NELSON AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 29, 7 April 1866, Page 2

NELSON AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

The aunual show of grain and live-stock took place yesterday, at Richmoud. There wus not a large attendance of visitors, though Ave are not aware that it was less than that ; of the ..previous year. The show of sheep aud pigs was fair, but that of horned cattle aud horses was not what could be desired ou such au occasion. The poultry was a comparative failure, there being only three pens of fowls, coutaiuiug a couple of ducks, a couple of gwese, and a couple of turkeys, not a very large collection to which to award the prizes. The show of graiu was exceedingly good, though limited in quantity, not more than fifteen bushels of wheat being exhibited altogether. There was a very fine sample ofoats. A few sacks of very good potatoes were exhibited. The show of butter was limited, .which is surprising ; is it all gone to the West Coast, or won't the fanners take the trouble to exhibit their produce? The same may be said of the cheese, which was so limited iu quantity a.s to render it rediculous to talk of competition aud awarding prizes. The show of vegetables and fruit was also a failure. There were a few cabbages aud vegetable marrows, but a complete want of other vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, aud the like. Grass seeds were shown, but in veiy small quatities. It. is evident that the show, was, on the whole, a great failure, as it is ever likely to be so long as it is held away from the great centre of population. Up till about two o'clock iu the afternoon few persons were present, except those whose duties rendered it imperative that they should be there. Tluere can be uo doubt that the show ought to be held in Nelson. If it were, aud' the committee exerted themselves as they ought to do, they would double aud treble their subscription list, excite a much greater amouut of competition,, aud enlist ..the sympathies of hundreds, instead of limiting the influence of the society, as is the case at present, to a score or two persons who neither khow nor care much about its prosperity. The association itself wants to be popularised, aud nothing will arouse it from its lethargy but the holding of the exhibitions in the i-»l.ir»r. \TMir»vra i-\n./m)i-> mnet 1'"^" »««-»<-■ j^-j^- ...v^u yx^xU S n -ft'"" The Stewards were Messrs. J. VV. Barnicoat, YV. Harkness, 11. E. Thompson, T. J. Thompson, O'Loughliu, Butler, G. W. I Schroder, S. E. Gapper, Songer, and F. Ivel- ' ling. After the distribution of the prizes, from forty to fifty gentlemen sat dowu to au I excellent dinner iu the Hall. The dinner was prepared by Mr. Dislier, jnu., and gave every satisfaction. Mr. Oswald Curtis occupied the chair, supported by his Houorthe Super intend eut. In the course of the speeches, stress was laid on the importance of holding the show at Nelson, and several of the speakers promised to exert themselves to attain thafc object. Ifc was generally admitted that some efforts should be made to render the Association more efficient that it is at present. Good judges remarked that it would pay the Association to import some live stock into the province, the cattle present showing distinct traces of a sameness, aud consequent degeneracy of breed. A first-class bull aud cow placed uuder the control of the Society, would bring about a great improvement in our breed of cattle, as well as pay for tlie outlay suggested. We hope the tradesmen of Nelson will take up the number, infuse new life iuto it, and create the competition, which the farmers of the province, from some cause or other, do not care to lend themselves to. We are satisfied the association ought to produce greater results than it does, aud that is why we thus write. A list of the prizes competed for is appended : — Class A, Horses.— 22 entries. Judges, Messrs. W. Souger and W. 11. Cator. , 1. Best draught gelding, Ist prize, £1, Mr. D.Rod; Sad prize, honorary certificate, Mr. W. &ree».

3. Best draught colt under 2yrs., Ist prize, £1 Mr.. P. Leahy. 4. Best draught colt under 1 yr., Ist prize, 10s., Mr. A. Saunders; 2nd prize, h. c, Mr. E. Webly. 5. Best draught mare above 3 yrs., Ist prize, £2, Mr. Leahy; 2ml prize, £1, Mr. Bod; 3rd prize, h. c, Mr. G. liopgood. 3. Best draught filly under 1 yr., Ist prize, 10s., Mr. T. H. Foy; 2nd prize, h. c, Mr. A. Saunders. 10. Best pony under 12 hands, 10s., Mr. Harkness. Class B, Cattle. —l6 entries. Judges, Messrs. E. Wastney, Batey, C. Stratford. 1. Best bull, Ist prize, £ ', Mr. W. Ching ; 2nd prize, Mr. Butler ; 3rd prize, Mr. Eyles. •2. Best yearling bull, Ist prize, 305., Mr. Jary. :*". Best cow in milk, Ist prize, £2, Mr. J. Young; 2nd prize, £1, Mr. Barnicoat ; 3rd prize, h. c, Mr. Butler. 4- Best cow not in milk, Ist prize, 305., Mr. J. W. Saston ; 2nd prize, h. c, Mr. Barnicoat ; 3rd prize, Mr. Jary. ■Class C, Sheep. —7 entries. Judges, Messrs. Nairn and Moray. 1. Best Leicester ram, Ist prize, £1, Mrs. Nicholson, ..o. Pen of 5 Leicester ewes, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Morse ; Snd prize, h. c, Mr. Nicholson. "S. Pen of cross-bred ewes, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Morse; 2nd prize, li. c, Mr. Harkness. -Class D, Pigs. —7 entries. Judges, Messrs. M'Gowan and Doidge. 1. Best boar, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Tasker ; 2nd prize, 10s., Mr. j. Priumer. 1. Best sow, with or without litter, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Tasker ; 2nd prize, 10s. Mr. Tasker. ■Olass E. Poultry. —ls entries. Judges, Messrs. 11. E. Thompson and G. W. Schroder. rl. Best Dorking cock aud pair, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. W. Saunders ; 2nd prize, 7s. Gd., Mr. W. Saunders. 4. Best gander an 1 pair of geese, Ist prize, 10s., Mrs. ' H. Gifford ; 2nd prize, os., Mr. 11. Lankow. -5. Best drake and pair of ducks, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. T. Sutherly; 2nd prize, 55.. Mr. 11. Lankow. ■5. Best Turkey cock and pair hens, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. O'Loughlen ; 2nd prize, 55., Mr. Tietjen. •Class F, Grain. —l2 entries. Judges, Messrs. M. Eob, Eden, and Jary. I. Best sack of wheat, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Trower ; '2nd prize, lOs., Mr. Painter. 3. Best sack oats. Ist prize, £l, Mrs. Nicholson ; 2nd prize, LOs., Mr. Snowden. 4. Best sack of Peas, Ist prize, 10s.. Mr. Trower. 5. Best sack of vetches, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. O'Lough•len. ■Class G, Agricultural Produce. —2l entries. Judges, Messrs. W. Harkness and Webley. .!. Best 3 bushels rye grass seed, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Barnicoat; 2nd prize, lOs. Mr. Job Best. .2.' Best 50 lbs. Timothy seed, Ist prize, £1, Mr. Barnicoat ; 2nd prize, 10s , Mr. S. E. Gapper. :•;. Best 3 bushels cocksfoot, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. Barnicoat. «.. Best sack early potatoes, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. Painter ; 2nd prize, 55., 11. Lankow. 7. Best sack late potatoes, Ist prize, 10s., Mr, Barnicoat ; 2nd prize, 55., Mr. Kelling. Class 11, Dairy Produce. —lo entries. Judges, Messrs. M. Ilildreth and O'Loughlen. I. Best 5U lbs. cheese, Ist prize, £l, Mr. Batey ; 2nd prize, 10s., Mrs. H. Gifford. 2.'Best firkin salt butter, Ist prize, 10s., Mr. W. Hart; 2nd prize, ss. Mr. Dymock. 3. Best 6 lbs. fresh butter, Ist prize, 10s., Mrs. H. Gifford ; 2nd prize, us.. Mr. Harkness. Extra Prizes. —Mr. Kelling, tobacco, £1, canary seed, 55.; Mr. Beardmore, pumpkin, 10s.; Mr. Murcutt, cabbages, 10s.