AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9040, 19 November 1892, Page 3

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

AWARDS OP WEIGHT-GUESSING PRIZES.

A meeting of the executive committee of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association was held yesterday at the usual place of meeting, W. J. Hurst and Co.'s rooms, Queen-street. There was a good attendance, and the proceedings were somewhat lengthy. Mr, W. P. Massey, president of the Association, occupied the chair. Several matters of detail and minor complaints were "dealt with, and Mr. 1. Hopkins' account for, transport, erection of shed, etc., in regard to driving bees, was passed. It was agreed that the general committee meeting be held next Friday week. A bonus of 10s 6d was allowed to Mr. A. Murchison for his services as night watchman. Mr. Wylie, an exhibitor of cheese —best cheese for expert—had a complaint. He was not awarded first prize, and no second prize had been given, but all his cheese was eaten off the table. He should not, he said, complain so much about this if there had been an award ticket to show for it. The class steward said that a second prize had been awarded, but it must have been eaten with the cheese. The secretary was instructed to inform Mr. Wylie that a second award had been made, and to forward him the ticket. In some cases, in pony exhibits, the judges had divided the exhibits into two classes, for the purpose of judging, and had given first-class awards in both. This made matters rather awkward, for besides the money prizes there was a special prize, a violin, given by Messrs. Hoffmann and Sons. The committee were placed in a quandary. They were not prepared to say whether the little pony oi the big pony was entitled to the violin, and it could not be divided. They were prepared to give the second money prize or to give the violin to one and the money to the other, but they finally referred the matter to the chairman and Mr. Dunwoodie to consult with Mr. Caverhill, the class steward, in the matter. A somewhat similar case in another class, but not involving the award of a special prize, was referred to the same committee. A number of accounts presented by the treasurer were passed for payment.

ESTIMATING WEIGHT OK CATTLE. An important portion of the business of the meeting was the consideration of the awards for estimating the live and dead weight of cattle. The conditions were as follow :—The best judge of the live and dead weight of cattle. Competitors to be farmers, their sons, or employes. Two bullocks, one large and one small, will be on the ground. Competitors will be allowed one estimate of the live and one of the dead weight of each bullock. Two prizes of one guinea each awarded to the nearest estimates of the live, and two ditto to the nearest estimates of the dead weight. There were 39 entries, and Mr. Thompson, the steward who had supervised the competition, and who had seen the bullocks judged alive and dead, brought up his report, and gave the results. The live weight of the large bullock was 16251b and that of the smaller one 12301b, while the dead weights respectively were 9261 baud 7171b. There was a good deal of discussion in regard to the competition, and the opinion was generally expressed that the weight, live and dead, should-be judged on the first day of the show. This Mr. Thompson pointed out gave dissatisfaction, but it was considered that the committee could now only make a note of the matter for their guidance next year. It was pointed out that in one instance a competitor had come within 21bs of the live weight, but it was found that the envelope was torn and the numbers on the card had been altered. As Mr. Thompson averred that no alteration could have taken place after he had received the envelopes, the competitor was accepted. Two others were ties for the dead weight of the lighter bullock, each being within 31b of the actual weight, and in this case it was agreed to divide the prize. In some instances the weight was (riven in cwts, in others in lbs, but the condition only specified weight. It was, however, agreed that in future the weights in similar competitions must be given in lbs. The following are the results :—Large bullocks, live weight 16251b, dead weight 9261b. Live weight, Mr. J. Fisher, 16501b; Mr. K. Allen, 16001b. These were ties, one being 251b above, the other 251b below the actual weight, and the prize was divided. Mr. James Scott's guess for the dead-weight was 9381b, and he was awarded the prize. For. the second bullock, the live-weight of which was 12301b, and the dead-weight 717, Mr. Andrew Austin's estimate for the former was 12321b, within 2lb of the actual weight, and he was awarded the prize. For the dead-weight, Mr. J. Hall, of One-tree Hill, and Mr. E. Woods, of Ellerslie, tied at 7201b each, being within 31b of the actual,, weight, and the prize was divided. Several of the competitors came very close to the mark in their guesses, but others were a long way out.

A PROTEST. A curious question arose on a protest lodged by Mr. Gavin Wallace against the award of the judges in regard to the allocation of a prize to Mr. C. Canning. It was in Class 287, and the conditions were as follow : Best farmer's two-wheel turn-out (horse, trap, and harness), to have been in use three months, general utility to be considered. Mr. Wallace and Mr. Canning were both in attendance, and Mr. Wallace explained that his ground of protest was that Mr. Canning was not a bona fide farmer. Mr. Todd, the donor of the first prize, wrote to say that his prize was intended for this purpose, but Mr. Phillipps pointed out that the printed conditions did not convey that meaning,

The chairman said that they certainly intended to convey that meaning, although the conditions were vague. Finally it was agreed to ask Mr. Canning whether he would allow the matter to be decided on the ground of whether or not he was a farmer within the ordinary acceptation of the terms, and he accepted the condition. After hearing the parties a vote was taken, and on the casting vote of: the chairman it was decided that Mr. Canning was not a farmer within the ordinary acceptation of the term, and was not therefore entitled to the prize.