THE CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 1825, 12 November 1886, Page 13

THE CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SHOW.

(Feom Our Own Correspondent.) Christciiurch, November 8. The annual chow of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association was opened today at the old show-ground, Sydenbam. Excepting in bams and bacon aud a few of the extra sections— namely, New Zealand manufactures and carriages -there was a falling off in the Dumber of entries compared with last yearThis is officially ascribed to the backward condition of Btock, owing to the scarcity of feed which has prevailed for more than a year. But this statement will not siand examination; for the absentees, with only one important exception, are in districts which have not suffered to any material extent from last summer's drought or last winter's floods. The reason for the decreased entries is simply that breeders will not run the risk of preparing valuable animals for exhibition when they have the further risk of their having to stand for two days in unsheltered pens, knee deep in water and mud. It is only a few days ago that the water which had stood on parts of the ground f or «ix months past dried up, and to-day the en&roure ism perfeebconditiou, being thoroughly dry and covered with ■ a splendid green sward. The association is thus far fortunate, but if the promise made last November that this show should be held on the new grounds had been fulfilled, there is not the, least doubt that the entries would have been much larger, possibly the largest on the association's record. The weather to-day was very dry owing to a fierce hot nor'-wester, which prevented the arrangement of exhibits out of doors and caused great discomfort to the few visitors on the ground. The day was devoted to receiving and judging bacon, New Zealand manufactures, wool, and implements. The first was not judged •in time for the press to be admitted before the hour for- closing. Among the New Zealand manufactures, the most prominent displays were made by the Kniapoi and Ashburton Woollen Companies, whose exhibits were arranged side by side. They comprised a* splendid assortment of tweeds, flannels, blankets, tartans, &c, all of undeniable qualicy, but tho piece goods of the younger company were surprisingly well got up, the patterns clearly defined, and the colours beautifully bright, and they decidedly had the best of the comparison with thi Kaiapoi company. There was very keen competition among the local brewers for the prize medals given for ale and porter. Great improvement iv these articles has been made during the last year or two, and now the Christchurch brewers turn out beer very little inferior to the best Dunedin brews. Pickles and bottled fruits, artificial manures, saddles, harness, and leather were all excellent, but the entries were few. Ropes and twine were excellently represented, as also were earthenware goods. The collection of the latter from the Milton Pottery was much admired. It comprised jugs, jars, filters, gallipots, toiletware, porous and glazed water-bottles, teapots, and many other household requisites, besides a quantity of more ornamental articles in majolica, such as vases, flower pots, teapots, and statuettes. The manufactures by local talent from Malvern Hills clay were also very good. Beekeepers were shown the latest appliances for honey-making, and the Canterbury Bee Farm showed hives in full work. There was, as usual, a splendid exhibition of agricultural implements, including a great many useful novelties. The New Zealand makers show themselves to have made further advances towards the excellence prjot workmanship of the English and American mechanics, while for perfect adaptation to colonial requirements local industry bears the palm A really workable gorse-cutter has long been a desideratum to Canterbury farmers, aud one has now been perfeced by Mr J. W. Oliver, of Ashburton,' which came successfully through a public and Government trial on Saturday, and seems to meet every reasonable requirement. The principle has previously been adopted by the maker, and success has been attained by not seeking to do too much at a time. The revolving adjustable cutter has two blades, each of which cutß an inch and a-quarter of the hedge at each revolution, so that the resistance offered by thick branches is easily overcome. Booth, M' Donald, and Co. show a sheep rack for feeding either hay or chaff, the supply being regulated by simply closing down a flap iusido the rack to the required distance. A very cheap and handy woolpress, iuvented by a young farmer named Lough, met the approval of practical men. It is worked by a single lever, the chains attached to the cap being wound on a differential cam, so that the epeed of working is great when the pressure is light and great power is applied when the pinch comes. The lever is so arranged that the fulcrum can be adjusted so as to apply more pressure if required. The Carlyle turnip cutter is a mo-t useful invention, consisting of two I cutting barrels working against each other nnd cutting both sides of the turnip at once. This is fitted into a well in the bottom of a farm dray, and is driven by tht> motion of the cart. A screw pulveriser to do stronger work than disc harrowa, hns the ordinary discs replaced by spiral steel knives arranged like the thread of a screw round a frame three feet in diameter. It will thoroughly pulverise the ground two to five inches deep. A seed-box can be fitted to it. Several improvements on the Carlyle ploughs, the principal being a combined .single- furrow plough and subsoiler ; a seed and manure drill mo^TWl tne s^ Being fed to the droppers bywlpolving brushes adjustible to sow five ounces ' turnip seed and upwards per aero; a very handy windmill for use wheo small quantities of water have to be putapfid ; disc harrows, with seedrsowing boxes ; aud Harrison's roller drill, which makes the seed bed by the pressure of projecting rings on the roller, and is particularly applicable to light Boils, complete Messrs Booth, Rl'Donald, and Co.'s principal novelties. Messrs Andrews and j- Beaven have still further improved their well- * knowji Canterbury chaffcutter and bagger, the bagging attachment of which is in > great demand for Australia. They have wso . the largest corncrusher yet made in the colonies, crushing anything up to pe.as at the rate of 60 bngs per hour. Horse gears and grass seed threshers and cleaners ateo show progress towards perfection. Messrs P. ana D. .Duncan exhibit improved bearings for disc harrows,, which are designed so as not to choke with dirt, and tho discs out inwards, reducing the strain on the miahine. The di»p narrows«are also fitted with drills for turnip and grass seed, and the discs can be detached and the ffiaehjne used as a broadpast sower. A farm dray with turnip-cutter is a useful iropk-niant, It has two sets of knives on one drum, and seems hardly M gqon 1 rh Booth's, already mentioned. A wool press, resembling Spee-iy'p, but -with the power applied by the levers acting on a ratchet wheel and tho chains winding on a conical barrel, is very 1 easily and quickly worked. Farmers who age wire fenoiug for folding sheep on turnips «r« jwovided with a coiling machine, which will

reel up five or six miles a day of five or six-wire fencing — a very handy, economical iuvention. The firm also showed Kerr's gorsecutter, a fairly good instrument ; a grain drill, with coulters in the English style, to meet the requirements of those who find American coulters go deep; a horse hay rake with trip lever for foot as well as hand ; and their usual assortment of carts, ploughs, &c, of firstclass workmanship. Reid and Gray have a very good stand, but not many new features. A mo>,t useful invention is a horse turnip-thinner, which does two rows at once. Tho thinner consists of eight holes fixed on revolving arms, driven by means of a bevel on the main shaft. ' It will thin eight or 10 acres a day ami can be adjusted to any distance between the plants, or either side thrown out of gear where the plants are thin. They show a threshing machine elevator, which raises to any height between 7ft and 25ft, and folds in two for travelling. The stand is one of the most attractive on the ground. Mr R. Cockerell, Invercargill, has a new patent disc harrow, of which the axles are jointed between every two discs, rendering the harrow flexible for uneven land, and a stump extractor, which seems a most powerful appliance. Mr W. J. Faulkner, Dunedin, has sent up specimens of his sheep netting in steel and galvanised iron wire, which are creditable productions. Of the machinery importers, Messrs Morrow, Basset, and Co. come out with the latest M'Cormick steel reaper and twine binder, of which all the wrought work is steel and the casting* in malleable iron. This change in material has reduced tho weight of the machine considerably, and the old price is unchanged, so that it is still tho popular harvester. A M'Cormick grass-mower of malleable iron, with 4Jft cut, and many other implements are shown, including a double - action root slicer and pulper. Messrs Reynolds and Hills' M'Laren traction engine is noticeable for its spring wheels, which enable it to traverse the roughest road without injury. There is a stand of miniature agricultural implements for gardening, among which the " Planet Junior," took immensely ; and no wonder, for they have been proved great labour-savers. The other numerous implements, engines, machines, and sundries more or less appropriate to agricultural j shows were present in force, but do not call for special notice. Second Day. Christchorch, November 9. The show was largely attended for the second day. The weather was glorious, and thu judging was gone through expeditiou&ly. Cattle were far short of last year's number, and many of the exhibits were also far short of show condition. Shorthorns were a good class, and last year's champion, Duke of Gunterston, being absent, great interest was taken iv the selection of his successor. Mr W. Watson's Bundoora Park bred Alvie's Hero has been champion of the country shows this seasoD, and being in good condition, he succeeded, after a long parade, in gaming the same coveted position at headquarters. Being white he does not show his grand syrametery at a superficial glance, but close inspection reveals the perfect lines and proportions of his massive frame. Though white his stock are all roan, and one of them, Mr Paunett's Jessamiue's Hero, a most symmetrical four-year-old, was worthily placed second. Mr W. Boag's four-year-old, King William, met his opponents for the first time on fair terms as regards age, but was not so fit as the others. His underline was rather irregular, but he had a grand head aud back. The same owner's Rosa's Earl is still younger and rather small, but has very fine lines, and got third place. Mr J.. Ferguson's Flower Duke was the last in the class, but wanted style for the company he was in. The three-year-old bulls were all three of Mr John Deans' breeding. Mr Gabbites' May Duke is a good specimen — good at every pomt — and was placed first. Mr Pannett's Pericles, which was second, was another grand bull, and was first in his class last year, beating his present conqueror. Mr Deans retained the third, i a nod Marmaduke, whose red and white colour was his worst fault, and he was commended. Mr Deans was first with Blithe Duke 11, a very good bull, though rather loosely built. Mr Geo. Steel's Rosa's Earl was second and Mr Deans' Duke of Cauteibury II third, both being very )good examples of the breed. The lastnamed would have gained a higher place but for a weakness behind the shoulders. Yearling bulls were a particularly good class ; ami Mr Deans was first and second with Gunterston's Peer and D. Counterfoil's Florist — two animals which, all going well with them, will rank high for future championships. The Peer is a particular well-furnished and proportioned youngster. A special third prize was given to Mr Watson's roan Duke, and Mr John Grigg gained a highly commended bracket. Bull calves found Mr Deans fir.it again with a well-grown youngster of very stylish appearance called Khedive. In the cow classes Mr Deans' Flower of Brunswick 111 was once more returned the champion, and her daughters the fifth and fourth of the name were respectively second aud third, and the trio were firbt in the class for a cow aud two of her progeuy ; aiul Flower of Brunswick 111, the elder of the above two daughter.*, with two of har progeny were a good second. Mr John Ferguson was unopposed for three-year-old heifers, and Mr Deans came to the, front again in two-year-olds with Flower of Brunswick VI and VII, the daughters of the IV aud 111 respectively of the same name, in the first and sucond places. The eighth of the name, another daughter of the 111, was the first prize yearling: Mr Deans' being second and third aud also first in six months heifers.