AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 107, 8 May 1871, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

So far as attendance alone was concerned, the Show of Friday last was a vast improvement upon any of its predecessors, but we regret that the same cannot be said of the exhibits, in the quality of which there was a perceptible falling off as compared with those of • previous years. Nor was , the management: all that could be desired, and numerous were the complaints we heard from the judges, especially from those appointed to decide upon the merits of tho' horses, of the difficulties that- they experienced iri :, perform ing ; .their , duties, jowing-jp, the crowd that pressed, in upon, tliem while examining the various animals presented to their notice. Again, with

regard to the poultry, tbe arrangements were such that a large number of them were stowed away in dark corners of the building, where it was impossible to obtain a good view of them, and it was no doubt owing to this, that a large number of the visitors were entirely ignorant that a handsome pair of Golden Hamburgs, and a fine couple of Toulouse geese, the former of which especially, were to our thinking the gem of the exhibition, were on view. Had the cages been placed round the out T side of the building, and a post and rail fence run up to prevent the visitors crowding in upon them, the effect would have been far more pleasing. Before leaving the inside of tbe Hall, we may say a word in praise of the dairy produce that was exhibited in rich profusion, and which seemed to meet with the approval of all who took an interest in this particular department. The opposite side of the building was devoted to flax, leather, harness, silk, and root crops, of the later of which, especially the carrots there was a capital show. But the prettiest sight of the whole was the display of silk and silk worms exhibited hy the indefatigable Mr. Batchelor, and by Messrs. Hale and Harling, the latter of whom had devoted their attention to the green and white Linchin silkworm which had been reared from eggs sent from Japan to the Government of New South Wales, and by them forwarded to New Zpaland. These worms bad been raised under great difficulties, as they arrived here very late in the season, but the care of those to whose charge they were entrusted was fully rewarded by the display they were enabled to make on Friday. To our mind, however, the silk produced by Mr. Batchelor was of a far richer, aud we may say, more silky appearance, and reflected great credit upon those who had reared the worms. Some leather of excellent quality, of Nelson manufacture, was exhibited by Messrs. Sedgwick and Gowland, oue noticeable feature in it being the absence of those cuts ?pd brands for which colonial leather is so notorious. If the butchers could be induced to skin their cattle more carefully, they would obtain a far higher price for their skins, and contribute largely to the success of this important industry. A first rate set of cart harness manufactured by Mr. E. F. Jones, of Nelson, was on show, as, also, a set of bugrjy harness, and gentleman's riding saddle of New Zealand leather, made by Mr. A. B. Jackson of Trafalgar-street, which were much admired for neatness and substantial workmanship, and they were perhaps the more commendable on account of the maker having served his apprenticeship in Nelson, thus showing that knowledge of a trade can be acquired in tbe province and turned to profitable account. While on the subject of local manufacture we may notice a copper and furnace, and a number of wire strainers, all of excellent workmanship, which had been made by Mr. Moutray for Mr. Cauning, who exhibited them. Of the stock we cannot say much, the number of auirnals exhibited being extremely limited, and the quality, as we have before remarked, not equal to what we have been accustomed to see at these shows, the foiling off being specially noticeable in the horses and sheep, the latter of which showed too much crossbreeding to take the eye of a judge. Several sales were effected during the day by Mr. J. R. Mabin, who attended in his capacity as auctioneer and disposed of a number of articles. A capital dinner, to which about 50 sat down, was provided by Mr.Tovey,of the Star and Garter, the chair being taken by bis Honor the Superintendent, and the vice-chair by Mr. Ralph Richardson, M.H.R., the member for the district. After .dinner, toasts and songs were the order of the evening, and although we heard numerous grumblings, with regard to the hardness of the times they were all uttered in so jovial and so good-natured a manner that we came away perfectly satisfied that depression of trade is not always synonymous with depression of spirits. The Prize List only reached us to-day when too late for publication. It must therefore stand over until to-morrow.