DUNEDIN WINTER SHOW

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12538, 27 June 1901, Page 2

DUNEDIN WINTER SHOW

[From Oor Correspondent.] DITNEDIN, June 25. The annual Winter Show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was opened to-day, and has every promise of teing the most successful the Society has yet 'held. An unfortunate hitch in the usually perfect arrangements occurred, catalogues not being available until 5 p.m., when the show was closed for an interval, consequently the day's large attendance was without knowledge of the names of exhibitors. Pat cattle were few in numbers, but of excellent quality. For bullocks Mr James M'Br-idte, Teniuka, was first and third' with. Shorthorns, the intervening position being filled by a nice black Polled. 'Be cows were extremely good. All were from the south. Classes for dairy cows were introduced this year, but met little support. Sheep were a splendid section, though falling far short of the Ohristchurch collection in all-round excellence. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company almost swept the board of prizes, though their Edendale Station, usually a, prominent exhibitor, did not compete. Totara Estate was fireb mud second for merino wethers (with the same sheep winch won for Haknteramea Station last winter); first in Down cross wettbers (Shropshire crossss); first and second in longwool or cross-bred wethers, any age, aind not exceeding twenty-two months ' (both with' shearling Border Leicester crosses); first and second and champion prize for purebred hoggets, and special prize for heaviest hogget in shew (with Border Leicester); and first and second and champion for cross-bred hoggets (with Border Leicester cross). Acton Estate, with its Shropshire cross wethers an d the hoggets which were first at Christchttrch were third to Totara merino wethers and longwool cross hoggets. The Acton exhibits had wasted) a good deal during their exhibition at Christchurch and travelling to Dunedin, the Down cross hoggets now averaging lib a head less than when they first left horn®. The Totara sheep were splendidly brought out. Magnificent 'half-teed wethers were exhibited! by Mr Watson Shenaan (Border Leice»ter-m«rin6) and several other exhibitors, and also showed exceptionally nice merino wethers, though not so heavy as those from the Land" Company's station. Mr R. W. Chapman showed capital sheep in several classes', but they, like other Canterbury exhibits, had suffered from' the travelling. Dairy produce was, as usual, the anain feature of the show. In factory Cheddar cheese, coloured (fifteen entries), Waikouaiti Factory, 97£ points, was first Stirling, 94 points, second, and Edendale, 93i points, third. In the pals class (ten entries), Waikouaiti, 96 points, wa3 first, Stirling, 95 points, second, and Wyndham, 92 points, third. The class for sniall factories is getting very restricted in these days of dairy progress, oh'V ■ three entries being-' received, and Healfield (Wyndham), winning witn 91 points. The Waikouaiti Factory, which it will be remembered, was very successful at the Christcbureh Winter Show, takes the Nairn £25 Challenge Cup. This factory was alfo first for two cheeses, white amd coloured, for two old cheeses and for loaf cheese, thus winning every first prize for factory cheese, and taking the champion prise for most points. There was a large entry of factory butter suitable for export, the North Island competing strongly. The first and second prizes went to the Invercargill Dairy Supply Company, and Inglewood (Taranaki), was third. The judges remarked that speaking generally, the quality of the factory cheese, both coloured and white, was most creditable. Taking the exhibits as ai whole, Mr Kinsella., who assisted Mr J. 'A. Ruddick a*. lasD year's Winter Show, had no hesitation in paying that there had not only been since them a decided improvement in flavour, but there had also been a most marked improvement in the manufacture generally. Last year a aramber of exhibits were weak in body, pasty, and a shad© open, which faults generally develop into bitter flavour, while this year it would be difficult to find an open, weak, or ' pasty-bodied cheese amongst the exhibits. The judges mentdemedi that some of the cheeses were too stiff inbody. WbU« this is an objection, it cannot be classed as serious, as a weak, pasty body, for the simple reason that thoftrm cheese goes on improving while the enrina (process advances, wMle on the other hand> the soft, weai-bodied cheese in. nine cases out of ten deteriorates in quality, and, as abov« mentioned, has a tendency to develop a ibitter flavour. WMle it is only fair that the managers should he commended for the 'improvement in quality, it must be rememberedi said Mr Kinsella, that the (scoring of the exhibits .was not high, on the whole, and that there is still room for vast improvement. As regards the factory gutter, the judge remarked that the quality was not what could he expected from the factories represented. Seeing the conditions under which the Norm Island exhibits were made, some of these were exceptionally good. With the exception of one exhibit, the butters from tiho South Island were not so highly commended. The chief objection in connection with quality all through was _ off-flavours and an excess of moisture, and in some brands being severely overworked. It Was pleasing to note that one Canterbury factory (Tai Tapu) had adopted) the system of parafiulining their boxes, with the effect that the butter in (these! had retained its flavour much, better *ban many of the other exhibit!?. The implement im the butter was not so marked as tlhaib in cheese. Mr Kinsella, dairy commissiomer, and Mr Thornton, grader, wem§ th» judges of faobory produce. Of roots there was a very fine display, particularly of swedes. The county collec-' tions were most attractive, Takri being first, Wadhemo second, and Tokomaariro third. Dressed poultry was the best s&m here. Seeds a'nd grain were good, and! ithe competition was better tbaott usual. Hams were not well cured, but bacon was extremely good. There was a small but choice exhibition of merino wool, Mr Watson' Shennan taking first prize in both classes. DUNiEDIN, June 26. In the roots section of the Dunediin Walter Show Mr Reabeni Withell, Brwksddie, was first and commended for golden tain.kard mangels, Sunny-side- Asylum being second and third, and the Christdhurch Meat Company's Islington Experimental Farm was first) for yellow globe mangels.