PEOPLE'S DAY.

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 November 1901, Page 2

PEOPLE'S DAY.

l-'eople's Day !■ Beautiful weather favoure 1 the Association yesterday, and provided the one feature needed to assure the success of Wanganui's first two days' show. From early noon a stream of peopletrickled on to the course, and as the afternoon wore on tho crowd gradually assumed phenomenally large proportions. In short, the public rose to the occasion, and , farmer and townsman co-operated in^ the determination to put up a. record. There must have been ful'.y 10,000 people on the ground. At about 1 o'clock the Right Hon. the Premier, accompanied by the. Post-master-General and Mrs. Dyer and Miss Seddon. arrived on the ground, and were ■accorded a. cordial welcome by the officials of the Association. The scene on the ground was naturally bright and animated. The profusion "of canvas .structures, the gay bunting, and the great ever-mov-ing throng of well-dressed people threadin" hi and out among the various attractions, presented a oicture in itself worth ijoing a long way to see. Add to the things to be seen were the sounds to be heard. Tihere was the harmony of the stock yard, the kennel, and the poultry yard the barking, bellowing, and crowing of dogs, cattle, and fowls mingled with the plaintive bleating of the occupants of the innumerable sheep pens, There was the excellent music of the Garrison Band, always a welcome feature at local gatherings ; and there was, too, the more or less tuneful strains of sundry barrel organs, mercilessly worked by energetic grinders. Above all raged the blatant voices of strong-lunged showmen, shouting the attractions o<f, the rival aide shows. The show itself was an unqualified success, | and provided the publio with ample to occupy their time. The different competitions naturally attracted a, good deal of attention, and great interest was manifested both in the. wood chopping competition and the jumping events. Three good men tried conclusions in the chopping competition. Hutton, of Eltham, won the woodchopping championship at Palmerston North Show, going through a thirty-inch white pine log in fßst time. Casoy gained second place in the same competition. Hutton and Petitt have only recently come to the colony from Tasmania. They are the champion woodßawyeis Casey won the wood-chopping competition at Kltham in record time. In yesterday's event Hutton won again, cutting his log in 3 mins. 35 seca., Casey coming second, Petit filling second place in 3 mins. 38 sees., including a handicap of 30 sees. The winner of the jumping ctmpetition turned up in Mr. E. J. Wilde's roan gelding Dominie, ridden by the owner, Mr. Symc s Kupoia filling second place, and Mr. Riddiford's Gipsy Boy third. The high jumpinn- competition provoked keen competition, but only Mr. James Lowe's Ruth and Mr. W. Johnston's Mignon succeeded in clearing the sticks at 5 feet 4 inches, and the honours were divided, Gunner taking third prize, with 5 feet 2 inches.