A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15128, 20 February 1922, Page 4

A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

SECOND ANNUAL SHOW. A SUCCESFUL GATHERING. Patrons: Messrs. T. W. Rhodbs, M.P., H. Poland, M.P.; president: Mr. P. R. Henry; vice-pre-sidents : Messrs. W. G. Hayward, D. G. McMillan, J. Munro; chief stewards:—Cattle: L. Rountree; Horses: J. H. Nicholson; Grounds: W. G. Hayward; Horticultural :• H.'M. Norris; CattleJudging Competitions: W. J. Byrne ; Stewards : —Cattle : Jersey, A. R. Yowles, C. H. Waite; Shorthorn, J. Munro, J. Hamilton; Friesian, A. Muggridge, D. Williamson; Horses : N. Beattie, It. Green; Horticultural: Mrs. H. M. Norris, Miss A. M. Norris, I. Peterson; secretary and treasurer: Mr. E. Walton; Judges:—Cattle: Jersey, Mr. T. D. Reid (Waiuku); Friesian: Mr. M. Barriball (Waiuku); Shorthorn : Mr. J. M. Ranstead (Matangi); Fats: Mr W. Wight (Paeroa) ; Horses, Heavy : Mr. W. J. Verra-n (Matatoki); Light: Mr. M. Crimmins (Paeroa); Amateur Judging: Mr. W. J. Hall (Matatoki); Horticultural, Produce, etc., Mr. W. Scott (Thames); Needlework: Mrs. Beck (Thames); Baby Show: Miss Polden, matron Thames Hospital, Thames. The Hauraki Plains Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s second show was held at 'Ngatea on Saturday. The morning broke with very heavy clouds, threatening rain. Fortunately, however, no rain fell, and towards mid-day the sky cleared, and with every prospect of a line afternoon people began to concentrate at Ngatea. Along all roads came streams of conveyances and also launches from up and down the river, and it became obvious that the second annual show was going to be well patronised. The Thames contingent was exceptionally strong. The sight as visitors came across the Ngatea bridge was an animated one. Scores and scores of horses were tethered in paddocks near the show grounds, and the road was thronged with people. A large banner inscribed with tho words, “Welcome to the Hauraki Plains, was flying above the gate, and all da,, tho ground was a scene of much ac tivity. In all nearly) 2000 people attended the show during the da> There were motor cars /- numberinconsiderably in excess of 100, whil . one person counted over 220 horse drawn vehicles.

The show was conducted under some difficulty. The cattle were yarded in a saleyard some litt’e distance from the show grounds. The ring was the centre' of attraction all day, but had it been possible to judge the cattle classes there it would have added very considerably to the interest of the show. This difficulty will be obviated next year, when it is hoped the show will be held on the Association’s own show grounds at Kei-.. oeehi.

Tho horticultural and home industries division was housed m the hall, which has recently been altered and enlarged to double its original size. Tho entries in the various classes were excellent, an i the work was subjected to the clo.-csl scrutiny by both the «*»>* and v'men folk. There were several exhibits, of interest on the ground. The exhibition of motor cars, seeds, ploughs, tractors, electric trucks and necessaries of farm work added to the interest of the show to the practical farmer. An exhibit which called for special mention was that displayed by the Thames Valley Electric Power Board. This included every conceivable device and machine which could be worked by electric power, and reflected much credit on those in charge of the exhibit.

The inevitable side-shows, of which there were some half-dozen, did active business, and many. a person found that it was not quite as easy to throw a ring on to a pin as it looked. As is usual, the jumping and other ring events were the mogt popular of tho day. People always enjoy horse jumping events, and) this was only the second occasion on which visitors from such a wide area had met on the Hauraki Plains Another section of the show, quite one of the most important, was the baby show. During tho morning entries came in steadily, and some very bonny babies were brought .before the judge. There was a concensus of opinion among the men folk that the position of judge to this section was the most difficult in the show. There were over 40 entries in tho baby show, and it took the judge, the matron of the Thames hospital, over an hour and a "half to select tho first and second prizo winners.

Tho need for suitable buildings

'was plainly evident, as they would make it possible to x cater for the visitors on a much larger scale. The luncheon room at any A. and jf Show is one of the social centres of tho place, and when the Hauraki Plains Association is in possession 01 its splendid ground at Kerepeehi, provision will be possible. ' The officials worked very hard, and a word of praise is due to the energetic secretary, Mr* E. Waitcn for the way in which he saw to the management of the show. Mr Walton was elected secretary less than six months ago, and the smooth way that the arrangements woi k.e showed plainly how capably he had filled the position. But perhaps those who worked the hardes- .>1 all were the ladies. Th-v bad in their care the matter of cat,-;:r for the judges and the show official 1 -. This they did exceptv well, » well, in fact, that two of t-e judges were heard to say that never at any show that they had attended had the inner man been so well look erf after.

. In the evening there wax a benefit picture entertainment in the hall in aid of the hall’s improvement fund. After the pictures a dance was held. Messrs. A. McConnell and A. Banks made most efficient IT.’s C. Mrs. Potter presided at the piano, and Miss E. Einnigan played an extra. PRESIDENT’S REMARKS.

During a few minutes’ conversation with a Star reporter, Mr. P. R. Henry, president of the Associa tion, stated that he was quite sure the show would prove a much more successful one than the initial show which had been held on Friday, February 25, 1921.

Tlio entries, said Mr Henry, were » little below those of last year, but the quality of the exhibits in all classes had improved out of sight. This improvement tended to show that already the fixture had commenced its real work. The work of a show was to improve stock and in 18 months the Hauraki Plains Show had done good service.

Continuing, tho president stated that ho thought the attendance was an increase of at least 30 per cent, on that of last year, and that the gate revenue would naturally be correspondingly • swelled.

The accommodation arrangements for stock were much improved. The method adopted this year of confin ing all of the cattle to one set of yards had proved a great benefit. Last year they had used two sets of yards, and there had been a great, deal of running to and fro. This, he was glad to say, had been avoided. The experience gained in the initial show had taught the committee many things. The stock accommodation was still very limited, but that had not been the fault of the Association. Tho addition of 40ft to the hall had made a big improvement in that it had enabled the Association to display in first-class style the exhibits in the horticultural and industrial division. There,, was an increase in tho number of side shows, both of the commercia 1 and entertainment classes. Several of these had expressed the opinion that nowhere had they been treated “o well. Several had - stated their intention to return for the next Hauraki Plains show.

The president added that never before had he seen such trojans for work as the members of the general committee of the Association. It had been a surprise to him to seo how smoothly everything went oil. There had not been the slightest hitch of any description! It was »>ne of the best conducted show that he had had to do with. He thanked all of the workers for the way in which they had stuck to him. The judges had dene their w T ork well, and as far as he knew there had been no discontent at the decisions given. “Next year,” said the president, “I hope the show will be held on our own grounds at Kerepeehi. There wo have, thanks to the generosity of the Crown, who donated over 36 acres, one of the finest natural showgrounds in New Zealand.” JUDGES’ COMMENTS.

Mr. Ranstead, who judged the Shorthorn cattle, said that for the size of the show tho exhibition of Shorthorn cattle compared more favourably with exhibits he had seen at other similar sized shows. The cow and bull, to which ho had awarded tho championships were, ho thought, exceptionally fine animals. Tho yearling heifers, although not numerous, were very good. He thought, however, that local Shorthorn cattle breeders had not devoted tho caro to their stock that breeders of other varieties had. The animals were really good but

tho goodness had not been brought out, as should have been tho case. Ho had expected to see mono cows in milk, but supposed it was on account of this being an autumn show and because cows in tho district calved mainly during November and December. He hoped that next year exhibitors would endeavour to bring out some of the good points

that their stock had. This they could do by devoting more care to tho cleanliness oi their beasts.

Mr. Reid, who is an authority on Jersey cattle, said that the animals which had been paraded before him were of the best. Those to which he had awarded prizes were of exceptional quality. ''To particularise a little,” said Mr. Reid, “I will predict that Mr. G. G. Davidson’s bull Kasper’s Gay Genora (born since July, 1920) will, at tljne© years old, bo one of the finest specimens oi Jersey bulls in the Dominion. The difference between the two cows, Mable Chase and Orange Dale’s Sunflower, which are owned by Mr. W. J. Hall, of Matatoki, and to which I awarded the Jersey cow championship and the reserve championship respectively, is practically nil. It was very hard to separate these animals. The first prize aged bull, Mr. G. T. Davidson’s Beachland’s Prince, is also a fine animal. The exhibits of Messrs. Hall and Davidson," said Mr Reid, r were particularly good.” Naturally the stock arrangements could be improved upon, but he could see before very long the Hauraki Plains Association’s show would be not a country show, but' one of the bes£ if not ho “daddy” of the provincial shows. He hoped .that next year farmers 'would have a still better quality of Jersey stock at the show. The only failing as far as he could discern in the exhibits-he had judg ed was that the beasts seemed as if they had just been run to the show from their paddocks. This was no good. Farmers must care for their stock.

Mr. Barriball, who is recognised as one of the best of New Zealand’s Friesian judges and breeders, interviewed, stated that the beasts that had been paraded before him during tho day had in every way come up to and in some ways had exceeded his expectations. He had not seen in another district’s second annual show nearly as good quality Freisian cattle. The cow to which he had awarded the championship ribbon, Coldstream Princess Pauline, was one of the best be had ever seen. He had been surprised, and of course, much pleased, to see the large number of Freisfan breeders

that there were on the Hauraki

Plains. Mr. Barriball deplored the tact that the animals nad not been prepared for show purposes. ’’But, I have been surprised,” said Mr.

Barriball, “and also pleased. It is

a very different class to what I expected to 'find when I came down here. Evidently tho Plains are suited to the Freisians and tho Fieisiaus to, the Plains.” Mr. Wight remarked that some

of the fat cattle he had judged dur-

line the day would take prizes anywhere. Ho would not say more than that the owners were very lucky to have such exceptionally fine animals in their possession. Mr. William Scott, of Thames, brobably tho best and certainly the most experienced judge of Horticultural and industrial sections of shows in the Auckland province, was more than pleased with these sections of the show. Although, said Mr. Scott, the entries showed a very slight decrease on those of last year's show, the quality was far better and easily countered the small decrease in the entries. Thp flowers exhibited were very good for this period of tho year. The sweet peas were good both in colour, variety and bl'oom. Dahlias might have been better. The exhibits of fruits, although small in number, wero of the very best quality. The Bismark and Alexander apples shown were as good specimens of their kind as ever he had seen. The few’ nectarines displayed were such as called for Mr. Scott’s admira-

tion. “I have never seen better nectarines,” ho said. This fruitwas of the best Quality for flavour, colour and constitution, and was free from all diseases. Tho cookery exhibition was very fair. He, however, deplored the fact that so few persons had seen fit to enter in this most important section. The prize cake was excellent, and the Madiera and seed cakes were also of the best. Tho exhibition of jams and preserved fruits could not have been much better. The preserved fruits were good, but he had been sorry to see so many leaky containers, as that of course materially affected the contents of same. There was not, said Mr Scott, a very good variety of vegetables, but as in most other sections of the horticultural divsion, what varieties were represented were above the standard. He had never seen a bettter display of onions. It had been a pleasure to judge them from a commercial point of view. Perhaps the greatest surprise of all was to discover maize sheafs which were over 12ft high, and were as tender and supple as could be desired. Taking every section of the horticultural division into consideration, this section was, in Mr. Scott's opinion, far in advance of that at last year’s show.

Mr. Verran stated that the draught horse section was better than ho expected. Ho emphasised the fact that this was a new dis-

Irict which, 12 years ago, was onlyknown as the Piako Swamp, or a good duck-breeding ground. “What,” he asked, “will be the quality when the land is closely settled.” The one-ton spring cart horses, said Mr, Verran, were as good as he had seen anywhere in New Zealand, and should be capable of winning prizes in any show in tho country. v

Mr. Maurice Crimmins said that the hacks entered were better than he had seen at most country shows, and compared more than favourably with any he had judged at provincial shows. The hunters paraded were, generally speaking, of only a medium quality. The harness horses were very good. He hoped to see aD improvement in quality at next year’s show. “The success of the Association’s action in placing on their catalogue amateur judging competitions has been proved to-day,” said Mr. W. J Hall, who judged these classes. In the adult competitions there were considerably over a dozen entries, while there were nearly 4<oi competitions in the children’s amateur judging competitions. Mr. Hall suggested that next year the Association should consider a reduction of entrance fees in these events. They were mainly to educate the children and to induce competition the entrance fees should not be high, but as low as wax possible. He would suggest that the fees should bo 5s for adults, and not more (less, if possible) than 2s 6d for children.