SATURDAY’S SHOW IS GOING TO BE A RECORD ONE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 1, 22 February 1950, Page 5

SATURDAY’S SHOW IS GOING TO BE A RECORD ONE

There can be no doubt now that Saturday’s A. and P. Show at Whakatane is going to break all records—unless there should he absolutely torrential rain to keep the crowd away. Nothing else will.

Yesterday, in the breaks from taking entries and answering inquiries, the secretary, Mr T. H. Morgan, told the Beacon that there were even then 400 more entries than last year’s total. And entries for the indoor sections do not close until to-? day. Also, children’s horse events are all post entry, and should reach 200.

Last year, there were 1657 entries altogether. Before midday yesterday there were already over 2,000 in for this year’s show.

Big Prizes Entries in the ring events will substantially exceed those of any previous show here, and the section is going to be an outstanding one. There are horses and riders coming from all parts of the Waikato, from Gisborne, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Opotiki, Te Puke and Te Awamutu. There is some big prize money this year, and some good trophies, and the good horsemen are right after them. Winners will have to work for red ribbons.

That last . remark applies with equal force to the straightout livestock classes. Indeed, the talent offering right through is going to make prizes hard to win. One of the town’s biggest retailers has placed a window at the Association’s disposal, and there are displayed trophies worth over £SOO. Getting Ready

Monday saw men, tractors, jeeps, even a breakdown wagon and winch, swarming all over the grounds getding ready for the big event. The working bee in itself was .the biggest and most highly mechanised the Society has ever had. Naturally, the ground is transformed. Seating accommodation—the same that was used for the visit of the Australian footballers last winter—is being erected to make it easier for spectators. Industrial exhibits will \be much larger and more numerous than on any previous occasion, and the next few days will see a lot of. work going into mechanical and other displays.

Side-Shows Like Us Side show people like this town. "They always do well here, and this year they are coming in force. There will be all. the fun of the fair, including a lot of shows usually seen only in the larger centres. IYZ, Rotorua, will broadcast a running commentary. Technicians are busy getting their land line set. There will also be a public address system going all day.

Main Items Biggest event of the day from a spectator point of view will probably be . the Bay of Plenty. mpen jump, which starts about 1.30 p.m. The official opening ceremony will take place at 2.15, followed by the grand parade at 2.30 p.m. 4 Bright touch of pageantry will be the street march by the girls’ marching teams (probably eleven of them), who will come along Crete and Salonika streets to the showgrounds to lead off the grand parade headed by the Opotiki and Whakatane Caledonian pipe bands.