METROPOLITAN SHOW.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1046, 13 November 1903, Page 3

METROPOLITAN SHOW.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, last night, q’he weather was dull for the sec ond day of the Canterbury A. an P. Association’s Metropolitan Show but the attendance was not afiecteJ a large number being present- In ' entry of sheep, though less than til • record of last year, was quite up ti the average of past years, and Ji 1 point of quality had never been ex 1 celled, the conditions of the exhibit! ■being first-class. In Border Leices ter, Mr John Little was awarded in first prize and championship' for ran over 28 months, and similar award lor ewe above 111 months in the sauu breed. Mr Charles VVithcil securec ia special prize for five flock rams ii Bouthdowns. 'The executors of Jas Johns were awarded the championship for ram above 28 months, am a similar award for ewe above D months with iamb at foot. Messrs Bcaly Bros, were awarded first am champion for Romney Marsh ram ami ,ewc. They are the only exhibitors in this breed this year, and obtainec lhe championship in this class last year. Mr Alexander Read’s Ayrshire cow Lady is considered by the judges to he the best all-round cow for milking cattle class. In Ayrshire cattle, William Coran was awarded champion for hull calved since June 30, 1001, also champion for cow. In implements and machinery, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company obtained a gold medal for, a steam waggon, and. a silver medal for exhaust and blast threshing machine. Morrow, Basset and Co. received a silver medal for McCormick reaper and binder,. for simplicity in construction ; Andrews and Bcaven, gold medal, for thresher and silver medal for potato digger (F. Andrews’ patent) ; P. and P. Duncan silver medal for sft cultivator, and gold medal for Watkins’ loading crane attached to traction engine ; Cooper and Duncan, silver medal for 7ft cultivalor. Later.

The show was favored with splendid weather, and a record attendance for judging day. The entries constituted a record all round. Stock generally was shown in excellent condition, though a few exceptions evidenced tho severe winter experienced in the South. Machinery and implements, of which there were very largo entries, numbered 1559, as against 1544 last year. Draught horses and shoep were specially flno sections. The falling off of a hundred in entries of shoep was accounted for by reduced nominations of unpopular breeds of Lincoln, Border Lei* casters, and Romney, the dispersion during tho year of sevaral English Leicester flocks, and the absence of rivalry in fat sheep. Tho quality, hovvovor, did not suffer, and there was scarcely a bad shoep in the show. In fine combing Merinos Robert Campbell and Hons were strong ; combing, A. Rutherford, W. Gardiner, and tho Rock Estate ; English Leicester, rams, R. and J. Reid ; ewes, R. Kollsnd and P. C. Tlirelkeld; Border Lcieestors,'” John Little ; Lincolns, Now Zealand and A. Land Co. (Moeraki) ; Romney, Bealey Bros. ; Southdowne, executors of the late J. Johns ; Sbropshires, Rupert Parry and Sir Geo. Clifford ; Dorset Horn, T. O. Huy ; Corriotlale, J. Stringfellow ; halfbreds, Sir Geo. Clifford. Classes for draught horsos were particularly vvoll filled, and the quality was quito up to the averago. li. Rainey’s Highland Prince secured first and champion in the entire horses, Boag’s Royal Famo being second. Boag, Grigg, Taylor, and Small took tho principal awards in other 'olassea. Taylor securing tho cup for the largest prizetaker in sections in cattle. The Show was an improvement on that of recent years. Probably the principal feature was a team of Ayrshire cattle brought up by W. Cowan, of Enfiold, Oamaru. These secured all the championships in the see tion. Shorthorns were well represented. E. Ruddock, Southbridge, took the championship for bulls, and J. Dews the championship for cow. There was a very good show of fat cattle. Pigs were of good class, and in dairy produce, though the entries were small, there was excellent quality. The wood-chopping competition was won by R. Rubo, M. being second, and C. Smith third. The traction engine competition resulted { EL Bennett 1, John Burgess 2, James Burgess 3.