GOOD ENTRIES IN LIVESTOCK

Southland Times, Issue 23990, 4 December 1939, Page 10

GOOD ENTRIES IN LIVESTOCK

Sheep And Cattle Judged Tomorrow BETTER HORSE SECTION THIS YEAR There are more than 700 entries in the livestock classes and the judges will be faced with the usual busy day when they begin this work tomorrow morning. The sheep and cattle sections will be judged tomorrow and the horse sections will be considered by the judges on Wednesday. It is thought that the cattle rings will take up the attention of spectators tomorrow. Sheep judging does not lend itself to public performance and for most of the day until the awards are posted it will not be possible for die public to observe the results of the judging, but close inspection of the pens will no doubt be made later. The entries in the sheep section total 271, compared with 339 last year, it being' in this section that the biggest decrease is shown. The Romney Marsh section, as usual, is the strongest and promises to be an excellent display of the most popular breed in' .the province. TKdi'h are 94' entries; •‘boiripared with 96 last year, with keen competition in each class. The strongest entries are from the noted Clydevale breeders, J. Mosley and Sons, who won the male championship at the Gore show last year, Mr D. Robertson, of Waikoikoi, who secured the champion ewe ribbon at last year’s show, and Mr W. G. Ladbrook, of Howe. The Border Leicester entry is not nearly as strong as last year.. This breed made a “come-back” in 1937 and the : entries showed a considerable increase again last year but the entries, have again dropped considerably for tomorrow’s show. However, this section should attract considerable attention. Mr J. A. Edwards, of Otikerama, and W. Kennedy and Son, of Otautau, have the strongest entries in this section.

The entry in the Southdown section is a good one and is on a par with last year’s figure, a good number of prominent Southland breeders sending forward contingents. Those with the strongest entries in this section are Messrs W. Ladbrook (Howe), A. W. Pannett (Clinton), D. Robertson (Waikoikoi), and the Southland Frozen Meat Company (Makarewa). There is only a small entry in the English Leicester section, and Mr E. M. Coleman, of Balclutha, has practically no competition in all classes. The same position occurs in the Shropshire, Corriedale and Lincoln section, . individual breeders having practically no competition in all sections. Incidentally, an entry from Mr W. M. Bishell, of Blenheim, in the Lincoln section, is the first entry received in this section for several years. CROSSBRED SHEEP Eastern Southland’s crossbred flocks are of such quality that good exhibits can be expected in this section. The entries are not quite as good as last year, but the competition should be keen and the display a good one. Fleming Bros., of Crookston, and Mr R. H. Gardyne, of Waikaka, are the main exhibitors in this section. The entries in the fat sheep section are well up to previous figures but the entry of fat lambs shows a decrease compared with last year’s entries. Southland produces the best fat lambs in the Dominion, so this section can be expected to be a good one. Five pet lambs will be on show.

The cattle entries show a slight increase compared with those of a year ago. They are still a long way behind the entries of 1937 and 1936, however, and this is perhaps due to the shortage of farm labour, farmers not being able to give sufficient attention to their stock. The display should, however, be a representative one with plenty of competition in the stronger sections. In the dairy breeds there is strongest competition in the Friesian section. There are no outside exhibits, all entries being from the herds of the leading breeders of the district. Ayrshires come next in popularity and good competition is expected in this section. Mrs A. Wilson, of Tapanui, is a strong exhibitor. The entries in the Jersey section have dropped considerably, N. Moore, of Tapanui, having practically no competition. The entries in the Milking Shorthorn section, which dropped away to four last year, show an increase this year. This breed is making good progress in Southland and it can be ex-

pected that the entries will continue to increase. D. Murphy and Sons, of Kennington, are strong exhibitors. There will only be one exhibit in the beef Shorthorn section. Good increases are shown in the crossbred cattle, and fat cattle classes. STRONG HORSE ENTRY The horse sections, which will be judged on Wedrfesday, are well filled, being stronger this year than for several years, and there should be some interesting competition. More outside entries are in this section and there should be a test of quality in the various rings. In the draught sections entries will be forward from Logan Brothers (Otama), Mr James McCallum (Otahuti R.D.), Mr A. Noble (Gore),-Mrs L. Robertson and Sons (Waikoikoi), Mr David Caldwell (Edendale) and Mr H. Kirk (Kelso). In the hackney section Miss R. H. Muirhead (Ashburton) and Miss K. Wood (Beaumont) will be strong exhibitors, while in the competitions Messrs J. G. and W. E. Hazlett (Invercargill) and W. Hastie (Dunedin) will be well represented. In the pony sections entries will be forward from Mr A. R. Johnston (Waikaka Valley), Mr A. Duncan (Invercargill), and Miss J. Wilhelmsen (Mataura). GROUNDS NEAR GORE The excellent geographical position of Gore plays a big part in the success of the local association, and there is no doubt that this fact, together with the association’s capacity for thorough and efficient organization, and the spacious,

well-appointed accommodation available, has induced ever-increasing numbers of exhibitors to come forward each year. The association is indeed fortunate in having its grounds within a few minutes’ walk of the business centre of the town. The property has gained the favour of exhibitors by virtue of the convenience of arrangements, spacious accommodation and railway facilities. In addition to the grandstand built in 1906 there is a handsome building erected several years ago to house dairy produce and culinary exhibits, while numerous officials find accommodation in a structure a little east of the stand. COMPARISON OF ENTRIES The steady progress and ever-increas-ing development of the show since its inception are indicated in the following table, giving a comparison of entries, at intervals since 1882: — Horses Cattle Sheep Pigs Poultry Dairy Produce Implements Combined entries Dogs TOTALS 1 It is also interesting to recall that around the years 1887 to 1892, the attendances at the Gore show were the

greatest in Southland, and in those days there were numerous A. and P. shows in the province. The Gore fixture was also one of the best at which to display agricultural implements. Up until 1892 the association held its show in Green’s paddock; but the growth of Gore, and the demand for building sites made it essential for this site to be subdivided. A special meeting of the committee was held on Wednesday, December 30, 1891, and it was decided to purchase from the Perpetual Trustees and Agency Company (for Mr W. Souness), 14 acres 3 roods 9 poles, for £450. The' annual show has been held there ever since.

The 1892 show was the first to be held on the new ground, and to meet the extra expenditure an extra charge was levied on patrons at the gate. The attendance was approximately 3700. .At this particular show the cattle section showed a decided weakness. Mr W. J. Johnston scooped the pool in the Merino sheep section. The dog classes showed a slight improvement, but the poultry classes were poor, and the quantity, though not the quality, of the dairy produce also dropped appreciably. Two accidents were reported on show day, but neither of them was serious. In the morning Mr N. S. Kingdon, a vice-president of the association, was thrown from his trap Something in the nature of a sensation took place in the afternoon during the course of the jumping competitions when one of the horses bolted and during its mad career Miss Simpson had the misfortune to be kicked. The terrified animal' was subsequently quietened. The president’s prize for most points was won by Mr A. Fleming. The president, Mr D. Murray, was not a. competitor. LIST OF PRESIDENTS 1882 .... Mr R. M. Robertson 1883 .... Mr G. P. Austing 1884 .... Mr W. A. Donald 1885 ... Mr H. S. Valentine 1886 ....■• Mr Thos. Green 1887 Mr John Mac Gibbon 1888 ... Mr G. M. Bell •• 1889 Mr W. A. Donald - . 1890 Mr G. M. Bell . 1891 .... Mr Thos. Green ,1892 .... Mr David Murray 1893 .... Mr J. D. Hunter 1894 ■ Mr. N.’S. .Kingdom 1895 .'... Mr* J. S. MiUar - 1896 Mr'.W. F. Ward 1897 .... Mr A. Fleming ... .. 1898 .... Mr W. A. Donald 1899 .... Mr W. Macara 1900 ... Mr H. Smith 1901 .... Mr A. Murdoch 1902 .... Mr Geo.' Milnes 1903 Mr T. Logan 1904 .... Mr M, Dickie ; 1905 ..... Mr C. Cooper 1903 .... 'Mr H. Mclntyre 1907 .... Mr John Waddell 1908 .... Mr J. Clouston' 1909 .... Mr S. White 1910 .... Mr S. G. Inder 1911 .... Mr G. P. Johnston 1912 .... Mr M. R. Lawlor 1913 .... Mr P. S. Cullen 1914 .... Mr James Stevenson

r . 1915 .... Mr John Turnbull 5 1916 ... Mr R. Dodds - 1917 .... Mr A. G. Copland 1918 .... Mr George Morrison... 1919 .... Mr J. Cumming 1929 .... Mr G. P. Johnston 1921 .... Mr D. Y. Dickie 1922 .... Mr T. A. Fleming 1923 .... Mr John Cooper 1924 .... Mr John Scott 1925 .... Mr Geo. Smith ■ 1926 .... Mr R. L. Byars 1927 .... Mr E. Bowmar 1928 .... Mr Jas. Bruce 1929 .... Mr J. E. White 1930 .... Mr Henry Smith 1931 .... Mr Hugh Smith 1932 .... Mr David Dickie 1933 .... Mr F. F. Trapski 1934 .... Mr W. Y. Dickie 1935 .... Mr H. P. Mclntyre 1936 .... Mr G. R. Herron 1937 .... Mr J. A. Edwards 1938 .... Mr J. Drysdale 1939 .... Mr W. G. Mac Kay

1882 1902 1913 1933 1937 81 230 407 285 301 38 65 128 239 147 21 156 291 459 331 6 23 12 4 112 157 ■ 306 332 169 — — — 128 20 27 26 19 268 758 1033 13271144