FAIRLIE A. AND P. SHOW.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 8

FAIRLIE A. AND P. SHOW.

The annual Show under the auspices of the Fairlie A. ami P. Society, was held yesterday, and it was a conspicuous success in several respects. Records wore established at it in tho number ot entries, which were 103 in oxi<\K of those of last year, , in^ tho attendance, and in the receipts. The show was 6O successful that tho Committee of Management had suggested to them th« advisablonwss of extending tho show over two days in future." A largo number of people went up by the special train from Timaru, and. all tho surrounding districts were well ropri*aented- The weather was not all that could be desired, the atmosphere being very chilly all day. But notwithstanding this, the people turned out patriotically to support tho show, which, is tho chief event of the year in the Mackenzie country town&hip. The show was held on tho Association's grounds, close to tho Railway Station, and. as usual, all tho arrangements were perfect.

While the show was good all round, an out*taudii% feature of it was the very lino lot of draught horses which came under roviow. In tho class for 4 year old and. over dry mares, no fewer than lv entrants faced the This is a record for this particular class at any show in tho South Island, if the Exhibition Show in Christchurch last year bo except-ed. But tho was "not only numerically strong, quality was present too, and the judges Uad to ponder a long time before they could come to a decision, their choice finally falling to a eymmt-trically-built bay mare belonging to Mr J. Bray, of Cricklewood, M-ost>rs D. and A. Metfeath gaining second honours, and Mr 11. Irving, the well-known Albury breeder, third.

liio hoi"Kos £ilio\^ - n Avero not in any \ray pampored or got up specially for show pin-poses, most of having come straight out of the chains, and while thi-ir looks recommended them, tho trade marks they bore proved th«ir utility. The. prize lor champion draught mare was annexed by Mr J. lirays Laura, tho same jnaro that ivon in tho el us* lor 4 year olds and over. JSo stallions wereshown. Pnirs of spring dray and spring cart hora» all came forward in trst-cJass appearance, and wore much admired, 'i'tw quality of thft draughts, indeed, led some visitors to remark that tho Fairlie district will soan rival the best known centres in tho Dominion for the breeding of good farm horses. Tue light hordes weroa very fair lot, some good ihacks and , hunters being exhibited, but the rjuality was not so good in this section tHia year as it has been at some of tho earlier shows at Fairlie. For this the. advunt of the motor-car is blamod, but there aro those who aro retaining good , t-tock in the belief that the motor-car will suffer a doclino iv popularity and that there will then b* a demand for tho best light horses again. A driving competition was won. by Mr G. Kerslako with a horse 'which, has now won for its owner aio fewer than 23 priz«s. A feature in the light horse section was the class tor ladies' hack. Thirteen ladies, all well-mounted, entered the lists, some riding in the orthodox style for ladies, while others adopted, the divddied! skirt style. A special prize was offered for the best lady rider, and this was awarded, to Miss Wright, who rode with the divided skirt, Miss Temple being pkieed second. , Mx A. S. .Elworthy and , Mt A*. H. Payne were the judges of this and' of all the light horse sections. A prize' for the best girl rider was won by Miss L. Hamilton, of Ashwick station.. Quite a number of girls oompeted for this. As usual at Fairlio, tho pony classesfilled woll, and the riders, both boys and girjs, rode their mounts in- exceptionally good style. A pony trotting competition, was won by Miss' Rarfcrum. The trials by hunters over fences formed one of the attractions or the ( afternoon. There were big classes,' and the trials proved Tery interesting. A couple of accidents, occurred, but they were not of a serious nature. The prize for list 71b hunter fell to Mr B. J. Edgar's Red Bird, and tliat for 13st and over to Mr C. A. Crowe's Lancet. A district olass for hunter to carry 12st was annexed by Miss M. Connor's Dr. Bill. The president >of the Society,;. Mr C. W. Isitt, gave a silver cup for tibe best hunter on the ground, anrl this was awarded to Mr O. A. Crowe's Lancet.

The sboep pons filled well, and the quality was good, particularly of the fats. Mr J. E. Gocdwin'a challenge cup for 'pen of long wool freezers was taken by Mr Trotter, ajid Mr Edgar Jones' cup for most points in sheep went to Mr W. Black with 15 points, Mr H. Brien taking second , pkoo. Tliere was a small entry of cattle, tbo best.of this section being a very fino typo of Shorthorn bull exhibited by Messrs Harper and Ensor. A few good fat cattle, were shown., and some fair dairy cattle," though those which came forward were not tho best the district can produoe. . Some good sheep and sporting dogs were shown,* and the entry of pigs, thougli small, was good, Berkshires and Tamworths being the breeds to come into competition.

A surprisingly fine show of roots, fruit, and vegetables was made, this department of the Snow being -worth going a long way to see. Some prodigious mangolds were exhibited, but those were grown, in the Pareora district, and some other very good exhibits in roots were sent from Orari. In fruit, Mr W. King, of Levels, took most of the first prizes, the apples, pears, and quinces making a very fine collection. In vegetables, the exhibits of green peas, broad beans, silver beet, curled- kale, lettuce* cabbage, etc.,.demonstrated the of the Fairlie soil in a striking manner. A prize was offered for the heaviest mangold in the Show, and this was won by Mr H. Woodley with one which weighed 261j>. A prize for the "heaviest turnip was won by Mr G. Giddings with one scaling 181b. - A prize was also offered for the best field of turnips, but this iia to be awarded later on.

A special prize for the best collection of flowers and produce of every kind grown in gardens at any school in the district went to the Kimbell school.

Some first-class vehicles were exhibited by local and other firms of coachliuilders, and two certificates of merit were awarded , in thii> oonn€ction,one to Welsh Bros., of Fairlio, and one to J. Sutherland, of Geraldine.

Altogether, the Show was tho most successful yet held at-Fairlie, and tho president and his co-workers were heartily congratulated upon the excellent results achieved.