LAKE COUNTY SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 20

LAKE COUNTY SHOW.

EXHIBITION AT LAKE HAYES.

The two outstanding features of the Lake County Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show at Lake Hayes on Wednesday were the excellent display of good quality light horses and the exhibit staged by the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture. Messrs R. B. Tennent (chief instructor) and A. A. Hume were present, with one of the most interesting and instructive displays that has been seen at an agricultural show in Otago or Southland this season. The light horse sections were in all cases w*ell contested, and it was obvious that these provided the centre of interest for the majority of the large crowd present. The weather was perfect, but the absence of adequate shade and seating accommodation made standing in the hot sun very tiring. This year’s president (Mr Leo Lee) had a busy day keeping things moving, but apparently some of the stewards were not quite sure of what was e peeled of them. For instance, the spectators were kept waiting 45 minutes at the ringside in a scorching sun while the jumping competitions were being arranged. Then after the opening event another long wait was experienced while” the stewards set up the high jump fence. In spite of the phenomenally dry season experienced in the Lake County this summer, the entries of stock and farm produce were quite up to standard. The total entries exceeded 700, and the attendance was greatly in excess of that of last year, the gate being £39. The draught horse classes were not impressive, consisting of about 25 animals all told. The absence of breeding on any scale in this district was indicated by the fact that no entire horses were shown. The entries almost without exception camo straight from harness. Messrs Leo Lea P Bute! were the most successful exhibitors, the former securing the points trophy and the female championship. The cattle wer<j a mixed lot ? and demonstrated how little dairying is done in this region Messrs M‘Adam Bros., however, showed a string of good Ayrshires, which met no opposition. Several of theso have done particularly well under semiofficial Government test this season, the resulti showing that these breeders are working along sound lines. These made up the largest entry. Jerseys, Friesians, and Shorthorns were in very short supply, but there were some good rings of crossbred dairy types. Cottars’ cows and house cows shone well here, and most of the exhibitors secured a pr : ze in one or other of the classes.

The sheep pens were weK filled, but the only breed represented by really outstanding quality was the merino. Messrs W. Paterson and Son and Hector Gibson were keen rivals throughout, the latter just beating Messrs Paterson and Son for tho points prize. The sheep were in excellent condition and were worthy representatives of a valuable breed. Messrs J. W M'Lean and A. W. Scott also figured among the prize-winning exhibitors. The merinos showed an encouraging uniformity of type and quality, which was markedly absent in many of the other classes. Corridales were a good section It would appear that this breed is not averse to the extreme conditions to be found in the Lake County, The sheep were well brought, and displayed both carcass and fleece auality to a surprising degree considering the nature of the 1927-28 summer. Mr W. S Reid was tho most successful exhibitor in theso classes.

Halfbreds, too, of which there were about a score, showed to fairly good advantage, but the long-woolled breeds, and crossbreds showed signs of hard times, and a lack of that uniformity noticeable in the finer-woolled types. Border Leicesters were negligible, but there was a fair display of Romneys, exhibited by Messrs W. Paterson and Son. The crossbreds, both fine and strong-woolled types, came principally from .the flocks of Messrs Leo Lee, P. Reid, and W. Reid and Sons, all of whom secured awards. The fat sheep were in fairly good order> but most of them were apparently unalfld to rise above the handicap imposed bj? drought conditions.

In a country of wide runs and almost limitless stations, the sheep dog is an asset that mueterer and shepherd cannot afford to be without. It is not surprising, therefore, that a good number of well-bred, handy animals appeared in the dog classes. About 20 entries were received and the judge’s task of separating the winners was not an easy one. Not the least important section of the show from the point of view of both numbers and quality, were the entries which were catalogued variously as grants, roots, dairy produce, fruit, vegetaoles, flowers, baking, and' sundries. The farm and household produce were a credit to the womenfolk of the district, and in no small degree the salvation of the association's balance sheet. COMPETITIONS. It was apparent early in the day that people were awaiting with poorly concealed impatience the commencement of the competitions, in which Mr R. M. Paterson’s latest acquisition Mystery—purchased from Mr W. Hastie (Dunedin) at a three figure price—was to bo pitted against the pick of the district. Speculation ran high from the outset, and the 10-year-old show ring veteran, who has won more prize money this season than any other horse in the South Island, was freely extended in his efforts to defeat all comers. Mr Paterson won the special cup for competition events —Mystery s fourteenth this summer—but had to give pride of place to Mr C. Aubrey (Pembroke) -in the high jump. The M anaka horse, however, created an OtagoSouth] and record for this year at least, so that it was not any great discredit for the runner-up to admit himself beaten at sft Sin. Mr Aubrey’s horse cleared sft lOin beautifully after several attempts. It was an exciting finish, the third horse, ridden by Mr C. Gardiner (Clifden) withdrawing at sft 6in.

Mr Paterson’s horse, with his late master’s son, W. Hastie, up, won the open leaping competition in excellent style, with Mr A. Macdonald (Lumsden) second. The third, fourth and fifth places were also filled by imported animals. Entries had come from as far south as Otautau and Clifden, and from as far afield as Palmerston. FIELDS DIVISION EXHIBIT.

It is now three years since the Department of Agriculture staged an exhibit at a country show, but the display made at Lake Hayes on Wednesday demonstrated that Mr Tennent’s hand has not yet lost its cunning, despite the long spell since the practice of exhibiting was fairly general. The display was specially adapted to the needs and problems of the Lake County farmer. The subjects dealt with were top dressing, the pickling of seed such as wheat, oats, and barley, lucerne cultivation, with special reference to inoculation, irrigation practice, and model implements used in this connection, the mixture of manures, and the use of lime. All these subjects were handled in a brief, concise fashion which made examination easy and comprehension swift. The exhibit was a popular spot all day, and the budget of pamphlets and bulletins left for distribution had all but disappeared by closing time. Cereal diseases received particular attention, and specimens of practically- every class and grade of grass, neatly set out in glass cylinders in large 4ft square frames provided an interesting subject for study.