AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5731, 26 November 1896, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS.

DUNEDIN. [From Our Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, Nov. 25. • Tho twentieth annual show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association was opened to-day at Tahuna Park. The weather was all that could be desired, but the attendance was small and mainly composed of exhibitors and judges. During the year j the show ground has been enlarged by the ; inclusion of a portion of the adjoining • domain, part of which has been levelled ; and part formed into an extension of the . terrace. Permanent sheep pens have been • erected, and the fat cattle pens have been removed to the new ground. The society . has now a most excellent and convenient show ground. To-day's proceedings were confined to the judging of the cattle, sheep and pigs, and though announced to begin at 12.30 p.xu. it was late in the afternoon before some of the classes were reached. The entries of sheep were larger than last year's, but this section was : still numerically quite unworthy of the district, only one hundred and thirty-five pens being catalogued. Some of these unfortunately were vacant, and the occupants of others in anything but good order, , three dogs liaving invaded the ground on i Tuesday morning at daybreak and worried j a number of the Southland exhibits. The Hon M. Holmes lost a Roinney, two.; at least of Messrs John Reid and Sons' Shropshires, including an imported ewe, can scarcely live, and others, besides several of Mr Holmes's Romneys and Cheviots and Messrs M'Kercher Bros.' Border Leicesters, were severely mutilated. The arrival of the sheep on Monday night was not expected and no caretaker was on duty. General regret is felt at the occurrence. Mr Watson Shennan was the only exhibitor of merinoes, all being fine combing of the highest quality. The championship for ram was taken by Mr Sherman's recent purchase from the stud of Mr C. B. Grubb, Tasmania, one of the purchasers of the famous ram President. Border Leicesters were very fine, Messrs Little Bros, and Mr J. S. Holmes fighting their Christchurch and Oamaru battles over again.- The former were first in all i classes of the rams championship and | both classes of ewes with lambs, taking ] both championships, and Mr Holmes took the two prizes for ewe hoggetsi No English , Leicesters were entered. Lincolns were shown only by the Land Company (Moeraki) and Mr Holmes, j The former took both championships with Christchurch winners, and took four firsts (two unopposed) to Mr Holmes's three. The Romney Marsh classes produced the best competition in the sheep section. Mr J. B. Logan, a new exhibitor, who recently imported two highclass rams from Mr W. H. Rigden, Kent, took first and championship with one of them and third with the other, the second place 1 being taken by Fulton's trustees with the Christchurch champion. In single ram* hoggets another new exhibitor, Mr F. R. Boyd, took all the prizes, aud in pairs Mrs Miller, Taieri, another first appearance in the sheep classes here, was first and second. The Hon M. Holmes's sheep had probably

to thank their experience of the previous morning for their non-success. Shropshire Downs were shown only by Mesßrs John Reid and Sons, Monte Cristo, and included some better ewes than they exhibited at Christchurch. The Hon M. Holmes sent in an attractive little collection of Cheviots, and regret, was expressed that the more recent importations were not represented. Fat sheep varied widely in weight and quality. Mr S. Garforth's Southdowns stood out as perfect quality, and Messrs Reid and Sons' Shropshires and Shropshire crosses showed the wonderfully early maturity which is their characteristic. Mr Garf orth waa first and Messrs Reid second for freezers (any breed or cross), andi these positions were reversed in Down wethers. There was a finer, collection than usual of Shorthorns. Mr Gow's Peer 111., last year's champion, again occupied that position, and his worth was proved by the success of his yearling sonß from Lincoln College, Lord Rosebery (winner at Leeston), Lord Kelvin (very highly commended at Christchurch) and Persimmon, which were respectively first, Becond and highly commended in a strong class. The New Zealand and Australian Land Company (Clydevale) and Mr John Deans were the other leading competitors in this section, Mr Deans taking thirds with the two-year-old bull RueseH's Brunswick (highly commended at Christchurch) arid the yearling bull, Russell's Blithe 11. Polled Angus were first-class, the exhibitors being the Land Company (Totara), the Hon M. Holmes (Castle Rock), Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. (Gladbrook) and Messrs R. and A. Officer (Fairfax), the ; last-named's grand bull, Monarch, first at : Christchurch, taking the ' championship. ! Only two Herefords were entered. Ayr- . shires were the best feature of the show. Mr James Gemmell and Mrs K. • B. Ferguson met mostly with the Bame animals as at Christchurch, but the , Christchurch decisions met frequent reversals. Mr Gemmell's Lord Glasgow (champion) and King were first in their classes as at Christchurch, but in yearling bulls Mr Gemmell's Hruger (cnly commended at Christohuroh) was placed first, Mrs Fergusson's Robin Adair (very highly commended at- Christchurch) second, and Royal Jack (first at Christchurch) highly commended. In cows in milk, Messrs A. and J. M'Farlane were first and second, and Mr Gemmell filled? the other places in reverse order to the Christchurch awards. Mr GeniineU's Molly (second at Christ- ', chvtrch) was first in three-year-old heifers, • Mary (commended at Christchurch), was ' also first, above Mrs Fergußson's pair (second and very highly commended at . Christchurch.) Mr- Q-emmell supplied first . and second in yearling heifers; his cow ; Saccharine, with twoof her progeny, was first here, as in Christchurch, and hiß bull i Lord Glasgow led five of hiß progeny into the ring, each of" the six bearing a firstprize card, this brilliant success evoking ; hearty cheering.. The Channel Islands .; cattle consisted chiefly of very pretty ; Jerseys, shown by Mr F. Helyer and MrT. ; Porterfield, both of Otago Peninsula. Tho ', fat cattle were mostly Bhown by the Land i Company (Edendale and Clydevale) and Mr .' Alex. Douglas, Taieri, a Clydevale Short- [ horn steer taking the championship, j Mr James- Rowe, Christchurch, was the . largest winner with pigs, Mr W. C. j Ladbrook, Gore, beating him in Berkshire ! boars under nine months, and the Seacliff [ Asylum in Tamwortn boars. In white pigg. jhe had no opposition. The Seacliff establishment showed ; a Berkshire with litter i by a Tamworth '..■hoax, the most prettily marked tortoiseshell-eoloured pigs imaginable. Dairy produce was. of very fine quality,, but the factories' did not exhibit, the winter show being their arena. Hams and bacon .were good, but there was little competition. There is a magnificent display of implements and machinery, and amongst the manufactures nothing attracted more- attention than the Golden Apple cider.