THE OAMARU SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 1827, 26 November 1886, Page 14

THE OAMARU SHOW.

FIRST DAY.

(By Oue Own Reporter.) Oamaru, November 18. 1 The North Otago A. and P. Association opened their twenty-third annual show under most favourable circumstances. The weather looked a little threatening in the morning, but the afternoon turned out beautifully fine, and the attendance, though not so large as on some previous occasions, was remarkablj good for a first day. A general impression seems to have gained ground that the second day is the best for the public to see the Oamaru show ; but this is quite a mißtaken idea, for there is if anything more to b» Been on the first day. The people this afternoon seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The greater number contented themselves with, watchiug the judging of stock, others stcolled round among {-the machinery, while many were attracted by the " extra " exhibits, of which there are a good number on the ground. Then there was the Oamaru brass band with their splendidly played selections, ranging from the homely old Scotch airs to the more recent "Mikado" quadrilles. They will earn the £30 paid them by the society for the two days of the show, and there is always an appreciative crowd of listeners near the grandstand where they are performing. Farther afield two rival showmen were shouting themselves hoarse and at the same time drowning the music of a small band of strolling players ; the one sounding the praises of a diorama of the volcanic eruption and the four-legged animal described as "the wonder of creation," while the other confined his attention chiefly to the "cheap Jack " business.

But to come to the show itself. The exhibits, numerically, have come up well to the usual standard, aud the quality in most cases is as good as erer. For some reason or other there is a falling off in the number of sheep shown, though how to account for this is a matter of some difficulty, because it is a well-known fact that there are some splendid flocks in the North Ofcago district. Strange to 6iiy, the Hon. M. Holmes is the only exhibitor in merino sheep, and stranger 6 till, though a tempting prize has been offered by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, not one single exhibit of sheep suitable for freezing purposes has come forward. The only improvement is with respect to the Downs, whioh seem to be coming more into favour. The Romney Marsh breed are still in the background, there being not a single entry. Mr John Keid is the chief exhibitor of Downs, his sheep having come from the Hon. Mr Larnach's well-known Southdown flock. In the Leicester breed there was very good competition, such well-known breeds as Mr A. Murdoch, Little Bros., John Reid, Hon. M. Holmes, and the N.Z. and A.L. Company entering the lists. The champion ram, which wras shown by Mr Murdoch, was a really splendid animal. He was bred by Mr R. Grieve, of SouthSand, out of an imported dam, and has already been exhibited at nine shows and has carried off seven first and four champion prizes. This is certainly a very good record. Some splendid sheep are also entered in the Linqolu class, the Hon. Mr Holmes Messrs John Reid, B. Menlove, H. Overton, and the N.Z. and A L. Company being the competitors. The Hon. Mr Holmes takes both the champion prizes.

Parsing on to cattle, it will be noticed that Messrs A. and J. M'Farlane are absent from the Ayrshire lists this year. The show, however, though suffering somewhat by the absence of these well-known breeders, is of a very high order of merit. King of the Ring, owned by Messrs Rogerson aud Fleming, turned out to be the best bull in the yard, and Mr Duncan's Minerva First was adjudged the champion cow. The judging gave pretty general satisfaction, Jbut in the milch cow class the general opinion was that Mr Cowan's celebrated cow Bright Smile was worthy of something better than class honours. Mr Gemmell won the cup for most points, the order being as follows :—: — Gemmell, %% points; Cown, 15; Duncan, 14. Among the Jess successful exhibitors were Messrs James Calder, Alexander Grant, Thomas Reid, R. Allan, W. Smith, and J. Forrester. In thoroughbred horses there was the usual meagre display for which the Qamaru show is famous. The few horses, however, that came forward were well-bred animals. Mr Orr's Fusillade, by Musket— Yatterina, was most admired. In hacks there was a decided improvement, and altogether' more attention seems to have been given to the breeding of light horses. A well-known Dunedin firm has, I learn, recently received an order for 300 horses of this stamp for shipment to India, and there can be no reason why similar shipments should not be made yearly from this .colony. ■Joe display of dairy produce is not altogether what might be expected of a district like Oaraarti, sufc most of the butter sent in was of very good quality. Mrs H. Mitchell takes the president's 4jlve-guinea cup for the most points. Mrs Cowau, o? is also a successful exhibitor, but unfortunately the Railway department by some me^ns or other managed to laud her exhibits of fresh ?.nd powdered butter at Christchurch. instead of Oamaru, so she was virtually out of the contest from the start. These are the principal classes which have been .ludged to-day, and the following is the prize list :r~

AYKSHIHES. (Judge: Mr D. Warnock, Invarcargill.)

Bull, fcuree \ ears old and upwards— Eogerson and Fleming, i ; James Calder, 2; James (ieminell, 3. Bull, two years— James Gemmell, 1 j W Cowan, 2 ; J. Forrester, 3, Bull, yearling— VV Smith, 1 ; T V Duncan, 2 ; W Cowan. 3. «

Cow, in milk— T V Duncan, 1 and 2; W Cowan, 3. Dry cow, in calf— James Gemmell,|l ; W Cowan, 2; Tx Duncan, 3. Heifer, three years old, in milk or in calf- James Gemmell. 1 and 2; W Cowan, 3.

Cow or heifer bred by exhibitor— T V Buncan, 1 ; James Gemmell, 2 and 3. Heifer, dry, two yeareold— W Cowan, 1 ; Rogersoa and Fleming, 2 ; James Gemmell, 3. Heifer, one year old— W Cowan, 1 and 2 ; Rogerson and Fleming, 3 ; James Gemmell, commended. Cow, with t*o or her progeny- James Gemmell, 1 ; W Cowan, v ; James Gemma)!, 3. Best bull in the yard— Eogerson and Fleming, King if the Ring. Beat cow or heifer in the yard— Minerva 1. THOKOU«HBi;'KD HOK~.ES. • /Judge: Mr vv 6 Armlt.ig«s Ofeua.) Entires, >liruo years— X Orr, 1 ; J Henderson, 2; B Orr, 3 Colt, Jue ypar o,'. d - John Henderson 1. Brjou mare -It On', *• MSTO x '' r SHEEP. f Ju"ge: Mr J B sj.. *»ou. InvercirgHl.) Earn, 4-!ootli--Hon M illumes. 1 and 3; < New Zealand and Australiau Laud 0<? m Pa n y- Moeraki, 2 and 4. Two rams, 4-tooth— Hon M Hrrfises. 1 and 3; X Menlove, 2; New Zealand aud Australian Land Company, 4. One ram, 2-tooth or yearling -Hon M Hoinj^s, 1 and 3; H Overton, 2; John Iteid,4. TW'i rams, 2-tooth or yearling— N.Z. and A. Land Company, 1 ; Hon M Holmes, 2 and 4 ; E Mealove, 3 ; H Overtou, 6. One ewe, 4-to3th— Hon M Holmes, 1 and 2 ; New Zealand and Australian Land Company, 8; B Menlore, 4.

Two ewes, 4-tooth— Hon M Holmes, I and 2 ; New Zealand and Australian Land Comp .ny, 3 and 4. One ewe, 2-tooth or yearling -Hon M Holmes, 1 and 2; New Zealand and Australian Laud Company, 3. Two ewes, 2-tooth or yearling— Hon M Holmes 1 and 2 ; B M nlovo, 3 ; H Overtoil, 4 ; New Zealand and Austra iau Land Company, 5. West ram in yard Hon M Holmei Beat ewe — Hon M Holmes. MERINOS.

In this class the Hon M Holmes •was the only exhibitor, aud took four first prizes.

LBICKBIEIiS. (Judge : Mr R. Grieve, Wallacetown.) Ham, 4-tooth and upwards. — A Murdoch, 1 ; Hon M Holmes, 2 and 3. Two rams, 4 tooth — Hon M Holmes, 1 ; «T fieid, 2 Ham, 2-tooth or yearling -Little Bros, 1 and 2 ; Hon M Holmes, 3.

Two rams, 2-tooth or yearlings -Little Bros. 1 ; Hon M Holmes, 2 ; A Murdoch, <$. Ewe, 4 toutU aud upwards— i ittle Bros., 1 and 3 ; Hou M Holmes, 3; New Zealand aud Australian Land Company, 4. Two ewes, 4-tooth and upwards— Hon. M. Holmes, 1 ; J Keid, 2 ; New Zealand and Australian Land Company, 3. Ewe, 2-tooth or yearling— Hon M Holmes, 1; A Murdoch, 2; New Zealand and Australian Land Company, 3. Two ewes, 2-tooth or yearlings— Hon M Holmes, 1 ; Little Bros, 2; A Murdoch, 3. Best ram in yard— A Murdoch. Best ewe— Little Bros.

DOWNS. (Judge : Mr W Grant, Timam.) Ram, 4-tooth and upward*— J Reid, 1 ; H Mitchell,

2. Ram, 2 tooth or yearling— J Reid, I and 2. Two ewes, 4-tooth and upwards— J Reid, 1 ; H Mitchell, 2. Two ewes, 2-tooth or yearling— Jno Reid, 1 and 2. SHORN AND FAT SHEEP. Two rams, long-woolled breed — Little Bros , I, Two ewes, any long-woolled breed — Little Bros., 1. DOGS. (Judges : Messrs W Grant, Timaru, and W S Armltage, Otaia.) Collie, rough-A H W Smith, 1 ; C and JII Todd, 2; RWaldieß; James Russell, 4. Greyhounds— G W Proctor, 1 ; James Henry, 2 ; J Cooper, 3. Retrievers— C and J M Todd, 1 ; B Grave, 2. Fox terriers -C and J M Todd, 1 ; J B Keid, 2. Tt-rriei s, any kind - G Bruce, 1 ; J Hartly, 2. Colliopupa C W Reid, 1. Collie, smooth— \V Belcher, 1. PIGS. In this class H Mitche I took three first and one Becoud prize, and R Allan one firs', prize. DAIRY P'IOCU E. (Judges: Messrs A M'Farlane, T L Low, and \V Wright.) Butter, without salt— Mr< George Hutchinson, I ; Mrs H Mitchell, 2; Mrs Henry Allan, 3 ; Mrs lownseud. 4 ; Miss Gray, 5. Bait butter, in rolls— Mrs H Mitchell, 1 ; Mrs George Hutchinson, 2; Miss Gray, 3; Miss Townsend, 4. Ten pounds salt butter, deposited four weeks before date of show— Mrs W Cowan, 1; Mrs James Johmtone, 2 ; Mrs H Mitchell. 3 ; Mrs George Hutchinson, 4. Fancy butter— Mrs J James, 1 ; Mrs A/V Meek, 2 ; Mrs U Jackson, 3 ; Mrs VV Giant, 4. Cheese— Waiareka Dairy Factory, 1 ; Mrs R Allan, 2.' CUBED MTATS. (Judges : Same as in dairy produce.) Hams— W. Bee, 1. Hams, smoked— James P Hamilton, 1 ; W Bee, 2. Bacon, smoked— J P Hamilton, 1. Rollb oacon— James f Hamilton, 1 ; W Bee. 2. Salt beef, in casks— Smitb-Bryce, 1. B ->BAD.

Four pound loaves— W Bee, 1 ; Mitchell Bros., 2. Oaten cakes -Mrs Pryde, 1 ; Mrs Wi kie, 2 ; Mrs K«id, a ; Miss M J Meek, 4. Scones, home-made— Mrs GRoss, 1 ; Miss Jackson, 2; Miss M J Meek, 3.

POULTRY. i (Judge : Mr O. Bills, Dunedin.) j With the exception of one second prize gained by F H Towusend, S W. Rawson took all the prizes for game fowls and bautams. Cochins— L P CUnstesnn, 1 \ Brahm* Pootra— A B C»>ristie, 1 ; G^o. Bruce, 2., Dorking, coloured -H Mitchell, 1 ; W Irvine, 2. Dorking, H Mitchell, L. Spanish— Geo. Bruce, 1 and 2. Polibh — Geo. Bruce, l. Langshan-A S otterson, 1. Any other distinct breed— A B Christie, 1 ; Geo. Bruce, 2. Barndoor fowls— G ßruce, 1 ; G W Rawson, 2. Turkeys— Geo. Bruce, 1 ; FH To wnsend, 2. Ducks, Aylesbury— G Bruce, 1 and 2. Rouen— iteo. Bruce, 1 and 2. No distinct bre-d— F H Tovmseud, 1 and 2. Geese— Geo. Bruce, 1, Pigeons— I Alexander, 1 ; G Rawson, 2. OKAiy. (Judge : Mr Geo. King, Christchurch.) ■White wheat — Hall Bros., 1 (red straw). Velvet wheat.— W Meek, 1; Hall Bros., 2; E Jackson, 3. White wheat. — Champion, 1. Short oats (Canadian).— Hall Bros., 1; H Mitchell, 2. ,' Lo g oats (Danish).— W Meek, 1 ; Hall Bros., 2 ; H Mitchell. 3. Short oats (other varie'ies).— R Jackson, 1; R Morrison, 2 ; H Mitchell. 3. Long oats (other var eties).— W Meek, 1 ; H Mitchell, 2. Malting bar'ey.— W Meek, 1 ; H Mitchell, 2. Field pease (partridge) and horse beans.— H Mitchell, l. In seeds, Falconer's trustees took eight first prizes and H. Conaell three.