THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle.'' Helensville, Thursday, Feb. 3, 1916 HELENSVILLE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION THE ANNUAL SHOW

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 3 February 1916, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle.'' Helensville, Thursday, Feb. 3, 1916 HELENSVILLE A. AND P. ASSOCIATION THE ANNUAL SHOW

GATHERING OF ABOUT 2,5000

RECORD ENTRIES ALL

ROUND

BEAUTIFUL WEATHER EVERYONE HAPPY

ON arrival of the 10.10 a.m. express train from Auckland on Anniversary Day (Saturday last, 29th-January), the rain poured down heavily for about fifteen minutes, wetting the large crowd of, visitors pretty considerably, otherwise the weather , was beautifully fine, throughout the day, with the exception of a slight shower about noon. The beautiful pine-clad slopes within the main entrance was well patronised by picnickers and others, sitting down 'in all directions, and was handy for visitors to the new hall wherein the exhibits were laid out, and those not much interested in the horse and cattle ring and pens. Without a doubt the Show had the largest gathering ever witnessed in Helensville, some 2,500 being scattered here, there, and everywhere, while it was the " best" and carried record entries. Much of the success of the function must be placed to the credit of the'new Agricultural Hall, a big building of two floors, 40ft x 80ft, the ground floor being utilised as offices and dining hall, the latter being nicely decorated for the occasion, and seated and tabled for about 300 diners. The Onehunga Brass Band, and the many side-shows and cheap-Jacks in various parts of the ground, were also new attractions. The new horse ring, cattle and sheep pens were also much appreciated, though the ring was too far distant from the hall end for ,-many to patronise the sports. However, the new order of things generally: the President (Mr H. Aitkennead), Mr Secretary Bailey, the Executive Committee, General and Ladies' Committee, and all other officials, not forgetting the judges and stewards, are to' be congratulated. ■' ,

And there is nothing like looking after the "inner man" to make a function go merry and sociable. The caterer (Mr John Sinclair of Epsom), efficiently looked after his department, and supplied the following menu : Roast beef and horse raddish ; stuffed leg of pork ; pickled pork; corned beef and carrots ; rcast lamb and mint 'sauce; stuffed mutton ; beetroot, cucumber and onions, tomatoes and green salad; apple pie and custard, compote of pears, peach pie, plum pudding and lemon sauce, blanc mange ; chesee, lettuce; tea, coffee and cocoa; while the waiting was done with despatch and every civility, no delays whatever (or muddling). taking place. The appreciative part of this portion of the programme is borne out by the fact that a certain visitor from the Queen City, at an hour's sitting, indulged in " some of each " in rotation, and without dissent. Everything was scrupulously clean, cutlery,, chinaware, etc., being of the newest, and cooking splendid and therefore drew hundreds of patrons..

In the upper story of the building all exhibits were neatly laid out on benches running < round the whole of, the building, with one table down the centre for ladies' work, with plenty of room for another on some future occasion. • Dairy Produce —Butter, not so plentiful; Mrs F. W. Strange being largest exhibitor, took most prizes in butter and eggs, while Mr Strange (as usual) annexed those for bacon, ham, and dressed fowl. Dressed ducks were off.

Field and Garden Produce. — Very little competition in any one line, excepting onions, and there was but a disappointing display of potatoes, and but one " collec•tion " of vegetables.

Fruit—A great disappointment again, and nothing absolutely worthy of special mention. Yet this is cracked up to be a fruit growing district, and there was one item which would disgrace any table and should have been thrown out. Why, in some parts of the North, where gum lands abound, we have seen the choicest of fruits of every description, and entries by hundreds at an ordinary " village show." We blush at the fruit display and

hope for something better next year.

Horticultural. —The show of flowers (mostly by the ladies and children) was decidedly creditable, especially those shown by Mrs Bailey, the Misses Becroft and Bailey, foi\-button-holes, pot plants, collections,' cut flowers, ferns, etc. The prize list shows the °ther fortunate exhibitors.

Bread, Cakes, Cooking, etc. — Nearly 270 entries in this department. Just a show in itself, and what a whopper! Rows and rows of cake, tarts, shortbread, scones, bread, jam sandwich being in profusion, pound cake predominating, and for a hungry ECHO reporter, something wishful. A most seductive collection of afternoon tea cakes, by Miss Becroft, comprising many shapes varieties, and ornamentation, was a great achievement for a 10s prize. The ladies generally who contributed to the "gorgeous display of tasty confectionery and tit-bits deserve every credit for tbieir efforts. '

Needlework, etc. —This was another great effort on the part of the ladies, with some 130 entries, though in some lines there was little competition. Of the work shown, it was quite up to that of any other of the numerous • exhibits in ihe Dominion. And the needlework by the'girls .under 16 years of age was also.creditable. Work Carving and' Painting. — A most valuable adjunct to the tables, the oil paintings (11 entries) being very clever. In all foregoing remarks, our readers will forgive us making them extended, for want of space.

FOR LIST OF PRIZES SEE SUPPLEMENT—EncIosed.