OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 7

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETY.

METROPOLITAN SUMMER- SHOW. We lioed scarcely remind our readers that the twenty-eighth annual summer show of th» Otago A. and P. Society will bo heM at Tnhuna Park on Thursday and Friday of this week, As year hy year passes the interest taken in the exhibitions of livestock increases, and each yearly shpw, being made more entertaining than its predecessor, attracts a larger crowd of interested visitors. The committee recognises that in order to cater for the amusement as well as the education of its patrons an attractive programme must be provided, and, with this ond in view, has, in addition to the leaping and jumping ovents, added several novel and exciting classes. The exhibition of horsemanship will in itself ha well worth seeing, especially as tho riders have to mount and endeavour to retain their seats on the backs of the wildest horses obtainable. Other classes for tree-felling, pony races, and pony jumping will in themselveys give ample return lor the sum of Is charged at the gates for admission. The grounds arc in excellent condition this year, the whole park being covered by a nice sward of closely-cropped grass. In addition to the judging of sheep and cattle on the first day, tho sheep dog trial, boys' pony races, and pony jumping will take place early in the afternoon of Thursday, and it is pleasing to note how keen an inlcrest is taken in the sheep dog trials every year. In the sheop sections the entries in Border Leicesters, English Leioesiers. and Romney Marsh are very good indeed; but in the Down classes tho entries are weak, and in the merino section also there are not so many entries as last year, the cold and wet spring having affected detrimentally the condition of the sheep generally, preventing them from being up to their owners' standard for showing. In tho cattle classes there are about the same number of cntriis as last year, which must be considered highly satisfactory considering tho inclement spring weather lately experienced. Of shorthorns there will be a splendid exhibition, the property of noted breeders from Canterbury to Southland. In the Ayrshire and polled Angus sections some very fine animals will be seen. Tho exhibition of hunt* will in point of quality and number of entries excel that at any previous show at Tahuna Varlt, and the draught horses in particular will probably be about tho finest lot seen on any show ground in New Zealand. The entries in pigs art slightly less than last year, though the quality of those exhibited will be quite up to thai at any previous show. . The implements, and machinery, which arc now located at the north-east end of the show ground, will prove very interesting and attractive to farmers and others, and much new and improved machinery will be displayed to adVantage. Of merchant'' tents and exhibits to be viewed under canvas there are many and of interesting variety. The judging on both days of the show commences at 10 a.m. slurp. The grand parade of stock, exhibitions of horsemanship, leaping matches, boys' pony rsces, and wood-chopping competition!; should be sufficient to afford a'.iusement to visitors from both town and country. Friday will k- observed as a holiday from noon. The Knikorai Band and the Dunediii Highland pipers will both be in attendance on the second day of the show. Special arrangements have bp«i; made with the Railway Department for the quick carriage of psssenjers to the pliow ground. Admission to tho show ground nn both days will be Is. children half-price; and, given fine weather, thio year's summer chow promises to he a record one. The following is a comparative statement, of entries of slock:—

WO?,. 1004. SheeD <>]:i ,, 175 Cattle H8 .. ]33 Horses 2GI .. 238 Pigs 48 .. 33 670 .. CJ3