NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3364, 16 November 1872, Page 3

NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION SHOW.

(t'HOM OVll OWN COUKE.SI'ONI)KNT.) The annual show of stock, &c, of the above Society, held otj Friday last, Bth inst., marks an era in the history of one of the oldest associations of the kind in the Province. The financial affairs of the Society had fallen into such an unsatisfactory condition that there was not money forthcoming to pay for the prizes gained by exhibitors at the previous show, and until there was some assurance that these would be paid, new subscriptions were difficult to obtain. The expedient was hit upon by some of the friends of the Association of getting up a public entertainment in aid of the funds, and this, although it did not add much directly to the treasury of the Society, stirred up a little enterprise ainon^ tho.te who felt aihamed that such expjdiont-s should be requisite for kucli an object, and a thorough canvass of the district by Mr Mowat, M- J. S. Holmes, and others, was rewarded by success.- The Society has got out of its difficulties, and instead of no bliow at all, which it was at one time feared would be the result, we l.aye had perhaps the best show—tike it. altogether—that we have ever had. Until lately merino sheep have al.vayn been the main feature in our local nhovvs, but this is now very far from being the case. The exhibits in this class were only 28 in number, while in long wooflod hheop the exhibits numbered 71 ; and forhormrs

and cattle, 102 nnd 70 entries respectively were made. The reason probably i."., that n certain standard of excellence in merinos lias been reached, which is !»<■! likely to be surpassed, and no very new features I are to be looked for from year to year in thin direction. Long woollud sheep ;tttwet more attention from their suitability to a district which is rapidly being laid down under English grass, and the fact Mmt grazing promises to pay butter than cropping with cereals. The breeding of hornet* and cattle is also likely to make rapid progress now that it appears to be more profitable to rear first-class animal* than inferior stock. The draught stock in the Oaiuani district has lately been much the object of general remark, the horses employed in (lie beach drays, and in Home of the waggons regularly on the road, besides many of these used by the fanners, bei: g of a remarkably powerful stamp of Clydesdale extraction. .So much cannot be said for the hack b, in which there is great room for improvement, the special desideratum being a good, strong, and tolerably fast roadster up to weight, and suitable for both saddle and harness, and v.ith good staj'ing properties. In dairy produce, the exhibits, 72 in number, were of remarkable excellence, the prize butter, cheese, and bacon being exceedingly good, and the average quality of all the exhibits such as no dairy farmer need be ashamed of. The details of all the prizes would occupy too much sp-ico in your columns, and would scarcely bo of interest out of the district ; in my remarks, therefore, under each head, 1 shall only indicate the principal prizes :

MEJtINO KIIKBI'. The ]>rizo for the best ram in the yard wa.s carried oil by a remarkably good h'tooth ram belonging to Mr .1. M'Lt-an ; but it would probably have fallen to a ram belonging to the Hon. M. Holmes, but for some informality in tiie entry. That gentleman, and Messrs Borton and M'Master took several prizes in the other number under this head, and while there was no feature of special interest in Merinos there was no reason to complain of any falling-oIT in average quality.

I.ON'C-WOOTXKD SHKKC. Tho exhibits under tin's beml excited general remark and mlmimtion, ami there were certiiinly some animals exhibited us nearly perfect in their respective dassys as could well be. The silver medal for best Leicester ram, 4-tooth and upwards, was taken by General Orant, a- very line animal, bred by the N.Z. and A. Land Co., from imported stock ; the second prize was taken by Hon. M. Holmes. The other prizes were divided pretty equally between theae two competitors, and tin: judges must, we imagine, have found it difficult in several cases to decide between the two. In Lincolim Mr Holmes took the two first prizes for 4-tooth rams, and several prizes under other heads the other prizea being carried off by the New Zealand and Australian Laud Company. Dr Webster took the chief prizes for Romney Marsh, his Hock being a remarkably fine one. ft would be very satisfactory if these long-woolled sheep | could be exhibited against other competitors at the Central Show ; we believe they will stand competition, and the twoor three load breeders would of course p,ain by carrying off prizea against other* in the Province. Indeed, I think matters: should be st arranged that the Central Show should be a final Court of Appeal, ;ls it were, for exhibitors and prize-taken* at the local shows.

OA.TTLB. Under this liead tho improvement on previous years was marked, although J again the number of individual exhibits was few. Tho shorthorns and Ayrshire.'* wei'e both remarkably excellent. Under, the former head, the Hon. 31. Holmes carried oft* nearly all the prizes, as ]kwould have done, no doubt, had there been more competitors. It is difficult i'> imagine a finer an:malth«m Royal Butter-' fly 28th, out of Royal Butterliy tiih. A 1000-guinea animal, imported to Melbourne—Mr Shields's Bismarck, a sun of the other prize-taker—was also n very fine bull. For the best cow, Jess:-.-mine 9th carried off the silver medal, as ehe would, I believe, in. any show in the Colony. Ayrshires attracted general attention. I must confess, .iltlioityh the j shape of the animals is perfect, their small j size strikes one as a great point Hgaiust | them where beef as well as milk v a desideratum. Their advocates, however, maintain that for the grass they eat they will produce fully as much meat in proportion aa the shorthorn. Of their iiulkiiiir proper ies there can be no doubt. 1 was assured by the owners of the twoyear old prize heifer Lily, a sjiU-ndU little animal, that she gives a backet and a half of milk in the morn in;/- a-n-j the game in the evening, or three'hticKota a day. The first prizes in this class \veiv taken by Messrs Fleming and.-lied ley (silver medal), for best bull, Vulcan. ;i):«l others, A. Graham, W. Craig, Junes Gunraell, and N. Z. and! A. Land Co. ; but we believe all belonged originally f" on© hord, which ia now scattered saiiafaotorily through the district. We luiyo «<* doubt many will see the advartage <«f crossing with the shorthorn tyrcefi to obtain both carcase and milk.

HOKHEH, Mr Holmes'u draft entire, Duke of Bucclemgh, is a splendid horae,and the aire of a number of the young stock in the distriefc;hw progeny alonewill do much to raise the character of our draught stock. His sire Lofty, has alao produced a fine class of stock, though none to equal the Duke. Mr R. Menlove's Crown Prince is a very young horse, Riid took firat prize in section 2, two years old and tijnvards. Messrs Fleming and Hedloy took first prize for best dry mare, and alf-o for bo^fc mare in Wva yai-d. Mr Holjuch for best brood

mare. First prizes in the other sections were taken by Mr W. Gillejipie, FJeming and Hedley, Angus M'KaugUton, W. Craig, A. Banuatyue, and John Cameron. For thoroughbreds and hacks the competition was not great, Mr Corsan't; Storm Bird, und Mr Pateraon's Maid of the Mill, carrying oft" hrat prizes for best home and mare, and Mr John Shield obtaining a prize for young stock under thoroughbreds, and Mr Schleuter (two prizes), Dr Webster and Messrs Svranson and Warburton, under hacks. VAUIV I'KOJU'CK.

The first prizes for salt and fresh butter were taken by Mr J. C»<»ldio, 'Mr Milligan, Mrs Graham, and Mrs J. Robertson. For best ham and bacon, Mr W. Derrett; for best cheese, Mr» Vickers.

Axnucur/ruRAi, implements Wore not largely exhibited, Messrs lleid and Cray obtaining first prize for double furrow ploughs, and Mr Ogilvie for best reaper. Messrs Reid and Gray showed as an extra a side delivery reaper, which was much tulmnvd, and a patent has been applied for by the makers for some improvements shown in its construe-

U'in. The crowd in the gi'ounds was considerable during <he day for a small country frhow, and. 1 am glad to say, there were very few instances of drunkenness observed through the day or in the evening, an improvement on former years in this refpect. No one can dov.bt that these gatherings are calculated to do much good if this one counterbalancing evil can b'' avoided, as they bring man)' people together who would not otherwise incut, and inspire competition, while noth ng but cnui] etition would produce a high sia.dard of excellence. If the Central Committee could oiler prizes such n» would induce fc'ic Oamaru exhilnlorc, and those from other districts in (lie Province, to Bend their prize animals to Dunedin, a splendid .show would, be the result, but I hear complain tr. thai the prize* oJlbred will t.ot pay for the risk and trouble.

Forty-eight Dunedin visitors were brought up by the Pretty .Fane, and were I believe highly satisfied with what they saw. One Taieii gentleman, now on his first visit, expressed liia a^tonishim-nt to me at the magnificent district., which he took some trouble to see from different places—it exceeded, he said, anything he had imagined ; co that our well-known boasting of having the linest district in the Province or perhaps in the Colony is not altogether without good foundation.

(For n'nl of nvwn we xttjipltmtnt.)

Many changes have taken place in DunotJln duriug the past U:u yearn, but U fttlil rematos an established f.ict that Herbert, llaynes, find Co. give the*>e*t value for money in this City. Their Stock of General Drapery, Clothing, Carpets, Furnishings, &.C.. was never larger ihtn at the preKcnt thrift ; whilst their 1 irgi- tin<l daily incrwuing biu>:nttis en ihtes them to bring forward a constant mic.esa'.on of the Latest Novelties and Fashions. Kvory snide is marked at a fixed price, bo tint tho most invxpeifenced buy their goiNte &t the aanio i«riueß ns th'j he t jtrlges. The lowest remnncr.itive profit b^ing mirkcd on c«ch article, thuir terms mo Jict Cash, without discount or reduction of any kind. lOn " I'niiiT it our ON' Tim LiSK " If you nre dy»jieiitlo, liUiotin, rheumatic, ijn.iiy. dtliilitated, c<jni>iim|>tiv«, coiUti|)nUd, or hi nnywlrc out of sorts, '' lit'ht it out on tills lin*," viz , jiro^-ido yourself v.ith a half dozen iMtik'S of I3r Walkuk'h Vinwjak Bittkhk ; tike them according to the prograturne twlix; or Jhrice a day, and keep jfl'jhtht'j tUtruse out on thin line, until you havu not an ache, n pMn, or v physical trf<tiiile of any kind raii.ift)ii>K. The result is sure, and it won't take "nil euiiiiiic-r" to aciiici'o it.

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