THE A. AND P. SHOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 251, 22 October 1924, Page 8

THE A. AND P. SHOW.

THE POPULAR SPRING EVENT. PRIZE STOCK OF PROVINCE. INTERESTING COMPETITIONS. Popular as the shows of the Auckland .Agricultural and Pastoral Association have been in the past, the big event which opens on Friday at Epsom, and will be continued the following day, promises to establish a new record. If tiie fates be kind in the matter of the weather the public will have nothing to < in plain of as the association has arranged a programme that is full of interest. As a matter of fact the show has come round a month earlier than usual, owing to a concatenation of circumstances over which the promoters had no control. Owing to the fact that the Royal Show at Palmerston North falls next month, and so many Saturdays were already booked for race meetings, the a.-soeiation had no option but to put the big spring event on several weeks earlier. Entries in the various classes have come forward in encouraging numbers, and visitors will see some specially strong dairy classes —as it should be in a province that depends so largely on hutter and cheese as Auckland does. The handsome Friesians predominate this year, but other breeds are well represented, and the show will have the additional attraction of the world's record butterfat producer, the beautiful little Jersej - , Vivandiere, owned by Mr. Alex Christie, of North Auckland. Among the other stock that will be penned, special mention should be made of the fine show there will be of pedigree sheep. In the past Auckland has been rather weak in the sheep line compared with some centres, but gradually the quality of the flocks is improving, and visitors to the show will have ample proof of this on Friday. In addition to the agricultural showthere will be as usual a fine collection of dogs, as the Kennel Club is holding its annual show in connection with the A. and P. Association. Most of the noted dogs in the district have been entered for competition, and this will not be the least popular feature of the big Epsom fair. Several competitions and demonstrations appear for the first time on the catalogue this year, such, for instance, as the exhibition of trotting, -which takes place on the Trotting Club's course which adjoins the show ground j proper and is always lent by the club to the Association. There are nine entries in each class, and as they are all well-known cracks the two eshibi-j tions of trotting that have been arranged should provide the" public with something well worth going to see. The only important auxiliary attraction that has been omitted this year is the Horticultural Society's exhibition, which had to be_ abandoned owing to the very unfavourable season we have had. But to make up, several new features have been added. Such a one, for instance, is the sheep-shearing demonstration. Familiar enough to the country people, there are thousands of town folk .who have only the haziest idea of the way the sheep is deprived of the stuff that means so much to New Zealand when it lluctuates a penny a pound: in price on the London market. It'is' most interesting to see the machines at work. This exhibition will be found in that part of the ground close to the pig pens. The demonstration -will be given on Friday and also on Saturday at 11 and 4 o'clock. Every school child will have an additional zest added to liis or her visit this year as the Association is giving valuable money prizes for the best essays describing what the children saw during their visit. Any youngster attending a school of any kind is (.-legible to compete and essfays must be sent in to the secretary of the Association (Mr. A. D. Stanley) within a week, after the show. There will of course be the usuaV hunting and military competitions. The show opens on Friday and "People's Day 'will as usual be on Saturday. The transport facilities will this year be specially good owing to the large fleet of motor buses that will be in commission as well as the handy trams which run practically to the gates. On Friday afternoon children under 16 yenrs of ago will be admitted to the show free of charge. '