BIG ENTRY LIST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19827, 3 January 1939, Page 15

BIG ENTRY LIST

ATTENDANCE 2ND BEST PERFECT WEATHER IMPROVED STOCK QUALITY PTG SECTION A FEATURE (Herald Special Reporter) NUHAKA, this clay. The Nuhaka A. and P. Society's thirty-fifth annual New Year Show yesterday is regarded as the most successful yet held. The entries were the best for 10 years, and the gate takings came within a few shillings of the previous record. In addition, a marked improvement was noted in the quality of the stock and also of the vegetables exhibited. The weather not only favoured the attendance at the Show, but also the entries in the fruit, flower and vegetable sections, which suffered in recent years owing to stormy conditions prior to the Show. There was a'big increase in entries in these sections yesterday, while competitions, saddle horses and pigs also shared in the added interest, the quality in all being favourably commented on by the judges, improvements being almost general. A feature was the pig section, which has improved both in numbers and quality under the influence of the pig club movement and encouragement to participate in the export trade. Much credit is due to Mr. R. Gilmore, who did a great deal of work in securing entries up to the record level.

The gate takings totalled £93 2s Gd, the second best amount received by the society, the record being just over £94. The stewards were given a great deal of additional work to cater for such a big increase in entries and attendance, compared with recent years.

Secretary's Retirement

Yesterday's Show was important

for the fact that it marks the severance with Show activities of the secretary, Mr. P. J. Brewster. Mr. Brewster has been connected with the society for the past 1(5 years, and has been secretary for 14 years. He carried out his duties yesterday in the capable manner characteristic of him, and the president, Mr. H. RHickling, and his officials were also congratulated on the success of the arrangements.

The officials were: President, Mr. 11. R. Hickling; vice-president, Mr. B. Richardson; past presidents, Messrs G. C. Ormond. J. L. Bowcn. R. E. Jefferson. R. Baty. J. Richardson. J. Austin. S. Black, A. Richardson. R. Mclntyre. G. D. Tod, C. H. Tidswell, M. R. Shaw and K. Stewart: general committee. Messrs. E. A. Bullmore, K. B. Crombie. T. Glenny, .). Gol'dstone, D. Hughes, F. Jameson, S. .Jones. R. Mclntyre, sen., Gordon Mclntyre, Wi Nepia, T. Nepia, 11. Pomana, R. Gilmore, R. C. Sturm. M. K. Shaw, K. Stewart. J. Small, G. B. Steele, W. Tait. B. Taka. G. D. Tod. Eru Te Ngaio and F. H, Young: lion, surgeons. Drs. Hallwright, Jardine, Ross and Mitford; secretary and treasurer. Mr. P. J. Brewster. Veteran's Recollections Many Gisborne people visited the Show-, several of them being engaged as judges. One of the most interested visitors was, Mr. T. Lambert, Wairoa, a veteran journalist, who has attended every Nuhaka Show. He recalled that the first was held on the Wai station, and the next on the Omana soldiers' settlement.- Later the society moved to McKee's paddock before settling on the present site, which has a natural grandstand and an abundance of shelter trees.

The Nuhaka Show is one in which' a large percentage of the exhibitors i are of the Maori race, there probably ; being a greater percentage of Maoris on the entry list at Nuhaka than at any other Show in the Dominion. The native race is also well represented on the committee and as stewards. Excellent Fat Sheep An excellent display of fat sheep and lambs met with the favour of the judge, Mr. D. F. Hair, Gisborne, who said that the sheep would compare favourably with anything in the district, while the lambs were quite good for this period of the season, as most milk lambs had found their way to the freezing works already. In the sheep classes, the winning pen of three wethers for export, other than Southdowns, comprised three sheep that were very even in conformation, and while the sheep placed second were even they were rather heavy. The heavy weight ewes included some very good sheep which were a credit to the district, the sheep in the winning pen having plenty of length, with good even finish, while those with the second ticket were a, very even trio. The winners of the ewes for export were Romneys of; good, even conformation, second to this being a Southdown cross pen of nice quality. A number of sheep in that class exceeded the weight specification, and could not be considered. In the ewes, other than Southdowns. most were above the weight limit, but the sheep in the winning pen were i nice and even, the second pen com- | prising three sheep of good length but not so good in condition. The twotooth class included exceptionally well-grown sheep of very nice finish.

The class for crossbred lambs was won by three well grown lambs carrying good condition, but the balance of the entry lacked finish. Some very well-grown .lambs were found in the other classes. Flock ami Stud Sheep A better sheep exhibit than last year was commented upon by the judge, Mr. R. E. Jefferson, who said that there were some very good sheep in the classes he judged. The flock two-tooth ewes and rams were of very good quality. The champion ram was a two-tooth, and was an exceptionally nice sheep. The winner of the old ewe class was of excellent quality, and had a fine ram lamb at foot. The quality in the stud twotooth ewes was hardly as good as that in the other classes. The flock section was excellent, and provided some sheep which were even belter than the sttids. The tops in all the flocksheep classes would do well in any show in the district.

Record Pig Section

Record entries and a big improvement in quality in the pig .section pleased the judge, Mr. D. G. Beattie, Opotiki, who remarked that the facilities for judging were the best he had seen in the district. There was an abundance of shade, and the pigs were not distressed in the coot conditions.

There was a decided improvement in the pig quality, compared with past years, and Mr. Beattie noted the influence of the Wairoa freezing works and pig clubs in the development of the industry. Pig club members were to be congratulated on the intelligent interest they were taking. The pigs in the district four years ago could not be compared with those oj to-day. The feature of the pig section was the fine entry by pig club members, who exhibited progeny of pig club sows. The Berkshire pigs, especially those from the Kahungunu club, were particularly good. The pig club exhibits were more than usually interesting, and Mr. Eeattie said he would luce to see more entries of pig club sows.

The first prize Tamworth boar required a little more handling, and the second lost point.', mainly because it was too heavy in the shoulder, whereas the first was an excellently shouldered animal.

The Tamwdrth sows were both entries from pig clubs. The exhibits in that class showed evidence of a lack of handling. Mr. Beattie advised competitors in all classes to show more care in the handling of stock, and before using oil to wash the pigs thoroughly.

Exhibits in the porker classes were a credit to the exhibitors, but again there was evidence of lack of attention to Show condition. Preparation for the Show should commence at least 10 days before the fixture, and if little extra food should be given to secure a better finish. There was only one pig in the porker class which did not show signs of lack of finish, and that was the winner, which was very well

finished, being a credit to the exhibitor. An improvement could lie effected in the export class, where the weight range was too great, being from CO to 1001 b, and he recommended the halving of this range to. say, 80 to 1001 b. in any case, the variation should not exceed 201 b. Competition in tin.; class was especially keen, there being only one point between the first three awards. The pigs in the third pen were excellent, but were marred by one light one, the winning pen scoring because of its evenness. Mr. O. B. Ormerod, who judged the horses, remarked on Hie excellent j standard of the hacks, which, he said, wore a very good lot for a small Show. The champion hack was a very nice animal, though perhaps a little green. The reserve champion ! was another of very good type, ana the few faults noted should be eliminated with the improvement the animal should make. The horses were definitely good and nicely got tip, but in classes with only six or seven exhibits it was often difficult for the judge to select Ins ideal type. The efforts by the children were generally good, and would improve considerably with a little schooling.

The harness horses display wa generally in keeping with other .year: the feature being the pack horses

which were exceptionally line, in the opinion of the judge, Mr. ,1. M. Taylor. Vv'hakaki. In the mare class, both animals displayed were of high quality and clean-legged.

Mr. K. J. Shaw, Wairoa, saw an improvement in the dairy cattle from last year. The aged cow class was one of the best in the section, the

nice animals with little separating them. The three-year cows were strong numerically, but the quality was not as high as the judge would like to have seen. The yearling Heifer winner, and also that in the children's calf class, were nice animals. Awards:—