NORTH OTAGO AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1795, 21 November 1879, Page 3

NORTH OTAGO AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

[By Teleoeaph.] FIRST DAY. OAMARIJ, November 20. President, Mr J. Reid ; vice-president, Mr T. Henderson ; treasurer, Mr W. H. Ronayne; secretary, Mr J. Church. The sixteenth annual show, under the auspices of the North Otago Association, was opened to-day on the valuable site belonging to the society, adjacent to the centre of the town. Considerable interest centred in this exhibition, which is looked forward to by the breeders and those who take a thorough interest in the breeding of stock. Among the number of visitors were several Canterbury gentlemen. The weather of the previous evening was somewhat against the attendance, but it is every way probable that there will be a large gathering on the principal day— Friday. The arrangements, commended by us last year, were again perfect. The entries, through numerically smaller in the aggregate than at last show, were only lessened in the exhibits of dairy produce, but considerably increased in cattle and sheep, as the following comparative statement will show :

The judging to-day extended over light horses, Ayrshire cattle, sheep, dairy and farm produce. Of the thoroughbred horses there was a fair exhibition, Pertobe and his stock being prominent, but the judging was not over at a late hour.

There was indeed a grand show of Ayr cattle, extending to 103 entries, including thirty-seven bulla. Many good qualities in this particular breed render them admirably suited to the North Otago district. While they are uncommon with us in Canterbury, it ought not to be lost sight of that this breed is a very valuable one, and the produce from dairy cows will compare favorably with shorthorns. A good Ayr cow will give 520 gallons of milk, 4801 b cheese, or 2001 b of butter per annum. She “her ’ninsel ” weighs about 8501 b, and instances are not wanting where the annual milk product weighs more than the cow which gave it. Professor Arnold quotes a case in which an Ayr cow, weighing 10801 b, gave from 6000 to 80001 b of milk yearly,’ and one particular year 8271. The largest yield of milk recorded is that from an Ayr cow, bred by the Duke of Athol, which produced 13,4561 b, or 1305 gallons of milk in a year. Thus it will be seen that the Otago people, whose country is adapted for this class of cattle, have reason to prefer them to the shorthorn. Coming in the entries of Ayrshire cattle, the competition among aged bulls was

I very close, and throughout they formed a splendid class. Mr Gemmell’s first prize taker was indeed a grand animal. Mr Cook’s champion, shown at Christchurch, was second in this class and first in the two-year-old. Mr Gemmell’s yearling bull is a neat animal, and greatly admired. The cows and heifers were a very fine lot and the prizes, as will be seen, were well distributed. Mr McGregor’s exhibit, which gained the prize as the best animal in the yard, was a grand animal in every way. There was only a limited show of Alderreys, The general cattle brought out several commendable exhibits. In the Merino sheep the contest lay between Messrs Bouton, McLean, and Hon. 11. Campbell, and the last was the victor with his fine stud animals. In Leicestors Messrs Parker Bros, showed against themselves for the prizes, and swept the board clean. Their sheep were presented in first class show condition in respect to symmetry and wool. The Lincoln prizes were divided by Messrs Menlsve, Russel, and Holmes, the first showing the best animals. Mr Reid took . the honors in Romneys, except for the best ram, which was shown by Hon. M. Holmes, and was a splendid sheep. Only ore pig was entered. The poultry classes were good. The prizetakers were Messrs Bruce, Harding, Little, Evans, and Curling. Several samples of cured meats were highly approved. The implement classes were well represented. The exhibits of Messrs Reid and Gray and Jack, Steel and Hendry were very substantial and well finished. The show of buggies and harness was a feature in the show. All the grain samples, both from growers and dealers, were very bright, clean and plump. Those of Messrs Murdoch, Driver and Todd in the former section, and the New Zealand Loan Company in thedealers’ portion. The short oats shown by the latter were one of the plumpest samples produced in the colony The barley was very bright, and the company’s wheat, grown in the Maerewhenua district, was a beautifully grown sample, large berries, bright color, and thin skinned. The competition in the seeds was very close, the result being—Connell and Clowes, 27 points; Wilkin and Co., Canterbury, 26 points j and J, Falconer, 25 points. As the weather has kept fine, a large influx of visitors to to-morrow’s show is expected.

1877. 1878. 1879. Horses 250 ... 214 ... 188 Cattle 145 ... 139 ... 173 Sheep 271 ... 161 ... 195 Pigs 2 • •• 5 ... 1 Poultry 37 ... 51 51 Cured meats ... 27 ... 16 ... 15 Dairy produce... ... 129 ... 290 ... 181 Buggies and harness... 9 ... 7 13 Bread and flour 16 ... 29 ... 10 Grain and seeds 101 ... 97 ... 96 Dogs 10 ... 11 ... 37 Implements — ... 48 ... 43 997 1068 1024