The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13. AN AUTUMN EXHIBITION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 565, 13 December 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13. AN AUTUMN EXHIBITION.

Tub members of the Farmers' Club no doubt acted for the best by offering prizes for cheese at the Industrial Exhibition next Friday, in response to the appeal of the honorary secretary, Mr Stephen Watkins. They looked at the matter in a broad light and said, competition is good, and knowing how little old cheese is in the hands of the farmers, they placed all on a level by making it a condition of entry that the cheese had been made since the Ist of August. Now, no doubt a show of what is often called " the staple product of the Peninsula" is a good thing, but the value of the exhibition materially depends upon its being in a fit state to show, and we argue that it is not in a fit state to show when it is only two or three months old, and that one might almost as well judge the curds when the milk is first curdled. Mr Bowron, who, we believe, it is intended to ask to act as judge, may have a great knowledge of the subject, but he is not gifted with prophetic power to penetrate " the dim vista of the future," and tell us what the crude and immature mass of curds may develop into ; and it appears to us to bj as hopeless a task as for a judge at a baby show to tell what will be the characters of the men and women into which the squalling exhibits will eventually be developed, Granting all this, however, the fact remains that there should be an annual 'show of cheese, and that at that show the produce of the current season should be exhibited. This, however, cannot satisfactorily be done on December 16th, when many of the dairies have only been in work six weeks or two months. It is the time, then, that is wrong, and therefore it is that that .should be altered, and we wish to strongly impress on the Farmers' Club the consideration of tlie most suitable period, A few jears ago some of tlie leading gcutlcmon of Akaroa, anxious to cultivate a taste for art and a love of those

homely industries (which make home so much pleasanter) in the secluded valleys of the Peninsula, formed an Association, and determined on having an annual Exhibition. They selected Anniversary Day as the time at which the Exhibition should be held, because the annual Regatta which was held then, attracted many visitors from elsewhere. The movement was ably conducted and was a great success, yearly growing in importance, and Akaroa has had the pleasure of seeing lier example followed by many of the " cities of the plain." ! But these were not the only attractions <'n Decmuer lfith : there was also the Horticultural Show, which at one time was a most attractive one

Now, as the aesthetic young lady said, this is " Too too." The number of gentlemen in Akaroa who take an interest in public matters can be very easily counted. This is ridiculously apparent when two meetings are called for one evening, for one is sure to have to wait till the other is over, as some of the same gentlemen are certain to be on both. It follows, then, that it requires the undivided energy of the residents to carry out any one thing properly, and yet, according to present arrangements, that energy has three different channels to fill on the crowded 16th of December.

The people come from Christchurch, Lyttelton, and elsewhere to see the Regatta. It is quite sufficient attraction, when combined with th; pleasure of a trip in the steamer and a view of the natural beauties of Akaroa. There is no fe:ir, therefore, of the day being unsuccessful if the Exhibit! n of Art and Industry and the Horticultural Show are held at another time, and, in our opinion, the whole thoughts and energies of the people should be bent, on that day, on making the Regatta as attractive as possible. At present, some members of the Regatta Committee are unable to give any help when it is most required, because they have to work for the Industrial or Horticultural Exhibition, and this certainly should not be the case.

We have now demonstrated to the best of our ability that it is a mistake t® hold th n se different events at the same time ; first, because it divides the energies of the r sidents :oo much, and secondly, because it is not the proper season for some of the exhibits. Let us see, therefore, if wo can suggest a remedy. It appears to us that the whole difficulty can be surmounted by hslchng the Industrial and Horticultural Exhibitions in the middle of March, instead of on Regatta Day. Beginning with the Horticultural Show, we argue that the alteration would be a vast improvement. On December 16th there are few vegetable;? in perfection, and fruit, which certainly should be the main feature of an Akaroa Horticultural Show, is of course quite unfit for exhibition. The spring glory of the queen of flowers has faded, and the gorgeous beauty of the bulbs is over. In fact, with the exception of pelargoniums and geraniums, we know of nothing that is naturally at its best, and as we have few stove plants or greenhouse blooms, we really cannot at this time of the year have such an Exhibition as would give a visitor a fair idea of what can be done here. In March, on the contrary, fruit and vegetables are at their best, and the autumn blooms of the roses and a myriad of other flowers are in the zenith of their beauty. Referring to the Exhibition of Art and Industry, at which the produce of our farms should certainly occupy tlie leading position, Aye have already pointed out that cheese is unfit for exhibition on the 16th of December, In March, however, it should be in excellent condition, and all the other products of the farm are also at their best. Cocksfoot grass seed, which should be another main feature, is not gathered on December 16th, and as not half of the fl cks are shorn, many an excellent sample' of wool which should be shown for the general good, may be missed. March, however, suits for all these and a host of others, and deferring the Show till that date will not be detrimental in any way to the exhibition of articles of art and industry, for a picture is as beautiful in autumn as in spring, and Mary Jane can work her sampler, and John Jones draw his map, just as well at one time as another

As to the entire success of an Autumn Exhibition without the additional attraction of a Regatta, we have no doubt of it whatever, and poor indeed must be the faith of the promoters if they don't believe it can stand entirely oh its own merits. The iron horse is gradually workng its way into our valleys, and as means of communication increase, the denizens of the bar© and dusty plains will only too gladly seek its kindly aid to cast off their cares for a day in these scenes of surpassing loveliness. We do earnestly hope that the Farmers' Club, and the gentlemen who worked so hard in the past, and are working so hard in the present, for the Exhibition, will take the matter up warmly, and that the best Industrial and Horticultural Exhibition ever yet held in Akaroa will take place in the month of March, in the year 1883.