TARANAKI WINTER SHOW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 12 June 1913, Page 3

TARANAKI WINTER SHOW.

Viewed from a distance, an agricultural and pastoral show, whether of spring, summer, autumn or winter production, is a sorry affair indeed. If it is it summer fixture,, the public mind conjures up scenes of fat bulls surrounded by the ladies of the dairy harem, beribboned equine sires and their progeny, woolly sheep and imhnobile pigs, whoso pedigrees are not flaunted so conspicuously before the public gaze; or, maybe, visions arise of an'enclosure in which competitions are held, and shouts of applause arise for the proud victor when some one or thing has been “downed and out.” Different, however, is the position with winter bedecked in show colors. Here is a prettier scene by far. In a huge building fighting the same fight, . but with less of th.o gladiatorial feature in the copfest, are_, mainly, inanimate objects, and the.rivalry is between humans and their skill in producing or presenting these things. In contradistinction to the other seasons, the winter show is more the work of indoors. The cow and the pig arc there; for sure, but in another form. Many a longing eye was cast or a covetous remark made upon, maybe, the self-same animal which had paraded the showgrounds of the past, as the olfactory nerves were tickeld by the wholesome aroma of . the. cured carcase, hung* amid csurroundings calculated to inspire; such* desires. Further than this, again/ a winter 'show justly claims more of the educational for' its side in oomphrifsOn with any other. For is not-art the maim feature of display with it? “This will be readily'ackhowledged. ’ ■ So is’it&any wonder that people flock * to winter shows; where they extol tho : virtues of the exhibitors and fail not to praise even- the worst Of these, their masters P

The New Plymouth show continues to grow apace. Notwithstanding that last year the splendid exhibit by the Government Agricultural Department occupied a big amount of space in the main hall, winch necessitated the farmmers’ bays being put out in the cold, as it were, in the back portion of the bpilding, every inch of space lias been greedily rushed by intending''exhibitors. Tho genial secretary (Mr A. Humphries) was at a loss_ for a time yesterday to shuffle the cards of space and 'give everyone a, fair deal. But later in the afteraioon everyone seemed .satisfied with-’hisi hand; At anyhate, they all said-theyi held the tnuigp card. Tho absence of the Government exhibit wah remarked upon by the president (Mr J. S; 1 GoWnetf)' at the: sofficial > (opening;* : and he pointed' out th'at sbifie explahatioii of 'Vile Department’s' *dfction in 1 differentiating between tho Dominion Show and, tlieir fowju it'rts } l]e^hhable.’ > iipVdvei-, tip I ‘con-* 'hiriue'd, tlib' 'Society luuf a very fine display, reflecting credit upon tho town and district from a materialistic point of view add upon the exhibits 'anil officials for finish and artistry. There is no occasion to attempt parip ( though |r e iji ark a Ijjfy j jjjg p forth 1 by, I * ,lj tho farm 4>hfys are,,living, advertisements of the reproductivengss of. • Aho, country . known as ,their. horned i-Tho most staking , fe.atyyo of,,the Bays-- .was,•• a collection of fancy butter from’ Bell Block, the workmanship on which was really excellent. .- - -

Tlio presence of this year was calculated to popularise the Show, but these had not got properly to' work on the credibility of the public to give any idea of how both sides were going to fare. The various advertisers! ft funds arrested attention, especially when some enterprising and prepossessing'damsel extolled the virtues of her wares. The machinery section and poultry exhibits were not the least attractive of the whole exr hibition, and both claimed their quota of interested visitors. ,The Society hold dog trials on the racecourse (.p----day; and • ttt-mo'rrow (Friday). Altogether, the fourth Winter Show is well/ worth seeing. , :r ,. The number of exhibitors who hailed from Stratford could be-counted on one’s fingers, and tbis.faCt is to-be. deplored to a certain extent. There ‘seems no sufficient reason-for one end not assisting the othbir tm! its public functions, as co-operation must result for the general good ’of The 1 province. It is to lie hoped that this spirit of parochialism will not be so prominent by the absence of our district’s exhibits in the future. The only winning, exhibitor from this end was in map-drawing in the School competitions (15 years and under) when Lionel Inch was awarded first prize.