THE CHRISTCHURCH A. AND P. SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7720, 15 November 1886, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH A. AND P. SHOW.

(Continued.) Fnost Our Special Cobeespondent. CHKiSTCHoncif, November 13. The Northern Committee made another innovation which has long been advocated by sheep farmers, especially those who buy the rams for their flocks, viz., the appointment as one of the judges of a gentleman whose thorough knowledge of wool is unquestioned. This special knowledge was in many cases the means of relieving the judges of considerable difficulty iv making the awards, and it would be well if a similarly qua'ified man could be got to act at all shows where two or more judges are appointed. Most of your readers have already been informed ofthe principal rr ultsof the Metropolitan show. The great featuro of the show, the splendid display of implements and machinery, was fully dealt with last week, and cattle also received due attention. Sheep, however, are worthy of somo further notice than the short report telegraphed to you last Wednesday. Mr W. H. Tcschemaker, of Otaia, aud Messrs Robert Campbell and Sons renewed the long-continued contest for supremacy in the fine-wool section o.\ merinos. The Otaio sheep this year had not been housed nor clothed, and their breeder must have felt gratified at their success. He deserves the greaiest praise for abandoning artificial methods of dealing with his sheep, and it is to be hoped that his example will be universally followed. His four and six tooth sheep were from imported Tasmanian rams and ewes, and the hoggets wero by imported rams aud their immediate descendant, out of Mr Teschemaker's own ewes, but all of purely Tssmanian typo. The old Tasmanian ram bred by Messrs Wm.Gibson and Sons (Scone) which was champion here two years ago, has gone to Mr Rhodes', of Blue Cliffs, and his stock gained for that gentleman bis success at the Timaru show j and Messrs Campbell's have gone to Horsley Downs, and are doubtless responsible for Mr Lance's great success at Raugiora. Messrs Campbell's fine-wool merinos were also of pure Tasmanian blood, and some of them, especially a grand young: ewe, wero of very high excellence. Mr Teschemakei's sheep through some misunderstanding were informally entered for the special prize given by Mr Allan M'Lean, of Napier, for the best five ewe hoggets in this section, and a protest being entered and upheld Messrs Campbell had no opposition. The Otekaike firm wore well represented in stroug-woolled merinos and appropriated most of the premiums with good sheep heavily woolled; but Mr A. AY. Rutherford, of Mendip Hills, Amuri, brought his Murray sheep down in good style, and among other prizes gained the medal for the best ewe. English Leicesters showed Mr J. Bonifant, of Ashburton, in a prominent position as a breeder, althoughhis aged rams which were adjudged best and second on the ground were bred by Mr Threlkeld and Mr Gregg, of Orari, respectively. Mr Threlkeld was a large exhibitor, but his sheep were not in high condition, and did not take the fancy of the judges. Mr A. Boyle, of Geraldine, showed two good ewe hoggets, which were not the pattern generally looked for in the best bred sheep, but were placed first and second. In Border Leicesters the competition was principally confined to Southland breeders, as the breed does not find much favour in Canterbury. Three grand rams bred by Mr R. Grieves comprised the aged class, and were given first, second, and highly commended; the first, shown by Mr A, Murdoch, being also champion. Mr Murdoch was also the possessor of the champion' ewe—a perfect type of the variety, probably the best ever exhibited here. She was bred by Mr Thomas Reid. Mr John M'Crosbie, of New River, had a ewe hogget which promises to bo au even finer sheep than Mr Murdoch's and a pen of threo other beautiful ewe hoggets. Liucolns were also a good section, and here Mr W. Morris, of Invercargill, with his fine sheep of Mr J. B. Sutton's breeding, was very successful. These sheep are very even in style, heavily woolled, capital frame, and very definite in character. The champion medal went to Rifleman, a four-tooth son of the Southern champion, Sergeant-major. There were some who thought that one of Mr Henry Overton's handsome sheep should have been first. He was certainly worthy of mention, and Mr Sutton showed his opinion of him by buyinghim at the sale next day. Mr Morris' ewes were very five, but a mistake was probably made in selecting the champion, as the older ewe placed second was indisputably a better sheep than tho two-shear to which the honour was awarded. Mr Threlkeld and Mr John Deans also exhibited good sheep. Cotswolds were again few in number, but Downs of all varieties were numerously and well repre-. sented. They are becoming greatly appreciated for crossing for prime mutton with merinos and longwools. Crossbreds of the latter sort carried off the Loan and Mercantile Company's prize for freezing sheep, and were by far the finest of a very fine class. Horses were tho smallest entry in the history of lhe show. The quality of tho draughts was good, but light horses were seldom far above mediocrity and often below it. The well-known Oamaru Clydesdale King of the Vanquishers was-geuerally considered the best of the entire class, having good size as well as quality, but the lighter while no better quality Kelvin was placed first and champion. Tho President's Taieri Tom, bred by Mr James Shand, is a good, useful sire, and if his stock could have been put in evidence he would havo beon socond to none. Pure Diamond (imported) was a showy animal; and Lord Raglan, second last year, was beyond doubt at tbe other end of the stick now. Mr John Boag's General Gordon, by M'Kellar's Victor, is the best of the three-year-old sires. Tho two-year-olds were a good lot. Van7uisher, by Young Vanquisher (imported), took first place, and a new Lord Salisbury, which might in time rival his Otago namesake, was shown by Mr John Grigg, his breeder, aud took second prize. Mr Little's.Lord Rosebery was another promisiug young entire. Mr John Boag's Marchioness II was once more tho champion marc, very little in advance of her stable companion, Lady Banker, and Mr AY. Boag's recent purchase. The Taieri champion, Nancy, was nextiu merit. Mr AVilliam Boag was first in three-year-old fillies with Young Grace, Isred by himself; the handsome Primrose, his honeymoon, purchase from the Auckland Stud Company, being only third. Mr T. Higham's chestnut Belle of Papanui was second, but besides her colour she had a bad head and should uot have got a ticket, Marchioucss II and her progeny are still invincible in this class, and John Brown, another of her produce, was nearly, if not quite, the best gelding, though he did not get an award in a good class. Of tbe light horses enough has been said ; and of pigs it need only be said that Mr James Howes' Yorkshires were of fairer stylo than at a good many previous shows, and received unopposed first prizes, and Mr Jonathan Brown and the Messrs Clarkson divided tho honours iv Berkshires.

Milliners delimited with "Mrs DI Stuart's Hemedies.'' Head.—[Aiivi.J 2