Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 1908. AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4344, 3 December 1908, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 1908. AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

This above all—to thine own self be true, tnd it must follow as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man Shakespeare.

The weather for this year’s show has been magnificent No one to have seen the thousands of people on the ground last Saturday overflowing the grand-stand, thronging round the ring where the riding and driving events were in full swing, or attentively gazing at the exhibits of agricultural machinery, local industries or “ Brummagem ” displays could have accused them of want of interest. There is no doubt that when the country cousin comes to town with the specimen of his year’s work to present for public inspection. To the city public, the fact that the horseflesh was not proportionately as much in advance of that exhibited at former shows as might have been wished counted for little in itself. The city public does not know much about the points of a horse, that is to say, it is not so greatly overburdened with information on this matter that it cannot enjoy a handsome general effect, and feel perhaps a little aggrieved because the first prize has not gone to mere good looks.

With regard to the cattle, the huge Polled Angus bulls, and the prize fat cows and fat bulls, despite their merits, and their powerful recommendations when one wants “ more bovril ” never did, and never will excite in the mind of the town sightseer the admiration which goes without stint to your little champion Jersey cow. In view of the good representation of cattle this year it is unfortunate that there was not better accommodation. With the restricted facilities judging was difficult. There was a very good representation of Shorthorns, Ayreshires, and Jerseys. Molsteins,. Polled Angus, and Devons were also to the fore. Only to look at the prize fat cattle was to conjure up visions of a great future in the canning industry of the Dominion. In the sheep a gratifying feature of the exhibit was the fact that Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay, and various parts of the province were represented, and though the number of entries was not greatly in exesss of last year, the quality showed a distinct advance. The Romney Marsh excited particular attention and were confessed tobethebestof that shown in the Dominion.

In the pigs also the exhibit was an advance both, in point of numbers and quality. The farmers butter also showed improvement on that of last year’s show. Some fine vegetables, and firstclass lemons, also a splendid display of roses from Mr Lippiatt’s nursery excited- a, good deal of interest. The

exhibit of the Papatoitoi school children, a collection of vegetables was first-class, and showed what can be done in this line by our school children. So great was the interest aroused by the rases that in some places one could hardly get near them-

With regard to the other industries, the agricultural and harvesting machinery excited great attention, showing how important it is to our great staple industry of agriculture that it should possess every facility for obtaining the best results ’ with the least outlay of manual toil. Especially where the oil driven machines were in full play did they excite the interest of the onlookers, such appliances being much more convincing when actually at work. The show has certainly been a great success. From the crowd who thronged to watch the equine events to the group of schoolboys who gathered where a vendor appeared to be offering them a gold watch and sovereign case for one pound, everyone seemed to be having a good time. While the competing farmers and stock-raisers will commence another year’s work stimulated by the results of this friendly competition.