AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 94, 19 April 1872, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

All outward signs of the depression that is generally supposed — -probably with only too good reason — to exist in the Waimeas were entirely wanting in the faces of those who crowded to the Agricultural Show yesterday, and the village of Richmond, even in itrt palmiest days, never looked more . lively, nor had the customary silence of its main street broken in upon by a larger number of vehicles, horsemen, and foot, passengers.. ..Farmers . congregated at the great centre of attraction from all quarters, and seemed to be every bit as jovial as when they were getting ten shillings a bushel for their oats, and fabulous prices for wheat ; their wives did .not look in the least as though butter was selling at 6d. a pojind, and as for their daughters, well, they were, so blooming and; so well dressed, and altogether so jolly »hd cheerful, thitatheVcasual; visitor could not but be impressed wi|h the idea that pin money was plentiful, and that if black care was occasionally to be found

sitting on the shoulders of our agricultural population, his grim visnge had for that day at least been consigned to oblivion. Every one had evidently come to the ground with the full intention of keeping holiday and thoroughly enjoying himself or herself, and, so far as ■we were able to judge, they -were all perfectly successful in their endeavors, On entering the gate we found ourselves in a crowd far larger than that to which we had been [ accustomed on previous years, and it was with no little difficulty, after passing some capital specimens of ironwork from Mr. Moutray's foundry, and a very neat buggy from Mr. Balme's carriage manufactory, that we could get near enough to the sheep pens to inspect the animals they contained. In this particular department a very marked improvement was perceptible on the exhibits of last year, and we were very glad to notice so evident a proof that the attention of our farmers was being directed to the rearing of long wooled, large framed sheep. Of the relative merits of those exhibited we shall say nothing here, but refer our readers to the awards of the judges, which will be found below. At the far end of the ground were the horses, but although we were but a very few minutes after the time at which it had been stated tbat tbe public would be admitted, several of these animals had been removed, and only a sufficient number remained to convey the impression to the visitor's mind that in this class the show was exceedingly meagre. Of the cattle we are unable to speak in very high terms. Thero were one or two cows that showed signs of being distantly related to well bred animals, but a great, many that did not, while, as a rule, the bulls were coarse and unshapely. One of the results of the exhibition will, we trust, be to show how lamentably deficient is the province in the possession of cattle with any pretensions to good breeding. Of pigs thero was a very fair show that was quite equal to anything we have seen on previous years. Approaching the Hall we found that the arrangement of the poultry displayed was a great improvement on that of last year, the coops on this occasion being ranged round the ouiside of the building instead of being stowed away in the dim light of the interior. Whether it was owing to this, or whether the birds exhibited were really superior to what we had been accustomed to see, it is difficult to say, but there can be no doubt that ail who were interested in this department, and, to judge from tbe crowd that continually collected round the cages their number was a large one, were unanimous in their opinion that the show was highly creditable, and a vast improvement upon that of 1871. Of Hamburgs, there were some beautiful specimens of, the Silver spangled, the Golden, and the Pencilled. Among the Brahmapoottas was a fine coop of light birds, to which was awarded the first prize, but in our opinion an exhibit of dark birds of the same breed, although much younger, and consequently not so large, was even still finer. Of web-footed birds there was also an excellent display, particularly of Toulouse geese, and Ayleßbury ducks, but none could fail to notice how vastly superior in size were the results of a cross between the pure breds and the ordinary birds of these two species. Inside the building were to be seen samples of corn of every description, some of them being of really first-rate quality, while in others were to be observed the effects of the dry summer, the grain being small and shrivelled, and without that full, clean, bright look that always attracts the eye of the judge. In looking at the peas we felt inclined to thank our stars that we were not on the list of judges, who certainly must have experienced no little difficulty in coming at their decision. Of root crops the show was somewhat meagre, but what was exhibited was of excellent quality. Here also were to be seen samples of cloth from Mr. Webley's mill, flax manufactures of every description, colonial made wines, bottled fruits, and various other articles of which we cannot even attempt to give a catalogue, much less to comment upon their merits. The dairy produce, which was exhibited in the upper room, appeared to be of excellent quality, but the quantity was extremely limited, and seemed to suggest that the low prices that have of late been ruling for such articles had disheartened the manufacturers to such an extent as to prevent their turning their attention to a branch of industry that at one time largely supplemented the farmer's income. The space at our disposal will not permit of our extending our remarks, but before proceeding to give tbe prize list we must congratulate the stewards upon tbe improved arrangements, which greatly assisted the judges in performing their duties, and upon the general success* of the exhibition and the large amount of interest that waß'\dMpla^a^! : in.|?:itrndfr |;only by the country settlers 1 but ;' by residents in the town, of whom a large number were present. The dioner, which took place in the evening, was well attended, the chair being taken by Mr. Barnicoat. Be

low will be found the awards of the Judges : j —