AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14055, 12 November 1909, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

CARNIVAL WEEK. CANTERBURY EXHIBITION. Special—By Telegraph. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 11. Since Saturday morning last Chn.>cchurch has worn an appearance of lightheartedness and joviality that ?s onlv seen during carnival week during the" eight days of which the greater part of the population of the city au-i the surrounding districts applies itself in to the pursuit oi pleasure. The first three days of the carnivai week offer entertainment of a lighter description and incidentally an expensive one, but the programmes for today and to-morrow are of a more serious tone. The people of South. Canterbury are accustomed to look upon the annual exhibibition of agricultural and pastoral produce that is conducted by the Timaru Society as one of the starting points of the year I—an 1 —an occasion from which events date and weeks, of anticipation and preparation culminate in the two days' show that is generally so successful an affair with none of the preceding race days that occur in Christchurch to diminish the interest in them, because there is a choice offered between horses in fevered motion, and others in the peaceful quiet of the show stall or the briskness of the judging ring. There is no lack of interest in the great metropolitan show that attracts exhibitors and sightseers from all parts of the South Island and during the next two days Christchureh will probably be even more crowded than rfc is already. The weather conditions when the show opened were favourable in the, extreme and it would appear that the outburst of the elements that caused snch heartbreaking destruction anions the visitors to the cup meeting on Saturday had been a final brush down in preparation for the arrangements of tie coming days. Nature seemed to have been infected with the prevailing good humonr of the crowds who people the city streets throughout the day. . j>nd she smiled down serenely. Had the streets been less dusty the weather would hnve been perfect, but once the visitor to the show had arrived safely at the Addington grounds the dnst could be forgotten, for its presence was conspicuously 'absent within the enclosing fences of the grounds. The opening day of the show is one for officials, exhibitors and pressmen but to-day and to-morrow will be both thoroughly popular among those-whose interest is merely their own gratification. The exhibition of implements is a particularly fine one and apparently the various firms wbo cater for the mechanical n°eds of the farrti"r« hnvrecognised that it is to their interest to display their goods to the crowds of people who visit the show. An outstanding feature of the implement section is the lnrce number of oil and gas engines of different makes that are on exhibition. Apparently the competition against horseflesh that has resulted in the use of so many motor cars is to be continued against the draught horses. 03 tatd gas have now been applied to the propulsion of all sorts of farm machinery and there are several oil-

I tractors on exhibition, while the autoi buggy, a vehicle that will accommodate five passengers or sis at a crush, forms another centre of interest. The tents and stands occupy an extensive area of ground and several hours may be spent among them interestingly and profitably. The frozen meat companies with their exhibits of _ manures and other fanning accessories; the woollen mills; the furniture manufacturers and others are well represented by excellent stocks of their respective goods, while'motor cars, bicycles, and various horse vehicles occup a portion of the show commensurate with their importance and the life of the people. The scope of the carriage section is best indicated by the number of exhibitors which is thirty-nine, and tho catalogue shows no less than five hundred and two implements. A comparison between the number of entries in the various sections shows an increase in all except in dogs, in which there has been a slight falling off. The total number of entries exclusive of carriages, implements, mnchinery and tents is 2022, as compared with 1810 at'last year's show. The judges had a busy time to-day in alloting the various tickets in all classes of stock, dairy produce and agncijltural produce, the only judging to be done to-morrow being that of the lighter horses, tradesmen's and carriers' turnouts and the remainder of the jumping events. The principal South Canterbury breeders, Messrs E. Kelland D. Grant, R. Brookland and Sons, N. M. Orbc-U, T S. Little, W. Grant, and J. Douthwaite are exhibiting largely'm the classes for English and Border Leicester sheep, Mr B. Seth Smith, Ngapara, has sent forward a number of his Lincolns and Mr "W. Grant is competing with his Romney Marshes. Mr R. Parry has an entry in the majority of the classes in the Shropshire section, while Mr J. Withell is ono. of the two exhibitors of Ryelands. Mr Withell is the only South Canterbury breeder competing in the classes for fat sheep. There are numerous entries from South Canterbury in the light horse section, these including MessrF. J. White's Victory. 1\ A. El worthy's Libertv, E. G. Temnle'.s Mnfcd. A." S. Elworthy's Bat. J. Mar-Donald's Rainbow, Mrs; H. Elworthy's Ironbr>rk, and Miss B. Connor's Doctor Bill. Squads from the South Canterbury Maunted Rifles will compete in the Lloyd Lindsay competition and the best four over hurdles and Troowr A. J. Black has entered for the Victoria Cross race. THE LIVE STOCK. So far as the animal exhibits are concerned cattle made a much more imposing display than last year, the improvement in this respect being characteristic of the whole of the classes. The effects of the splendid season were manifested by the uniformally excellent condition of the beasts collectively and individually. The entries in the premier class, shorthorns, have never been seen to better advantage. Mr A. Chamberlain and the Canterbury Agricultural Colletrp figi?r-> nripirci'lv in the honours list. There was a strong class of three-year-old heifers and a capital array of two-year-old heifers. The Lincoln College exhiibt was chosen for prido of place from a field of ten yearling heifers. The Jersey classes were all well supported, prominent exhibitors being H. E. B. "Watson (who gained champion--nips for bull and cow), H. E. Pery-

man. D. Swanston and Mrs A. McLachlan.

Ayrshires also made a good showing, the trustees of tho estate of John Parlane gaining the medals for bull and cow in milk. Mr A. McLacklan too was an extensive exhibitor. Fat cattle were much better than usual; Messrs W. B. Clarkson and Son gained the prize for the largest luillock. Other prize-takers were Messrs .Job Ferguson, A. Chamberlain, and the Glenmark and Riccarton estates.

in sheei> the fat classes were surprisingly poor (as to numbers) considering the splendid season and were small when compared with last year. The Merino section was very good and the numbers were sensibly increased by the capital entries <>t J«. J). McLean of Hawke's Bay. English Leicestcrs were very &>il<x as usual and there was an exceedingly tine display of Border Leicesters, most of the leading South Island breeders exhibiting. . , Lincolns were good despite tho no seuce/ of Messrs Bealey Bros., tlie leading breeders. . ~„I lln Roniney Marsh showed considerable improvement owing to the advanrt outside breeders, including Mr Ernest Short, of FeildinE. mrrieShropshires, Soutkdowns and <*£* dales were all well stock and unquetionably this ye*""? shoVof sheep be equalled anywhere S om £Snd for numbers, variety and all rounu 4U snS'tl.o draught horse classes were iudned to-day. Unfortunately there wSmo£ than the u,ual scratching* owing to one of the lead ing South Canterbury breeders having influenza ... his Rubies. On v », ™ of the young animals were ol outstaiiri ?ng merit, the exceptions being the fine two year old colts ot Mr J. B. Wvlliu, Sefton, and mar os and hllics of "Messrs Liken (Oamaru), and Shearer and Taylor (Ashburton). I here were borne bplendid geldings particularly the first and second prize takers exhibited bv Mr A. C. Kee, of Pleasant Point. Dry mares and working teams were a specially noteworty collection ol horseflesh. THE PRIZE-TAKERS.

For Merion hue combing it. D- L\ McLean was awarded champion ior owo under 10' aim aoove zo months, ju stj-ung combing James Citoveusou secured champion ram above 1(5 and uuder 'Jti montlis.

Edward Kelland I'iinaru, was awarded championships in English Leicester ram and ewes.

In Border Leicester* \Y. M. Grant was awarded champion ior ram and Thos. S. Little I'or ewe. In Lincolns the .New Zealand ami Australian Land Company were eliampinos lor ram ond .ewe. ' E. Short was awarded champion, ram and ewe in Romney Marsh. Canterbury Agricultural College were champions m Southdown ram. G. E. Rhodes secured the Sopthdowu Cup and champion ewe. Leonard White was champion in Shropshire rum and ewe. In Corriedales .J. Stringi'ellow got champions for ram and ewe. In half-breds Sir George Clifford was awarded champions for ram and ewe. In cattle the championships were awarded as follows—Shorthorn bull and cow Arthur Chamberlain, .Jersey bull and cow If. E. 15. Watson, Ayrshire bull and cow John Parlane. Mr. A. C. Kee, of Pleasant Point, gained iirst and second prizes with his geldings, and iirst prize with them as a pair of geldings in regular work. ..OL-iii ,Stt.bin'. iu wa*» m w»e litjicesier section oi Miecp uiuc oouui L/iLiiu.ruury lueeueia Were particularly oucccaaiui. ->j.r Xtu'it'uru jLvciiauu cecmed au tue tuiiiug tlio cnumpionbiup in raws una m ewes and lebeive euuuipiuusmps ior bom sexes. iVlr xveiiand tooii lirst and seeoiid prizes ior ram aoove Za montus, tirst, and otcuiid ior rum uuove Iti months and uiiucr 20 montus, and wiUi a rum Dy

Cuiiiiuuiiucr o» \j„ ji i J »^i_^.ii» ri> , ior tue nurd year in succession the ten guinea snver cup rjreaenteu zue i-.eicvatei .breeders' ooc*ety oi liiugiund ior cue De,->t .Leicester ruin under lo mourns oy an lwijorted ram. iuii cui> wui now become ins proper Ly. iur uouuid iirant gained. turet> v.u. c. tickets aud two li.c. ticliets ior rums auu ewes.

-iir Midland was awurdt-d rirsi, t,(.\--ond and v.U.c lor ewes above '2B uiuutns, hist in the class tor ewes vLi>ove sixteen and uuaer 26 niontbs, second in uiider 1G months, lirst m cits unuer lo months enorn since OcuiUur Ist, and nrst and second in tlio ciuss lor tnree ewes uinder sixteen -iOnthS. Mr Uraut gained a third with a ewe duder Jo luontus and in the class for uir«.-e c-u't-s under 10 months the v.h.e. and ii.e. tickets. in jioruer Leicester ranis Mr W. Grant was awarueti tue ciianipioniship, LWO UUU a rtui-oilil ilili* ill e\...l he took a second prize. Mr U. Grant gained two h.c. tickets, Mi J. iyuU-iiSUILetWO Li»»J tliirds and an h.c, and Mr N. M. Or bell UajK a hist, a second, a third, tnree v.li.c's. and a commended. Competition was not quite so strong in J_.iiicoins as in the two .Leicester ■jiasses, but the exhibits were all of a useful class. Messrs U. Seth Smith and Brookland and Sons were the only exhibitors from the southern districts of the province, and they met with a considerable degree of success. Komney Marshes were, moderately well represented and the bulk of the honours were secured by Mr K. Short, of l' - eildiiig. Mr W. Grant gained a second, a v.h.c. and a commended in this section. ~,•+! Mr itupert Parry who competed witn representatives of Jus Shropshire flock and Mr J. Withell with some of his Ryelands, each gained a number of prizes, and Mr Withell was a prize winner in the fat sheep section. THE MILITAH-Y EVENTS.

The military 'events formed an important section of the ring events set down for to-day. In the Lioyd-Lindsay competition a squad of the Ashburton Mounted Rifles was placed first with 92 points, beating the South Canterbury Mounted Ritics by two points. The Ashburton Rifles were successful in the competition for the best four over hurdles, again beating South Canterbury for first place. In the first trial the two squads tied with 52 points but the Ashburton team eventually won. They showed up much better in negotiating the jumps, though the South Canterbury men surpassed them in respect of time. Trooper A. J. Black, of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles was placed third in the Victoria Cross race. THE HUNTERS. In the maiden hunters Mr. J. McDonald of Orari Bridge took first prize with Rainbow, and Mr A. S. Elworthy's Wizard was place dsecond. The three prizes in the class for host jumper steeplechase style, were all secured by South Canterbury horses, Mr. Elworthy's Rowlock gaining first, Mr E. O. Temple's Maitai second, and Mr F. J. White's Victory third.