WINTER SHOW CONCLUDED

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1929, Page 10

WINTER SHOW CONCLUDED

HUGE CROWDS ON LAST NIGHT.

SCENE OF MIRTH AND MERRIMENT.

The crowds that thronged the Stratford Winter Sh6w on Saturday and Saturday evening were in holiday spirit. They dwelt over favourite exhibits, pondered the more elaborate displays, sampled where samples were obtainable and descended upon the side shows in swarms. The showmen seemed to be doing a roaring trade and the “lines of catch talk” they employed gained in piquancy and humour to correspond with increased receipts. As the evening advanced and interest in the displays was satisfied more people clustered round the popular community games. It was not a case of the showman seeking trade but rather an exhibition of his ability to cater for the demands made upon him. “Wait your turn” became the rule, and while those favoured ones who were on good terms with Dame Fortune were to be seen brandishing boxes of chocolates as testimony to their skill, others were exclaiming, “Oh, this is too hard. Let s try something else,” and they would move on a few yards only to be enticed again by some showman “to try your luck.”

But at the turnstiles there was even a busier scene. The ticket box was fairly beSciged by people who clamouied for tickets anil who then descended _ upon the turnstiles and demanded admission. The illuminations in Broadway and the front of the show undoubtedly attracted patrons and served to guide visitors from a distance to the show, where glimpses of the gaiety and merriment inside held an irresistible appeal. Taken as a whole, the show was a oreat success, eclipsing even last year s effort. Exhibitors w’ho had attended other North Island shows expressed the opinion that the poultry section was one of the finest and most comprehensive they had seen. Entries were a record and the type of birds exhibited was of a high standard. GENERAL ITEMS. “I noticed recently that over 200,000 cows were tested in New Zealand under the group system last year, said Mr. C. A. Marchant at the annual meeting of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Friesian Association held in Stratford last Saturday, in commenting upon the remarkable growth in popularity ot the system. Mr. Marchant went on to trace the advantages, from a breeding and an identification point of view, ot the oroup testing policy of maikin o calves sired by pedigree bulls from dams that had attained a certain standard of production. He pointed out that farmers desirous of improving their herds were enabled, by purchasing marked heifers, to ensure that they were becoming the owners of cattle likely to become high producers.

Charged with drunken and disorderly conduct, R. S. Carter appeared at the Stratford Court on Saturday before Messrs. W. Mclnnes and H. C. Nortl, J.’sP., who fined him £l. It was alleged that accused was a little “under the influence” at the show and that he showed signs of fight, although he did not actually carry his threats into execution.

The Stratford pipe and brass bands marched up Broadway to the Winter Show on Saturday evening, not by the rodents of Pied Piper fame but by lines of people who soon joined the happy throng at the show.

As the result of injuries received through an explosion of gelignite at the railway works near Taa ? ara f V^ c liam McQuay is now an inmate of the Stratford public hospital suffering from an injured eye and abrasions on the le o s.

In his report to the Eltham County Council on Saturday the inspector stated that during the past month nine head of stock had been found straying on the -oads. Councillor M. W. Barker reniaikod that stock were very much in evidence at night on roads in the Riverlea district and were a source of danger to motorists. The chairman stated that the matter would be brought to the inspector’s notice.

Considerable discussion took place at the Eltham County Council’s meeting . on Saturday regarding a fence encroaching on the Rotokare Road. The council had riven notice to the owner of. the fence to remove it, but he had replied that a neighbour, whose property was affected, had objected to the removal. The council discussed several * ridin* iected them, a motion that the. ridni o member and the engineer deal with the matter being strongly opposed. Finally ie was agreed to hold the matter over, though one councillor expressed keen regret at this method of putting off the evil day.

In showery weather, with the fairways and greens extremely wet, the first-round of the Quin Cup was played at the Eltham links during the week-end. Conditions were particularly unfavourable to good scoring, yet Mr. L. Abbott, with a handicap of eight, returned the remarkable score of eight up. The only other cards which were considered good were those of i N. Phillips, 3 up, F. Clemow and R. Darling, 4 up. FIRE AT OPUNAKE EIGHT-ROOMED HOUSE DESTROYED A fire alarm was given about 3 a.m. yesterday morning, reports the Opunake correspondent of the News. The outbreak was in an eight-roomed house in Lower Fox Street tenanted by Mr. Wilton and owned by Mr. Parkes. Many people hurried to the scene, but in the absence of fire-fighting appliances weie unable to prevent the total destruction of the premises. They were successful, however, in preventing the fire from spreading to the nearby cottages. No information in regard to insurances was obtainable yesterday.