THE EXHIBITION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 682, 26 January 1883, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

It must be gratifying to all concerned that the Exhibition was such a success. Judging by the receipts, some eleven or tw lye hundred people must have visited it in the two days, which is really v-.-ry creditable for a place of this size. The success teaches us that some amusement was wanted here on New Year's Day, and that the country residents, as well as those in town, were glad of a reasonable way being provided for them to spend their holiday. The Oddfellows' Hall, too, is so well adapted for such exhibitions, that what was shown was shown ta great advantage in most instances, more particularly on the second day, when there had been a little breathing space left for the committee to look round. Of course there is still much that could be improved. In the agricultural and pastoral exhibits, for instance, the cheese, butter, and honey were unprotected, and some of it of course suffered. Next yvar, no doubt, there will be a wire netting to put a stop to this. It would cost little, and be of great service. Speaking on that subject, we hexue heard some persons say that they suppose if there is an Agricultural and Pastoral Show there will be exhibits next New Year's Day. For our part we shall be very much surprised if there are not just as many, or more, that there were last year. The prizes paid were so small that the Association could have afforded to give them themselves, without any aid at all from the Farmers' Club ; but they may always be sure of some little encouragement, at any rate, from that source. " You cannot show too often," says Mr Bowron. "Take every opportunity of comparing your cheese." " I have always found where the manufacturers compared the cheese most that the best cheese was to be found." Undoubtedly Mr Bowron is right. If we think our cheese or anything else we make perfection, we soon get careless, but if we find by comparison that others can do better than ourselves, it stirs us to fresh efforts, and keeps them up to the mark also. We hope therefore to see a better show of butter, cheese, etc., at next Exhibition than at this, and might suggest that the expense of the prizes could bo divided between the Association and the Farmers' Club. We are sure of the success of the Horticultural part of the Exhibition, and prognosticate that next year it will show a vast improvement even upon last. There is a little room for improvement too here. The chil iren's bouquets might, for instance, be made up in the presence of the juuges on the afternoon of the second day. It is a very pretty sight to see a number of children making combinations with flowers, and no doubt if it were well known it was to happen on the afternoon of the second day, it would attract many visitors, and awaken the somewhat flagging interest that precedes the distribution of the prizes. It is certainly in the industrial part of the Exhibition that fresh efforts are required, and we think there is little doubt that an appeal on the part of the committee will be responded to. Kindly Mrs Citron had a large class for needlework, which had great success, but commenced too late last year to show much, but no doubt next year this will be a source from which many beautiful things will probably come. The Schoolmasters' Association will doubtless again #ive their kindly aid, and if the general publ : c will only come forward a little more energetic illy, and not only compete, but send any works of art they may possess to beautify the hall, there need be no more saii abo.it the decadence of this part of our annual Exhibition.