MIDWINTER MEAT SHOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 156, 1 July 1880, Page 2

MIDWINTER MEAT SHOW.

For some months past a commendable rivalry has 'existed among tbe butchers of the town of Nelson in their preparations for the winter show, the result being that lasfc night there was a finer display of meat in all the shops than has ever been seen here. A number of sight seers were atfcraofced by the announcements that had appeared in the papers, and a still greater number will probably visit the shops to-night and to-morrow when they learn what the butchers have to show them. Starting on our tour of inspection the first shop we visited was Mr Trash: 's. To this a number of spectators were attracted by a novelty in the shape of an illumination. A heavy crossbred sheep had been killed, the entrails taken out, and stuffed with straw, the wool having also been carefully washed and combed until it was snowwhite, and the animal was then placed on a Btand in the centre of the shop, and a gaspipe passed through it, terminating in the letters F. T , which appeared in a number of littl e jets protruding from the sheep's mouth. The display of meat would have been a credit; to any shop in any part of the world. There were six bullocks, one of which, weighing 101 libs, was hanging in sides. One bred by Mr O'Brien, of Ngatimoti, turned the scale at 1 232 lbs, another from the came farm weighed 1220 1b5; there was a remarkably nice beast from Mr C. Best's farm at Appleby, and two others, originally from Wanganui, but fed for some months in Mr Trask's paddocks. The mutton, which was first-class, came from Mr Thorpe's farm at Motueka, Mr O'Brien's at Ngatimoti, Mr C. Best's at Appleby, and Mr J. Bell's at Hope. Mr Burkett, of . Hope, supplied some excellent lambs; Mr Sutton, of Richmond, and Mr Burrowes, of Wakefield, two very pretty calves, and Mr Starnes, of Riwaka, half a dozen prime young porkers. A bullock's head trimmed, ornamented, and iced was placed on the front counter, and formed not the least of the attractions offered by this well-stocked shop. Mr. Pratt's attracted a considerable crowd who were 1 loud in their admiration of a bullock's and. calf'B head, which were .very skilfully dressed, tbe horns being gaudily gilded by Messrs T. and W. Chisholm, and occupied a very prominent position in the sbop. The meat, which bung thickly round the -walls, was of a very superior and very eventuality, none being much better than the other, but all alike really good. The beef was partly supplied by Mr Fry, of Riwaka, and partly by the Wanganui graziers, the largest of the sheep by Mr Thorpe, of Motueka, but the greatest number, every carcase being in really first rate condition, by Mr R. Mcßae from his Wangapeka run. There were some very nice lambs from Mr J. Palmer's fiftm at

I_ope,..some capital veal frou. Mr W. Frost's at Wakapuaka, some very tempting-looking young pigs from Mr Fry's, who always contrives to excel in this particular kind of stock, and a fine largo one fed by Captain Walker. Mr. Edwards was great in pork. A couple of boomers graced the doorway, and inside were some fine young porkers bred by Mr J. Hill, of Brightwater. Mr P. Best, of Appleby, and Mr A. Drummond, of Motueka Valley, supplied beef that left nothing to be desired. Mr J. Best, of Appleby, and the Wanganui growers Conjointly furnished the sheep, which were in gt&nd conditidh, ahd Mr H; Martin, of Stoke, bad killed a fatted calf that would grace the board at any family gathering. . Mifß. Blitri . had given up the front counter oh one side of the shop to a coaple of bullock's heads, which, tin the unaccustomed grandeur imparted to their appearance by fche gilding of their horns and the powdering of their countenances, gazed solemnly upon tbe crowd of little boys who looked on admiringly, and with an evident desire to finger them, as if in wonder at the unusual excitement to which tbeir appearance gave rise. The other Bide was filled with poultry, who owed their splendid condition to the careful tending of Mr fi. Challis, of Waimea! West* and his good wife. Mr Inglis, of Riwaka, and Mr Page, of Takaka, contributed some magnifi- . cent beef, Mr Thorpe and Mr R. Mcßae mutton of the same description as that which we admired so much at Mr Pratt's, Mr Neale, of Richmond, an enormous fourteen months old pig, and Mr H. Challis and Mr Wastney some pretty little porkers. * Mr. Barnett, who in the quality of his meat ia seldom behind his brother tradesmen, showed 'some capital beef of his own feeding, Southdown lambs from Mr Trolove's at Stoke that made the mouth water, some choice young pigs bred and fed by Mr Yarrell, in the Wood, and some fine calves from Mr Leighton's and Mr H. Sutton's at Richmond. The City Butchery made a very creditable display. Wanganui and Mr Archer, of the Pelorus, supplied the sheep, and Motueka growers some capital young porkers. We can only repeat that the show was far and away the best ever seen in Nelson, and was in every respect creditable alike to the butchers and breeders of the district. I ■a_A__.j.uM_-ai_B-*c--___g_ga-_uj_-W^