AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12996, 11 December 1902, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

SOUTHLAND. [Feoji Our Coiutr.sroNTJF.NT.] INVERCARGILL, Dec. 10. The weather was disappointing for the .second day of the show. The forenoon was l fine, but heavy, rain fell in the afternoon and spoilt the attendance which, otherwise, would have been a record, judging Ay the' number of railway passengers brought into the town. HORSES. The draught horses were, all round, the best exhibited in the South Island this season, though ninny of the horses entered l were absent. Six stallions, three years old and upwards, competed in only a moderate class. Mr John Grant's Timaru-bred Clydesdale was placed first, Mr Ryan's Young Kelvin second, lan, Hamilton, winner in the three-year-old class at Dimedin, was third. R.osebery, well known in Canterbury, looked his best, but was unplaced, the judge, Mr James Patrick, preferring" the more modem style. lan Hamilton proved the best of the colts of his own age, ; Herdsman, the Gore winner, being second. The. others were, poor. The two-year-old colts,were first-class. Mr James Noble's Shepherd King, a grandson of Herd Laddie and from a Lion King mare, was first, and has only.to fulfil his present promise to become one of the best horses in the country. He lias shape and style in a marked degree, and it was r.o surprise when he was awarded the championship. His sire, Shepherd Lad, is from the famous . Lord Salisbury mare, Princess M'Cormick, and was recently purchased by Mr W. F. M. Buckley,, in whose stud he will have- opportunities to further distinguish 'himself. •Second to Shepherd King was a stylish colt bred by Mr J. B. BulUm, and Mr'James Drain supplied the third, a chestnut which promises to be an immense horse. _ Only two yearlings were shown, and neither was a good one. The marcs are always a feature of this show, and though several of the best have left the district, the present display was of 'magnificent quality. Mr -Waiter Blackie took iii,st and second prizes for brood' mares with Princess Beatrice and Queen 11., both, by Herd- Laddie- from, the famous mares Darling and Queen respectively. The grey Lady Victoria was first in the dry class, the second being a grand three-year-old, owned by Mr David Clark, which took first prize in her proper class. Princess Beatrice was champion mare, Lady Victoria. beingMiext best, with little to spaio from- Queen 11. Two-year-old and year-, ling fillies were good classes, and, despite the. season, were much more forward than those of the a.g-es in Canterbury. The geldings and working mares were fair,, with one or two good ones, and l the van and tradesmen's cart classes were- very good. Of four thoroughbred stallions, Reflector was fcho best, Versailles and 1 Battlefield being second and third. Three, rather nice mares wero shown. The saddle- horses were, on the whole, moderate, and wanting .in manners, the latter possibly in some degree because of the rather bad weather. The entries were large, eighteen list and fourteen 15st hacks entering the ring. Most of them, however, appeared more suited for harness than for saddle. While winners at Canterbury shows were amongst those passed over, a. roan cob which was first- in saddle and. harness at Oamaru also won (he double, here, and Mr .O'Connor's Minnie, and Master Faris's Darkey were similarly successful in the llhd'p and 12hds classes re? spectively. Darkey has won nineteen firsts, and Minnie must have as many or more to ker credit. The carriage classes wero poor, but the gig. dogcart and buggey classes included several good horses. There w?,s a good exhibition of jumping, notwitliptanding the sodden ground. The light horses' ring was badly served, and judging was thereby unduly protracted. PIGS. "' A small entry of pigs included a -few first-class Berks-hires and Yorkshires. DAIRY PRODUCE. The'only' exhibits of cheese," we're' from the German Bay (Akaroa) Factory, the Little Akrsloa entry not coming forward: It ,say!> much for the pluck of the German Bay people that they should thus enter the heait of the cheese country,, and little for the Southlandcrs that there should be no competition. The butler was almost wholly from farm dairies, and was of good quality. The Invercargill Dairy Supply Company showed the cnly factory .butter. The hams and bacon were all from local curers, and of excellent quaility. ■ - MISCELLANEOUS. " All the implement and machinery makers and importers were- represented, and manures, seeds and farm and station requisites generally were shown, in great variety.