THE INTER-COLONIAL SHOW.

North Otago Times, Volume III, Issue 48, 19 January 1865, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE INTER-COLONIAL SHOW.

. The first Inter- Colonial Cattle Show, projected by Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co., was a success. It was held on the 12th inst., in the grounds of the, North Dunedin Cricket Club. The sheep were . divided into eighteen classes, comprising Merinos, Leicesters, Cotswolds, Southdowns, and Cheviots. There was also an extra class for a breed denominated " Oxford Downs," of which some were exhibited from.' Auckland. -They are described as being more profitable for their flesh than for their wool, more mutton being produced than in'most other breeds. They are comparatively little known, but are very highly spoken of by those .who have had them. The fine woolled sheep were exhibited in considerable numbers, and were very superior. Of these there were several classes of Merinos, the prizes for which, with one exception, were awarded to Mr F. D. Rich, whose attention has been particularly directed to that breed of sheep. ' It is seldom that so fine a lot of sheep of this description is to be met with. The Leicesters too were very numerous,, and some of them splendid animals —full of flesh and clean healthy fleeces. There were some very good Southdowns in the pens, although they were not so numerous as the other descriptions. Of Cheviot rams there was only one lot exhibited, but they were good, as were also - the two Cheviot ewes. On reference -to the list of prizes, it _will be seen that there were a few classes for which there was no .competition. There were only two entries for fat lambs, but they weie very superior animals. The horned cattle, particularly the dairy cows, were good. There was no lack of entries for the various classes, aud plenty of latitude -was given for competition; there being only two classes restricting the Exhibitors. to .a particular breed. The first prize for bulls of the Durham breed was awarded to Mr Murray. ' Mr Kennedy exhibited a bull of the Ayrshire breed, which was decidedly, equal to anything of that class which has been seen in the Province, but there being no competition, no prize was awarded. - Conspicuous among the many beautiful dairy cows exhibited, was one belonging to Mr Sti-ode. She was the very beau ideal of a cow in symmetry and proportion. She has a beautifully small head, a fine clear eye, deep shoulder, good loins, and every appearance of being a good milker. A very fine cow belonging to Mr Hugh Calder, which, through. a mistake, only arrived on the ground {after the various lots had been adjudged,, would doubtless have^taken a high place in the list of prizes had she been brought forward in time. The ,dKiughti , entire ; horses were very superior /looking animals.' The] exhibits of pigs .were numerous • and good. ,'Of poultry there ,were not sp many as might have been expected! The weather. .was highly favorable, and the visitors very numerous.