THE ANNUAL SHAM FIGHT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2727, 16 December 1881, Page 2

THE ANNUAL SHAM FIGHT.

To-day being Anniversary Day, the holiday was taken advantage of by the Volunteers in Timaru and northward along the railway line to Ashburton to hold one of those, to Volunteers, interesting and instructive manoauvres designated a sham fight. The whole of a soldier’s drill is, after all, but pantomime, and active service is not long in wearing off the primness and starch of dress parade. But the precision and disciplinary habits gained by constant drill are never lost bj even the hardest used campaigner. In fact the older the soldier the more indelibly are the characteristics of military life imprinted upon him. It is therefore.' gladly that the Volunteer officers embrace the opportunity of holding a sham fight, and such a day as the anniversary, being a general holiday, though not one like Christmas, when every man desires to be with his friends, is just the sort of spare day that fits. The Ashburton men started by the first train in the morning, and we were gratified to see when they arrived at the Washdyke, with their comrades from Temuka, that they had immensely increased in numbers since we saw them last. Their uniform is a neat though not very costly one, and they deserve great credit for their knowledge of drill, but we can only give them the bitterest dispraise for their gross ignorance of the first duty of a soldier, — vie., silence in the ranks. Every man feels it his duty to correct his neighbor, and to laugh aloud at faults; and ic was no uncommon thing to hear a fellow hailing an acquaintance in the street as a costermonger would a customer. The Temuka and Ashburton men formed the attacking party, the Timaru Artillery the defence, and the sham fight was conducted hotly and keenly for fully an an hour, until Captain Hamersley owned beaten just at the entrance to the town. A truce was called, and lunch was provided for the stranger® in a paddock where the battle was won. After this was partaken of, several battalion movements were performed, then Captains Young and Hamersley suitably addressed the men, and the army marched into Timaru, cheers having first been given for the officers.

TIMARU FLORAL & HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

Patrons. His Honor Judge Ward, Archdeacon Harper, Messrs B. Woollcombe, P. B. Luxmore. President— Mr A. Perry. Vice Presidents — Messrs H. Belfield, C. T. H. Perry, E. Wakefield, F. Archer, R. A. Chisholm, C. B. Grierson, Drs Hammond, Macintyre, Hogg, and Lovegrove. Treasurer—Mr 0. T. 11. Perry. Secretary—E. H. Lough. Committee of Management—Messrs J. S. Gibson, Knowles, Mair, Morgan, J. Lewis, T. L. Harney, T. Langdon, ,T. Hatton, H. Whittaker, W. Lewis, Fitzgerald, and J. Petrie. The annual exhibition of the Tiraarn Floral and Horticultural Society was held in Messrs Maclean and Stewart’s buildings, kindly lent for the occasion. The arrangement of the exhibits was varied from that of last year. Instead of the principal stages being placed in the centre of the building, they were ranged round the walls,more room being provided for locomotion, and the unpleasant contrast of brilliant flowers on one side, with hard bare wall on the other, avoided. The sides of the vestibule, or narrower part of the building, were devoted to vegetables, the Amateurs’ exhibits being on the left, and the (professional) Gardeners’ on the right. On the left side of the main part of the building the gardeners’ pot plants were arranged, and the amateurs’ on the opposite side, while the further end was taken up with ferns, and in the centre was a small staging in the form of a cross, occupied i by rare flowers, and ornamental plants. -*f flowers, bouquet, fruit and The cu„ ' as last year, in song birds were the saleroom to the right. We have only space for a re,, general remarks upon the exhibits.

In the Vegetable classes the. Amateurs had a splendid show of new potatoes, in this section carrying off the palm from their professional brethren. The latter bad some fine “ collections” of varieties, clean, sound, and extremely well looking. A collection of rhubarb, “ for exhibition only,” was composed of stalks almost big enough to build a Maori Pah with. On the whole the show of vegetables was superior to that of last year. Coming to the pot plants a decided falling off in color was apparent as compared with last year’s show. The fuschias generally made a comparatively poor display of bloom, though individual plants came up to a high standard of proficiency. These remarks apply to the exhibition on both sides of the room. In Pelargoniums and Geraniums the Amateurs undoubtedly made the hotter display. The exhibits on both sides of the room.-were very varied in quality, some beautifully flowered plants alternating with very poor ones. The finest individual plants were on the Amateurs’ side of the room. There was not a great display of calceolarias, but those shown—nearly all on the Gardeners’ side—were handsome and interesting. The collections of ornamental plants and of rare flowering plants were very interesting, but too numerous for us to attempt to particularize them with justice: The cut blooms made a fine show, but the strong and hot nor’-wester of the morning had very injuriously affected the more delicate petalled varieties. Messrs Nairn and Son, of Christchurch showed several collections of cut flowers of a high degree of merit. There ware about half a dozen pretty “ table decorations,” and about 40 hand bouquets on a table in the centre of the room, some of them arranged by children, most of them very pretty indeed. The collections of fruit were very strong in gooseberries and strawberries, other fruits, owing to the lateness of the season, not being shown at all in proportionate quantities or of equal quality. The two fruits named were represented by giant specimens in most cases. The following is the prize list; — CLASS A.—GARDENERS. POT PLANTS. Fuschias, 4 plants, 2 light, 2 dark. Three entries. A. Perry, 1; J. Lewis, 2. Fuschias, varieties. Two entries. A. Perry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2. Pelargoniums, 4 plants, varieties. One entry. J. Lewis, 1. Pelargoniums, 2 plants. Two entries. J. Lewis, 1 ; J. Hatton, 2. Pelargoniums, fancy, 3 plants, varieties. One entry, J. Lewis, 1 Pelargoniums, fancy, 2 varieties. Two entries. J. Lewis, 1 Geraniums, 4 plants, varieties. Two entries, A. Perry, 1 ; Lewis, 2 Geraniums, 2 plants, varieties. Two entries, A. Perry, 1 Geraniums, 4 double varieties. Two entries, A. Perry, 1 ; Lewis, 2 Geraniums, 2 double varieties. Four entries. A. Perry, 1; J. Lewis, 2 Geraniums, 3 bi-colors, varieties. Two entries. J. Lewis, 1. Geraniums, 3 tri-colors, varieties. One entry. J. Lewis, 1 • Ivy-leafed, 3 plants, varieties. Two entries. J. Lewis, 1 ;A. Perry, 2. Ivy-leafed, 2 plants, varieties. One entry. J. Lewis, 1 Calceolarias, 4 plants, varieties. Three entries, Lewis, 1 ; H. Whittaker, 2 ; Hatton, 3. Petunias, 4 varieties, double or single. One entry. Harney, 1 Best specimen ornamental foliage pot plant. Two entries. A. Perry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2 Best specimen new or rare pot plant of any kind. Two entries. A. Perry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2 Collection of 6 pot plants, varieties, not otherwise specified. Two entries A. Perry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2 Collection of 3 pot plants, varieties not otherwise specified. Two entries. A. Perry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2 Ericas, 3 varieties. Two entries. J. Lewis, 1.

Best collection of Ferns in cultivation. Two entries. A. Perry, 1 ; J. Lewis, 2. Begoniss, 3 plants, varieties, foliage. One entry. A. Perry, 1. COT FIOWEES. Eosob, 18 varieties, blooms. One entry. P. B. Luxmore, 1 Eoses, 12 varieties, blooms. Two entries. J. W. White, 1; P. B. Luxmore, 2 Verbenas, 12 varieties, not more than three trusses each. Three entries. P. B. Luxmore, 1; White, 2; Judge Ward, 3 Verbenas, 6 varieties, not more than three trusses each. Fire entries. A. Perry, 1; Atkinson, 2 Pansies, 6 varieties. Eight entries. Atkinson, 1; J. Mair, 2 Best collection of hardy cut flowers, 12 distinct species, one variety of each. Four entries. J. Lewis, 1; White, 2 Best collection of cut flowers, 6 varieties, stove or greenhouse. Two entries. A. Perry, 1; J. Lewis, 2 Antirrhinums, 6 varieties. Two entries. P. B. Luxmore, 1; G. Cliff, 2 Penstemones, 6 varieties. Two entries J. Lewis, 1 ; G. Cliff, 2 Pelargoniums, 6 varieties, throe trusses each. One entry. J. Lewis, 1 Geranium Zonale, 6 varieties, three trusses each, double or single. Three entries. J. Lewis, 1 ;A. Perry, 2 FEUIT. Strawberries, best dish of 25. Eight entries. Luxmore, 1; Atkinson, 2; Stewart, 3. Cherries, black, best dish of 60. Three entries. Langdon, 1 Cherries, white, best dish of 50. 3 entries. Langdon, 1 Gooseberries, 2 varieties, best dish of 25 each, 11 entries. Langdon, 1; Cliff, 2 ; A. Perry, 3 Currants, bunohes, best dish of black. Three entries. Langdon, 1; White, 2 Currants, bunches, best dish of white. Three entries. Luxmore, 1 ; White, 2 Currants, bunches, best dish of red. Three entries. Luxmore, 1 ; White, 2 Raspberries, best dish. Three entries. Cliff, 1 ; Langdon* 2 Best collection of fruit by fruiterers, imported or otherwise. One entry. Mitchell, 1 VEGETABLES. Cucumbers, best brace. Six entries. Lewis, 1 ; Ward, 2 Cabbages, 3 best heads. Five entries, R. Irwin, 1 ; Luxmore, 2 Red cabbages, 3 best heads. Two entries. White, 1 Cauliflowers or Brocoli, 3 best heads. Two entries. Luxmore, 1 ; Langdon, 2 Carrots, bunch of 6. Seven entries. Irwin, 1 ; White, 2 Turnips, bunch of 3. Pour entries. Langdon, I; White, 2 Onions, bunch of 6. Seven entries. " 1 > Whiter 2 Lan b - ,

Lettuce, best 3of any variety. Six entries. Irwin, 1; Langdon, 2 Potatoes, kidney, 51 bs. Seven entries. Luxmore, 1 ; Langdon, 2 Peas, 50 pods. Five entries. White, 1 ; Langdon, 2 Beans, broad, 25 pods. Five entries. A. Hart, 1; Cliff, 2 Best collection of vegetables, » varieties. Six entries. Cliff, 1; White, 2 Artichokes, globe, best 3. Two entries. Cliff, 1 Asparagus, best bundle of 25. Five entries. White, 1 CLASS B—AMATEURS (Open to Amateurs only.) I POT PLANTS. Puscliias, 3 plants, varieties. 3 entries J. Hatton, 1 ; J. G-. Cowan,3 Fuschias, 2 plants, varieties. 2 entries. H. Whittaker, 1; Hatton 2 Pelargoniums, 3 plants, varieties. 2 entries. H. Whittaker, 1; Hatton, 2 Pelargoniums, 2 plants, varieties. 2 entries. H. Whittaker, 1; Hatton, 2 Pelargoniums, fancy, 3 plants, varieties, one entry. H. Whittaker, 1 Pelargoniums, fancy, 2 plants, varieties, One entry. H. Whittaker, 1 Geraniums, 3 plants, varieties. 4 entries. H. Whittaker, 1; J. T. Whittaker, 2 ; Hatton, 3 Geraniums, 2 plants, varieties, 5 entries. H. Whittaker, 1 ; J. T. Whittaker, 2 ; Hatton, 3 Geraniums, double, 3 plants, 4 entries. H. Whittaker,! ; J. T. Whittaker 2; Hatton, 3 Geraniums, 2 plants, 4 entries. J. T. Whittaker, 1 ; H. Whittaker, 2 ; Hatton 3

Geraniums, 3 plants, variegated, 3 entries. H. Whittaker, 1 ; Hatton, 2

Geraniums, 2 plants, variegated, varieties, 4 entries. H. Whittaker, 2 Geraniums, 2 plants, ivy-leafed, varieties, 3 entries. H. Whittaker, 2 ; Hatton, 2 Best specimen of ornamental pot plant. Three entries. Bargefrede, 1 ; H. Whittaker, 2 Best specimen of new or rare pot plant. Two entries. R. Stansell, 1; H. Whittaker, 2 Best collection of 4 pot plants, varieties not otherwise specified. Five entries. ■J. Mair, 1; H. Whittaker, 2 ; Hatton, 3 Best collection of Ferns in cultivation. Three entries. H. Whittaker, 1; J. T. Whittaker, 2 Balsams, three varieties. Two entries. H. Whitaker, 1 ; J. T. Whittaker, 2. Best collection of Cactus, 6 varieties. One entry. J. Hatton, 1 CUT FLOWERS. Roses, 12 varieties. One entry. J. Mair, 1 Roses, 6 varieties. Four entries. R. Stansell, 1; R. Stansell, 2; J. T. Whittake, 3 Stocks, 4 varieties, in spikes. One entry. R. Stansell 1 Verbenas, 6 varieties, not more than three trusses each. Two entries. J. M»i r « 1 Pelargoniums, 4 varieties. Three trusses each. Three entries. H. Whittaker, 1; Hatton, 2 ; Cliff, 3 Pansies, 6 varieties. Seven entries. Mair, 1 ; J. T. Whittaker, 2 Best collection of cut flowers, 6 distinct species. Four entries. Mair, i; H. Whittaker 2 Antirrhinums,6 varieties. Six entries. Mair, 1 ; Stansell, 2; J. T. Whittaker, 3 . Penstemones, 6 varieties. Two entries. H. Whittaker, 1 Geraniums Zonale, 4 varieties. Three trusses each, double or single. Three entries. H.Whittaker, 1; J. T. Whittaker, 2 ; Cliff, 3 Fruit. Strawberries, best dish of 25. Six entries. G. Cliff, 1 ; J. Stewart. 2; J. Johnson, 3 Cherries, black, best dish of 25. Five entries. Archdeacon Harper, 1 ; G. Cox, 2 Cherries, white, best dish of -5. Eight entries. Archdeacon Harper, 1 ; J, Hatton, 2 Gooseberries, best dish of 25. Eleven entries. G. Cliff, 1; J. Johnson, 2. Currants, in bunches, best dish of black. Four entries. J. Blackraore, 1 ; R. Morgan, 2. Currants, in hunches, best dish of white. Three entries. W. Collins,! ; G. Cliff, 2. Currants, in bunches, best dish of red. Two entries. W. Collins, 1 ; G. Cliff, 2. Raspberries, best dish. Three entries. E.'Parr, 1 ; W. Collins, 2. Extreme pressure on our space compels us to bold over the remainder of the prize list and the report of interesting remarks made at the official luncheon by visiting J udges and others.