AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13890, 26 October 1905, Page 9

AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

TIMARU. / The fortieth annual show of the Tixnaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was opened yesterday. The weather was. bitterly odd, but only a few drops of rain fell, and the attendance was about the usual first day’s number. The sheep, the greater part of the draught horses and the carriage horses were judged, and a driving competition was decided. Climatic prospects are encouraging for the second day. SHEEP. The exhibition of sheep was the largest and best in the history of the Society, English Leicester's, Conried-ales and fat sheep were particularly strong classes. Oxford Downs appeared in the catalogue for the first time. On the other hand, South Downs were unrepresented. The competition in both fine and strong sections of raorinoes was practically between Mr F. H. Smith, the successful local breeder, and Messrs Ensor Bros., Mount Grey. I Both pen- ■ ned sheep or excellent quality, but the North Canterbury exhibitors prevailed In all classes but two in which 'they competed, and in one of these exceptions Mr W. Grant, with a ram hogget imported from Australia, was the winner. English Leicesters were of great merit throughout, hut some exhibits from the Ashburton Plains were backward in condition. Mr Donald Grant, Mr R. Kelland and Sir E. Kella/nd were the most successful exhibitors, and Mr R. Tarbotton and Mr W. ■ Grant obtained minor awards. The respective championships went to the first named- two exhibitors, the champion ram being bred by Messrs Little Bros, ’ Border Leicesters also were of high quality. Messrs N. M. Orbell and W. Grant were the principal exhibitors, and -each gained _a championship, but the former received a large majority of the awards. Mr Donald Grant also exhibited successfully. Lincolns were few and poor, a “ George Sutton ” ram alone meriting notice. There was little competition, in Romneys, Mr "W. i Grant taking' most, of the prizes, including both championships, that for rams with a shorn cheep imported from Finns, the English breeders. Mr 0. N. Orbell was the other competitor, and scored two firsts. The section was of fair merit. Hampshire Downs were indifferently represented by a few sheep entered by Mr J. With ell, Ealing. Messrs W. Grant and Rupert Parry were the only exhibitors of Shropehires, and those of the latter being brought out in his unequalled style, took the loading places throughout. The champion ram was bred by Mr A. E. Mansell, in England, and the ©we was of Mr Parry’s own breeding. No exception could be taken to the breeding of Mr Grant’s exhibits, but they failed in condition. _ Oxford Downs appeared for the first time on a New Zealand show ground, _ Mr J. Withell showing several of his imported sheep, and two lambs bred from them. They attracted much notice, and the general opinion was that they would be useful for breeding lambs for export. There was competition in the p,viands claa-es for the first time in the colony, Mr W. Withell matching some of his recent importations against sheep bred bv Mr W. Hay from imported stock. The honours were divided, and the sheep were greatly admired for their fine mutton and woo! qualities. The title of “ Corriedale ” is not yet recognised by the Timaru Association, though the “ in-bred half-breds ” were amongst the best classes in the show, there being certainly no better woolled and better bodied sheep present. Competition was very close between Messrs James Stringfellow, John Stringfellow and Ensor Bros, and Mr John Withell also showed with success. Messrs Stringfellow, father and son, shared six out of the seven first prizes, Messrs Ensor winning in the shorn class through the symmetry of the English Leicester (op Which bread on tie longwool side these breeders’ Corned ales ore founded). In the half-bred and ciVHS-breds classes Mr W. Grant was most successful. Some Ryeland cross hoggets and lambs, bred by Mr W. Hay, were very nice. The fat sheep and lambs were unusually numerous, and of prime quality throughout. Messrs G. Talbot, R. Brookland, John Stringfellow (Corriedale merino wethers bred by Mr Peaoho, Mount Somers), W. Grant and W. Hay (Ryland cross hoggets for freezing) took the principal prizes for sheep, and Mr John ScanneU for lambs. HORSES. A capital collection of young draught horses was brought together, the adult breeding classes not appearing until the

second day of the show. In the class for two-year-old entire colts, Mr John Boag’s Royal Standard, winner at Leeston and Christchurch last year and champion at Least on this year, was an easy winner - , iookidg like a three-year-old in comparison _ with most of his opponents in _a ring of nine. The second prize went to a very shapely colt bred by Mr H. Davie. There were several other promising youngsters in the; class. Yearlings were - scarcely so satisfactory, several being very backward. A very nice colt by Baron Graceful, shown by Mr J. H. Mitchell, was a good first, and Mr Davie took second place. Mr ’ John Small won in all classes of geldings. Dxy mares were not up to the highest standard, but the winner, Mr V/. Butte jack’s Countess, is a mare of great quality and power. The fillies were scarcely so good as the oolts, though some promising specimens were amongst themi The carriage horses included Mr W. F. Hamilton’s well-known team of browns, two of which, by Berlin from 'a Talisman mare, formed a most stylish tandem team, while firsts for four-in-hand team, carriage and buggy pairs and second for dog-cart horses also fell to them. In the last-mentioned class, Mr J. D. King’s stylish chestnut Hero was the winner. A really good tandem team was also shown by Mr R. H. Bissett, and MrW. H. Montgomery showed a smart cob in the 15.2 class, but beyond those mentioned, the quality generally was inode rate. The driving track, it must be said, prevented the horses showing their paces to advantage. There were two or three nice ponies in their classes.