CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 17

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

’ THE METROPOLITAN SHOW. The total entries at the Canterbury Metropolitan Show this year were slightly in excess of last year’s number, being 2096, as against 2017. Details are as follow: 1912. 1911.

These figures do not include wwriages, in. piemen ts, machinery, and special exhibits in tents (including New /#enland manufactures). . . , An ominous silence is necessary in regard to the prevailing conditions on the first day of the show. No one attended who could by any excuse wriggle out of it, and it is difficult to see what object is gained by opening up the show ground to visitors on that day The second day proved much more acceptable in every way. The wmd dried up the surface moisture and enab.cd the society to make a new h igh-water mark in more ways than one. The exhibits of horses and sheep were the finest display witnessed in the excellent annals of the society, and the attendance was very largo. There was no disconcerting decrease to record in the entries, nor, on the other hand, was there any very striking increase in any of the classes The ground presented quite a gav appearance. Most of the tents provided coloured bunting and flags of some sort, and there was not enough rain to injure the daintiest costumes. Most of - the stock are judged on the second day of the show, and a varied programme of competitions was a’so supplied and keenly enjoyed by large crowds round the enclosures and thronging the? grand stands. The sideshows covered a wide range, and forcible demonstrations in the art of self-defence and other notions were available lor those whose tastes led them in that direction. Among others there was also a shooting gallery, and a number of other forms of amusement which could be participated in on one condition only—viz., that the necessary coin was forthcoming. There were also the usual guessing competitions in regard to the weight of catt'e and sheep. But the hunting events provided most of the visitors with all the entertainment they demanded. The jumping may not have surpassed all precedents, for the standard in Canterbury was high at one time; but without hunters there is no gate, ami if no gate no show The blood section must always remain as the foundation without which wo cannot have superstructure, and most breeders admit that the tests of the racecourse and steeplechase have always proved the most reliable and generally adopted guide for male selection. The jumping events therefore he’p to bring out crosscountry chasers and establish the reputation of their sires, and properly regarded are of assistance to breeders in more ways than one. just as the races are. The success of the association is not spasmodic. but the steady growth of years. The whole of Christchurch and most of Canterbury attend the show, -mi it is extremely difficult, to provide suitable accommodation for such a crowd Rome more seating than was available would have been acceptable to a number of lades; but that is a large order for about 10.000. There are certain features of the show which call for special remark, and the machinery makers as a 1 whole have still got a “flea in their ears” and refrain from exhibiting. This section ■ of the show was of a most educative ohari acter, and in the eyes of struggling settlors 1 the most important one of the show. Wo hone the obiections of the manufacturers will be trot over, and that there will again be a great extension of this popular section. It was pleasing to note that there were some notable exceptions to the above charge, i When one considers the amount of space taken up with motor cars it is impossible to disregard the fact that our light horse breeders are challenged to state a case for the superiority of their hacks and harness horses. Their dav is not done yet, and never will be; but the private car has replaced them to some extent in Canterbury. No one grudges the Tramway Board a fair ! charge to the show ground from the Square, i hut considering the fact that the usual 1 charge to Sumner, for instance, eight miles, : is less than 3d. the charge made—viz.. 6d j each way or 9d return. —for about two I miles is nothing else than faxing an honoI ro rv body which works for the advancement j of the country, city, and the trams them- ! selves. The arrangements were complete, and evidently time, money, thought, and labour had hot been spared to make the meeting successful The organisation and the. working were perfect, the arrangements ; i n the officials’ capable hands being carried j out without n hitch. We are indebted to ! the capable secretary, Mr Pemberton, and the übiquitous president, Mr Hall, for con-

sistently courteous treatment throughout the show. CLYDESDALE HORSES. In view o£ the fact that Messrs Thomson and Co.’s contingent of Clydesdale horses was returning from the North Island, and, tnut such a strong team was being sent from Lee Creek by Mr James Patrick, and ; also to the fact that a large number of > high-class importations had been madd , locally and in other parts ot the Dominion , during the past year, some of which would be exhibited for the first time, great things ■ 1 wore anticipated in Clvdcsdalee this year on behalf of the Canterbury Metropolitan Show. Those expectations were realised in full, for this fixture was successful in bringing together one of 1 the largest and' most comprehensive displays of choicely-bred horses that any enthusiastic breeder could | wish to see. Although competitor! between ( i the contending contingents was keen, the , prizes were more distributed than was the , case last year. The judging gave general satisfaction, and to win a prize in niany of the classes was no small honour. No set of judges ever yet p'cased every, one; but individual tastes differ, and they did not sacrifice quality in their judgments. In all cases they went for clean, flat, flinty bone carrying an abundance of straight, silky hair' on the back parte, but not extending to the front, and always having a due re- i 1 gard to weight and substance. Among the | new importations Mr John Boag’s Black | Douglas’ stands out prominently. He has • not the bes , of colour, but possesses clean ’ 1 bone, great substance, and a grand look out. . Most of the horse-breeders were very , pleased with him. A strong, healthy spirit , of rivalry seems to have been developed this j year to judge from the number of new im- . port at ions which have reached the Domi- | nion, which is all in favour of the maintenance of quality of the animals. This had the effect of deepening the interest, and the horse ring was patronised by keen critics in large numbers, who leaned ■ over the barrier with enthusiastic expectation, and enjoyed every minute of a long day’s judging A regulation had been enforced this year that all horses three years old and upwards, male or female, shall pass a veterinary examination for hereditary unsoundiicss before being allowed to compete. This was carried out by Messrs Johnstone, Clayten, and Snowball, V.S.’s, and Dr 0. J. j Rcakes, the chief veterinary officer of the Dominion, also put in an appearance. After they line! finished it was found that five horses out of 37 had failed to stand the tost. That means that 13 per cent, of the horses considered fit to show were excluded, and brings out clearly the necessity for the latest innovation. We have to congratulate Messrs Patrick and Thomson and Co. on having secured the championships and so many of (.he class prizes, and having once more been so successful in what was ad- . mittoclly very strong company. , Baron Bold repeated his performance on various battlefields, and won easily, the second prize _ in the aged class going to Mr Bcag's Black Douglas, a magnificent young horse with a bad colour. Newton Ctiiel secured third place. Baron Sandy, in the three-year-old class, also repeated his Dunedin parade victory with a well-deserved first, beating Proud Banner-man, owned by Mr W. O. Ronnie, a recent arrival of a somewhat different type. Mr J. D. Wylie’s Messona, a somewhat unfinished animal, secured third place. The quality of these horses i may k>c* gauged from the fact that ncithci Wa.itrongoa Footprint nor Mi-than Vale se- . cured a place. In the two-year-old class Mr Patrick again had a well-deserved vie- : tory with a colt got by Baton Bold which made a very good show of himself. Iho second prize in a class of 16 went to Baron Burnside, by Baron Fy vie, purchased at Ehlerslio sale by Mr Sidney Smith. This horse has improved considerably since ne was sold, but got more than he deserved. Banks Footprint ought to have been second, and looked the makings of a useful stallion. Maggie Young and Imperpofiray - Belie, Mr Patrick’s well-known pair, were , first and second in the class for brood mares. The otiicrs were not very good. Thirteen three-year-old fillies formed one of the strongest classes ever seen in Ohristehurc.i. ■ The first place was secured by Mr Thomas . Taylor’s Xei-issa, the champion at Aehbur- j ton last week, one of the very best fillies j that has ever been bred in thus country. The second prize went to Mr P. Shearer’s | Sliver Craig, a useful Billy likely to do- j i ye*lop into a high-olaes brood mare; and ■ third to Mr James Patrick’s Baroness, which j is also a useful mare, but was in her right | place. The two-year-old fillies also provided j : an excellent class of 11 entrants, first place I : being secured by Mr James Patrick’s Royal . i Rose, bred by ’ Mr T. Liken, of Oamaru : ' With some British Lion blood in her it : would take a good one to boat her. Second prize was awarded to Mr James Wylie’s I J e an Everest, a very good filly, followed . by Mr Thomas Taylor’s Jean Talbot, also ; 1 a useful sort. For a yearling colt foaled i i June 30. 1911, Messrs Thomson and \ ; 00. secured first place with Wairongoa, a ! really good colt by Baron Winsome; Mr i James Patrick second, and Mr John Maej Lauchlan third. For yearling fillies, in a i class of nine, Mr J. D. Wylie’s represen- r i ta.fivo by Baron Everest was first, Mr 71. , ; E. Jenkins’s Heather Bell, by Black Knigfht, i second; and Mr James Patrick’s Roan, by : Baron Bold, third. In the dry maro class | Baron’s Brilliant was unapproachable, and i | obtained first and champion. The sa.mo | ! firm’s Agatha was second, while Mr i M‘Lauoblan’s Premier Princess was placed I third. Baron Bold secured another win 1 for his owner in the progeny class, at ii . for marc’s progeny Mr John M'Lauchlan’s j Flora M'Gregor, _ along with Royal Premier and Premier M‘Gregor, secured | the deserved position. Mr Patrick’s lovely

pak of marcs scored another will for Lee Creek, with Mr John M ‘Lauchlan’e pair second, and Mr John Shearer’s third. A new class for a five-horee team of dry mares or geldings was won by Mr John M'La-uahlari'. Messrs Thomson and 00. secured the prize for four mares or fillies with Baron’s Brilliant, Agatha, Ena, and Wairongoa Lady; and Mr James Patrick secor- 1, and for four of the progeny of the stallion, not necessarily the property of one owner, Mi’ Peter Shearer got more than he was entitled to against Baron Sandy and (his companions and other entries HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES. A class for heavy draught horses was provided on the catalogue for the benefit of those breeder's whose horses are supposed bo be above the size and weight of the modem Clydesdale type. This brought out ono good horse which failed to pass the veterinary examination under Dr Reake’a schedule, and another not so heavy in the bone and with less substance than many of the Clydesdales present. He possessed neither feet nor action, and was fortunate to secure a prize of any kind. _Of the “'heavy'’ marcs Prinoces Ena, the prize-taker, had not half the bone or substance ■of Banon's Brilliant. There were more than a. score on the ground heavier in every particular except the coarse hair which grew all round her legs. There is absolutely no necessity for such classes, and they should be struck out of the catalogue altogether. THE PONY SECTION was a particularly good one, but mixed in character. Among bhe stallions there was an Arab that oould not properly bo regarded as either a pony or a cob. Be was a class apart in himself, and had to be either put out altogether or placed first. The cobs in haraices under 15 hands were the best lot of the section. The polo ponies were hardly up to the usual etanr dard, but the chiMren’s ponies were well represented and had a lot of nice, wellfurn.ishcd ponies amongst them. THE .CATTLE SECTION. In the cattle section there were no entries ~ in Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Highland, Hoi steins, or . Devons. The Shorthorn, cattle did not come up to the size and quality of the cattle shown at Palmerston North, many of which came from Hawke s Bay, and it takes an English Royal to beat the Hawke’s Bay Shorthorns. This breed does not seem to bo am proving, as tho aged cattle showed better breed oharacier.atics than the young, particularly in the female section. In tho aged bull class the judges were not impressed witii any of them, and passed over a white bull which many ring judges thought head and (shoulders over tho others. Tho first prize m tho three-year-old class was a qplcndud handler, but much younger than his opponent. Ho might stand better .on h.« legs, but may improve with ago in that rrooeot. In tho two-year-old bulls there was nothing outstanding, but some judges would have reversed tho decision given. The yearlings made the best class of too day both in number and quality, many of them showing a fair amount of breeding. In the younger yearling class the first and second prize-takem were calves of tpecial merit. In tho female section tho old cows were a superior lot of cattle and difficult to separate. They made the best ck.es tho day. The first prize cow handled well and showed to disadvantage in having calved so long previously. The second prize cow was last year’s champion at Christchurch, and was particularly ribbed. The tops of the three-year-old class w.w good cattle, but the heifer placed si cond had not the appearance of, being forward in calf, and showed at that disadvantage. The others were hardly up to dhow standard. In tho two-year-old class the first prize-taker handled particularly well and was a beautiful heifer which may develop into a grand cow. The second prize cow was also a really good one, and the third prize heifer had any amount of quality, but was a little weak in her hindquarters. Tho yearlings in both _ classes could only be classed as fair cattle tnrougn-

I Ayrshire Cattle.—Among the Ayrshire* ! exhibited Mr John Parian* has the making* ! of a splendid herd if ho continues to breed I oarefnll'-. The exhibits as a whole com- : pare favourably in point of quality with I former years; but there was nothing bn.- ! liant resulting from the year s breeding, I perhaps because cattle arc only brought to | perfection in a favourable year, and half ; the breeding goes down the throat. in : the a-td bull class there was nothing very spcouil The first prize bull has been a realiv piod one, but is showing h-.s years Mr Thos. M‘Dowell’s second prize animal was nothing extra. In the two-ycir-old class Mr Parlane has the makings of a bun : that will yot enhance his reputation. He ! secured the championship, and was head | and shoulders over anything else on the j ground. Second prize went to Mrs t an with a promising animal, also Irkcly to ; corac to the front. In the yearling bull ' class Mr W. J. Jenkins was first with a very | good bull, and Mr Parlane second. April Flower was a lovely cow, of which great I expectations are formed; and Mr Parlane’s I second- prize cow was also a very good exI hibit. Mrs M’Laenlau was commended 1 with a fair animal that might have been j better brought out. In the “cow or heifer 1 in milk” class. Mr Parlane again came to 1 the front with a cow which afterwards lifted the Championship. The same breeder also received the Reserve Championship with a sweet three-year-old heifer named Fascination of Cowan Rank. Mr Parlane would not bo denied in two-year-olds but

]ilr Jenkins followed hard on his heels with Peggie 4th For the two-year-old heifer in calf, Madge of Go wan Bank was de-served'-y placed first, with Mr W. A. Jenkins close up with Petunia. In the J ear - ling class Mr Parlane had two highly creditable exhibits, which were placed first and eeoond; and the same breeder again scored in any indifferent progeny class with Mis Jd‘Lachlan second place. The same ordei was maintained in the pahs of yearling heifers. „ , • The Jersey Cattle.— Generally speaking, there was a representative display of the Channel Island breed; but the covss \\c tc much stronger than the bulls. Enthusiastic breeders stated that the cattle sent forwa <3 were typical of the breed, and n'gn J creditable productions; but to an outside some of them looked as if a good northwest wind would blow them over, so fragile they looked. This breed came from an exceedingly mild climate, and will icquue watching in our more rigorous conditions to maintain any semblance of constitution. In the aged bull class Mr H. E. B. Watson secured first and champion with Goddington Blue Belle. Mr B. Doug as was a good second. In the two-year-olds Joseph King’s entry was easily on top; the second being rather coarsely bred, but a good dairy bull. In the yearling bulls Mr W. H. Weir scored. Among the dry cows there was little between the first three _ prizetakers. Perhaps Mr "Watson's \ ictona had a slightly better vein development than the others. The cows in milk were a very fine lot—better is seldom seen togetaer. Mr Watson secured first and second in this class. The three-year-old heifers also made a good class. The first two had paiticularly good vessels, but the teats of the second prize heifer wore too much spread. In the two-vcar-old heifer class the first prize went to a typical Jersey. The second prize heifer, although a little plain in the head, had a fino vessel. Mr \Vatson took most of the prizes in the remaining classes, his prize yearling having beautiful fines; but his second-prize yearling was decidedly plain in the head. lied Polled Cattle—The Hon. 11. HRhodes’s red polled cattle have all the appearance of being heavy milkers, and are eminently suitable for the grazier, and to them and the milking shorthorns, of which several were exhibited, and the Holstein breed, we turn for replenishment of the depleted beef supplies. They possess an air of breed distinction, and an impressiveness of type which stamps them as a chss apart. Mr Rhodes exhibited nine cows in full milk, five yearling bulls, and two heifers. They were all bred by the exhibitor, and had all the appearance of good doers which had been well looked alter. The cows give as much as 601 b of milk daily, so that they make excellent dairy cattle; bat, os was exemplified in the fat cattle pens, they aiso cross well, particularly with the shorthorn, to produce excellent beef cattle.

Shorthorn Dairy Cattle. —There were 20 entries this year for the premiums given by the Farmers’ Co-operative to breeders of purebred yearling bulls best calculated to produce dairy stock. Mr Arthur Chamberlain secured first and second and Mr W. B. Cunningham third. For the cow or heifer class there were nine entries, and the judges selected Lincoln Lass of Cowrie 4th for first place, with Mr A. Chamberlain second. This crass was shown in milk and judged for breeding and milking qualities, and was one of the best of the show. Mr Chamberlain was the successful exhibitor in the remaining class for three-ycar-old heifers. THE SHEEP SECTION. Border Leicesters.—The writer has never been to a show at which there was so much subsequent criticism among the leading exhibitors of Border Leicesters us at Cliristohurch this year. The class was therefore fully gone into, and the following remarks arc from the judges themselves. We might point out that when competition is keen and good classes are penned there is eluays room for some difference of opinion. The old rams were a strong class, showing good quality throughout. Lincoln College exhibits showed careful breeding, and were well brought out. The four-tooth rams wore a superior lot. The judge stated that he had no hesitation in awarding MiLittle first prize in this class, and the male championship. The classes for rams under 16 months contained a number of good sheep, and proved a tough one to judge. Mr Dowthwaite’s entry was eventually placed first, ami Mr Little’s second and third. The shorn ram hoggets were also a strong class of good sheep. Thos. Little proved the winner with a dheep having •plondid lines, which handled well,* and also secured second place with Mr Dowthwaite third, but close up. In the pair of rams class the entries were not evenly matched, and therefore difiicu't to place satisfactorily. Mr Dovvthwuito secured first and third and Mr Sutherland second. In the ewe classes there was an exceedingly good top all through the classes, with a percentage of moderate animals. The champion ewe is a fine specimen of the breed exceedingly well balanced, and give an extra showing ■when out. And yet she was hard pressed in the class by the second-prize owe, which is an imported West-side (Camerons). But for the defect in the nock and a slightly hare-ear, she would have carried first position. A former champion at this show was placed third, jjut stood too high on her legs for the fancy of the judge, who in tin's case was Mr W. P. Archibald. Several really good ewes had to bo overlooked. Tho first prize four-tooth ewe was a nicclybaln.nced typical “ Little,” bi it defective in the hair of her face. The second-prize owo was much superior in that point, but a little too leggy and long in her middle; otherwise a close second. She was champion at Timn.ru. Mr Sutherland’s exhibits deserve special mention. But for an openness in rho throat and a heaviness in oar they would have scored better. In ewo

hoggets the first-prize sheep was almost perfect- from a symmetrical point of view, but conid have done with less car, and her wool was inclined to be soft. The sceondprizo hogget would have pressed her hard hut for defective Ja-aii* on the face. Several entries in this ola-ss were faulted by the judge for being 100 long : n neck and l n g and big in ear. some of them having n:> inclination to peel in the pair of ewe hoggets class the first nrizo pen wore ♦ypical *h«mp—grand handlers, arc made a splendid show when out. Tim second prize pair w--ro not «o evonlv matched. A pen of Mr Sutherland’s well-grown, large hog-r,-s would have taken a higher award h«d not I’eon for their masculine heads aid. in one case, bad vet of the hind ie-erm The £iom hoggets were low to the ground. and vely handlers. _ . , , The Oorriedale Sheep.—Tlio • .erre-dalo

sheep were a revelation. There were 152 entries, and there never has been so good a show of them in the history of the breed. The marvellous evenness of the various types of wool in this breed indicates the purity of their descent on both sicks and the care whicli has been devoted to their production'. The championship went to Mr Leonard White and the reserve champion ship to the New Zealand and Australian Land Company from Moeraki. The prize in the four-tooth class was also secured by the Land Company, whose sheep are better covered over the head than was the ease at one time. It was noticeable in this class that the Lincoln-merino type was favoured by the judge. A symmetrical and bcauti-fully-shapcd sheep with a heavy skm had to take a subsidiary place in this class, although ho was the same type as the champion. Honours in the ram hoggets went to Mr Leonard White. The owe championship went to the Land Company, with Mr Leonard White next. Mr John Stri.ngf.ellow secured the aged ewe prize with a lowly sheep, and Mr C. H. Ersor annexed the ewe hogget prize. The Gorricdale is moot suitable for a dry climate, but goes to pieces in a wet year. On the ranges, too, this breed is too artificial, and cannot forage like the merino or halfbred. but on suitable country it cannot be excelled forsproducing a grazing sheep and a valliable fleece. . The Southdowns. —Numerically the Southdown entry was 20 per cent, better than previously, and the sheep were well up to standard quality. There was good competition. The Irncoln College secured first in the aged class and the. championship with an imported ram of nice type, low set on short kgs, and compactly built. A cup [riven by the British Breed Society fell to Mr G. E. Rhodes, and the New Zealand Sheep-breeders’ Association’s modal went to Mr Johns. In two-tooth rams the same breeder was sucessful. Mr G. S. Rhodes won the ewe championship in addition to annexing most of the class prizes. English Leiceetcrs were quite’ up to former years, and for type and quality they have never been excelled. The numbers have been, greater, but the cheep were no better and show no signs of an unfavourable Strong Combing Merinos —The strong combing merinos were very good, and there were a number of very exceptional sheep among them. They wore only -a email class altogether, and some of the hoggets wore too fine for the strong combing olace'S. bid there are few -sheep to equal the exhibit penned up in New Zealand. The Fine Combing Section.—The entries were up to average, and the quality very good. ‘ Included among them were several exhibits from Mr R. D. D. M‘Lcan, Maraekakaho, which were suoessful in securing the Glenmark Cup and also the championship in ewes, together with several class prizes. Mr Chas. Enaor, managed to annex the rain championship, and Sir Geo. Clifford proved to be the winner of the twotooth ram class. Shropshire Sheep.-The exhibit of Shropshire sheep was strong in the rams, but the owes did not appear to be so well brought out. The aged rams provided the best examples of the breed. Contrary to custom, the championship in the ewe clap went to a beautiful hogget with a remarkable fleece, owned by Mr H. D. \ avasour, of Blenheim. The four-tooth ram secured the championship aga nst the older sheep Competition in this section was keen between the breeder named, Sir George Clifford. Mr Leonard White, and Mr Rupert Parry. . . , , , The- Highland Sheep—A pen of blaokfac°d Highland sheep were sent forward for exhibition only by the Glenmark Estate, and formed a centre of interest to many visitors, who regarded them in the light ol a whiff of the Old Country. Halfbred Sheep.—The entry in these was just about up to the average, and some verv fine sheep were exhibited. Mr Leonard White secured the sheep-breeders gold medal, and competition between Mr A. W. Rutherford, jun., and Mr White was keen in the ewe section. FAT STOCK SECTION. Fat Sheen.—ln the 'at sheep classes the merinos shown were as rough as heathei. The classes were interesting, because several little-known breeds of sheep wore exhibited, such as the Nyelancl Dorset horn and Wenslevdalo crosses. Two-tooth ha’.fbreds from the two former seem to be eminently suitable for freezing purposes, but did not approach the college Downs for finish and quality The Downs also scored in the freezing clashes. The Wenslcydal© first cross with the merino results in a heavy sheep when over two-tooth, but is somewhat too strong in fibre of wool and grain of mutton to supplant the Down unless in socciul circumstances. ‘ Fat Cattle—The fat cattle classes were not very well filled, although good enough in regard to quality. The first prize bullock weight 19cwt live weight, and the third prize animal 20ewt; out there was no comparison in the quality of the two. _ The first and second wore shorthorns, with no inequality or roughness—prim-i excellent beet. The third was noteworthy in thit he was a red polled-shorthorn cross, and showed the weight that this cross will attain at five to six years old. As two year-olds they should make excellent 7cwt steers for butchers’ purposes. In the three-year-old class tile first and second prize bullocks were considered by many to be over age. The two-year-old heifers were a good class, well bred, and of good quality. The season has not been suitable for perfecting large show cattle, but the younger cattle were of excellent quality, although there might have been more of them. PIGS.

Tho exhibit comprised Borkehiros, Yorkshires, Black Devons, and a few Tarnworths. The Berkshire’s were exceptionally good, and the Yorkshire classes had some ■really first-class pi as among them. The prize's for both of these breeds were shared bv the Sunnvside Asylum and Mr (J. Bryce. Mr If. 0. Ocx had some creditable representatives o? tho B’ack Devon breed, but thev were rot so numerous as usual. He was the oulv exhibitor, as was Mr Harry Stewart in Tamworths. THE PARADE OF STOCK.

The parade was headed bv_ the Xcw Zealand Express Company’s furniture van, about half a chain long. with four grey Cleveland-typo hor.--.os. This was followed by about 30 trade turnouts, four-in-hand teams, buggies, and carriages. Tho lady riders headed the next section, which comprised all tho light horses on the show ground. After parading round tho ring twice tho Cydcsdalcs were ranged across tho centre of the ground, with the light horse contingent in front- of them, commanded by a section of the C.Y.C. in

uniform. The champion horses in both sections, and particularly Baron’s Brilliant, met with a perfect ovation in her journey of inspection. Then followed all the cattle, headed very properly by the red, white, and roan. They turned their backs on the Clydesdales and faced the public in the third row. It was worthy of note that the aristocratic Shire horse imported to grade ur) the Clydesdale horses of the Dominion had to go at a trot to keep up with the walk of'” the polo ponies. Drawn up in battalion array, the stock of the show presented a. most imposing sight. Gathered all round the huge ring, which stretched pretty well from end to end of' the show ground, a crowd 12 to 20 deep and numbering perhaps 20,000, probably half of the visitors on the ground, witnessed a eight calculated to gladden the heart of anyone interested in the welfare of the Dominion, a brilliant animated concourse of interested spectators which freely showed its hearty approval of any acceptable exhibit. Rounds of applause greeted anything which captivated their fancy. The"ladies’ summer costumes—which by the way contained some very fine examples of the rediscovered panier costume and some atrocious examples of the hobble skirts—were generally most becoming, and brightened up ihe scene as observed from the grand stands wonderfully, They certainly added materially to the spectacular effect, and made the occasion an attractive and memorable one to many more than the agricultural enthusiast. CONCLUSION.

A word of praise is due to the excellent luncheon provided by the associated* for its judges, visitors, and the committee, and in another compartment for the public. The pries charged in the latter was only Is, and an excellent meal was provided. These thoughtful arrangements do so much for the comfort of every ope attending the show*: but we understand- they are only possible when a license is permitted on the ground, and if that is the case other associations should see to it that the lesson is not lost. Taking the show; as a whole, it ranks among the best the society has hold, and there is reason for gratification on the part of all those on the committee who have done so much,in the past and continue to work so—hard for the good of the association and that of the Dominion. We were pleased to meet Mr M. Murphy at the show again. Hois feeling the weight of years, but is as keen’y interested as ever.

Farmers' judging competitions Sheep - 29 1007 241 39 1004 178 530 . 501 Piga Dairy produce, etc 79 16 194 91 19 185 2096 2017