Western District A. and P. Show.

Southland Times, Issue 4497, 8 December 1882, Page 2

Western District A. and P. Show.

Offices of the Association : — President : John Mclntyre, Esq.; vice - president— Ross -Robertson, Esq.; treasurer— Jas. Fullarton, Esq. ; secretary— G. Featheiston, Esq. The third annual exhibition of this flourishing institutionfl was held yesterday on the usual place of meeting overlooking Riverton. On the line of railway from the Makarewa to the Jacobs River no change of a very striking nature could be observed. Cropping, laying down in grass, and general cultivation is extending, and although a good few acres of tussocks are still waving in the wind, yet the aspect is decidedly progressive. The early-sown crops look well, but the Liter brairds have been suffering from the late dry weather. Vegetation of all kinds, however, is nowfreshening up under the influence of the recent rains, which came just in time to restore the drooping spirits of the agricultural community. Pastures are generally looking fairly and stock are thriving. The weather luckily, although sometimes a little chilly, was dry, and brightened up aa the day wore on. For picturosqueness and. airiness the Riverton show yard cannot bo approached in the South, and it is eminently fittad for the enjoyment of the most genial sunshine. As is usual on these occasions, the little town on the estuary of the Aparima put on a holiday appearance, the show yard being gay with ttaga, and considerable crowds of visitors, chiefly from the country, supplemented by a contingent from Invercargill, debouched from the special and other trains. These visitors were quite as numerous aa on previous occasions, and so the attractions were this time, varied by the American talking machine, an armless lady exhibition, whose imposing pavilion, peripatetic hs.nd and other deluding wiles kept up a succession of sensations, doubtless they were well satisfied with the day's entertainment. In creature comforts, Mr Campbell, of Ihe Great Western hotel, and others, supplied all reasonable wants in excellent style. Subjoined is a comparative statement of entries for this and the previous event, obligingly furnished by the secretary, Mr Featherston.

When it is mentioned that the quality in most, of the classes was well up to the murk, and in some cases even superior, it will be seen that the exhibition is quite stauding its ground against the strong counter attractions of three separate associations in the Southland district. The section of draught horses, if fewer in number, was not shorn of any former glories, by the subtraction of a certain quantity of siftings. Indeed this p#&®s might have been advantageouslJ^&Spplied to other sections of exhibits as well. In the aged draught entries a strong tussle took place between the first three find Adamson's New Zealand Prinze, the judges, as well as the horses, being considerably exercised over the business. However, eventually, in spite of objections to defects of form and action in hind quarters, the undeniable Clydesdale points, and the great development of the Oama.ru bred Accoutant carried him to the front, the good legs and action of Calder's Wait a Wee placing him second, Cupples' Victor being ihird ; while the very superior top of New Zealand Prince was decided to be neutralised by gammy legs. The two-year-old colts were but ot average quality, and the yearlings were rather moderate. Brood mares, in foal or with foal at foot, were good ; yeld mares excellent ; three - year - u'd mares fair in quality ; and the draught youngsters promising. The geldings were superior, including John Lindsay's well-known thick, short-legged black prize-taker, and a c-ack importation from Dunedin of Alexander Calder's. The decision in reference to mans or geldings, under 15 hands, was enlivened by a fracas got up by a dissatisfied owner, which, however, we believe, ended in sinolce. The concluding class of draughts, that of pairs ef mares or geldings, or mare and gelding, was realiy of a champion description, as affording prizewinners in various classes an opportunity of being pitted against one another. Great therefore was the cheering when the red ticket was affixed to the local-bred pair of John Lindsay, and the minor honors only were awarded to* the northern importations of Messrs Culder and Cupples. Of the classes of thoroughbred and lighter horses, we are unavoidably unable to speas, as the adjudication of them was only proceeding when the special train became due. Neither could the prize list of the imple. ment class be procured in time. Both, however, will bo published in our next issue, The shoi thorn cattle were perhaps the best class on the ground, and the animals penned by Messrs Beaven, Paterson, Printz, Cupple.°, and, others were, on the whole, highly superior, and a wonderful step in advance over the ttyle of beast that ordinary farmers "went in for" only a very shoit time since. Other duties, however, precluded us from any upportunity of properly examining those shown yesterday, and they were far too good to be dealt with perfunctorily. We can only say, in reference to new importations — more power to Mr Printz — his heifers are a pair of beauties, even if his grand bull is a little down in condition. If the Ayrshires were not so numerous as we have seen at Invercargill, nevertheless a few specimens of considerable, and even up to high, merit were included, Eforefqpds i\nd Polled Augy}B were failures, and the same, in a less degree, may be said of the fat stock which possessed the somewhat serious defeat of not being fat. A great display of very useful crogsbreds was made. In sh«ep, the competition in merinos was a duel between J. Lindsay and W. Johnston, Wreys Bush, the latter getting the svorst of it, to a certain extent through miserable condition. The wool was fairly dense, and of a strong combing sort ; the fleece of the first hogget ram Bhowed a distant strain of Leicester and was of superior market quality. W. J£. Hazlett 6i}ecess|u)ly competed with F. Sutfon in Lincolns -, and Is. Grieve bore off the chief honors (including the cup) in Leicester?, F. R. Boyd showed a few fair Romuey JMarsh ; and J. F. Collins's very superior Lvn.coln-L,eicoster crosspa cquld qnjy he passed over on aocqunt of possessing what the judges considered a preponderance of Lincoln blood, although W. K. Hazlett's successful pens were good specimens of a different style. Perhaps it would be more satisfactory in future to describe tb,e precise degree of cross far whifth prizes a,re o,f£sre.d,. r^hg §ho\v pf poultry was only middling \

that of dairy produce, hams, &c, was excellent in quality and get-up ; that of implements, consisting of the manuf actarea of Reid and Gray and B. Wilson, Wuiton, \vas superior in genuine practicableness; the .local industries represented were J. R. Stack's colonial wines, J. Harrington's (Dee street, [nvercargill) case of hoise shoes, and one reel. of colonial three-barb wire from Charles Roat^ Jnvercargilh K - r ' . The arrangements of the yard, with Mr JTeatherstone as secretary, *and/ ra host offj able and willing stewards Jol^ari^ theini on, were very praiswprthy. Indeed the patience anct urbanity"^xeffcfs'&dT'l^yJ'-tte^. secretary, and thoss ; stewards, including Mr W. K. Hazlett/witfiwhom we camo in contact, was not; only V highly commendable " but was -w or thy of first honors. ; . ; .-">■ list. ■■";.■ , JDBAU.GHT HOBSES. ■- .•■ ■'% '-•.'' Judges— Messrs John Faulkner, Hugh Ohrisr ■ : tie, and John. Andrews.,, , f """ . .'^r Stewards — Messrs R Baird,, Ayson, and W-f HaZlett. ■;...,.,-,,;. V,;?-,:^-, r,,,\ : Be^J; Entire Horse r , 3' 'years old 'and npwards^lst prize, £3 3s, •' A;JForbes' Accountant , 2iidd0 t &l,los, A Oalde^s, Wait A W&i 3 I'd, honorary certificate, E Qaftples' lfipi6t. 5 exhibits. ! . : J., V .^ -:/V ?m'^:''"-r ' Best Entire Coltj 2 \ years omr-lafc J prize, £2, G Hamilton. 2 .exhibit. '; ]',< Best Entire Colt, 1 .year";dld-— Honor aiy cei tificate, James Hayi 1 exhibit. ' . DBATJGHT.MABEa • | >irt Best Brood Mare, 3 years old and upwards, apparently in foal, or with foal;' at foot— lst prize, £2 JOs, John .Lindsay; 2nd -do,, £1, John Hamilton ; 3ri -do, honorary certificate, Mortoa and Noble. ;5 exhibits, .'. ... . :; j Best Yeld Mare, any age-^-lat prize, £2 10s, A Hannah; 2nd <30,£1, AjHannHh ; 3rd do, honorary certificate, A Hannah. 6 exhibits. ■-'■.!'■ :• •; Best 3 year old Draught Mare — Ist prize, £2, A Hannah ; 2nd,.do, £1, AJHannah j;3rd do, honorary certificate, James . Tnrnbull. 4 exhibits. ..-.• ■.. < ; •■■■.. Best 2 year old Filly— lst prize, £1 10b, G R Tnrnbull ; 2nd. do, £I,GB Tarnbull ; 3rd do, honorary certificate, R Hazlett. 4 exhibits. Best 1 year old Filly— lst prize,- £1 10s, J Lindsay ; 2nd r?o, £1, J Lindsay ; 3rd do, honorary certificate, A Miller. GELDINGS. Best Draught Gelding— lst prize, £2, J Lindsay ; 2nd do, £1, A Calder ; 3rd do, honorary certificate, R Gupples. Best Draught Mare or Gelding, under 15 hands— lst prize, £2, John Mclntyre ; 2nd do, £1, Mr Miller; 3rd do, honorary certificate, J Fleck. Best pair Geldings, or Mares, or Mare and Gelding— lst prize, £2, J Lindsay ; 2nd do, £1, A. Calder ; 3rd do, honorary certificate! R Cupples.

1881 1882 Horse3 ... ... Hfi 91 Cattle 96 99 Sheep 93 106 Pigs 17 13 Poultry 17 18 Cheese 7 7 Butter 55 51 Ham and Bacon 7 10 408 395