THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 577, 15 November 1871, Page 2

THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S EXHIBITION.

To-day lias been a gala day for- our country settlers, and really it must- be admitted that the show proceeding in the Albert Barracks is calculated 'to raise them, and their interests,, in public estimation. The exhibition has been peculiarly favoured with the finest of weather, bright skies and bracing air giving a zest i'ot' outdoor movements, and as might be expected, there has been a general roll-up |of citizens, and the Barrack reserve has presented an unusually gay and animated ! appearance. The position is admirable for such a s.'iow, there being abundant room, and consequently no crowding, either of exhibits or sight-seers. The entrance is by the Princes-street gate, in immediate j proximity to which, on the inside, are placed the articles of provincial manufacture. On the right hand side, a little further on, are the imported agricultural implements ; farther on, to left and right, are disposed the sheep and dogs. Parallel with Symonds-street, and near the Barrack wall, are the cattle ; while near the wall, behind the Choral Hall, the horses are drawn up. Altogether, an excellent disposition of the exhibits has been made, and promehaders are enabled leisurely, and with much comfort to themselves, to see everything that is to be scon. In I lie centre of the grounds the Volunteer Band discourses sweet music, adding greatly to the enjoyment of the scene. There is really a very oxtensive collection of exhibits, such as would do discredit to no district of much greater pretensions; and the impression left on the miud is that, however much we may decry the state of our rural interests, there is hope for the country yet. It would be impossible in our space to give anything like a detailed description of the exhibits, which were carefully catalogued with the names of the exhibitors. Horses thoroughbred, heavy draught, saddle and harness horse.-:, and ljo;.ie-i are ail well represented. Cattle, shorthorns, Herofords, and of any breed; sheep—Leicesters, Lincoln!), aud longwools are there in great abundance in their several pens, decked in all the bravery of ribbons, and many of them bearing proudly the markd of distinction awarded. Swine, large, small, and nondescript ; poultry of all classes and denominations, are fairly represented, while the canine race is therein unusual force, making the welkin ring with their music. We admit that we have failed to discover the Horticultural Society, or any of its belongings. There is a very extensive assortment of imported implements of husbandry, Messrs. T. and S. Morriu exhibiting a magnificent assortment of agricultural implements ; Mr. H. Fendelow, Messrs. Porter and Co., and other exhibitors adding thei:1 quota, but we think we are correct in saying that to most persons visiting the exhibition, unless those of purely bucolic habits and tastes, the most interesting of all is that of provincial manufactures. , I_t. .j&.jnv,ffSfo"*exn'i6rte3 without wonderiug that our country settlers should ever purchase mi imported article when manu'aclui'ers like James "Wallace and McMillan, and others, are residing in our midst. The formerof these, Mr. Wallace, of (Hahuhn, has a long list of articles exhibited, and from their character, as given them today by the unanimous consent of all observers and practical Judges, we do not hesitate to say that the farmer found .vith an imported article in his possession - which could bo supplied by the local manufacture of Wallace and others —of superior workmanship and equal cheapness, is a disgrace to the broLherh od. Mr. Wallace exhibits ploughs of every description, single, double, and treble furrow; moulding ploughs, scarifiers, horse rake, potatoo digger, harrows, &c, everyone of them distinguished by its own special excellence. Mr. McMillan also exhibits a light, handy, and beautiful swing plough, besides ship's carpenters' adzes of excellent workmanship. Air. C. T. Wren exhibits an admirable compensating swingle-tree, besides collections of seeds. A churn exhibited by Mr. John Mason, attracted considerable attention ; but speaiul attention was given to two steel flour mills manufactured by Mr. J. Case, of VVftkefieldstreet. There is one of those capable of grinding two bushels of wheat per hour, and being at work on the ground, showed the excellent results obtainable in the formation first of wheat meal, then of all the varieties of the finest (lour by the mere shifting of slides. With such an instrument as this, having the guarantee of local manufacture, purchasable at £IC, or some four pounds less than the cost of an imported mill of similar qualifications, we cannot in all the world conceive why our settlers should ever buy a pound of foreign flour; and we do trust that an 'examination of Mr. Case's workmanship to-day will induce country settlers to not only encourage local manufacture, but make themselves independent of roads and rain, wind and weather, by growing their own wheat and grinding their own flour, lleally, with such facilities, an -. uckland farmer found buying a pound of foreign flour in one of our stores should be ashamed of himself, and shjuld apologise either for being a farmer or for buying flour. There are two very pretty models made by Mr. J. E. Hickson, one of a digging machine, and the other a machine for raking and loiJing hay. They elicited considerable interest. As might be expected, Messrs. Cousins and Atkin have their manufactures well represented. Dray wheels, heavy and light coach and buggy wheels, sections of wheels, axe handles, a wooden plough waggon, &c, are exhibited, all of <tho quality characteristic of our enterprising fellow-townsmen. There are some excellent specimens of cooperage exhibited by Mr. McCrae, of High-street, cheese vats, thickening tubs, butter tubs, &c, which, for excellence of manufacture, could not be surpassed. Mr. J. Rolfe also exhabits some beautifully made churns, cheese vats, cheese press, ■&■-?. Air. Wiseman exhibits locally manufactured harness of every description, formed chiefly from:the leather made by Ireland Brothers and Mr. Gittos. come of the buggy harness of this exhibitor is really deserving of admiration, tho excellence of the work, the beauty of finish, and the cheapness of the prices being all equally

attractive. A fine set of dray harness, made in.the Scotch style, attracted general admiration, Mr. Lamb, of liiverhead, exhibited some excellent flour manut'ac. tured at his Waitemata Mills, and some samples of biscuit than which nothing could be more delicious. Mr. Lamb's samples were formed from Adelaide wheat, aud from a mixture of Adelaide and Canterbury wheat, but he declares that Aucklandgrown wheat turns out an article superior to either and both. A very interesting little exhibit, to wit, one axe handle, was shown as the manufacture of a Mr. Liuley, of Chapel-street, such as are made by himself in his hours of leisure. The handle is exactly modelled on the American style, and of ti-trcc. The maker is certaiuly deserving of encoura^emcut. One of the most interesting of the whole lot of local manufactures is a. collection of pottery, manufactured at liiverhead. It appears that the clay there is specially fitted for the purpose, and the articles could not be surpassed. Filters better and cheaper than could bo imported; drain-pipes, earthen-pots of all kinds, ginger-beer bottles, dishes, insulators, and a great variety of other articles, were exhibited, all being the workmanship ~of Mr. J. Carder and his family at Itiverhead, and we would strougly recommend to those desiring such articles the duty of encouraging these manufactures. Altogether, the exhibition speaks in the highest terms of our capabilities for local manufacture, as the settlers' exhibits reflect credit on our farming interests.

The following is the list of prizes as far as the'distribution has proceeded. The numbers denote the order of merit :— HOUSES. Thoroughbred Entires. —1. "' Dainty Ariel," W, Walters. 2. "Young Dainty," ditto. Entires, two voars and under. —1. "Eclipse/ W. Sharp, jun. Mares.—l. "Funny Fisher," VV. Walters. 2. W. Sharp jun.

Fillies, three-years and under. -1. Cnestnut fi ]j, I'horriaa Paton. Fillies, two-years and under.— Ooumicndcd R. Wvnyard.

Entires (heavy draught.). —l. Three-years old, VV. Gardner. -. " Invincible," M. i Routley. Mares.—l. W. Motion. Filies, three-years and under.—l. W. Motion. Filies, two-years and under. —2. Yearling, T. A. Brown. Entire Roadators. -1. "Dainty Ariel, W. j Walters. Best adapted for saddle.—l. J. S. Buck- : land. B.'st adapted for harness.—l. Grey mare, j S. W. Hawkins. Extra Stock.—l. Pair ponies, R. Wynyard. 1 CATTLE. ; Shorthorn Class. — Bulls : 1. (i Young Wizard," Greo. Cruickshank. Bulls, 2 years and under: 2. 1G months old, C. Rjhipherd. 1. Cows, in milk or calf: Edwd. Bovey. 2. 3 year olds, W. Gardner. Heifers, 2 "years and under: 1. 8-months old, R. Robertson. 2. E. Bovey. Bulls, Hereford Class.—l. "Duke of Edinburgh," Ft. and E. Maclean. Bull-1, two years and under. —1. R. and E. Majleau :2. " Kaialu* a- "ir'" "" ' Cow?, in milk or calf. —1. R. and E. Maclean ; 2. ditto. SniiEP, LEICESTER CLASS. Earns of any age. —1. Thomas Russell; 2. ditto. j Hog Rams.—l. . Shipherd ; 2. W. T. j Baasett. I Evycs.—l. R. Graham ;2. C. Shipherd. Ewe Hoggots.—l. C. Shipherd j 2. C. Shepherd. LINCOLN CLASS. Earns of any age. —1. Thomas Russell ; 2. J. C. Buckland. Ewes.—l. J. C. Buckland j2.J. C. Buckland. i Ewe Hoggets. —1. J. C. Buckland ; 2. J. C. Bueldand. LONG WOOL CLASS. Rams of any age.—l. VV. T. Bassott; 2. J. C. 15u •klimd'. i Hog Kiuns.—l. D. MoNicol; 2. D. McNicol. Ewea.T-1. James Wallace; 2. J. C. Buck- \ land. SWINE. —liABGB BREED CLASS. Boars. —1. James Abbot; 2. (18 months j old), J. Muilally. ; Sows.—l. W. Gardner; 2. Jos. Abbot. SMALL BIIEED CLASS. Boars. —1. VV. Nation. | Sows.—l. Jos. Abbot; 2. E. B. Hill. EXTJIA STOCK. | .Four Pigs, eight weeks old, highly coraj mended. J?OULTBY. jl. Spanish, Blooaifield. 1. Brahmas, R. ' and E. Maelean. 1. Game, John Gillard ; 2. Gam", Joseph Abbot. 1. Muscovy Ducks, 1 J. P. King. : Implements.—PsovinciaTj .Manufacture. 1. Swing plough, Ja.;. Wallace. 2. Swing ■ plough,\N; McMillan. Collection of plough?, i harrows, potafoe digger, and scarifier, was highly commanded, James Wallace. 1. 1. Compensation swindle-tree, C. T. Wreu ; 1. Adze, N. McMillan] 1. Axe, ship carpenter's, N* McMillan ; Churn, by John Mason, highly commended ; 1. Steel-mill, J. Caso; 1. Collection of dray wheels, buggie j whoels, and heavy dray wheels, Cousins, Atkin and Co.; 1. Waggon, Cousins, Atkins and Co.; Cheese vat, tubs, &0., highly commended, Mr. AJcßac.

Imported Articles. —1. Smith's Suffolk corn and turnip drill, H. Brown ; 1. Marigold and turnip's ridge drill, R. Proudo j Patent British mower, highly commended, C. Shipherd ; I. Chaff cutter, IT. Fendelow; 1. Hand chaff cutter, H. Eendelow ; 1. Patent cheese making apparatus, R. Bent; Cheese press, milk pans, lactometer, galvanized iron wire netting, iurnaco pan (as a collection), highly commended, 11. Fendelow and Thos. Peacock.

Collection of Agricultural Implements.—l. T. and S. Morriu; I. IS. Porter and Co.; 2. E. Porter aud Co. Portable Ovens by Smith, of High-street —Highly . commended. J. Wiseman's collection of Saddlery, Harness, &c., was highly commended, especially tho colonial leilhrr. Auckland made Pottery — Highly commend* d, Lamb's Biscuits and Flpur—Highly up.inn nded*