TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 3386, 27 December 1873, Page 2

TAIERI AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Yesterday the twelfth annual Agricultural Show was held at Mosgiel. The Committee of Management for the year was as follows Mr Donald Grant, President; Mr John Shaw, Vice-President. Committee : —Messrs George Train, James Cullen, Charles Findlay, J. Robertson, Samuel Young, Donald Reid, M.P.C., John Sutherland, Robert Muir, Peter Grant; Gowiie ; James Shand, M.P.C., J. B. Blair, Robert Chartcris. J. Forest. James Allen, M.P.C., James Sim, James Aitkin, and Win. Jaffray. The arrangements for the show were good, and through the extent of ground devoted to the various descriptions of stock, there was no crowding or confusion. It being announced that his Excellency the Governor would be present, and open the proceedings in person, a large concourse of people from the Taicri, the neighborhood of Mosgiel, and Dunedin attended. The very fine day was favorable to a numerous gathering ; the only drawback to the pleasure of the trip being the excessive heat. Fortunately the sky was cloudy, or the stock would have suffered move severely than they did. Shortly before noon his Excellency and suite arrived, the Governor himself, apparently, a first-class whip, driving four-in-hand. He was accompanied by his Honor the Superintendent, hisaide-de-camp, and Mr Ferguson. TlicHon. J. Vogel, C.M.G., the Premier of NewZcalantl; the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Mr. George Turnbull, Provincial Treasurer; Air J. L. Gillies, M.H.R., Speaker of the Provincial < ‘ouncil ; Mr J. Shand, a member of tho Provincial Executive, were among the visitors. His Excellency, on his arrival on the ground, was received by Mr Donald Grant, the President of the Association, who read the following address : To Sir James Eergusson, Bart., &c.

Wo, her Majesty’s most loyal and dutiful subjects, the members of the Taicri Agricultural Society, have much pleasure in welcoming your Excellency to our district and showyard at this our twelfth annual gathering. Knowing that your Excellency takes a very deep interest in all matters connected with the advancement of agriculture and the improvement of stock, it gives ns great satisfaction to have your Excellency's presence and countenance on this occasion. Although occupying a humble position compared with similar associations in the Home country, we believe that our efforts are fulfilling (though to a very limited extent) the beneficial objects secured by the kindred national associations which exist there. We trust that your Excellency and Lady Fergussou may enjoy your visit to our Province, and that before your term of office as Governor of this Colony expires, we may have the pleasure of your presence on similar occasions in the future ; and we feel assured that your Excellency will kindly overlook any defects which may be apparent in our arrangements on this occasion.- -(Signed). Donald Grant, President.

The substance of his Excellency’s reply was : That it gave him great pleasure to lie present at the agricultural show of the district, yhicli much resembled the interesting local shows of the extensive parishes at Home. Only by competition could excellence be secured in any occupation, and Otago had competitors throughout New Zealand. He kuewthat the people of the Province had determined to excel the rest of New Zealand in the breeds of their horses, cattle, sheep, and farm produce ; while the people of the other Provinces had made up their minds they should not, and were equally resolved to boat Otago. It was impossible that such a spirit of praiseworthy rivalry should result in any other way than in benefit to the whole Colony, Ho was pleased to see the splendid grasses on the farms on cacli side of the road lie had travelled. He had no doubt that the rich soil now being utilised would prove a source of incalculable wealth to the population of tho district. He was glad to learn that tho show was not confined to residents in the district, but was open to exhibitors throughout the Colony. Such a course alone was calculated to lead to improvement in stock.

His Excellency’s reply was received with hearty cheers, the Mosgiel baud greeting him with “ See the Conquering Hero comes.” After spending some time in looking at the numerous magnificent animals and the agricultural implements exhibited, the Vice-Regal party were invited to partake of a cold luncheon, tastefully set out in a tent specially erected for the purpose. Mr Donald Grant, tlio president of the Association, was in the chair; and Mr James Shand, M.P.C., croupier. After lunch, Her Majesty’s health was drank, and was followed by tin; President in a few words proposing Ins Excellency's health. The toast was drank with enthusiasm, and, in reply, the Governor said : Ho was obliged by bis health having been drank so heartily. In so limited a company it. was unnecessary to say more than that lie thanked the Society for their hospitality. Perhaps the chairman would allow him briefly to propose “Prosperity to the Taieri Agricub tnral Association,” the show of which he had had great pleasure in visiting. He hoped the efforts of the Association would prove beneficial to the district. The toast having been drank, The Chairman briefly returned thanks. The Croupier (Mr Shand) then rose and proposed “ The General Government of New Zealand, coupled with the name of the Hon. Julius Vogel.” Ho said he felt great pleasure that he saw present not only the Governor, but the premier of New Zealand, and one other member of the General Government, Mr Reynolds. It was an honor never before enjoyed by the Association. He trusted, howe <er it would not be the last time, but that on many future occasions they would be present. He had no doubt that the plans adopted by tbe Premier of laying down lines of railway would prove the means of bringing into New Zealand a large population. The honorable gentleman might feel assured that the Taieri district could absorb some of them. Any government had much to do in constructing the works projected with only a population of 300,000. For his part, he considered if the Government were careful to selectj the right sort of men, they could not pour people into the country too fast. The Hon. J. Vogel said he would follow the examples of the Chairman and his Excellency, and confine what he had to say to a very few words. He would assure Mr Shand that he could not forget tlm prominent part he once took in the Provincial Government _of Otago, nor, that when the people of Waikouaiti, not being satisfied that he should represent them, returned a member in his place, the electqi’s of the Taieri elected him to a seat in the Provincial Council. It was, therefore, great satisfaction to him to know that the Taieri district was advancing in prosperity through the policy that he had been the means of initiating. Property would increase still more in value on the completion of the lines of railway between Dunedin and the Bluff. He thought, with Mr Shand, that it was a drawback to a country like New Zealand to have so small a population ; and he was glad to find that the measures adopted to increase it had met with general approval. Strangers and persons he had never seen before frequently stopped him and asked to shake hands with him, expressing at the same time their confidence in the policy adopted. They were not persons asKing favors, nor those who had purposes to serve, but men who felt that what was done was beneficial to the country. He could not help agreeing with Mr Shand, that in future New Zealand would recognise in what he (Mr Vogel) had done, that is purpose was to advance the interests of the Colony. In his opinion New Zealand was to be the first Australasian Colony, and he hoped this would be the case before the Governor left them. He begged to be allowed to propose the health of the Superintendent. The position he occupied in regard to the Superintendent justified him in doing so. The rapid advance made by Otago showed the difference between a Province that acted with the General Government and one that acted against them. In Otago the Superintendent and Executive were unselfish in their views, and there was not a member of the House who did not recognise in the Superintendent statesmanlike qualities of the highest order. It gave him, therefore, great pleasure in being permitted to propose his health.

His Honor said he felt obliged to Mr Vogel for the handsome manner in which he had proposed his health, although it was right to observe it was not a patriotic toast. —(Laughter). In thanking him for the compliment, he might he allowed to say that old identities, of whom he (the Superintendent) was one, could contrast the condition of the Taieri twenty-three .years ago with that day’s exhibition, and they must feel much satisfied, although not many of them had secured much wealth from their labors. He himself did not profess to be a judge of agricultural matters, but he was much pleased with the Exhibition. _ If the Taieri farmers, in the next five or six years, improved as much as they had done, they ought to make more money during that time than in the previous twenty. At all events, if not, it would be their own faults. What with railways and other facilities, there would be no reason why the Province should not send wheat to the London market at the same price it now costs to send it from the Taieri to Dunedin. He saw by the estimate of the grain crop in Great Britain it was likely to fall short 90,000,000 bushels, so that a great market at Home was opening up, of which Mr Shand had already taken advantage. If the mining population would turn their attention to growing grain, instead of digging for gold, they would find themselves three times richer in the end. He was no judge of horse flesh, but he could not forget that England imported annually 12,000 horses, and he saw no reason, when more rapid communication was established, why New Zealand should not export to England any amount of horses.

His Excellency said, if he might express the opinion, if the Taieri Association were to import good sires, it would do more good to the district than any visits that could be paid to their exhibition.

The Governor and party, having appointed to be at the Oddfellows’ f6tc at St. Leonards, then rose and visited the drill-shed to examine the dairy produce, and shortly afterwards returned to Dunedin.

With regard to the characteristics of the exhibition, but few words are necessary. The chief attractions were the splendid draught horses and short-horned cattle. Most of the horses were of the Clydesdale breed, full of bone and muscle, with excellent action. We were particularly struck with a pair of magnificent mares shewn by Mr Charteris, well matched in every way, and of faultless symmetry. Of thorough-breds there were very few mi the ground. There were two that deserve especial notice : Architect, the property of Mr Curran, and Tartar, a handsome two-year old owned by Mr Cutten. The exhibits of sheep were not numerous, the season being too far advanced to shew them with the wool. There were, however, some splendid Leicesters and Cheviots, and a few good cross-breds with heavy fleeces and well formed carcases. The warm weather evidently distressed them much. Of merinos there were none. Pigs were shown in goodly numbers and of various sizes, from the short-nosed plump porkers to the giant boar with curved tusks shining white around his massive head. One feature in the exhibition deserves attention. Judging by the few specimens of poultry, we conclude that this very profitable branch of farmyard economy is not much attended to at the Taieri; or at any rate these small deer are not thought worthy of special cultivation. This is to be regretted on many grounds. They are a most useful and profitable adjunct to a farmer’s stock, will fatten with little beyond what they pick up in the way of grubs and insects, and more than repay the slight care required by the rich manure to to be gathered from the henhouse, and the eggs and chickens that find so ready a market in Dunedin. The finest poultry exhibited was by Mr Curran, who had on show some good Aylesbury ducks, and Spanish, Buff, Cochin, and Pramah-poehtra fowls. The weather was absolutely ruinous to dairy produce, of which there was an excellent show. The drill-shed was appropriated to this branch of exhibits, but the room was so suffocatingly hot that, before the judges had awarded the prizes, the heat of the butter was raised to melting point and many beautiful samples were spoiled, at least in appearance. The rolled bacon and hams were excellent. Of agricultural implements there were numerous exhibits. Messrs G. F. Reid and Co. had on the ground some very yiseful ones. We noticed a igqwer, and dqub]o-fur ruwing plough, by Ferae and Mitchell ;' a double-furrow plough, convertible into a sub- '

soil one, by Murray; a hand-thrashing machine, capable of thrashing out sixteen bushels an hour, with very slight labour; a reaping machine, self-delivering; one of Kemp, Murray, and Nicholson’s reaping and mowing machines. We are not likely to be long dependent upon outside makers for our machinery, as some ingenious implements of excellent workmanship, by Otago men, were shown. Mr Brown, of Mosgiel, had on the ground a very well constructed cheese press. Messrs Keid and Gray exhibited a combined reaping and mowing machine. One peculiarity of this well-made implement was a special profor lubricating with oil the parts whore there is friction; and, as a change of speed is needful between the reaper and mower when both are employed, a special and simple arrangement is made for that purpose. Messrs Dickie and Ilankin showed an admirably-made chaffcutter, capable of cutting a ton in an hour; and lastly, as worthy of notice, there was an imparted potato-grubber, capable of raising a crop of eight acres in one day, with the special advantage of uprooting the weeds on the ground passed over. There was a very numerous attendance at the show. Not only had it special attractions for men whose avocations led thorn to seek after the best animals and machinery, but many visitors from Dunedin seemed to enjoy the trip, and gay parties of ladies appeared to take equal interest in the proceedings with their husbands, fathers, or brothers. The Mosgiel band added to the cheerfulness of the day’s business, and by their merry strains induced many to add a general dance to their enjoyment. We do not think we exceed the truth if we estimate the attendance at about three thousand people. With one exception the greatest order, cheerfulness, and good humor prevailed throughout the day up to the hour of our reporter leaving. But the exceptionally hot weather provoked thirst, and one poor fellow—an English navvy—had his pride of nationality so exceptionally excited as to lead him to seek to break that cordiality which now prevails between Soot and Anglo-Saxon. He was treated with patience, kindliness, and consideration by most of those whom he insulted; but at length one Scot, more irascible than his countryman, undertook the task of punishing him, and did so effectually, though not without damage to himself, in the main street of Mosgiel. We were sorry to see that the crowd did not interfere to prevent so disgraceful a scene ; for it is time such brutal exhibitions were detenninately suppressed. Our thanks are due to the secretary for his kindness in placing his books at our disposal ; and for his courteousness in furnishing any information we required. The prize list is unavoidably held over.