THE OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION’S EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 3075, 27 December 1872, Page 2

THE OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION’S EXHIBITION.

The first annual exhibition of the above society was held at the Porbury Park yesterday, aud the day being fine tempted a very large assemblage of good folks from their homes. In many respects the committee may be congratulated on the result of their labours, but as a whole the show cannot be pronounced a success. No doubt the very warm weather we have had recently prevented many owners of well-conditioned stick residing at a distance, from entering exhibits, while the season chosen for the show was not suitable for successfully showing entire horses or brood mares. Besides, the prizes offered were scarcely sufficient to tempt owners to risk the dangers incident to transit; and when it is considered that many important agricultural and pastoral districts in the province were not represented, it may be assumed that the causes assigned materially affected the number, if not the quality of exhibits. It was, however, encouraging to observe that the entries in the various classes wore alike creditable to their owners aud the Province. The sheep yard attracted great attention, and the stock generally was much admired. The Romney Marsh exhibits were pronounced very superior, particularly the pens owned by Dr Webster, Messrs Gillies and Street, and Mr N ichol. The former gentlemau deservedly took the prize for the host pen of eyes, while Messrs Gillies and Street took a similar prize for the best pep of rams, There ayas considerable difference of opinion, however, as to the award for the 4-to <th Romney rams exhibited, many thinking it ought to have fallen to Dr Webster, who to k second prize, instead of to Mr A ichol. The Leicesters, particularly those of Mr James Allan, of the Taieri, were very pure and handsome; but the merinos, on the other hand, were out of condition, and did not look to advantage. Notwithstanding, one ram and some ewes, owned by M r Tolmie elicited many encomiums. Messrs Sutton Brothers’ Lincolns were highly praised, and won several prizes. Among the draught horses there was nothing very superior, though there were many excellent specimens of the class. A few superior blood mares were presented, but a pair of carriage horses, owned by Messrs Chaplin aud Co., and another by Mr Dodson, won special notice. The cattle throughout, though rather limited in nutnbar, were excellent, and equal to any exhibited elsewhere this season. In the department of agricultural implements, little of Is ew Zealand manufacture was entered. Neither was there anything nqvel. A combined mowing and reaping machine, containing v<-ry machinery, took a second prize, while a similar machine, but more simple in construction, and manufactured b, J. icbolson, Melbourne, took first honor. Messrs Kincaid and M‘Queen showed two flax-dre sing machines, well finished, of simple construction, but said to be very effective in operation, A grain cleauer—an American invention—was criticised favourably, and pronounced an improvement on the machind generally in use. Mr Wilham, of’Toik'bmairiro, entered some samples of salt glazed pipes of excellent quality, and Mr Lambert, oythq' Water of Leith, showed'some ' very superior tiles, crocks, i'nd ff affi pipes,' glared on the inside, and unglazed. A revolving churn and other dairy utensils, exhibited by Mr M‘Donnell, of Walker street, were declared the best of the kind shown, and were awarded two medals. The poultry department contained some very inferior exhi bits, and little worthy of notice. Indeed, there was scarcely a pure-bred bird entered. In dairy produce there was not an inferior item, but the number entered was limited. Messrs A. J. Burns and Co. added to their wellearned celebrity for the quality of tweeds and other woollen goods manufactured by them at Mosgiel. The samples exhibited were generally admired for quality, finish, and color, and obtained several prizes. The ales, porters, and some of the other liquors shown, were proved of good quality, ai shown by tho honors awarded. Some of the remaining exhibits, including some furniture made of colonial wood by Mr Hunter, came in for special notice. Throughout the day the battalion Band enlivened the proceedings. In the afternoon, his Excellency Sir George Bowen, lady, and suite, visited the ground and inspected the exhibits.