PEOPLE'S BAY

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 46, 22 February 1917, Page 4

PEOPLE'S BAY

MASTERTON SHOW

W33T WBATHBB-POOR ATTENDANCE

ROME ADDITIONAL RESULTS,

(81 OUR SPECIAL liEPORHR.)

It did not appear yesterday (People's Day) that the attendance at the Solway Show, the Masterton A. and P. Society's annual autumn carnival, was up. to the average of former years. This event is called, a carnival, but since the war it has ceased to justify the title. Yesterday the .crowd was more sombre than ever. In the first place, the morning broke threateningly, and accordingly there wero . few .light dresses, which ! usually make country showgrounds look so gay. The Solway grounds, with their wide expanse of natural bush, are essentially picnic grounds, but it was not picnic weather. At 11 o'clock it rained fairly hard, and people were glad to seek shelter in the grandstand, the stuffy produce stall, and among the i covered sheep and cattle pens. That it it should fain for the Masterton Show was remarkable as well as regrettable. It is stated to have, been fifteen years or more since rain .fell at Masterton on Show Day, and many visitors were so accustomed to fine weather, or were so confident, perhaps,, that it would be fine this year, that they were caught paredDISPLAY BY SOLDIERS. I The afternoon continued showery, but the people made the best of things, and, under the circumstances, everything passed off exceedingly well. The grandstand was crowded, and the ring competitions were, accordingly, watched with much greater interest than is often the case. An added attraction was a spectacular display by a squadron of mounted rifles from ' Featherston. They arrived on the scene early, and were the guests of the association. In the afternoon they indulged in some interesting field manoeuvres, and were frequently loudly applauded, as they well deserved to be. These soldiers were the essence of smartness, and the way they managed their horses was, in some instances, quite a revelation. The military displays have become an important feature of the Wairarapa' shows. The side-shows did not attract a great deal of attention. During the day music was provided by the Masterton Silver Band and the Soldiers' Trumpet Band. The catering was more- than satisfactory. A UTILITY CLASS. As usual, considerable interest centred in the class for freezing sheep, one of the most interesting features of the Solway Show. It is an imperative condition that all sheep and lambs shown in the export classes must bo killed and consigned to London or put through the Waingawa works. No purebred sheep are allowed to compete.. Prizes are awarded on the places gained at the Show and additional prizes on the agent's reports from London, and after the sheep have been killed locally, The entries were exceedingly large, a.nd the competition keen. The judge had nothing but praise for the exhibits. He stated that he had never seen better, sheep- penned., ...The, judging took a long time to complete, and a, summary of results, as arrived at on. the Show grounds, is appended :— W. M'Kenzie, three firsts and one third; Estate late' W. Perry, one first and a second; W. If. Beetham, J. Holmes, and Ogilvy and Sons each one first; J. Strong, one first and two seconds; Guy i C. Williams, four thirds and a second ; B. V. Skeet, one second; J. C. M.'Killop, one third; W. E. C. Tylce, two seconds and a third; D. M'Lachlan, a. second and a third. Practically aE the entries came from the Waira-rapa district, and stand as a notable advertisement for that district as a, mutton producer. THE HORSES. Taken all round, the horses were not a good lot, and there is no denying the fact that the general quality of these animals has shown a falling off in recent years. That is not in any way surprising. Horses are not depended upon ia the country now to the same extent ?.s they were in recent years. Tho armer has too great a. liking for the motor, as can be plainly seen at any agricultural show in New Zealand. There is not the same inducements to breed thoroughbreds, and it is a. notable fact i that the thoroughbred classes were totally neglected at Solway this' year. Thoro I aye fewer new faces among the owners of hacks, and still fewer new hacks. Taken generally, the jumpers were all more or less well-known performers. A limited number of draught horses were, however, a. credit to the few breeders represented. They were quite typical animals, and expert opinion was to the effect that the winners at Masterton would hold their own anywhere in New Zealand. Among the horses the following championships were awarded :—

Champion draught stallion—Donald Estate (Laird Buchlyvie). Reserve champion—Donald Estate (Buchlyvie Favourite). • , • • , Champion draught mare—Donald Estate (May Blossom). Reserve champion —Q. Donald (Netherton). Clydesdale - Society's medal—Donald Estate.

Champion draught gelding—Q. Don. old (Laddie).

: Champion hack —W. Howard Booth (Lonely). A summary of the prize list is appended :— Draughts—Dpnald Estate, five firsts, three seconds, and one third; Q. Donald, four firsts, one second; O. Shaw, a, second and a third; A. I'\ Smith, Wo seconds; J. M'Gregor, one | third. Ponies, to be ridden—Neil Small, ] J. H. Perry, Miss M. Mace,-J. Donald, each a first; girl and boy' riders—Miss j Mabel Perry, Miss Myra M'Kay, and W Baker, each a first; horses in harness — L. Pike, A. S. Goodwin, 0. J. Percy, each a first-; ponies in harness—C. K. M'Laren, Wilton Bros., Mrs. E. M. Denby, W. D. Fisher, Rupert Morison, each a first; saddle horses—H. Hassell and W. H. Booth, each two firsts, Mrs K. Bekker, Miss Myrtle Watson, E. S. Matson, E. Short, A. S. Goodwin (most suitable horse for mounted corps), Major Newcombe- (most suitable horse' for artillery purposes), A. S. Goodwin, each one'first; light draughts in harness— N.Z. Loan and Mercantile, E. R. Ward, 11. J. Gallagher, W. A. Grnnlham, each one first; W. A. Grantham and G. H. | Grantham, each one second. | ■ PIGS. j The pig section was not big, and was somewhat disappointing. The -big beasts from the Porirua Mental Hospital, which have been a feature of so many agricultural shows in the North Island, were missing. The section itself was not extensive, provision being made for four classes only. Prizes were awarded as follow; —Fat pig, suitable for bacon—H. Eayner, jun., 1; G. Hyland, 2; W Morris, 3. Two fat pigs, suitable for bacon—G. Hyland, 1; J. M'Gregor, 2; Wilton Bros., 3. Porker—H. Rayner, 1; W. H. Morris, 2;. Wilton Bros., 3. Two porkers—W. Morris, 1; Willon Bros., 2,.