In the spring of every year, New Zealand has a sort of epidemic of agricultural shows breaking out in the far north at Auckland, running down the coasts, east and west, jumping across Cook's Strait and re-appearing in the Middle Island at Christchurch, and running in a sort of irregular fashion (like a volunteer feu de joie) through the towns and villages, down to the south at Invercargill. First on the list this year came Napier, then Hamilton, then Auckland, then a leap to North Palmerston and Hawera, then Christchurch, Waimate and Oamaru; Timaru and Wellington lag a little, as if the priming of their guns were damp, and we shall doubtless soon hear of Palmerston, Waikouaiti, Dunedin and Invercargill, with many an intermediate sputter.

In the opening of this literary effort, we quoted some remarks by a British peer on this country, we will now give the views of a Scotch earl, our present Governor, Lord Glasgow, to which he gave expression at the Waimate Show, held on the 15th November, 1892, as reported in the "North Otago Times," of the following day:

"The great gala day of the year for the Waimate farmers and settlers took place yesterday, when the Waimate Agricultural and Pastoral Society held their annual show. The weather, which was threatening in the morning, fortunately cleared away, and the day was beautifully fine. The president read an address of welcome, and Lord Glasgow replied as follows: Mr. Morton, I have to thank you for the hearty address of welcome you have just given to me in the name of the Waimate Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and I beg you to make known to that body how much Lady Glasgow and myself appreciate the kind manner in which we have been received this day. I am very glad that we have been able to be present at this meeting of your Association, impressed as I am that it is from such local gatherings as this, and from the experience gained from them year by year that the success of the future of this great colony will be built up. Wherever I go in New Zealand I meet a class of farmers and breeders of sheep and cattle second to none—worthy sons of their forebears in the Old Country—bringing a vast amount of skill, energy, and experience to bear in the noble task of reclaiming this beautiful country and turning it [unclear: nto] beautiful pastures and fields of waving corn such as cannot be beaten in any other colony. I page 38 can imagine no more worthy occupation; and I sincerely trust that the bright future which appears to be dawning upon this colony may be more than realised. It certainty will be so if your perseverance and toil meet with their due reward. I again thank you most sincerely for your kind welcome, and I wish every success to the Waimate Agricultural and Pastoral Association. (Applause.) At the instance of Mr. G. Morton and Mr. W. J. Steward, cheers were given for Lord and Lady Glasgow; and Mr. Morton conducted Lord Glasgow over the grounds. During the afternoon the Waimate band performed a number of selections upon the ground, enlivening the proceedings thereby."

Transport yourself, reader, the bright day, the band playing, from far and near the settlers have come in by the country trains converging at Waimate to shake acquaintance by the hand and vie with one another, not in the relentless competition of trade, but as to who has done most to make this earth best worth living in.

The best sheep shown were the Border Leicester, the Lincolns were extra good. In cattle, Polled Angus, Ayrshire, and Alderneys were well represented. Of draught horses there were 40 exhibits. The show of pigs and dogs was very good. The farmers' wives showed butter and home-made bread, and the millers wheat and flour. Cured meats and agricultural implements completed the list.

Oamaru held her show on the 17th and 18th November, and we were there.

There is a fine breakwater, where a couple of ships are lying at their moorings; very large grain stores, and perhaps one of the best waterworks in the world, for the Waitaki River has been tapped, and supplies power enough to drive several flour mills and the local freezing works.

The climate of Oamaru is exceptionally fine. The high mountain ranges at the back intercept the rain, and the part of New Zealand beginning at Oamaru and running up to Banks' Peninsula, has perhaps more cloudless skies than any other, except the Napier province.

As in Waimate, the sky was cloudless, and about 4,000 people assembled in the Show grounds just at the back of the town, and there was not a poorly-dressed person in the crowd. The show of Clydesdale draught horses, and of long-woolled sheep, was as fine as you would see in England, and there is good reason why they should be, as no money has been spared to import the very best class to breed from. Mr. McAuley's draught horse Wallace, just imported at a cost of 500 guineas, only took the third prize—that will show what the others were. Of horses there were 74 draughts and 10 thoroughbreds. Of cattle, 54 Ayrshire, 11 Polled Angus, and 12 Alderneys. Of sheep, 79 Merino, 69 Border Leicester, 11 English Leicester, 34 Lincolns, and 10 Romney Marsh. There were also, of course, exhibits of dairy produce, grain implements, dogs, pigs, etc. The show lasts two days, which is about as long a time as the settlers can afford to be away from their work, as the shearing is now on.

The Oamaru Show is far from the largest in New Zealand. At the Christchurch Show, held on the 12th November, 16,000 paid for admission, the takings for two days being, £840.

With an extract from the "Otago Daily Times" of the 11th November, 1892, we close the subject of agricultural shows, of which the reader will by-this time probably have had enough

"The Palmerston North Show.

"Upwards of 11,000 people were present at the A. and P. Show on November 9. The total number of entries was 923. There was a grand show of horses. Forester beat Somnus in the thoroughbred stallion class. The champion draught was Manager. In sheep there was a fine display, especially of Romney Marsh. In Lincolns, Mr. T. Tanner, Hastings, had the champion ram, and Mr. W. Wilson, Whenuakau, the champion ewe. In Romney7 Marsh, Mr. R. Harding, Hastings, had the champion ram, and Mr. W. Bullen,

Sheep Drafting (20,000).

Wairarapa, had the champion ewe. There was a poor show of Shropshires, but the exhibits of fat sheep were excellent, The show of cattle was the best yet seen here—Ayrshires, Jerseys, and Alderneys being especially good. The champion bull in Shorthorns was owned by Mr. J. W. Baker, in Herefords by Mr. G. W. Wheeler, in Polled Angus by Mr. W. A. Keiller, in Ayrshire by Mr. W. Luxford, in Jersey or Alderney by Mrs. J. Crawley. The show of fat cattle was exceptionally good, Mr. M. C. Hardy having the champion bullock. There was but a poor exhibition of pigs. The display of implements was the best seen on the coast. The hunter's competition was contested by 33 horses, and won by Mrs. Tanner's Alma, with Mr. Wootton's Tomtit second."

The Oamaru district, which is one of the finest in New Zealand for all round agriculture, begins at the foot of the Horse Range, just north of the Shag valley, and running north along the coast for a few miles past Otepopo, opens out inland at the Kakanui River, on the banks of which is very fine agricultural land, extending right up to the goldfields of the Maerewhenua on the spurs of the mountain ranges at the back. Of these ranges the highest peaks are Mount Domett and the Kurow, some 5,000 feet high. Between the Kakanui River and the Waitaki, is a stretch of country about fifteen miles wide by twenty miles deep, nearly all of which is rich soil on a limestone bottom, yielding most bountiful crops of cereals.

The tow'll of Oamaru is also the commercial centre of a considerable portion of the province of Canterbury on the northern side of the Waitaki River up the line as far as Waimate.

The Oamaru district is fairly well settled, has many substantial homesteads, live fences, plantations, and other improvements that can only be made by a very large outlay of capital. Oamaru has long been famed for producing the best quality and the heaviest crops of wheat of any part of New Zealand, and this finds a ready market either at the large local flour mills or for shipment to England. There are many very fine properties in the district: Mr. John Reid, of Elderslie; Mr. Menlove, of Windsor Park; Borton and McMaster; Mr. Studholme, of Waimate; Mr. John McLean, of Redcastle; the N.Z.&A.L. Co., and the Bank of New Zealand Estates Co. are all large holders of land more or less improved, and all of these, or at all events the most of them, are willing to sell or lease at a reasonable price.

The Moeraki estate, some 20 miles south of Oamaru, belonging to the N.Z. & A.L. Co., is all page 40 good grazing land. It is at present the principal breeding place for the company's Lincoln sheep. It is divided into farms, of which the best and those nearest the sea are for sale at from £6 per acre upwards.

The Hakataramea estate contains about 24,000 acres freehold and 82,000 acres on lease from the Crown. It is on the Waitaki River, about 35 miles from the sea, and has an elevation of 800 to 900 feet. The frost is more severe than on the coast, but the country is very healthy, and the sun being hotter as you go further inland, grain ripens very thoroughly. The quality of oats and wheat grown on this estate and on the Bank of New Zealand Estates Co. 's estate of Waihorunga, which is in the same neighbourhood and consists of some 14,000 acres of very first-class land, for strength and purity of colour cannot be excelled in the world.

These lands are well watered, and a very large area we believe in these two estates, some 16,000 acres, has been laid down in English grass. There is railway communication by the Hakataramea railway to within a few miles of both of these properties, and good metalled roads to enable settlers to convey their produce to the railway terminus.

The Totara estate is the gem of the company's properties. It is divided naturally into two blocks by the Kakanui River, the northern one having a limestone bottom and a rich black soil, known locally as 1 'tarry'; the southern one containing no limestone and not quite so rich, but still very valuable land and splendidly adapted for farming purposes. The estate is justly celebrated for its grain growing qualities. The yield of wheat is most abundant, averaging at least 40 bushels, while 60 and 65 are recorded in specially favourable summers.

It is well fenced and subdivided into paddocks, and has a most substantial homestead, the dwelling-house being a handsome stone edifice, which, with 300 to 400 acres of rich land and fine plantations, forms one of the most attractive residential seats in the colonies.

The Ardgowan Estate consists of some 4,000 acres, the whole of which is in English grass or cultivation. The estates of Messrs. John Reid and E. Menlove are splendid properties, with magnificent residences, enriched with orchards, plantations, and artificial lakes. The prices of farms vary from £8 10s. upwards. The main trunk line of railway7 or a branch one leading into it runs through all these estates, or very close to them, and carries their produce the few miles that are necessary to take it to the sea. There is a Dairy Factory at Weston, on the branch railway leading to Ngapara, and the building of others is contemplated. The whole of this magnificent district is well adapted for dairying purposes. As we have already stated, there is a Freezing Works in the town of Oamaru.