TOWN’S LINK WITH COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 14

TOWN’S LINK WITH COUNTRY.

IMPORTANCE OF A. AND P. SHOWS. GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION. Fifty years ago Stratford was standing bush. To-day it is a neat, typical,' progressive New Zealand, town with a most promising future as an important railway junction, and as the centre of a rich dairying district. The half-cen-tury of Stratford’s existence has witnessed many changes—bush tracks have been replaced with wide, tar-sealed, macadamised streets, dilapidated whares have been succeeded by modern ferroconcrete structures. Though its population has not increased rapidly, the solidity of the town is undoubted. An important step in the town’s progress was made in 1910. In that year Stratford was placed on a pedestal through the efforts of Mr. J. D. Healy—Stratford became a town with an A. and P. Show. It is to Mr. Healy’s credit that he conceived the idea of an annual show in Stratford, and he earned the town’s gratitude by his efforts in making his ideal an established fact. With the cooperation of the Mayor, Mr. Jonas Masters, a public meeting was called and the A. and P. Association formed. The infant association went ahead by leaps and bounds, and six months after Mr. Healy had broached the idea an agricultural and pastoral show was held in Stratford (December 7 and 8, 1910). The first show was the successful forerunner of many more, and these have always been .well supported by the citizens of the town and the farmers of the district. The prize-money donated in 1910 was £270, and an enormous crowd attended the show when it was opened by the M.P. for the district, Mr. J. B. Hine.

The executive and members of the newly-formed association made the arrangements for the show in a thorough and enthusiastic manner. They obtained an area just outside the borough and made vast improvements in a very short time. A great number of ornamental trees were planted, the grounds were laid out in such a way that the convenience of spectators, exhibitors and judges was catered for, and the required buildings were erected. The show lias progressed steadily, until to-day it is recognised as one of the foremost dairy cattle shows in the Dominion. The management of the association has been good, and it is a most commendable thing that no mishap has ever occurred at the shows and, as far as can be ascertained, no exhibit has been damaged while on the showgrounds.

Much credit is due to the first officials of the association, and to the presidents and secretaries who have held office since. It is noteworthy that the founder of the show did not at first take office, though he was on the first general committee. STRATFORD’S ADVANTAGES. Because of its position as the geographical centre of Taranaki, and surrounded as it is by a vast and fertile farming district, Stratford is eminently situated for the location of a highly comprehensive and successful display of all kinds of dairy and pastoral stock. It is not surprising then that the A. and P. Association’s show should attract widespread interest and draw entries from long distances. In 1923 the entries constituted, a record, for the association, and in 1924 they totalled 1945, or slightly less than the previous best. From an educational viewpoint the exhibits at the show merit much attention. The judges and owners of winning cattle are always 'ready to discuss their systems, to point out reasons making for success, and to discover cause of failure. To everyone interested in agricultural or pastoral pursuits there is; something of absorbing interest in the shoiv.

“I have been present, at all the shows' of any importance in New Zealand during tlie course of many years, and. I say without fear of contradiction that this parade is the finest display of dairy animals ever brought together iu the Dominion.” This was the opinion of a well-known breeder and judge as he viewed the massed display at the close of the grand, parade three years ago. In opening the show in 1924, Mr. R. Masters said he would undertake to say that at no show in New Zealand could such a splendid exhibit of Jersey cattle be seen as was exhibited at Stratford. “The first four cows in the C.O.R. and the open class for mature females were a pleasure tn judge,” remarked Mr. H.

Moreland, of Hamilton, judge of the pedigree Jersey division in 19'24. He referred with some amazement to the extraordinary large classes throughout his section, and quoted as instances the parade of 38 animals in the junior female class, 21 in the mature female and 19 in the C.O.R. class. The placed cows excelled in dairy type and were exceedingly strong in breed characteristics. In fact, he was impressed by the possibility that there had never been a better array of Jerseys at an A. and P. Show in New Zealand, especially in the females. In this direction the show still maintains' its reputation, and, to anyone who is at all interested, in these beautiful cattle, the 1926 show will be most attractive and of considerable value, Numerically the entries show a small decrease on the record made in 1925, but the quality of the exhibits promises to be higher than ever. The fact that in a dairying district like Stratford there were not more pigs exhibited was the most striking feature of the pig section, according to Mr. W. Grant, of New Plymouth, who judged this section in 1924. It. is pleasing to note, however, that the entries for pigs this year are surprisingly good, though not up to the previous records. Record entries, very keen competition, crowds of interested’spectators, and fine weather combined to make the opening of the show in 1923 a notable occasion. The entries for all classes totalled just under 2000, an increase of 200 over the previous best year. This year, in the junior section alone, an increase of over 200 entries is shown. Last year there were in this section 675 entries, this year there are 898.

ENTRIES FOR 1926. Substantial increases over the. 1925 figures are shown in the entries for the junior section, the sheep, the photography, the sewing, the horses, and the Shorthorn, grade Jersey, grade Friesian and crossbred cattle. It is noteworthy that in the pedigree Jersey section last year a large, complete herd visited the show, and this meant a considerable increase in the entries. A similar thing happened in the pig section, and as these are not exhibiting this year, the entries show an apparent decrease. Iu the following details 1925 figures are given in parentheses: Junior section 898 (675); pigs 73 (76); sheep 99 (71); cooking 210 (238); art 22 (33); photography 52 (17); sewing 173 (152); horses, including competitions, 314 (296); pedigree Jersey 214 (270, record); pedigree Ayrshire 55 (59); pedigree Friesians 60 (04); pedigree Shorthorns 27 (20); grade Jerseys s 2 (12); grade Friesians 5 (0); crossbred 28 (22); grade and crossbred 11 (16). The cattle therefore show a. decrease of 31; the home industries an increase of 17; the horses an increase of 18; the pigs a decrease of 3; and the sheep an increase of 28. The huge increase (223) in the junior section brings the total increase of entries up to 25'2. ANGLICAN BAZAAR, Yesterday afternoon the Church of England opened their 1926 annual bazaar. Though the weather was not all that could be desired, there was a fair attendance in the afternoon and trade was brisk in the evening. The Town Hall was filled with attractive stalls offering a great variety of goods. Much credit is due to the ladies of the guild for their efforts in organising the fair and they are to be congratulated on their success. Last night an attractive musical programme was given by local artists and again to-night a number of musical items will be rendered.

The fair was officially opened by Mr. E. Walter, M.P., who was introduced by the vicar, Rev. J. L, A. Kayll. In his speech Mr. Kayll thanked the ladies of the church for working so hard to bring the sale about. He congratulated them on the beautiful decorations and expressed his thanks to the men who had prepared the hall. The work was by no means easy and he hoped, their efforts would be as successful as in former years.

Mr. Walter, in declaring the fair open, commented o.i tho importance of the church in national life. He congratulated the ladies on their work and hoped they would have a good sale and would thereby increase the church’s revenue. Stallholders were:— Eastern stall.'—Mesdames J. L. A. Kayll, W. Mclnnes and S. A. Ward. Cake stall.—Mesdames Jenkins and Bourke. Handkerchiefs and d’oyleys.—Mrs. Tmby King. Girls’ Guild and sweets stall.—Miss Kayll and members of the Giris’ Guild. Flower stall. —Mrs. Cullen and Miss Norman. Apron and bag stall.—Mesdames G.

Hall, Lampshire and Croptou. Eadies’ Guild stall.—Mesdames Rutherford, Abraham and Tichbon. Produce stall. —Mesdames Martin and Davies. Tea rooms. —Mesdames Thorpe and Furrie. Toy stall.—Mrs. Ix Curtis. China stall.—Mrs. A. W. Budge. Fish pond and bran tubs. —Mrs. O. Curtis.

BEAUTIFUL DANCE PLAY. Country residents about Stratford will have the opportunity of seeing the beautiful dance play to be hold in the Town Hall on Thursday next. It is well worth going a long way to see.. Elwyn Riley will be well remembered as a resident of Stratford some three years ago, when she assisted in several benefits in the town, teaching all the dancing in the initial performance of the Operatic Society’s great performance (Cingalee), and also Florodora. It is to be hoped a packed house will greet this young artist on Thursday night. There is no possibility of disappointment in this programme. GENERAL ITEMS. The road through the Tangarakau Gorge was opened for traffic on Wednesday, after Public Works employees had effected 'many improvements. Unfortunately heavy rains fell on the following day and the road again became impassable, only one car having made the through trip. The district engineer (Mr. T. M. Ball) has, however, taken the work of re-opening the road as an urgent matter and at the present time has 15 men working on it and expects to have it open for traffic in a fortnight. Business people going to lunch yesterday were treated to a bitterly cold hail and rain shower of considerable duration. DOUGLAS NEWS. (Contributed.)

After the stormy elements had subsided, Douglas was favoured with a fine, moonlight night on Friday, November 19, when a dance was held, many dancers being present from surrounding districts. The hall was tastefully decorated with green lycopodium and snowballs, with pink and red roses and pink sweet peas entwined in the greenery. The music was supplied by Boulton's orchestra. During the evening two novelty dances were held. The winners were; Monte Carlo, Mr. Jacobs and Mrs. McKenzie; Lucky Spot, Mr. Jack Walter and Miss Joyce Cresswell. A dainty supper was provided by the ladies under the supervision of Mesdames Wills and Betts, assisted by Mrs. Creswell, Miss Scott, Messrs C. B. Wilmshurst and Mr. R. Latham. The tables were prettily arnoged with snowballs, red roses and pinks. Thanks are due to Mr. E. Creswell and Mr. Allen, who filled the positions of doorkeepers. The duties of M.C.’s were carried out by Messrs Jack Walters and Walter Bredow in their usual jovial manner. The dancers dispersed in the eary hours of the morning, all seeming to have been well pleased with their evening’s enjoyment. The duties of secretary were capably car. ried out by Mrs. E. Wills.