THE Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1897.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 202, 28 October 1897, Page 2

THE Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1897.

Titk annual show under the auspices of the Wniktito Agricultural ami Pastoral Association selves two purposes. In the first place it brings all the settlors of the district together for the interchange of ideas and comparisons of experience ; in the second it enables nil to see the best the district can do in (he way of stock production. This gives an object lesson which can hardly fail to bear good fruit. With an ideal before him, a man, unless he be of a slothful nature, has an incentive to aspire to attaining as near perfection as his circumstances vill allow. It is the spirit of emulation which raises men above the level of the savage. I'lvery Wiiikulo settler has good [(Jason to be proud of his district when he walks round the show ground at (Jlaudelauds. The horse stock paraded

would be hard to beat in any part of the colonics. The thoroughbreds were all good, useful animals calculated to keep up the reputation of the district for useful hunters, hacks and harness horses. The draught entires are as fine a lot us has ever entered a prize ring in the colony. The cattle shown are all good in their different classes, and to view them must have been a treat to every man capable of appreciating the good points displayed. The fact is being gradually brought homo to farmers that to own animals of no breed is unprofitable and therefore shortsighted and detrimental to their interests. The same amount of feed, if

not more, is required to fatten inferior animals, but the price they realise is quite different. It is on the show ground that the farmer has the opportunity of judging as to the herd from which it would be most desirable for him to draw his bleeding stock. He has, besides his own judgment, that of practical men, selected because of their special knowledge, to guide him If a farmer has any aptitude for his business he cannot fail to Dike away in his mind the points which go to make a desirable animal, knowledge which cannot fail to be useful to him when buying privately or in the open market.

The exhibits of sheep wore not so numerous as in former years, but those that were shown were quite up to the standard. It, is unnecessary for us here to enter into details. It would be impossible, within the space at our elisposal, to deal in the most cursory manner with individual exhibits. In the columns of our special show supplement we give the prize list. AVo shoulcl be guilty of an injustice were we not to give expression to the high euloguims which have been passed upon Mr Martin Butler (the secretary) and the committee for the completeness of the arrangements. There was not a single hitch anywhere.