THE TIMARU SHOW.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 92, 2 November 1878, Page 2

THE TIMARU SHOW.

As most of our readers have already had an opportunity—afforded by daily contemporaries —of seeing a particular description of most of the exhibits at this show we shall not attempt to go over the whole field in so detailed a manner as under other circumstances might be desirable. To reproduce the prize list were now a supererogation, and to rejudge the exhibits, as is the habit of newspaper reporters, were a super-arroga-tion. We will deal with the subject lightly, and rather from the Temuka holiday-makers’ point of view, than from that of a strict, and hard-to-please judge from anywhere. The day was kept as complete a holiday in Temuka and the neigh -mu-hood as any secular clay can be.' All who could, without serious inconvenience, leave their ivork and premises, did so. Not all the holidaymakers, however, went to Timaru ; not all who went to Timaru, to the show. Many took a quiet drive, a ride, or a walk in other directions. Many who reached Timaru found, in bar or bazaar, “metal more attractive” than the unornamented show-ground could offer. It was very curious to watch the doors of hotel bars after the arrival of the trains, especially, and generally, throughout the day, to see the living streams moving in and out, earnestly intent upon purposes as engrossing as those with which the busy bee improves the shining hour—and not so very unlike —one adds honey, the other “sugar,” to the store within. An hour before the time for the departure of the Timaru train from Temuka numbers of people came in from all directions, on foot, riding, or driving. Many of the latter left their horses and traps and took the train, others went the whole way on, or behind, their horses. A long time before the train was expected the little platform was thronged by intending excursionists, determined not to be late for the train. An extra carriage was attached at this station, bringing up the total to ten. By the time Timaru was reached, recruited by detatchments at Arowhenua and the Washdyke, the whole of the carriages were well filled. Arrived at Timaru, many of the visitors who had not been “ to'town ” for some time, strolled along the principal streets, marking the various improvements made since their last visit. Many, no doubt, were the expressions of astonishment at the swii’ 1 progress the place has made, and is making, ; of admiration for the handsome and substantial building's with which some of the streets are hounded, and of cordial satisfaction at the many signs of advancement and prosperity to be seen on all sides. It might have been expected that the shops in town would have been closed, but the proprietors know their business, and their best business days, and act upon this knowledge, making their hay while the sun doth shine. To.be sure, townspeople cannot be expected to feel a very great interest in wool, long or short ; nor cattle, nnpicturesquely cabin'd, crihb’d, confin’d, bound in by sturdy stock-yard rails ; nor in horses, if it as it must at a show, that it is almost impossible for the inexperienced both to get_ a good view of them, and keep out of way of their fidgetty prancings. The sun was shining, so it was the duty of (he townspeople to make hay, and not neglect their opportunity. The show-ground, from 10 a.in till evening, presented a continuously animated scene. Restless horses, and moie restless people, scattered thickly over the ground, little knots and groups passing from place to place in earnest debate upon some vital point, made an aggregate as prolific, in variations as any kaleidoscope. In almost absurd contrast to the active life on the ground level was the still idleness of the two wind-mills within view. The Althouss was anxiously watched, but rciused to do a good turn. Sheep, and of sheep the merinos, were accorded the place of honor in tire catalogue, being placed first on the list. Their importance to the colony, as also the number of exhibits, entitled them to be placed first. A time may come—the time has come for some districts of New Zealand —when sheep will be no longer the principal feature of the Timaru Show, but the arrival of that tune nuiat be hastened, not by the decline ot the pastoral, but by the advance of the agricultural branches or our outdoor productiveness. The total number of sheep on the ground was about <OO. Tiie merinos were a fine collection ot men* kind, being scarcely visible for wool A very careless observer must have been struck with the great differences in form of the body, and in the appearance and arrangement of the wool .of the sheep in different pens. Some were woolly almost from nose to toes, others were barelegged and comparatively bare-headed.' The appearance of the rams suggests that a breeder who should produce a race of “ shorthorn” merinos would be a benefactor both to the sheep and to man. The labour of carrying such monstrous appendages is anything but trifling, and the amount of grass consumed in the first place to produce these appendages, and in the second place to furnish the strength required to carry them continually, must he very considerable. If they were really ornamental that would be something *in their favor, hut they seldom are so, and moreover, their beauty would be wasted on the hills. The long-wool led sheep, so much larger, so different in fleece, appear to belong to a different species. The remark applied to the arrangement and appearance of the merino’s woo! may bo

4 _ applied to these, and thel ences in appearance must?l cate broad differences in thl catalogue, not commorcial im porta (yfß terest, but most placed in similar the better but three exhibits neither of them The entries fewer than we number of exhibitors sliJEj] The good quality of mip could he seen “ a mile off.’|f having distinguishing coUjl ford. Devon, Ayrshire, J effective in a show, and# be found that until colorji in the shorthorn (wh : cH|t pear to be as yet), the otluj remain more or loss nn|| Cox’s Herofords are b® upon, but do not conipai regular short-horns in imM may be said of the; dBB breeds represented. The horses were a noble innumerable variations irujjj between the two extrejn Shell ie Topsy and the $ Renfrew Jock. Even in| great variety was plainlyjd: differences in many that it is pretty plain thsy for a particular kind of\w is not striven for with mujif The poultry yard was vef seated indeed, only about' being shown. The implements formed' tant feature of the shoWj number and variety did 'g the place. To be sure source of dissatisfaction inj the long, broad line of?| thought that a large portifil not of our own produftl other hand, it was ‘extreil

to note that such exhibi colonial manufacture co favorably with those oft; every nsefu-1 particular.

English makes are at a d| reapers and mowers Mea Gray turn out the neatest] stantial-looking machines# the more complicated bindl to rely for some years .on)J ably circumstanced work! Of the four different »

ground only one (the perly exhibi bd. That is,' machine can he ground. The young panied it, and who-c duH plain the my-jlcrii-a of its-H terrible hard day's work.H the other bin lens hid an exponent of its principk’fll which these machines stodcf\, have been the most popula field. After all, the hilx lauding and showing the v machines in such a plac^ all, connieici d speiking,-*; Our farmers are not to be spending L7O upon a new must be to prac if it stands those, verbal j necessaiq. MV had heardi praise of the >[‘Slierry g:ah seeing the i-np'cmeut wo) impressed in itif.ivur. Thl bemadded to the long ost] improvements. One Amej til*- ground mu r he a htii the Eureka-mower. It lq neat and must be very tut as the h'>;se< drawing amongst the uncut crop, th surely condemns itself; •T 1 another Yankee notion, i:

proved itself a most effect; further north. Companitj® being grown down here, thj not bo much sought after, at any rate. Any-modificat ever, or an elevator of ai that would bo serviceubl sheaves in stock, would d boon to our largo farmers;, ing this subject we must cc townsmen, M issrs Henry! upon their well-merited sue tors. Their ploughs were;piements indeed, and th would, as far as workma cerned, have done credit to mont in the colony. Among the agriculti wore some samples .as one seldom sees. TuS two prize samples ip . weighed respectively COy an speaks pages in their favc lection of small seeds shown and Co., and Miles, Archer, very interesting and instrir of Sweet Vernal seed was p teresting, from the whole ■ portion of tire sample Lb motion by the leaping of- th the influence of changing The show of dairy prod small. The exhibits m good in quality, ana 100. indeed. “■

Tins thirteenth Tirnani’ £ the whole a decided success tor’s point of view. The t scarce!} 7 have been more s attendance was so large that an important and interestin show. The hand-shaking d’ye-do’s ” between old at friends would have been see and hear indeed, if the been massed and seen and 1 The refreshment booths did* and they might well have more numerous or larger, drawback to a comp'ote enj show by many country visi trains leaving at so early an the circumstances the autl surely have been justified spec al train as far as the wards, or else in detaining train for an hour or an hou A great of peopl train, and hart to remain in} night. This, was not to be ' Iso one could bo pleased T away from the ground .just pleasant part of the day, a many determinedly missed A were really pleased chat | punctually. Those w)jo 1 by the 4.5 .north train had every carriage being close! There'must be fev or-r not, like ourselves, -feel gra pleasing and useful the late exhibition!*: and vvhc in a sincere wish 'for the ! prosperity of the T.A.P. A.a *