AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 236, 2 November 1876, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

Stewards— Messrs J. W. Barnicoat, R. J. Malcolm, P. Beat, J. Marsden, W. Bout, N. Fowler, A. Harley, R. M'Rae, T. J. Thomson, C. Saywell, C. C*nninf, C. Harling, W. Harkness, W. D. Harkntsa, J. Sheat, F. Kelling, A. She*t, W. Bell, A. Lankow, W. Best, T. Nicholson, and R. Robinson. The Nelson Agricultural Association'* annual show, which was held at Richmond yesterday, prored a greater succes« than even the most sanguine of its promoters c >;;!.l have ventured to hopo for. A new site had been selected, a six-acre paddock, kindly lent by Mr Canning for the occasion, being used instead of the cramped and unsuitable fair ground with its dark Hall, marvellously well adapted to hide alike the good and the bad qualities of the articles sent for exhibition. There was, we undorstand, a decided difference of opinion among the stewards with regard to changing the locality but those who were most opposed must have been convinced by the results that it was well they were out-voted in the matter. A large rick cloth formed an excellent shade from the powerful sun for the various exh bits under the heads " General " and * Dairy Produce." The former included a splendid sample of hops grown by Mr A. Harley, some excellent Nelson-made wines supplied by Mr James Smith, leather prepared by Messrs Se'dgwick and Gowland, carriage harness the manufacture of Mr A. B. Jackson, a remarkably strong but light American-built buggy exhibited by Mr Wharton, and various other articles which do not call for special mention. The exhibits of dairy produce were far more numerous and the competition was much keener than last year, the rich looking butter and noble cheeses showing 1 of what our dairies ara capable. Of the cattle we cannot say much. There certainly was a larger number than last year, but the quality showed little, if any, improvement. How, indeed, should it? There has been no new blood introduced, with the exception, we believe, of one bull imported by Mr Canning, for many yean, bo that instead of looking for improvement, we must expect a yearly deterioration in the cattle bred in the province of Nelson. This is by no means a satisfactory state of affairs to prevail in an agricultural and pastoral district, but it is a fact that must be lookod in the face, ugly though it be, and the sooner an effort is made to provide a remedy the better for all parties interested. There were some good milch cows, among which we fancied we recognised two or three to whom a visit to the show ground wai not a novelty. A magnificent pair of bullocks in splendid condition shown by Mr Snowden attracted a good deal of attention, and so far opened the hearts and pockets of the judges and stewards as to induce them to award them a prize, though none had been offered for that particular class of animal. The pigs were not numerous, but there were some remarkably fine ones among those shown, the principal prizes falling to Mr Canning and Mr Rout, who were the most successful competitors last year It has frequently been a matter of surprise to us that more attention has not been bestowed upon pig breeding and rearing in the Waimeas, and there can be little doubt that if systematically and carefully carried out it might be made to add very considerably to the farmer's income. We understand that Mr Canning has seut some of his Berkshires for exhibition at the Canterbury Agricultural Show to be held next week, and shall be curious to learn what status they occupy among those exhibited at the most important Show held in New Zealand. There were some fine horses to be seen on the ground, Totara, among the thoroughbred entires, towering grandly above till his rivals, Mr Hagan's Sherwood being a good second. Of the five draught entires Mr Lock's two carried off both tho prizes. Of draught mares and fillies there was a very good display, and of weight-carrying h&ckneys I no less than 32 passed before the judges' eyes. The class of animal that made the most creditable show was, beyond all question, the sheep. To the breeding of these a deal of care has been given of late years, and the result has been highly satisfactory, particularly with respect to the Romney Marsh and Leicesters. Of the Southdowns we cannot speak so favorably, and of the Merinos as represented yesterday we would rather not say anything at all, except perhaps that it would have been well if the stewards had assumed and made use of discretionary power as to the advisability of admitting animals that were a disgrace to the Show ground. Evidently Merinos have gone out fashion in the Waimeas. Two splendid Lincoln rams, recently imported by Mr Rives, were the admired of all admirers, and richly deserved the encomiums so lavishly bestowed upon them. The exhibits of poultry were numerous, and included some very fair specimens, especially of Spanish fowls. None of them, however, were striking or calling for special remark. The dog show , was a novelty, and that portion of the paddock devoted to those interesting animals proved exceedingly attractive, a large crowd being assembled near the pens during the whole day. Altogether 78 dogs of various breeds were exhibited, and among them were included several well bred and valuable animals It was a matter that caused a good deal of surprise that in a district abounding with game no sporting spaniels were to be found at the Show. With regard to the general arrangements, while congratulating the stewards upon their excellence on the whole, wo would venture to point out one or two mistakes that were made, not in any spirit of captious criticism but with a view to rendering more popular these shows, the importance and value of which cannot be over estimated. A good deal of grumbling was to be heard yesterday from those who having once been admitted to the ground were ordered out while the judges were going their rounds. The cause of coinplamt was certainly slight, but still it had sonic show of reason, and it would have been better had it pot occurred. The easiest and most feasible remedy, as it appears to us would be to insist upon ill exhibits being on the ground at a sufficiently early hour to allow the judges to make their awards before the publjc were admitted. If this is impracticable, the secvices of the police might

be made use of to warn he people away from those portions of the ground where the judges are engaged in their duties. Another suggestion we would make is that all intending exhibitors should ba required to make, their entries at least two days before that appointed for the Show, in order that proper accommodation might be provided for the live stock. Yesterday, we are informed, the number of pens was larger than on any previous occasion, and yet there were not euough. This inconvenience, of course, could not have arisen had the stewards been previously made aware of what would be required of them. One more hint, and we have done. For public amusements of this description, th« first to the fourth of the month inclusive are the most inconvenient day3 for those engaged in business that could possibly be selected. To exhibitors, judges, stewards, and all engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits any other day would answer equally well, and they would do well to bear this suggestion in mind on future occasions. Having pointed out what appeared to us to be the weak points in yesterday's arrangements, we will now proceed to the far more pleasant and congenial duty which devolves upon us of bestowing praise where we feel it to be justly due. To the stewards, judges, and to Mr Malcolm, the Secretary, thoie of the public who taka an interest in matters of this kind owe a debt of gratitude for the immense amount of time and trouble they bestowed upon making and carrying out the arrangements to which the success which crowned their efforts was so largely due, and we would take this opportunity of offering our own tribut* of thanks to those gentlemen for the ready and courteous manner in which they all, especially Mr Malcolm, afforded us every facility for acquiring such information as was only to be obtained from them, but without which it would have been impossible to furnish a report of the proceedings. It was, of course, anticipated that a ride through the delicious country air would somewhat stimulate the appetite and consequently the means of appeasing it in the pleasantest manner possible were provided by Mr E. M. Smith of ths Forest Inn who, with Mr A. Henry as his first lieutenant, had spread a luncheon in the railway goods shed, kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Ashcroft, with which not even the most fastidious could find fault. The attendance on the ground was far larger than it has ever been known to be before. This to a large extent was owing to the facilities afforded by the railway for reachiug Richmond both from the town and the Wak«field terminus, as well as from all the intervening stations. The arrangements made by Mr Ashcroft were simply perfect, and were as well carried out by those who were under him. The open trucks had been provided with awnings, which added greatly to the comfort of the many hundreds who made use of them. The Oddfellows of Richmond and the surrounding districts assembled on the ground in the morning, and, headed by the Artillery Band which played at intervals throughout the day, marched in procession in full regalia through the main street of the Tillage. In the afternoon they had tea in a tent fitted up for the occasion in the Show ground, and in the erening woundup with a ball in the Agricultural Hall. Hurriedly compiled as the prize list as published by us yesterday necessarily was, it was somewhat incomplete, and contained a few errors and omissions. We therefore republish it to-day in a more complete form, giving the number of exhibits in each class and section: — Class A.— HORSES. Judges : Messrs Stafford and Warren. B«st Entire Thoroughbred Horse, Ist prize £3, 2nd prize £1 10s.— Powell's Totara 1, Hagan's Sherwood 2. Five entries. Best Entire Draught Horse, Ist prize £3, 2nd prize £1 103.— Lock 1 and 2. Five entries. Best Draught Mare, Ist prize £3, 2nd prize £1 10s.— Canning 1, Nawport 2, Bell cojimended. Eleven entries. best Entire Nelson-bred Draught Horse, Ist prize £3, 2nd prize £l 10s.— Taylor's Prince of the Valley 1, J. Kerr's 2. Four entries. Best Entire Draught Colt, under three years old, Ist prize £2, — None. Best Draught Filly, under three years old, Ist prize £2— Hall 1, Drummond 2. Four entries. Best Weight-carrying Hacks, Ist prize, £2.— Stafford 1, M'Eae 2, Joseph Mackay commended. Thirty-two entries. Best Weight - carrying Hackney Mare, ■with Foal at foot, Ist prize £2.— Bolton 1, Harkness 2. Seven entries. Clasß B.— CATTLE. Judges : Messrs Joshua Bird and J. Doidge. Best Bull of any breed or age, Ist prize £2, 2nd prize £I,— MacMahon I, Stafford 2, Schroder commended. Nine entries. Best Yearling Bull, Ist prize £1 10s. — R. Boddington I. Two entries. Best Milch Cow, in milk, Ist prize £2, 2nd prize £I.— J. Bartlett 1, C. Best 2, Stafford and White commended. Sixteen entries. Best Heifer, under two years old, Ist prize £1 10s.— C. Bird 1, White commended. Ten entries. Best Fat Beast, Ist prize £2.— Trask 1, Stafford commended. Six entries. Class C.-SHEEP. Judges : Messrs Nairn, M'Gowan, and Canning. Best Lincoln Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize lOs. — Powell 1 and 2. Seven entries. Best Leicester Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s. — Renwick 1 and 2. Four entries. Best Cotswold Earn, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize i 10s.— No exhibits. j Best Romney Marsh Ram, Jst prize £1, 2nd prize 10s. — Rout. Two entries. Best Cheviot Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— No exhibits. Best Southdown Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— P. Best, lj Jenkins, 2. Three entries. j Best Shropshire Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize, 18s.— Castle, 1; Jenkins, 2. Four entries. Best Merino Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize £10s.— No prize awarded. Two entries. Best Ne^retti Ram, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— No exhibits. Best Crossbred Ram, Ist prize £I, 2nd prize 10s.— Primmer, 1; Bell, 2. " Six entries. Best Pen of Five Fat Lambs, Ist prize £1 2nd prize 10s.— Jenkins. Five entries. Best Romney Marsh Ewes— Rout One entry. Best Southdown Ewes— Jenkins. One entry. Best Crossbred Ewes— Castle 1 and 2 Six entries. Best Leicester Hogget Ewes— Marsden. One entry. Best Romney Marsh Hogget Ewes— Rout. One entry. Best Southdown Hogget Ewes— C. Best. One entry. Best Crossbred Hogget Ewes— Satherly 1 and 2. Three entries. Best Leicester Hogget Rams— Marsden 1 and 2. Three entries. Best Southdown Hogget Rams— Jenkins. Two entries. Best Merino Hogget Rams— Stafford. Two Class D.— PIGS. Judges : Messrs C. Best and C. Stratford Best Berkshire Boar, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— Canning 1 and 2. Best Berkshire Sow, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— Canning 1 and 2. Best Neapolitan Boar, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize JOs.—Rout 1. Best Neapolitan Sow, Ist pijze £1, 2nd prize 10s.—Koufc U

Best Sow and Litter of Pigs of any breed, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— Jary 1, Canning Class E.— POULTRY. Judges : Messrs Huddleston and E. Jones. Best Cock and pair of Heus of any breed true to iti kind, each breed, Ist prize 10s, 2nd prize ss.— Game fowls, C. Bird 1, Canning 2; Dorkings, Canning 1, Jary 1, Canning 2; Spanish, W. Phillips 1, Lankow 2; White Brahmas, Jary 1; Brown Brahmas, W. Phillips 1; Bantams, Dimmick commended; Hamburgs, Phillips 1, Hart 1, Dimmick 2. Best Drake and Pair of Ducks, Ist prize 10s, 2nd prize 5s — Laukow 1, Renwick 2. Best Gaader and Pair of Geese, Ist prize 10s, 2nd prize ss.— No exhibits. Best Turkey Cock and Pair of Hens, Ist prize 10s, 2nd prize ss.— Renwick 1. Best Guinea Cock and Pair of Hens, Ist prize 10s, 2nd priz* 5s. — M'Eae and Sheat commended. Class F.-DAIRY PRODUCE. Judges : Messrs Wilson and Sheat. Best solbs of Cheese, Ist prize £1, 2nd prize 10s.— Knight 1; J. Best, J. Dimmick, and Knight commended. Five exhibits. Best Firkin of Salt Butter, Ist prize 10s, 2nd prize 5« —Joshua Bird 1. One exhibit. Best 61bs of Fresh Butter, Ist prize, 10s, 2nd prize ss.— R. Boddington 1, J. Bird 2, Holdaway and Avery commended. Thirteen exhibits. General Exhibits :— Hops— A. Harley. Wines— Smith 1, Lankow 2. Apples— KelHng. Leather — Sedgwick aud Gowlaud. Bottled Porter— Harley and Son. Dressed Flax — Rutherford commended. Saddle — E. F. Jones. Green Peas— W. Lines. American Buggy and Harness— Wharton. DOGS— 7B Exhibits. Judges : Messrs Brock and Chatteris. Best Greyhound, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s 6d.— Bachelder 1 and 2. Best Retriever, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize, 7s 6d.— Durrani" 1, Moller 2, Kelly commended. Best Pointer, Ist prize 15b, 2nd prize, 7s 6d.— Lucre 1, Powell 2. Best Setter, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s 6d.— Powell I, P. Donald 2. Best Sporting Spaniel, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize, 7s 6d,— No exhibits. Best Sheep and Cattle Dog, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s 6d.-W. Newport 1, Renwick 2. Best Collie, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7b 6d.— Wharton 1 and 2. Best Newfoundland, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s 6d,— Menary commended. Best Mastiff, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s 6d. — Fell, special prize. Best Sporting Terrier, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s Gd.— lnfield 1, Richmond 2. Best Fancy Dog of any description, Ist prize 15s, 2nd prize 7s 6d.— H. Hodgson 1, Knight 2. Pups under twelve months— Wharton I, Bourke 2.