grounds receives. The area enclosed is actually a very large one, but if tho boundaries were marked merely by the usual post-and-wire fences, tho effect would be far less attractive. There is another strong point in favor of the plantation, which .was demonstrated more strikingly last year than this;* that being the actual sheltervalue of the trees. Such wind as was experienced to-dav was welcomed by the crowds of spectators for its tempering effect on_the heat; hut last year there was a chill sea breeze which but for the protection afforded -the grounds bv the plantation would have proved most depressing to the spectators. Tho weather conditions to-day and vesterdav wero out of the ordinary, and there will be many functions in the future at which the plantation will -prove a blessing to tho association and its patrons.