THE SKIPTON SHEEP SHOW.

North Otago Times, Volume VII, Issue 147, 19 October 1866, Page 3

THE SKIPTON SHEEP SHOW.

(From tho " Ballarat Star," 14fch September.)

The eighth annual stock show of the Western district Pastoral and Agricultural Society was held at Skipton on Thursday, Septembr launder the most favorable auspices. The weather, which at previous ■hows has been of tho most unfavorable kind, was very agreeable 5 and exhibitors had therefore a good opportunity of bringing forward stock for exhibition. The quiet little township of Skipton assumed, as it generally doos at this particular occasion in each year, quite a busy appearance ; and tho baying of the clogs and the bleating of tho sheep as they were being driven to the yards on Wednesday afternoon, continually met the ear to disturb the accustomed quiefcV%% and calmness of tho place. The wealth of the

district in wool mid tallow, and of districts far beyond, where tlio squatters have as yet been secure from the operations of tho Land Act, found all of them representation among tho exhibits ; whilst choice specimens of imported stock, of various degrees of quality in wool, wore also sent for exhibition Tho two hotels in the township were apparently wellpatronued, although there was in these places an almost complete absence of tho crowding and crushinc hitherto met with. On the present occasion a visitor might, when he did secure a bed, have some reasonable expectation of getting a night's rest, without being aroused by other weary wayfarers anxious to share his sleeping apartment or liavo his bedclothes made free with. A few miserable remnants of tho now nearly extinct race of aborigines hovered about the hotels and show yards, liko so many crows on a newly ploughed field, and exhibited their skill in several of their native customs in the hope of picking up a few stray coins from the settlers, to many of whom they were old acquaintance. The poor wretches, huddled in groups around little camp fires about tho town ship, and oxcited by the liquor with which they had been in some way supplied, assisted the bayiug of the dogs in keeping up tho genoral din which marked the advent of Thursday's fair. The attendance of exhibitors comprised settlers from the greater part of the Western district, and also from several other more distant squatting districts of nearly equal importance. When opportunity was afforded the season's prospects were the topic of conversation with all. The want of rain in the districts to the north of Skipton around the Wimmera, Avoca, and Eichardson districts — and also to the westward around Hamilton, was spoken of as being much felt, and the settlers from these quarters were said to be all anxiously awaiting a supply. The feed, it was stated, had become very thin and scanty, and unless there was speedily a further rainfall, it was remarked that wool-washing could not be earned out on many of the stations, excepting perhaps, to a very small cxteut. To tho southward of Skipton it was stated there had been a better supply of rain, although not so much as in former years, and in the opinion of some of the old settlers towards Belfast, the present season, in so far as it had proceeded in that quarter, had been one of the driest experienced for years back. A supply of rain, such as that already obtained in other parts of the colony, was, however, generally anticipated, and for the benefit of the district it is to be hoped that such an anticipation will shortly be realised. The attendance at the show comprised — besides the squatters, who were of course in the majority, a number of farmers from tho direction of Stockyard-hill and also from the immediate neighborhood of Skipton, in the vicinity of which the Land Act has caused an agricultural interest to be created, which may probably, as Jtime wears on, extend its influence, as in other parts of the country. The prize sheep were comfortably penned, and the prizes having been decided ou Wednesday, the public had a good opportunity on Thursday of inspecting them. The prize pens were mostly covered, but owing to the great increaso of exhibits over last year, thirty-five new pens had to bo erected, and in these tho shcop had to be kept without any covering — the fineness of the weather, however, rendering that a matter of littlo or no consequence. Shortly after nine o.clock the yards began to assume an appearance of business, and in an hour or two afterwords the whole of the visitors had arrived, and the show was fairly opened. Mrs Parsons, of Skipton, provided a splendid luncheon erected on the ground for tho purpose, and it was pleasing to see that hor laudable elforts were well-supported. The sheep being the principal portion of tho whole exhibition, we may begin our notice of the various c thibits by referring to the several classes in that leading deportment. In doing so we may safely state that although Skipton has been proverbial for its shows of merino sheep, tho show on Thursday excelled any previously held there, not only in point of numbers, but also in the intrinsic value and quality of the sheop shown. So very superior, indeed, was the exhibition, that it was stated by thoso competent to give an opinion that so many very choice specimens of sheep had rarely if ever been seen together at any exhibition in the colony. To mention tho names of the exhibitors is sufficient to indicate the quality of the exhibition. Messrs Learmonth, Currie, John, William and G-eorge Cumming, Thomson, and Anderson and Shavr, are name3 well known to sheep breeders, and in the quality and value of their exhibits these gentlemen excelled all their previous efforts, as witnessed lit previous exhibitions. There was a closeness of competition among the exhibits which could only be accounted for by the general excellence of the whole ; in fact, as we heard a judge remark, " in many cases it was only a toss-up, or a matter of individual preference, for one sheep over another." ,The champion ram was chosen from a pen of first prize aged rams belonging to Mr J. C. Curri,c and with the rest of the pen, it was a really excellent model of quantity and quality combined. In this class, for aged rams, a good opinion may bo formed of the closeness of the competition from the fact that a magnificent pen of Messrs Learmonth's rams, showing botli breed and quality, only attained fifth place. In all the other classes the Messrs Learmonth obtained the first honors, winning also the champion prize for tho best ewe in tho yard. In deciding on the exhibit, the judges were much divided in opinion between this ewe and one of Mr John Cumming's. Really the judges had every reason to feel themselves placed in a difficulty, for both exhibits were very evenly matched. Should the breeding of sheep advance — as tho Skipton shows for somo years past demonstrate that it most unquestionably has advanced — such difficulties in choice will become one of the features at future exhibitions ; and the wool export trade of the colony — second only in importance to that of gold — will be viewed with a wider regard in other countries than even now. The value of the wool exhibited at the show — prominent as it was for closeness and density of fleece, and for its fine and long texture — was in itself a sufficient criterion, if any were wanted, for the general excellence of the exhibition. The principal exhibitors at the show were breeders who have been noted for the high prices they have imariably obtained in the London markets. It is almost needless to particularise as to the quality of tho exhibits, and it may be remarked in general terms that tho first pens in all the merino classes were most excellent. The second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh prize pens wcro but little inferior, and in general only so in minor points. Among the merino classes were some Spanish merinocs exhibited from Colersin, the property of Mr. Ed. Henty, and some American merinocs which had come all tho way from America, and were exhibited by Mr Clough. of Melbourne. The first did not succeed in obtaining a prize, but the American specimens were not adjudicated on, the judges having declined to do so in the class in which they had been entered ; but an opinion was expressed that had they been shown with the imported stock, they would have obtained the prize. In the English breeds of sheep a marked improvement was observable; especially so in the exhibits of Mr John Sanderson, of Brie Brie, Wickliffe ; of Mr Maurice Weston, of Cressy, and of Mr P. Ormond, junior, of Borrinyallock. Mr Chirnside's fat wethers, and likewise those shown by Mr P. Russell, were very creditable to the breeders In this department there was something of novelty in the exhibition by Mr Ohilde of two Shropshire Down rams and two ewes, and by Mr Stewart, of S'treatham, of a pen of Southdowns, which had been bred at Arundcl Farm by Mr Edward Wilson. The latter were very good of their kind, but did not appear to ho much in favour. In the show of horses there was a slight improvement on last year, as regards those required for general purposes, but the show of stallions was rather meagre. The Bhow of cattle, although not very extensive, comprised some superior specimens from Messrs. Joseph and John Ware. Among the miscellaneous exhibits we may refer to somo buggies shown by Messrs. Cutter and Lever, and saddlery shown by Messrs. Killmister and Purdie, of Ballarat. These exhibits were the objects of general remark throughout the day, and very deservedly so, the manufacturers having already won favourable opinions, not only at the Ballarat Exhibition, but elsewhere throughout the colony. There was also shown some very fine Bole leather tanned by Mr D. C. Maopherson, of Darlington, which, as specimens of colonial industry, were not without interest. The judges for the merino sheep were Messrs. George Peppin, of Deniliquin ; John Mackersey, of Cavendish j and John Sanderson of Wickliffe. The

fat and English sheep judges were Robert Hood, of Hexham, and .Robert Armstrong, of Mortluke. The judges of horses and cattle were Messrs. Doujxall, of Asoot ; Mr O'Farrell, jun., of Ballarat ; and Thomas LeaTmonth, of Ercildoun.