AN EXCELLENT EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 44, 20 February 1918, Page 4

AN EXCELLENT EXHIBITION

TYPICAL DISPLAYS

(BT TELEGBAPH.)

{FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

MASTERTON, This Day

It has been truly (-aid that one agricultural show is very much like another, but it would be altogether wrong to say that a show now is just the same as a show four years ago—a show before the war. Show* to-day are not carnivals, but they are more than ever undertakings of business and education. The Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Association annual show, which opened on the Solway Grounds yesterday, is a case in pointi Side-shows and the like are but poorly represented, and people in the crowd wear serious faces, indicating serious thoughts. The war is uppermost in their minds, and doubtless there are many who attend the show either because it is a custom to do so or else the fashion. The Solway Show this year is scarcely up to the average, but it is nevertheless an excellent exhibition, considering the other.big matters exercising everybody's mind. Very great credit is due to the officials for maintaining such marked interest in the event.

The entries show a falling off of about 160, a reduction in the sheep classes being the most noticeable. Ma«y wellknown breeders are unrepresented this year, and naturally the value of the display suffers accordingly. No fault, however,, can be found with the cattle. In the cattle section there is a notable display, and the Jerseys are amongst the finest ever seen at Solway. It is evident that greater attention is now being paid to this valuable milking strain. It is significant that both championships were awarded to.. Carterton breeders, Carterton being tho_centre of the dairying industry in that vast areai and county of the ranges. There was a slight increase in Shorthorns and in general quality, and these beasts speak well for the Wairarapa district as a beefraiser^ Other districts were also represented by typical animals. There was less competition among Herefords, which in the Wairarapa have been largely displaced by Shorthorns, which are good milkers, besides being good beefers. On the whole, however, they are a good type, especially those bred by Mr. E. Short, of Feilding. These are true to type. There was little competition among Friosians, arid the Brentwood Farm Company, Trentham, showed one champion bull. Compared with former years, fat cattle showed a falling off, it being at once evident that the grass has been rather soft. There were only three exhibitors of dairy cattle.

As regards sheep, there was close competition between several well known breeders of Lincolns, and, generally, the display came in for considerable attention and not a little admiration. Lincolns wore true to type, and bore testimony to 'Wairarapa's fame for stud sheep breeding. This industry, if it can be termed such, is growing in importance each year, and remarkably high prices have been secured at recent sales. Naturally, with these conditions, competition is particularly keen. The Romney Marsh classes are again a strong Feature; stronger, in fact, than they _ were last year. It has been asserted' that the best type of Romney is always to be seen at Masterton, and nobody would doubt the statement after seeing- this -year's display. The Southdowns, too, fare represented by an excellent class of sheep. The Glenside Cup, for champion. Southdown ram, went to W. Howard Booth, Carterton, who secured the honour for the.first time. J. Knight, who won the cupMn 1914 and 1916, was awarded gold medal for the best two-tooth ram. There was no competition among Shropshires, Sir James Wilson, of Bulls, being the only competitor. There were large entries in the classes for freezing sheep suitable for the London market, and the judge had an unenviable task. The Walker and' Hall Cup again went to W. and it is now his absolute property, because he has won it three times in succession.

There was a very large exhibit of excellent horses.

The sheep dog trials were, as usual, very interesting, but they were held in an isolated holding paddock, and were discovered by only a very few people. If these trials cannot be held in tho ring in front of the grandstand they should not be advertised as a show attraction. Once again C. S. Hay was to the fore with his obedient dog William Wallace. This dog, in words of the judge, made a nice i vun with very difficult sheep. He scored 30 points. C. S. Hay also carried off second and third prizes with Meggie and Bob respectively. There were 22 entries. The. association promises an exhibition by winners in the ring en People's Day. Other competitions held resulted :— Trotting horse : O. J. Percy 1, R. Strang 2. Walking competition : William Hughes 1, James GTeig 2. Maiden junip : R. D. M. Morrison's War Head 1. Jumping competition, hunters' style : H. HassaH's Mickey Free 1, J. J. Brace's Twilight 2, 0. Johansen's Coronalla 3. j CHAMPIONSHIPS. The following is the complete list of championship cattle :—Shorthorn bull : James Kilgour; cow, W. Howard Booth. Hereford bull and cow : E. Short. Polled Angus bull and cow : Burling Bros. Ayrshire bull : John Aitchison. Jersey bull : E. Eagle, jun. ; cow, W. Howard Booth. Friesian bull : Brentwood Farm Company. Specials.—Fat cattle : bullock, F. Armstrong; cow, Sir Walter /Buchanan. Sheep : Lincoln ram, W. Perry; ewe, Bland Rayner. Roihney Marsh ram, W. Perry; ewe, W. Perry. Sonthdowns : ram, W. Howard Booth; ewe, J. Knight. | Shropshires : Ram ' and ewe, Sir James Wilson. Thoroughbred stallion : James Bull. PRIZE LIST. Appended is a summary of the prize list:— ! Cattle.—Purebred Shorthorn': Most successful exhibitor, W. Howard Booth, i who secured 4 firsts, 2 seconds, and 2 j thirds; Sir Walter Buchanan was award- ] ed 2 firsts, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds; Dal- j ziel Bros. 2 firsts and a- second; James Kilgour, 1 first. JTerefords: E. Short, with 7 firsts, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds, divided the prizes with Donald M'Kenzie, with 1 first. 2 seconds, and 2 thirds. Polled Angus : The only exhibitors were Burling Bros., 3 firsts and 1 second, and Edward Cresswell, a first, a second, and a third. With Ayrshires 0. B. Morgan took 5 .firsts and 3 seconds, and John Aitchison 3 firsts and 1 second. The Jersey prizes were evenly distributed, as follows : W. H. Booth, 3 firsts, 1 second, and 2 thirr" ; : E. Eagle, jun., 3 firsts, a second, and a third; Thomas Dixon, 3 firsts, 2 seconds, and 1 third; Mrs. A. Banks and Son, 1 first; F. P. Johansen and D. H. Kilgour, each 1 second. There was little competition in Friesiajis, and the- Brentwood Farm Company was awarded 2 firsts jnd G. .N. Sittton 1 first. In dairy cattle J. and W. Fisher were most successful, with 3 firsts, 1 second, and 2 thirds. G. A. Jones and F. O. Johansen each secured a second. The principal prize takers in the classes for fat cattle were : J. W. Buchanan, 5 firsts, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds, and Sir Walter Buchanan, 4 firsts, 2 seconds, and 1 third, Othor prizo winners were : T. Saunders, 1 first, 2 seconds; 0. J.»

Bennett and F. Armstrong, each 1 first; T. W. M'Kenzie, 1 third. Sheep.—ln the class for Lincolns, the prizes were very evenly distributed. The following were successful: W. Perry, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, and 1 third; W. H. Booth and the Estate of D. M'Gregor, each 2 firsts; Bland Raynev, 1 first, 4 seconds, and 1 third; J. W. Compton, 1 first and 2 thirds; F. M. Reynolds and B. Lumley, each 1 first; W. Rayner, 2 seconds and 3 thirds; A. E. Anderson, 1 second and 1 third; Wilton Bros., 1 second. Romney Marsh: W. Perry carried off most prizes, being awarded 5 firsts, 3 seconds, and 4 thirds. W. Rayner secured 2 firsts and 1 second; E. W Allen, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, and 1 third; W. H. Buick, 1 first and 1 second; A, and J. Gray, 1 second and 1 third; A. R. Fannin, 2 seconds; A. E. Sandilands and David Smith, each 1 third. Border Leicester: J. and W. Fisher, being the only exhibitors, were awarded 1 first. W. Howard Booth and W. Knight divided honours among Southdown, the latter being most successful with 9 firsts, 9 seconds, and 3 thirds. The former obtained 2 firsts, 1 second, and 3 thirds.'Sir James Wilson was the only exhibitor of Shropshires, and he was awarded all the prizes. Likewise, J. S. Holmes was the only exhibitor in. the farmers' classes. He won the Tikitap-u Trophy for a pen of 5 ewes. There were iarge entries in the freezing classes, the principal exhibitor being W. M'Kenzie, with 4 firsts, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds. Other prize winners were W. Reid and Son, 3 firsts and 1 second; B. V. Skeet, 1 first and 2 seconds; W. Fisher, 1 first; W. H. Beetham, 1 first, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds; W. Strang, 1 first and 1 second; D. M'Lachlan, 1 first, 1 second, and 1 third. There was good competition among the exhibition fat sheep. Morrison and Harper secured 5 firsts, 1 second, and 3 thirds; J. and W. Fisher, 3 firsts, 1 second, and 3 thirds; W. Reid and Son, 2'firsts and 3 seconds; F. W. Fairy and Mrs. Mohekey, each 1 first; A. J, Cooper and Dorothy Scharnweber each a second; W. Strang, 1 second and 1 third. Pet Lamb : Miss Edna Mohekey, 1; K. Morris, 2; W. May Henson, 3.

Horses.—Stalfion Classes : James Bull, E. Liddington, and L. C. Laroche, each 1 first; J. Rzoska, 1 first and 1 second; H. Garnet, 1 third. Thoroughbreds: Harry Welsh, C. F. Vallance, W. R. Kemball, A. Liddle, each 1 first. Trotters : J. Rzoska, 1 first. Draught Horses: Donald Estate, i firsts; Q. Donald, 1 first, 1 second, and 1 third ; D. Smith, 1 first; G. Shaw and C. R, Tocker, each 1 second; A. Tocker, 1 second. Dairy Produce.—Butter for Export: Masterton Dairy Co., 1 and 2; for local consumption: Masterton Dairy, 1 and 2. Farmers' Fresh Butter: Mrs. C. A. Wall ], L. J. Matthews 2. White Cheese: Dannevirke Dairy Co. first, Dalefield second. Coloured Cheese : Dalefield, 92£, first; Carrington, SH-, second; Kaituna, 90, third. Medium Cheese: Dalefield, 92£, first; Carrington, 91J,, second.

(Published by Arrangement.)

N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE CO., LTD., Masterton Branch. A. T. Spain, Manager.

One of the most comprehensive displays made in the permanent stands at the -Masterton Show was that of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, Ltd. This comprised groceries, including the celebrated Elmshurst teas, for which the company are agents. Seeds, grass, and grain, Murton's and M'Dougall's sheep dips, arsenic paste dip, Halstead's cattle medicines, Motes's patent extension ladder, Lambert's potato blight preventative, formalin.;(the potato, blight eradicatorj, arid a great number of lines used by "the man on the land." The company's Masterton business is an extensive one) and a particularly . progressive .branch, consequently, it'is a popular centre for all farm requisites which are supplied at first' cost to all clients. The company's stock sales department has grown to large proportions of late years, the confidence the farmers have in it is evidenced from the number of clearing sales given to the company, and the large entries at all their sales.