DIAMOND JUBILEE SHOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17192, 8 November 1923, Page 7

DIAMOND JUBILEE SHOW.

SPLENDID WEATHER FOR JUDGING DAY. AN AUSPICIOUS COMMENCEMENT. [ nclnr conditions that were in every way ideal, the Diamond Jubilee Show of tho Canterbury A. and P. Association was opened on the Show Grounds at Addington to-dav. Appropriately enough, the show, which marks the commencement of a new epoch in the history of the association, marked also the inauguration of a new- system of lay out so far as the grounds were concerned, and the' institution of a great improvement in all the facilities and arrangements. A more auspicious commencement of the new era could scarcely be imagined, and there was every indication that all records would be beaten when the results of the Jubilee Show became known.

A MOVING MASS.

4. SCENE AT SHOW GROUND LIGHT BREEZE AND BRIGHT SUNSHINE. At an early hour this morning great crowds commenced to pour in through the entrance gates, and the big grounds soon presented an animated picture of moiing humanity. The weather could not have been kinder. The rather brisk easterly that blew in tho early morning had dropped by 10 a.m. to a light breeze that was just sufficient to move the flags and to temper the heat of the sun. As the day advanced, however, the temperature rose perceptibly, but not to an extent to be. disagreeably hot. Tt was ideal picnic weather, and to many the outing partook largely of the character of a picnic. BIGGER AND BETTER. This year’s show is bigger and better than its predecessors. One of tho firs s impressions gained is that of the great improvement that has been made since last year in the arrangement of the stock pens and the provision of the facilities for handling so large an ex hibition. Tho new permanent sheep pens in the northern part of the grounds arc one of the most notable of the many improvements that havo beer, effected, and on a bright hot day such as to-day were one of tho most important from the utilitarian point of view, for the stock, while able to get the benefit of such wind as was bffiwing. were protected from the sun. Tho pens are spacious, cool and airy, and offer ideal facilities for viewing tho sheep and for permitting the judges to do their work with the greatest possible dispatch. Just beside them, and facing on the oval, is the new members’ stand, handy to the office of the secretary and to the working ground of tho judges. HANDLING THE TRAFFIC. With the improvement in the facilities has come, this year, a general improvement in the organisation, and this was early apparent in the splendid manner in which tho traffic was handled. As in previous shows, large numbers of motor-cars began early to make their way into the grounds. They were conducted to the parking ground by means o‘. signals, and on the parking ground were stationed men with flags who indicated to each car as it approached the position it was to take up. This system, which reminded one very much of the traffic jnilice on the busy city street intersections, ensured the heavy traffic being handled without any bustle at all, and yet without the slightest delay. In addition, it put confusion quite out of the question altogether The great army of cars was handled as easily as if there had been only a dozen. A BIGGER “ CANYASTOWN.” Canvastown this year has, like the rest of the show, grown in volume and in the variety of the attractions offered. In all directions as one proceeds up tho ground there are tents and marquees, housing, if (he voluble gentlemen in front of them are to he believed. all t.he most notable wonders in the world. The side shows are correspond inglv numerous, and trade. judging from early morning indications, is going to be very brisk. BIGGER ENTRIES. The entries this year total' 2098. as compared with 1988 last year, an increase of 110. The horse and.sheep sections are mainly responsible for the increase that has taken place, slight decreases having occurred in the case of tho cattle and pigs. The dairy produce and similar sections show substantial increases. The gains this year are illustrated in the following comparative tabic :

, TR A DBSM EN ’ S 1> ISPL AY S. ' The tradesmen’s displays are on a l very comprehensive scale and cover an - unusually wide range of articles, from dainty attractions for women to the heaviest and largest implements for farm use. The thoroughness of the display made under this head recalls in some measure the big industrial exhibition held last year. Public interest in tlio displays is of the liveliest character, .the working exhibits especially coming in for a great deal of attention- Throughout the day, the exhibits were thronged with people, and from the manner in which the attendants wore kept busy answering questions, there was every indication that a brisk business was being done. Naturally enough, the exhibits were di--1 rected primarily to the utilitarian side, ■ with partiular reference to farm requirements. Practically every requirement of the farm could be' found to he catered for in one or other of the many displays. Among the farm implements there were some huge working exhibits that formed a constant centre of attraction. NO END OF AMUSEMENTS. On the amusement side the show is L verv thorough. “ The greatest show on » earth ” is represented in dozens of side , shows, out.sule which confident gentlemen with tireless lungs and the tough- ’ alu l lta wp MIS There' ire^'the^'smair'side ; shows in abundance -the Aunt Sally fc and its many variations, hoopla, skitties, darts, coconut shies and a. whole • variety of things that adults can still take an interest in on festive occasions and which are a never-ending source of delight to the children. Even the * new bandstand, adroitly fashioned for menU a number ul stalls for the sale

of those things characteristic of a show As usual, the dog show is being held during tho show and is attracting-—and meriting —a lot of attention. Some splendid animals havo been staged, and a large number of breeds are represented. TO-NIGHT’S BIG ATTRACTION. A new departure this year will be the evening carnival which will take placo to-night, and for which an attractive programme has been arranged. Special provision for the lighting of the grounds has been made, and it is expected that tho grounds will be almost as light as daylight. Powerful arc lights have been placed around tho oval which will be fully illuminated, making it possible to out a big programme- The side shows will be in full operation. To-morrow will be People’s Day, and the indications are that the attendance will constitute a record. The grand parade of prize stock will be held at 1.30 p.m. I-Tis Excellency the Governor will visit the show to-morrow. THE PRESIDENT PLEASED. The president of the association (Mr R. E- Alexander), speaking to a reporter, said that from what he had seen of the show the sheep were, if anything, Tietter brought out than ever before. Taken all round the stock was quite up to the form of previous years. Particular care had been taken to make the arangernents so that they would suit the public, and he hoped that the public would appreciate what had been done for their convenience* “ There is no question about it,” he said, ‘‘the improvement that has been made at the railway siding has been a great advantage to those bringing in stock, and we are very gratified at the way things hive worked. AVe hope by next 3'ear to have tho new cattle pavilion erected, and so do away with the difficulty that at present obtains with regard to the cattle.” The president expressed appreciation of the auspicious start of the show and said he looked forward to a successful evening and People’s Day.

CATTLE.

In most of the cattlo classes there were good entries. Generally speaking, tho cattle were in good condition, and in some instances tho judges had no easy task to make their decisions. The beef Shorthorns were again well represented. A notable absentee amongst tho three-year old Shorthorn bulls was Mr Leonard White’s C’ollynio Proud Knight, which secured the championship last year. First prize in this class was awarded to Mr J. A. Scott’s A> estburn Marquis of Kintyre, which was awarded the reserve championship last year. In the class for two-vear-old Shorthorn bulls Mr W. J. Jenkins se cured first and second with Fair Caesar and Fair Timothy respectively. There was a large, entry and good competition in the class for Shorthorn bulls calved smee June 1. 1922. There were thirtyseven entries in this class and thirtyone faced the judge. Mr H. C. Barton s Portobello Ist was awarded firs* prize. Both the championship and reserve championship for milking Shorthorn cows were gained by the Sumiysido Mental Hospital Sunnyside Princess Sth was awarded the championship. She wa*> entered in tho class for heifers calved since June 30. 1920, in calf or to calve within six months of date of show. Another good heifer in this class was Mr Robert- Peach’s Lady May. Thrt heifer was awarded second prize, but the judge had some difficulty in deeiJ ing between it and Sunnyeide Princess Btb. The reserve championship was awarded to Sunny side Pretty 11th. Mr R. Maddren’s Jersey bull Gol conda’s Redeemer was again awardo i ' the championship, whilst the reserys championship went to Mr J. Leonards Sherry Attraction Spot. There was lairlv good competition x.n the Ayrshire section, though some of the classes were rot too well supported. Air John Par lane did well, in tlu> section. His bull Gowan Bank Barney was awarded the championship, and Ul all ho gained four firsts and fiv** seconds. Air William C. Alorgan’s bull Alaesgwyn Matchlight was awarded the reserve championship, whilst the championship and reserve championship for cows went to Afeasrs Bliss and Petrie. Air J. M. Ranstead, the judge of the milking Shorthorns, said that he was very pleased with the quality of the animals shown in this section. Tho entry compared more than favour ably with that at. any show lie had judged at. Ho had judged at several shows in the North Island, but this was his first South Island show, and he was pleased to see that . farmers down here were keeping the milking -Shorthorns true to type. All the animals shown that day wero true milking Shorthorns. On the whole, the cows wore of a particularly fine classThe champion cow was an outstanding animal, with very good udder development. Tho winning heifer in the two-year-old class was also a particularly fine animal. There was a big entry of yearling heifers, and he had had some difficulty in placing them. He was also impressed with the quality of the bulls shown.

FAT SHEEP.

Competition in the fat sheep classes, although bciicr tha n last year, was very disappointing in view of tho great importance of the fat sheep industry to Canterbury. For some unaccountable reason these classes never seem to have been popular with exhibitors at the Metropolitan Show, and the entries at 111 anv of the small country shows are usually* much more numerous. This vear the entries are double what they were last year, but arc twenty-two less than the number at the 1921 show. The number of entries should he several hundred instead of a mere handful. Of the thirty-three entries, Air A. O. Greenwood, of Southbridge, and Air Joseph Brooks, of Brook side, have contributed thirteen each, the other competitors being Messrs Leslie Macf&rlane. K. Murchison. AY. 1. Jenkins, !?. J. I*m and G- F. Wright. Messrs

( John Brooks and John Grigg, who were exhibitors last year, are absentees. The judge, Air D. Al’Lauhin, of Ricearton, expressed Jiis disappointment at the paucity of entries and the lack of competition, especially as there was ample feed this season. The- exhibits by Messrs Greenwood and Brooks comprised some good sheep. The Suffolk •woss shown by Air Greenwood were, in bis opinion, a particularly fine lot and were better than the Southdown cross shown hy Air Brooks. A representative of one of the leading firms of stock auctioneers mentioned, after inspecting the fat sheen, that a number of the sheep and iambs sold at the Addington market last week were well worthy of a place in the

PIGS.

There was a fairly large yarding of j pigs. Berkshires again leading with forty-five entries. These pigs are ] easily the favourites with farmers in this district, being easy to fatten and reaching maturity more quickly than their long-nosed brethren. Sunnyside led in the number of entries with nineteen, mostly sows. Air G* H. Barnett was the next in number of entries with fourten, and J. Chilton was next with eleven. There were some exoellent animals forward and it was no easy work for the judge. Air J. Hadley, to decide on their merits. There were very few exhibits of Devons, there being three classes for which no entries were forthcoming out of a total number of five classes. Yorkshires fared worse still, as out of seven classes only three brought entries. There were again no entries for the Tamworth breed. Thi9 class of pig does not seem to find much favour with Canterbury farmers as they are rather hard to fatten and take too long to coax into anything approaching a marketable condition.

SHEEP.

’ A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAYThe display of sheep has always been one of tho outstanding features of the ’ Aletropolitan Show, and this year the ‘ exhibits are well up to the high standard of former shows as regards the number and the quality of the entries. The total entries number 921, as compared with 901 last year and 917 in 1921, 823 in 1920 and 734 in 191 S. • The most noticeable increases have been in the fat sheep section, where there are 33 entries compared with only 16 last year, and the half-bred section where there is a total of 35 compared j with 20 last year. Last year the pens were shifted > from their old position to a new site [ at the north-west corner of the ground , where there was more room and the L sheep could he seen by the public to : better advantage. A further improve- . nient has now been carried out, about ■ half of the pens having been roofed • over, and it is proposed later on to cover the whole of the pens- This r improvement is greatly appreciated hy - breeders and the piiblio. Th* lighting [ i-< excellent and amph space is v>~ . vided between the pens to walk about . freely. The sheep exhibited in the . covered-in pens are the merino. Eng--5 lish Leicester, Border X#eicester and [ Lincoln breeds. I :

THE HORSES.

MIXED DRAUGHTS. The modern era of speed and motors is writing the execution warrant of the hardy household animal, tho horse. A'ear by year, their numbers diminish* the only types that are not dying out being the thoroughbred, for racing purposes, and the polo pony. Therefore it would only be expected that .entries in the classes in the horse sections, particularly draughts, at shows throughout the Dominion would become fewer; but this year’s entries for a Aletropolitan Show held at Addington are extremely disappointing. The number of individual competitors in the draught Jiorso classes is the same as last year—twenty. There is a decrease of nine in the number of horses entered, last year’s numbers being 57, as against 48 to-aav. The names of Peter Shearer and Janies AYyllie are noticeably absent from tho list of exhibitors and breeders, although in previous years they supported the draught horse classes strongly. A number of new exhibitors figure in the lists, which include a number of breeders who were regular supporters of tho section until last The general quality of the draughts is not high throughout. Tho males were not up to tho standard seen on the oval in previous shows, but the females were of excellent quality. In particular, the three-year-old fillies ; were an outstanding ring. The two. year-old fillies were also of more than average class, but they fell consider- , ably short* of the standard of the three-year-olds. The competitions opened in a disappointing manner. Of the six entire horses, over three years, entered, only two were led into the ring. They were L. AY. Storry’s Bonnie Fabric, which was decorated with tho red card, and J. D. AYyllie’s Bold Buchlyvie. They were both good horses, the judges having some difficulty in separating them. Bonnie Fabric was the heavier horse and this decided in liis favour. Class, which was considerably short of that seen in tho first event, was shown by D. Afillars ATontrose and F. G. Iveast’s Buchlyvie’s Footprint in the three-year entire competition Although Alontrose was the winner, he was far from an outstanding colt Glenmuir Hero, a very good colt, was the onlv entrant in the two-vear-old class. J- D. AAyllie was not a competitor in the yearling colt or gelding event. He had two horses entered. The quality was fair, with all the horses backward in condition. The prize winner. E. E. Jenkins’s A'oung Pre mier Pride, is a big. strong colt. In motion, though, he is a. trifle green. A quality black coit secured second prize for the Canterbury Agricultural College. The colt is correct limbed and lias a long stride. He is smaller than Young Premier Pride. He lias been better handled than the other contestants. Third prize went to AY. Stringer’s bay by Bold Buchlyvie, a big horse but not shown to the best advantage. Tho other entrant, a bay by Bold Buchlyvie, and owned by E J - Grimsey, is not a good horse. The class for mure, in foal, drew two entries -Sir R. Heaton Rhodes’s Princess Ruby and E. Akerin&n Smith’s Alontrave Douglas, which were placed first and second respectively. Sir Heaton’s mare was a really good horse, tho other not being so far behind. Two excellent mares, with foa? at foot, were ringed. They wore an old marc. Mona Ronald, owned by D. G. AA r right, and Lilly Orest, owned bv J. D. AYvllic. Mona Ronald, which was awarded the first card, is a good type of brood mare, but she is showing ~ signs of wear TTor substance was greater than Lilly Crest, which was also not so good in the i knees as the older mare, j A fine lot of three-year-old fillies siidi a class tliat they could win at

any show. Coming from such a sire of note at Home hb Rising Star, a sire of many winners. H. E. Cook’s imported filly Merry Maid would .be expected to show many excellent qualities. She does. And she won the competition, though it was only hy the smallest margin of points from AYalter Letham’s Lady Gift. Alerry ALaid. who has aristocratic blood, lias great legs, a well defined body, a perfect head, and hair like silk. The only fault the most critical can find is that the filly is a iittle short in the neck. Alerry Maid is heavier ths»n Lady Gift and also lias the advantage of being six months younger. Only fair quality was shown by the fire two-year-old fillies, none of which were up to size. The first horse. J. Boag. junr. s Middlerigg Heather ! Charm, had a good claae of bone. The same owner’s Middlerigg Grace secured second place. She was not of | such size. j The yearling fillies were of rather good quality. There was not a bad ; filly among the five entrants. AV»i----1 tangi Jean Buchlyvie, owned by J. 1 O. Coop, and J. M. Smith’s Balmedie Princess had a keen go for the first prize. Air Coop's filly won on cleanness of joints. She is a big horse, with plenty of quality and a little longer in the hack than Balmedie , Princess. They were mixed animals which. i were led in for the mare with two of • her progeny competition. Some were 1 of good quality, whife the others were indifferent. D. G. AAVight’s Mona 1 R-onald, which had Gay Girl and a ' foal by Everlasting Princess, was given tho decision over J. D. Wyllie’s Lilly Crest, which was accompanied , by a bay colt and filly. THE HARNESS HORSES. The harness horses pleased the judge. The entries were lower than last year’s by twelve, totalling eigh- ; teen. Surprise, which was driven by J> , AY. AYesteroa, stood out on its own , | in the maiden harness horse oompeti- . tion. Fie moved much better than ; lord’s AA'ait and See. f • , Typical dog cart horses filled the ! ' three places in that competition. They were H. AT. Burgin’s AYarfare. D. AY. AYestenra’s Broadwood, and 1 Miss I. Rutherford's Wait and See ( The fourth horse was a most stylish ‘ animal in the ring, but he lacked * weight for a dog cart horse. , Only one tandem team was brought L before the judge. The owner was A. AA'ard Smith. I S. AiV. Scott’s Roger won the cob, - under fifteen hands. He is very • stylish, which oculd not bo said of Dr * G. Haskins’s Patience, which came ’ next in the awards. Patience is far ’ more a type of cob horse than Roger [ but can not handle himself. Tommy* y F. AY. Robinson’s horse, which filled } the third place, has any amount of r stye, but he is not up to the weight of r Roger and Patience. In the class for cohs under 14 hands - inches. AY. Scoon's Nancy had no 1 j difficulty in winning from Alias T. * ! Pocock’s Jock. i Firefly, Trixie and Pip, the winnero I for ponies under 13 hands 2 inches, 1 were exceptionally good ponies. The i excellent manners of Firfly gave H. ' S. S. Kyle the winning ticket. An extraordinarily good pair of cobs under 14 hands 2 inches were brought into the ring by A\'. Scoon. The cobs, Nancy and Romeo, were of such class that they could win in any competition. 5 Four pony stallions, under twelve * hands, were ringed. Air R. H. Bis- • set, the judge, gave the honours to j H. M. Jarden’e Tinv and A\\ L. t Harris’s Al’Gregor, both of which will l make splendid breeders of children’s ponies. The quaity of the two unt paced animals was not sufficient to satisfy the judge making a third

• ! PRIZE LIST ON NEXT PAGE.

tauie : — 1923. 1922. 1921. Judging coil petitions 22 10 24 Sheep „ . 921 9(51 917 Cattle * 360 365 '352 Horses . 489 462 464 Pigs 62 65 61 Dairy produ ce, etc. 244 179 161 Totals . 2093 1988 1979