AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Mr Walter Blafeie, of Ryal Bush, may, says the Southland Times, be excused should he be considerably proud of the achievements of some of hiß horse stock in Victoria. At the annual show of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, held at I'lemington, Melbourne, on August 30, the two mares, Maggie the 2nd and Queen, more than maintained their own, the latter, in foot, beat everything Clydesdale at the show. The animals, it will bo remembered, were bought last year from Mr Blakie by Messrs Rea and Trestrail, who appear to have resold both to one buyer, Mr J. B. Walters. In its report of the show tho Argus says : " Brood mares were not numerous, but thore was plenty of quality. Mr J. E. "Walters's Maggie the 2nd, a nine-year-old, by Lord Salisbury, is well set on. short legs, ahd had the best show of leg hair in the ring. Her short hindquarters constituted a fault which made ifc a close thing between her and Messrs Rea. and Trestrail's Miss Maud, who is a heavy, compact mare, with great quarters. The class for dry mares was the easiest for the judges one could possibly imagine, and their work was completed in about two minutes. There were three competitors — viz., a mare which is probably one of the best female draughts in the colony, another which, though good herself, was hopelessly out of it with the ' clinker,' and one which may fairly be described as ' only medium,' her . quality being somewhat course. Mr J. E. I Walters's bay mare Queen, five years old, by | 3£inK of the Cans out of Maggie 2nd mentioned above), was placed first. That she is a srt-ui wiit. admitted on all sides, and abundantly proved by the fact that she not only won tne championship as the best mare in the yard, but also secured a special prize as the best Clydesdale competing at the show, beating Mr J. E. Walters's magnificent stallion Sir Pcrcival, himself champion in his class.' This battle of champions was an interesting one, and tlio judges were cheered when they made the awarcl. The judges afterwards remarked that they considered Queen the best piece of draught horseflesh they had ever seen." Such results and stich testimony as this should ■ surely encourage the breeders o£ ~ Southland i to keep up their Clydesdale studs and not [ allow the reputation of tho district for this > class of stock to be taken from it. |