TIMARU AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5548, 26 October 1892, Page 3

TIMARU AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Potrons— R. H. Rhodes, A. E G. Rhodes, i M.HR., G. H. Rhodes, and B. T. Rhodes, j President— o. N. Orbell. Vice-president— , Jas. King. Treasurer— W. Balfour. Score- j tary — F. W. Stubbs. Committee of Manage- i ment — J. Austin; J. Campbell, A. M. Clark, | Robert Davie, E. Elworthy, John Goldie, . William Hay, R. Irving, E. Kelland, , George Lyall, T. Mitchell, D. MoLaren, ( Jobn Murray, A. C. Pringle, M. Quinn, | E. T. Rhodes, G. H. Rhodes, R. H.Rhode., ( J, S. Butherford, W. Ste.eneon, J. Strutliere, , G. Talbot, Thos. Teacbetnaker, A. Wylie. 1 Ground Committee — it. KelUnd, D. ( McLaren, Jas. King, A. 0. Pringle. ( Class Stewards— Merino (Olass A)— J. 0 { Park and N. Mocfarlanej Merino (Class , B) — D. Sutherland. Leioester Sheep— ] F. W. Smith, and B. E. H. Tripp; ( Lincoln Bomnsy Marsh, Down Bi-eads, and ( Fat Sheop — R.'Maokay, A. 8 Smith and J. s M. H. Tripp ; Shonhorned o_,ttlo, Angus, ( Hereford and Fat Cattle— J- Slrutbers ; 1 Ayrshire, Alderney ond other Breeds - John j Hedley and F. Porry ; Draught Horaes — R s Irving and W. Btevenson ; Other Horses — 1 A. 8. Bmith aud J. 0. Thierens ; Hunters — : H. G. Smith and A. J. Blakiston j Pigs— W. , Balfour ond R Dawo j Dairy Proluco— G, t Talbot and John Anstey j Agricultural , Produce— John Campbell ; Dogs -H. G. Smith ; Implements, eto. — B. Kelland Judges — Merino sheep (Class A arid B) — John Murroy, Orari j Donald Frisor, Shepherd's Bush. English Loioestors ■W. B. j Andrews, t'aitapu j Jos. Haydon, Prebbleton , Border Leicostora— John Deans, Riccarton : j M. McFarlane, Rangiora. Lincoln sheep and j Romney Marsh — Hy. Ford, Kapunatiki ; | Thos* Pasbley, Kaiapoi. Down Rreeds— Wm. ] Hay, Tepukera, Point ; Alex. Wylie, Kings- j down. Crossbred and Fat Bheep— Jobn ( Moßeatb, Totara ; John Wilson, Upper , Kaikorai. Shorthorned, Hereford, Polled , Angus, and Fat Cattle— Wm. Hoy, Topu- j kero, Poiut ; Alex. Wylie, Kingsdown ( Ayr- ] ehire, Alderneys, and otber breeds of catllo — < Thor. Stevenson, Maheno ; JohnGoldie, Point, j Draught Horses — T. Stevenson, Maheno ; R. ] Smellie, North Taieri. Other Horses— R | Orr, Oamaru ; L. Maolean, Dunedin. ( Hunters— Frank Egan, Christchurch ; Jas. j A. Randall, Dunsandel. Doaa— John Murray, , Orari ; John Grant, Temuka. Pigs - Thomas , Longdon, Winchester s Charles Bourn. ( Timaru. Dairy F.oduce.and Curod Meats, and | Bread— Neil Campbell, Hampden ;J. Arkle, l Paimerston. Agricultural Produce— J Yen- 1 ning, Timaru ; Thomas Kinross Pareora ■ Station. Wool — John Murray ond Donald i Frasor. Maohinery — Andrew Martin, Otaio ; i J. W. Hardie, Hook. N. Marquis, Hon. j Veterinary Surgeon. i The twenty-seventh annual exhibition of ' stock, agricultural produce, and farm imple- • ments, of tbe Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral 1 Association was opened on their grounds, Wai- ' iti Road, yesteaday. The weather was all | that could bo desired, and the ground arrange- • ments were of the usual good order, so that ' the many visitors to-day should find no i difficulty m pioktng out the various branches ' they most deßire to see. Yesterday was ' principally devoted to the Judging of the ; sheep, tho ' ogicials stortipg on tbeir . work about 1 o'clock, and jn tbe case cf ■ merinos only not finishing till S 20. In tho I sheep branch of the show there is a slight fall? < ing off compared witb previous years, the de- i ficienoy being principally m tho merino, Down, i and Lincoln olasses. The implements on tbe I southern side of the ground make up a firstclass display, the best it is said thot has over i beon seen. Thiß sect ! on is made very busy- ! looking on account of the lirgo number of i experts which are m attendanco.aud who take advantage of every opportunily to explain tho various improvements wMob have been made i darine the year m reapers and binders, and other of the more important implements Judging by tho ample aooommodation provided by Jfessrs Soannell an! Rothwellat the general lieens- bpotjjs, Bnd Mr McOlellond at tho lunoheon booth, _. big Jjusinesß is expected to be dono on the " People's D;>r," when it is hoped for all concerned Ibat tho a_t«ud«n_ie will bo large. One thing wo would like vert laijah to cce — that is that the Borough Couneil'i yater-cort be sent along Wai iti Boad, for tbi. dust from passing traps ia a great nuisance. SHEEP. Compared with many previous years, there vras a sad falling off m the cUsses for sheep, •tbis shrinkage being most noticeable m Merino R section, m Lincolnß, m Romney Marsh ; whiUt m Down breeds there wore no entries at all, and Mess.. Hay and Wyllie, the appointed judges, found that thoy had i nothing to do. We oould got no satisfactory reason for the falling off; but were glad to i he.r one or two briudera stato that thoy I would chow Wtii'year, m the Down class at I any rote. The shea}} ysod t? bo looked up.n i as 0 main feature of the ahi»w; certainly r somftbing is needed .o infute a Utile wore . enthusiasm into breeders, and to oauto a E revival to i entitle the association toon.cc moro n toko a place worthy of such a growing and , stock-raising distriot as South C?!. terbury. ? Among tbe sheep actually shown the-re w*b , a dearth of competition, and on totalling up ■> the 50 classes that were represented, we find . that they were distributed »mopg only c 13 Bheepowners and breeders. Such poor competition may tend to make tho tasks of judges light, as they may bo inclined to «kip where an owner has all hie own way 'm a *clf3o ; but it reduces the standard of a show very mi^oh, and does not fully bring out the advantage! of breeding and quality — eisentials whioh those ou the look out for , stud stock to eagerly watoh for. As to tho present Bhow of sheep, opinions very muoh I c differ ; but the majority hold that, for i numbers ond quality generally, it beors ■t favourable comparison with previous years. i- Ths two sections of tho merino classes ore tbe s moat numfl.ous, ond m judging them Mr n Murray and M_ Fr.Bor bad a hord day's *' JTO..J., .and found before' jetting out of many i- pf the' p.fl. tb_,_ their duties were °V no h means light. In foot th^y differed slightly m g one or two instances, and a third gjrty had to g be oalled iv to give 'hie decision. The well 9 Jjpown Roinoliff breeders met with keen op c pp«iifo^ m tbe ram olasies from Mr' A. B. p tytnitb, who esrrjeci off most of the chief t hono.ura, and thus tjurn'e^ the tables on his f t}pß9P e °t' nf last ypa/. The pheep were, con--9 wifeJifrJ tfj. severe weather of late, ehpwn '. to gsod conaition, and : tarried ' fitet rate fleeces. Jg owe? ity? _■?£ S'..' 1 ' Hoare practi-

c.illy swept ihn board, Mr Smith only gutting onn firat and second, and Mr Gideon Rutherford one second, among a numerous entry. The ewes were looking woll, fairly good »s to condition, und wellwoolled ; and a good deal of time was spent over them m making awards. In the young ewe olaSB Mr Butherford had hiß exhibit thrown out, on account, the judges informed üb, of having brown spots on tbe legs. In the pons of five rams, Mr Gideon Rutherford's cheep woro very much abovo tho others at ovory point, and easily got first prizo ; but io tho pens of fire ewes the Messrs Hoare had tho best ; and m ewes with lambs at foot Mr A. B. Nmith boat Mr Rutherford. Ono of tto prize taker's lambs was very small, but the owes woro good. In the strong combing olasses Mr C. Q*. Tripp, who was *o successful last year, met with tho sirongest opposition from tho Messrs V_oMaster, of Oamaru, and was badly boaten at all points. In six of tbo classes they had tbo pens to IhomsoWes, and their sheep wero deemod so good thai tho judgos had no hesitation m making full awurdn. There was very koen competition m tho| class for beet ram under 18 months, and tho judges could not agree. After calling m another judge of s'-ieop, the first award went to Messrs McMaster. In the five owo class tho judgos only highly commended Mr Tripp's sheep, which takon all round were not nearly so good as ho had formerly shown. In tho Leicester classes such well-known names as A. M. Clark and Bruce and McLaren were mined ; and competition m English Leicestera was narrowed down to Morsrs Mawboh Bro., of Weslorfiold, aad Mr E. Kelland, of Timaru. In first prizes the looal man carried off sir and the Ashburton breeder three. The rams were a splendid lot, with wonderfully heavy oven fleeoos. In j tha olass for ram above 18 months Mr Kelland showed the ram which ho has just lately imported from Cornwall, from the famous Lostwithiel Hook. It was reokoned *by competent judges to be the best woolled ram ever .een m South Canterbury • and found many admirers during tbo afternoon. Ihe judgei passed this ram over, tho awards going to rams wbicb had been bred hero by Mr Holland. Messrs Little Brothers carried off all the Grit prizes io Border Leicester, with fino sheep, of level build and carrying such a dense growth of wool, that tho sheep fairly made onlookers pity them m such woather as tbat of yesterday ; while m Lincolas tho Pareora estate of. tbe New Zealand and Australian Land Oompany met with no opposition. Their sheep were, however, co good that first prizes were given. The same remark applies to the Levels cstute of tbe company, m lho Bomnoy Marsh classes ; and they also got full awards, In the pons for fire (ab lambs, Mr P. Woreing, of Milford, set forward a Bplendid lot ; strong, well grown and clean, and m prime condition. Mr Wyllie'spen alongside were quite small m comparison. In the freezing class, Messrs Orr and Co, again secured tbe association's guineas, and also tho National Mortgage and Agency Company's pieoe of plate, their Merino and Leicestor shoep beiog of such quality as would be hard to best ia the colony. The Levels Oompany got the Association's second prize ; but another pen sent along by the company was deemed much too heavy for freezing purposes. In the other fat class Mr A. Wyllie, of Kingsdown (formerly of Otipua renown), had matters to himself, and showed ten excellent sheep. To-day, as the prize tiokets are on tho pens, with names of exhibitors, visitors should find an inspection of the sheep of interest; and not exactly a minor feature of tbe show.