PATEA A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1111, 12 November 1883, Page 2

PATEA A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

TENTH ANNUAL SHOW. The tenth annual show of the Patea Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Thursday, and so far ns the quality of the exhibits was concerned, was n very great success. The entries wore more numerous than they were last year. The principal increase was in sheep; cattle were the same, but there was a largo falling off in the number of horses. The attendance numbered about the same as at the previous show, and the weather too, was very similar, being somewhat cold in the earlier part of the day but improving during the afternoon. There seems to bo a sort of fatality about the weather on show days everywhere, which are generally bleak and uncomfortable. A few Wanganui people wore on the ground, while a good many from Waitotara and Wavcrloy availed themselves of the special train from the former place. Most of the business places in town wore closed,, and about three o’clock the gfottfi'} presented rather a lively appearance. The arrangements of the show were well carried out, one or two of the committee being conspicuous in their efforts to render assistance. The secretary, Mr T. Eyton, had a busy day, and was ready and obliging as ever in furnishing information to the three or four representatives of various papers who were “present. There was one booth

the. ground and Mr Willis had no reason to complain of want of patronage. The band, too, were in attendance but we are bound to say that the music discoursed was not of a particularly enlivening nature. There seems a want in connection with the band. As one bystander remarked “There is too much top and bottom and not enough centre.” With regard to the exhibits wo may at Once say they were first class. We heard it frequently remarked that the sheep and cattle were the finest lot ever penned in Patea, and certainly the condition in which both were brought forward was creditable in' the extreme. In sheep, under Class A, Lincoln’s, Messrs R B Hamilton, W Wilson, L G Bremer, 11 B Pearce, J Shield and D Fleming ere the competitors, For the Ram Mr Hamilton was awarded a well deserved first, for n grandly framed animal. Mr Bremer secured second honours and Mr Wilson commended. For the Ram Hogget Mr Wilson took all the honours, also first for ewe, Mr Shield being second. The same order of merit was observed in the pen of three ewes with lambs. For the best pen of three ewe hoggets Mr Hamilton was again to the fore, Mr Fleming taking second with a pen of real good ones, showing plenty of quality. In long wools there were some splendid sheep. Mr Pearce was the most successful in but Mr R Oobb of Fielding came in for high honours. Messrs Wilson and Hamilton also took a first., One remark will apply to all the sheep, - and that is that they were fit for a much more pretentions show than Patea. Speaking of sheep it is pleasing to notice the increased interest with which this class was regarded by visitors. This is no doubt due to the floating' of the Freezing Company, people, being anxious to see what kind of stuff wo havp in the district from which to raise and improve our flocks. For the same reason no doubt farmers were anxious to compare notes as to progress made, and this led to the increase of eatries. Next year will probably see still deeper interest in this section of the show.

The cattle were a grand lot. We need hardly say who took the champion prize for best bull. : Sir Hercules cannot be beaten in these parts, and if Messrs Arundel and Ross know that ho has no equal here, and therefore his victory is a barren one, still it is just and pardonable pride on their part which induces them tp.bring the Invincible ” out.. .At anyrate it is a pleasure for even one not learned in matters bucolic to have a look at this grand animal. His stock seems turning out well, and those three shown on Thursday were successful in carrying off two first and one second prizes. Messrs Peacock, 0. Hawes, and D. Fleming had cattle on view that were a credit to the district, and we are glad to see by the prize list that the judges did not fall to reward their merits. Mr H. 8. Peacock was another successful exhibitor and secured four awards. Mr Caverhill had four grand exhibits in Section 5, taking the champion for a fine cow by Prince Imperial. Mr Hair was' first under Section 7, heifers, and the first prize for best dairy cow was awarded to Mr Fleming. Mr It. B. Pearce had a fine Hereford, which deservedly received a prize. Under the head of fat cattle, Mr W. Gower showed a couple of splendid beasts taking first and second, and Mr Hair also took a first for his heifer, which by the way was doomed for the butcher, having been purchased by Mr Brodie, of Kakaramco.

The horses shown were fine animals and in the pink of condition. The wellknown Hailstorm was missed from the field. . First honours for blood stock were secured by Mr Mcßae with Pnriii, Mr Wilson with Armament, Mr Caverhill, Brunette, and Mrs Powdrill, Stilletto. In draught entires Messrs Wilson Brothers’ Sir William Wallace repeated his victory of last year; Sir Robert Bruce, , belonging to Mr W. Craig, took second place, Mr Morton’s Exchange being highly commended. Mr Morton was more successful in some of the other classes. The hacks shown were a creditable lot and the judges had some difficulty in allotting the prizes. One little pony mare shown by Mr Hawken had a tiny foal with her weighing about fifty pounds aud its efforts to kick an inquisitive boy were most amusing. The pigs were not numerous but what was wanting in quantity was fully made up in quality, and there could be no mistake about the honours being deserved. The exhibits of poultry were not of much interest. The show of produce was utterly unworthy of,the district, and next year we hope to see this class better filled. Perhaps with the aid of a few special prizes something might be done with a view of rendering this part of the exhibition more attractive.

The dogs were few but good, and their owners had nothing to complain about in the way of prizes. The only implements on the ground were those sent by Messrs McCarty and Hunger, who exhibited a farmers’ dray, a field roller and a gig. Each of these were noticeable as being of good workmanship and thoroughly well adapted to their several purposes.

In the extra exhibits Mr Bonnie showed malt and barley, and Mr Deane cordials, which latter looked particularly inviting. The shearing match did not come off, but lots of fun were got out of the leaping match, which was won by Darkle, entered by Mr Whishaw and ridden by Mr Corrigan. There were leu entries, viz, Mr R. Aldridge’s Nellie, Mr®o’Shannessy’s Yankee Jack,"Mr F. Newton’s Jack, Mr Bnrraclough’s Silver Cloud, Mr McOarihy’s Kin uni”, Mr Whisbaw’s Darkie, Mr Gibson’s , Mr Chadwick’s Archie, Mr Sargent’s Commotion.and Mr Gowers’ Misfortune. Mr Mcßae acted as starter, and Mr Davis, armed with a long whip, filled the post of clerk of the course to the manifest terror of any unfortunate dog who ventured to stray along the track.

The winner, Darkle, cleared all the hurdles in fine 'style. Nellie and Jack, who? tied, came next; in merit and jumped ; again for second place which fell to Nellie. Almost all the other horses showed a. ’disposition to baulk the hurdles. Perhaps the greatest amusement of; -the »day was that occasioned by Mr McCarthy’s steed which showed anything but an inclination to negotiate the hurdles despite the constant application of the whip and the frantic cries of “Go it Mac ” which echoed nil along the. coarse. We publish the further portion of the prize list ns follows : • Section IV.—Pen of 3 Ewes withdamhs, W Wilson, shorn-12th Noyeipber, 1882, 1 J Sheild, shorn 18th November, 1882, 2 Section V.—Pen of 3 fiwe Hoggets. EB Hamilton,! D Fleming, 2 R B Hamilton, commended 6 entries, GrAss B.— Other Long Wool Breeds. Section 1.-—Ram. Robert Colb, bred by Thomas Cobh, Romney Ma'sh, England, born April, 1881, shorn April, 1883, 1 R B Pearce, Devon, shorn 10th November 1882, 1 5 entries. Sectim ll.—Ram Hoggets R B Pearce, Devon, 1. R E Meßae, Romney Marsh, 2 Section lll—Ewe R B Pearce, Devon 1 W Wilson, 2 Five entries Section IV— Pen of 3 ewes with lamb W Wilson, 1 Three entries Section V—Pen of 3 ewe hoggets R B Hamilton, 1 - ? R B Pearce, Devon 2 Three entries Section Vl—Ram hogget shorn as a lamb R B Pearce, 1 Two entries Section Vll—Ewe hogget shorn as a lamb R B Pearce, 1 Three entries Glass C.— Fat Sheep. To bo shorn within 31 days of the dato of Show. , Long-wool wethers. R B Pearce, Devon, 1 Section 11.—5 Long-wool Ewes. R B Pearce, Devon, 1

Extra Exhibits. J E Stent, 14 entries, 3 Shropshire Down Rams 3 Shropshire: Down Ram Hoggets 3 Shropshire Down Ewes and Lambs 3 Shropshire Down Ewe Hoggets 1 Cross-bred Lincoln and Shropshire Down Wether 1 Cross bred Lincoln and Shropshire Down Ewe ' . - 1 Ram and 3 Ewes, shorn 28fh November, 1882, highly commended pins; Scction L—Boar, over six months. R B Pearce, Black Essex, by Young Bitter Beer, 1 RB Hamilton, Essex, 2 Section 11.-—Boar, under six months. R B Pearce, Black Essex Boar, by Young Bitter Beer, I Section lll—Sow over six months D Michie, 1 . 1 Two entries Section IV —Sow under six months R B Pearce, Black Essex, by Young Bitter Beer, 1 POULTRY. To be shown in pens of 2, male and female H LundbergV prize £1 10s for most points in poultry and pigeons annual. Judge—Mr J Sheild H Lundberg, Silver-spangled Hambnrgbs, 1 .'I H Lundberg, fancy pigeons, 1 W Balmforlb, Golden-pencil Hambnrgbs, / ■ 1 ■ ■ ; ; R Pettit, Lovebirds, 1 Seven entries DOGS. Judge—Mr J Shield. J 11 Wbisbaw, Fox Terrier; Bat, 4 year 1 W Wilson, Jess, Black Setter, by Sauce, out of Mr Sheild’s imported Slut, 1. J McCarty, Pointer slut Nellie, 1. . Dr Croft, Brown Retriever; Floss, 1.

6 entries. SPECIAL PRIZES. Given by the public, for which no prizes are offered by the Association in its programme. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, silver cup valued at 15gs, for best pen of 5 longwool ewe hoggets, each animal to be pure-bred of its class.—R. B. Hamilton. -■■■;• 4 entries. J Sheild, prize yalue‘£2"los for best pen of 5 fat wethers not over 4-tooth— E M Honey field. An exhibit of Mr Sheild’s in this class was disqualified. A protest was entered, but not entertained J Sheild, .prize value £2 10s for best pen of three fat bullocks not over 4 years—W Gower. 3 entries W Cowern, £2 2s for best heifer calf calved during present year—Arundell and Ross, Lady Valentine, red and white, calved 14th February 1883, by Sir Hercules dam Eglantine by Piince Frederick. ■ Three entries

W Balmforth, £1 for best pen of 3 fat lambs,. 3 exhibits prize—R B Hamilton, highly co’mtpended Arundell and Ross, £1 Is, for best 1 pen of 3 yearling heifers with not- less than two strains of pure blood by bulls entered in N Z H B, dotiors not exhibitors,,3 exhibits or no prize—D Fleming,! Three entries ; Mr Robert Cobb, £1 for heaviest rain in’ show—R Cobb [The above aa as written on Friday night, for publication on Saturday.—Ed.]