SHOW ESSAYS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 January 1922, Page 7

SHOW ESSAYS.

JEAN MCINTYRE’S ESSAY. By Jean Mclntyre, Third Year, Waimate District High School (winner of the first prize in the senior section) : — All the world over there are shows and fairs and bazaars every year. And all the world over, the people look forward expectantly to these happy days of wholesome joy and fun and pleasure. Wainijhte, this little New Zealand town at the fot of the Hunter Hills, is no exception to the rule. Some shows are carried out on a tremendous scale, and last over many days, while others last but one day, or two days; but they are all equally enjoyable. People love to go to them. Everybody is happy, everybody does his best to enjoy himself, and to make others enjoy themselves, and he has no difficulty. Even those who cannot tell a good animal from a bad one enter into the spirit of the day, and enjoy themselves among the sideshows and the other numerous attractions.

Some people never trouble to think why we have shows; they think only of their own pleasure; but none can deny that great benefit is derived from them. Think of it! If there were no shows, many of the farmers would not trouble to keep their animals in good condition. They would grow slack, and not breed the best stock. But when there are shows, there is competition. And what good does competition do? Why, it encourages the farmers to take care of their pastoral and agricultural products, to have everything they own of the best. Each man wants his stock, his sheep, and all his agricultural products to be thought better than his neighbour's, and they ■work hard to achieve that desire, and they do so. Is that not an asset to the country? No one can deny it. Every year the Waimate Show makes good progress. This show means a lot of hard work for the A. and P. Asociation, but they are unselfish, they do not grudge it, for it is for the benefit of their country, our country. New Zealand. They wish to make the Waimate district: famous for its products, and surely* they are doing it. Success never ' comes in one bound, it comes slowly, and by hard work. And this Association does work hard, and is being successful. I think it is most enterprising, most unselfish of these l men, who are doing all they can to ! help their country. , This year, the Agricultural and ' Pastoral Association fixed November 1 17 for their Show, so that on that I day it was arranged that the school and all the shops should be shut, i The day was regarded as a public Holiday. It rained a little the day i before the Show, just to keep down I the dust. It was hoped and ex- ; pec-ted that it would clear up and be a tine warm day. And so mam- were ! disappointed when they found, on getting up on the morning of the : 17th, that the day had dawned dull i and cloudy. The pessimists looked ! doleful, and said, “I (old you so;”! but the optimists smiled cheerfully! to one another, and said, “Oh,don’t! worry; it will clear up all right,”! and sure enough, it did. By neon, | there was a bright, clear, blue sky, n nd it was a beautiful day. Every- ! one was happy. The people turned I out m crowds, and all wended their ! way to the show grounds, which are ! situated about a mile and a half ! out of the town. To the onlooker, ! it appeared as if everyone had come I out to see everything there was to see, and really enjoy himself. All around the grounds, outside the ring, of course, were the open tents with the wares and the stores of all the bigger departments in the town. One could spend the whole i day in these tents, seeing the various goods, and the specimens of various grains and vegetables grown m Waimate and in other soils too. It is interesting to know the various qualities of the goods. But such goods as these do not attract half the attention that the animals do. Surely all people love to see a really fine horse. And they could see that plenty of times at the Waimate Show, if they had any eyes. They did not even need to go near the pens to see the horses and cattle, for they all paraded round the ring, headed by the Pipe Band, for some time, with all their prizes tied on them. One horse had no less than twenty-three (I think that was the number I counted), but it was a beautiful horse. I do not know who was its owner, but he must have been very proud, and justly, too. However, this horse was not the only fine horse that was ex- ! hibited. There were some very fine

draughts, and half-draughts, and thoroughbreds. It was really beautiful to see them parading round the ring, their heads thrown back, their feet lifted high and gracefully at every step. Some of them pranced along, doubling their natural beauty, while others walked demurely, unafraid, so used were they to this sort of thing. But they were aM beautiful, right down to the little, wee pretty ponies. Horses are always the most beautiful of animals on exhibition at shows, but there are plenty of other animals that produce fine points, besides horses. What of the cattle and the sheep, and he pigs! Although I can never see anything beautiful or fascinating about pigs, even they have better and worse breeds.

There were several hogs lying in tht pens of various sizes, from young ones, two or three weeks old, to some great big sows, and at all stages between little and big. The cattle showed that a considerable interest is taken in their kind, for in the pens were many fine cattle of very good quality, Shorthorns, Jerseys, and every other kind. Also there were some very fierce powerful looking bulls and steers. The sheep, also are well worth mentioning. There was a fine range in the pens of fine looking sheep in good condition. But time does not permit me to dwell too long on all these fine specimens of Waimate products. Of course, the wonem do not go to the show to gaze at the cows and the pigs, and the sheep, at least so the i men say. But this is not altogether I true. Women do appreciate the good ! points in animals they know anything | about, and they see the beauty in the beautiful animals. They go partly for this. Nevertheless, some people insist that women go to shows merely to exhibit their goods, that is their prettiest dresses and hats. They want to see new fashions, get new ideas. But, above all, they meet old friends whom they have not seen for years, perhaps, and they enjoy themselves thoroughly, in their own quiet way. Not as do the younger portion of‘the crowd, that storm the sideshows, and flock round the stalls, buying walking sticks and kewpies. I think that this year there have been more sideshowis than ever before. All round one side of the ring were tents with, exciting advertisements above them to attract the

people. They seemed to come suddenly out of nowhere and settle themselves on the ground the day before. There was even a circus with a few wild animals, and a danciAg bear, or rather a man in a bear skin, as was very evident. The Baker Bros, with their great stunts on the motor bicycles, were there. Every animal freak that ever was, seemed to be there, from the two-headed, two backed, two tailed, four legged calf, to the fowl with the lower half of its body a duck, and the upper portion that of a hen. A great attraction was a wild west show from Australia, which bad with it an alligator and many other reptiles, and in which there was buck jumping. These sideshows help to make the show a success by providing amusement for all concerned. But I forgot, there were also two or three hoop-la tables, around which was a crowd nearly all day long. Nevertheless, in spite of all these attractions, when the jumping started, everyone rushed for the ring. I don’t think there is one who does not enjoy good jumping. It always gives me the greatest pleasure to see a beautiful horse with an expert rider, take a hurdle like a bird, with never a fear, or a pull-back. What could be more beautiful of all beautiful creatures —-'the horse —rise into the air so gracefully and with such ease? This was often the case on the show day, and there was not one who did not enjoy the jumping. But the end of the day must come, as it always will, and finally the people began to turn their faces hoineward, tired and weary, but happy, for they all had a most enjoyable day, and not one wished he or she had stayed at home. They will all talk about it for days, perhaps for weeks afterwards, and think of what the Show will be like next year, for surely it will be even better, judging by the progress made this year, and by the efforts of the A and P Association, ft is a worthy object, and we should all be willing to help to make it a success by making sure to be present next year.