THE EXHIBITS

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15259, 22 December 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE EXHIBITS

In the draught horse section there was ver-r good competition on the whole in the"'mare, gelding and teams classes, and it is very satisfactory to note that in the opinion of Mr. Lloyd, one of the judges, who judged the same class some three years ago, there is a distinct improvement obV.or.-n ble.. For a considerable number 01 years the southern judges who visited the Nelson show were uniiniraously of opinion tliat the draughts in this district were below the standard. It is gratifying to learn that the Association has been to some extent instrumental in effecting a much desired improvement. In the cattle section the Jerseys constitute the strong class. This breed has increased in favour and is stronger than ever Avrshlres, formerly a very strong class, have fallen back, and Fnesians have not come into the prominence that at one time they promised to attain. In the Jersey class judging, the greatest interest was manifested, and the failure of former prominent" prize-winners will lead to even more interest 'being displayed at the next show.. The judge was particularly struck with the quality of Mr. Smallbone's heifer. In the fat cattle classes the competition was, as usual, moderately keen, and once again that enthusiastic supporter of the Association, Mr. F. W. l^irey, had a large entry. Throughout the day this class was a centre of attraction, as there was much to interest the farmers in the various pens. A pen of six fat bullocks placed on exhibition only by Air Fairey as an example of the class of ammay the North Island is providing in thousands for the frozen meat trade, attracted much notice. These Leasts were selected from a shipment of 66 obtained by Mr. Fairey from Waverley for the purposes of his business. Noticeable among this lot was a purebred three-vear-old Shorthorn steer which experts declared to be one of the finest specimens they had seen. Another very line beast was one which scored at the last iilenheim Show. A purebred Shorthorn, only two years and four months old, is so good that Mr. Fairey intends to keep film for further showing. He was bred by Mr Monro, of "Bankhouse, Marl-borouo-h, and in quality shows that the South Island can produce animals equal to those from the North. Mr. Uaircy had some ill luck in not being able to exhibit a giant Hereford bullock which he purchased from Mr. Frank Moore, of "Busby Park," Wanganui, and with which he will seek fresh laurels at the Sydney Royal Show.. This beast weighs no less than H tons, and is-described as unbeatable in the Dominion. Mr Moore considered there was a risk in shipping him to Nelson at present, much to the ( disappointment of Mr. Fairey. A Polled Angus bullock shown by Mr. Fairey was awarded the champion ticket tor tat beast., but Mr. T. Newman's white bullock was a good second and is a.proot of whit can be produced in the district with proper winter feeding. As an inSauce* of the quality of the stock that is being "brought mtc, the dlS£±f s ■may be mentioned that Mr. ,*«™ s s champion Hereford bull was sired bya "bull which was purchased for 2,2W Sl'i?fe aSsheep section shows a serious fallinc-off in the number of entries, S eof the breeds which hereto tore have always been represented not providing J single pen. In some other breeds there ; Ja" no competition. Romneya, as usual ; occupied pride of place in the number S CSies Pand competition The chamTiuin "Romnev ram, shown by Mr. J. a., j Jordan Stanley Brook, and'bred by Mr E/ CEIH was very highly commented ummby those qualified to judge. In the fat classes there was good competition nnd some fine quality of sheep and lambs were shown. The fat iambs especia ly were very highly thought of and judged to be equal to anything that could be produced in the Dominion. Mr. K. A. Palmer's pen of longwool wethers only showing four teeth were splendid sheep, ■St to show anywhere. Mr. Bremer, the judge, has been judging for the past 35 years, and he remarked on the classes before him that on the whole they were a good useful lot. The only thing wrong was the lack of competition. The Kom-ne-ys, Southdowns and Shropshires included some very good sheep, the champion Romncy ram being especially good. The fats, what there were of them, wore a first class line, the lambs being splendid; they were as good as any that he had seen at any show this year, and ]ie had attended most of the shows in the North Island. He spoke, as other visiting judges hav.e done in past years, of many of the sheep being badly shown. Some of the sheep were well enough brought out, but some people did not seem to know how to bring a sheep out

for show, and this point should be gjven the attention it deserved. Most of the fat sheep were disposed of at auction on the ground, and tiie winning fat lambs, butchers', brought £3 7s each, and wethers £3 7s 6d. T]ho entries of pigs were riot numerous, but the quality generally was good. In the class for the litter of pigs with sow there were five entries, and the judge (Mr R. D. Harkness) considered that the fast prize exhibit of Messrs W, 11. May and Co., Ltd., was the best he had seen for three-week-old suckers. In the second prize, award* ed to the Convent Farm, the suckers were live weeks old,;and the quality of these were also good. The judge of the farm and garden produce said that, taken all roxmd, the quality in this section was good, the only drawback being lack of competition. The "bacon and oaten chaff were deserving of special mention for quality. In the domestic produce class there was not anything to call for special mention. This section is not as popular with exhibitors ,as"formerly, due to a number of conditions which more normal times should see remedied. What there was of dairy produce, etc., was very good in quality. Quantity and consequent keener competition was the lacking factor. The judge of the dogs was of opinion that the best dogs in the district were not shown, which is not as it should be. The smooth-coated collie dogs were described by him as being a very fine class, but he was disappointed with the bitches. The boardies were a fair class, the winning bitch being a very nice animal. Beyond this comment Mr. Salisbury could not go, and he again expressed the hope that owners of good dogs would come forward and show them