SHOW NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5739, 5 December 1896, Page 4

SHOW NOTES.

I » - [By TtTSSOCK IN " CAKTEBBTmT-TniEß."] Mr W. Holley, one of the judges of Draught Horses at the Metropolitan Show, writes to the Lyttelton Times'dofending his fellow-judge, Mr J. C. M'Kerrow, of Wairarapa, and himself from the reflections which he considers Mr John Boag*s letter, published last week, cast upon them. Mr_ Holley states his side of the case very forcibly. Some notes on the Marlborongh Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show, last week, are sent by the lady correspondent of this paper, in her letter which appears in the Ladies' Pages. The entries for the Otago A. and P. Society's show, which opened yesterday, exceed those of last year in all but two classes, horses numbering 245, compared with 247, and dairy producs 52, as against 57. Despite the absence in the north of Mr Messrs A. and J. M'Farlane's Ayrshires there is an increase in cattle. Three of the pens winch competed for the Lytielion Times Company's prize for the best bacon pigs at the Metropolitan Showwere sold at Addington last week. MrJohn Deans's Yorkshires, estimated to average about 1801 b, sold at 47s 6d; Mr A. Muir's Berkshire crosses, averaging about 1601 b, at 455, and Mr John Toon's Yorkshire crosses, averaging about 1451 bat 40s (a somewhat inferior pig was added to the latter pen). Pour out of the winning pen (the five of which were es&nated to average nearly or quite 2001 b) were sold at the Show grounds at 455, for breeding purposes; the other, on which, the exhibitor placed a prohibitive price, being retained by him, also for breeding. It will be seen that Mr Muir's pen fetched t"fte highest price per Ib. : Visitors to the Courtenay show, Ia8& week, were unanimous that it was tne pleasantest gathering of the season. Everybody connected with, the show appeared to exert himself to secure the success of the event and the convenience and enjoyment of the visitors. Many of the horses shown at Kirwee were very much in the rough. Some were only a dky or two out of the paddock — one of these a pony, being driven in harness. If an animal is worth taking to a show it is surely worth a little attention, beforehand. A good many remarks have been ma<3e about trimmed sheep at the shows thiel season. Some of the sheep referred tohave been quite works of art, but committees have taken no action. There is no great objection to the removal of a ragged lock, for sheep in this country are not; given drawing-room accommodation ; but; when the true outline of a sheep is altered, it is surely time for the authorities to step in. A peculiar incident was noticed during* the judging of draught horses at the Wellington show. A mare was declared by the Association's veterinary ■ surgeon to be xmsound, and therefore precluded front competing, but subsequently she was brought into the ring, and awarded first prize in her class and championship of her sex. There was a fair sale of cattle at Wellington show. Mr W. Eathbone's bull Flower, at 55gs, Duke of Abercom, at 21gs, and Mr W. A. Nixon'B bull, Darlings ton's Earl EL, at 30gs, all sold by Mr G. H. Scales, were the principal sales of Shorthorns. Mr Scales also sold, for Messrs A, and J. M'Farlane, Ayrshire bull at 15ga, and cows at 12gs to 21gs, and for Mr W. Cowan, bulls at 17gs and lOgs. In sheep, Mr Scales sold for Mr John Eeid, Lincoln rams at 24gs, 20gs and 20gs.; for Mr W. A. Nixon, English Leicester rams at 30gs and lOgs. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company sold for Mr John. Eeid, Komney rams at 6gs to 15gs, and Border Leicester rams at lOgs. A fair number of stud sheep • were sold privately. The sheep in the freezing class at Wellington are being frozen and shipped Home by the Association and the result will be published. Eveiybody will be glad to know that the Oamaru Show resulted in a substantial balance on the right side. No society ha 3 had such troubles as have followed Oamaru the last few years. Messrs Little Bros' Border Leicester ram Wallace and ewe, both of which were champions, at Christchurch, assisted their owners to win the coveted breed cup at Oamaru. Mr Donald Grant's ram and ewe, which were champions at Timaru, the latter also champion at Christchurch, occupied the same positions at Oamaru; and the Land Company's (Mooraki) Lincoln ram and ewe, champions at Christchurch, repeated their success at Oamaru. There was a surprisingly good 6how of Channel Islands cattle at Oamaru, indicating proprcss in dairying in that district. Besides the milkers there was a promising lot of young stock. The draught horses at Oamaru made a display well up to the best that has been seen there, and there is not much fear of deterioration when such stallions as were seen in the ring are at the service of breeders. The champion, Cedric the Saxon, is a well-girthed horse, nicely let down and with a beautiful head aud neck. The presence of Mr John Small's dry mares, from Ashburton, added much interest to the class. The Awamoa stud was as strong as over in young stock.