HAWKE'S BAY SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1071, 9 March 1911, Page 8

HAWKE'S BAY SHOW.

A GREAT SUCCESS—BOOO FEOrLE PRESENT. !By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) . Hastings, March 8. To-day the Ilawko's Bay A. and P. Society held another of tho many successful functions which have-been placed to its credit in recent years. The association .is a thoroughly live one, and is •possessed oi' an ideal secretary in Mr. Chas. Douglas, with the each year leaves a record of progress. A'o one could fail to admire tho smoothness with which'tho programme was-car-ried out, the', result, of businesslike methods. . , Tho entries for .the show were larger than for anv provious ailtunui fixture, totalling 1417, which' is. 110 more than was secured last year.- Fruit and, domestic and garden produce were the chief items, and the showing, made' in : these lines would be hard to beat in any part of New' Zealand. It is'well known that the late- frosts played havoc with many of the Hawke's Bay orchards, but this did not prevent the exhibition of a very comprehensive display of magnificent fruit. Apples appeared to bo tho strongest section, and "these wero shown, in extraordinary variety and most attractive excellence. For comparison one would need to refer to the famous Canadian exhibit at the International Exhibition held in Christchurch a few [ ytfars back. Jflio Canadians excelled in tho "get-up" of their dishes, but for firmness and soundness of fruit they'could' have claimed no advantage -over the- samples shown- at Ilastings to-day. .Pears \i;ero also in good supply, and luscious peaches of huso size looked tempting enough io satisfy -the',-'most: jaded pftlate.''-There was also a fine assortment of locally-grown' grapes. Vegetables, were shown in large quantities, the most conspicuous feature being tho potatoes. Tho season has been favourable, and many of tho exhibits wore of extraordinary size, while tho. quality generally' was irreproachable.- ' i • Grain and seeas were shown by Hawke's Bay firms, and -proved .of considerable interest to visiting farmers. A welcome feature was the floral display, which, though not large, was of quite exceptional quality. Cactus dahlias were of special merit, whilst bouquets and fancy "designs wero in unusually good taste. -Besides the competitive exhibits there were collections of plants and flowers made bv various firms in Hastings and Napier, which" assisted materially to the success of this section.

A valuable portion, of ,'the show from an educational standpoint was the schools' •agricultural section,which attracted entries from a schools. These, would scarcely "compare with some of th'o exhibits made at I'almerston North by Mana-watu and Wanganui schools, but they were nevertheless- of considerable oxcellenco, and indicate a steady progress in this branch of education.

The poultry . section was not large, but the quality was in--no se'nso lacking. Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons were particularly good, and there were some very fine White Leghorn pullets. The outdoor exhibits mainly comprised fat stock. ; There were a few pigs and calves, and some very fino pens of freezing and butchers' sheep.

The weather for the show was simply superb, the .'result being 'that visitors flocked to the'grounds, from far and near. It is estimated that fully 8000 people were present, and as they wandered around the picturesque racecourso the scene was' animated and attractive to the last degree'. The Hastings Band played in front of the grandstand, and lent its quota to the general enjoyment. A portion of tli" grounds' was devoted to the accommodation of carriages and motors. There "were astonishingly few horse-drawn vehicles, but the number and quality of the automobiles would have come as a -revelation to anyone who had never been at a similar gathering locally. There were many scores of motor-cars, including a dozen or more of tho most palatial order.. Independent-of ■ the general exhibits there were the usual jumping and other competitions, and theso were carried through without a hitch. A sheaf-throw-ing competition fonnd a score or so of young fellows, fresh from the harvest field anxious to test their, powers, and tho contests provoked-keen interest-during the afternoon.

Altogether the 1911 Autumn Show of tho Hawko's Bay A. and P. Society can bo ■written down as a function greatly favoured by tho weather, and one that was st-.cessful in every way.