FIRST DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3484, 27 October 1894, Page 9

FIRST DAY.

Whatever may have been the nature of the rites performed, the Association have propitiated the p'owora

that hold sway over the elements- The opening day of the Show (Thursday) was ' favoured with the brilliant weather that Waikito people are so prone to boast about when .they go away from home. For weeks, indeed, the sun had been a too constant companion to please the dairy farmer, and especially the factory milk supplier; bub. the owner of the lowest yielding cows would hardlygrudge the extension of the mild drought that is dessicating his pastures ever the two days of the Show. But the weather is never a pleasant subject with the farmer, and beyond recording the fact (for future reference) that the day was bright and fine, and not too hot, perhaps the less said about it the better. The ground, it is needless to add, was dry, and visitors treading it for the' first time would have found lit difficult to realise, that in 1892 a portion of the site very fairly represented a monias, It is still somewhat rough and uneven underfoot, but this drawback will doubtless soon be. overcome, The attendance on' Thursday was satisfactory, though' not better than last year. The proportion of the fairer sex was, however, somewhat larger, a circumstance not without a significanceof its own in these clays. The committee are again to-be congratulated 1 upon the completeness of the arrangements. They have not been/content to make each Show, a copy of ( the last, but have dis- = played a:readiuess to profit by experience, and a promptitude to remedy any, even the smallest, defects of former management. 'There was, taking all things together, little room for fault-finding last year; yet when' details were approached it was evident to those whoso attendance at the Show was riot wJioDy compelled by. a desire for amusement that there was room for improvement in several particulars; .'. For one, thing, the office of the Secretary was situated in a' most incon*, venient place, uucler the grand stand. Soplanted, Mr Butler was by no means' in close touch, with the committee and stewards, and some confusion and delay ' was the consequence.' All this has now been' changed, and the Secretary was t'o be found on Thursday and Friday in a very convenient little office just in f!he . ceptre of the sheep pons, and by conse>« quence within easy reach of all parts of' the ground occupied by the exhibits.. Again, last year it will be remembered: that the whole of the machinery, buggies, etc.,'were allotecl space at the eastern side of the ground out beyond' the sheep pens, thus somewhat unnecessarily enlarging the circumference of the Show without any compensating advantage; This year the whole of the exhibits under these heads were placed in the open space between the cattle'and the sheep. .There is just one other improvement which it may well to notice, At the previous Show the award tickets were affixed to the cattle pens at the front and back indifferently, and this, necessitated a visit to the interior of ,whafc proved; to; be' a eulde sac, Some confusion, not without its humorous aspect, resulted, l At the Show just over care was taken that all-necessary information should be .supplied without making any demand'upon the gymuastic capabilities of visitot'3,. and the change was duly appreciated. There; was an appreciable delay in starting the work of judging on Thursday, owing to some of the exhibits notjarriying prompt to tine, but the task was achieved with '. expedition nevertheless,:" and no efforts were wanting that the' committee could put, foi;th to; aid the gentlemen who at some personal inconvenience came long disv tances to distribute the awards. jFraise fliould be given ungrudgingly to the ; Executive Committee for the smoothness which-characterised the/whole,of the proceedings on the first day from the commencement to the close.. .The gentle■nien selected to "act as judges; .with one ; exception, arrived at Hamilton on Wednesday, and the' exception—Mr CampV bell, of Wangariui-f-carne up by the midday train'on Thursday, having landed at.' Onehunga on the previous day. The task of judging is odc of peculiar difficulty. Only acricket umpire who has given the crack batsman; out -leg-before-wicket for a duck's egg can fully appreciate the-responsibility that weiahsiipon 'the shoulders of a judge at a cattle showUnder the most favourable circumstances the majority of exhibitors are bound to ■cherish sentiments of disappointment, too often-much too often—the feeling evinced is one -'of resentment. Of course, the task of a judge who is fear- . less! ani means to do his duty to the ■ Association and to. himself is a very simple one, aad the aim of the committee' was directed to secure gentlemen of this Stamp. That they succeeded there can be little room for doubt. On whole, and outside the ranks of the competitors, the'; judging gave entire .satisfaction,; Incidentally, confirmation was given to the decisions of last year's judges. This was particularly noticeable in some of the horse classes to which more detailed reference will be found further on in this report; In a few oases, it is tnuv~former decisions were reversed,- but in these it was found easy to assign causes other than those arising, from the adoption of different standards by different judges. Upon one point there was a perfect agreement between all; the gentlemen who acted m this capacity, and that was, respecting the general excellence of, the &tock shown. The judges were allotted to the different classes asr follows :~ florses: Thoroughbreds,, roadsters and carriage horses, Mr Alf. T. Danvers, Hastings, Hawke's Bay {draughts, Mr ;ffl A. Campbell, Wanganui:; Cattle: -Shorthorns, Herefords, Polled Angus, fat cattle and other cattle, Mr J. W; Baker, , Fordell;, Wanganui; Jerseys and dairy cattle, Mr John McCaw, Jen Court, Cambridge. Sheep: Lincolns,Leicesters, .anclßomney Marsh, Mr Thomas Orosde, "Hastings, Bay:.; Southdowns, half-breds, merino and other sheep, Mr N. A. Lamey, Laurish,„ :: i /.'.,,,*

ton. Piako ; fat sheep and pigs, Mr 0. T, rkmball, Waiuku. The members of the Executive Committee this year were: Messrs, James Hume (President), John Fisher (vice-President), Edward Allen, J. Barugh, •jii'nr,', W. Chitfcy, Isaac Coates,E.- B. .Cox, Robert Fisher, and N. I. Hunt; The General Committee, the members of which gave active support to their colleagues on the executive by carrying out various details in connection with the exhibition, consisted of the following gentlemen.:—Messrs James Anderson, F. W.' Burnett, John Gordon, M. Harrisou, John Hutchinson, E. Lake, F. W.Lang, M.H.R., John McCaw, D. McNicol, M..H. Pickering, R. Reynolds, G. W. Sare, J. H. Scott, S. Sedlon.O. J. Storey, Jas. Taylor and W. Taylor. The strictly executive work of the Show was efficiently performed by the .Secretary of the Association, Mr Martin Butler, who was unflagging in his exertions, and found time in the performance of his multifarious duties to be courteous and obliging to all who found it necessary to make demands upon his attention. He was very ably seconded by his assistant, Mr Charles Tiick. The gentlemen who acted' as stewards in the various classts deserve more thana.passing word of praise. The task undertaken, and cheerfully performed, by these gentlemen, many of whom have acted in this capacity every year, involves not only a large amount of hard work, but much genuine self-denial. The duties which they perform <-are by no means ornamental and are quite inconsistent with the wearing of holiday attire, while constant attention to their duties and a close adherence to their posts must prevent them from seeing as much of other .parts of the show as they could-wish. ,

The catering for all sections of the visitors was in efficient hands./ The right t<) dispense alcoholic refreshment had been secured by MrT. Buxton, proprietor.of the Royal Hotel, Hamilton Bast, and he kept threb bars going-one at the Grand Stand, one in the large marquee, and the other near the machinery stand. The cup that cheers was, therefore, easily accessible from any part of the ground. The marquee, was divided into two spacious diuing apartments—one being devoted' to ths service of the committee, stewards and judges, and the other Being open to the.general public.. These were under.the care of MrT.M. Hill, whose catering gave satisfaction.' Mr, J T. Home presided over a temperance booth adjoining the' Grand Stand, where refreshments of' all sorts and of excellent quality were obtainable, Mr Whitehbuso, exhibited Edison's phonograph in a tent near the luncheon booth, and was kept busily employed on both days entertaining! the host of patrons that flocked to hear again arid again the marvellous reproductions' of the human voice and the tones of musical instruments hidden in the innocent- looking little wax cylinders. On the whole, there was plenty to see and to, occupy- the attention of .visitors even on the first day, which is usually regarded (as being purely adayfor exhibitors and those most 1 nearly interested in the disposition of the awards.' : ; Having thus gone generally over the subject; it will now be necessary to go a little more into, details and to deal with each section in tho order in which- it is placed in the official catalogue, commencing- with

HORSES. j / / This Section : iwas .again the centre of attraction. It may, indeed, be doubted whether the omission of the horse class would not ruin the show from the point of view of the general public. It is, howeyec, quite unnecessary to enter into any speculation upon this topic, as it; is not likely that any Waikato Show will ever be. deficient in/respect of' horses, From time which 1 ; might be termed historic the horse has possessed a peculiar 'interest/for humanity, and the advent/of the steam engine and the electric motor dges not threaten in any material degree either his existence or his popularity, The-classes all through Were well represented and the .quality ; of ! the exhibits fully "maintained the reputation of i the district. The display; of hacks and road. sters was particularly fine and the judges were of opinion that it would be hard to ■beat them anywhere in New Zealand, 'Some;care had been taken to bring the animals forward inshow condition, and with few this result was aohieved. The task of the judges was no light one, and, the general. excellence of the exhibits in tne thoroughbred, roadster and hack classes is' best attested by the fact -that the work of judging was by no means expeditiously got over, Thejumping was particularly' good. In class 1, best thoroughbred entire, three years and upwards, four horses;entered the ring, all with; a first -class reputation. These were: Mr F. Marshall's Tasman, Mr W. Taylor'e,,Gip»y King, Pinfire belonging to the executors of the late Mr John Mc Nicol, and/Mr Holgate's/Paddy's Land. Mr Danvers had little; difficulty in awarding /the red riband to Mr Taylor's horse, and although he awarded secondhonours to Paddy's Land he expressed the opinion that this sire was really put of place iu the cla,SB, though/his merits as a hunting; stallion; were supreme, Tasman got, .third honours, Pinfire's legs putting him< put of the competition. In class 2, besc. colt three years old, there were again no entriesj a.- fact which goes to show that the breeding of entires for local purposes .isriot successfully carried on. In class 3, best colt or filly two years old, there were thisr year three entries. Mr .Hannoii's chestnut ThevPee'r carried off the first. honourr,' the -same owner's Cast.Ashore was second,-and Mr F.Maishairs.Malice, a rather; big animal but showing good quality, got ■ third prize.; hi class 4 there was also animprqvement, there being; two entries,in •'place of oce as at last show, Mr W. D. Holgates mare •Sneak, by' Cap-a-pie, with foal 'at foot by Paddy's Land, was placed first, and second honours were awarded to Mr Weatherill's

I raare Powder (with foal at foot by Free- ] dom), an animal showing plenty of bone and substance- but rather dtficient in quality, In classes 5, C and 7 there were no eutries, but Mr Holgate exhibited as a special entrj a very noticeable filly by Paddy's Land-Miss Gladiator. The champion medal for the best entire of any age in this class was awarded to Gipsy King, In class 8, best carriage entire of any age, there were but two entries, Mr Taylor's Gipsy King and Mr A. Austin's Pleasanton. With all his merits in other respects, the champion thoroughbred was unalle to hold his own against his rival, who gave ocular demonstration of his own ability to perform the kind of work required from his stock andiwon the admiration of all onlookers. Gipsy King was awarded • the second'prize on his merits. There was no entry this year for class 9, best pair of carriage horses 15 hands 2 inches or over; but for class 10, best pair under that measurement, there were two competitors. A pair of due bays by Parthenopseus, the property of Mr H. J. Kallender, of Matamata, carried off first honours, Mr Wallace's pair, though acknowledged to have the makings of a fine team, being considered somewhat too green. There were two entries in class J I, ; best buggy horse 15 hands 2 inches and over, but only one was shown, Mv Clifford's chestnut ?ultan by Ingomar, which was held to be worthy of a first prize. There were seven competitors in the next class, best bugay horse under 15 hands 2 inches, and the red riband was, with general approval, placed on the pock of Mrs GWynne's chestnut gelding Jerry. Mr Ltwson'a Merryson and Mr Cussen's The Major took second aud third prizes, Mr Chitty's Ivy, the' only entry, took a first for the best trotting horse, and the first award in the class for,best three-year-old filly or gelding adapted' for harness . was secured by Mr a; W, Gane's Starlight, with Mr McCaw's Joe second and Mr Weatherill's Musk Rose third. .The first and second prizetakers .were similarly placed in the two-year-olds last year. For the best roadster or hackney stallion there were three, or, including Mr R, Reynold's pony Tom Thumb, four en tries. Plea?auton was again placed first, Mr Kerr's Merry Boy secoud, and at the instance of the stewards a special first: award was given to Tom Thumb. Four very good mares with foals at foot were shown in the class adapted to breed; Indian cavalry remounts, but the judges did not find much difficulty in selecting Mr Pickering's Patch and the Auckland Agricultural Company's Knottingly for first and second places on account of'their superior breeding. The Gorton Estate was the only exhibitor in the class for dry mares adapted to the.same purpose, but the high quality of the mare Queenie was sufficient to justify the judge in giving her a first prize. Class 17, best iweight-carrying hack up to 12 stone, brought out a really magnificent field-of horses, and one that would do credit to a show ground in any of the Australasian colonies. Out of twenty eutrios ninetaen faced the judge, and it was some time before he was able to reduce the number down to eight, Mr Danvers' final judgment's in.favour of Mr A. J. Storey's Neddie, Mr Bailey's Admiral and Mr Harrison's Kitty in the order named. The decision was a very popular one.. There were ten entries in the next class, hacks up to 15 stone, and nine put in an appearance. The first prize fell to Mr James Turnbull's King, the second to Mr Hunter's Clifton, and the third to' Mr McCaw's Lothair. v The Gorton Estate's Robin, which, was' first last year, was unplaced, Mr Gane's Starlight carried off the,honours for the best three-year-hack, and Mr Yercoe's Kaito, a pretty Muskapeer colt, .beat all the two-year-olds, . There was a splendid show of yearlings, Mr Holgate's black colt by Paddy's Land - Campus taking the premier ' place,, with two Gipsy Kings second and third. ■' The ladies' hacks were not as good as last year, though there were some of exceptional merit. Mrs Brewis' King was a some" what easy first in this class, but the the judge experienced a.little difficulty in placing the second and third. In the girls' pony class, there were .only two exhibits, and the first prize fell to Mr W.'H, Wright's Leanda, a pretty ';■ little creamy. Mr Turnbull's King came in a comparatively easy, winner in the class for best walking hacks n a creamy' by Nutmeg, belonging to the: New Zealand Land Association, taking, second place, The hunter competition excited-a good deal of interest as. usual.-. There were ten competitors out of fourteen entries,' and some very pretty jumping ensued. The selection of ..Mr Webster's Blue Peter for the honour of the red riband was. tbe signal for,an outburst of ap-. plause, and the awarding oi the second prize to; Mr W. T. Thornton's Fidget was scarcely less popular. There' was ample competition in the class for boys' 1 ponies under 14 hands, Master Kenneth Hume taking first prize with Nutty, Mr Wright's Hero being second, Mr Allen's dark brown third, Mr Delaney's highly commended, and the New Zealand Land Association's ; cdmmended. There were only two entries in each for the classes child's pony and pony brood mare, but ior the special prizes there was ample competition. Six competitors entered for the prize for the best colt or; filly by General, Fleming, Mr Baxter's filly securing first place. Mr Willoughby got the prize for the best foal by Moun* taineer, and Mr Robert Fisher, though the only exhibitor, got a first prize for a' colt by Cap-a-pie, The first award; for a colt by Gipsy King fell to Mr R.( sanko, and; Mr W. Newell received the premier place for the yearling by Lord Glasgow. Some splendid stock was shown in the draught classes, and the judge, Mr Campbell,was specially pleased with the]quality of the: whole of the exhibits.: There were eompeti-: tors for /thei McNicpl Momorial Mr

ft. laylor taking away the first honours with his fine, filly Christina, P. McUrmick, the other, a filly owned by too N.Z, Land Association" being com* moniH Four notable hoists competed for the entire class, General Fleming. Royal Conqueror, Waverly, and Olydet dale Hero. The recoud in the list as given, though first last year, foj),d to get the first award owing to his wa aof con.'di&ion and the red riband went to Generat Fleming,with Waverly secnud.the last vear's victor only coming third. General Fleming also got the champion medal. There was no entry for the tlirte year-old entire, .and only three for the host three, year-old filly.-or-gelding;'in which class Christina McCoraick came nut first. Mr James Taylor got a first for the best two-year-old colt and Mr Gane for the best two-year-old filly, each being sole exhibit tor in.their respective classes, The prize for the best yearling colt fell to Mr KI Morrison's Punch, and Mr James Baxter pot the prize for the best yearling filly. The prize for the best mare with foal at foot fell to the Land Association, and Mr W Taylor got the first award for dry Mare, The Association also secured the prize for the best gelding. There were two entries for the best pair of mares or geldings, the Land Association getting first with a.spleodid team by Lotlinlr. one of which, Duke, far outclassed the others. The Association also took the prize for the'best pair of farm mare? or geldings, and for the best team of three, all by Lothair. For the best tramway or light spring waggon mares or seldingo, Mr Jos. Gane's hays were placed first, Mr ChittvV exhibits being difficult to start. Mr K. Morrison's Grayling look the prize for the best heavy spring cart horse, and a bay belonging to the. Land Association was first in the class for light spring cart horse?. CATTLE. In quality, the battle exhibits are generally: allowed to have surpassed those, of former year.*, and in the opinion of the judge the males were superior to the females. Nearly all the animals shown were in the pink of condition, the recent fine weather having not a little to do with this result. As was the case last year, the chief interest centred in the* dairy exhibits, and some splendid animals were shown in these c'aw, notably by Mro, Day, of PencaWow, whose reputation as a breeder of Jerseys has now extended far beyond the limits of this district. The Shorthorns and Herefords were well represented The chief exhibitors in the-first-named class were the New Zealand Land Association, the Rotorangi Estate and. Mr W. Taylor, though they had neither the fi. Id nor the whole of the honours to themselves. In Herefords, the Auckland Agricultural Company, the New Zealand Land Asso« /ciation and Mr R. Reynolds were the only exhibitors, fn the Angus breed,' only two herds were really represented, and the Ayrshires, were confined to two breeders. The show of fat cattle was the finest that has ever been seen in this district, "and it is questionable whether anything better could be shown anywhere else in the colony. The grade cattle were also of a very superior quality. In the Shorthorn 'class the Land Association took the McNicol Memorial Cup with Comet, a twoyear- old by Major, which also took first 'n his class, the same Company's Waverly coming second. Mr W. Taylor's grand bull Robin took the honours in the aged class, the Rotorangi Estate's May Duke havirg. •the second prize. The Association took first and second in the yearling bull' class and second for:best three years old cow, Mr Baxter beating them in the latter class. The.Association a'so took both prizes for two years old and yearling heifers.' In the Hereford section the A.A Company took first prize and champion with the.aged bull JSiiggefc* and secured the red riband in the two year old class with Duke. They also won the first and second prizes'for the best cow, Mr Reynolds receiving an award of particular merit. In yearling bulls the Land Association and Mr R. Reynolds were, respectively, first and second, and in the clasr for yearling heifers the A. A. Compauy were again first and spcond, being the only exhibitors. It was to be regretted that in both these classes the competition was not keener. Mr James. Grice's Jamie took the honours in the two'," year oUy Angus . class, and Mr R. Reynolds secured a likedistinction in .the yearling class. The Kereone Estate swept the board in classes for. cows and two-year-old heifers, .and Mr R. Reynolds got a. first for a yearling heifer. The Jerseys, as we have already said, were noticeably good, and Mr Day's stock were universally admired. His principal competitor was Mr Wright, with whom he shared the honours, as will be seen on reference to' the prize list. The enterprise displayed by Mr Day in getting together such , a fine herd of Jerseys in the Waibato is worthy of all commendation. Mr R. •■Reynolds was also an exhibitor and secured one second prize. In the Ayrshires Mr J. P. Bailey took the prize for all aged bulls and ail the other awards; fell to the share of Mr §. T, Sedtion, In the dairy section the first prize for the best cow in milk or; in calf fell to Mr C. Day's roan cow, and the second to the same gentleman's Stella, Mr Wright's Necklace being highly commended and Mr Coates' exhibit commended. There was only one entry for the best pen of three heifers suitaolo for -dairy'purposes bred by exhibitor, namely, that of Mr George Edgecumbe, but the : judge deemed them : worthy of a first prize. Toe' fat cattle formed a really magnificent show. ..The pair "of oxen shown by Mr Wm. Taylor and the single ox shown by Mr R. Reynolds, which gained each the .first honours iti theii classes,' .were superb animals. For fat steers''Mr John Fisher came in ahead, with Mr-Reynolds in close attendance,anc for the ,best fat single steer the Woodsidt Estate/aud^^

second places. Mr Reynolds got the first award for a fat cow. In the grade cattle there were some very choice exhibits, notably the five-year-bid heifers shown by Mr Geo, Rundown arid the pen of five two-year-old heifers exhibited by Mr John Fisher. These secured the honours, as also did a pen of five two-year-old steers bred and shown by Mr John Fisher. It has already been'stated that the cattle ~wew brought forward in fine condition, and perhaps.a word of commendation is specially due to the managers of the large companies for ■ the pains tlioy have evidently taken to bring about this result. SHEEP. Before noticing the sheep m detail, it may bo as well to insert the substance of general remarks made by the judges in •these clasps. Their opinion is that the sheep should be individually numbered with a number corresponding to that nn the pen, so that they could be turned out ; into a large, yard and judged together. Mr Crosse said he passed several of, Mr Serldon's exhibits solely for the reason that they were wanting in, condition, the quality aud growth being very good. The show, Mr Crosse saiJ, was the strongest, he had seen this'year, beating those at . Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. Class 92, ewes under 18 months, was a most difficult one to judge, the whole of the nine exhibit being of such even' quality, and he had' the greatest trouble in awarding prizes. In "class 106, Mr W. S. Allen's exhibit was a really splendid one, and fit to take the prize on any show ground in the province. In class 137 (fat lambs) Mr .Wright's exhibit was awarded fust prize • hut it was afterwards disqualified, as it , was found that there were some rams'in ■the exhibit which should have' included only ewes and wothors., Mr Gro.sse also draw attention to thei,particular merit of : Mr-Jas. Anderson's exhibit (the only one) < . in class 141, five wethers unshorn, suitable for freezing. There was very fair com- ,, petition in tho Lincoln classes, though , Mr C. T.' Barriball was the largest prize taker, securing first and second honours for both rams and ewes under 18 months, .and second for the best pen of, three ewes! '■■ The.McNicol Memorial Clip also fell to Mr '.Btrribali. Mr James Wallace got .the "first- award for the best aged ram, the \ Land Association coming second to him, •Mr .Wallace \\ also took the' honours for the . best pen of three. ewes'any a:ge, and ; best' pen, of three ewe's under 18 mor tihs,; The show of Leicesters was particularly good so far as quality was concerned, but the competition was almost confined to the Lockerbie, Estate arid the Land Association, ifche Gorton Estate only taking one prize; The only exhibitor in the Border; Leicesters was' the, AiA. C mipany, who secured ; a first, .prize, for a pen of exceptionally fine ewes , under 18 months,,, : ln Rpriiney Marsh Mr :Jos/ Bariigh tookfirstarid chariipiori for; /a'ms, 'with; a magnificent• animal, arid' Mr. Thornton Walker was. successful in ''the class rams'under ; lß months. -Mr W, 'S.i Allen : took 'first for - best ewes, best! three ewea and best, pen of five rams .under 18 months; the Eversley Estate got a first award for.the best pen of ewes any age and, Mr T; Walker got a first for best pen of ten ewes. .The Shropshires were, ■well; represented, a'sign-that -the suitability of the breed for freezing purposes is becoming;.*more, widely; appreciated; , Mr Ballard was : perhaps the, niostsuccessful,exh,ibito.r,.gettirig the .'champion';: arid ! ' first in both, ram .classes,; together i with first for best pen of; three ewes, any age. • . Mr 0.,-Day was also:a-very.sucfiessful exhibitor in, this classy, and! other prize 1 ' winners were Mr,J,;Gallagher r Mr. E. J; : ' Parker, Mr. f. Wj Burnett and'the liarid' Association,: ;The had a' ; solitary by wlio only succeeded' •'. in getting a second prize.''.ln, the half- 1 bred classes the Matamata Es'ta'teand th^ L ; A.A. Company divided the'prizes'; and Matamata and the Land Association- per.-) formed a similar.office k for,the ■ MennosIn the ut other sheep -\ classes some .very' 'fine,.pons, .of. crossbreds were:..{shown,' Matamata again taking the cream.of the prizes. ; The fat s.heep.shovvn were, worthy,, of x the large amoupfc of -attention given ■ . and those showing an admixture of,theShropshire breed were particularly notice* . able,: Theprizes:in this'section,- as will' r; lie seen, h were ; pretty: evenly • divided . amongst anumber of competitors. .".; ■":- V J. :. ; -:;. ' V PIGS.:''v ';. ; ; : ; .":;:-

The show: of ■ pigs wasagairi 'small, but-' , the quality .was fully up to the .standard of ;Ja3t .year.- la' black- the first prize for;boar ovei; 12 irobths' was ■. takeir.byMr W;'T.' Wallace, with M'r. ; A','L Souter second. • For the'- best' boar under 12 months:Mr-'W-; J.',Payne -arid Mr (J. P., were^firsthand' second, resppcfcively,?'and;ior^he^l)est : SOW; over 12. suclcHag -pigs,' ■■Mr Souter got', the : ; ;awani v >Messrs Biiutead won the first and second 'alwards in. the class for sow,;under 12 : months, Mr Souterand. Mr Wallace 1 ' shared' the honours in' the large white variety] nud the only entry in the class4br small ; wh.ite.-.that of Mr E, P.'Rogers/«'a ■'■ prize,.;;.'.. ■..■.': • ■ : ■■ ■■'■ >:• <.- : MRICULTURAL ; IMPLEMENT^' ; :m: -;; ANP i VEHICLES. : ■: : _ The display of buggies,. agricultural ■implements, et<?.,. this year was a re-' marka'lily'., good' one,' and attracted .'no small amount of .attention. The' ex» l)il)it,s, fis ,yve stated, we're displayed to the -.'greatest;, advantage on the opeiv grputidjying 'Leween the sheep and cattle pens,'and, the,,most was made of the position,by the .exhibitors.... Stand ;:'' No. 1 was occupied j)y Messrs ,T.,& §, ;;,Morrin & Co., with a very comprehensive ; of iiriplemeiits,lncluding inany ■; of lightest improved, articles-from the ■. workshops :ol] Massey Harris These ;' latter,.^^com prising v their,. well knpwn 1 reapers anil-Bi|w|crs and,their,cultivators V (a public;triM of : which was given in ' the; district ■sbihe -littje, time ago) were.in sp6'cial\.ch'airge'\!pf^thc j v';firir» , s. represe-vtv- ■ tive, i .Mrj^Cooli^KMe^rs^Morriu ; also

showed a number of the American Oliver ploughs and the Iron Age cultivators, together with harrowsj milk coolers, spraying machines, etc. Stand No. 2, in the'catalogue was devoted to a display of Messrs Cousins and Cousins'buggies, the whole of which were shown in a spacious marquee. These included a ladies' phaeton, a Cambridge buggy, an Eclipse slide seat buggy, a Thorne roadster, and a Queen,road-cart. The whole of the vehicles were fine specimens of workmanship, combining strength and lightness with a high degree of finish. Messrs Morrow, Bassetb, and Co. exexhibited, through their agent, Mr Ed. Allen r a reaper and binder of their well known pattern, and Mr W. Gardner a light American Mr Johu W. Wallace, of Ofcahuhu, had three exhibits—two double-furrows and one single-furrow plough. No. 1, D.F. plough, is his.popnlar side lever, centre lift, with hoe and handles, fitted up with the latest improvements' No 2, D.F. plough, has a useful device attached to the lever for altering the depth of the furrow, which, can be supplied to any make of plough. No 3 was a:; two-wheel'single-furrow' plough, American pattern, which snems a very useful tool. Mr.W. Vant, ofNgaruawahia, hatfavery •useful trap on-, exhibition; Messrs Reid arid Gray, whose name is now a household word throughout the colony, had their usual exhibit of ploughs, harrows and, drills, together with a Mercer non-canvas binder. Little need be said ; in explanation;! of the exhibit of this firm, save that, following t ,«ir wellknown practice, several, improvements have been effected in the make and adjustment of their implements. Mr T. of Hamilton, had a very effective display, the exhibit comprising a light tip dray very suitable for farmers or co'ntractors, for road work, a strong and light two-wheeled vehicle suitable for 'milk trade, and which would be found very serviceable for any driving purposes, and a sing'le-seated roomy bu«fgy which will comfortably seat three adults. The last-mentioned • was one that was greatly admired, being a single-seated .buggy ..with pole,;built' on the Abbot : principle. It is painted'a'dark green, picked out with a handsome white line.. This buggy is adapted /for town or country. Part of Mr' T.'Slade's exhibits was from the firm of Bouth and McDonald, Carlyle Implement' Works, Ghristchurch, for whom Mr Slade is the local agent. This section comprised one field roller for three horses, an Bft.lß-.disc harrow, and a 6ft 16-disc harrow of their latest, make, a double funpw plough built on the same' lines as; the one they:took the champion 1 prize'with at a ploughing matoh held at ; Blenheim last 'year. 'The; Walter A. Wood Company also, had an exhibit of that firm's. weil known machines on the. : ground,. These comprised a Gy clono ■ raower,-specially designed for heavy crops' in the North Islaiidi,; This machine isadmiraolVj adapted for cutting, rushes, light titree .and heavy crops of trefoil, It is fitted''with an outside, divider shoe for dividing', , ; and clover ,It- ' was ','• shown for .• the.,. first time' at; the • Poverty Bay ' ; and ; Hawke'ji' ',Bay' shows, whero it ■; -was favourably •reported upon,'and where, as here during the show on Thursday aud:'Friday, n'ume-1 rpus orders were' booked. , There was also one' of the firm's improved'bitiaers, similar ■ to one Mr John Grig}?,' of'Longbeaoh;•;has had in use for the past •season, and which'; '. has given him much satisfaction in deal j: ihg ;with' heavy and laid crops, • A one,l Horse mower on tlie' tubular steel prin'ciple, which farmers will find'a'very ! J usefulmachine : ;for''d,eaiing''with)smalipad-, > docks and'eutting amongst trees 'vyas,also' j shown.-' Mr • Slade'is 'the local agent for • this firm.'• Messrs; Gee', aiiiL Potter,.' of liArick'laiid, hiid : four of .their well-known 'buggies on; exhibition, arid 'each^was a 'fair specimen .'of .the good 'work this, firm •invariably-' puts into the vehicles turned jout'' by.them. 'The exhibits' include an j umpire, slide-seat; which' locks up and' ,is'. fitted in blank morocco; a single Seated 'buggy adapted 'for carrying large parcels; : a'plide-seat "buggy '.with back doer, on the' 1 ' principle of the Oortlaud' 'waggon,' and''a /'country roadster, two' j wheels, to carry three people. 'The buggies have been 'specially built, for the' Wai'k'atrv work,- having • ja large carrying capacity: yet being ilight and liieat in, ■appearance. 'Some' idea oftheir lightness' may lie formed wiie'n'it ''is stated that •the four together, with'all'the .'spare! gear, etc.'ohly' weighed' 12cwV. M,e;srs ; Keiupthorne, .Prosser and Co. had a very, neatly-constructed'/> building '' on . 'the ground, in ' the' vicinity' of. the "sheep ■pens, in which a complete selection xi vjhe/ffirm's";well-known manures, chemicals and; proprietary goods were arranged' to the very best advantage, and-'with 1 -aj view to meet the'convenience of visitors. The kiosk was in charge •' of Mr dick,; who.was;ready a; all times to afford' the' fullestinformation'"to : ail enquirers; The uutiur'es'aiul other•' manufactures of this firm;are' so welt known, by name at least, : that it is nofc'necessary to catalogue them; in. -ihis'jplaco. Messt-s{Reynolds and Co. showed a .couple of. the' famous 'AlexandraereVm ■separators; adapted "either for. :; liand;: or; .power,' aiid it was theif intention also to' have have'had a. mil l< inij; ■ inaohir e > at \yorlc on the gvoiind .tjnfortunattily ; _ ; . the"■,;maker■;.of■, latter' • could not \ supply- oho' in.time.-Messrs Cousins' and' -Atkin , had,' as usual, some splendid samples of the carriage builders' art on the ground, theh exhibits'num-. . beriiig rip!le.i-i th;in tetu'"-;TlVefeeoqmpriaed ; „a hooded phaeton withpatent'axles'aiid wheals, 5 trimmed' in 'maroon leather, with lamps and .brake, silver mounted; a roomy and comi'ortable.'.trap; ! a station'bugtfy with patent axlesla'nd: whpels, varnished ■mauffeao ■ body and ■ painted •gear.'' -The,' firm have supplied a .great number'of- ; this description to Waikato residents arid ,they have given every'' satisfaction-;-^ . McOuilagh 'buggr, . with patent spring . vfixings on shafts, and fitted/with:Cliftriir

jump seat, a most popular vehicle in this district; a balance cart of a new design and forming a most useful vehicle; the Auckland roadster, light and well suited to our roiids; a new style of single seat buggy, with plenty ".of hg room and storage capacity ; a single seat buggy with open back; a Cortland waggon; a road sulky for trotting horse, and a light, farm dray with hay frame, The Waikato agent for the firm is Mr John Ferguson, of Cambridge, where sample buggies may be seen. There were two other exhibits on the ground though they were entered too late to appear in the catalogue. : First there .was a collection of implements by Elder Bros., of Auck laud, agents in New Zealand for John Deere and Co. These included sulky plough, gang riding plough, steel hand plough, and several articles of Elder Bros,'own make. The main feature of the ploughs is their light draught combined with strength. Messrs Legge and Son, vegetable evaporators, Auckland, had a most interesting exhibit of their goods under the grand stand. Unfortunately, few people seemed to be aware of its existence, and .so little notice was taken of it. It wag, however, well worthy of inspection. The specimens of evaporated articles shown included apples,pears, quinces and all, kinds of fruit, together with.rhubarb and vegetables of various sorts, herbs, etc. . Mr Legge claims that in evaporating the natural flavour and odour .are retained and that the goods will keep for years.., He has opened up a considerable trade with Western Australia and finds a small outlet here, surveyors and . others finding it very con.venient to,take preserved fruit, and vegetables prepared on this principle with them,, Messrs Legge's factory should well repay,a visit of inspection.