THE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 330, 19 November 1896, Page 8

THE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

The Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association are undoubtedly entitled to hearty congratulation for having succeeded in making the Agricultural Show of 1896 the greatest success yet achieved. In previous years the society has frequently been handicapped by adverse weather, but in the face of difficulties it has struggled on, and has now the satisfaction of knowing that the vast crowds of people who assembled at Potter’s Paddock oft Friday and Saturday last pronounced the Show a credit to New Zealand. The horticultural show as well as the exhibition of machinery had its interests for particular classes. The fair sex congregated where the roses, pansies, etc., were to be seen, while the hard and hornyhanded tillers of the soil were deeply interested in the newest designs of farming implements. It is, however, more with the live stock that we have to deal. There was a splendid display of cattle, but it was in the exhibition of horses of all classes that the show excelled. In blood stock the show was not very strong, but all the exhibits were full of quality. There is a lot of risk attached to the exhibition of a high-spirited thoroughbred, and owners do not as a rule care to undertake the risk. The paltry money prize is no inducement, the honour of victory being the greatest encouragement to owners of blood stock who exhibit, and those who did exhibit at the late show are entitled to commendation, for they were conferring a favour on the public that they could not expect to be properly rewarded for. In class 1 for entires three years old and upwards there were four exhibits, all <>f high quality, namely, Leolantis (by Leolinus — Atlantis), Lobhinvar (by Envoy —Yellowstone), Fabulous (by Leolinus —Atlantis), and Orestes (by Nordenfeldt—Clytemnestra). The handsome chestnut Leolantis was exhibited in beautiful condition by Mr L. D. Nathan. He is a horse most attractive to look at, having size, substance, and quality to commend him. and, like his half-brother St. Leser, he should be capable of getting anything ' from a hunter to a flat racer. The judge awarded him first prize, and Mr Nathan therefore won the prize donated by himself, but. that of course is of no consideration to him. his best reward being the expressed opinion of properly constituted judges. Lochinvar is a very nice-looking horse, and the judges awarded .him second place. Old Fabulous, Leolantis’s full brother, had a host of admirers, and looked as sensible as a Minister of the Crown, but Orestes did not seem to relish the presence of, so many curious people, and was, perhaps, not seen to the best advantage. He is ‘well bred, being by the defunct Nordenfeldt, and

In Class 12 (filly or gelding, two years old), a good-looking son of Paddy’s Land, exhibited by Mr E. H. Kelly, was awarded first prize, while Mr K. Morrison’s Pinkere (by Pinkfire) secured second honours. The same pair took first and second in the next class for two-year-olds, suitable for roadster or harness. Ellerslie (by Pleasanton), exhibited by Mr G. Hunter, took the first prize for yearlings. There was an excellent exhibition of hacks, and the task set the judges was not an easy one. For hacks up to list, Playboy (a handsome hack exhibited by Mr William Lisk) was awarded the pride of place, with Bar None (exhibited by Mr T. Hamilton) second, Squire (exhibited by Mr J. A. Motion) third,and Charlie (exhibited by Ambury, English, and Co.) highly commended. There were twenty-six exhibits in this class. In Class 15 (mare or gelding up to 14st) Mr Skipworth’s gained first honours, with Mr P. Quinlan’s Miss Sheridan a creditable second, and Mr Arthur Selby’s Albion third. In the competition for ladies’ horses there were eight exhibits, all being good. The judges took some time over their decision in this class, and finally awarded the prize to Mr J. R. Martin’s Gladiator (by Fair Helen). It must have been a near thing even in their estimation. Gladiator looked all over a lady’s horse, but so also did Roy, another black, who obtained second prize, while Atlanta, who was only awarded third place, captivated a lot of horse fanciers. In ponies the show was also strong, and. the judges did well in awarding Mr John Abbott’s Nimrod first prize for pony entire under 14 hands ; Mr T. C. Tighe’s Sir Hercules second. Mr E. D. O’Rorke’s Matai was adjudged the best pony mare under 14 hands. Mr L. E. Bradbury’s Bantam carried off the prize in the 14 hands 2 inches class, and in class 20, for boys ponies, the red ribbon was put round the neck of Stanley Pilkington’s Tommy, A. Cunningham’s Little Dick second, and J. Taylor’s Kelpie third. Jas. S. Dickey’s Don secured the first prize in the class for ponies 12 hands. There were some very nice polo ponies, the first and second prizes falling to the exhibits of Mr E. D. O’Rorke, one being by Bryan O’Lynn and the other by Australian ; the third prize in this class was awarded to Mr C. E. Pur chas’ Chance It (by Retort). There was a good show of cavalry horses, and the hunters were a good useful lot. The judges had no hesitation in awarding the first prize to Mr Arthur Selby’s Albion, a chestnut by Australian, who lost nothing by having the veteran huntsman in the saddle. The other prizes were awarded to Mr E. D. O’Rorke’s Saxon, Mr R. H. Skipwith’s Dad, and Mr Arthur Selby’s Defiance. Molly Riley, a very nice bay by Rifleman, exhibited by Mr A. Wallace, won the first prize for the class for three or four year-olds suitable for hunting and bred and owned by a farmer over whose land the Hunt Club have permission to run during the season. The second prize was awarded to Mr W. Pullan’s Ashby (by Balderdash). There were eleven competitors in the leaping match, and, although the horses were a good-looking lot, the exhibition of jumping was a failure, a result probably due to the schooling of some of the riders and horses having been neglected. Although the bar was only a little over 4ft for the first jump, only two horses (Muscatelle and Dad) got over, and when raised to 4ft Qin only one (Muscatelle) got over and was awarded first prize. The winner was very nicelv ridden by Miss L. Walker, who was the only lady in the contest, and the hearty cheers showed that her victory was popular. Dad was awarded second prize. On the second day the attendance was tremendous and chief interest centred in the hunting competition. The exhibition of jumping was much better than on the first day, and most of the horses seemed to revel in their work. Th eye was very little baulking, and the work right through was most creditable, and only one harmless fall occurred. In the hunting competition there were twenty-three competitors, and first prize was most deservedly awarded to Mr E. D. O’Rorke, who, on Saxon, gave a most finished exhibition,and the applause when Saxon was decorated with the red ribbon