LINCOLN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 34

LINCOLN.

No fault could ba found with the Lincoln sheep, and there were entries in nearly all the classes, but only two competitors (the Hon. M. Holmes and the New Zsaland and Australian Land Company), Mr A. C. Laug, who exhibited last year, having retired from the contest. The number of entries was the same as last year, and it is no slight praise to say that the exhibits were similar. The Lincolns shown by the Hon. M. Holmes included those that were successful at the recent agricultural show at Christchurch. The prizes were, as nearly as possible, equally divided between the Hon. M. Holmes and the company. The company gained the championship ticket for the best ram (36), a flue hogget, of great size, with a grand frame, and remarkably well clothed with a nice bright flaeeo, the length of staple being such that it actually reaches the ground. On the other hand, the champion ticket for the best ewe was awarded to the Hon. M. Holmes for a four-tooth ewe, with lamb at foot (42), showing very fine breading, and having a dense fleece of fine wool of great length. All the sheep in this section were so good that it is hardly necessary to comment upon them, for that would involve a repetition of the good qualities characteristic of the breed The judges must havebad a good deal of broub'e in placing their awards, the difference between firsts and seconds being, in some cases, represented by extremely fine shades of quality, such as are appreciated only by experts, and in some the difference being almost entirely the obvious one of eiza. For each exhibit in the class an award cf some def cription was granted, and this faot alone shows that, in the opinion of the judges, the Luicolns are throughout lrghly commenable. The Hon. M. Holmes in this sectioa. won four first and four second prize tickets, and the other competitors (the N.Z. and A. Land Company) three first, three second, and three third priza tickets and two highly commended certificates. There were no entries in class 26 (10 flock rams under 18 months). EOMNEY MAESH. These useful sheep are again well represented, and tlißre is improvement perceptible in the competition. Both championship certificates were, as was the case last year, won by exhibits sent by the Hon. James Fulton's trustees, which were aleo successful at the Christchurch show. The champion ram, also of course first in his class, is an eight-looth ram (52), bred by exhibitor. This sheep is a perftct model of Romney Marsh, of immense size, and very thickly woolled. The ram placed second in the clas3 (49) is exhibited by Mr A. C. Lang, and was bred by Mr John Reid. This is also a grand sheep, though his fleece is not quite so dense nor his head as fine as those of the sheep to .which first honours were granted. la the next class 26— ram hoggets, Mr A. C. Laag . shows a very fine animal (55) bred by exhibitor. This steep ia finely made, very evenly woolled, and for its age of great size. Mr Lang takes both first and second prizes iv this cla?s, with the Hon. M. Holmes third, and the Hon. J. Fulton's trustees' exhibit not placed. Mr L&Dg also in class 29, two ram hoggets, gained the red ticket with sheep very similar to the champion, the Hon. M. Holmes second, and the other compatitor third. In the next olass (30), ewe four-tooth or ever with lamb at foot, the Hon. James Fulton'a Irusbee3 show the champion ewe (64), a specimen of undoubted excellence, ancl the same exhibitors gain a first award for a pen of two ewes four tooth or over wi'h lamb at foot. This is the only entry in b*ue class, and there are no entries of pens of 10 flock rams.

SOUTHDOWN. There is no competition whatever in Southdowns and only four entries, all by Mr S. Garforth. Mr Reid, of Elderslie, competed with Mr Garforlh at Chris tchurch, but has none forward on the Otago show ground. Of the character of the Southdowns shown there is but one opinion, and that that must be favourable is evidenced by the fact, that prizes were awarded for all the sheep entered, which are really good, compact animals, showing all the characteristics of the breed. Both championship tickets were given— one for a four-tooth ram (sire Onslow) and the other for one ol the ewe hoggets (sire Restitution) in pen 70. Both champions were bred by the exhibitor. SHHOPSHIRE DOWN%. The neat, compact, and handsome Shropshire Downs, with their *harp-looking black f acea and sturdy black legs, are quite a feature of the show, and are not likely to bs passed over unnoticed by anyone. Unfortunately there is no competition in the class, the field, or rather the pens, b,ing left entirely to Messrs John Reid and Sons, Mr Barton, who won one of the champion certificates and several other prizes la«.t year, not baying any entries on the present occasion. As a matter of course, the quality of the sheep being first-class even from an exhibition point of view, awards were made for each entcy. The entrie3 include two rams and two < ewes imported from. England. The champion is the four-tooth ram Outpost! (eight -tooth), shorn December (sire Field Barrier, 5183 Shrop. Reg., vol. 9 ; dam by Frontier, 4546, vol. 8 ; grandsire The Rector ; grandam Foggathore, 2056, bred by W. G. Cook, England). This is a large cheep with a magnificent frame and in all

points an admirable sample of the Shropshire Downs. The champion owe is Fairy, eightt3otb, shorn December, sire Son of Jubilee 111 (4833), dam by Crusader (3007), bred by J. Whitaker, England, which also shows to perfection the characteristics of the breed. The other entries in the section are worthy of the company they are in, and that they are a valuable addition to the sheep exhibits is very clearly shown by the fact that at Christchurch, with 61 entries comprising 126* sheep, Messrs Reid and Sons, with four entries, carried off the medal for the best Shropshire ewe on the ground, the second prize, v h c for 6wes aud lambs, and h c for their hogget. CHEVIOT, EIC. Tha Hon. M. Holmes is tho only exhibitor of Cheviot sheep, as was the fact last year, but now, as then, he shows sheep of splendid quality. Prizes were awarded ia this class for each exhibit. Of crossbred sheep there was only one entry, a pea of 10 hoggets, halfbred, cros3 between Lincoln and stud merino, a valuable lot of sheep, shown by R. Campbell and Sons (Limited), and for which a ticket of commendation was given. FAT SHEEP. There was a fair number of entries of fat sheep, some of which showed remarkable quality. This was certainly the case with the pen of five crossbred wethers shown by Messrs John Reid and Sons from ordinary crossbred ewes by Shropshire rama. A first priza was given for this pen, the sheep in which would probably weigh over 1001b each. Tne N.Z. and A. Land Company took second prize in the same cla c s, and Messrs Reid and Sons also won a first; prize with a prime lot in class 62— pen of five Down wethers. The fat lambs were also good as a class. Class 60 (p9n of wethers or maiden ewes most suitable for freezing), for which there are 10 entries, was not judged, bub will be judged this (Thursday) morning — the conditions of judging rendoring ib difficult for this to be done before. The following is the prize list :—