THE WINTER SHOW. IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE DAIRY PRIZES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 20

THE WINTER SHOW. IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE DAIRY PRIZES.

The Otago A. and P. Society has sent out a very important circular to all dairy factories in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland offering special prizes for cheese and butter at the next winter show. It has secured the co-operation of the- Dairy Department staff, which highly approves of this competition. The competition, it will be generally admitted, is on right lines, and probably, from an educative point of view, will prove one of the most useful yet arranged in the colony. Every factory ought to compete, as fthe comparison obtained will be most useful, although, of course, all cannot win prizes. The test proposed is a good one — better in some respects than -at an ordinary show competition, where sometimes (perhaps not often) the prize is won by a competitor who, on tho general average, is not in the front rank. We arc sure that, shippers and owners will not object to the two boxes 'being kept back for show purposes. The society is doing a good work, and one in the best interests of shippers, buyers, and all interested in the dairy industry. The New Zealand Shipping and Shaw-Savill Companies and the society -ar.e to be congratulated on their enterprise and liberality. The following is the circular referred to: — JS4OO Special Prizes for Cheese and Butter. To encourage managers of dairy factories in Canterbury.- Otago, and Southland to give special care and attention to the manufacture of cheese and butter, Ihe Otago A. and P. Society has decided, with the assistance of its supporters — namely, the shipping companies and others — to ofier the sum of JE4OO as special prizes, to be awarded to the cheese and butter makers of the winning factories under the following conditions:' — Butter . First iprize, ; second prize, £10 ; third prize, £5. Cheese: First prize, £25; second prize, £10; third prize, io. Entry fee, ss; to be sent to the secretary on or before 15th January, 1905. 1. The prizes to be distributed over a period of five years. 2. The prizes to be awarded to the cheese or butter makers whose factory output for the season gains the highest aggregate number of points according to the certificate issued by the Government graders. Butter, 30th S-eptem-ber to 31st March. Cheese, Ist November to 30th April. 3. The competition to bo open to Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and any factory competing for tins prize must notify the secretary in writing on or before 15th January, 1805, remitting the sum of 5s as an entry fee. 4. All factories competing must a>llow two cases of cheese and two boxes of butter to be selected by the grader and a representative to be appointed by the society cut of any shipiiient; st'me to be exhibited at the following winter show of the Otago A. and P. Society. 5. Cheesa exhibits to be taken delivery of during the months of March or April in each year, and butter in factory, kept under same conditions and at one port. Factories to be advised by~wire of numbers and weights of the selected exhibits. 6. The cheese and butter selected to be judgd, and prizes awarded, but such judgment in no way to affect clause 2 of these conditions. 7. The society reserves the right to attach to each exhibit of cheese and butter the respective number of paints awarded to each factory throughout the season. The Government graders have already been instructed to grade for these prizes from Ist January, 1905. In future years grading will start from beginning of season. The last issue of the Gazette notifies that the name of Seaward Moss (Southland) has been changed to that of Awarua Plains. *