MANAWATU SHOW.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1276, 3 November 1911, Page 8

MANAWATU SHOW.

CAPITAL PATRONAGE AND FINE WEATHER.

THE LONG HONOURS LIST.

NOTES AND NEWS ON THE STOCK DISPLAY

rt)y Telegraph—Snecial Kesortor.l i Palmer,ston N,, November 2. Tho writing on the sky which overhung Palmerston on AVednesday night was misinterpreted by the numerous weather prophets. Another wet show day—nothing could prevent it with a sky liko that. At lease so they said. But', this morning tli£y awoko to find that tho clouds had.disappeared, the sky was clear and bright, and the sun shining strongly—almost fiercely. It has been an ideal day for the big shenv, nnd one result was a very large crowd. Patrons from the AVarrarapa, and from about AVoodvillo and Ashhurst, wero among the lirst to pour in, and later trains brought their additional hundreds. The stream ilowed steadily in till well on in the afternoon. By noon, there appeared to bo rnoro than tho usual attendance for tho second day. 'l ie figures, when they are available, will show the exact position. • Just before mid-day Lord Islington arrived on tho grounds. Numbers of tho pick of tho horses and cattle were drawn, up opposite the stand, and formed a.very attractive display. A familiar figure in the ring at this time was Mr. Hugh Gillies who, as marshal, seems to bo an inseparable part of latter day Jlanawit'u shows. Mr. Gillies's speech, in introducing his Excellency to the large assemblage was brief. "Ladies and gentlemen," lie said, "his Excellency the Governor will now open tho show."

Lord Islington's Speech, Lord Islington spoke, and in the courso of his speech, stated that ho had a vivid recollection • of a very enjoyable and instructive experience when he camo to iho Winter Show. It was an additional pleasure now to he able to seo the livo stock show. Last year ho had found it impossible to be present at the summer event, as it had clashed with that at Christchurch, but this year ho would be able to attend both. He thanked tlio association for tho kindness and the hospitality extended him on the occasion of his former visit, and he then declared the show open. Taking the show on the wholo it is a very good exhibition. It is, of course, a comprehensive thing, embracing, as it does, many divisions and phases of agriculture. There is a fine ontdoor display of farm machinery, and an exceptionally large collection oi' side-shows. A muchappreciated improvement was the distribution of seats about tho ground. Generally speaking, 0110 gathered the impression, on strolling round, that the stalls of exhibits were more attractive this year than in former times—that there had been an improvement in the get-up. Another bright.feature was that tho judging seemed to be carried out ,moro expeditiously than usual. Tho day's programme included tho bulk of tho judging. Orio of tha chief attractions for the public was. the horse-jumping events in tho ring. Crowds stood round tho oval all the afternoon, and followed the,competitions with the keenest interest. There wa-s a great display of. CHttlij, though, to be sure, some of the divisions might have been stronger. :

Shorthorns and Herefords, The Shorthorn competitions brought put seme of the finest of the bleed in tho island, and one good judge said that a connoisseur might profitably travel from one end of.:tho country to the other in order to see such a display. The quality was excellent, anil, in some of tho classes, the competition was very keen. Mr. G. A. Turner, of Eltham, won tho bull championship with Lord Summerton 6th. The winner is a very fine specimen of the old breed. Tho champion cow was Mr. Ay. T. Willi# mo'# Minwe 3rd—one of tlib pick of the great Te Ante stud. Tho To Aute breeder was very successful in other respects, winning quite a number of first prizes. Mr. AVilliam Taylor, one of tho Waikato's best-known Shorthorn men, also had some very fine stock in these competitions.

The pedigreo Kerefords were a rcmartfibly fine collection, and it is doubtful if a greater show of cjuolity has ever beon to aw in the country. The famous Kai I\vi cattle of Mr. G, T\ Moore, together i i ' Short's representatives, would have made a -splendid show bv themselves. .Air. Short was awarded both the championships. His imported bull, Laton Ghoncellor, secured tho male prejniei'ship, and his younger bull, Jlcnkton s Gamble, was made reserve champion. Lady Lott-ee 2nd was Mr. Short's champion sow. J[r. G. F. Mooro was also very prominent, winning the first prizeteJjers.

The Aberdeen Angus classes were almost neglected, but the Ayrshires wero a very creditable collection, and there was good competition numorically. Tho Porirua Mental Hospital's stock scored a lot of firsts, while tho bull champion was Messrs. Slack Brothers' Prince Imperial, and the cow champion Duchess of Bown Bank, entered by Jlr. AV. P. Hare, of Rata. Jerseys and. Holsteins. G-ood entries were made in the Jersey classes, and tho Quality of the animals was satisfactory: Tho prizes went to Messrs. J.: A. M'Rae, J. G. Harkness, E. Eagle, jitu.,- S. K. Lancaster, A. Buchflijafl, and C. G. C. Dermer. *' 10 j U( 'se of tho Holsteins considered that the black and white cattle wero a strong feature, of the show, and stated that the pens coii.-ained somo really fustclass animals. There had been very keen competition throughout, and particularly keen in the class for yearling bulls. Tho champion bull was a very line animal, and he added tnat tho champion cow was a really wonderful milker. Tho crossbred daiiy cß,ttlo . shown vgvo mostly Jersey crosses.. There might have been more entries, and 05 to quality the judge seemed to have expected that bettor would have been panned. Clas:e3 for Sheep. Coming to the sheep, ,ona noticed that tuo Lincoln clasps were largelv filled. The. judge remarked that the quality was very good, and that the champion and principal prize winners were exceptionally good in wool and bone. Tho champion ram was shown by Mr. AV. Perry, of Masterfon, who hail much success throughout the ram division. Mr. AV. H Wybourne, of AVaverley, exhibited tho champion ewe, ana he and Mrs. Crmond fecured the majority of the first prizes m tho ewu classes. Tho champion Romney Marsh ram was aso shown by Mi. AV. Perry. The ewe championship in Koir.ueys went to Mr. T. Tanner, of Longburn, who also showed the reserve champion ewo. Mr. S. R. Lancaster, of Palmerston North, took both championships- and nearly all tho first, prizes in English Leicesters. Mrs. J. D. Ormond, of Hastings, scored well in Bonier Leicestore, in which division fhe got both the championships. 13oth tho Shropshire Down ehamnionships .wero won by Mr. G. L. Marshall, of Marton, who sent dawn a verv fine lot uf shec-p. In Southdowns in tho wool tho Tarn premiership went to Jlr. A. J. Stone-AVigg, of Opaki, and the ewe championship to Mr. R. Lancaster, of Palmerston North. Messrs. Ellis Bros., of Bulls, had a good deal of success in shorn Southdowns. The ram champion went their way. ■

There wero only two entries in Ryelands. No award was mado for tho rams, but one of tho owes was, very highly commended.

There was a very small entry of wool, but the first prire lot (Mr. W. F. Jacobs) was a verv nice exhibit. lie only won by one point, and was beaten iu quality, but his opponent's llceco xas'very tender, and lacked elasticity. The judge said that he would like to see more enterprise in this direction, and ho intcuds suggesting to the association that an endeavour f liould be made to awaken more interest in this matter. Be remarked that he would like to h?ro si merino-scouring twt, such as they have in tlio South Island. The way in which this competition is arranged is that a committee lakes charge of the entrios, and, in a year's time, the sheep arc shorn, tbo

wool scoured, and then judged for weight and value. That, said the judge, is how the best money value is got at. Among the Horses. The horses formed a great array, and tlvere was splendid quality among them. The draught stallions were examined by Captain Young and Mr. Clayton, of the Agricultural Department, for hereditary unsoundness, and everyone entered passed the test. The test is similar to the Australian standard, except that here bog spavin and curb are omitted from the list of disqualifying faults. Tho test used to-day is the only one proposed to be incorporated in the Bill dealing with unsoundness in draught stallions. Tho champion hack was Tho Joker, shown by Mr. AV. H. Gaisford, of Oringi, Hawkc's Bay.

A very useful competition was tho horse shoeing. This is only the second year of the contests,, and there were noticeable improvements on the first. year's work. Mr. Clayton said that the work done was 50 per cent.-better than last year's work. Last j'ear tho men seemed to think that rapidity was one of tho chief things, and that was a big mistake. There were not very many competitors, and Mr. Clayton says that it is questionable if the association should not provide a class for apprentices, as the latter do not. feel disposed to compete, against tradesmen.