CHRISTMAS SHOW.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2785, 16 January 1869, Page 3

CHRISTMAS SHOW.

Notwithstanding- the depression of the times no preparations appear to have been neglected to render Christmastide the festival of the year, and the meat show yesterday evening wa9 not behind any of its predecessors. The fine display of beef lamb, veal, mutton, sucking pigs, geese, ducks, turkeys, fowls, &c, would make the gourmand's mouth water, while sending the dyspeptic vegetarian into hysterics. The whole of the butchers of the town appeared to vie with each other in procuring the very best quality of meat with which to,, supply their customers, but the following shops from their fine display of lambs, veal, and beef deserve particular mention : — MESSRS. J. AND H. BARBER. The display of meat at this old established shop was decidedly the finest in Wellington. Sheep — j There was a fine show of mutton. Three sheep of the Romney Marsh breed from Messrs Williams' station, Wairarapa, weighed before being killed, 1961b each, and averaged, when dressed, 1101 b. Some very fat sheep of the improved Hampshire Down breed from Mr Lucena, Pigeon Bush, weighed when dressed, 1201 b each. Beef — Several very prime heifers from the station of J. Russell, Esq., Wangaimoana, were exhibited, one of which weighed 9241 b, and is the largest heifer ever killed in Wellington. There were alao three heifers from the Mission Station, Otaki, which weighed on the average 8001 b each. In addition to these there were two remarkably fine and fat bullocks from Mr M'Masters' station, Wairarapa. There was a fine display of lambs of the Leicester breed from Messrs West arid Frethey of the HuU ; and though the times are bad, the Messrs Burber believe that the people will persist in eating, at least at Christmastide, and they proved the sincerity of their faith by slaughtering ten bullocks or heifers in addition to calves, lambs and pigs in order to provide the good folks of Wellington with their Christmas dinner. ME CHARLES LTJXFORD'S. There was a very fine display of meat at this shop including some fat sheep of the Lincoln and Colswold breed, the weight of the former averaging 1301 b, and the latter 1101 b. There were also shown ten fine lambs, each averaging 501 b, being the weight of an ordinary merino wether. The sheep and lambs wore bred by Messrs Crawford and M'Barnett, Lyall's Bay. A very fine fat calf bred by Mr Rowe, of the Hutt, and only six weeks old weighed 1201 b. A splendid bullock, bred by John Russell, Esq., Wairarapa, weighed 10001 b, and a stall-fed heifer, bred by Mr Howe, weighed 7501 b. Mr Luxfovd had also on show a fine lot of turkeys, gease, and some fat rabbits bred at Evans' Bay, and taken altogether it was one of the finest display of butchers meat we have seen for a long time. JAMES GEAS'S. The largest show of meat was perhaps that of Mr G-oar's, Lambton Quay. We noticed two bullocks which weighed 11501 b each, bred by Mr Buick, of the Hutt; two bullocks bred by 0. Bidwell, Esq, Wairarapa, averaging 10801 b each. Two sheep, bred by Mr Donald, of Mania, weighing respectively 1951 b and 1201 b, the former being one of the largest and heaviest sheep ever slaughtered in New Zealand. Some very fine lambs, bred by Mr Ma9on, of the Hutt, were also exhibited. Two calves, one reared by Mr Bannister, of Johnsonville, and one from Mr Cornford's farm, Karori, wero worth viewing. There was another fine calf exhibited, reared by Mr Mason, of Karon. There were also four verj fina pigs, fed by Mr Staples, of Thorndon ; and likewise a remarkable fine show of lambs, sucking pigs, poultry, &c. CARfcTONT AND HAIG/H'S. There was a very fine show of meat at this shop, the most noticeable being pigs and sheep, two young sheep, bred in the Wairarapa, were particularly worthy of notice.