The Farmstead.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 34, 15 December 1900, Page 9

The Farmstead.

♦ — SOUTHLAND METROPOLITAN SHOW It may be that “ figures can’t lie,” but they have drawbacks that discount their value. To say, for instance, that the exhibits at the annual show in the Queen’s Park on Tuesday and Wednesday last exceeded those of last year by 110, and that between nine and ten thousand people passed through the gates, gives but a meagre idea of the brilliant success achieved. Division of opinion there might be on other points —as to that there was none. The conditions were perfect. Tuesday was an ideal day, and on Wednesday the clerk of the weather graciously granted an encore. The people, on sight-seeing and enjoyment bent, poured in from east and west and north and south, till movement threatened j at times to become impossible, clustered round the showrings, passed and re-passed the cattle and sheep pens, swarmed over the machinery annexe, lingered in the dairy produce building, or helped to form a living wall round the Garrison Band, whose music proved a pleasant relief to the neighing of horses, the whirr of machinery, and the persuasive invitations of the side-show men. The Band, by the way, appeared for the first time in complete kharki outfits, the head gear, previously lacking, having been supplied by Messrs Thomson and Beattie, in the shape of well-finighed slouch hats of the best felt, and of the same pattern as those worn by the Imperial Yeomanry when they left London for service in South Africa. Ostrich or huia feathers are now all that are wanted to give the finishing touches to the attire ot our melodious “ soldiers of the Queen,” With a cloudless sky, pleasant surroundings, the charm of congenial companionship, and the renewing of old acquaintanceships, the happy-looking, welldressed, ever-moving throng made the most of their opportunities, and returned home at night tired and sunburned it might be, bnt*convinced that they had never enjoyed themselves better. A number of improvements have been effected in the grounds, the pigs, which formerly occupied quarters along the eastern fence, being now more comfortably bestowed. Some of the cattle pens also require attention —tbe fat stock section was shorn of its interest to some extent through fourteen fine animals entered by Mr Wills, the pick of some of Mr Gerard’s herd, breaking out and having to be placed in a paddock some distance away. Some of the posts gave whenever the ponderous beasts came in contact with them, and Mr Wills had nothing to show for his entry money. Coming to the exhibits, the horse section was a remarkably fine one — as one gentleman who has been in a good many show rings remarked — “Southland would be hard to wipe out in this class.” There was good competition in every class, and the judge had no easy task in settling the relative positions of the» splendid animals forward. The successful owners included Messrs G. Holland, M. F. Gorman, S. J. Inder, A. Chyrstal, J. Drain, W, and J. Blakie, R. Charters, W. S. Fleming, A. Gerrard, T. Mortimer, J. B. Sutton, J. Patrick, A. and F. Duncan, J. Everett, W. Martin, J. Devery, D. McPherson, W. Baird, W. Kennedy, J. Johnstone, J, Batger, T. Ryder, Hill and Agnew, O’Connor, W. McDonald, T. Stone, S. F. Whitcombe, Farrell, Fraser, Richards, Master Paris, and Dr Hogg. Cattle were also well represented, but it is noticeable that few new names appear in the list of competitors. The features of the section this year among much that was good, were Mr Rankin’s Ayrshires and Messrs T. and J. T. Carswell’s Shorthorns. Other successful exhibitors in the various classes were Messrs W. Waddell, D. McCallum, A. Beaven, J. Holms, R. Cleave, R. and A. Officer, Hon. M. Holmes,

J. Crombie, G. C. Tothill, and W. J. and A. Noble. The competition in the sheep classes was also practically limited to veteran prize-takers, prominent among thepa being Messrs J. B. and G. Sutton, J. McCrostie, McKerchar Bros., R. and J. S. Grieve, Gardner, Holmes, J; Blakie, and Helder and Awdry, all of whose flocks have made a name for themselves even beyond Southland. The class for pigs is yearly exciting more interest, and some Very fine representatives of the porcine family were sent forward. Messrs R. M. Dickson and Harris were the chief winners, and prizes were also gained by Messrs G. G. Tothill, J. Humphries and A, Anderson. Turning to the dairy produce, the Stirling Dairy Factory secured chief honours, while Mr A. N. Lindsay had it practically all his own way in hams and bacon. In the butter department Miss Hamilton, Long Bush, was first with a very handsome design in the class foi fancy butter, ‘ A thing of beauty,’ but not a joy for ever, for by the afternoon the heat had reduced it to a shapeless mass, while Miss Drain and Miss Mary Drain carried off all the first prizes in the remainder of the butter section. The mantle of Mrs Drain, who has a roomful of trophies, has evidently fallen upon her daughters, and what with the father in the horse classes and the daughters in the dairy, the ‘ Cloverly ’ family were to the fore.

The New, Zealand manufactures and Machinery annexe would require a special edition to do justice to its varied and interesting features. The National Mortgage and , Agency Co. and the New Zealand Loanand Mercantile Agency Co., either on their own account or as agents, were strongly in evidence, and so was the firm of Messrs Tothill, Watson and Co. The veteran firm of Reid and Gray are evidently sparing no pains to maintain the reputation that they have so deservedly gained. The Southland Implement and Engineering Co. made a fi u e display with their popular ‘ Colonial ’ implements and Osborne reapers and, binders. Mr A. Storrie, too, had a well-filled stand on his own account and. as agent for Messrs Booth, McDonald, and Co. Mr J. Bith bad a collection of five very taking looking vehicles, from gigs of the latest design to a substantial rustic cart. The American Carriage Factory, Mr T. Jefcoate, and Mr Nightingale, of Gore, were also exhibitors in this section. The Massey - Harris Co. occupied a good deal of space with machinery, and their well-known moke of cycles also came in for a good share of attention. Messrs Henderson and Batger and J. G. Ward and Co. had on view a number of farmers’ requisites. Messrs J. and J. Irving, of the Kennington works, had a good collection of hedge knives, slashers, etc., forward, Messrs Thomson, Bridget and Co., exhibited the Alpha Laval separators at work, and Messrs John Walker and Son were represented by a collection of their cooking ranges, which are yearly growing in favour. The collection under notice included a handy size for use on board ship. Mr P. H. Vickery had a tent devoted to cycles and sewing machines. An exhibit that attracted a good deal of attention was that of Messrs Brinsley and Co., makers of the ‘ Champion ’ ranges. They had five ranges of various sizes in a tent, and on inspection they proved to be all that the makers claim for them, viz., strong, wellfinished, convenient and up-to-date. The boilers are all made of copper, tinned inside, and the internal parts of cold rolled steel. The fire box can be regulated to different sizes, so that any coal or lignite can be used without any waste, while for burning wood the fire-box can be made deeper and longer, so that wood about 16 ins long can be used. The arrangements for cleaning are very simple. From the foregoning outline it will be seen that ‘most everything’ was to be seen on the ground.