THE ROYAL SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20252, 10 November 1927, Page 7

THE ROYAL SHOW.

AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING. OTAGO BREEDERS’ SUCCESSES. MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY OF STOCK. (From Our Special Reporter.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 9. Tho annual show of tho Royal (Now Zealand) Agricultural Society was opened to-day in dull, but pleasant, weather. Overnight there was some anxiety felt among exhibitors, but the day passed without rain. Fine weather means a successful show, which in turn attracts many hundreds of satisfied visitors from all parts of the country. The Addington show grounds are in fine order, and even in wet w r eather there is not much mud, but there is not enough cover for everybody should history repeat itself as it threatens to do, and if People’s Day turns out wet as it did last year, discomfort will be inevitable. The attendance to-day was exceptional for farmers’ day. The moody cynic may scoff at the thousands of enthusiastic men, women, and children who go to the show every year; yet the show offers a wonderful entertainment. What a limitless field for the psychologist! What a parade for the observer who merely likes to watch the crowds! What an array of wonders for the child, and, most of all, what a chance for all to go and learn a little of the achievements of their own country. . For the next few dayj the showgrounds will be the shop window of the country, and none can tour the grounds without becoming acutely conscious of tho remarkable progress of our primary and secondary industries. A stroll around the grounds today was a pleasant experience Many established features were readily recognised, but there was also much that was new and novel. This year there are more exhibits in the machinery section, and these, with the large merchandise and implement stands, attracted a great deal of attention. The live stock, however, is the raison d’etre of tho show, and although tho competition for and the general quality of the exhibits are both good, it must bo admitted that, as a national show, the Royal Show of 1927 has fallen below tho standard set here in 1925. The South Island breeders have to the support of the society in irreproachable style, but the same cannot be said of many North Island studmasters whose purses are long enough to enable them to make some sacrifice in an endeavour to brings the show up to national standard. This defection on the part of northern exhibitors who generally send stock here is noticeable in both the sheep and the cattle classes. Tho Otago and Southland representatives in the catalogue number about 40, and their respective performances in the show ring have demonstrated once again that southern live stock breeding is second to none in Now Zealand. The display of sheep is perhaps one of the finest ever seen in Australia or New Zealand. The entries are not more than is usual at the Canterbury show, despite the fact- that this is the Royal Show. That in itself is a tribute to the sheep of the south. Th© diversity of breeds on show and the high standard of quality apparent, lift the Canterbury show to a level much higher than that reached by tho specialised displays of specific breeds, such as merinos, usually seen in Australia. The outstanding sheep class is the Corriedale, in which there are 271 entries _ and as many as 45 competitors in a single class. This breed has been evolved and all but perfected in Otago and Canterbury, and it is not surprising that the judges should be the last to finish their work in view of the keen competition. Merinos,' Border Lcicesters, and Southdowns are also forward in great numbers. The absence of North Island consignments is most noticeable in the cattle sections which, however, have been well filled by southern breeders. A noticeable feature of the cattle exhibited was the excellent condition in which they were shown. No sign of a bad winter or unseasonable weather could bo seen in the well-finished stock. The Clydesdale horse sections are always a centre of great interest, and this year the entries are excellent, and competent judges state that it far transcends the entry in 1925 or 1926. North Island breeders sent down some strong teams and soutnern breeders also supplied plenty of entries. There were 78 animals in tho breeding classs against 40 last year. SOUTHERN CATTLE CHAMPIONS. Tho most sweeping victory of tho day so far as Otago exhibitors were concerned was that of Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushey Park, Palmerston, who secured no fewer than seven firsts, six seconds, two championships and two reserve championships with his team of 15 animals. In only one case was he beaten. The judge s decision may bo taken as a signal triumph for the early maturity type of Scotch beef shorthorn which has already established itself in Great Britain, and which is slowly coming into' its own in New Zealand. The early maturity principle must soon govern entirely tho breeding of fat stock generally. The small compact frame set on short legs and fattening early, thus producing smaller yet cleaner and juicier joints with a minimum of waste, is a much more profitable proposition than the heavy carcasses of oxen that have been tho grazier’s ideal for many years. It is unfortunate that such well known exhibitors as Mr Douglas M’Lean (Maeraekakaho) and Messrs A. M'Lean (Greenhills), and D. Buchanan (Wairaroha), were not represented in this section, but had their stock been present it would have tuid io be very_ good to lower Bushey Park s .colours. The prize-winners were well brought out and of remarkable uniformity. The bull championship went to Bushey Park Lavender Royal, a bcautitully finished roan by Mount Lavender Roya , out of Cluny Bello IX. Bushey Rark Augusta’s Hero, son of th© £IO,OOO bull Edgecotes Hero, out of Augusta Comma, bred by G. M. Johnstone, had to take second place to the champion. Tho Bushey Park’s sire. Rothiebrisbane Diamond could not be exhibited owing to Bushey Park Ringleader, a son of Augusta s Hero, and Bushey Park Cupbearer and Bushey Park Ranger, both by Rothiebrisbane Diamond were placed in that order in the two-vear-old class. All three are exceptional types, the two last-named in paiticular showing special quality which can be attributed to the excellent breeding of qualities of their distinguished sire. In a field of eight in the yearling bull class Bushey Park stock took the three prizes. All. were the progeny ot Kathiebrisbanc Diamond. _ T Mr C. Austin, with Winchester Masterpiece, a well-conditioned white bull bred by Mr J. M'Bride (Winchester), defeated Bushey Park White Prince (Bushey Park Guardsman—Sweetbriar) in the class for bulls calved since November. 192(5. Bushey Park Tea Rose, by Knatdale Mao—Knatdale Tea Rose, a handsome roan matron, won the aged cow class and the female reserve championship, and Tea Rose IV and Rosedew won the premier plages in the two-year-old heifer class. These two are mates who have been prize winners whenever exhibited. Judges differ on their merits. To-day was Roseclew’s day, and her honours included the female championship. Both are by the Bushey Park’s sire, Rothiebrisbane Diamond, Rosedew being out of Rosedew (27397) and Tea Rose IV being out of Knatdale Tea Rose. Rosedene II and Tea Rose V are full sisters to their older namesakes, and were first and second respectively in the yearling class. _ , Bushev Park Eliza 11, by Bushey Park Augusta y s Hero out of Bushey Park Eliza, a 14 months’ old roan, completes the list of Mr Johnstone’s honours. She. won the red ticket in the junior yearling class. The special trophies won by Bushey Park were as follow: The John Deans Memorial Challenge Shield, valued at £IOO, in memory of the late John Deans, of Riccarton, for champion Shorthorn bull. . , „ , The W. B. Cunningham Memorial Challenge Cup, presented by the family of the late W. B. Cunningham, for the champion Shorthorn cow or heifer. The Shorthorn Society of Great Britain ami Ireland’s silver challenge cup, valued at £SO, award’d to the best pedigree Shorthorn bull in the show, and a gold medal for the champion Shorthorn bull. The Shorthorn Society of New Zealand’s silver challenge cup for the best female.

The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s shield for champion bull. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s shield for champion cow or heifer. Mr John Donaldson (Stirling) was less successful with his Red Polls than in 1925. To-day he had to give way in most classes to Sir R. Heaton Rhodes’s Otahuna stock. The Central Development Farm (Weraroa) secured the male championshin, the female ribbon going to Otahuna. The aged bull class was won by Mr Donaldson’s Dominion Aeronaut, a fine sire bred at Weraroa and got by Aviator out of Lucky Hit. The Stirling breeder was second in’ the two-year-old bull and yearling bull classes respectively. Mr Donaldson’s Otahuna Daffodil VI, bred by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes was awarded female reserve championship, and Glen Eden Jonquil, bred by Mr Donaldson, was second in the two year-old heifer class. Messrs A. W. Weir (Menzios’ Ferry) and R. 8. Weir (Seaward Downs), secured the bulk of the'prize money in the Ayrshire section for Southland. Mr G. K. Herron (Pukerau), with a smaller team, was also among the prize winners. He secured the male championship with his aged bull Green Pork Rising Star, and Mr A. M. Weir with Ivanhoc Molly Bawn, an aged cow of great quality, annexed the female ribbon. Mr R. S. Weir was awarded the female reserve. The Menzies Ferry bunch won four firsts and three seconds, and the Seaward Downs stock was not far behind. Southland put in its claim to Ayrshire championship honours three years ago, and since then the best the Royal Show can produce has been unequal to the task of wresting those honours from the Weir stock. The Southland Friesian contingent was scarcely up to expectations, but Mr T. A. Fades (Edendale) upheld the honour of the south, helped by a small entry from the herd of Mr J- G. Oates (Greenhills). Hinemoa Beauty won the female reserve championship for Mr Fades, who also secured many class honours. The competition in the Friesian classes was exceptionally keen, and the quality was better than that displayed in any of the other dairy breeds. The Bloomfield farm and Mr G. I. Royds secured the majority of the awards in the provincial group competition. There were four entries, Auckland being unrepresented. The judging resulted as follows: Wellington 1, Canterbury 2, Southland 3. Among the fat cattle exhibited was a second prize bullock entered by Mr R. Lochhead (Balclutha), and Mr W. Swale (Limehills) was awarded first and second prizes for a pair of fat cows. 'The general display of fat cattle was disappointing. Competition was dull and some classes were ignored altogether. MAGNPTCENT DISPLAY OF SHEEP. Among the sheep it should not be unreasonable to say that no better stfeep could be seen in the world than those which occupied the attention of the judges today. Compettiion was keen throughout, but especially so in the case of Corriedales. The contest for honours in these classes was in the nature of a pitched battle fiercely waged. There were 271 entries, and it was early apparent that the issue lay between two exhibitors—-Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushey Park, and Mr H. 1. Little, of Hui Hui. Class by class the honours were calculated up and the mounting . aggregates were watched keenly by a great many people. It was not possible to say at the close of to-day’s judging whose aggregate was the greater, but it certainly appeared to be in favour of Bushey Park. An unofficial tally placed the Otago breeder oight points ahead of Mr Little. The winning of the aggregate in Corriedales must necessarily bo the most outstanding and meritorious performance of the day, - since the competition was so keen and the all-round quality so high. Bushey Park, with a beautifull f formed aged rasn E 9, won the rdm championship, The four entries in this class from Otago caught the judges’ eye. The winner took the Canterbury A. and P. Association shield for best ram. Mr Johnstone also won the female -reserve championship, the supreme award going to Mr Littie, who also won the ram reserve championship Another Otago exhibitor was the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, whose sheep were also in the money. Mr D. J. Ross (Hillgrove) failed to catch the judge’s eye with any of his team. The judges had an arduous day, rendered the more difficult by reason of the fact that the quality was so high. In some cases it was necessary to < go to the sixth and seventh place to give recognition where it was due. The showing of Corriedales to-day demonstrated in a remarkable manner the rapidly increasing vogue of this utility dual purpose breed. Otago South Canterbury and Southland had almost a monopoly of Border Leioesteis the chief honours going to Mr W. Kennedy (Otautau), who was awarded the two ram championships. The highest ewe awards went to Mr R. J. Anderson (Kauana), whose clelebrated i stud is as well known in Australia as it is in New Zealand. It was & ram from this stud that won the championship at the Melbourne Royal Show last month. Mr T. I. Little (Windsor) and Mr Oliver Grey (Milburn) wore successful Otago exhibitors, and another Southland representative was Mr G. Johnston (Gore). In the Lincoln pens the only Otago stock came from the New ,Zealand and Australian Land Company’s _ flock at Moeraki. The ram championship went to Mr W. Raynor (Mastorton), but Moeraki secured the ewe ribbon. The awards were distributed evenly between half a dozen exhibitors. Messrs W. Kennedy and R. J. Anderson had a few Romneys entered, but they did not show up very well. A big team was forward from Mr W. Perry’s (Masterton) stud. Otago was again to the fore in the Southdown classes, whore Mr H. G. Andrew (Maheno) scored heavily in the face of particularly keen opposition from breeders in Canterbury, who have come to regard their Southdowns as second to . none. Mr Andrew won the male championship and the reserve female ribbon. The majority of class honours went to the Maheno sheep, whose reputation is now more than provincial. The type of Southdown to be seen in even the non-prize winning pons was sufficient to demonstrate why this breed finds such favour on the London -market. All the sheep showed signs of having grazed their way through a good season, CLYDESDALES. With Mcdva Print and Brill iantshine now out of the running, it was loft to Mr J. M Smith (Kakamii) to wrest from the Canterbury claimants the supremo award in Clydesdales. This he did with his three-year-old colt, Balmcdie Monarch, by Bonnie Brydonc out of Aorangi Kate. This colt is a line stamp of horse and next year, when he faces the judge again, he should prove himself quite the equal of the notable sires that have preceded him in his proud position of charm pion entire of New Zealand. The Kakanux horses have boon seen at many shows ot late years, and a great many horse owners will rejoice with the owner of Balmcdie Monarch in his latest triumph. Mr A. Grant’s (Fairlie) imported entire Desire, by Carron Dale, out of Grace Darling, was awarded the reserve championship. Mr D. G. Wright (Windermere) won the female championship with Doreen, by Dumuro Endeavour, out of Grunge Morna, an imported mare bred in Scotland. Other Otago and Southland exhibitors were Messrs R, Kennedy (Drummond), John Young (Allanton), Thomas Carruthers (Middlemarch), and Andrew Carruthers (Ngapuna). Brunstane Duplicate and Scotland's Queen (imp.) annexed the prizes for Mr Young, and the Carruthers stock cume in for some attention also. The display of horseflesh was an exceptional one, and all honours won were well earned. Among the working draughts were sonic fine geldings from the stables of the New Zealand Express Company in Dunedin, | which, with two animals belonging to Mr G. P. Johnston (Gore), made up the southern representation.