WAIKOUAITI AND SHAGVALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1148, 19 December 1879, Page 2

WAIKOUAITI AND SHAGVALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

AKEsUAL SHOW. • (by telegraph, from: our special REPORTER.) Waikouaiti, December 19. The .annual agricultural and pastoral show of the Waikouaiti and Shag Valley Association was held here to-day, and proved very successful, despite the predictions of some croakers that it would be a failure. Efforts had lately been made to

give the Society a fixed habitation, but these failed, as it was believed that to select one spot permanently for the shows of the Association would offend the people at one end or the other of the district embraced by the Society, while to fix upon a central place would entail inconvenience, loss, and annoyance to 1 the people in and around both the larger centres of population—Palmerston and Waikouaiti. It was therefore determined to pursue the old course of holding the annual exhibitions of stock, &c., alternately at the two places named. While this decision was calculated to meet to some extent the wishes of both ends of the district, and prevented the possibility of causing a split in the Association, it prevented the Society from providing as good accommodation on the ground for stock as could be desired, and there was therefore wanting most of the conveniences usually found on well-organised show grounds. The Committee had, however, "made tolerable temporary provision for the reception of the exhibits. The show was held in a paddock opposite the Golden Fleece Hotel, and very fair arrangements had been made. The weather was delightfully fine, and there was a large attendance of spectators, the train from Palmerston being crowded, while large numbers went by road. The show was a very good one, more especially in cattle—both Ayrshires and Shorthorns—of which there were abundance and of good quality. This was more particularly noticeable in regard to the young stock, some excellent and promising young animals being placed upon their trial. The show of draught horses was very fair, though some of the classes were poorly represented. Of entires, four years and upwards, mares in foal and dry, and foals, there was an abundance of exhibits, and, though they could not be expected to excel the magnificent draught animals of Waitaki, they were, taken altogether, a fine lot. The liberality of owners of entires in offering special prises for foals by their horses tended to increase the number of exhibits of youngsters, and make the of this class of stock highly interesting. Their example might be followed with advantage by other owners of notable sires. The display of thoroughbreds was not a feature of the show, for the entries were small and the quality only moderate, taken as a whole, though one or two good animals were shown. The show of hacks was really fine, and the lot would be hard to beat anywhere. A few good pens of Lincoln sheep were shown, but, taken as a whole, the show of sheep was not brilliant. Most of the exhibits in the meiino class were low in condition, and bore no comparison to the exhibits at Oamaru. Leicesters were small in number and moderate in quality. There was a good show of pigs, and in this respect the show was a wonderful improvement upon any show in Oamaru. Poultry is poorly represented. Some good-looking dogs were shown. The Society's programme does not include implements, but a few were shown, including one of Reid and Gray's reapers, an imported reaper by Murray and Co., Banff, a grubber by Aflleck, Palmerston, and a dray by Johnston, Waikouaiti. The dairy produce was shown in the Mechanics' Institute, and formed a special attraction. Of butter the exhibits are not so numerous as expected, but the high entrance fee may account for this, ten shillings being charged for each exhibit by non-members. Cheese of good quality and fair quantity was shown, and there was a capital display of hams and bacon. In home-made bread there was a fair display. There were two capital exhibits of flowers and garden produce, those of Messrs. Pickup, Waikouaiti, being specially worthy of notice. Dean's, of Waihemo, were also good, and included samples of wine made from various fruits.

Some more horses have been brought on to the ground; and the show in this respect is very much improved. Judging commenced at 10 o'clock. Ayrshire and shorthorn cattle were taken first; on opposite sides of a large ring. In shorthorn bulls, any age, John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, was awarded first prize ; William Hicken, second; William Puddy, third. For cows in calf or in milk, Mr. Duncan again took first prize, also the third, Mr. Puddy being second. In Ayrsliires, Mr. Genimell had a number of entries, but was so disgusted with the decision of the judges who placed his magnificent bull third, merely commended, that he refused to allow any more of his stock to enter the ring. This caused very great disappointment, and efforts were made to induce him to alter his determination, but unsuccessfully, as he positively declined to permit the judges to handle any more of his cattle. To say the least of it, the judgea committed a very grave error of judgment, for the second bull could not bear any comparison with Mr. Gemmell's animal, and Mr. Cowan's first-prize bull, though an excellent beast, was not placed at Oamaru amongst the all-aged bulls, while Mr. Gemmell's got first prize. Mr. Cowan got all the first prizes in Ayrshires, which is not surprising, seeing that he carried off the cup in Oamaru. He was the only exhibitor for the special prize forth e best Ayrshire in the yard, which was awarded to a fine two-year-old bull. The judging of the draught horses was not commenced till late. Seven fine allaged entries competed. The first prize was awarded to M'Aulay and Wallace's Duncan Grey ; the second to R. Blair's Bob the Ranter; third, A. Baunatyne's Clyde.