Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1882.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 21 October 1882, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1882.

While tho Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Show of 1882 is still a recent event, it ma}' bo as well to comment briefly on a few- points in connection with it. We are firm believers in the utility of such oxhibitions. In at least two ways they conduce to the advancement and prosperity of a district; They let each member of the agricultural community know by the plainest and most satisfactory evidence a good deal of what is going on around him. He is afforded the opportunity of making comparisons which may be useful to him in his business ; and such shows create and foster a healthy spirit of emulation amongst agriculturists. The direct substantial advantage to the out-side public may not be quite so clear, but at all events they take a great interest in the proceedings, and are content to pay a moderate fee for the privilege of 6eeing what has been going on in the farming world. This year the public came to the gates in larger numbers than on former occasions, though there was a falling off in the receipts. Last year the gate monoy was £112; this year it was £80 ss. But then the prices of admission, were different. In 1881 the Association charged five shillings for admission to the ground before I o'clock, and half-a-erown after that hour. This ye.ir the charge was half-a-crown before 1 o'clock, and one shilling afterwards. We do not think the Association have any reason to be dissatisfied. The full effects of the reduced prices have not yet been felt. Notwithstanding the public notification of the fact many persons were unaware that the reduction had been made. It is within our own knowledge that this unfortunate ignorance existed, and also that some who would otherwise have gone to the show kept away on account of the supposed high admission fee. Next year the fact of the reduction will be universally known, and we are confident that the receipts will be greater than ever. That, of course, is assuming that the Association did not go back to the old scale. If they are guilty of such a grave mistake their treasury will suffer. In the number of exhibits there was a slight falling off from last year. The quality of the stock generally was quite equal to that of 1881, and there was an improvement in the average of the wool. In implements there was improvement as regards both quantity and quality, and implements of New Zealand : manufacture were better represented. ] Wo are sorry to say that the exhibition of dairy produce must bo set ' down as poor. The nuinbei'a wore ' smnll, and tho quality generally not ' at all what we should have expected. \ Some of the exhibits in this class , were, however, voiy superior. The ] prizes given by tho Association are ' certificates. Tho special prizes givon ' by private individuals amounted in j value to the sum of £250. It has j been suggssted that a higher st.iu- < dard of exhibits would be attained if • the Association were to give substan- ' tial money prizes, but we very much ' doubt it. It seems to us that tho ( higher Iho standard the less likely is i tho exhibitor to bo influenced by the > intrinsic value of the prizes. But ! however that may bo, tho Association , nro not at present in a position to t launch out into heavy expenditure. t

"We noticed one fact in connection with, the special prizes which we trust also attracted the attention of the stewards. A good many exhibitors were not soon enough aware that, in order to qualify to compete for a special prize, it was necessary to pay a special entrauco fee. Many excellent exhibits wvns accordingly shut out from special competition, and we bolieve tli'.t in some instances the result waa that the prize was carried off by something inferior. There were com--plaints, though we do not say they were well grounded, that notice of tho special entrance fee was not given early enough. The arrangements on the ground were very good. The judges, as a rule, gave satisfaction, especially those who had the most work to do. The dogs .were in our opinion badly judged. Ou the whole the show was a good one, and the Association are to be congratulated on having achieved a success.