Royal show officially opened

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20639, 28 October 1938, Page 9

Royal show officially opened

VISIT OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL

TRIUMPHAL GRAND PARADE OF STOCK brilliance of hunters in dominion jump large crowd attends second day of show Stirring to the heart of every farmer, spectacular in appeal to the urban dweller and of a magnitude never before attained in the AA aikato was the Grand Parade of stock which was proudly displayed before the Governor-General, Lord Galway, and his party, when Waikato’s first Royal Show was officially opened at Claudelands Showgrounds to-day, the second day of the great exhibition. The grand pageant was a stimulus to farming enterprise, as in unparalleled splendour, the strength of the primary industry of New Zealand unfolded in what seemed to be an unending procession. Beauty and utility were associated when the cattle, horses and dogs filed around the arena displayed at their finest by proud exhibitors. In an age of mechanisation on the farm the horses have ■f been exhibited in record numbers, a feature in which Waikato, as no other centre in New Zealand, can take unlimited pride. Not only the alert and high-spirited sporting breeds but the powerful Clydesdales, bedecked in tri-coloured ribbons, aroused the admiration of the thousands of town and country dwellers who thronged the showgrounds. Massive bulls appeared as things of beauty and not as the fearsome beasts which many are inclined to regard them. Champion cows were led in the Grand Parade with all the pride of their exhibitors, a pride which was fully justified for among their numbers were some of the finest types ever seen at an agricultural exhibition in New Zealand. The tewn was gaily bedecked in bunting as the Governor-General left his hotel for the showgrounds. To the Boundary Road entrance he proceeded and was met by a mounted military escort to continue his journey to the official stand where the party was greeted by spontaneous cheering. There he was welcomed by the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro, the president of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Mr P. H. Clarkin, and other officials of the association and of the Royal Agricultural Society. His Excellency officially opened the exhibition before the magnificent Grand Parade was staged, after which the trophies and medals were presented by Lord Galway to the successful exhibitors amid scenes of enthusiasm. Yesterday the crowd was the largest seen at a first day of an agricultural exhibition in Hamilton and the throng rivalled in extent any previous People’s Day. To-day, however, the presence of His Excellency and also the first Grand Parade attracted many thousands more, reflecting the fascination of thoroughbred stock. The amusement park was a magnet to hundreds of patrons while interest was evinced in the trade exhibitions comprising a range of machinery and farming accessories more comprehensive than ever. To-morrow the pageant will conclude. / Early indications that to-day’s crowd would create a record were given when cars streamed in from an early hour and as the vehicles lined up several rows deep along the frontage of the arena an unprecedented sight for agricultural displays in the province was seen. The weather was overeast but much improved upon yesterday and thousands of people seized the opportunity of visiting the show. f From the air the sight was impressive. With cars parked in thousands, hundreds pf horses in the arena and at the grooming paddock, hundreds of people watching the dog trials near the picturesque native bush, the colourful side-shows and trade exhibits and a dense flock around the cattle, sheep and pig peiis, Claudelands showgrounds had never been in such animated and festive mood.

PARAMOUNT SUCCESS

opening day features BIG CROWD DESPITE THE RAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF PAGEANT TO-DAY Sombre skies through which the sun shone fitfully during the latter part of the day shadowed the Claudelands showgrounds yesterday afternoon, but, nevertheless, the opening day was a paramount success. It was Judges’ Day. but the interest of the public was remarkable and the rain was no deterrent to farmers eager to study as carefully as the judges the liner points of the thoroughbred •tock. In the afternoon the major attraction of the day from a spectacular viewpoint was presented when the hunters were sent over the Jumps in the arena. They seemed oblivious of the rain and gallantly they handled the slippery conditions to carry their eoated riders over the fences. Throughout the afternoon the jumping commanded enthusiastic interest, but the climax came with the staging of the first heat of the Dominion Jumping Championship carrying the largest prize money ever offered for hunters in New Zealand. Keen followers of the hunting field, and there are no people more enthusiastic in that sport than sportsmen of the Waikato, followed each entrant with a keen appreciation of the finer points of hunters Rising Generation of Farmers Yesterday the children from schools throughout the Waikato attended the pageant and although many found tantamount interest in the amusement park the fact that so many surrounded the show rings of stock and followed keenly the jumping of the hunters, giving applause where merit was called for. reflected the keen Interest in thoroughbred stock and correct breeding whichis being evinced by the rising generation of Waikato farmers. To-day, the official opening of the exhibition and the Grand Parade of stock commanded major interest but there were other attractions to thrill the concourse of agricultural enthusiasts. The second heat of the Dominion Jumping Championship brought about 20 more brilliant jumpers Into action and revealed that 1 lie final to-morrow between iiie first five horses in eacli heat will present a superlative display of jumping. Other hunters events were staged also. The sheep flop trials brought forth unrivalled ability of the sheep dogs which handled their charges as intelligently as could any man. Those members of the public who were seeing this event for the first time were amazed at the patience and intelligence of the dogs. The shearing competitions and the judging of harness horses and trotters, fat lambs and export pigs were features of the exhibition to-day. An event of interest was the saddle trotting race I for gentlemen riders.

EDUCATIVE DISPLAY

ROYAL SHOW FEATURE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMPREHENSIVE EXHIBIT Perhaps the most comprehensive and educative exhibit at the Royal Show is the display of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture. Housed in a commodious marquee, the exhibit is the best of its kind yet seen in the Waikato and perhaps the most comprehensive seen at a New Zealand show. The display provides an admirable indication of the service that the Department of Agriculture is providing for the farmers of the Dominion and serves to now hew the department is endeavou l to solve farming problems. Samples of typical Waikato pasture, various grass species, pasture weed's and soil types are featured in the display, while the interesting nature of the exhibit is indicated by the fact that discussions on facial eczema are given by officers of the department together with the showing of a film depicting the dangers associated with hydatid disease. The exhibit should be visited by every farmer attending the show for rarely has there been staged such an educative display. The exhibit of the Department of Agriculture can be summed up as a practical attempt by its officers to bring before farmers and the general public a comprehensive survey of its activities. The able manner in which this has been done can be judged by a general outline of the various exhibits comprising the stand. These are horticulture, Government seed testing station in actual replica, hydatid disease exhibit, apiary, poultry and Fields’ Division displays. Horticultural Section The comprehensive horticultural section, which is in charge of Mr R. G. Hamilton, orchard instructor, has been grouped in three phases—spring, summer and winter. In each of these sub-divisions are given the spraying schedules and orchard operation calendar for each period. Grafting and budding exhibits are also" on display. The display also includes an attractive exhibit of autumn and winter fruits together with i'ruit by-products and juices. A feature is a display of New Zealand wine produced at the department's horticultural station at Te Kauwhata. Large scale photographs of typical fruit disease, pruning, grafting and budding operations j summarises an educative exhibit. The Fields Division’s exhibit features | pasture establishment and manage- : ment, farm shelter, maize growing and 1

manurial responses in the various Waikato soil types. In the farm shelter section a farm in miniature with live hedges lends 'a realistic touch to the exhibit. in connection with, pasture management a number of turfs illustrate the chief points to observe in the control of facial eczema and of feed flavour In cream. The fertiliser response section by means of a series of turfs for each soil type sets out the degree of response that could be expected from single and combined dressings of the various fertilisers. Associated with these turfs are soil profiles to indicate the soil type on which the particular responses were obtained. In the pasture strain section the differences in growth and permanence of the leading species are strikingly portrayed. Arranged in conjunction -with this display are special pasture sowings, pure sowings, and the main Waikato pasture types. Turfs of swamp grasses were included to Illustrate the suitability of these for wet conditions. There is an interesting display of grasses and clovers, scollections of seed, seeds mixtures and maize in cob and in bottles. Messrs Marryatt, Simpson, Brown, Lee and Burges, Departmental officers, are in charge of this section. Seed Testing Station An actual working replica in miniature of the Government Seed Testing Station at Palmerston North is also* to be seen. This conveys an excellent idea of the service that is placed at the disposal of farmers and merchants by the Government. The extent of the activities of this service can be gauged by the fact that over 20,000 samples representing the greater part of the agricultural seed landed in the Dominion are tested annually at the station. In the exhibit an analysis of purity is demonstrated by an assistant. Actual examples of the Ultra ray test for strain, germination tests, puric acid tests of white clover and other exhibits relative to the testing of seeds are to be seen in progress. This exhibit is in charge of Mr O. 1 Hyde, seed analyist, who is prepared i to discuss the various tests with j visitors lo the stand. The poultry section deals with the j importance and correct methods of 1 culling and feeding to obtain the most j satisfactory and payable results, while ' the honey section displays honey ! quality in a comprehensive manner, j The poultry section is in ciiarge of ; Messrs C. Cussen and E. Jarrett.J poultry instructors, and the honeysection in charge of Mr L. Winter, • apiary instructor. Visitors to the agricultural display ; included the Minister of Agriculture, i the Hon. W. Lee Martin, Mr E. .1. Fawcett, acting-Director of Agricul- j lure, Mr R. B. Tennent, director of I the Fields Division, and Mr P. W. ! Smallfleld, Fields Superintendent. I