WAIKATO AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 210, 22 November 1909, Page 5

WAIKATO AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

I _ ... ; Tlip Waikato Agricultural and Pastori a! Association's Show which wu beW at Hamilton on Wednesday and Thursday last proved a highly successful ; function. Each year the Show grows ! in importance, and the entries for 1909 again constitute a record, being 1786 as against 7123 for last year. A gratii lying feature of this years* Show was '! the number of entries received front Southern exhibition, a circumstance due in a great measure to the opening of the Alain Trunk Railway. Among the horses and sheep the entries show a durrease as compared with last year. CatUe. pigs, and home industries being responsible for the increase in the aggregate. In the cattle section Mr Wm. Taylor of Greenhill was successful with Shorthorns; other prominent exhibitors in this class being Messrs W. G. Park, and Mn Allen. Mr C. Day was as usual a successful exhibitor of Jerseys, his strongest competitors being Messrs Willis Bros., and W. J. Hall. Ayrshires were strongly shown by Palmerstem North breeders Messrs Slack Bros, being most prominent. Mr W. J. Manktefow secured the award for the champion dairy cow for the second year in soccession. In the sheep cashes the Lincoln? elicited good competition though the number of exhibits was not large. Splendid sheep were penned by Messrs R. H. Peake. W. Herfcin and B. Barriball. the first; named taking first and champion in rams over IS months with a lengthy and welt woolted ram, bred by W. H. Wyburrt. In younger rams the competition was equally keen, the first prize in single ram under IS months going to P. Crago. E. Barriball being placed second. Some nice ewes were shown by the same breeders and Mr W. G. Park, the prize»going chiefly to Mr E. Barriball for suckling ewes. In dry ewes Mr Hock in took first with Mr Peake second.

in English Leicester® for rams, IS months and over, the contest lay between D. McN'icol and F. Pemberton. the first prize going to F. Pemberton. In rams IS months ami under the same breeders were placed in the reverse positions. Some nice ewes were also shown by Messrs Jackson, Jas. Taylor, am) J. M. McCarthy, the first prize in IS months and over ewes with lambs going to Mr McCarthy, with G. E. Jackson second. let IS months and under Mr D. Mcfficol's pen secured the red card against F. Pemberton. In the Romney Marsh class the well known Waikato breeder, Mr it. Hawkins. whose tfock— originally taken over from Jos. Barugh. and since strengthened by infusions of the best blood in the South—has done so much to uphold the breed in Waikato was opposed by Messrs John Allen. W. Chitty, and McKinnon Bros. tn aged rams Mr Allen's Carbine, bred by Mr Short, took first and chiatnpton : Messrs McKinnon's exhibit taking secor.d in what was a really strong class. In the class ewe suckling lamb Mr Allen again secured first and champion with a beautiful *h*ep bred by Mr G. E. Allen. Wairaraps, a ram from the same breeder recently realising ITS guineas). Among the Shropshire# in addition to drafts from our local breeder C. Day, well known as an enthusiast in Jersey eatfe and Shropshire sheep, were ntries from Messrs E. Barriball. and W. Itockin. of Waiuku; also from Jos. Barugh, of Rotouna. This section merits more than passing notice, inasmuch as the sheep penned showed two distinct types. Mr Barriball's rams, also his ewes, were typical of the true •English Shropshire,wish its close, well knitted fleece, even on the surface, and coming wetl over the face ani eyes, while Mr Day's and Mr Barugh's exhibits, though otherwise good sheep, showed a more open fleece, comparatively abre about the face, with barrel also not so symmetrical. It is significant that Mr Barriball swept the beard in prizes, which goes to show that the English standard must be more closely adhered to.

Tbe horses in the virions class*** were good in quality though not so numerous as last year. Among the thoroughbred stallions Spalpeen secured first prize and was also awarded the special prize offered by the Auckland Racing Club to the sire calculate J to improve the breed of saddle horses. In draught entires, aged, four entries were received, including the imported Shire, Copped Hall Jamieson. This horse, though showing great improvement in condition nince hss arrival in the Dominion, had to strike his colours to the famous Clydesdale Marcellos, who after a long examination took first honours, Mr Rhodes' Lord Hopetown being placed second. Younger stallions had a simitar entry, also including an imported Shire. Some promising sires were shown the first prize and champion falling to Mr Day's Young Tar by Royal Tar. Mares in this class were poorly represened, bat yearling* and two and three year olds were in fall evidence, the champion prize falling to F. Marshall "s Lady Gowrie, and judging by the quality should furnish some prize takers in fotore years, the two year j fillies in class 10 being a particularly I fine lot.

Hacks and carriage horses were well shown, the various classes being represented by horses which fc stamp and quality would be bard to beat in any show ring. The heavy downpour of rain which was experienced on Peoples' Day bad a very serious effect on the gate receipts and occasioned great disappointment all round, as a record attendance was assured. The weather brightened op considerably in the afternoon and though the ground was very wet a very fair number of visitors attended. Altogether the gate and stand receipts are expected to reach £2OO a total about £7O less than last year However, considering all the circumstances the result is satisfactory.