THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2418, 16 December 1880, Page 2

THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.

T 1 ic thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Province of Canterbury was celebrated to-day b)' a variety of festivities. In Timaru as in other parts of the Provincial district high holiday was kept. The shops in town were closed, but the streets were by no means deserted, and the principal buildings were gay with flags. The trains carried considerable numbers out of town and repaired the loss by bringing plenty of country visitors. The weather was warm, and as the day advanced strong gusts of wind from the oast, raised the dust in clouds, and assailed the organs of sense with the tritflrated shingle so kindly provided‘by the Borough Council. In many instances this ingredient had to be washed down with copious libations, and the publicans drove a thriving trade. Still the day passed pleasantly enough, and so far we can learn the holiday has not been marred by any unseemly [displays nor ugly adventures. The great event of the day, and that upon which public attention was concentrated was THK TIM ARC It PC ATT A. Though no fault of the Regatta Coin, mittee, who had made abundant preparation for the aquatic exhibition, the display of sailing and rou iug skill had to be postponed. For some days past a rough chopping sea has been experienced in the harbor, and last evening fears were entertained if the weather did not moderate that the anticipated regatta would bo impossible. The morning was calm, but the sea was rough, and it was found at daybreak that a couple of the competing boats in tlie sailing race had broken away from their moorings. At ten o’clock the Artillery Band rallied the crowd with its martial strains an 1 started for the Breakwater, followed by a mixed crowd of holiday-makers. Refreshment tents laden with fruits sweetmeats and real Devonshire cider of the best Timaru manufacture could he seen planted in front of the Royal Hotel, ami on either side of the railway line. The th ree vessels in the harbor were gay with bunting and the cliffs and foreshore lined with spectators including a fair mixture of the fair sex, whose gay apparel gave a lively contrast to the dark fringes. But the Breakwater, which, being a capital vantage ground for sight-seers, was to be turned to reproductive account and was fenced across with concrete blocks, was deserted. The band led the way, but the crowd refused to follow, evidently because the)’ preferred the beach to a shilling showerbath. After a vain attempt to ‘‘ hold the fort ” at the end of the structure the band retreated shorewards in a somewhat pickled condition. At half-past ten the intended procession of boats failed to put in an appearance, the Eegatta Committee moved restlessly, ami it became apparent that the Regatta would at best bo a half-and-half affair. Shortly afterwards the wind and sea rising, the Committee held a hastily convened meeting and it was decided that the sports should bo postponed. The Committee meet tomorrow evening at the Grosvcnor Hotel, when they will lix the date on which the events will come off. This will probably be either Boxing Day or New Year’s Hay. FBDWKR SHOW. If the regatta owing to unavoidable and unforseen circumstances was a failure, the exhibition of the Timaru Floral and Horticultural Society in Maclean and Stewart’s buildings was an unexampled success. The display of (lowers was without doubt the "most magnificent that has ever been witnessed in South Canterbury, and we question very much if it has ever been excelled in any part of New Zealand. What rendered the exhibition an unusually

grand one, was not so much the number and variety of the exhibits as their excellence. Two long tattles in the main promenade were devoted to pot plants, while the cut flowers were exhibited in a room by themselves. Where the exhibits were so uniformly excellent it would be a difficult and invidious task to make comparisons, and we shall therefore allow the prize list to speak for itself. The display of fuschias, geraniums, and pelargoniums were particularly imposing. The fuchias occupying an elevated place on the eentere stands were conspicious for their symmetiy, large petals and brilliant colors. The pyramidal shape seemed the most popular and in many instances the foliage of the plants was almost hidden by the rich massive flowers. The geraniums, however, outrivalled all other exhibits by their variety and richness of colour, and line healthy foilage. The table on which they stood glittered in all the glory of pencilled and variegated tints from the pure white, tipped witli pink, to the delicate llesh-eolored petal, the deep purple, and the crimson, shaded witli the hues of night. Hero again symmetry had been carefiilty studied, and the loveliness of the (lowers was heightened beauty of form. Radiant also among the flowering gems were the verbena famih’, the plants shown being remarkable for their vigor and the artistic way iu which they have been trained. The ferns arc not' numerous, but the.y were verv select, and the plants seemed uniformly healthy. Ornamental foliage plants, climbing plants, begonias, and calceolarias were all represented b 3" highly creditable specimens. The cut flowers were simply masses of exipiiste loveliness, the richest of flowers being branched and blended together with skill and taste. The roses were largo, and comprised a collection of the choicest varieties, the pansies bore evidence of careful culture an 1 the favorable season, while dahlias, geraniums, and verbenas were disphned in rich profusion. VKCKTAIiI.ICS. The show of vegetables in both the classes for professional and amateur gardeners was a long wiy behind that of last year. The competition was but limited, and some of the benches were very bare in consequence, for which the unfavorable season experienced is doubtless in a great measure to blame. In the elassfor professionals some well grown rhubarb was shown, and not far olf reposed on cabbage leaves, a number of cucumbers, some of which were realb very fine, and reflected credit on the growers. The lettuces were poor and dried up in appearance. The carrots and turnips made a pretty appearance, and in the class for the best 50 pods of peas, several different varieties were shewn, amongst which were some marrowfats that looked as if they would shell out well. Potatoes were fairly represented, both round and kidnc3 r , sonic “Breeze’s carty prolific” taking our fanc3 T . The Amateurs as alrcad}" hinted, were no betfe r represented (ban the professional gardeners. The cab bages were as a whole very poor, aud the same may be said of the lettuces. The peas and broad beans, with one or two exceptions, also call for little notice. There was small competition in the classes for carrots and turnips, but what were shown were good, the turnips especially. mu it. In the class for professionals sumo verv nice fruit was shown, and the judges mnstlmve been not a little puzzled in several cases in making their awards. The white currants were superb, and looked in their little straw baskets lined with the cabbage leaves most tempting. Some rcmarkabl}" line raspberries wore also shown. Maty varieties of cherries wore exhibited, ranging from the pale, red, and whitchoart or biggeroon to the deep black fruit. The cherries were not so well grown, however, as those shown last year. Some giant gooseberries were worth looking at, and the strawberries looked inviting. The amateurs had a fair show of fruit hut were a long wa.y behind their professional brethren in the quality of their exhibits. Perhaps Iba best fruit shown in this class were the white currants and the gooseberries. The remaining exhibits cull for little notice. A number of extra exhibits wore shown in both the classes for amateurs and professionals. l*oT PLANTS, Fnscliias, 1 plants, 2 light, 2 dark—A. Peiry, 1 ; John Lewis, 2 Fuschias, 2 plants, varieties—J. Lewis, 1 ; A. Ferry, 2 Pelargoniums, 4 plants, varieties —A. Ferry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2 Pelargoniums, 2 plants—J. Lewis, 1 ; A. Ferry, 2 Pelargoniums, fanc.y, J plants, varieties —A. Ferry, I Pelargoniums, fancy, 2 varieties —A. Feny, 1 Geraniums, 4 plants, varieties—A. Ferry, I ; Harney, 2 ; Lewis, J

Geraniums, 2 plants, varieties —Lewis, 1 : Perry, 2 Geraniums, 1 doable- varieties — Lewis, I Geranium's, 2 double varieties —Lewis 1 : Perry, 2 : Harney, 3 Geraniums, 3 bi-colors, varieties— Lewis, 1 Geraniums, 3 tri-colors, varieties — Lewis, 1 (Jeraniums, ivydeafed, 3 plants, varieties —Lewis, 1 {Jeraniums, ivy-leafed, 2 plants, varieties—Lewis, 1 ; Hatton, 2 Host specimen now or rare pot plant of any kind—Perry, 1 ; Lewis, 2 Collection of (i pot plants, varieties not otherwise specified—A. Perry, 1 ; Lewis, 2 Collection of 3 pot plants, varieties not otherwise specified—Perry. 1; Lewis 2 Ericas, 3 varieties—Lewis, 1 Best collection of ferns in cultivation —Perry, 1 Lewis, 2. cut flow Kits. Hoses, 18 varieties, blooms—X’. 13. Luxmooie, 1 Hoses, 12 varieties, blooms Rhodes, 1 Verbenas, 12 varieties not more than three trusses each—Perry, 1 Verbenas, 0 varieties, not more than three trusses each—lf. Belflekl, 1 Pansies, (! varieties—l’. Cameron, 1 ; J. T. Whitaker, 2 ; H. Atkinson, 3 Host collection of hardy cut flowers, 12 distinct species, one variety of each —Lewis, 1 ; Harney, 2 Antirrhinum, (J varieties—A. Fraser, 1 ; 11. Bellield, 2 Penstemones, (J varieties—Lewis, 1 ; Bellield, 2 Geranium zonalo, (i varieties. 3 trusses each, double or single—Lewis, 1 FRUIT. Strawberries, hest dish of 25—Cliff 1 ; Bowler, 2; Rhodes, 3

Cherries, black, best disk of 50 —A. 'Fraser,-1; Langdon, 2 Cherries, white, best disk of 50 —J. Muir, 1 ; Langdon, 2 25 eacli—Cliff, 1 ; Lewis, 2 ; Perry, 3 Currants (bunches) best disk of black —Langdon, 1 ; Luxmoore, 2 Currants (bunches) best disk of white —Perry 1; Luxmoore, 2 Currants (bunches) best dish of red R. H. Rhodes, 1; A. Peny-2 Raspberries, best dish—A. Perry, 1: L\ Laugdon, 2 VKGKTAIiJ.ICS. Cucumbers, best: brace—Rhodes, 1 : Cliff, 2 Cabbages, 3 best heads—Luxmore, 1 Red Cabbages, 3 best heads—R. Marlin, 1 Cauliflowers or brocoli, 3 best heads —Luxmoore, 1 Martin, 2 Carrots, bunch of (s—Cliff, 1; Perry, 2 Turnips, bunch of d —Cliff, 1 ; Langdon, 2 Unions, bunch of G— Langdon, 1 : Cliff, 2 Lettuce, best 3 of any variety—Cliff, 1 ; Hart, 2 Potatoes, kidne3V)lbs —Hart, 1; Cliff, 2 Potatoes, round, olbs—Hart, 1 ; Cliff, 2 Peas, 50 pods—Bellield, 1; Harne}" 2 Beans, broad, 25 pods—Luxmore I; Cliff 2 Rhubarb, G stalks—Langdon I Best collection of vegetables, 9 varieties—Luxmore, 1; Cliff, 2. Artichokes, globe, best d —Cliff, 1; Perry 2. sonc minis. The show of song birds—twelve in number—was far superior to last year Mrs J. King showed a splendid green canary, with which it would be diflicult to find a fault. Mr R. Stansell exhibited a yellow variegated camuy, that also delighted the judges, and which, like Mrs King’s exhibit came as near perfection as possible. The other birds wore also several of them vuiy nice, but the two wo have particularised bore awa}' the palm. THE LUNCHEON. About 20 of the oflice bearers; judges, aud exhibitors sat down to a lunch at the Ship Hotel. The tables was furnished with all the delacacies of the season in Mr McGuinness’ best style. Mr J. S. Gibson, Chairman of the Committee, presided. On the table being cleared the chairman embraced (ho opportunit}" of thanking the judges for their services, which he believed on this as on past occasions had given eminent satisfaction. Ho also paid a similar compliment to the local press, acknowledging I hat the society and its exhibitions were largely indebted to the excellent and full reports that were published for their continued success and prosperity. Mr Ivoiy summed up his opinion of the Show ly saving it was the best he had seen in the country. MiFalconer reiterated the opinion of the previous speaker, said he was glad that a town like Timaru recognised the little white stone town of Oamaru by inviting judges from there to review its productions, and expressed the hope that the President of'the Oamaru Society would be able to express the same flattering opinion of the services of the Fress there as the Chairman had done concerning the press of Timarn. Mr I’enst made some humorous remarks in the course of which he contended that the fuchias, ‘ boltylioeks, pansies and roses of to-day were not the robust and giant flowers that tLey wore thirty 3 - ears ago. The proceedings then terminated.