THE MATAURA SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 12

THE MATAURA SHOW.

A correspondent at Wyndham Bends us the following remarks on this show, a report of which, abridged from the Mataura Ensign, appears elsewhere. It will be seen that several alterations are made by our correspondent in the list of judges : — This, the sixth exhibition of the Mataura A. and P. Association, was held this year at Mataura Bridge, and was a most successful show. Oar show is fast overtaking the Southland Show, and seems destined at no late period to be second to none but the Metropolitan. Horses.— ln the draught horse classes the entries were numerous all through, and were of a very high-class character. It has not frequently fallen to my lot to witness such a fine display of draught mares and geldings as were shown at the Mataura. Of the 12 entries in the yeld mares, or the eight in the geldings, it was impossible to have picked out anything in any degree of inferior quality. The younger stock, though not so numerous in all the classes in which they were exhibited, proved to be, with very few exceptions, animals of much promise. Thoroughbreds, though not largely represented, were fair specimens of their class. Hacks, or roadsters, formed a very creditable display, some of the younger animals bidding fair to represent a high class of that order ere many years pass over them. Cattle. — Shorthorns were a poor display, being neither numerous nor of extra quality. In fact, most of them might have been beaten by superior crossbred cattle. There was frame enough in some of them, but there were do models of beauty. There are a few good animals in the Mataura, but for some reason or other they were not exhibited, so that second or third-class animals had it all their own way. Ayrshires, however, made up for the deficiencies of the shorthorns, the exhibits being very superior in quality. In the aged bull class they were really good, as were they also in the single cow class. In Bhort, they were both numerous and excellent in all the classes. Foiled ' Angus were not particularly good ; nor were the cross-bred cows what they should have been. Sheep.— The exhibits in sheep were fair, but .too meagrely represented, there being no entries in the Lincoln and Romney Marsh classes. Pigs and Poultry stood on a parallel with sheep in not being numerous, although wbat were shown were creditable exhibits. Dairy Produce. — There was a large and evidently keen competition in this branch, there being no fewer that 70 entries. The show in dairy produce was all that could have been deEired. There being no prizes for implements, there were consequently few exhibits, the exhibitors merely entering for the sake of advertising. The show was, upon the whole, perhaps the most successful that Mataura has witnessed, and the weather being fine, and arrangements evidently good, everything went off most agreeably. No entries were received on the morning of the show, and this caused a good deal of grumbling on the part of those who were late and were consequently disappointed. LIST OF JUDGES. ' Hobses. — Draughts : R. Hamilton (Croy T don), J. O. Anderson (Stirling), and J. Petne (Stirling). Thoroughbreds : John Andrew (Taieri), James Bryce (Lovell'a Flat), and J. 0. Anderson (Balclutha). Cattle. — Shorthorns : J. Petrie, J. Forrest (Taieri), and J. 0. Anderson (Balclutha). The same for Ayrahires. Sheep. — D. Tolmie (Islay Station) and James Bryce (LovelPs Flat) for all the classes. Poultry, Pigs, &o.— J. Maben (Benmore) and J. C. Anderson (Balclutha). Dairt Pboduce.— John Andrew (Taieri), J. Petrie (Stirling), and Matthew Hastie (Mataura Bridge).