TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 237, 1 December 1900, Page 2

TARANAKI AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

2Sm ANNUAL SHOW, t (Continued from yegterday.) r President : Mr, Newton King. Yice- f Presidents: Messrs. H. J. H. Okey, > J. O. George, and H. Barnitt. ' General Committee: Messrs. W. i Ambury, O. Wells, J. W. Foreman, 1 0. W. Sole, E. Westmacott, A. ,< Standish, S. Smith, A. Davidson, L. ] M. Taunton, 0. W. Govett, A. Monro, < Jas. Hooker, F. Morris, Perham, J. 1 W. Honeyfield, C. T. Mills, Gus. < Sole, E. Marfell, H. B. Lepper, W. i F. MoAllum, W. Stanley, G. V. i Tate, J. Crockett, F. Watson, i Executive Committee: Messrs. A. : Ambury, G. Y. Tate, A. Monro, A. i Davidson, Jas. Hooker, 0. T. Mills, F. Westmacott, W. Stanley, E. Marfell, J. Crockett. Secretary: Mr. T. 0. Kelsey. DAIRY PRODUCE. BUTTER. The exhibits of butter—the staple industry of the district were in every way worthy of a Taranaki Show and attracted throughout the day a constant crowd of keen critics. It speaks well for the dairying industry when so much attention is .given by dairy farmers, their wives and adult children, as was manifested on Thursday. Naturally enough, the prize awards received the larger share of notice, but every exhibit was well looked at, smelt and tasted. In the first class (145) for • the best keg or package of factory butter, not less than 501bs forwarded for storage by the 3rd inst., there were fifteen entries ; and that the competition was brisk, may be gathered from the fact that the exhibits represented the output of the leading factories in every part of the district. Probably this may in some large measure, be attributed to the incentive offered by way of prizes. The Ist prize is Messrs. Lovell and Christmas' challenge trophy valued at 75 guineas, to be won either three years in succession, or five years at intervals. To this is added a cash prize of £lO 10s with certificate to the maker of the butter each year. The honour was this year awarded to the Stratford Farmer's Co-operativo Association, and we heartily congratulate the Manager on his success. Tho second prize (the Societies award of £5 ss) fell to the Maketawa Factory ; the third prize of £2 2s was gained by the Hurleyville Company, and tho fourth by Honeyfield Brothers. In ® the next class (146) the competition a was for the Society's challenge trophy i valued at £25, to be won two 3 years in succession, or three years • at intervals, to which is added a ' cash prize of £3 35., with certificate I to the maker of the butter. Separate b exhibits are required from those of the preceding class, but the conditions are j the same. The Maketawa Co. secured the first prize in this class. (Stratford 0 did not compete.) Hurleyville took ® the second prize of £2 25., and Omata the third prize of £1 Is. In the competition for the New Zealand Insurance l! Company's special prize of £4 45., for •, best box of butter suitable for export (factory, separator, or dairy)-th».Huii-. eyville Co., secured the award. For 21bs. rolls of fresh butter, hand-made, Miss May Ambury took first prize, 1. while Mr. J. D. Cornwall secured a e similar honour for a roll of separator 0 butter.

There is one striking feature about the butter competition which conveys a lesson that even those who run may read, and it is this: —An adequately substantial prize attracts exhibits both numerically strong and of corresponding merit. The challenge trophy of 75 guines, with cash prize of XlO 10s., attracted 15 entries; the smaller trophy of 25 guineas, with £'A 3s. cosh, brought only 9 entries; for the £i 4s. prize, without trophy, the entries fell to 7; while directly the prize fell to the ordinary £l, the entries came down to zero. CHEESE. The Crown Daily Co. had a walk over for this prize. Hams and Bacon. Although in each of the factory and home-cured classes, the exhibits were confined to a single individual, there was a far more creditable display than if the entries had been more numerous, but of varying quality. In articles of food, especially such as have to find their way to open markets, one of tho greatest essentials is that they shall present a tempting appearanco, and, if to that, there be added an appetising flavour, success is ensured. Certainly Mr. A. Drake's exhibition of factory hams and bacon, so far as appearance was concerned, would have done credit to a first class show in any part of the world. There was evidence, of that attention to detail, without which perfection cannot be attained, and the district has every reason to bo proud that such excellent produce is helping to swell its good name and fame to the outer world. The home-cured bacon of Mr. J. Andrews, also made a very good show, though suffering somewhat by contrast with the finished factory articles. MISCELLANEOUS. DEAD POULTRY. Cockerel: W. Ambury, 1; pullet: E. Stanley, 1. These were the only exhibitors. It seems hardly/worth continuing this class, especially asthere is a poultry association's show during the year, to which the exhibits should be relegated. EGGS. Mr. W. Ambury was the only exhibitor, taking a prize for both white and brown. This is another class which might well be left to the poultry association. DREAD. To give 15s. in prizes for the two or three exhibits of bread seems a game that is hardly worth the candle, and serves no practical purposo. Mrs. F. H. Jackson took first prize, and Mrs. Fleetwood second. IMPLEMENTS. Whatever the Show may hav3 lacked in other departments, the display of agricultural implements, and dairying machinery and the accessories of farming was one that was not only exceedingly creditable to the townspeople but a record for the Show. ' Sir. Newton King's exhibits were, as usual, of a very comprehensive charaM wers 8Q winged that a, j

visitor could, almost at a glance, become g acquainted with tho requirements of n the settlers of tho district and tho a nature of the industry in which the o majority are engaged. The first object to strike attention wn.s a novolty in the shape of a new fence known as the v " Cyclone " fence. The makers state it g mightwellbecalleda "federal"fence as & the parts stand closely related to one ( another, so as to give an equal distri- n bution of a strain, at any one point, 1 over tho wholo surface. Tho way in J which the fence is woven • by the aid a of a simple piece of hand machinery ( and crimped pickets is very ingenious, ] and either for a plain division fenco or for an ornamental boundary tho < invention is likely to catch on, especi- g ally as not only is an irresistable bar- t rier made, but what is of more import- 1 ance a harmless one, as there are no f barbs to lacerate the stock. The old j familiar Alexandra separators were again in evidence, samples of both hand and steam power being shown, .their capacities ranging from 1 (i to 40 gallons per hour. Side by side with these were cream coolers, pasteurisers, milk testers, milk and butter scales, and every variety of dairying requirements, all in first class order, and testifying to the interest taken towards improvements in the industry. For field work there were some good specimens of tho McOormick machinery, includ- , ing the reaper and binder (which has . beaten all competitors, and was awarded . tho gold modal at Paris, not only as an ' exhibit, but at a field test); tho Daisy , reapers (handy sized machines proved , by use to be true to name), mowers , (with all latost improvements even to knives that will cut through anything l and having a reaper attachment easily adjusted. We overhead a well known L farmer in the disti'ict speaking most r highly of this machine which ho had used for tho last three years). Hay r rakes (with marvellous bonding power of the stoel and therefore particularly \ suitable for rough land). As agent for ~ Messrs. Booth McDonald, & Co., Mr. s King exhibited an anuy of ploughs L ranging from a small one horse single ) furrow to the highly finished (Jarlylo double furrow; disc harrows,, spring j tooth harrows, with adjustable teeth ; j windmills, cultivators, and almost every useful implement required on a farm, j and all of an up-to-date and highlyj: finished character. Messrs. Reid and Gray (for whom ' Mr. Newton King also acts as agent) > had an excellent display of reaper, I 1 mowers, ploughs, drills, harrows, and other implements, all of which are well known, except that improvements are j constantly being made and the sphere 3 of their productions continually ouv larged. B Messrs. Okey, Son & Arnold, whose enterprise in stocking up - to - date , machinery is well-known, had a most extensive display of tho colebrated 1 Massey-Harris implements comprising j one of the largest and most complete f collections on tho Show ground. In nearly every machine —reapers, mowers, drills, harrows, ploughs, rakes etc., there were improvements since last year, all in the direction of economy j. and extended utility. There was a very useful h ly -tedder which atr "tracted much attention and' should bo ( of great service in wet seasons. Special '' notice was also given to a springtooth cultivator which can be used for r breaking-upland sufficiently to permit of grain being sown without the land j. having to be ploughed. The exhibitors a are to be congratulate! on the particularly good display made, and the excellent way in which the various implements were arranged. (T Messrs. 1). Berry it Co., had a very 2 large collection of agricultural implements of all kinds, details of which we have already referred to. The exhibits J received, as thoy doserved, a very largo share of notice. Mr. W. Bewley, as agent for the Melotte Separators, was very busy in Q explaining the merits of this laboursaving and highly-improved separator, which is gradually, but surely winning { its way into favour. A little girl can keep the separator working by only using a finger and thumb on the handle. 1 Mr. 0. A. Wilkinson, Eltham, ex--3 hibited a light draught reaper and 3 binder with several of the latest im--1 also a mowing machine > having a special foot lever for raising f ' he knife; and a very handy and ser--1 viceable horse rake of solid steel. > The New Plymouth Co-operative • Society had a good disphy of the De 5 Laval Separators which are sd well and ' favourably known. Many improve--1 ments have been effected in the turbine f machines and the engine power is now 0 so arranged that it can b9 used for t general farm work. 3 HARNESS AND VEHICLES. Harness: Mr. M. Ramson was the t only exhibitor, but he disp'ayod a calk lection which was evon bettor than in j previous years and that is saying a r great deal. The exhibits were a credit to Mr. Ramson and to the town, j Me«srs. Jenkinson exhibited a magf nificent collection of vehiclos both for r private and trade use and t'leir booth was well patronised by visitors throughout the day. CYCLES. Amongst the exhibitors of cycles • were the Massey-Harris Co., with a f very good show of up-to-date machines 1 for both sexes. The Scott Cycle 00, 3 had, amongs-. others, an Orie t Chain- ' less Cycle with special improved gear- ' ing and s var.il improvements both in ' he various metil parts of tho machine and in the tyre, which is detachable, • having also oxtra protection against j ruS'j. Mr. M, llamson also showed i several well-finishod bikes of considerr able merit. , DOMESTIC. Pianos and Organs : First and fore ' . moss amongst the household goods was , the exceedingly fine oxhibitionof pianos 1 and organs by tho Colonial Piano Company. Such an exceptional display was ' ■notlior evidenc'3 of the energy and 1 enterprise d splayed by the manager, Mr. D. McKinnon JJain, who had a [ busy time of it with the numerous ( visitors that took advantage of such a * I'av urable opportunity of inspecting ( ho instruments on viow. It is doubt- 1 ful whether a better collection of such ' exhibits have ever b;en seen on a Show ground. n Sewing and Washing M idlines: Miss * lletford'n col ectioa of Werthcim and " Wheeler Wilson's Sowing Machines, n together with dollar's ami Ymmlv;. b

grift's Washing Machines, attracted much attention, and helped to complete a series of exhibits which properly occupied places at the Show. ( MIBOKLLANEOUB. , Amongst the other articles on view was a very complete collection of samples of Messrs. Kempthorne, Prossei it Oo.'s patent manures, for which the .Co-operative Society are the local < agents. There was also a auull collection of poultry exhibited by Mr. Ducker, of the Egraout Poultry Farm, and celebrated for the excellence of his Orpington* (bull' and black), as well as Indian Game fowls. It was generally remarked that the exhibits as a whole were far above the average, and, judging from the interest taken in these useful adjuncts to the live stock show, they contributed their full share towards the success of the! meeting. I