SHOW CHAT

Southland Times, Issue 17679, 17 June 1914, Page 6

SHOW CHAT

ROUND THE TABLES.

\ Mr Thomas Howard, of Waihoaka, has sent forward to the Winter Show an exhibit that attracted a lot of attention yesterday and promises to be an object of continued interest to-day. Mr Howard’s exhibit is a wild Tamworth boar, around the capture of which there hangs a tale. He tells the story in his own characteristic way. The boar first came under Mr Howard’s notice over five years ago when he saw him on his holding. During the interval he has accounted for some twenty-five wild pigs, but this particular one did not again put in any lengthy appearance until Monday last. When Mr Howard sighted him he immediately armed himself with a rifle and ammunition and bailed up the porker with the dogs. The boar was a very elusive customer and it was a long time before the sportsman could get in an effective shot. His supply of ammunition had to be replenished at one stage, and'the boar had from twelve to fifteen small bullets in his carcase before he gave up the ghost. It was a very perspiring marksman .who finally stepped forward to capture his prize after two hours’ chase. An early inhabitant of the bushy country adjacent to the Waiau now displays his lifeless form, suspended from a rope, at the south-east corner of the King's Hall.

Among the visitors to the show yesterady was Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P. for Clutba. Speaking to a reporter of bis impressions of the show Mr Malcolm said that the first thing that struck him was that the building was not worthy of the exhibits, and lie was glad to find on making enquiries that a very fine hall would be ready for the next Winter Show. He had noticed the absence of machinery especially, and he was told that this was due to the want of accommodation and would be remedied next year. The show of roots was wonderful both in size and quality, and the roots at th© show could be equalled only :n such choice spots as Inchclutha. The exhibits in this respect were better than h© had ever seen at any winter show. Th© collection of fruits was very creditable, though the exhibits were vidently made by farmers who had not made fruit farming their sol© occupation, but in some cases it was more interesting in that respect as showing what the ordinary orchard could do in the Southland climate. ’ He was taken by r the butter exhibits, especially the ornamental butter, the exhibits in which were very attractive and handsome. Sir Hartmann Just was an interested visitor to the show last night, and he made a very thorough survey of the exhibits. Under the direction of the president, Mr W. D. Hunt, and other members of the executive committee of the Association he inspected each department of the show, and although he would not consent to be interviewed regarding his impression of the show he manifested a keen interest in the exhibits generally.

The local division of the New Zealand National Reserve has a stall at the show, and is makfiig a big effort to enrol country members during the show. The success of the venture yesterday was, of course, limited as only a comparative few visitors from the country were in town, but great hopes are centred upon the work of to-day, which is expected to bring about a considerable access to the strength of the reserve. As is now taken as a matter of course the arrangements at the show yesterday, supervised by Mr Denniston Cuthbertson, secretary to the Assocation, were well-nigh perfect. Messrs R. H. Lyons and England were in their usual places, and helped as hitherto to have the machinery running without a hitch.

Owing to the Southland Winter Show clashing with northern fixtures, the Agricultural Department's exhibit, which is shown each year at the Dunedin Winter Show in its full warpaint, has to he divided, and in consequence Southland people sec only a third of this interesting and instructive display. It was freely suggested yesterday that the Southland fixture should in future he held a fortnight prior to the Dunedin show. This would ensure all the South Island winter shows in the circuit having the complete exhibit at their fixtures. and in other ways, x so far as Southland is concerned, the proposal has a great deal to recommend it. The idea is one well worthy of the consideration of the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Association.

Two interested visitors at the show yesterday were Mr Duncan McFarlane, mayor of Invercargill. and Mr Duncan McFarlane. .iunr., mayor of Gore, fattier and son. The Messrs McFarlane were greatly pleased with the display, and expressed their heartiest appreciation of it. Last night at the show the Sth Regimental Band attended in full force, and provided a very line programme of music, which was greatly appreciated by the large number of people present.

In conversation with Mr R. McGillivray. Field Inspector of the Department of Agriculture, he stated to a Southland Times reporter that in the South Island alone there were four thousand nine hundred and fifty experimental plots which had to he supervised, and the demands for more were increasing. Realising that there liav° been only two experimental plots in Southland, it must be admitted that this province has lagged behind in this respect.

Though Mr David Marshall, who is an ex-president of thy Association, was somewhat, disappointed with the quality of the swedes and turnips which he judged yesterday, ho nevertheless expressed the emphatic opinion that as far as the quality of the exhibits as a whole was concerne-d, the show had never been excelled.

In referring 1o the Southern Cross variety of potato yesterday. a sample of which gained the championship at Ule show, Mr H. Kdginton mentioned that when the potatoes were introduced into New Zealand four or five years ago, he paid £1 for one of them. “And a very small one it was .too,” he added.

A practice that require® to be discontinued at the Winter Show is the placing of prize tickets in front of the ticket bearing the schedule number. Visitors holding catalogues are thus inconvenienced. and the matter is one which can very easily be remedied.

The judges of grain and seeds, Messrs F. J. Linscott, of Thornbury, and Baxter Wilson, of Dunedin, took very strong exception to the "ringing in” of last year’s seed. Some cases were detected, but it afterwards transpired that there were others which were not. This, as the judges contended is a reprehensible practice and one which should he severely discountenanced.

Country visitors to the show will find Mr Chas, Campbell secretary of the Southland League, in attendance at the League’s stall in the hall. Mr Campbell and the several members of the Council also in attendance will be pleased to give full information to applicants, in addition to which every facility is provided for visitors to enrol on the spot, as it is believed that the League has already commended itself strongly to the farming community. The number of members enrolled yesterday was very satisfactory when it is considered that the attendance was trifling beside what it will be to-day.

Jtlessrs 1?. S. Lindsay, Invercargill. Feate of Dipton. and Oeo. Gough. Invercargill. are sending exhibits lor ward to the Christchurch Poultry. Pigeon and Canary Show for competition in the pigeon section, in the poultry section Mr tV. tv. Robertson will be an Invercargill representative The show takes “place on Thursday and Friday of tins week.

In the fruit section of the exhibits sent forward for adjudication at the Winter Show paucity of exhibits lost at least one competitor an award. The judge, in the course of his remarks, approved highly of the class of fruit tabled but pointed to the fact that it lost points in the award against more numerous collections tabled by, other exhibitors.

At the Poultry Club’s annual show, which opened yesterday, the cup for best bird in the show —poultry section was won by Geo. Kerr, Gore. The cup becomes the exhibitor’s own property as it has been won outright, i.e., two years in succession. Messrs Peters and Luthgow secured the_honours in the cup for the best' canary at ibis year's show,

while Messrs G. Langdon (1312) and Jno, F. Foley (19X4) have also a leg in for the honours for possession, brought out by a win each.

Sir Joseph Ward, who "arrived in Invercargill last night, will attend the show to-day.

The next Southland Winter Show is already being looked forward to on account of the extra accommodation that will then be available for exhibits. On all sides yesterday regret was expressed, that the fixture could not be held in the new buildings this year, as it is impossible with the limited space available to furnish a display worthy of the province. Several doubting Thomases from the north who had been told of what was likely to happen next year journeyed to the new show grounds, no doubt with the intention to scoff came away greatly im-' pressed with what they had seen.

The lack of support given the show by Southland daisy factories provide* a theme which was dwelt upon to soma purpose by visitors to the show yesterday. Taking a dispassionate view of the position, it certainly does appear to the uninitiated an extraordinary' thin* that Southland dairy factories should so substantially support the Dunedin Winter Show and almost entirely neglect their own show.

The officers are in attendance at the Agricultural Department’s fine exhibit are 1 borough enthusiasts, and are eager at all times to furnish any information that it is in their power to give. Farmers present at the show to-day need, not be backward in approaching them as they themselves contend that they are there to give information.

Notwithstanding the fact that the. exhibits at the show provide a subject which farmers undoubtedly find a difficulty to break away from, politics at times were keenly discussed yesterday, and there could be no gainsaying the. fact that at the present time a keen interest in political matters is being taken by the farming community.

Should the weather remain fine, there will undoubtedly be a large attendance at the show to-day. The fixture 1b one which has thoroughly established itself, and is now looked forward to by people living in both town and country.