PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6964, 13 March 1884, Page 5

PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Port Albert, Wednesday. The annual Agricultural and Horticultural Show was held to-day. In regard both to the number and character of the exhibits, : some of which werei first class, it would compare most favourably with any show previously held in this important settlement. There was a good attendance, including many settlers from surrounding districts. There was. a capital show of horae stock—quite an improvement upon previous years. Of cattle the usual number was exhibited, but the quality was superior. Nearly twenty pens were occupied ■ with sheep, there beiog some really excellent animals amongst them, the now popular black or grey face breed not being absent. It was a pleasure to see the quality of the breed of pigs, which were a very important exhibit. In field produce, the samples; of wheat, beans, and maize Bhow what can be grown on the land in this locality, while the cocksfoot and rye grasß seed was pronounced by the judges to be very .good; I Potatoes were staged by a great many j exhibitors, including many varieties, amongst them an improved Magnum Bonum, which took a first prize, the Late Rose taking another first prize. Both in mangolds and turnips there were also good exhibits. In the garden department there was keen competition for the collection of vegetables, excellent specimens of cauliflowers and cabbages being shown. Pumphinß, a favourite vegetable in this locality, were somewhat poor, and no prize was given for them. * Fruit, especially apples, was as usual largely exhibited, both of thecollections being very good, Messrs. Gubb and Utting staging a varied assortment, both of which were splendid. For cooking apples, Mobs Royal took.j the first prize, and winter Pearmain second; while for dessert apples the pine Golden Pippin took the first prize. Veryyifew peaches were exhibited, and plums were not of the usual quality j while of grapes there was only one sample, and that a poor one. Really excellent samples jof butter were forwarded by the settlers' wives or daughters, and the judges had considerable difficulty which 'should, have first and second prizes, several lots being highly commended. Somev fresh butter, two weeks' old, was pronounced very good. There was not much salt butter shown. There was a pretty smart contest in regard to which lady makes the",best. bread, no less than sixteen entering the!competition, and the judges were again almost perplexed, but pitched upon the most excel-" lent loaves for the prizes. The following is a list of the exhibits (304 in all) together with the prizes:— . ...«

PRIZE LIST. Horsks.—Judges : Messrs. Cutforth, Carter,' Coatej, and Salnsbury. Entire: One entry. Ist prize. W Pslaiera. Agricultural Horse : 8 entries. Ist prized G. Dibble; 2a.i, R. Lester. Agricultural .> ; Hor«e (under 3 years) : 4 entries. Ist priza, B. M. Gubb : 2nd; G. Eyre. Hacks : 8 entries. Ist prize. U.' Dibble ; 2nd, A. Elliott. Draught Foal : 7 entries, lstprize,' \V. G. Runner. Nag Foal : 2 entries. Ist prize G Dibble; 2ud, K. Bowles. Pony (untier 14 bands) :6' entries. Ist piizu, F. Bowles; 2nd, C. H.»rd*ick. LidW Hacks : 3 entries. Ist prize. C. Dibble'; 2nd, J. McMillan. Agricultural Horse (under two years): Ist prize, B. M Uubb ; 2nd, L. Belcher.

I ATTLE — (The ?ame judges.) Bah Bull: 4entriea--Ist prize, F. G. Runner ; 2nd, G. 11 irdwick- Cow in milk or calf: 0 entries. Ut piizo. G. D bble ; 2nd G. JHbule, commended Hufer under X joars' 6 entries. Ist prize, G. Dibble; 2ad, C. Judd Jf«ifor uudcr two years: Ist prize, M. Stott; 2nd, M' btott • H ifer under 9 months: Ist prize, G. Dibble 2nd G Dibble.

I'iuh —(The same judges.) Best Sow: 2 -'entries Ist prize, C. Judd ; 2nd, G. Dibble. Sow tindor 12 months: 2 entiies. Ist prise, G Dibble; no second" awarded. Boar: 1 entry. Ist prize, G. Dibble 1 Boar under 12 months: 4 entries Ist priza, F. Dibble Shsep.—Bast Ram: 4 entries. Ist prize, G Bel cher ; 2nd, S. Wyatt. Ham Lamb, any bre«d*'4entries. Ist prize, G. Belcher; 2nd, Wards Bros Black-faced R-am: 2 entries. Ist prize, Ward and '(i" Dibble. Pen of 2 Wethers: 5 entries. Ist prize, G Belcher; 2nd, S. Wy.itt. Ewes, any age: 5 entries Ist prize, S. Wyatt; 2nd, G. Dibuie. Pen . Ewe : Lambs, any breed: 7 eutries. Ist prize, G. Bolchei 2nd S. Wyatt. •«.

Dairy Pkoduce.—Judges: Messrs. W. Morgan, Goo. Moore, M. Coupland. Salt Butter: 3 entries. Ist prize, T. A. Gubb ; 2nd, A. Neil. Fresh butter, two weeks old: 7 entries. Ist priZ', C. Judd;2«d! Peter Becroft. Fres-h butter, new: 10 entries.. Ist prize, Miss Becroft; 2nd, Mrs. Pieimiir. Cheese: 4 entries. Ist prize. Miss T. M. Grace; 2nd, Mrs 'G. ; Dibble. Bacon: 3 entries. Ist prize, E. Marcroft 2nd, J. A. Shepherd. FTam: 4 entiies. Ist prlio; E Marcroft; 2nd. C. Peermm.

Field Produce.—(The same judges): Wheat: 7 entries. Ist prize. Turner and Sons; 2nd," Peter Becroft. Ocicafoot sruss seed: 7 entries. Ist prize E 1 Marcroft; 2nd, L. P. Becroft; A. Neill commonded. Ryegrass Seed: 1 entry. Ist prize. Turner and Sons,'. Maize: 1 entry. Is; prize. Becroft. 3 entries. Ist prize. A. Xeal; 2nd, Petor Becroft. Maori White Potatoes: 3 entries, ist prize, Potor Bec-oft; 2nd, David Becroft. Kidney PoUtoo*:3 eul.'ios. Ist prize, E. Maroroft; 2nd, E. Marcroft." Other sorts of Potatoes, two Ist and two 2ud prizes :• 14 entries. Ist priz-?, George T. Hartnell and Peter Becroft; 2nd prize, E. Mircroft; 2nd, also Marcroft.' Swedish: 2 entries, lit prize, David Becroft ;• 2nd; Turner and Sons. Mangolds : 6 entries. Ist prize, Peter Becroft; 2nd, Turner and Sons. Onions: 4 entries, lstprizd, M. Angove ; 2nd, M. Stott.;: Broad Beans: 4 entries. Ist prizo, L. P. Becroft; Bnd, A. Xeal. Peas : 4 entries. Ist prize, D. Becroft; 2nd,' P. L. Becroft. Collection of Vegetables : 4 entries; < Ist prize, \V. Causley ; 2nd, Turner and Sons. Fruits. —B«at collection of fruit : 2 entries.''- 1 'lat pvize, B M. Gubb ; 2nd, F. C. Utting Plato' of plums : 2 entries. Ist prize, J. Shepherd ; 2nd, Mrs. Bradbury. Cooking apples : 8 entries. Ist prize, B M. Gubb ; 2nd, A. Neal. Late cooking apples 9 entries. Ist prfze, J. Becroft, sen.; 2nd, B. M : Gnbb. Dessert: 17 entries. Ist prize, B. M. Gubb ; 2nd; T. A. Gtibb. of apples, two of each: 2 entries, let prize. B. M. Gubb ; 2nd, F. C. Utting. Collection* of poars : 2 entries. 1H prize, B. M. Gubb. De«S'irt peara: 8 entiies. Ist prize, J. A. Shepherd ; 2n<1.8.:M,; Gubb. Grapes: 1 ent.-y. 2nd, F. C. Collection best ten apples, 2 each : 4 entries. Ist prize: J. ; Beerv-ft, sen. ; 2nd, Beeroft. JAM 9 and Bottled Fruit.—Plum Jam ::1 entry. Ist and 2ud, B. M. Gubb. i*lum J*m (new): Ist and' 2nd prize, B. M. Gubb. Peach Jam : 2 entries. l 2nd prize, B. M. Gubb. Peach Jam (old): 2 entries. 1 Ist prize, 14. B ackburn ; 2nd, B. M. Gubb. Strawberry Jam : 2 entrios. Ist prize, P. Becroft; 2nd, B. If; Gubb. Collection of Jams : 3 mtries. Ist Becroft ; 2nd. U. M. Onbb. Canned Fruit collection ' 2 entrios. Ist prize. W. Causley ; 2nd, Peter Bacroft.' Canned Peaches : 2 ontries. 2nd prizo, P; Becroft ' Canned Quinces : 2nd prize, W. Causley. . Flowers.—Collection of Flowers : 2 ontrios. Ist prize, niis. B. Becrolt ; 2nd, Mrs. Dwid ' 0 Honkv-4 entries: Ist prize, Miss Becroft; 2nd; Mrs. D. Becroft. Honey in Section Box: 3eutries' : lit prize, B. Becroft. Beeswax, lOlbs : Ist prize Mhs Becroft; 2nd, Airs. Partridge, commended. iiKEA-D. —White, yeast bruad: 13 ontries.- Ist prize, J. W. C. Smith; 2nd, Mrs. Purman. Soda : 'and' : AcJd Bread: 3 entries. Ist prize, B. Hecroft: 2nd, B. M. Gubb; commended, Mrs. Bradbury, y Wheat Bread: 2 entries, Ist prize, B. JJ. Gubb; 2nd; Mrs. : Bradbury. '•

Special exhibits were made by Cameron of saddles, bridles, &c. A prize bridle from' Mr. Wiseman was highly commended. A case of honey, consisting of 32 tina (21bs. each) was exhibited, whioh for excelloncyof honey and general get up was highly com-! mended. In the afternoon the commit-' tee thought it desirable that the i judges of live stock should offer their opinion on the stock exhibited, and also if any suggestion they would like"'! to make in regard to an improvement in the breed. A meeting was, therefore; held, of which Mr. Judd was Chairman, Mr. Sainabury offered his coogratulations on the improvement that he had.noticed, both in the cattle and sheep. Comparing 'the stock with previous years, there was a great improvement. Mr. Cutforth, who has been away two years, also affirmed that both horses and cattle were of a better stamp. In judging dairy stock he said,,there was considerable difficulty in deoiding whioh was the best animal, but he thought that awards should ba made irrespective ot breed, and that cows should' be judged each by its own merits as to th 9 milk ■' or butter they might give. Mr. Hawkins followed in the *ame strain, and thought that stock of all sorts was particularly good, especially pigs, some of which were of excellent breed. Mr. Carter considered the sheep exhibition as worthy of commendation, and suggested as a capital breed both for wool and carcase a cross between the the Lincoln and Cats wold? Mr. Elliott on the other hand strongly advised a iflixture of the black faces with the present breed, longwoolled, which would give hardier constitution to the lambs. He had noticed how numbers of the lambs took the scurvy and died, but a cross with the Shropshire would make lambß hardier. He was strongly of opinion that for the lands in the North a breed consisting of a cross with black or grey faces would be of incalculable advantage to settlers, and he was glad as a sheep Inspector to report that of late far more of this sheep had been introduced into flocks in the north than ever before.

In the evening a great gathering took place, there being several relays for tea. The room was densely packed. The Rev. Mr. Gittos occupied the chair, and expressed the gratification he felt at being present. He was glad the show had been so great a success. After several pieces of music had been sung, and the jucges of the fruit and produce had delivered addresses,: the meeting dispersed.