AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 293, 4 November 1875, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Stewards: Me«sra J W. Barnlcoafe, A. H»r>ey, W. Farkness, W. D Harkness. F. & IHng, R. J. Malcolm. H. Lankow, W Rout, /. Warden, G F. &f«r i ai R. M R*e, J -heat, A Sheat, T. J.lh jrapaoo, N Fowfes, and B Robertson, v The weather yesterday waa far from teing all that could be desired for such an event as aa agricultural show, acd to this it wa« f perhaps, owing that there wjw not a larger assemblage of visitors duriog the afternoon, but to the same cause can scarcely ba attributed the pamity of exhibits, of which we do not remember hsyiag seen so smalt a number before. This, we say, could not be on account of the weather, aslt was not uritil long after the time appointed for the stock to be on the groan J that the rain see in. The moral to be drawn from ye terday'a exhibition is, we very much fear, that ia each meters the farmers of the district take hat very little interest; that they are quite content, to continue to jo? along ia a careless, indifferent «oit of manner, without aay desire whatever to bring about an improvement in the state of affairs at present erietiog in par agricultural dis'ricts, which, to say the least of It, is most unsatisfactory.- The show of entire horwa. was* exceptionally good, so far as numbers' go, eight thoroughbreds and {on draught horses being entered. Among the former ehere weire some good animals, though none '■ of them could claim to rank as first-class! Some of the draught antirea ;were really splendid specimens of horseflesh, iuc there were others which might have been of the neuter gender without deleteriously affecting the future of the equine race in Nelson. The cittle were disgracefully few in number, and, with two or three exceptions, only mediocre la quality. Undoubtedly the beat otthe atocfc aj^n were the sheep^ and'pfes. to the breeding oKwhich considerable attention haa beea devo&aof late by a few of our agriculturists. It wsk however, significant that of the former clals scarcely aoy were shown except by resltelts in, Stoke. Ie i« we believe, perfeotivX fair to attribute this to the intereit In, antgtady of, agricultural and pastoral mattersfthat wa,s excited ; and promoted in that dist&ft by the eitablisbment of a Farmer!* Obibj which for a time waa fall of, life, althoSp we havo not heard much of it of late. To Stoke, it will be seen by a perusal of 6be list below, nearly all She prices wereawardeJ. The pige, though n>6 numerous, were excellent in quality, and displayed, signa of careful, breeding. Of poultry the exhibition waa very limited, '- being onflned to about a dozen coops of fowls and one of peafowl*. Farmers' wives appeared to be aa indifferent about the quality of the produce of their poultry yards as were their lords with regard to- thd larger and more valuable stock, for, incredlbe though it may teem, it was actnally the case that aeiSher dv ksji geese, nor turkeys was to be seen on thij ground. Some Spanish fowls of excellent quality and high breeding- were shown, aa were a trio of game fowls, and another of speckled Hamburg*, Cheese and batter mak'ag is an industry which does nofc appear to b« carried oa to any great extent in the Waimets if wa aiay judge by tHe vefytaman quantity exhibited, although it must be aclmittsi that was shown was unexcept'onablo , in quality. Among lecai manufactureswas specially notice bio a capital gentleman's saddle made by Mr * Jones from pigskin prepared by Meesra Sedgwick and Gowlani of Nelson. In tha afternoon there waa a trial of skill among the shearers which excited no little interest, notwithatanlipg that the number of competitors was very email. The results of V c various competitions will be found KeW J The Nelson A« tilery Band were on the/ ground, nn-1 used their best efforts, to counter-/ act the depressing influence of a gloomy skjf and occaaiooal deluges of rain.' To some, the foregoing remarks may appear harsh, but wl hive b en actmtel in making them by f desire to be truthful rather than nattering! There was not one on the grouni jesterdayV who would derive greater satisfaction thin we ourselves should Jrom seeing these aunual showa become exhibitions of which the agricaltural districts that contribute to them and the province generally might feel proud, but if thi» ia ever to be the case there must be a heener and a more widespread ipterest taken in them, Tha advantages thxC wpnld accrue f:om them must be too patent to alt 1 fo require pointiog ou% but a successful show cm never be secured by the e&ortf>, no matter how gnat and praiseworthy they may be, of half a dozen or a doz ;n energetic individual. It is a work in which all must join, and parform their parts, no matter how humble they may be. Th*t this was nofc the case yesterday it ia needless so ssy, buS we do nofc yet despair of seeiog tha Nelson Agricultural fJhows become something of which the Association and the public need not be ashame 1. This, however, is rot to be achieved by complimentary reports in the press when the reverse is called for, and for this reason we have spoken of yeeterday'a Show as it was, and not as it should have been. The promoters and stewards are deserving of every crsdit for the manner in which they caried out their duties, but not so the farming public. In our telegraphs r< port of a portion of the prize list published last night some errors occurred, and we therefore give the whole list tod»y in a corrected form:— -

POULTRY. _«fa<fgea r: Messrs Staffjrd, E. P. Jones, and Moisten _ (Best 002k and piir of hens.) Gajna Fowl— sf r Malcoln*. SpanishMr Jary. Baatams— Mr Taaker, 1; Up Dimraock, 2. Brahmai— Me S>*er. ■ Black ' Brahmas— Mr H Tasker, Ham^urßS, Mc> Jary. Dorkings— Mr .Tary. Pdli^h— Mr Saywell. Golden Specked Hamburg— Mr Harkness I ; Mr Shoa\ 2. Darin— noai Geese— none Turkey*— none. Guinea fo*l« —-none. Peacock and pair of hens— Mr - jDimmock.-' • ■ "'' %■ -, ' D AIRY PRODUCE. 1 y Judges : Messrs Johns and Wilson. Best BOlbs cheesa— Mr Knight, 1; Mr "Dlmmock, 2. ." ■ ■ • --•• - Firkin Salt Butter-Mr Bird, 1; Mr Brd, Sixlbs Fresh Butter— Mr Hacknes?/! ; Mr ■ Avery,2. . , r . . , . . ' I , GENERAL EXHIBt T3. \ ! Judges: Messrs Elliott, Barnicoat, and Helling. : prises were given fop fiha followiag:— ' ' - ■ ■ Horse Dray-Mr Paipvof Richmond. , Heavy Spring Carr— Ditto. ! Spring Wagon— Mr W. Unrly. j Wgakln Sidles of Nelson dresae Hmatecial i Oae dozen iNehon wine— -Mr J. Smiths : SHEAHmG PRIZES. ■ Judges : Messrs Csstlea, Bo'ton, and Beet. i Flat shearing open to all. Two sheep to ' P e . sn^ ! Time allowed, 12 minutes for gach. Four competed.— S. Cre«swell, 1. " g ir * tßnee P 7 mlautes. senonl sheep 9 ml»s S 2 r tit A Bhe<p ,8 minutes, second 10 minutes. ' •■' ' / ,: F«jr youths under" 20 yesrs of aga—R rietjen, 12 minute^ 1; Sutfiin, 15 minu'ei, 2i Sutton a was pronounced to be the best shorn sheep, but fhaving exceeded the etitulated time, he could not receive the prize. Ribbing and gartering. Time a' lowed 30 mioatewJißest, 25 mlau'ea, l ; E. Creessweil, 24 minutes, 2.