AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 68, 12 November 1891, Page 2

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

[By

Picador. ]

Some years ago the agricultural.shows in Auckland were well worth seeing. Farmers came from all parts to see them, the greatest interest being taken in the stock. Competent judges were appointed from a distance for the different classes, and the stock, etc., would compare favourably with any other province. In 1884 the whole thing collapsed, the same as most things do in Auckland, owing to mismanage ment. The Committee purchased land and put up expensive buildings, borrowing money to do so. This could not last long, so the mortagagees foreclosed, and the monument of a few persons’ folly —trying to run before they could walk—can still be seen at Greenlane in the shape of dilapidated sheds and buildings, that at one time held valuable horses and cattle. Thus Auckland, much to its disgrace, was left without any show. The natural consequence was that, owing to want of stimulation, the settlers got careless, and the different breeds of cattle, etc., deteriorated. Last year the Mangere farmers, much to their credit, came to the front, and got up a very creditable show at Potter’s Paddock. This appears to have awakened the latent energies of several who had belonged to the old Association, and through the perseverance of Messrs. Massey and Grainger the present Club was formed, with every prospect of making it a permanent success. Their first annual show was held at Pottei’s Paddock last Friday and Saturday. Taken as a whole, it must be considered a very fair one. The majority of the Committee worked hard, but they require more knowledge

as to what shows ought to be. There was one great mistake made : because there was a large space, the exhibits were spread all over the place, instead of being concentrated,' 1 thus enabling visitors to go round easily, instead of making a toil of a pleasure. When you entered the gate the horses were first on the right ; then if you followed them all, continuing with the cattle and pigs, you had a good threequarters of a mile to walk, then had to return to the sheep and the show ring. This being the case, many of the visitors never got as far as the cattle. The local industries were also scattered, thus preventing persons being able to compare one with another, but another year I hope this will be rectified. The Committee were not fortunate in their selection of judges for horses in the riding and jumping classes. Messrs. Crowther, Bu- . sanko, and J. S. Buckland were the only ones for all classes, the consequence being there were some great mistakes made, as the former is all at home with draught and harness horses, but he is quite adrift with the lighter classes, especially those required for the hunting field and also in the riding and jumping classes, never, I should think, having been in the hunting field; while the latter is all there, being a fine horseman and has had a good deal of experience with light horses. The third appeared to follow Mr. Crowther. The consequence was that Mr. Buckland was several times over-ruled much to the detriment of the classes, as it disgusted some of the exhibitors, and perhaps will prevent them showing another’year. The judges were very dilatory in commencing the judging on Friday, and it was late before it was finished. The attendance of the general public was very poor, many no doubt being kept away by the threatening weather. On Saturday, however, it was much better, there being between 4,000 and 5,000 on the ground, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy the jumping competitions and the parades. I will now take the different exhibits as they come. First of all were the blood stallions. How the judges came to put Fabulous - before Brigadier puzzled everyone, and ;was the talk of the show ground. Fabulous is flat-sided, narrow quarters, with neither or thighs, small knees, and very light below —in fact, he is little better than a weed. Old Leolinus, who looked remarkably well, should have been before him. Brigadier has plenty of substance, and shows quality, like all the Muskets do ; if anything, one might take exception to his hocks, which are not quite of the best, but his other good points more than balancfe, This defect. Raglan was quite out of place. young blood stock and brood mares were poorly represented, only a colt and filly being entered, both by King Cole, but were very moderate, while there was only a solitary exhibit of mares. She was far from first-class, so the judges only gave her second prize. The harness horses were good all through, and showed a great improvement during the last five years. Messrs. Pullen and Armitage had a very good team, that were well handled.

In the tandem class Mr. Duncan Stewart had a very good pair, and deservedly got first prize; and I liked his second team better than Colonel Carry’s, who were placed second. As tandem driving is becoming the fashion in Auckland, it is a pity that those who are fond of this kind of thing do not get a proper tandem cart built. Cab and express horses were fairly good all through, so were the bakers’ turnouts. The roadsters were not as good as they should have been. The judging also was moderate, especially in class 25, when in the opinion of many Bombardier should have been placed first. The class suitable for Indian cavalry rather surprised me, also the way they were judged. All the entries were aged, instead of being four or five year old. Playboy is a nice cut of ,a horse, but more suitable for the horse artillery than a trooper, while the second prize one, Ike, would pass very few colonels. The hack class was only moderate, jPlayboy again getting first prize, but he is certainly not what can be called a hack in the true acceptation of the word, being too big and heavy. He was more at home in the hunters’ class, where he got first, Ike, who is a poor specimen, being second, but he is not, I should think, a pleasant horse to ridej as he seems rather shifty, and has only one side to “ his mouth.” As regards ladies’ horses, there was not what

f you could call a good one amongst them. Only brie cantered with his proper leg first. Hunkiis, who got the first prize, was certainly not a ladies’ horse, as his action was not good and he carried his head too high. There was a difference between the judges regarding this horse, • and the one that knew most about them was over-ruled, Padlock being decidedly the best. The pony entries were numerous, and among • them some very clever ones. The draught stallions were good, but there was not much competition. It was the. same with the young entire colts, who were decidedly poor. The judges called in no vet., as they should have done. The other draught stock were numerous, and there were some very good ones among them. The shorthorns were a good lot, and there was good competition in some of the classes, which was not the case with the Herefords, Mr Every Maclean being the only exhibitor. ' ..The Jerseys were also numerous, and were pronounced a very good lot. The sheep, especially the Lincolns, were the feature of the Show, and I. heard a Southern gentleman say that he did not think there were such sheep in Auckland. Unfortunately for the province, the two best Lincoln rams, exhibited by Mr. McNiccol, were bred by Mr. Sutton in Hawke’s Bay. There was a fair display of poultry, the usual exhibitors taking most of the prizes for the new style of birds. The pigs were not, take them all through, a good lot, but there were one or two nice York-

shires. There was an exceedingly good display of dairy produce, hams, bacon, etc.; but not understanding this class I will make no comment. The Committee introduced a very good thing when they placed on the programme a prize for the best sheep dog, to pen three sheep—a regular field trial. The entries were not as many as one would like to have seen. One thing was noticed, that was the absence of most of the show collies, thus proving that the owners of “ bench ” dogs were afraid to trust them to a working trial. The conditions were that each dog had to drive three sheep (rather too small a number) from the far end of one large paddock into another, where a small pen was erected, then pen the sheep, and drive them back through a gateway into the first paddock. Time allowed was fifteen minutes. Mr. Loftus Austin’s Ellerslie did remarkably smart work, penning his sheep in three and a half minutes, but he was evidently only a drover’s dog, therefore the judges rightly passed him over. Mr. Davis’ (of Wangarei) dogs did : some splendid work, and his bitch Louise deservedly got the first prize, taking six minutes to do her work. His dog was almost as good. ' Mr. Hunt’s Matamata took second, though he was nothing like the others’. A third prize was not given, no other dog being able to do his work. Only three ladies competed for the prize for Best Lady Rider. Here Mr. Crowther again showed his incompentency to judge these kind of things. His arrogance was something astounding. He, however, got one of the judges to follow him. I was much surprised that the ladies did not leave the ring. They were made to change horses—a thing that was never seen in an English ring. Miss McCrae took first, Mrs. McDonald second, but the places should most decidedly have been reversed.

Best Amateur Riders brought out eleven competitors. Again Mr. Crowther was to the fore, and, as in the ladies’ class, they were made to change horses. Mr. Yonge, Colonel Dawson, and Mr. Martin being placed in that order instead of Messrs. Kelly, Tonks and Yonge. The Hunting competition was a farce. Mr. - Yonge got the prize. A serious accident might have occurred through Mr. Percival, who is . getting into the sere and yellow leaf and short sighted, attempting to do the jumps with an untrained horse, which came down a regular cropper and narrowly missed rolling over him. The high jump was not erected as it should have been, the horses being able to see under the bar; the jumping, therefore, was poor, Maritana, by Hippocampus, being first with a jump of only sft. rin. The prize for the best four-in-hand driver was justly awarded to Mr. W. McLaughlin. In the tandem class Mr. Davis, driving Mr. Stewart’s pair of bays, was awarded first prize,

though I think that Mr. Stewart, who drove the greys, ought to have got it, as they were the most awkward. I fully expect to see a most successful show next year, as from a conversation I have had with some of the leading members they are quite alive to their shortcomings.