The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, SEPT. 29, 1885. Reciprocity

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 47, 29 September 1885, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, SEPT. 29, 1885. Reciprocity

We publish to-day the proceedings of the final meeting of the Committee of the Rangitikei and Manawatu Poultry Show, at which the report and balance sheet were read for the exhibition held here on the 10th instant. The able management of the gentlemen to whom were entrusted the business part of the show led to its being financially a success, although to achieve this happy result they were most liberally supported by the members of the association resident in and around Feilding, and the public generally within the limits of the Manchester Block. There were a few enterprising gentlemen who sent in exhibits from Fordell, and were amply rewarded for their enterprise in the excellent prizes awarded them. But the two places that were specially looked to for support in exhibits and attendance — Bulls and Palmerston — were conspicuous by their absence. When these shows were inaugurated it was understood that they should be held in the principal towns in the Eangitikei, Oroua, and Manawatu, year after year. It was also expected that each show would be better than its predecessor, as the several towns progressed and the varieties of exhibits were extended and increased by the intercommunication which would be carried on. Having this in view when the show at Bulls was advertised here, a committee was at once formed to assist. They actively canvassed for members and secured the names of about twenty influential gentlemen, several of whom were successful competitors for prizes in the several classes. They worked hard, for they thought the Bulls people would reciprocate when the turn of Feilding came. The event has proved the fallacy of this idea, for when the list of members or exhibitors is examined the name of that locality does not appear. There is no excuse for them. They have plenty of poultry and produce to show, which would have stood fair chances of taking prizes. They appear to have thought that as their show was over no more action on their part was necessary. In this belief they were utterly wrong, for even in common politeness they were bound to extend the same courtesy to Feilding as the latter had already done to them. As to Palmerston we assume that if the railway authorities had acceded to the request of the promoters of the show visitors would have been numerous, although we could not have expected many exhibits, as the people in that township have not hitherto taken much interest in the production of poultry, pigs, dogs, dairy produce, &c, and therefore had nothing they could send up with any hope of winning a prize. Still they might have assisted to work the thing up by the formation of a committee to canvass for exhibits and members, whose fees of admission assist to supply the funds necessary to give remunerative prizes. The only conclusion we can arrive at is that of the two places, Bulls never intends to have a show there again, and Palmerston does not intend to have one at all. Notwithstanding the natural disappointment we feel at being left alone where we expected to work in harmony with two powerful neighbors, yet we feel proud that, single handed, our settlers were able to accomplish so much. In this, as in other things, i Feilding generally manages to make whatever she undertakes a success.