METROPOLITAN SHOW, JUDGING DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8163, 10 November 1904, Page 3

METROPOLITAN SHOW, JUDGING DAY.

The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association must be an exceptionally deserving body, for where others hare failed in their efforts to "tip the wink r ' to the arbitrary autocrat who rules the outgoings and in-comings of the populace by virtue of his presidency of the weather, the Canterbury Association has been un.equivooally successful. It began its show yesterday undler meteorological conditions that were specially arranged, ifc almost seemed, in honour of the King's birthday and to-day the Association is almost guilty of " lese " ma-jeste " in securing for itself weather that even a king might envy. Itis r.ot surprising therefore that "Judging Day" outrivals all its predecessors. The people began to filter in slowly when the gates were opened at nine o'clock and by noon the grounds were thickly populated and the success of the day was assured. The contrast between to-day and yesterday is marked. The show yesterday was excellent, but it was only a part- of a show. Half of it was ready to ba seen, but the other half had not progressed beyond the raggedness of . preparation. But today the Metropolitan Show of ". 1904 is an accomplished; undertaking. The sheep are) in their pens, the cattle and! horses in their stalls, and the pigs in their yards, and the annual mushroom growth of tents has covered all the space it can obtain. There is not a vacant spot on the ground, and the show almosb promises to claim a bigger show ground within the next decade. The, proceedings of the day were opened at the appointed hour with the judging of the stock, and the judges in all classas were kept busy during the morning by the large sections placed before them. The tractionengine drivers' competition, was continued, and the judging competitions for young farmers were begun. The side-shows incidental to the fixture have begun to ply their trade t but their harvest is not yet. To-day the visit-ore have a big business before them in the critical inspection of the exhibits, but to-morrow the side-shows may expect, their harvest, when the "People's Day" has really arrived. SHEEP. The sheep section is one of the best in> both" quality and number in the Association's annals, notwitJuttanding that Lincoins, Border Leicester*! Romneys and fine combing Merinoes are small classes. English Leicesters, Southdowns and Shropsbires are splendid classes, and Corriedales are tie best j«b seen. larger classes of fat sheep have been Been on the ground', but the' quality has never been better than on this occasion. The lambs also are good. Most of the sheep are in excellent condition, in spite of the severe weather they have experienced during the spring. Up to, luncheon time the awards went in favour of Messrs John Little in Border Leicesters, New Zealand and Australian Land Co in Lincolns, Bealey Brothers in Romneys, and R. Parry in Shropshires. PRIZE LIST. SHEEP. Judges — Messrs P. J. Andrew and Hugh Campbell. Lincoln. — Ram about 28 months (2) — New Zealand and Australian Land Company 1 and champion and 2. Bam above 16 and under 28 months (8) — New Zealand and Australian Land Company 1, 3 and v li c. Bam under 16 months (2) — New -Zealand and 1 Australian I*nd Company 1 and 2. Two rams under 16 months (2)— New Zealand and Australian Land Company 1 and 2. Ewe above 16 months, with lamb at foot (2) — New Zealand and Australian Land Company 1 and '2. Ewe under 16 months (2) — New Zealand and Australian Land Company 1 and champion and 2. Three eweß under 16 months (1) — New Zealand and Australian Landi Company 1. Bomany Marsh (judges — Jteasrs G. Wheeler and A. D. M'llraith).— Ram above 28 months (3)— J. Reid 1 and champion, Bealey Bros. 2 and c. Bam above 16 and under 23 months (H— J. Reid 1. Bam above 16 and under 28 months, ahorn on or after October 1, 1904 (1) — J. Reid c. Ram under 16 months (4)— Bealey Broil. 1,- 2 and h c, J. Reid c. Two rams under 16 months (4)— Bealey Bros. 1, 2 and c, J. Reid ho. . PIGS. Judge — Mr Thomas Langdon. Berkshire. — Boar, any age CS)—»'. Wills 1, Jonathan Brown 2, Charles Brice he. Boar irnder 12 won the (I)— W. Wills 1. Boar under 6 months (3)— W. Wills 1, W. Scoon 2 and 3. Breeding bow, any age. in pig or pigged since August 81 (D— W. Wills 1. Sow with fitter of her 07m pigs of not less than six, not to exceed * w *> months old (3>— Charles Brice 1 and 8, W. Wills 2. Sow under 12 months (6)— Charles Brice 1, 9, 3 and vie,?. Wills he. Sow under 6 months (4) — Charles Brice 1, W. Wills 2, W. Scoon he. ' Yorkshire (large or middle). — Boar, any age (8) — Sunnyside Asylum 1 and 2, John .Deans h. 0. Boar under 12 months (2)— Charles Brioe 1, John Deans 2. Breeding . sow, any age. in pig or pigged since August 81 (I)— John Deans 1. Sow under 12 months (4) — Charles Brice 1 and 2, Bunnyßide Asylum h c. Sow under 6 months (B>— Sunnyside Asylum 1 and 2.