A. AND P. SHOWS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12968, 22 November 1907, Page 10

A. AND P. SHOWS.

NORTH OTAGO. The forty-fifth annual show under the auspices of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association was opened yesterday, under the most favourable conditions. The total entries reached 979, being close on 100 more than the total for last year, while in the various stock classes the aggregate total is a record. There were big increases in the total entries of sheep, horses, and cattle, aud in spite of many of the implement manufacturers and "importers retraining from exhibiting, there was a fairly good display of farm machinery and other requisites for tilling the soil and harvesting the products thereof. The clay was delightfully fine, and there was a large attendance, including many visitors from North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, all parts oi North and South Otago, and various parts of Southland. The Premier and the Hon. R. McNab had promised to be present to formally open the new show ground if they could possibly get away from Wellington, but owing to the unusual lengthy of the session they could not be there. Tho Hon. T. Y. Duncan, M.H.R.. however, was present to represent the Premier and the Agricultural Department. In the absence of the Premier and tho Minister for Agriculture, the president of the association (Mr C. W. Reid, of Balruddery, an exceedingly nice stud 6heep and agricultural farm a few miles out of Oamaru) decided to have no speeches at the special luncheon given to the judges, stewards, and other officials, but asked all the guests to accompany him to the steps of the new stand. Hero tho President, who knows the value of time, and who knows the keen interest the Oamaru people and the many visitors take in what is one of the best stock shows in the Dominion, contented himself with a brief speech, and then asked Ins father (Mr John Reid, of Elderslie) to formally declare the new grounds open. Mr Reid, sen., rapidly but clearly touched upon some of the points in connection with tho North Otago Agritural and Pastoral Association's history, and in doing so paid a very high compliment to the zeal and great ability with which the present secretary (Mr E. Piper) was continuing the good work done by the former secretaries'. He then, amidst cheers, declared the now grounds open. Mr Duncan, at tho invitation of the President, also addressed the audience. Ho referred to the early history and development of the Oamaru district, and was of opinion from what he previously knew and from what little he had been able to sco of the show that day, that Oamaru would be able to continue to held its own in the matter of stock breeding and cereal growing. 'Mr Duncan, during the course of a short but exceedingly interesting speech, paid a high tribute to 3lr John Reid for what ho had done as a breeder of stock, and for the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, of which ho (Mr Reid) was practically tho father. (Cheers.) The large gathering then proceedert to watch the judging of the various classes of exhibits, and to closely inspect ono of the very best shows of live stock that have ever been seen at Oamaru, and this is saying a great deal to those who aro at oil intimately acquainted with North Otago and what its varied cl-isse. of lands can. produce. Many a good, but rarely, if ever, an indifferent lot of sheep ha 3 been seen in the Oaniuru Show pens, and it has been the writer's privilege to watch year after year the great improvements that have taken, place in the class of sheep brought forward, ,nnd to take note of the careful manner in which the numerous breeders keep up to date in respect'to what will sell in the markets of the world, while at the same time they keep their flocks true to typ» The show of sheep yesterday was certainly an exceptionally pood one even for Oamaru. Tlio merinos were the best that have been seen in the pens for several years oast. The competi,tors wero Mr W. Gardiner, sen., and Messrs A. and A. McMnstcr, each of whom exhibited in the strong combing classes only. Tlie champion ram was Mr Gardiner's, Messrs A. and A. McMaster taking the reserve champion honour. The latter also took the champion and reserve champion honours in tho ewe classes. Tho balance of the honours in the merino cln.sset. were about equally divided between the same breeders.. Tho exhibitors in the Border Leicester classes were Mr T. G. Littlo. Mr N. M. Orbell, and the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. Mr Little was first andseoond in the class for ram over eighteen months,' and with the same sheep ho also took the champion and reserve champion honours. The Ngapara breeder also won Quihbell Bros.' ten guinea cup and the SDccial prize for the most points in Border Leicesters. Mr OrbelPs exhibit in the class for ewe under eighteen months, which gained the champion honour in Christchurch, was again first and champion yesterday. The other principal awards in the Border classes were about evenly divided between Messrs Little and Orbell. Mr Littlo again scored heavily in tho English Leicester classes, taking both championships, Mr Donald Grant running him very close by winning the two reserve champion honours and a number of_ first and second awards The bulk of "the first honours in the Lincoln classes were gained by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, though Mr B. Seth Smith ran the Moeraki breeders very close in Beveral classes. Mr ISm.th had a few particularly scod Shropishires, a class of sheep he has been taking great pains with for ahout five years, and under this heading he made a clean sweep of all the honours with sheep that would do any stud breeder credit. There was a fairly good show of Corriedales. and the competition in tihe various classes was oetween the executors of the late James Stringfellow, of Chertsey, and the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. The Chertsey sheep were first in each class, and those shown by the Land Company second. There was a particularly good show of fat sheep and lambs, and amongst the principal prize takers were Messrs W. Biss and Geo. Harvey and A. Rusk.ll. The pigs were far and away the lies! ever seen on the Oamaru show grounds, and tho two exhibitors, Mr Charles Brice, of Shirley, Christchurch, and Mr W. Seth Smith, of Ngapara, doserve credit for bringing forward such animals and demonstrating what can be done with this profitable branch of farming. Th© Christchurch breeder was tlie largest exhibitor, and naturally took the lion's share of the honours. He had not a pig that h© could not show with confidence in any Berkshire or Yorkshire clashes in New Zealand, Australia, or England. Amongst his large number of prizes was a champion honour with a particularly nicely bred frow under twelve months, which beat the cow that waa champion at the Christchurch Metropolitan Show a fortnight ago. Mr Smith's large black Devons wore again much admired, and though he had no other competitor in this particular breed, he well deserved all the first and second prizes that were awarded him. The show of ligh_ horses was a great improvement on what has been 6ee__ in the Oamaru ring for several year*, and there was also a highly creditable show of Ayrshire and other cattle.