A. & P. Show

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 January 1914, Page 2

A. & P. Show

* Opened at Levin This Morning. A I<l.\E DISPLAY. Th e eighth annual show of the liorowhenua Agricultural and Pastoral' Association was opened in absolutely perfect weather, this morning, at Levin, by the lion. 11. H. lihodes, PostmasterGeneral, in the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Aftricu]* ture. In point of quality no better show than the present one has been seen in Levin, though numerically the entries are a little less than last year's total. The j sudden indisposition of the assoc- | iation's secretary (Mr B. 11. Gar- | deuer) cast an extra responsibility upon the show executive this year, but with the willing assistance of Mr P. D. Wallace, acting secretary, the special needs of the case were met, and the show of 11)14 compares favourably with all preceding shows m completeness and arrangements. A pleasing feature of the 1914 show is the numerical strength of the entries in the ringside competitions* Nine are entered in the best boy riders class and seven in the girls' class. Eleven men are contesting the best driver's class and seven the ladies' class. The pony .jump has twelve entries, steeplechase ten, maiden hunters nine, pony race nine, maiden trot nine, pony race ten, horse walking seven. The only competition class in which a poor entry has been received is the Ladies' Hunters Competition. Only one entry was made for this; namely, Mr ■Jos. Sjaxon's "'Sally. In a district renowned for the quality of its hunting stock as Horowhenua County is, so poor an enir\ as this betokens a neglectful spirit amongst certain settlers, and it is to be hoped that an improvement in this regard will be manifest next year. Saddlehorse and harness-horse classes are well represented in the entries, both as to number and, quality, but the draught horses show to better advantage in point of quality than in regard to number. Dairy cattle are of beautifullylined symmetry, though naturally a trifle fine-drawn here and there as a result of a seasons heavy milking-. Buttercups, Stormy Clouds, Brintlles, Daisies;, l'ollies, .Fair Maids of lnglewoods, Tillies, Silver Bells and Marigolds are all iu competition as the best dairy cow of any breed.. In this class the judge assuredly has ja hard task in front of him, for the quality of the eleven contestants is high class and even. Purebred cattle show a paucity in number, but some excellent animals are contesting the prizes oftered for these classes. After a season so perfect as that of 191314 has been, something specially good was looked for in the way of fat stock. It is to be seen at Levin to-day- notably in cattle, but also in sheep and lambs. As to the pigs, some of them look too fat to grunt. Berkshires are a notable division, the principal exhibitor this year being Mr J. C. Neill, of Tirvean, Horowhenua Vilhige Settlement, Levin. Messrs T. L? Walker, J. Johnson, JO. Doyle, and J. Metheral are : other exhibitors, but the pigs from Porirua Mental Hospital are not being shown this year— possibly as a result of some newspaper controversy after the 11)11* show. Mr P. E. Palmes is the only exhibitor of Yorkshire pige.^ The list of judges is as follows: Ponies, saddle horses, harness horses, breeding hacks, Mr Hugh Gillies, Palmerston North ; draught horses, milk carts, tradesmen's turnouts, Mr J. Northcote, Wait-una : dairy and purebred cattle, Mr C. G. C. Dernier, Cheltenham; fat cattle, sheep and lambs, Mr U. Stevens, Dannevirke: purebred sheep and farmers' classes, Mr 11. Tanner,, Long-burn; pigs, Mr ltobert Perrett, Sanson.