LYTTELTON HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 169, 26 November 1868, Page 2

LYTTELTON HORTICULTURAL SHOW.

The first show of the above society took place at the Colonists' Hall, yesterday. About eleven years had elapsed since an exhibition of the kind wag held in Port, and the committee of management had used every endeavour to render yesterday's show as successful as possible. Unfortunately, the weather was most unfavourable. A high wind set in from the South-west at an early hour in the morning, and it continued to blow with violence throughout the day^ accompanied at intervals by heavy showers of rain and hail. In order to afford the people of Christchurch an opportunity of visiting the show, the Government announced that return tickets would be issued at single fares, but through the inclemency of the weather only a few, comparatively speaking, availed themselves of this privilege. In the face of weather such as that of yesterday, and considering, moreover, the earliness of the season, it could not be expected that the show would approach any of those that had been held in Christchurch. Some of the cut flowers were very good, roses more particularly. Mr J. Carrell gained the first prize for twelve, and. Mr Buchanan for six varieties. Some excellent specimen's in this department were exhibited by Mr Gre«naway, who, being one of the judges, could not enter them for competition. A smaller collection, exhibited by Mr John Anderson, included some very nice specimens. A pretty crested moss rose was exhibited by Dr Rouse, but the weather had affected it to such an extent that the judges passed it without mention. Mr St Quentin carried away the first prize for a single rose. Of pansies, there were • but few exhibits. Two of the most attractive were sent in by Mr Badden — a collection of six and another of twelve. The latter was awarded the first prize, but the half-dozen collection was disqualified, as it contained a specimen similar to one shewn in the larger collection. On the whoLe/^^hp show of cut flowers was small, a fact which is attributed to the very unfavourable weather which has been experienced lately.

It was evident, upon a. short examination, that the Port people were very deficient in pot plants. The large majoritj of the exhibits were sent in by Messrs W. Wilson and W. Hislop. In pelargoniums, the. exhibits were very handsome, and Mr W. Wilson was | awarded the first prize. Fuchsias were scarce, j and those thatwere.exhibited did not present any marked merit. There were no petunias entered for competition. ; The fruit department was very deficiently represented, but perhaps as well as the season permitted. A plate of remarkably fine strawberries (the only exhibit for competition) was •hewn by Mr Trounce, and the judges awarded him the first prize. There was a really fine exhibit of gooseberries by Mr W. Webb, who obtained the first prize. Cherries were also scarce ; those exlubited by Mr B. Buchanan had made considerable progress towards ripeness, and the judges considered that they were entitled to the first prize. The show of vegetables was very fine, generally, but the collections were not very numerous in some, while they were deficient in other classes. The cauliflowers were certainly the finest of the season, and there was a general clearness from blight perceptible in all the exhibits in the cabbage family. The potatoes were very creditable to the growers ; and some samples of peas were as good as could be desired ; the same remark applies to the bean 3. The rhubarb was excellent, but the exhibits were confined to very few samples. There was nothing deserving particular mention concerning the parsnips exhibited, nor were the carrots of such excellence as to call for any special remark. There was only one exhibit of asparagus, and this was included amongst a miscellaneous collection of vegetables of considerable merit. The cucumbers shewn by Mr T. Lord were considered to be very good for the season. Mrs W. Reeves was successful in carrying away the first prizes for one fern and for a collection of ferns, also the first prize for a hand bouquet. Misa Isabella Hislop obtained the first prize for a table bouquet ; and Mr J. Carrell had the second awarded to him. The first prize was given to Miss Marion Reeves for a children's hand bouquet, and the second to Miss Fanny Hislop. What was called a floral device was shewn by Mr. B. Buchanan, but it was disqualified by the judges, as it contained artificial flowers. It was, in point of fact, nothing more nor less than a table decoration. VAmongst the miscellaneous exhibits, three specimens of the Nikau Palm — Arecasctpida, "sent to the society for exhibition, from Okain Bay, attracted much attention. There were also in this department, specimens of the coffee tree ; of the cotton plant raised here from Fijian and Tahitian seeds ; of the camphor tree ; of the orange and lemon trees, including the myrtle-leaved orange, and Seville, Persian, and Lisbon lemons, besides other objects of more or less commercial interest. Some .specimen plants, including the staghorn fern (Platycerium), an indigenous plant of New South Wales, and a nikau palm, were sent in by Dr Rouse, and deserve to be mentioned in the liskjr In the section devoted to the exhibiuon of New Zealand products was a very handsome piece of cabinet work by Mr Senfert, of Auckland, which was awarded a first prize. The design is of the most elaborate character, and the workmanship by far the best of its kind that we have seen in New Zealand. Mr J. S. Willcox, of Lyttelton, obtained a second prize for a beautifully inlaid frame, containing the photographs of the Mayor and Councillors of the borough. Mr D. L. Mundy exhibited a number of photograps painted in oils. He also sent in some specimens of photography, for exhibition, and was awarded a first prize A sample of Sydney bone dust was amongst the exliibits ; also one of Nutt's collateral beehives, made by Mr H. R. Webb, while in Sydney. Beehives of this kind are in common use in New South Wales, where they are found to be most admirably adapted to the climate. A collection of silver cups and match boxes, manufactured by Mr • 8,. Petersen, obtained a first prize, while the hats and caps shewn by Mr Zeesler, High street, were highly commended. The other articles in this department most worthy of notice were the following : — Glass case (framework of konini or native fuchsia) containing shells, fish, &c, from Lyttelton Harbour, sent in by Mr Kent, Oxford Terrace ; sea weeds (in case) from Lyttelton Harbour ; inlaid table-top of New Zealand woods, pillar of fern tree, and bottom of konini, sent in by Mr Kent, and highly commended ; watch stands, egg-cups, spillboxes, &c, of native woods, New Zealand fern and bog-wood ; some prettily iinade Maori mats (which were highly commended); a miniature house, made of New Zealand woods, which obtained a third prize; and some specimens of lithography by Stevens and Co., and of penmanship, both of which were highly commended. There were also some samples of chicory, grown and manufactured by Mr E. W. Trent, of the Canterbury Steam Coffee Mills, besides some parcels of coffee aud spices. The judges admired the quality of the exliibits, and the manner in which they were arranged for exhibition. Messrs Gillespie aud Martin also exhibited specimens of coffee and spices. The sauces sent in by Mr J. E. Jacombs were commended; there was no competition. In the dairy produce department, some old cheese from Mr Mclntosh, of the bay of that name, for exhibition only, was of excellent quality; a new cheeseof first-class quality was exhibited by Mr Jas. Graham, of Brenchley Farm, but it was considered to be too new for use. So far aa the butter was concerned, much cannot be said of the exhibits, j One parcel was highly commended, as being of first-class quality. The exhibits were three in number. The judges also commended a keg of.jbutter, ,sent in. for exhibition by, Messrs Gillespie and Martin, of (liristchurch. Considering the time of the year, yesterday's show gives the society reason for con-

gratulation -, and we hopa that their next exhibition will be still more successful. The attendance of visitors was not so large as it would hare been had the weather been mora auspicious. A hand was in attendance during the afternoon. We subjoin the prize list, together with the list of commendations. The judges were: — for dairy produce, Messrs T. Merson and H. Hawkins; for the miscellaneoua exhibits, Dr Donald and Mr H. K. Webbs; and for flowers, pot plants, fruit and vegetables, Messrs A. Duncan and J. Greenaway. PRIZE LIST. Class I — Pot Plaxts. Fuchsias, 3 varieties — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Do, 1 variety — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Pelargoniums, 6 varieties — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Do, 3 varieties — Ist prize, W. Wilson; 2nd, W. Hislop. Do, 1 variety — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Geraniums, 6 varieties (bedding) — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Do, 3 varieties — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Do, 1 variety — Ist prize, W. Wilson. Ferns and Lycopods, best collection — Ist prize, Mrs Reeves. Best Single Fern — Ist prize, Mrs Reeves. Miscellaneous Plants in Flower— Specimen single plant — Ist prize, B. Buchanan ; 2nd, J. Carrell. Ornamental Trees and Shrubs — r Extra prize awarded to J. Jenkins for one window plant. Class EC — Cut Flowems. Roses, 12 varieties — Ist prize, J. Carrell; 2nd, H. P. Murray- Aynsley. Do, 6 varieties —Ist prize, B. Buchanan ; 2nd, J. Carrell. Do, 1 variety— lst prize, E. St Quentin. Pansies, 12 varieties — Ist prize, — Badden. Antirrhinums, 6 varieties — 2nd prize, E. St Quentin. Hand Bouquet — Ist prize, Mrs Reeves. Table Bouquet, Ist prize — Miss Isabella Hislop ; 2nd, J. Carrell. Boys' or girls' (under 12) Bouquet— lst prize, Miss Reeves ; 2nd, Miss Fanny Hislop. Class in — Fruit. Dish of cherries, not less than lib. — Ist prize, B. Buchanan. . . Dish of Strawberries, not less than 24 — lat prize, Trounce. Best collection of gooseberries — Ist prize, W.Webb. Class IV. — Vegetables. 2 Cucumbers — Ist prize, T. Lord; 2nd, J.Allen. 2 Cauliflowers — Ist prize, Trounce; 2nd, A. Mackay. , , 3 Cabbages — Ist prize, A. Mackay; 2nd, E. St. Quentin. 6 Rhubarbs, heaviest stalks— lst prize, W. Webb; 2nd, do. 50 pods Peas — Ist prize, Gadd ; 2nd. — Trounce. 50 pods Broad or Long Beans — Ist prize, J. Allen; 2nd, H. P. Murray- Aynsley. 12 Potatoes (round) — Ist prize, Trounce; 2nd, EricksoH. 12 Potatoes (kidney)— lst prize, Gadd; 2nd, J. Allen. Bunch of Carrots (not less than six) — Ist prize, Trounce; 2nd, J. Allen. 4 Lettuces — Ist prize, Badden ; 2nd, J. Allen. Best Basket of Vegetables, 6 sorts — -Ist prize, Trounce ; 2nd, J. Alien. Mixed Salad— lst prize, W. Webb. Best Collection of Culinary Herbs — Ist prize, W. Webb. Extra prize. 50 pods Peas — J. Allen. Class V. — Dairy and New Zealakd Products. Butter — Ist prize, B. Buchanan ; 2nd, A. Chalmers; 3rd, Mrs Wakelin. Salt Butter — Ist prize, Gillespie and Martin. Cheese — Ist prize, J. Graham. Sauces — Highly commended, J. E. Jacomb. - • -- Coffee, Chicory, and Spices— Highly commended, E. W. Trent and Gillespie and Martin. N

In the evening, a large number of persons visited the show, which was then illuminated by the magnesium light. There were also some working models of locomotives and other engines shown, in motion, in the lower room, which attracted considerable attention. We learn that despite the inclement weather the number of persona who visited the show was nearly 700. About £33 was taken at the doors.