The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1853. AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 722, 16 March 1853, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1853. AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.

Be just and fear not: Let nil tne ends thou alm'st at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

In the very great dearth of topics cither foreign or domestic just now calling for comment—with arrivals anxiously expected and over-due from England, and, we suppose we may say from whatever part of the colony may have been lately the habitat of the Governor-in-Chief, but with no arrivals actually occuring—we may be thankful to have even a Cattle Show to form the material of a "Leader." Not that we would be understood, however, as under-rating the importance of such an Exhibition, either positively, or in comparison with many of those topics on which it is occasionally our lot to see fiery articles issued. On the contrary, we regard everything connected with the agricultural progress of the country as of a moment entitling it to take precedence of many or most of those subjects which are frequently made themes of mere political disputation and parly comment. We wish, however, that the value of such a Show as that to which we now refer were belter appreciated here by the very classes for whose benefit they are primarily designed. There was much of a gratifying character connected with yesterday's Exhibition. The day was brilliantly fine, contrasting most favourably with the unusually gloomy weather that has lately prevailed ; and a considerable number of visitors from various parts of the surrounding district were present. But we are constrained to add that there was a deficiency in the supply of cattle to be exhibited which, we need scarcely say, tended to render such an occasion (according to a trite illustration), like the play of Hamlet with the character of the Prince himself omitted. When we make this observation we are to be understood as speaking not absolutely but relatively,— not depreciating what actually was on the ground, but regretting that there was not a greater muster of what might have been there. There were several excellent horses, and amongst them some bred in the district which afforded a most encouraging prospect of an approach to an independence of importations:—there were some good cattle both for the grazier and the butcher:—there were some very fine sheep, which no one could look at without anticipating the advantages which we may at no distant day hope to derive from the addition of wool in larger proportion to our increasing articles of profitable export:—and there were pigs which would merit attention in any fair or market, giving additional evidence how well these animals thrive in this country. But, after all, they were few in number as compared with what might have been shown if the farmers generally had entered with more spirit into ihe objects of the Society ; and we could not resist the impression that an English farmer, newly arrived in the colony and disposed to form his opinion of the agricultural progress of the country from what he saw yesterday, must have formed a very inadequate and incorrect conception of the real amount of improvement taking place around Auckland. Surely this ought not to be so. At home farmers take a pleasure and a pride in availing themselves of such opportunities to demonstrate what their districts can produce, and what improvements their own skill and care can accomplish, from year to year. They are not governed by any mere arithmetical calculation of the money value of the prizes offered, as weighed against the loss of taking a few men from their day's work, or of driving their cattle the distance of a few miles. Nor do they give place to the selfishness that would lead them to settle down in the contented assurance that their own flocks and herds were actually increasing in number and improving in quality. They love their occupation for its own sake and desire its advancement irrespective of the pounds shillings and pence which may be gained from its cultivation,--not indeed, that they lose sight of the pecuniary results, but they are sagacious enough to know that these also will ultimately be augmented in the same way. The public spirit, and the spirit of emulation which Agricultural Shows elicit at home, might, —and we trust,"on future occasions, icUl—bc more fully manifested here also. Circumstances also may be more propitious next year; for, while we take leave thus to employ something like a tone of remonstrance against what has the aspect of apathetic indifference in some quarters, we must not forget, on the other hand, that the delay in saving the later crops, caused by the unwonted prevalence of wet weather during the last few weeks, may have been the reason why several were reasonably reluctant to take even one such day as yesterday from the urgent work of the harvest. We heard a very general opinion expressed that it would be advantageous to hold next year's Show at Otahuhu, as being a more central situation and therefore likely to be more convenient to many with whom the distance to Newmarket was a formidable obstacle. At all events, we think there can be no doubt that it would be desirable that the same place should not be fixed on permanently. A change of place from time to time would most probably enlist more fully the sympathies and co-operation of the residents in the respective localities where the Exhibitions may be held.

The following is a List of the Prizes, as awarded by the judges,— Messrs Mayne and Farmer for Horses and Sheep, and Messrs. Jas.Dilwortb, W. Taylor, and T. G. Williams for Cattle: Cart Stallion, Williamson and Crammer. Ditto, bred in the Province, x\lr. J. Barribal. Cart Mare, Mr. W. Taylor. Filly, Mr. William Williams. Bull, Mr. James Farmer. Ditto, (under two years,) Mr. Wm. Buckland. Cow, Mr. Win. Buckland. Ditto, second best, Mr. James Farmer. Heifer, Mr. James Farmer. Rams, Leicester, Mr, West. " Hogget, Mr. Joseph Newman. Ewes, Leicester, Mr. Joseph Newman. Boar, Mr. Walker. Ditto, second best, Mr. T. Osborne. Sow, Mr. Willed. Ditto, second best, Mr. W. Walters. Oats, Mr. T. Osborne. Barley, Mr. Pierce.

It may be both interesting and useful to some of our agricultural readers to be informed that a sample of 90-day corn, shown by Mr. Rich, was much approved by the judges, as were also horse beans, shown by Mr. Hayr, producing 50 bushels to the acre.