SILVER JUBILEE SHOW HELD BY OXFORD A. AND P. SOCIETY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 8

SILVER JUBILEE SHOW HELD BY OXFORD A. AND P. SOCIETY

The Silver Jubilee Show of the Oxford Agriculural and Pastoral Association was held to-day under favourable weather conditions. It attracted a large crowd of visitors from at! points of the compass, the Show holiday being the most popular one of the year in the district. The career of the Association during the twenty-five years of its existence has been marked by steady progress and excellent management, the officials' having worked in its interests with the never-flagging enthusiasm and energy characteristic of the Oxford folk in all their public undertakings.

From a day of small things the association now possesses extensive grounds, and commodious buildings +or the purposes of the show, and all the appointments are up to a standard that, given fine weather, assures the smooth working and general success of the. annual fixture. Unfortunately, owing chiefly to the climatic drawbacks of the past season, the entries for the show fall below tho.se of some of the previous year’s exhibitions in point of numbers. Nevertheless the high quality of the exhibits was fully maintained. Both the draught and light horses made a very good show, the classes for cobs and ponies being particularly well filled. There was practically no competition in the classes for fat and flock sheep, but the purebred section was well supported. There was a marked falling-off in numbers in the Corriedale classes, some of the breeders who had been consistent competitors for years past having failed to send exhibits. This deflection, however, was in a measure compensated for by a very fine disblay of Southdownj.

Shorthorns and Friesians were well represented in the cattle section, other classes attracting but few entries. As usual, the poultry fanciers of the district gave this section good support. There was not a large entry in grain and seeds, but there was strong competition in field roots, this section being invariably a feature of the show. The effects of the disastrous frosts were reflected in the smallness of the fruit entry, but as in former years there was a very fine display in the cut blooms class of the flower show. Although the house and dairy produce section was not as well supported as last year, the quality of the exhibits was up to the high standard of previous shows. Interest was added to the show by the presence of the Hon G‘. W. Forbes, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Lands. Mr Forbes was accorded an enthusiastic reception and was entertained at lunch. The duties of the officials were as usual carried out efficiently, Mr J. T. Coy doing the honours as president, and Mr Lancelot Watson again proving his capable qualities as secretary.