SHOW GOSSIP.

Patea Mail, 9 November 1880, Page 2

SHOW GOSSIP.

Resuming my notes on the Patea Show, I have to review the cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, dogs, produce, and implements. CATTLE. The exhibits under this head show an increase of seven on those of last year, but we are not prepared to say there was great improvement as regards general quality of stock, although it was repeatedly asserted on the ground that the cattle were this year far and away the best. The district was indebted to a southern importer for the prize takers in classes II and 111, and it is regretable that local breeders had not something good enough to enter against them. The four exhibits alluded to were hardly of high class order, and condition told considerably against them, but they were in no way behind the exhibits in the other classes. In cattle breeding there is plenty of room for improvement in these districts, and the settlers are evidently alive to the fact, as they spare no trouble or money in making purchases with that end in view. After the show, as will be seen farther on, all Mr Barker’s bulls passed into the hands of local breeders. Besides the young bulls, among which there were several models of pure breeding, those of ages running from three years and upwards attracted attention, while the cows and heifers were on the whole a very nice lot; but we prefer to pass on rather than comment on the excellencies of the shorthorns in other than general terms. The Hereford breed was represented by two exhibits from Mr Pearce’s farm, and the fat oxen, cows, and heifers, were alike creditable to the district and the producers. SHEEP. In this class the Patea district will always be well represented so long as such settlers as Mr Wilson are in it. That gentleman has always taken a pride in sheep-breeding, and he can now, as in years past, lay claim to the possession of as fine animals as any wool-growers in this island. For beauty of frame, prime breeding and quality of wool, his sheep are famed, Mr Peacock has also made a name on this coast as a breeder of fine sheep, but we do not wonder that Mr Barker’s importation (appearing to such disadvantage through dipping and washing since arrival in this district) were defeated by local exhibits. Mr Barker’s sheep certainly had very good frames and carried heavy fleeces, but having been washeAh wa* a mistake to show them in a class against sheep in grease. Messrs. Pearce, R. B. Hamilton, and Riddell were more or less successful as prize takers ; and in fat sheep it was a pretty equal thing between the exhibits of Messrs Pearce, Gower and Wilson, who in order received marks of merit. The

way in which Mr Wilson’s sheep were shown was the subject of much favorable comment, and the shearer deserves as much praise as was bestowed upon the sheep. Mr Wilson secured, as will be seen, the silver cup given by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company for the best pen of sheep. PIGS. Mr Pearce as a pig exhibitor is always to the fore in this class, and indeed it seems that his stock are not to be beaten. Three years in succession he has carried off the palm for his porkers, to our knowledge. The other exhibitors were Messrs Barker, Mcßae, and Williamson, and the former gentleman was unluckey also in this class. POULTRY. The show of birds was by no means a bad one, Spanish, Brahma, Dorkings, Hamburgs, game, Aylesbury, Ducks, being represented; and they were all considered so good in their classes that first prizes were awarded in addition to the special ones. DOGS. Our canine friends were in force, but the arrangements were not complete enough to make a good show. Nearly double thalhumber that were shewn last year were entered on Thursday ; pointers, setters, terriers, spaniels, mastiffs, greyhounds, and retrievers being the particular breeds. PRODUCE. The exhibits of cheese wore not numerous. Mr Dickie, of Waverley, secured the special prize, though his samples were too new. The fresh butter competition was excellent, no less than seventeen exhibits being sent in. The task of sampling and judging could not have been an enviable one. The exhibits of home-made bread were of fine quality, and the ladies arc deserving of great praise, lor having contributed so largely. The hams and bacon were capital, Mr Barker securing Ist and special prizes with his Canterbury-grown. Bacon and ham curing is an industry which could be profitably followed on this Coast. Mr Wilson’s wool exhibits were A 1. IMPLEMENTS. The mowing machines, ploughs, harrows, garden rollers, mowers, seed drills, and the farm dray exhibited by different owners, added to the many features of the show-ground. The dray was shown by Williams Brothers, and was excellent in design and build, with this exception, that the shafts require depth rather than breadth to carry weight. In extra exhibits the same firm showed a superior and highly finished buggy of the pbscion class, the dash-boards being absent through hurry in completing the carriage for show. Other exhibitors under this head who took prizes were Mr Saunders, for cordials, Chapman for dressed fowls, Gibbons and Co for best sample beer, G. T. Potto for bogskin saddle, J. Gibson for sample N.Z. woodware, Mrs Clover for varieties of cone-work, including picture frames. These cone exhibits showed ingenuity and taste on the part of the lady exhibitor. Mr Clover’s model of a turbine wind-mill driving a small wheel and showing its adaptability for flourgrinding machinery, was a really ingenious piece of mechanism ; and it is to be hoped Mr Clover will turn his present success to profitable use in this and other districts. It was one of the most attractive exhibits on the ground. HORSES. A correction should be made in my previous notes on horses. For light hacks, Mrs G. 8. Newland’s horse Swindler took second prize. The judges’ remark on blood stock, two and three-year olds, that the prizedid not show very high quality, must be taken as applying generally. The thorough-bred mares Med ora and Kate, and the well-known three-year old Menelik, were regarded as thoroughly useful'and sound blood-stock, without ranking in the highest quality as fancy animals.

PRIZE WINNERS. The following is a list of prize-takers arranged in the order of value won in the Association’s list of prizes. Many of them also won special prizes, which are indicated :

IMPLEMENTS. The amount of prizes to bo given are not yet decided. EXTRA EXHIBITS. Saunders, G W, one pair of terra cotta vases, for cordials. Given by Mr B Currie Williams Bros., for colonial made buggy. Given by Mr North, £2 Gibbons and Co., for best sample of colonial beer. Cheese given by Mr J Whelan Potto, GT, hogskin saddle. Amount not yet decided Gibson, J, woodware. Amount not yet decided Clover, S, model of hand power machine. Amount not yet decided

1 Pearce, R B— £ s. d. Association prizes 10 0 0 Special, £2 0 0 2 McRae, RE 6 10 0 3 Morton and Lupton 6 0 0 Special, set of swingletrees 4 Chalmers,A 5 0 0 5 Peacock, H S 5 0 0 Special, 2 btls. champagne 6 Barker, C V 4 10 0 Special, £3 10s. 7 Hair, J 4 10 0 8 Wilson, W 4 10 0 Special, silver cup 9 Hunter, A 3 10 0 Special, £1 Is. 10 Fleming, D 3 0 0 Special, £2 2s 11 Chapman, FM 2 15 0 Special, electro-plated cruet „ churn 12 Hawes, R and 0 2 0 0 Special, £1 Is 13 Ginger Bros o 0 0 14 Bremer, H 2 0 0 Special, ladies’ bridle, 20s. 15 Williamson, D H 1 15 0 16 Gower, W 1 10 0 17 Colson, W 1 10 0 18 Powdrcll, J D 1 0 0 19 Hughes, D 1 0 0 20 Wilson Bros 1 0 0 21 Dickie 1 0 0 Special, £1 Is 22 Newland, Mrs G 1 0 0 23 Syme, C 1 0 0 24 Gibson 1 0 0 25 Risele}', H 1 0 0 26 Dickie, A 1 0 0 Special, £1 Is., and one year’s sub. to Star 27 Fisher, W B 0 10 0 28 Honcyfield, E M 0 10 0 29 Beamish, J 0 10 0 30 Haase, Otto 0 10 0 31 Horner, R 0 10 0 32 Riddell, J 0 10 0 33 Hamilton, RB 0 10 0 34 Lott, J 0 10 0 35 Riseley, J 0 10 0 36 Salmon, Mrs 0 10 0 37 Tennent, R C 0 5 0 38 Croft, Dr 0 5 0 39 Hurley, G 0 5 0 40 Sheehan J 0 5 0 Special, 10s. Gd. 41 Dickie, W 0 5 0 Total by Association...£81 5 0

LEAPING MATCH. £ s. d. JChadwick's' 1 War Eagle.” Given by Association 0 0 Half Entries ... 0 15 0 Special given by Mr Colson ... 1 1 0 £2 16 0 WATER JUMP, J Chadwick’s “War Eagle” Given by Association 0 0 Half Entries ... 1 0 0 £2 0 0