SHOW OPENS WITH ENTRIES ECLIPSING ALL PREVIOUS YEARS

Chronicle (Levin), 28 January 1949, Page 5

SHOW OPENS WITH ENTRIES ECLIPSING ALL PREVIOUS YEARS

RECORD "PEOPLE'S DAY" IS ANTICIPATED TOMORROW Touching heights never before reached with, 43 fixtures it has conducted during its existence, tlie Horowhenua A. and P. Association's 1949 show opened at the Levin Showgrounds today with 2370 entries displayed before the judges. The ccllection of stock undoubtedly surpassed in excellence anything ever before seen locaily and set a standard which would be difficult fco betfcer at any other similar centre in the i Dominion. The magnificent type of the animals and the numerical strength of the variops sections reflected to the full Horowhenua's richness as a primary producing district.

The total entries this year have exceedecl those at the 1947 1 show (2144) by 226. This is a considerable increase on the1 differenee between the 1946 and T947 fixtures, which was 73.. No show was held last year owing to the outbreak of poliomyelitis. The weather today was fine and gave the event a highly succ-essful start. If the same co'nditions prevail tomorrow, which is "Peopie's Day," it is expect'ed that record revenue figures will be produced. An excellent programme has been arranged for the afternoon and also the night show. The following is a comparative [31 starters. The prize money for table of entries: — [this event wi'l total £75, including 1949 1947 a cup and first prize of £40.

Horses and competi- ! tions 606 417 Dog Trials 3 15 Cattle 635 528 Sheep 300 282 Pigs 75 132 Home Indusiries 594 530 Schools 157 240 Total 2370 2144 The following is an analy.sis of the stock en:ries by bre? ds, in wnich the 1947 ligures are shown in parenlheses: — Cattle: Jerseys. 159 (126 : dairy and specials. 150 >82); Ayrshires, 136 (153); Frie ians, 165 (91); Milking Shorihern . 25 (30). Sheep: Fat sheep. 67 (86 » ; Southdown, 90 83 >: Koniney. 91 (87); Cheviots, 52 26'. Pigs: Berksnires, 13 (44) ; Tamworths, 6 29i; Lirge Whites, 13 (1); Large Blackp 18 9); crossbreds, 4 13 1 ; porkei's and baconers, 21 17). It was pariicularly pleasing to note the incie.ise in the Fricsian entries in ihe "aitle section this year, as 10 years ago the Levin Boys' Training Cenire was the only breeder in tnis district. Jerseys have norma! y been 'the most predominant breed, and last year was the first occasion on which this breed was chol enged, when tne Ayrshire section had approximate.y 10 more entries. Coinciding with the rise in Friesians was the falling off in the entries of .Milking Shorthorns. This c.istrict now has only a few breedf rs of this beast and there is a strong probabilitv that one of the >e herds will be riisposed of scon. The dairy section included entrants in the special c'asses, which are open to purebrds, the main class being the champion cow for which 18 entries wee received. The other special ciasses open to all breeds were yearjir.g dairy heifers, for which there were 17 entries and heifer calves :n which 25 were exhibite'd. Tne calf club competitions were well supported with 38 entries. The Young Farmers' ciasses for cattle, sheep and pigs were aT disappointing as far as numerical strength was concerned. there being only| four entries in the two cattle j ciasses, five in the sheep and 11 in! the pigs.

Featnre Exhibitions _ A special leature was an exhibition of Bla' k Galloway beef cattle. Pioneers c f t hi i*, breed include Messrs. E. R. Winkler (Levin), R. J. Law (Levin) and R. G. Buckleton (Upper Hutti. A New Zealand society of Galloway breeders has been formed recently, of which Mr. Winkler is presi'dent. The cattle on exhibition today were sorne of the first brought tj New Zealand from Scotland, and atcracted considerable interest.. Another outstanding exhibition was that of four crossbred Border Leicester-Soutlidown rams from Shannon. Tliese were introduce'd to the district by Mr. W. H. Norwood, of Shannon, and are a prominent Soutn Island breed. Particularjy noticeable this year was the increase of entries in the i Cheviot "breed, which was appar- | ently due to the energy of a local %reeder, Mr. Rex Mexted, who arranged with many outsfde breeders\for a better showing of this breed at the Horowhenua show. Last Vear the entries numbered 25. This year they total led 52 and included five exhibitors m each class. The open dog trials were very dlsappolnting in that only three were entered. Two of these were owned by Mr. H. Harris, of Taihape. Last year. there were 17 entrants. Strong Equestrian Section The horse and competition section shows a very big increase in ihe pony clasSes, this being attributed to the formation of pony clubs throughout the districts. There was a very heartening number of competitors in the jumping competitions, with 25 starters in the big jump run off today. Tomorrow will see the holding of the Wellington Provincial Championship Jump. in which. there will be

Immediately after the . grand parade on Saturday, the public will be privileged to see two eighthorse teams competing' for tne honour of the premier team of New Zealand. Horowhenua is the only show now where two eight-horse teams compete for the title, as other shows have found it impossible for many years to locate- a team to compete with that of Mr. R. Craig, of Oroua Downs, wnose team has often been on exhibition throughout the country. Levin, however, has a team owned by Mr. W. McLeavey, which is to again compete. Mr." McLeavey is cpnfident tnat his team will put up a great showing. Cretlit Given Officials Due- credit must be given the organisers who. must have been very pleased with the result of. thej firs't day. It is not generally reolised the great amount of work| which precedes the staging of &\ show the size of that conducted b.y j the Horownenua Associatfon. • The| catalogue and scheduies olone pre-j sent a job of some magnitude. Special men'ian is due -to the] president of the association, Mr, J.| A. 'Kilsby, and his ccmmitiee forf the excellent manner in which the show has been arranged and conducted. The secretary, Mr. J. E. Fullarton, was a'so one who con- ' tributecl a good deal towards the ] jsuccess of tne show. niuch of the heavy work falling cn his shoulders. Activity Begins Early The showgrounds this mo'rning Ipresented a scene of feverish ; activity. The exnibitors were there ! at an early hour yarding their 'stock and putting the final touches in readiness for the eagle eyes of the judges, who began tneir work at 9 a.m. With quiet efficiency and a cheerfulness which amazed under ithe circumstances, judges and istewards went about their duties. A jglance at tne catalogue will c'early show the extent of this work, it being seen that in some cases there iare as many as 25 entrants in a single class. The grounds- are in perfect order and there is' ample shelter provided by tne trees.- A car park has been set aside just inside the main gate. Interesting" Displavs

Included in the "things not to jmiss" at the show is the Agriculture Department's display among ithe trade exhibits. It is housed in ia large marquee, approximatelv ■ 80 ft. x 40 ft. and requires the 'attendance of some 25 assistants. i The exhibition deals mainly with various aspects of the land and agricultural matters generally. Tnere is also a small display by the Dairy Research Institute, of Palmerston North, which should be of interest to many. The Mana'watu Catchment Board will have |an interesting exhibit dealing with ierosion and its control on farm jlands, which is one of the Dominjion's most serious problem* today. There are many local and out'side trade exhibits of interest to the public, and, of course, there are the sideshows, w*hich will give a variety of entertainment for all tastes. . _____