WELLINGTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 117, 15 November 1893, Page 3

WELLINGTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

* FIFTH ANNUAL SHOW. The fifth annual show of the Wellington A. and P. Association oommenced at the Show Grounds to-day. The high wind was against the comfort of. visitors, and so far they are confined to officials and those directly interested in the exhibits. The first improvement which meets the visitor is where the train stops at White's Line. There, to obviate the confusion of lost year, the Commissioners have purchased sufficient land to make a long platform, capable of taking in a large concourso of people, and properly fenced off. Tho dust on the road to the ground was most unpleasant, but once arrived at tho grounds various improvements met the 1 eye. The Show must be regarded as excellent, both as to number and' quality of exhibits. There is a. falling - off in exhibits of produce, and very little butter and cheese, and what little there is comes from more distant parts of the provinoe— Woodville and the Woirarapa, and Johnsonville and Karori — the Hutt farmers claiming that their grasses are unsnited to butter-r» : sing. In implements, cattle, sheep, and horses, there is a marked improvement on lost year, and the quality in many sections Bhows a Very great advance. The exhibits in these classes comprise the prizewinners at the various northern snows, -with champion Southdowns, Shropshires, and Leicesters from Christchnrch. In the majority of the wool olasses there were no entries. In cattle there are very fine exhibits of Ayrshire 3 from well • known breeders like the Messrs. Macfarlaue, and Mr. Ferguson, of Dunedin, and the 39 exhibits of this breed are looked upon as the best yet got together in the oolony. Fat oattle are unusually representative, and amongst them are eight splendid beasts sent by Mr. A. M'Hardy from Hawkes Bay, averaging 14001b each, and some splendid animals from the Messrs. Bidwill, of the Wairarapa. Amongst the sheep, breeders of the reputation of Messrs. J. N. ■Wilson, T. Tanner, and A. M'Hardy, of Hawkes Bay, W. Wilson, of Whenuakura, Ferry Bros., Baynor, of Masterton, and Jas. Driefe, are represented in Lincolns. Mr. J. 6. Wilson describes these as the finest lot of Lincolns he has seen in any show (rround in Mew Zealand. The Bomney Marsh exhibits inclnde prime pens from Messrs. E. Cobb (Manawatu), Geo. Wheeler (Halcombe), J. V. Batchelor (Palmerston), Farquhar Gray (Masterton), Bidwill Bros., B. W. Dorset, Brady, W. B. and T. Pallan, Eglingtun, and F. Monckton. There are Borne magnificent Down Bheep from Mr. W. C. Buchanan's station. Messrs.. Wheeler, Perry Bros., J. Deans, J. Cundy, and S. Garforth are also large exhibitors in this class. There are 54 exhibits in the class. In Shropshire Downs Mr. S. Menlove, the well-known Canterbury breeder, has a fine exhibit. The general entries include 269 of sheep, 114 of cattle, 178 of horses, 17 of pigs, 1C of dogs, 6 of wool, 39 of dairy produce, 56 of New Ze*l*nd manufactures and produce, and 68 of implements and vehicles— a total of 757, many entries, however, inoluding a very large number of exhibits. ,The following Championships have' been awarded for sheep : — Southdown rams above 18 months, J. Dean (Biecarton). Shropshire Down ewes over 18 months, E. Menlovo Oamaru. Shropshire owes under 16 months, E. Menlove. Hampshire Down rams under 18 months, J. Bayner (Wairarapa). Hampshire rams above 18 months, J. Bayner. In cattle, ohampionships have been awarded thus: — Ayrshire bull, K. B. Ferguson's Silver Peak; Foiled Angus bull, New Zealand and Land Company's Villager I. Ayrshire Cow, any age, K. B. Ferguaon's Alice ; Aldernejß, bull, any age_, J. Stuckey's Wellington Duke ; cow or heifer, any age, J. Stuckey's Darkie IV. ; Dntch Friesian bull, any age, Joseph & Phillips. The improvements on tho ground include the levelling of the course and lawn, and the fencing and strengthening of the stand, ie. The only exhibitors of preserved hams and bacon are the Wellington Bacon Curing and Befrigerating Company and Mr. John Bod, -who show some Bplendid samples. The Gear Company has a large display of preserved meats, and is also showing an assortment of oils, manures, to. Horse Championships — Draughts, Wellington Corporation's Huna. The leaping matches to-morrow promise to bo very interesting. There are fifteen entries for the event for the Ladies' Challenge Cup, and seven for the match for ponios. Two entries have been received for tho dismounting competition, and four for the trotting match.