TOKO SHOW

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 12 February 1914, Page 3

TOKO SHOW

ft is not so very lonp ago that the township of Toko was a "Hush clad area, partly swamp aiul partly hills. Indeed, the writer remembers vividly a riding trip made out there some years ago. The alleged road consisted of a strip of mud that looked like a river-bed. The mild was as tenacious as an octopus, and. like that symbol of American trusts, was very difficult to got away from.

It was no uncommon occurrene.) in those days to sec (lend horses all rflong the road; and indeed, one old resident tells a story of a wayfarer who noticed a liat drifting, as he thought, on the water. He reached out to get the hat and was astounded when lie heard a voice from underneath the hat saying. "Leave my hat alone!" It was another wayfarer plodding through the mud. But what a contrast now. Instead of hush-cl'i l hills and swamps, there arc smiling farms and homesteads, the swamps have been drained and brought into a high state of cultivation, Everywhere is peace and plenty. The land of Canaan was as the backyard of an iron foundry compared to the Toko of to-day. A well-formed and metalled road leads from Stratford, the Chicago of Mew Zealand, to Toko and out 30 or 40 miles further. Small wonder, then, that the residents of Toko, seeing the great success of the Stratford A. and P. Show, should, want to establish a local show for themselves. They have done so, and entrieß for the different classes close to-monw. All the events are for residents residing oast of the Kahouri 'bridge, with the exception of the poultry classes and one leaping event, which are open. The schedule contains classes for pot plants, vegetables, farm produce, fruit, and preserves, pickles and sauces, dairy produce, home industries, fancy work, photography, juvenile classes, cattle, sheep, horses, poultry, and a dog trial. The management have arranged for a special train to leave Stratford at 1.30 p.m.. on Thursday, February 10, returning the same evening. All information will be. supplied by the Secretary, Mr. 0. M. Cleary, Toko.