AT THE MASTERTON SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1053, 16 February 1911, Page 9

AT THE MASTERTON SHOW.

TnE NEW GROUNDS.

The Masterton Show was a memorable oveut this year; largely because of the fact that it was held in the new'grounds at Solway. For months past the Agricultural and Pastoral Society has been expending time, onergy, thought and money over nil manner of plans for the coinfortabje housing of stock and for accommodation generally, with the result that tbo now grounds are such as to be immensely proud of, and probably are n& up-to-date as any in tho Dominion. It 6eomed a cood omen thnt the weather should have been so entirely . delightful for both show day?, and yesterday,. People's Day,.nearly tho whole population of. tho Valley, and much of that which lives beyond it, must have gathered in the Solivay ground?. Motors and cabs and taxis (a great many of the latter having bosn imported from town for tho purpose) had a very busy time indeed, and seemed as though they could hardly wait for tho fotv seconds that it took to step out of the vehicles before dashing off again. Owing to the fact that Masterton itself is very nearly, if not quite, a' milo nnd n halt away from the showgrounds, u great many people fcpcnt the whole day there, and the beautiful piece of bush at the back and side, was filled.with.picnickers thoroughly enjoying its coolness and beauty. 'Thebush is, without doubt, a very vnlunble asset to ' tho society, and will help to make tho show, n most enjoyable affair for a great number of people who have to spend tho wholo day on the'grounds. Tho way to tho station, wlnoh is conveniently near at hand, lies over quaint little rustic bridges-ami through the larger part of the bush, nnd .leaves a very pleasant impression behind.,. Tho fnt cattle have been tho themo of universal admiration f at tbo show, nnd in venturing among, their quarters (a town person is apt to forget that cattlo exist) they are to -be seen surrounded by admiring farmers enthusiastically discussing their size and merits. Iho eight of all tke animals placed in the ring beforo they comnieuoed to parade, was most im-posing-great bulls with gru'lands of ribbons, . spoils , from other contests, wreathing their massive necks, with sides shining like satin, and at the back of them were hacks, hunters, magnificent Clydesdales, ponies, and horses in nil kinds of vehicles.' It'is the competitive ground and the triumph of the farmer. Tho jumping was, of course, tho great attraction for crowds of people, nnd when, there is a JBSO prize to compete for .tli\o is naturally keen competition. Women, as riders, are playing a much moro important nart in the competitions than they did'in"former years.) It was vory pretty to sob tho nairf, ifcntleman and lady, ride round, some of the horses keep; ing step ; most .evenly. sidorable-discussion is the shape-Of the ring, which.is a truo circle, instead of being an oval,- as has been the custom elsewhere, some people thinking it does not give the horses a good run before tho jiimp. Probably it is a point that never ■will-bo definitely settled. . All the side shows were relegated to tho grbund at the back of the' grandstand, insttfid ■%f rlbrihs ! Scattered-' all-* over < the' place, as on other occasions, a fact which at first caused thdr owners' tho greatest indignation. So angry were they, indeed, that thev botook themselves off tup feronnuV on , the Tuesday, but as tho society was entirely indifferent as. to whether they stayed or' went, •' and did nothing-in the matter, they came , back again, and yesterday were busily enticing tho public to view, all their freaks and wonders. His Excellency tho Governor, attended by Captain' Shannon, arrived on the show grounds yesterday morning, and after, making a speech on tho great value of showr, planted a treo to commemorate the opening of tho new grounds nnd his visit.jthcro. Lady; Islington tho show in the afternoon. , ' r

The 'Frocks, ...... • Nothing could have been more perfect than the weather for Peoplo's Day at the show, and consoniiently there vero very many pretty frocks to ho scon. White, however, seemed to to the nrovaiiing colour, as it has been everywhere this summer. Her Excellency Lady Islington was in a black and white pin striped ''costume, with .white fecings,. and a large black and white hat with black plumes. Mrs. W. Perry, the- president's wife, woro a cream ooat and skirt, and black and white hat; Mrs. W. Boetham, o blue silk dress, with, cream net yoke and sleeves, a white feather boa, and a blue toque with wings; Mrs. Hors, a black lace dress over white sill;, and a black plumed hat; Mrs. Coradino (the Mayoress), n nrey coat and 'Skirt, and black jetted ' hat; • Mrs* Hugh Morrison, a white embriodered dress, and bluo velvet toque; Mrs. John Perry, a black and white check coat, and skirt, and block hat; Mrs. H. 11. Bcctham, a palo green coat and skirt, with silk facings, and oyster- coloured toque, triraracd With green, and with an aigrette of shaded violet ospreysj Mrs. J. M'Rae, a greeu striped coat and skirt, and largo white straw hat, trimmed with brown ■velvet ribbon and a buckle; Sirs. Holmes Warren, black and white striped ninon, over white silk, and black and whito hat; Miss Warren, a white embroidered dross, and white straw hat with blue Paisley trimming; Mrs. E. Levin, a navy blue braided costume, and white straw hat trimmed with heliotrope roses and heljotrope grass; Mrs. W. Wardell, a whito line coat and skirt, burnt straw hat with black ribbon and pink roses; Miss Wardell, biscuit coloured linen • coat and skirt, and burnt straw hat trimmed with black r Mrs. 11. Bcotham, white embroidered linen costume, end heliotrope hat and scarf; Mrs. Mawley, gnen striped coat and skirt, and white straw hat with green wings; Mrs. .0. Cooper, a pink braided costume, and whito hat with pink roses j Mrs. Baird, grey coat nad skirt, and violet toque with shaded pink flowers; Mrs. L. Moore, a white ombroid-' ered dress, with touches of l-.'uck, and'a black and white hat; Mrs. '.'H'rscutwr.;, a; white embroidered Irn-K and bumf straw hat, trimmed with vious rose ribbon and shaded roses: Miss M. Ferry, a navy blue costume and straw hat with roses; Miss Merchant (Wellington), grey coat and skirt and bluo hat wHh~sbadod. roses; Miss Kebbell, a white embroidered frock and qold coloured hat with black plumes; Miss X'owler,. white tucked silk dress and black hat with ostrich plumes, r.nd black feathev boa; Miss Morrison, biscuitcoloured shantung cont and skirt,' and heliotrope hat with pink ros-es and heliotrope \ihbon; Mrs. 0. Bunny, white embroidered dress, whito hat lined with heliotropo and trimmed with heliotrope and green ribbon; Mrs. C. nood, grey coat and skirt with bluo facings nnd black hat with palp pipk roses; Mrs. Tringham, n pale cream net dress over silk trimmed with crerm Imp, a white feather boa, and black hat with pink roses; Mrs. S: King, i> black and white dress with feather boa and black hat with white llowers; Mrs. W. Hume, a raxo blue braided coat and skirt, feather boa, and blue bat with blno and "ink ro«s; Mrs. 11. Hume, n green coat and skirt and whito hat lined with pink ond wreathed with pink r.nd white hydrangeas; Mr?.' M'Dongall, black eo.-.t tmd skirt, and white hnt with-pink roses; Mr'. Cameron.- black nnd while eostumo and black and white bonnet; Miss Cameron whito frock nnd tfrey straw hat with anricot HoWors; Mrs. Grnnt, dovecoloured linen costume and white straw to<mo with "ink lilac; Miss Marryatt, white costume und faxo bluo toque with pink roses; Mrs. n. Bunny, molo-colonrcd coat and skirt f\ud black hat; Miss Bunny dovc-colourcd coat nnd skirt and black and white hat; Mrs. Tabulran, brown costume ond hat. to match t Miss Hayward, cream coat and' slurt with

black facings and white hat with Danksia vests and blrck ribbon; Miss Moncktnn, whito linen coat and skirt and whue straw hat trimmed wi'.h red berries aurl lined with black; Mrs. T..Cameron, pale clue costume, bluo lint with plumes; Mi's. l\ Pearcp, groy coat and fkirt, large black hat with black ostrich pinnies: Miss Cameron, green coat and skit ,, , and block hat wi'.h blnck ostrich plumes; Mrs. Ewart, blue and white checked dress nnd b!nck lut with ostrich, plumes; Mrs. Mondie, white embroidered, coat nnd skirt r.nd whito ha', trimmed with blue; Mrs. Gledsionc, cream lustre coat and skirt and black hat; Mr?. Elder, navy blue coat anil skirt and black hat; Miss 11. Klder, navy blue costume .and burnt strnw.hat with roses j Mrs. J. Lucena, -hite costumoniid black,niul wliito hat; Miss Beard, wliito embroidered costume nnd lnrge hat .with' Paisley trimming; Mrs. Milne, whitfi dress with- whito -lace'; coat and rlarge black plumed hat;,'MiSs K. M'Dougall, jrrcon. coat, nnd skirt and black hat .wreathed with blue flowers;' Miss E. Matthews, a pink frock, whito straw hat trimmed with black ribbon and whito flowers; Mrs. J. Lowes, tweed coat ad skirl and-blue and white hat.