THE OTAGO A. and P. SHOW

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 48, 1 December 1904, Page 29

THE OTAGO A. and P. SHOW

The twenty-eighth annual summer show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held at TaUuna, PaiK on Thursday and Friday last. The weather on tiic (irst day, when the principal business was the judging oi the various classes, was line, and up to mid-day on Friday it gave promise oi being on its best behaviour. Shortly alter noon, nowever, evidences of the fickleness of the Dunedin climate were not wanting, and before the afternoon was -\ery far advanced a cold south-wesit storm of rain, accompanied by peals of tlumder, set m, deterring those on pleasure bent from proceeding to the show grounds'. Naturally the unexpected change in the weather had a material clieet (xn the attendance, winch, under favorable circumstances, would luue been very large. The exhibits weie somewhat less than last year but they made up in excellence for lack of numbers.

Our local manufacturers were, as us"ual, well to the fore w it>h a fine display of useful exhibits. Among these weic tthe Milhurji Lime and Cement Company, j&ho, in addition to their otner lines already so popular in the Colony, have added -that of cement pipe making, of which they n.id a fine disiplay on the grounds. The pipes run in diameter from lour inches to two feet, aie tihree feet long, and aic perfectly uniform in si/e. The principal characteristics ot tlu^e prx^aic lightness and strength. r l he Company also exhibited line and rough lime, the former bem^' suitable for sowing through a manure drill, cement, phosphate, and the Calitornuin week! destroyer. As example.-, of local manufacture 'vhe articles exhibited by the Company atti acted a g,0,0d ddal of attention from the visitors

'lo have an agricultuial show without the leading firm of agricultural implement makcis, Messrs. Rend md Graj, diiphning then \ dried assortment of requisites for the Farm, would be like a production of a play with the principal character lcit out. Tl.c manufactures of tin-, firm luue now an Australasian ieputa tion, and are nine !i sought after by all up-to-dai c agriculturists, and consequently on this occasion t-heir com prehensile display attracted the at! cut ion ot all interested in farming pursuits Their fine collection ol ploughs— including the champion double furrow, thice lurrow, digging, hillside, and single lever — was a ciedit tio the firm, and wo jiMc^it say to the Colony <' > examples of local workmanship Among- thor other cxinbits were disc harrows, turnip sowing 'and thinning machines, spring tooth cultivators, chaff-cutters, the llornsby-Ackroyd oil engines, Deering harvesting machinery, and other faun accessories too numerous to mention. The machinery turned out by this firm has lie en tevted by the farmers of this Colony for many years and is still gi owing in popularity, a sure sien that it is all that it is represented to be Their locallv-ma.de farm implements are up-to-date in every respect, the workmanship is of the best, and the material is fitst-class. The goods which they are agon is for in New Zealand have also a well-deserved reputation for excellence.

Messrs. Rnnsley and Co , t.he well-known makers of the Channpion' ranges, which have become so popular with housewives, were to the fore with a number of their ranges — suitable acoordrng to ske for all dwellings fiom a coittage to a mansion. Some of these were of very hajnidsome design, and all were fitted vrp with the latest improvements which are product ive of economy, cleanliness, and case in manipulation. A special feature of these ranges is the use of cold rolled steel £or the internal parts, s,o that the possibility of cracks is obviated. As t|he many admirable qualities of these ranges are now well known aud as the firm is up-to-date in effecting improvements where experience sh#ivs such are necessary, it is needless to say that the display

was very much admired and highly praised by the large numbers who inspected it.

Messrs. Morrow, Bassett, and Co. had a very fine exhibit of farm implements, prominent among these being the McC.ormick reapers and binders, three of which were shown luted up in different ways— -one of them bemg complete with transport and sheaf carrier, and anouier fitted with Mawson's patent divider. The 11)01 reaiper and hinder exhibited embodied all the latesi improvements, suuh as strength, perfect alignment, lightness ot draught, and the highest efhciencv Among the other implements on the stand bearing the McCormick name wcic j.n all-steel hayrake and a sickle and toolgrinder. The Bcnicia plough, which is a farm implement that has already made its name as a cleanser of land louled with twitch and other weeds, and also as a pulveriser of stubble and turnip land, was much admired, as its merits have been successfully proved in various paits of the Colony. It is adjustable from one to six di^-cs, and is easily controlled by a man riding on a spring seat. It is simple in its construction, and therefore strong in all its parts, durable, and light in draught. This enterprising firm also exhibited cultivators, harrows, stock food-preparing machinery, daisy carts, horse hoes, sets of buggy harness, lifting jacks, etc., all of whioh were of a very high class.