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Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3485, 30 October 1894, Page 6

-It ' is not often in this world that the reward fits the merit, but if we were to ask for one of the exceptions that prove the rule it would be sate to take the case of the Wai-. cato Agricultural and Pastoral Association. No body of men could' have worked harder than the members of the Association's executive committee did in organising the Show of last week, few, we make bold to add could have brought a larger share of intelligence to their aid, and the success achieved by them must have been patent to the most indifferent spectator on Thursday and Friday last. To be sure the committee could do little without the loyal support of the general body of members, who provided the raw materials, so to speak, of the exhibition, and in this connection a word of commendation ought to be given to the managers of the various large estates for the hearty interest taken by them in the several exhibitions of the Association. It, 1 is' much to be regretted that the small farming class do not follow the example thus set them. It will perhaps be objected that they are not in a position to incur the necessary expense, 7 butwhen the cost is set against the educational value of the competition it cannot be Regarded as trifling. Let us illustrate our meaning. The committee set apart certain' classes in the schedule for the sole benefit of farmers' properly so called, that is, persons who farm the land/.they own or hold or lease, and in every case there was v either no entry or no competition worth speaking of. For instance, there were no entries in class 43 best pair of farm mares or geldings, one owner, open to farmers occupying not more than 500 acres of 1 land; nor in class 44, best team of three, similarly owned. Three awards for farmers only were provided in the cattle classes, but the response was; absurdly inadequate, In class 85, best pen of five two-year-old grade heifers, , only three entries; for tKiB liest :> pen, of yearling grade heifers there were unly two entries i and if or;.: the best ■ p6n-b*f five" steers just a solitary exhibitor." [ t ]Two prizes' %ere-offered'in? the,v.eheep classes to" farmers not occupying, more the best five freezing, sheep and the : other for the best five wethers; : pie first named did not. competitor and the other.;, brought out one! The results are to the | last degree discouraging to the committee and cannot fail to give cause for very unfavourable comment on the part of visitors to the Show. If there is one institution to which more than any other the farmers shyuld lend the weight of j. their support it is 'he Agricultural I and Pastoral Association. Every day makes it more evident < that only by the closest attention to the rules of breeding and feeding can the farmer, and especially the small farmer, hope to make a reasonable profit out of his occupation, and if .they persistently neglect to avail themselves of the advantages to be derived from comparison and criticism they are bound to be sufferers in,a greater or less degree. But apart from what may be regarded as the purely commercial aspect of the subject, the farmers owe it to the district, and the Association to make the show attractive. The annual gathering of visitors from various parts of the province provides an opportunity for displaying the capabilities of the district which , ought to be made full use of, and

the farmers, even the humblest, should see to it thev do their share*

There is another matter, and oM that concerns the executive chiefly/ to which attention must again b(? directed. L.ast year, in comment"' ing on the result of the Show \ suggested that the scope of the exhibition might with much advaiK tage be widened, so as .to include classes for dairy and farm produce/ We desire to repeat the suggestion now and to add to the list of ad<' ditions, flowers, vegetables, dogs/ and poultry. It is quite conceivable that the schedule, as it stands, iu-' eludes all that the members of the' committee have either time or inclination to inspect and admire, but it must not be forgotten that a very large proportion of the visitors, who' are all revenue yielders, would appreciate a greater diversity of exhibits. There can be no doubt that the attendance would also be largely increased. But really the arguments in favour of the suggested extension are so obvious that W ought to apologise .for mentioning them. The success of the Show gives us an assurance that the As* sociation is capable of even -bettor things, and it is to be hoped that, .now they have demonstrated hotf well able they are to make an exhibition of the useful they will en*' deavour to add a little ornamenttv*' tion to their programme. The annual race meeting at Whata*. whatu,. will be held, as usual, on NeW Year's Day, when eight events will b£ : decided, including a trot. . Thosfi who have accounts again;# the Waikato. Agricultural and Pastoral As* sociation, in connection with the Show, are', requested to render the same" to ths secretary (Mr Martin Buttler), at once. Those interested are requested tO' note that entries for the Auckland ShoV//, to be held at Potter's Paddock, on lGtb anCs 17th prox., close with Mr Martin Buttler/ Cambridge, on Monday, sth November, Messrs McNicol and Co. have re" ceived instructions from MrT. 'W. Ellstod/ who is leaving for England, to sell at bis' residence, near Te Aroha, on Thursday/ 22nd November, the whole of his live and deadstock,.etc. Full particulars will bs' found in their column. • We would direct , the attention of our fruit-growing friends to the necessity' of getting their spraying apparatus in order, as we were shown yesterday a eodliw - moth. The spell of fine, warm weat-bei*. •has no doubt somewhat hastened theif' appearance; usually they are not in eyik' dence till the middle of November. The attention of our readers is di* 1 rected to an article on page 2 describing the noble work carried on by Dr. Barnado/It is intended to make a remittance bf, mail early next month, so as to reach Hotfitf, shortly before Christmas and so constitute Christmas offering to the good'work. In*, tending contributors should communicaite, early with Archdeacon Willis or Mr F, G/ Brooks, Cambridge. We: are pleased'to hear that there fo every prospect of a good fruit season in: Waikato. The dry weather which batf been experienced, together with an absence; of very high winds, has caused 1 a good sei-, of early fruits, and at present most orchard#' are quite a picture, apple trees being a'm»o£, of bloom. Speaking generally, more attains , tion. is now given by orchardists to trees, and the result is very perceptibly' even at this early stage of the season A great, many people who visited the, show on Thursday and • Friday Claudelands were exceedingly disap points'! on s learning that the milking machine about which so: much has been said an» written, was not on exhibition. Wo are in receipt of a letter from Messrs Reynold* and Co., - expressing regret at being to carry out their intention of having ot}0 : on-the ground. - The demand for machines has been so general over tbss" colony,.that the capacity lor the output hvtf. ;beeii.'Waine(l/ to sush an extent that tfeff v : inakers courd not ' supply one in timer An, Australian ;.exchange says J-*. Tasmaniaiuipple growewdknow that theif' fruit last season realised £60,000 on .tba London market, yet less than one-third of. that amount,reached- their /p'ockebs;-'NfiXf season moreiateamers are- to' call aMlobarfy and uow, before' the bloom is on the t?:ee«< ; negotiations'are to secure . but the growers'hesitate* to -commit' bheap'. selves. The Council of; Agriculture /W offering to arrange- to'rms between the pilP ties, and it is possible that if cheap 'freight are'_ secured other cehtres':'of distributer? besides Covent Garden may be essayedv . A meeting oif the. members of tM Hamilton Athletic Club, was held 3iwt* night at the Waikato Hotel, at which it wa# decided to carry out the usual day's sport? on Boxing Day, the same to be held M usual on Sydney Square. With one ortwtf' additions and alterations the same office#?' and committee were elected as carried out}' the programme so successfully last yens'/ The Club have a balance of something like' £6O in hand, and a committee meeting iff. prepare a'programme for the forthcoming, meeting was arranged to be held at %\W Waikato Hotel, on Thursday evening nea'lv Considerable changes are being- . made in the teaching staff of the Hamiljou West Public School,'both Miss Wilson and. Mr R. Gillett beiug removed. The former, has been appointed to the charge of the Kirikiriroa school replacing Miss Kelly, who has been transferred to the Nelsonstreet school in Auckland, while the latter goes to the Kaipara district. .Miss Wilson'# place is supplied by .the appointment of Miss Violet Graham who is at present a? Cambridge, but' the vacancy caused by M*! Gillett's removal has not yet been filled/ Both Miss Wilson and Mr Gillett proved themselves good teachers and had gainedthe respect and confidence of the childf&li' placed in their care.

The gonial host of the Criterion Hotel, Cambridge, .the well-known Harry Kerr, of coaching fame, calls for tenders in this issue for alterations and additions to his hotel. When tHey are completed the Criterion Hotel will be second to none in the Waikato for convenience and comfort, Some idea of the extent of the additions may be understood when we say they comprise nine bed-rooms, billiard, sample and dining rooms, and a kitchen, fitted with the largest cooking range in the Waikato. The out-buildings and stable are already erected, and are as complete as it is possible to make them, and the yard has .'been raised considerably and thoroughly drained. There will also be a private entrance in Brewery-street, a requirement this-hotel is greatly in need of. We heartily wish Mr Kerr every success in his new venture, and do not doubt but that he will find the outlay repay him tenfold. In connection with our report of the show on Saturday one prize was omitted, viz., the special prize in the cattle classes for the competitor securing the i highest number of points. This has not yet been ascertained officially, as one of the judges omitted to leape his official prize list with the secretary, who consequently could nnt .compile the figures necessary to ascertain, the successful competitor, In the Guessing Competition there were altogether 82 competitors, and the results were very interesting. Por the steer which weighed 9081b., there were five equal, v.iz„ Messrs A, Austin, S, Broadbent, D. Turnwald and G. Way each 9001b, and Mr L. W;.Nelson 910. Two tried at 8001b, Messrs V. Marshall and W. Badley, for the cow which weighed 7961b, ■ and for the three sheep which weighed " 1571b there were also two equal at ISCIb, viz, Messrs G. E. Clark and A. R. Langley. Having got over the excitement of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral " Association's Show, stock owners and in l , tending exhibitors will now be directing their attention to the forthcoming Auckland Show, which will be held in Potter's Paddock on Friday and Saturday, November 16th and 17tb. We trust that the winuers of honours at the Waikato Show will try conclusion's at Auckland. We are pleased to learn that Similar concession to exhibitors will be granted by the railway authorities to those afforded at the Waikaao Show; including a cheap excursion train from Cambridge and Te. Awaniutu oh Saturday, November 17th. Extended J tickets will also be issued from Waikato stations to Auckland from November 14th to 17th, inclusive, up to November 20th. There is no doubt that the; train leaviuer for Waikato after the show on Saturday evening will be a great convenience, not only to visitors anxious to 1 return that evening but also to exhibitors who are compelled to get their stock home. Entries are receivable by- Mr Martin Butler, .of Cambridge up,to Monday, November sth.