SHOW CHAT.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 8

SHOW CHAT.

First days at agricultural shows are seldom well attended. ; It is on those days that the work is done, when there is little for the public, generally speaking, to see. To those interested in the actual judging, however, there is much to entertain them, and there arc many who like to know exactly upon what grounds the judges base their awards. Still, Agricultural and Pastoral Associati'ons'nevcr look for big attendances on the opening days of their shows, although the Waikato A. and P. Association had no reason to complain of yesterday's attendance, when its 34th annual stock exhibition opened. The day was fortunately line, and the grounds fresh, green and dry. As stated in our columns yesterday, the entries are exceedingly gratifying, numbering in all over 2000, of which the horse entries form the bulk, totalling over 500. The season has, taking it all round, been a poor one for stock. The cold wet weather of the spring put everything back, and the cattle, especially in many cases which ordinarily would have been shown, have not picked up sufficiently in condition to make them fit for exhibition. What stock has been entered is, however, of excellent quality, and in all sections the judges have expressed great satisfaction on this score. The horses, both heavy and light, are splendid sorts, and while not so numerous as a few years ago, do not on this account appear to have suffered in quality. The cattle, taking them all round, are also excellent. The biggest sections are Jerseys and Friesians, and the judges are very pleased with the animals which so far they have judged, considering them well up to typo and well got up. The judge of the Friesians, Mr H. Jolly, in commenting on the animals

he judged, described them as an exceedingly good lot and, with the exception of just a few, were in splendid show condition. In fact he had a hard job to place the animals in several classes. The Piri Land Company had a very good group, which carried off the Wilbur Cup at Palmers ton North a fortnight ago. The bull of this team headed the Royai Show provincial team, which on that occasion scored second place. The cow that was placed champion yesterday, the Waitemata Stud Farm's Hengerveld Belle Segis merely repeated her wins at Palmerston North and the Royal Shows. Mr Jolly stressed the point that breeders must turn out their show animals in absolute tip-top condition if they wanted to stand a chance of securing the higher places at shows. The champion bull was Whewell Bros. King of Cadilac, by the well-known ex-champion bull King of Dominoes. He was quite a distinctive animal, which took the eye immediately he entered the ring, and in this case Mr Jolly had no difficulty in awarding the first' place.

The judge of the Jerseys declared the section to be an excellent one. For numbers he understood it to be the best section at any show yet held at Hamilton, and he thought this record must stand for quality also. The two and three-year-old and aged cowclasses were strong in numbers and as good as'anything he had seen. The display altogether was an excellent one and the cattle throughout looked well. In certain of the classes the animals were far better than those he had seen at the. Royal Show, where, while the numbers were bigger than here, they included many rough animals. Mr J. M. Whitham, who adjudicated upon the Shorthorns, was very pleased with the milking animals, and said they were of a better stamp altogether up this way than in the South Island. He was just back from Christchurch, and bad no hesitation in saying that the Shorthorn cattle here were better than those exhibited at the Royal Show. The aged bull class for yearling heifers contained some particularly fine specimens. Mr. Whitham thought Waika'to was to be congratulated upon the fine type of Shorthorn cattle which it produced.

A big improvement is shown in sheep entries this year,'; the reason probably being the high price that has been offering for fat lambs. Waikalo has proved a good district for breeding fats, and as the lambs from a Romney cross ewe sired by a Southdown ram appear to produce the best lamb for the export market, both Southdowns and Romneys are present in good numbers. Mr R. Seddon's Southdown ram, which won the championship at the Auckland Show and which has come first at the Waikato Show on three previous occasions, again crimed off first honours. The competition in both Southdowns and Romneys was strong, while the qualitywas well up'to former standards. In Leicestcrs and Lincolns the numbers are down somewhat, although the judges state that there is nothing wrong with the quality. One of the most pleasing features warranting comment is the , ideal weather that has marked both days of the annual exhibition. This is quite a contrast to the very wet conditions on Show days last year, as the outcome of which the attendance was materially affected. The first day of the Show is always a more or less dull time for all but the judges, who are steadily engaged in making their awards. "People's Day" is marked by much more animation and there is an ample round of attraction for show visitors. The Railway Department' made special arrangements for the arrival and the despatch of Show stock at this year's exhibition. An official was specially detailed to supervise this department, and the promptitude of the arrangements was appreciated by exhibitors.

The standard of jumping in the various tests at the Show this year earned the' 1 appreciation of many competent critics, who watched the efforts from outside the ring. The fences at the Waikato Show are capable of testing the qualifications of the best hunters, and the good standard all round of the latest displays was worthy of more than passing notice. There are many busy individuals at Show periods. These exhibitions entail a measure of time and labour that is hardly appreciated as it should be by the uninitiated. For the main part the large army of workers give of their services voluntarily, and the district owes them a debt of gratitude for their self-sacrificing labours. The Waikato, fortunately, is well endowed in this respect. Owing to the omission of a word in the results of the Pedigree Ayrshire section, it appeared as James Craig was the winning exhibitor in the two-year-old class for bulls. This should have read .lames Craig Wallace. To many people the side-shows are the chief" attraction on these occasions. While the business or the itinerant showman has dwindled a good deal compared with a few years .ago, the young New Zcalander still has a penchant for exploring the "hidden mysteries." The well-packed tents during sessions at the exhibition tOTday was evidence of this. •■lf there is one aspect of the Show more than another that holds the close attention of the crowd, it is the jumping events, which are decided' in the mian ring each afternoon. When the star item, the Dominion Jumping Competition, was in progress this afternoon there was hardly a vacant position round the extensive circle.

Although the advent of the motorcar has greatly changed town and rural life, there is still to be found a goodly percentage in every population who retain that inherent admiration for the equine, whether it be draught, light carriage, or hunter. The Waikato has long been famous for its horse classes, particularly the lights, and af the latest Show the classes were of good size, while the quality was in a great many instances of a standard warranting the highest commendation. The "Tod Sloan" seat was not foreign to some of the riders who piloted charges over the fences in the various jumping classes at' the Show this year. While this may be all right on the racecourse, where the fences arc taken at full racing speed, it is hardly as effective in a show-ring, where the pace is much slower and jumping is the essential qualification. The representation of townspeople in the attendance to-day was good, but it could have been improved upon. It is remarkable the number of people who fail to give the support to the annual summer exhibition that is expected of them. The recalcitrant ones appear to lose sight of the fact that the Show confers a certain benefit upon the town and district in which it; is held, and it is a civic duty that is demanded of all to give it supportStill, one supposes it is only natural to find apathetic or unthinking people in every community. People who follow the ramifications of the aniiual shows throughout the Auckland province need no introduction to the jumper Patch. A large volume of water has passed under I ho Waikato bridges since Patch first made his appearance as a show jumper, at which ho has won innumerable prizes.

Despite the fact that he is now approaching the score in years, Patch is still a very proficient fencer, and this fine type of hunter appears among the prize-winners at the latest exhibition. In to-day's big attendance there was a thoroughly representative gathering of patrons from the agricultural areas throughout the Waikato and from further afield.' While there are other attractions with more "pep" in them these times for modern New Zealand, especially the town-dweller, country folk as a rule remain loyal to the agricultural and pastoral exhibition. The fact that we are all, more or less, subjects of environment may in some way explain the difference., '"'Will we ever have the Royal Show one exhibitor was heard to comment to a neighbour this morning. "If it depends on the quality of our stock we are certainly entitled to it," was the rejoinder. There was mutual agreement between a directly interested pair that Hamilton should be included in the rounds of the Royal Show. "We have too many shows altogether," remarked an enthuiast in these matters to a Times' representative. This farmer was of' the opinion that the smaller shows (he lives in one of these latter districts) should be eliminated and the full forces of the united district centred on the one big show. While this attitude of a multiplication of shows was being continued the whole aim of what constituted progress in agricultural and pastoral displays was being lost sight of. "Strive for one decent central show and cut out all these tinpot affairs," was the summing up of the farmer who broached the subject. There arc some exhibitors at the Show this year who have, continuously supported the Association throughout the 34 years that the annual displays have been carried out. They all 'speak with pride at the progress the Waikato Show has made during a third of a century, and are capable of relating many interesting anecdotes connected with shows and showing at Claudelands.

The president of the Show (Mr W. Ncwell) has been connected with the institution for very many years. In addition to his active work in various executive departments throughout a long term, Mr Newell has been one of the consistent and most prominent exhibitors at the annual displays. His election to the position of president this year was a thoroughly deserved honor, that met with the unanimous support of the members. The pivot upon which the Show operations revolve is the secretarial department. Mr J. M. Baxter and,hisl staff have a heavy round of duty prior to, during, and immediately after, the Show, and the courtesy and attention j bestowed upon the numerous inquiries : is deeply appreciated. Owing to developing milk fever j during the past week-end, Mr J. C. Wallace's former champion Ayrshire cow, " Polly of Auchens " could not b '. shown at this year's display.