TE AWAMUTU AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 132, 11 March 1873, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

In our last issue we published a list of the prizes awarded at tho above show on Thursday lat>t; wo were unable, however, from the late hour ut w hioti our reporter, returned to print »ny account of the proceedings. We do so now. On arming on tue giound about nx>n we were mnc\\ gratified to observe a la 'go number ot people alreuly asbe-n-ble \ Tlio bhow was treated is ft yi noial holiday by tue settlors. A local agnoultural show is naturally looked upon nwilh great interest; ; all there meet together to comuare otes ; the exhib Is in fact are an exhibition of the results of their year's work. We regret that more of our fanners were not roprpseutod ; it was common to hear the remarks — Why did you not show your bull ? How is it your hor»o is not here ? You ought to have shown your wheat No 9ettler who lias the interest of the district at heart could be liable ta hear such expressions as the above applied to him. The remarks we are about to make m reference to the management of tho affujr are not framed with the object of finding fault with the Committee ; they, it is admitted on ajl hands, worked hard, and the show being tho first they had been called upon to organise, there was necessarily a want of experience. Our remarks are made with the, sole object of ensuring better management in the future Tho first thin? that struck us as wanting were the names of the owners and breeders of each exhibit on the pen or sample o f produce. It is the usual custom at all shows to put the owner's mine on each exhjbit immediately after the judges have awarded the prizes. We are indebted to the courtesy of tho Secretary, Mr J. Mandeno, for the list of pri/es, and to procure this entailed the necessity of remaining on tho spot till the morning after the show. M/>st of thoso present went awny in happy ignorance as to whom the different exhibits belonged, or to whom the various prizes were awarded ; & red or blue ribbon, it is true, was attached) to mark each prize, but it must bo remembered that the public do not know every farmer's beast or sheep by sight. Another improvement that might be made in future jeara is, not to admit any person into the yards till the judges have been round, and it w.ould be better if they commenced their duties much earlior in tho dpy. A good) deal of tho unpleasjtntries that occurred at the dinner were, no doubt, owing to the fact that many of tho influential settlers got tired of waiting loft to eat their dinners in their own houses. Notwithstanding the trivial failures wo have pointed out, the show was a suace*s. The horse stock, we \ ent ure to predict, could scarcely have been beaten m any district in the colony. The presence in t<he district of Mr Good fellow's two horses President and Te Keati, cannot fail to improve the stocL, more particularly as the show of brood mares of the heavy draught class was most excellent. In fact they were undoubtedly the gem of the Jahc.w. The two to which the prizes were awarded- were very closely follow el ; and in the course ot the day, with very few exception*, the prizes were awarded by amateur judges to almost ererv animal on the ground. Some of the young stock were very good, in fact no exhibitor had any reason to berjshamed of Ins nuunal. The hacks were very good, but certainly not to good in their class as tho heavier oif their species There wero eight exhibitors of a pair of horses for agnculturab purposes. They were were all good, but there is np doubt as to the prizos having fallen on the right shoulders. The prize for the best jumping hack was very hotly contested. This conto-t attracted more attention ythan v than anything during the flay. The jumping was very good. Tho pnze3 were e^enutally divided between Messrs Rutherfod |and Howard. Both the,ir hordes cleared fi\e feet two inches. The cattle were very small in number but excellent in quality. Tho bulls underthree years promise well fortlie future. There were five pens of three heifers entered ; one farmer, however, succeeded, in securing both the prizes offered with two excellent pen«. The show of sheep was exceedingly small. In no instance did the entries exceed two for nny prize, and for sime there was only one. They were good in quality Surely there must bo some more sheep in the district worth exhibiting. Of RVf'no there were only four entries. Major Jackson's boar showed both breed and size, and well deserved the prize, notwithstanding there being nothing to compete with him. The sows wero passably good, but call for no special notice The show of .voultry consisted of one pair of fowls, which, by-the-bve, we were not lucky enough to find The exhibition of agricultural implements was exceedingly limited. There were two reapjng and mowing machines ; each was awarded a prize. The one that took the first prize is an American patent, and, speaking without practical experience, we should snv it is a great improvement on the generality of these machines Of the extra entries for which m prizes were oflerod one Americon waggon, belonging to Mr J Scott, apneared to us very well suited to supply the requirements of< farmers in this colony. The prize for winter wheat was awarded to Mr J Runeimnn, Mr Bndgman's being hrghlv commended. Both samples would secure a high price in any market in the world. There were some excellent oxhibits of potatoes, and, if they o,re to be taken as a fajr sample, the season will bo a good one for this root. There wero two entries of sugar beet of a ch&refer to coimnpo sceptics, as to tho possibility of i crowing this crop ia tho Ws^kftto with advantage Our butter producers wero conspicuous bv their absence, there wor onlr one enjry for the prize otfered for salt, and one for uvsh, both by tho sr»jne farmer. The cheese industry was only represented bv two We must not omit to notice the entr:oa of knitted socks, numbering six. They were all of a quu'ity to make us envy the lucky benedicts who nre the possessors of such useful fingers Dried peaches had only a single reptesentaLve ; this fru t 19 exceelin£rly plentiful in the\listrict, in fact tons aro allowed to rot yearly. Surely the wives of our farmers are go.t very prudent or thoy would secure during tie spason sufficient to irive them an, occasional pio or pudding (luring tho winter. Triero who same cUra prizes, Ti 2. :— jams by Mr Wcstnoy, and a collection of fruit by Dr Wsddington The judges highly commended both these oxhibits. Mr Lowe exhibited somo excellent photographs of scenes intheWaikato. Th™ judge*, however, appearnot to bate noticed them ; they well merited attention o£ their hands. Tho native exhibited a collection of what may be termed' native produce > somo of it was prcttv good and some very indifferent. There wero some very well made mjijks, shewing t'rut the women, notwithstanding tho almost universal use of European clothing, have not altogether forgotten their old cunning. The Maoris also showed a, good irany cnttle and horses ; thoy were very indifferent samples, evidencing strongly that good annmls Qnnnot be produced without attention to breeding. The £50 given for prizes by the ga\ eminent ha? npfc been, thrown away. There was a large number of natives, present who appeared to take a very keen interest in the ajTiur, and eaph prize winner w,oro his colours throughout tho day.

THE DINNER. An excellent spread was preoared by Mr Davidson, of the Criterion Hotel, and about fifty sat down to partake of it. Mr Gubbins, a« Vice-President of the Association, in the absence of tho President, occupied tho chair, and Major Jackson, M.H R. the vice chair. As it was nearly getting dark by tho time the solids woro consumed, the Chairman, in order to get through the long list o£ toasts immediately gnve t)io toast of " Her Majesty and the Royal Famil' ." This, it is needless to say, was vociferously drunk with all the customary honor% He next gave, " His Excellency the Governor." He said that this gcnt'einan was about to leave the colony over the affair* of which he had presided with every satisfaction to the inhabitants. " His Honor the Superintendent," was the next toa«t on the list This toast was very indifferently received, nnd it irq'iirel ill (he influence of the chairman to »preua<le those assembled to drink, it uj; all. " Tho Army, Navy, and Volunteers " was replied for bv Major Jackson, M H.R. He said he did not feel capable of reipondinpc adequately for all the services. He could, however, say for the Volunteers in the Waikato that he felt confident that if evor it became necessary, they would be ready and able to preserve peace and order in tho district. (Choers.) He thought that the least the public could do was to subscribe to provide them with ammunition. Mr Robertson in proposing " Success to the Central Waikato Asiociation," said he was pleased with what he had seen that day, but that the show was n*t so good as it ought to have been. Had the whole district combined it would have been muoli better, but from what he could learn the Hamilton poople said the show ought to have been there, and so with each township. (Mr Knox here made some remark to the tpeaker which we were nnable to e»toh, and the noise which apparently arose from the cnuse rendered the rest of tho ipeaker't remarks inaudible ) Mr Knox rose to explain > he was received with cries of v tit down." He said in justice to himself he would ■peak, and that he would get higher. He eventually itood on bis seat and placed one foot on the table. He refute* to tit, down. There was a great uproar, in the midtt of which Major Jarkson left his seat and ordered •ome poMcemen to remove Mr Knox from the table. He was then taken away. The chairman replied : He said in the absence of Mr Scott, the duty devolved upon him to do so. He considered it a groat pity that the district should be cut up into lections, but they "were compelled to have a show of their own this year, as the other districts would not come to any terms that thoy could accede to. He considered, however, that they had no reasan to be ashamed of that day's show. The health of the teorefary, Mr Mandeno, \< as next drunk. That gentleman, in returning thanks, said that they had tried all they could to unite with the other divisions of the district, but when they found thit. impossible, they formed theraseltei into an asaoeintion which to-day has eventuated in a show. The arrangements he was aware were not perfect, but they had done their best. Mr Kennedy Hill said ho rose to propose tho health of, " The President of ihis Society." (Cheers ) 5° WttS sorry that old age and ill health prevented his being present. The show to-day, without the prises he l;Bd given, and the hard work he ha,d brought to bear on tho matter would not have been tho success it had been. Ho had given nearly tho wholn of his time to it last month. Ho wished, before sitting down, to ponxtont. that O'rnupo woukl bptlu' most suitable place It is situated in the centre of the Wn,iknto. Fannpr3 would be ablo to exhibit their stock nnd pet home the same night. Ho felt confident that tho toast ho was about to propose would bo drunk w ith the gmitont cordiality (Cheers ) The toast. was drunk with cuntotnurv honors. Tho Successful Com'p»titor* recoived the no\l srknowledgmrnt. This toast

was replied to, by Major Jack,-«>n, IV$ SR. Htft said, tha,t lie did not w.iab to tak^e hivis^lf that whioh n,ofc duo to him -he wus glad to tnke the pr^s m sheep, but t it was due to Mr P. Leslie tbat ho 6hould acknowledge that, the prizos wera taken by «hee i purchased from him Mr Bent proposed " The Unnuccetsful Competitors " In doing so lie would take t'le opportunity of e\;>it.>iiiig his oji n:uii with regard to tlie country. The country is undoubtedly j ■very line, but a deal of it it micerably mismanage*!. ™ He thought the list of prizes should, hare been read hgjf.o secretary ; he had no doubt they would be faithfully reported m fHI Wai*a*o Tim« 3, but, as one of the judges, it would bo much more satysfapj^ry to him to hear any objection that there might be to their decision while they ft ere present ; some came from long distances and might porh*p3 never hear of them. He was sorry to say that he could not compliment them on the manner in which they had carried their show ont. A want of order was apparent throughout the day. The judges had been called upon to do work that should properly have devolved upon the committe, viz , the classification of exhibits. Tliey had had to disqualify a pen of l.eifers as being above the age (three year*) represented. Ho made these remarks \\\ ordpr that the show, winch ha;l been partially unsuccessful to-day, might be otherwise next year, when he trusted that better law and order would'prevail than had done that night. He was greatly disappointed at the Maori horses and cattle ; he hod been led to understand that the natives were in possession of the best hacks in the country ; he had not seen one that day worth £7. If the body of settlers would join together and present them with a good entire and bull they would be doing a permanent good, and he thought it wonld have been better for A the governments to have dopflsp in.,puy«.of 1 giving them flour and sugar, which he was informed in one instance was told lot £7, and the money spent in grog. There were sereisj other toasts proposed, but it was impossible to hear the speakers, we therefore omit them from our report.