MORE ABOUT THE SHOW.

Evening Star, Issue 9462, 6 August 1894, Page 2

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW.

THE LEGHORNS. The following comments respecting the Leghorns, prepared by the judges (Messrs Loasby and Marsh) for publication, may be of service in showing amatews what points are of the most value, and what faults tend to disfavor at the hands of the judges :

White Leghorn Codes.—A poor class. Nos. 231 and 233 disqualified for squirrel and wry tail respectively. No. 234, first—good in body and color, a good comb, legs had; No. 235, second—tomb faulty behind, good in Carriage, fair hodv, face shows some white; No. 232, third—comb inclined to fall, legs wanting in color, poor in carriage, also shows white in face. White Leghorn Hens.—No. 246, first—a good comb hut ]iale in face, lobes not clear enough, wattles good, plumage good, wants condition, legs fair, a good bird; No. 239, second--a splendid bodied hen, comb too fine in texture and falling too close to face, legs pale, plumage and condition perfect, a very old hen; No. 241 —comb buckled, face and lobes fair, wattles too small, bad in tail, color not first-class. White Leghorn Cockerels.—No. 243, firstComb too large and thumb marked, but well seriated, lobes coarse, wattles are good, fair in size, with very fair legs and plumage; No. 246, second—A big bird and carries himself well, comb too high at back, color and condition very good, lobes fair, legs deficient in color; No. 244, third—Comb good in front but not at back, serrations not deep enough, face good, red in lobes, pale in legs, color not good. White Leghorn Pallets.—This is Ihe best class in the whites, if not in the whole of the Leghorns. No. 252, first—Good in comb and face, lobes and wattles very fair, color and symmetry splendid, legs good, tail too fine; No. 258, second—Has a fair comb, which is carried well, lobes too deep in color, legs pale, size and plumage good; No. 257, equal, third—A fine big hen, comb and lobes too small, face not good, color and symmetry fair; No. 251, equal, third—A good and well-shaped hen, splendid in color and carriage, comb and wattles too small, apparently not forward enough for show, or she would have gone higher up the list. Brown Leghorn Cocks.—No. 262, firs't-'-This bird is undoubtedly the gentleman of the Leghorns, rich and beautiful in plumage, good comb carried well erect and far back, with even serrations, but on the large side, lobes are fair, wattles small, neck hackle deficient in midrib, and legs might be better in color, but nevertheless a beautiful specimen; No. 266, second—a fair bird, with moderate comb, fair in wattles, but bad in lobes and deficient in hackle, has some brown in breast, has good size, good legs, comb shows evidence of his having been in the wars ; No. 261 a, third—a good faced bird with the best hackle in the class, poor in size, but splendid symmetry and carriage, stands on a good pair of legs. Brown Leghorn Hens.—No. 267, first a splendid-sized bird, with good even color, but too dark, good hackle, good comb and legs; wins easily; No. 273, second—has fair comb and wattles, good hackle, good size, legs faulty, too dark in color; No. 271 a, third—best colored hen in class, with good hackle, comb small, has nice| clean face and lobes, good colored legs, on small side.

Brown Leghorn Cockerels.—No. 275, first—an easy win, splendid comb, well carried, face and wattles good, lobes too small, hackle fair, good legs and good size; No. 284, second—has a fair comb, with good serrations, nice clean face, lobes not good, wattles too Bmall, hackle deficient, legs good; No. 277, third—comb too small and inclined to droop at top of serrations, nice hackle, good shape, and full of style, nice tail.

Brown Leghorn Pullets.—No. 287, first—good in comb, in face, and in lobes, wattles too small, very nice hackle, a big bird with plenty of quality, too dark in color; No. 286, secondfair in comb, lobes too big, wattles too small, good legs, fair colored plumage ; No. 290, third —has fine large comb of good quality but not nicely serrated in front, face lobes and wattles good, bad in tail, legs good color. Notes.— The white Leghorn cocks, putting aside the first-prize bird, are a poor lot, two out of five birds being disqualified for wry tail and squirrel tail. Hens are only fair, outside of winners, and the first-prize hen does not show the quality that other winners in past years have done. White cockerels arc also a mediocre class, not a really good bird being shown. White Leghorn pullets are, however, a good lot, and do a lot towards making the show of whites a creditable lot. The first bird stands preeminent, but there was close competition for second place, the two unsuccessful ones being so good that they were bracketed equal (third). Brown Leghorns are a splendid lot, and the judges are of opinion that a better lot were never penned in Dunedin. The first-prize cock is a gern. Faults he certainly has, but be is so full of quality that he stands head and shoulders above his competitors, and is far and away the best Leghorn in the show. In this class some other good birds are shown. Brown hens are a really good class, bnt the placed birds are ahead of the others by a good deal, although some first-class birds are shown amongst the unplaced ones. Br..wn cockerels are well represented by birds of great merit—the first-prize bird, however, winning easily, though he in turn was beaten for the special by the cock, an event which does not often happen in Leghorns. Many of the birds in this class are very bad in comb ; others not good in hackle and feather; but apart from this they are good representatives of the breed. The brown pullet class also bears witness of the great strides made in the quality of browns. 'J lie first wins with only a little in hand from the second bird, several birds of undoubted quality being shown, and if the same improvement is maintained whiph is shown this year in the brown a year or two hence a judge's lot will not be a happy one. The brown hens and pullets, though much lighter than in past years, are still too dark in the plumage, the third prize pullet being the best colored bird shown. In the whites there is a great tendency to white in the face. Now, the standard says red lobes are a disqualification, and though it says the face must be red and that whito faces are not admissible, it does not allow a single point to be taken off for it in judging, whereas jt should be as much a disqualification as the red lobes. In the cocks the tendency to big combs is still obvious. The standard says the comb shall be large and well carried, and of fine texture, but not nearly so large as a Minorca. Now, we ask breeders to note the comb 3 of the winning numbers in both varieties, and we will be surprised if they do not feel that the combs on the Leghorns would do credit to any of the Minorcas. This applies to the cocks only, the hens, however, in almost every case have good combs of suitable texture. AN EXPERT OPINION ABOUT THE DOGS. Mastiffs.—Poorly represented, there being only two chained up and both wanting quality. St. Bernards.—A very fine show in the dog class; Mr Rossiter's Prince Carlo an easy winner. He belongs to the smooth-coated variety, and is probably the largest St. Bernard in New Zealand. He has the best head of any St. Bernard in the show, and for the prize for the best St. Bernard in the show he decidedly beats Mr Henderson's Leo VII., who was shown in poor form and appeared to be suffering from mange. Leo VII. had, however, an easy win in the champion class. The judge would not award a prize in the bitch class, owing to lack of quality. In puppies under 12 months Mr Henderson's Csesar, a pup of tremendous size, though only 10 months, won easily from Miss Mullin's Elsie,

I Newfoundlands.—Several good-looking specimens added to the attractions of the show, but the insufficiency of light in their corner prevented a thorough inspection. We thought, however, that Mr Poole's Straight Tip ran Mr Smith's Fan very hard for the special. Staghounds.—Mr Hayne had this class all to himself. His entries seemed to be really good, so far as one could judge from the glimpses afforded from the recesses beneath the gun carriage. Greyhounds —An excellent class, in which it was an honor to win. As to the all-aged dogs, Mr Kidd's Kinsman is a fine big racing degwith good feet and chest, and he has proved himself in the field. There was not, however, much to spare as between him and Mr Myers's Razzle Dazzle. The latter was rather above himself as to condition. Lancashire Lad was voted a bit flat in the rib and rather on the big side. In the bitch class Mr Carswell's Mocking Bird, a sister to Pine Hut, was at once voted a particularly fine specimen, and she showed herself one. Probably a better bitch has never been benched in Dunedin, and she carried off the champion medal for the best greyhound in the show. Pineapple was, however, a fair second. The others were rather on the small side. In puppy dogs Mr Myers had the competition to himself, and the judge had no hesitation in selecting Radiant, a nice white puppy sired by Razzle Dazzle. The puppy bitches were only fair, and being excessively shy did not show themselves well, English setters were one and all in poor condition; so much so tliat we think the awards might have been reversed, the first one being in very bad form for showing, and the second one not so bad. Mr Banks's Gordon setter Champion Heronwood Rake was unopposed in his class.

Retrievers.—The first prize for wavy-coated retrievers should have been withheld, the only entry in this class being—well, to be charitable, we will say a nondescript. Curly-coated retrievers need a lot of improvement. All those exhibited show a cross of the Irish water spaniel, as none of their foreheads are free from curL We were, however, pleased with the coats of some of them.

Pointer.s—Several very fair pointers came to the front. Mr Sandeman's Glen won the first and special. It musfc hftve been a near thing as between this dog and the one placed second, as in our opinion the latter has a better face.

Spaniels. nificent veteran JJruia added another to his many successes. Be taut have an almost unbeaten record in New Zealand, and folly deserveshiahonors. Mr-Harper**Jack lDL la a very lair specimen, but could never approach the winner. In the clumber bitch class Mr Johnsons' Mouse had a walk over. ,The class for cocker spaniels contained the usual mixture of all sorts—largo, small, curly, wavy, and other•wise. The winner, Miss Grant's Stanley, stood out clear from the rest, having a nice head and ears, good flat coat, and being of the right size. Mr Sibtald's Schneider, placed second, shows some signs of impurity. The nice little cocker bitch-shown by Mr W. Hunter was alone in her class. In the class for puppies under twelve months, we like the winner—Mr Kingston's Springhill Signal—immensely, and if he develops as he may be expected to he will in a year's time heat any cocker benched at this show. Two Irish water spaniels were benched, and Mr Bank's Carlo .easily beat Mr Kennelly's Nellie. The winner has a nice head, ears, and topknot, also coat, but is a trifle coarse in tail. The spaniel "variety" cUwb was indeed a variety—neither one thing nor another. Collies.—Here we had the class which of all I others attracted attention. In the champion class Mr B. Wark, of Christcburch, relied chiefly on his Champion Young England, an imported dog three years and six months old, and this very fine collie was an easy first. He has the best feet we have seen on any collie in Donedin, a splendid head, good expression, and a capital coat, and his stock have been and are winning freely in all directions. In the class for smooth-coated collie dogs Mr J. Mlaren's Bob was a long way ahead of anything benched, his ipecial features being a good coat and a nice head, besides which he is of the right size. Among the smooth-coated bitches Mr Eason's Nellie was at once selected by experts, and well deserved her distinction in beiog awarded the Schultze Challenge Cup. The smooth-coated puppies under twelve months appeared to be a fair lot. They are, at any rate, well bred, but I no one can tell what they will turn out to be. The same remark applies to the puppies under six months. Mr Way's Donala gained first award n the class for rough-coated dogs. He is the proper Bize, and, though he did not show to advantage, on account of not having , cast his puppy coat, there is little doubt that he has the makings of a really fine dog. He is, it will be noted, a son of Young England. So is Miss Skinner s Louth, who secured the prize for rough-coated bitches. She is rather on the small side, but has good feet and a nice head. Hazlemere, placed second, is not a bad bitch, but rather inclined to curl in her coat, and Opawa Una, placed third, was not in condition. Mr Way's Donald won easily in the class for rough - coated puppies under twelve months, and also captured Mr Wark's cup. In the novice class Mr Brace's Mersey Doric is rather small, and did not show over well, but nevertheless was adjudged ' superior to the other competitors. In the class for rough collies, owned in Otago and Southland, we came across a particularly fine dog in Mr Jowett's Rannoch, who is generally considered to be the second-best rough collie in the show. He is perhaps a little wide in the chest and not quite so good in the feet as Young England, but otherwise is a very fine dog, with a splendid coat and good head. Mr Macauley's Tim, placed second in this class, lacked condition, and is rather small. The Smithfield collies were both poor, and in the bearded collie class Mr Wright's Great Scot plainly beat a middling lot of opponents. Fox-terriers.—ln the champion clas3 we saw for the first time in Dunedin the renowned Vert Galant, imported from the kennels of Messrs Vicary. This dog has not altered much since his first appearance in the colony. His body, coat, and set-on of stem, also his legs and feet, are as good as ever; but, unfortunately, the toyishness of head has not left him, his ears are large and badly carried, his expression is wrong, and he is getting very wide in front. Mr Bogen's Peri, placed second, is a very showy terrier, but too long in the body, and also has rather large ears, in the open class for dogs Mr B. S. Young s Neidpath Socket wins. This is a nice young dog with a good coat, and is in fact pleasing all over, but not exactly the type of the present day, and we think that if the same owner's Dandy had been shown in equal condition he wou'd probably have won. Ihe sensational terrier of the show, in our opinion, was the winner in the next class, Mr Young's Neidpath Divert. She is out of Mr Trigge's latest importation, Diversion, and is sired by Despoiler, who occupies front rank in England. This bitch is probably the best terrier ever seen in Dunedin, and we are unable to point to any real fault inher. Some peoplemay not like the peculiar color of her markings, but that has no weight. If any improvement is possible she might be darker in the eye, • but she is the right size, is most beautifully fronted, stands on the best legs and feet, and carries a good coat. The class for puppies under six months filled with three lively little cards presumably of a promising sort—no one can say what they will be like when developed. The competition for the coveted challenge cup resulted in a win for Neidpath Rocket, but, in accordance with our previous remarks, we should have picked the same owner's Divert for the honor. However, the lack of space allotted to the judge, to work in did not give that officer a proper opportunity of inspecting the dogs minutely. It is high time that different arrangements were made. The judges are at a decided disadvantage in executing their duties. They want more room and more light. Two grand Skye terriers were shown, with not much between them. Miss Hutton's Rob Roy was probably chosen because he has a little more coat than the other. The drop-eared Skye did not commend itself to our taste, and the solitary Dandy Dinmont may be passed without comment.

Irish Terriers.—lt was astonishing to see so few of these dogs brought in while there are so many about the district. The three exhibited were certainly not the best specimens that might have been benched if all Dunedjn's kennels had yielded of their choicest. In black and tans over 71b Mr Miller's Floss, had an easy wiu. She has a good coat, has nice dark markings, good legs, and is a terrier all over. The rest of the class were much behind her.

Bull Terriers.—Mr Higgins's Monowai 11. is a very powerful dog, with grand loins, good bone, legs, and feet, but perhaps a trifle coarse in the head. Mr Alexander's Paddy loses a deal in expression through having a vestige of black round the rims of his eyes. Mr Bilk's Manapouri would improve in appearance by being cropped. In the class for bitches Mr Watson's Lady had an easy win over her only opponent. The winner is far superior in head and general character. In the class for puppies under twelvemonths Mr "Watson's White Wonder, eleven months old, exhibits considerable promise, but being apparently in whelp prevented her from looking at her best. Bui dogs.—A bad class. The winner, Mr Mariarcher's Rustic Monor, is very good in the chest and fore leg, but wants greater dimensions in the head, and is quite devoid of wrinkle, also is coarse in the tail. Mr P. Reid's Sulky, placed second, is one of the small sort, but probably has the best tail of all the bulldogs tfiown. A great improvement is needed in this breed of dog. A first-class little pug, Mr G. Scott's Jack, was brought in, and the Italian greyhound exhibited by Mr Biggs was decidedly one of the most attractive features of the smaller classes. She is, in miniature, a fac-aimile of a greyhound, and probably the best specimen of the breed to be found in this part of the world. In the sporting team class Mr Young's foxterriers won unopposed, and in the corresponding class for non-sporting varieties the Wellington team of collies were placed first, and Mr Biggs's collies second. Mr Wark's collies did not compete. The other teams, consisting of St. Bernards and Newfoundlands, had no show against the fashionable animals referred to.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ls it fair that my spaniel dog, who has got a champion pedigree, should be beaten by a bitch which, by the catalogue, has no pedigree ? I sent in my dog's pedigree, but they thought fit not to publish it in the catalogue. How has this dog been overlooked? It is: Carlo, champion, field spaniel dog, by Bang, champion, English field spaniel dog, out of Mr D. Hill's champion imported field spaniel bitch. Carlo has an unbeaten record. The spaniels were led out and only looked at, then almost immediately sent back again. Is this the way the public who exhibit prize dogs are to be treated ? I thought dogs were judged by points. There was a protest lodged, but they kept putting me off until I was disgusted, so I withdrew it.—l »"». etc. j, Vivian. Dunedin, August 4.

Sir,—Being dissatisfied with the treatment received by my dog Lancashire Lad in the greyhound class at the show, I ventured to express my opinion before members of the Committee, and was told to enter a protest in the evening. On proceeding to do the latter I was informed it was too late. That the dog was unfairly treated is the general opinion of the best judges of that class of dog now in Dunedin (when so many coursing men are present),' they all concurring that instead of being unplaced Lancashire Lad should have had first honors, and also that he is undoubtedly one of the best show dogs at present in the colony.—l am, etc., S. Cbawshaw. Dunedin, August 4. A social was held on Friday evening.

Burglars securedjHwseasion-of an unused key of the safe in Prince SoltykofPs house, London, whieh contained £IOO,OOO worth of jewellery. The booty, portion of whfclj was insured, was taken.