THE TIMARU SHOW.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 740, 2 November 1876, Page 2

THE TIMARU SHOW.

President, Mr C. Meyer; vice-president, Mr ff. Kelland ; secretary, Mr E. H. Tate. The annual collection of the pick of the flocks and herds of' South Canterbury, under the auspices of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, yesterday was a great success. For the first time the railway was enabled to be used; and not only from Christchurch but from the country around Timaru itself, tapped by the railway, the attendance was greatly increased. A special train, leaving Christchurch at 3 a,m, and returning the same day, offered such a strong inducement to try the trip that, notwithstanding the early hour of the start, it was filled. The trip was a most enjoyable one, the weather being splendid. At Orari, Temuka, Winchester, and other stations, the platforms were filled with waiting crowds of passengers, Of the show itself, speaking in general terms ; we may say it was a great success. The quality of stock exhibited was good throughout, particularly in sheep, which is the strong point of the district. As visitors it became our duty to notice the manner in which the show was generally arranged, so as if necessary to be enabled to take a leaf out of the book of our Timaru friends. Of course to us, used to the level extent of the C, A. and P. Association’s grounds, the undulating character of the paddock in which the show was held yesterday, seems peculiar, and we must say that in one or two cases, particularly in the sheep classes, the inequality of the ground detracted considerably from the appearance of the animals. Its proximity to the town uowever, and the difficulty of procuring a more suitable oue, will perhaps prevent the association from shifting their quarters at present. We may however suggest the necessity of a change being made in the locale o’f the- sheep next year. One very excellent feature about the arrangements which is worth transferring to Christchurch was the placards placed above each pen. These showed the number of entries in the particular class, the name and number of the class, &c, which was most convenient for purposes of reference by a visitor. The secretary however has good ground for complaint that he is compelled to transact his’ business in such a wretchedly inconvenient and ill*arranged hat as he has to do.

Surely the society' cafa affoVd to build an office. As the show grows in importance, which must be the every-year, .so does th 6 weight and responsibility of the secretary increase, and he is justly entitled to have a place where he can transact'his business with expedition.. ~J T, The attendance was cdnsiderhble larger than on former years, and so soon as the one shilling admission fee commenced, the crush at the entrance gates was terrific, and in a very short time locomotion about the ground was difficult. . , , ... .

Coming to the show proper, we may remark that the sheep, cattle, and horses, were excellent; some of the latter particularly so. We need not refer in detail to, them here, as it is done in the proper place. The pigs were fairly represented in number, but were chiefly of one breed, the Chinese. Mr Maydwell would have taken a prize with his sow, which took first honors at Leeston, only that travelling all night in a railway truck had cramped her so much, that she was unable to stand. The poultry, taken as a whole, was excellent, particularly in the bantam and Polish classes, which deserve notice. The implements shown were mainly from one exhibitor. They were a great improvement, both as regards finish of workmanship and style of get up, on the exhibits one meets at our coHbtry shows generally. They were rather awkwardly placed for inspection, and we think it would be well if the committee altered the position for next year. In the matter of dairy produce, there was a really splendid show of butter, indeed one of the finest we have seen. So even were the majority of samples in point of merit, that the judges must have had great difficulty in awarding the prizes. Strange to say, there wore no cheese exhibited. It does not appear on the premium catalogue, so we pre game it has been accidentally omitted ; hence no appearance. In(8o purely an agricultural and pastoral district as .Timaru it seems strange to find the anhual show without two or three dairies competing for, the palm in, cheese, We hope to see this the case next year. In agricultural produce also the ex Mbits were woefully small. The wool shown was of -good quality and well got up, Messrs Miles, Archhr and Ob had an exhibit of guano, which attracted some , attention from farmers present. li The committee had no clsss for colonially brewed ales or porter, which: we think was a mistake as far as the former is concerned. Regarding colonial porter; it is but a delusion and a snare, and should be swept away; but certainly the Association should encourage the local, if not the Christchurch, brewers to compete. Mr Hooper had, however, a very excellent ex Mbit in the shape of a well flavoured light ale. If had scarcely fair' treatment, as it was: judged the,moment, it was set up, and when it was turbid. ; ;ij „- c . The judges in the horse class made one or two recommendations which certainly deserve being' I 'kept in mind by the Committee for use -next' yeah The,.first of these was that in the class for ladies’ hacks,: the exhibits should be shewn with, side saddle and skirt. The pecqnd was that owners, of hacks who appear 1 to neglect trotting as a pace, should be informed that their entries would be judged on trotting as one of their paces, Ddnng thh day a band occupied the raised platform and discoursed music at intervals. Our old friend thq whistling, organist was to the fore in great form, amd the itinerant vendor of balloonsMd a roaring trade, the air being filled with them. Close to the entrance : l gate Mr * Punch had set up Ms tent, but “ biz” was not lively, and out facetious 'friend was somewhat sorrowful. How to mention fact in a new form, that Mr Inspector Pender and the police were on the ground, and that their services were not required, is somewhat puzzling. However, let the fact speak for itself. We append remarks on the various classes - SHEEP. The sheep' were, as usual in Timaru, the feature of the show, and a finer lot it would be hard to collect in any pastoral district in the world. The number of exhibits was very large, and where inferior animals were in such a conspicuous minority, the judges must indeed have had a bard time of it. With the catalogue for our guide, we come first to the merinos The first class, comprising eight entries, for the two best rams, was a very good one ; Messrs Walker and Clogstonn taking first honors with two beautiful Adelaide bred sheep. Mr Elwortby took second prize, and the Canterbury and Otago Association gained a high commend. Mr Meyer’s pen were good sized serviceable well-bred sheep, indeed the exhibits of that gentleman throughout the day were very far above the average. Mr G. L. Siae’s exhibits were rather of the old fashioned sort of merino. They ran small, but were for the most part compact symmetrical sheep, with very dense wool. Class 2, for the two best rams, two-toothed or under, produced a considerable amount of competition, Mr 0, Meyer taking first and second prizes, and one pen of the 0. and 0. Association secured a high commend, Messrs Elworthy and Sise showed some nice sheep, and Messrs Walker and Ologstoun’s exhibit was good, but notin show condition. In class 3, for the best ram, four toothed or over, the competition was among the same exhibitors as above, Mr Meyer’s two exhibits were really magnificent sheep. The judges awarded first prize to the one, while we think the other was deserving of a commend. Mr Elworthy took second honors with another magnificent Adelaide bred ram, and Messrs Walker and Clogstoun were highly commended for a very symmetrical animal. In class 4, for the best ram, two-toothed or under, the G. and 0. Association took first and second honors with two very high class sheep Mr Bi.se was highly commended for a small but very beautifully fleeced sheep. The rest of the exhibits were all fair specimens of the merino. In class 5, for the two best ewes, four-toothed orover, Mr Meyer took first prize with a very neat pen, but scarcely in show condition. The 0. and O. Association exhibited three pens, and were awarded a second prize and a high commend. Mr Elworthy s pen were good, but not over even. Glass 6, for the best ewes, twotoothed i.r under, produced a very promising lot of sheep, Mr Sise taking first honors with two excellently fleeced sheep. Mr Meyer secured second prize with two very even elose-woolled sheep. The rest of the animals in this class were scarcely up to the ’average. In class 7, for the best ewe, four-toothed or over, the 0 and O. Association was awarded first prize for a really fine sheep, but we liked Mr Blwortby’a second prize taker quite as well, if not better. Another of this latter gentleman’s exhibits was highly commended, and we think the judges must have had considerable difficulty in coming to their decision ;

the more so, as Mr Meyer showed a ewe almost equal to any of the foregoing. In . class ; B,-for young ewes, ,the exhibits were not propdttion’attely so good as in the last named class. Mr Meyer was awarded premier honors with an exceedingly, well-bred ewe, and Mr Elworthy’a pair, which took a second prize and a high commend respectively, were very mice young sheep ; the rest require no further comment. In class 9, for the best pen of five rams, two-toothed or under, Mr Meyer took first prize with a very choice even pen. The 0. and O. Association were awarded next honors for another even pen. ifiie rest of the exhibits in this class were most of them rather light in the fleece. In class 10, for the best pen of ewes, two-toothed or under, the sheep were of a very similar class to that last described. Mr Sise took first prize with a very excellent pen of sheep. Mr Elworthy, who took second honors, showed a very fair pen, and Mr Meyer was liighly commended for another pen of very nice animals. The rest of the exhibits were uot nearly so good as the prize takers. Class 11, for the two best ewes, with lambs at foot, produced five entries. The C. and 0. Association took first and second prizes, with two very nice even sheep. Mr Sise was liighly commended for a serviceable animal, but rather coarse.

; The show of Leiccsters was exceptionally good, both in number and quality, and the judges must have had a very heavy day. Most of the sheep were sent in in nice show condition. There was scarcely one bad pen oh the ground. If any fault could be found at all, it would, be a little lightness in some few instances in the fleeces. In class 1, for the two best rams, four-toothed or over, Mr Marcroft took a well deserved first prize for two very superior sheep, one being nearly ■perfection. Mr Marcroft also took second honors with his other pen, which were quite equal in symmetry to the foregoing, but as ■vye have said, a little lighter in the fleece. Mr Gillies was liighly commended for his first pen. One sheep was a little faulty at the back of the neck, and perhaps a little lacking ih constitution. Mr Gillies’ other pen held one very good sheep, but the pen was badly classed, and its other inmate was also rather light in the fleece. In class 2, for the two best rams, two-toothed or under, Mr Threlkeld took first honors with a pair of very superior hoggets, which for symmetry and length of fleece would be hard to find any fault with. Mr Marcroft took second honors with a pair of grand sheep, showing immense quality ; but for their being slightly inferior in size to Mr Threlkeld’s the two pens would have run a dead heat. The 0. and O. Association was deservedly highly commended for a pair of remarkably well topped sheep,which were perfect types of the Leicester breed. They were perhaps a little light in the fleece, but otherwise were almost up to the standard of the prize takers. Mr Russell exhibited a pen—No 110—of beautiful hoggetts, and the rest of the exhibits this class were most of them more than creditable In class 3, for the best rkm, fourtoothed or over, there were a number of entries, and an exceptionally close competition was the result, Mr Marcroft took first honors with a very grand sheep. The second prize also fell to the same gentleman forasheep of superior svmmetry to the first prize taker, but was a little deficient in fleece. Mr Gillies was highly commended for a very superior sheep. Age alone, we fancy, prevented him from taking first honors, and he evoked a great deal of well-merited admiration. In class 4, for the best ram, twotoothed or under, there was also considerable competition, Mr Marcroft. again taking first honors with a perfect Leicester hogget, very compact, and with a, - beautiful head Mr Gillies took second prize with a very heavily-fleeced sheep, but not. of so high a standard as the first, either in condition or constitution. A ram belonging to the C. and 0. Association was greatly admired, and Mr Marcroft was highly .commended for a very symmetrical son of the famous Standardbearer. Class 5, for the two best ewes, fourtoothed or over, was a particularly grand one. Mr 0. W. Tancred took first prize with a pair of most beautiful ewes, which were, except in point of size, far and away the best in the class. They were particularly even, and in looking over this class it was evident that the drafting was very bad ; or otherwise some of the decisions might have been different; and the same remark applies, not only to Leiccsters, but also to the merinos and Lincolns. One good sheep and an inferior one do not constitute a pair of good sheep; but it was evident that many of the exhibitors yesterday appeared to think otherwise. Mr Luxmore took second honors, one ewe in his pen being a beautiful animal, the other not nearly bo high classed. Mr Sussoll was highly commended. Here again one ewe in the pen was first class, but mated with an indifferent one; the two however were we fancy more even than the second prize takers. Class 6 was for the two best ewes, two-toothed or under. This was another wonderfully good class. Mr Marcroft took first prize with a beautiful pair of Standard-bearer ewes, extra good both as regards wool and constitution. Second honors fell to the same exhibitor with two other ewes, thoroughly pure types of the Leicester, but rather deficient in condition; 'Mr Marcroft was also highly commended for Ms other pen; a very symmetrical pair, but scarcely up to, the mark of the prize takers in point of quality. The rest of this class were really all first rate sheep. In class 7 for the best ewe, four--toothed or over, Mr Gillies took first and second prizes. The first prize taker was a symmetrical lengthy sheep, and one which it would be hard to match anywhere in New Zealand, and the second prize taker was nearly as good. The 0. and 0. Association were highly commended for a very handsome and compact animal, but not showing quite so much quality as the other two. One of Mr Tancred’s exhibits, No 179, was a beautiful sheep, and even allowing that she was a little deficient in size, wasconsidered by many equal to the prize takers. In class 8, for the best ewe, two-toothed or under, the number of entries was very large. Mr Marcroft took first prize with a very handsome animal, and one which was a credit to any show ground. Second honors fell to Mr Russell with a really good sheep, equal in most respects to the first, but a little light in the fleece. Mr Marcroft’s other exhibit was highly commended, but was a little backward in condition. The rest in this class were a very creditable lot. In class 9, for the two best ewesjwith lambs at foot, the 0, and O. Association were successful in securing the first and second honors with four nice sheep, though somewhat low in condition, Mr Russell’s pen was highly commended, but none of the class were in show order. The Lincolns were well represented both in point of number of exhibits and of their

quality, and were far superior to last year. In class i, for the two best rams, fourtoothed or over, the 0. and Q. Association took first prize with two very well bred, heavy fleeced animals, and the Association was also highly commended for their other exhibit. Mr Russell took a well deserved second prize with a really beautiful .sheep. In class 2,. for the two best rams, two-toothed or under, Mr El worthy’s three pens carried off all the honors. His first prize pen were grand even hoggetts, with a lustrous fleece. The second pen were rather coarser, but still very good sheep, and his third pen was somewhat uneven. The majority of the other exhibits in th’S class were useful sheep, though here and there a strain of Romney Marsh was observable. In class 3, for the best ram, four-toothed or over, Mr H. J. Hall took a well deserved first prize with a very grand ewe sheep, and possessing great length of fleece and quality. This sheep also took the medal for the best long wool upon the ground. Mr Hall got a high commend for his other exhibit also a most beautiful sheep, and one which many thought would have got the second prize. Mr Russell, however, was awarded second prize for a good robust animal, but a little uneven in the fleece. A ram exh bited by the C. and O. Association showed plenty of quality and breeding, with plenty of lustre in the fleece, but was evidently wanting in constitution, and we suppose, on this account, was passed over by the judges. A ram of Mr Heucham’s was also commended. In the next class, No 4, for the best ram, twotoothed or under, the number of entries was large, Mr Elworthy again heading the prize list with two very superior animals. He and Mr Hall were commended for two other exhibits, and the rest require no special notice at our hands. In class 5, for the two best ewes, four-tooth or over, the 0. and O. Association were to the fore, with two animals of very high quality, but rather out of condition. Mr Murray, who took second prize, showed a pair of very nice ewes, one being superior to anything in the class. The C. and 0. Association were highly commended, and the rest of the class were pretty fair, though some showed traces of the LincolnLeicester.! In class 6, for the two best ewes, two toothed or under, Mr Hall carried away all the honors, his exhibits being particularly good. The rest of the class were, most of them, considerably above the average. In ■ class 7, for the best ewe, , fourtoothed or over, Mr J. T. Ford took first honors for a remarkably fine animal, of perfect symmetry, and the best ewe on the ground, and it was no disgrace to Mr Bussell’s really beautiful ewe to run second. In class 8, for the best ewe, two-toothed or under, Mr Hall again carried off all the honors. His sheep were perhaps a little defective in symmetry, but for fleeces were not to be surpassed. The rest of the class were not quite first rate. In class 9, for thtj best ewes with lambs at foot, Mr Murray took first prize with two very heavily fleeced ewes of great quality., The 0. and O. Association got second prize very deservedly, and Messrs Ford and Hall were in turn commended for pens of very excell<nt sheep,. The rest of the class were very creditable. , The Romney Marsh sheep were, taken altogether, scarcely up to the mark. From the prize list it will be seen that Dr Web-ster-some of whose exhibits were certainly first class —carried off the lion’s share of the awards. CATTLE. \ The show of cattle, though numerically small, was anything but inferior in quality, and was a very considerable improvement upon that of former years. _ The exhibits were however, scarcely penned according to the catalogue, and some confusion was the inevitable result. In class 1, for the beat bull, calved since July, 187/5, the three entries were very irregular in age. Messrs Studholm Bros took first honors with a very good animal, but "had May Duke, the property of Mr Kelland, being a little older, he would have proved a very formidable opponent. In class 2, for two-year-old bulls, the first prize was very justly awarded to Mr Kelland’s Master Carlo, an animal showing heaps of quality but rather deficient in condition. Messrs Studholm Bros took second honors with. Red and White. In class 4, for the best bull of any age, the first prize fell to Hastings, a well grown handsome animal, but a bad handler. Mr Macintosh’s bull took second prize, and St Patrick, a nice even made bull, was highly commended. In class 4, Penitence and Rosebud, two heifers of great promise, were awarded first and second prizes respectively. In class 5 there were five entries, Mr Kelland again taking first and second honors. The first prize taker, Tattler, was bred by Mr J. Page, and showed great quality, with a beautiful skin ; she was decidedly the best heifer ou the ground. In class 6 Mr Kelland deservedly took high honors with Echo, Comparing this heifer with the two English bred ones, we think the Colonial one had decidedly the best of it. In class 7, there were four entries. Mr Kelland’s Heather Bee, also bred by Mr J. Page, took first honors. She is a very beautiful evenly made cow, and is a splendid handler. In class 8, for the two best fat steers, Mr Landsboiough took first and second honors. The same gentleman took a prize for the best fat cow. The exhibits' in the class for the best milch cow were scarcely up to the mark. Mr Kelland took first prize, and Mr Fulton second. Messrs Kelland and Landsborough divided the honors for two-year-old steers, and Mr Landsborough took first and second prize in the three-year-old steer class with two growthy big animals. HOUSES’ The horses were also a very great improvement upon former years, the draught stock being noticeably good. The hacks, though not first-class, were above the average, but the ponies were indifferent. There was some very keen competition in the class for the best draught entire. The prize was eventually awarded to Young Ivanhoe, Young Vanquisher second, and Marquis of Lome (an old favorite of ours) third. 1 In the class for the two-year-old entire draught horses, Heather Jock took first honors, but wc preferred Lochiel, the second prize taker. In the class for the heat draught mures Mr Menlove took first and second honors with two thoroughly useful animals, and the same gentleman took first honors with a very nice even animal for the best two-year-old draught filly. The class for three-year-old draught fillies filled well, and brought out some capital stock ; Mr Davies’ filly, which took first prize, being a regular beauty. The rest of the draught stock were most of them very good, and for particulars we beg to refer our readers to the prize-list. Our old friend Talisman took first prize for the beat thoroughbred stallion, and Sputter-

the-dew, a very nice even horse, second ; while Kauri, once the great Derby favorite, was highly commended. The hackney stallions were very good. Cotherston, who took first prize, is a recent importation from ciydnov, and is a rare cut of a horse, with good legs, powerful thighs and quarters, and a beautiful rein, The hacks, as we before observed, were rather above the average. Hard Lines, the winner of the first prize, Sprig of Nobility, and a Scud horse of Mr Raine’s being about the pick of them. Mr Raine’s Lorna Doon was a fair cut of a lady’s’ horse. The class for mares for breeding of weight carrying hacks was a very good one; in fact better, taking the exhibits right through, than is usually seen on the Christchurch show ground. Mr King showed a very nice pair of carriage horses, and Mr Russell a pair of of buggy horses. Both well deserved the first prizes as given to them, but it was a pity that there was no more competition in both the latter classes. PIGS,

The show of pigs, if we except the Berkshires exhibited by Mr Maydwel), and one o'her, was confined almost exclusively to Chinese. In class 2, for best boar for breeding bacon pigs, Mr Anderson exhibited a very nice pig. He was of true Berkshire type, square and good hams, deep sides, and nice hair. The second prize-taker was quite out of place, and we are somewhat surprised to note that the judges gave it any mention. Had it been entered to compete for a steeplechase, then we could have understood the prize, but as a sire of bacon pigs it was simply ridiculous. Class 3 does not call for remark. In class '4 Mr Maydwell had two exhibits on which we have already remarked at the Leeston show. Mr Anderson’s exhibit in this class was a very nice little sow. She was younger than her antagonists, but possessed many good points. In class 5Mr Dawe’s sow exhibited all the points necessary for the breeding of porkers. Mr Howell’s exhibit in the same class was of Cninese breed, and a very fine pig. Indeed the judges must have had some difficulty in deciding between the two. In class 6 Mr Maydwell had entered his sow, which took first honors at Leeston; but owing to a long railway journey she was out of condition, and the judges felt they could not award her a prize., The other exhibits in this class were of the ordinary Chinese type, and were very fait specimens. POULTRY. This department of the show was well worth a visit, if it were only for the bantams and Polands. The ducks exhibited were fair in quality, but small. The Dorkings and Brahmas were well represented. One pen of white Brahmas were specially worth notice. The only drawback was that they were exhibited in such very small and inconvenient pens that it was impossible to get a good look at them. The judging in some of the classes was, in our opinion, entirely astray, particularly in the bantam any breed class. In the former some really splendid birds were passed over and the prizes awarded to others of inferior merit. Mr Barnett had a really magnificent pen, which would have taken a prize at our poultry show here, and yet the pen was passed over. This was still more glaring in class 2. In this a fine pen of Polands, exhibited by Mrs Ross, which were perfect both in shape and plumage, was completely ignored. Pigeons were very indifferently represented, and had it not been for the bantams and Polish, this part of the show would have been singularly unattractive. We hope next year the committee will enforce a rule that no pen shall be smaller than the ordinary one used by the Poultry Association. IMPLEMENTS. The implements shown were, as we have said, nearly all from one firm. They sent a very fair assortment of iron work of all kinds, and were rewarded with the lion’s share of the prizes, There was no competition for the gorse-trimmer medal; only one being on the ground. This was similar in principle to the one exhibited on our show ground some time back. It appears likely to do its work well. DAIRY PRODUCE.

The exhibits in this part of the show were principally confined to fresh butter, the committee having omitted any classes for hams, bacon, &c. Timaru ought to grow some fine bacon, and it was rather surprising to find that there was none at the show. Of course the building where the butter exhibits were slowly but surely being reduced to oil, was a centre of attraction to the ladies. Hither came the dairywouicn, each with their circle of friends, and others drawn by curiosity. The butter was very good indeed ; well made, smoothly worked, firm, and of good full flavour. The contest was remarkably keen between Mrs Kelland and Mrs Dawo, The potted butter, though fair, was not of such quality as to justify the judges in awarding a first prize. They therefore contented themselves with giving it a second, which it deserved. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. The farming interest, or more properly speaking, the grain growing interest, did not appear to come out quite so numerously as might have been expected in the wheat classes. Some very pretty samples were shown, particularly the prize lot exhibited by Mr Gascott. The other entries under this head do not call for any special mention. EXTRA EXHIBITS. Under this head wool is classed. There were five entries, all of which were exceedingly creditable. The sample in each instance was got up carefully and well. The bread sent in for competition took a little time to decide, the judges having some difficulty, ultimately it was awarded to Mr H, Packer. Miles, Archer & Go, as agents for Bright Brothers, had a sample of guano, which the wise in these matters pronounced to be very good. Mr Hooper’s beer was of nice flavour, and had the merit, as a summer beverage, of being light and of slightly tonic character. Before leaving this class, we may venture to suggest to the committee the advisability of having a class for colonial manufactures on their next programme. It has been tried for several years at the Metropolitan Show, and successfully, and there are, we believe, a number of exhibitors who would come forward under this head. We omitted in the proper place to speak of some very fair specimens of colonial-made pottery work exhibited. The articles, were, it is true, somewhat lacking in finish, but still they showed that in time this may be developed into a really successful industry. We cannot conclude this notice without expressing our high appreciation of the kindness and courtesy extended to our representatives, and the cheerful and ready manner with which information was at once given when asked for,