THE ASHBURTON SHOW.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2101, 17 November 1880, Page 3

THE ASHBURTON SHOW.

President, Mr W. 0. Walker; vice-president, Mr J, Carter ; hon. treasurer, Mr W. H. Zouch ; hon. secretary, Mr G. Jameson. The annual exhibition of the Ashburton

Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday, on the new grounds of the association fronting on the main South road. The ground is about a mile from Ashburton, and appears to be well suited to the purposes of the association. The arrangements made by the committee were exceedingly good, the placing of the various exhibits being fully equal to any show yet held. The secretary, Mr Jameson, had a nicely fitted office in the caretaker’s house on the ground, which was a great convenience alike to the visiting members of the Fourth Estate, who were numerous, and the secretary himself, who was most courteous and obliging. The various amusements were here in great force. One of the unicycle tents collapsed early in the day, owing to tbe nor’-wester, which as usual in Ashburton was pretty strong. The Ashburton Band were on the ground, but were somewhat chary of their music, playing on an average about one air per hour. It is to be regretted that the association could not have seen their way clear to have their show prior to the Metropolitan. All country shows should, we think, if possible, endeavour to get their annual fixtures off before the Metropolitan, because this is generally looked upon as the test ground where all the country prize winners can try conclusions. Another misfortune was that the Ashburton show to some extent clashed with Oamaru, otherwise many entries would have come forward, the owners of which had under the present arrangement to decide between Ashburton and Oamaru, and of course tbe verdict was in favor of the stone city. This to a large extent must explain the shortness of entries In many of the classes. Next year we trust the managing committee will so arrange it that the show shall bs held prior to the Metropolitan, similarly to all the other shows in The provincial district.

There is just one other point to which we desire to refer, and that is the desirableness of the Ashburton Association adopting the regu--lid ion of the Metropolitan Show, and excluding all implements, &0., bearing the names of the exhibitors. Several implements yesterday were noticeable for this, and on principle it is a bad thing to allow at a show. It is not for one moment insinuated that the judges would be influenced, but it is certainly likely to bias their minds when the names of exhibitors are so glaringly displayed. In all other classes, such as sheep, cattle, and horses, the rule as to concealment of the name of the exhibitor is rigidly carried out, so that it is hard to ses why the rule should be relaxed with regard to implements, &e. Therefore, next year we hope to see the same rule in force at Ashburton as at Christchurch, and that all names of exhibitors be concealed.

Coming to the show proper, the sheep and cattle wore scarcely up to the mark, the implements, consisting mainly of those exhibited at the Christchurch show, wore very good indeed, quite creditable to a country show. The horses, though rather small in number, were not deficient in quality as a whole. The pigs were fair in quality, but the poultry, as we have had occasion to remark in all the shows, was not at all creditable. The time has undoubtedly come when this class should be excised from all the show catalogues. The local manufactures and dairy produce were well represented, but the butter suffered considerably from the heat of the weather, and was in a state of liquefaction at an early period of the day. Some very excellent beef was shown for Mr Shearman’s prize, quite equal to any exhibited in Christchurch. The attendance was fairly large, though it was anything but pleasant weather for outdoor gatherings. Remarks on the various classes of the show are appended. SHEEP. The sheep were not so numerous as usual in any of the classes, and the exhibits were confined to those of only one or two owners. This seems curious in a district like Ashburton, where wool is one of the most important products. The merinos were for the most part a rather indifferent lot,'Messre Gould and Cameron and Hawdon being the only owners whose names appeared on the catalogue. Mr Hawdon showed a fair ram in the under eighteen months class, and Messrs Gould and Cameron got a first prize for two very nice ewes under eighteen months. These sheep were the best merinos on the ground, but, as before said, this class was not of the first order. la the Lincoln classes Messrs Wilkin and Carter wore the only exhibitors. The ram hoggetta showed an undoubted dash of the Leicester. Ewes with lambs at foot were fair sheep, but one pen had crossbred lambs at foot.’ The Leicester exhibits were also confined to those of Messrs Wilkin and Carter. In the rams, one was a pure English Leicester the other a Border Leicester, but both were fair representatives of their class. Many of the young sheep exhibited by these gentlemen showed a cross between English and Border Leiceaters. The Romney Marsh were a considerable improvement on the other long-woolled classes, many of the sheep being really good types of what the catalogue pronounced thorn to be, though one pen, under eighteen months old, showed an unquestionable strain of Leicester blood. Both pens of Romney Marsh ewes wore very superior sheep. The fat sheep were In most instances excellent, several pens being very high class. Of these the pen of Messrs Wilkin and Carter (crossbred Downs) were very good, as wore the exhibits of Messrs Gould and Cameron in the classes for the best five merinos, and better still in the best five long-woolled wethers. This last lot was the best pen we have seen this season. The fat sheep shown by Messrs Digby and Scott were also excellent. The first prize of lambs were in grand condition, but of mixed breeds, which rather spoiled the appearance of the pen. The second prize pen were an even lot of Southdowns, and to the general public were the most taking to the eye. CATTLE.

The cattle classes do not require any extended comment. The competition was limited, lying principally between Messrs D gby, Joyce, and Wilkin and Carter. Mr Magee was the only exhibitor in the classes for bull of any age and two year old and yearling heifers. The first was by Esau 11. out of Roan Alice. The heifers were one out of the same dam and the other out of Bella. The classes generally were good fair animals, but were scarcely up to the show form. H083E3. As compared with the exhibits we have lately gone through this last fortnight, the horse stock at Ashburton was scarcely up to the mark ; but in a young show such as this, it is a mistake to be too hypercritical. Not only so, but it is only fair to say that some of the horses shown on Tuesday were very creditable to their exhibitors. Many good judges took exception to the decision in the draught stallion class, where Lord Beaeonsfiald lowered the colours of the recently imported Billy Pairplay. The two were certainly a .remarkable contrast; the one a compact short-legged animal, the other a giant over 16 hands high. Both are good horses, but our sympathies for the prize certaiuly went with the leviathan. In the three-year-old class for stallions, Commander, a eon of old L Sir Colin, a very promising colt, with a rare middle piece, and round as an apple, took first honors, Mr J. Qrigg showed same nice colts in the two year-old class, while the mares were a useful looking lot, though not first class. Wo much preferred the second prize-taker, Jessie, to Poppet, the first prize-taker, the latter being decidedly unsound. Mr Stoddart’s Prince Royal filly, Grace, was far and away the beat of the three year old filly exhibits, and the same owner deservedly took first honors in the two-year-old filly class, amongst whom by the way there were some very fair animals shown. The working geldings were a very useful lot, and were shown in nice order, the exhibits of Mr Black being specially noticeable in thin respect. The three and two-year old colts were limited in number, and were fairly good. Only three thoroughbred stallions put in an appearance, all by Traducer, Mr Little’s Young Traducer beating Tribune and Dundee, the last named being scarcely in show form. Only Commodore was shown in the two-year-old blood stock, and a very wetdy colt he is. He is by i Admiral, but must not be confounded with Mr Q-obbie’s colt of the same name and by the same sire. Dexter took first prize in the class for carriage stallions, Tam o’Shanter, a very promising horse out of old Banshee being second. The prize for the best foal by Dexter, fell to Mr J. Scott’s exhibit, beating four others. Another special prize, for the best I yearling carriage colt on the ground, went to a rather nice looking Traitor colt.

This class was really a very fair one. In the carriage mares there were only two exhibits, both moderate. No carriage horses were shown, and only four buggy horses. _ They were, according to the Ashburton, and indeed almost every other catalogue we have seen here, “to be shown in harness.” This, according to our experience, means simply putting a set of harness on the animal and walking behind. On future occasions, both in this and other shows, it would be a great improvement were the horses to be driven in harness in their own buggies or carriages, as the case might be. We make a present of the suggestion to show committees generally with much pleasure. In the class urdor notice — a rather moderate lot—Mr Armitago’s three-year-old ohesnut, a very nice colt with plenty of fashion and quality, took first prize. He was a good sound colt, which some of the others were not. The hack mares were not up to the average, but a very good lot of backs (up to 14rst) entered the ring. Glengary was, so far as appearance and style went, facile princcps, but he was not sound, and thus first honors went to Bewi, a very good looking hack from Longbeach. The question of soundness must evidently have given the judges some trouble, or Why Not would have occupied a better position. The whole clasp, taken altogether, was a very good one. The question of soundness again, in the next class for hacks up to 10jt, certainly gave the priz} to Mr G. Jameson’s Eclipse, a good strong horse, but not showing the quality of the other two. The ladies’ hacks, wo must be ungallant enough to say, were very moderate. Moro was the first prize taker. Messrs Wilkin and Carter took first honors f or the cob class with a really nice animal. Four ponies were exhibiled. One was too big for the class and one unsound, but the other two were nice ponies. Topsy took first prize and Dixey, of Arab descent, second. The leaping match produced four entries, the winner being Maid of the Mill, who cleared 4ft. 3in., and after she had wen 4ft, Bin. She was very well ridden. Mr Calvert acted as veterinary referee during the day.

POULTHY. The poultry does not call for any special mention, except to call attention to the fact that one pen of fowls was exhibited in a box in which they could not by any possibility stand upright. The pigeons shown were good in quality, though somewhat deficient in numbers. IMPIiBMBKTS. This was by far the most interesting part of the show, the number of implements exhibited being exceedingly creditable. The greater part of the entries were those competing at the Christchurch show, and it was somewhat peculiar to notice how in judging the same implements different sets of judges differed.

In the three-furrow plough class Reid and Gray and P. and D. Duncan were the only exhibitors. The latter had a nice, well made implement, light and handy, deservedly receiving first prize, the former getting a highly commended ticket. In the double furrows Wilkin and Carter, with a Hornsby, and P. and D. Duncan, with a colonial-made plough, were the only oampetitors, The imported implement was scarcely in show condition, and Messrs F. and D. Duncan scored another first. In the class for double-furrow lever ploughs the judges reversed the verdict at Christchurch, awarding Reid and Gray first for their plough with swivel coulters, P. and D Duncan receiving a highly commended for their exhibit. This order was again altered in the next class, for single-furrow ploughs, Messrs P. and D. Duncan taking first with a capitally-made implement, Reid and Gray obtaining a commended for a very good plough, Messrs P. and D. Duncan had a very good plough with sub-soiler combined, which received first prize. The harrows were a gift to Mr Little, who repeated bis metropolitan show victory with some excellently-made harrows. Reid and Grey were successful for the broadcast sower with canisters and harrows, P. and D. Duncan receiving a highly commended. Andrews and Beaven scored a win with their Anglo-American corn and seed drill, Wilkin and Go. getting a highly commended ticket for their champion drill. Reid and Gray were successful in obtaining a commended for their clod-crusher, which was the only exhibit in the class. In the next class most peculiar judging was noticeable. The entries were the Osborne No. 6 Reaper, which took first prize at Christchurch, sent by Wilkin and Co., and one exhibited by Reid and Gray. The judges entirely ignored the No. 6 which has stood the test successfully of many trials, and is acknowledged to be the beet implement of the kind imported here, and only awarded a highly commended to the selected implement. Then again in the class for mowers, the judges awarded the prizs to an implement in which the horses tread down the corn, ignoring again the No. 5 Osborne, an excellent implement, and a good one exhibited by Morrow, Bassett and Co. The second prize was awarded to a Buckeye mower, exhibited by Jameson and Roberts. The prize for ryegrass stripper was awarded to P. and D. Duncan. Mr Little carried off the prize for horse hoes. The carts and buggies exhibited were creditable in the highest degree to the local manufacturers, Messrs Baker and Brown had not only a very well made town carriers’ cart, but a really firstclass Whitechapel cart, so fitted as to avoid the knee action of the horse, and in which a very ingenious alteration of the step makes it far easier for ladies to get in. The same firm had two exhibits in the class for single buggies. One of these was a convertible buggy, the seat being enabled to be shifted so as to turn it into a double seat, with a child’s seat, or a jump seat buggy. Andrews and Beaven were the only exhibitors in the chaffcutter class, and took first and highly commended. The collections of husbandry tools were varied, and very good os a whole. Messrs Friedlander Bros, exhibited the now wellknown Althouse windmill, and Messrs Scott Bros, had also one which was exhibited at Christchurch. In the extra exhibits Messrs Andrews and Beaven had a two horse-power of a new principle geared up to a chaff cutter. The principle is that the horses work as it were independently, the small wheels underneath working instead of, as in other horsepowers, the large wheel. Messrs Andrews and Beaven exhibi od chaff-cutters, Friedlander Bros, oornorushers, stoves, and register grates. DAIRY PRODUCE. The exhibits in this class were shown in a tent, and from the fervent heat of a strong nor’-wester were pretty soft long before the judges got in to look at them. No loss than twenty-four competitors came forward for the fresh butter class, which was hardly so good as might have been expected from Ashburton. Some of the exhibits were fairly good, but we hope to see next year an improvement. The salt butter vas fairly good. In the cheese class the judges went altogether astray. The first prize was awarded to a soapy flavorless cheese, whilst the second prize cheese was full flavored, well made, and certainly entitled to the first prize. The bi'-con and hams for a country show were very good indeed.

KBW ZEALAND PBODDOB AND MANI - PACIUBEB. This class was, we were glad to see, represented in an improving manner. The ale shown was good, the first prize being awarded to Quinton Bros., which it was said was the beer taking first prizs at Christchurch show. The second prize takers. Wood and Co., had some very nice full bodied beer which drank clean on the palate. The porter, for which Wood and Co. took the prize, was fairly goed, bub partook somewhat of the character observable in all colonial porter, viz , a liquorice taste. The Kaiapoi Woollen Factory had a nice lot of goods, both cloths and hosiery. Austin and Kirk had a collection of fire clay goods, which were excellent, and some good drain pipes. In another tent apart from the dairy produce was exhibited several noticeable entries, but before leaving the local industries tent mention must be made of a floral trophy exhibited by Mr H. C. Jacobson. This was well made, the colors being admirably contrasted, and a great deal of taste shown in the general construction of it. The competitors for Mr Shearman’s prize for the best round of cured beet _ were five in number, and some very nice rounds were exhibited. The prize was taken by Mr Amos, Messrs Seaiey Bros, had a good collection of farm seeds, and Mr Thiel’s bread was exceedingly good. In the extra exhibits, Mr D. Digby had a capital collection of small goods, and Mr Meech a well made and remarkably cheap suite of furniture, Messrs Scott Bros, and Mr F. Atkinson bad some good stoves. Messrs Glauville and Oo.’s dog cart was a very well made one, the fittings and furniture being complete. The lamps were made by Mr Billons, and are very creditable specimens of colonial workmanship. The McCormick, Osborne, and Deering reapers and binders were on the ground, entered in the extra class, as no prize wag offered,