CHRISTMAS SHOW.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2424, 23 December 1880, Page 2

CHRISTMAS SHOW.

SECOND EDITION

As usual the butchers of Timaru have taken the lead in the decorations peculiar to Christmas, and this afternoon their premises presented quite a pictorial aspect. A slight sketch of the features they present will probably bo interesting to meat consumers.

Taking the whops in rotation, beginning at the noith and travelling southwards, we are brought into contact with PEACOCK AND HEANEY’S WEST END BUTCHERY.

Since last Christmas this establishment has been altered in such a way that instead of being overcrowded there is ample room for a good display. The shop and its surroundings have been gaily decorated with flags and evergreens. At a rough estimate, over live tons of meat, dressed in a skilful and artistic fashion, line the walls, forming a most attractive and picturesque semi circle. The central carcase is that of a huge ox, weighing 135Ulbs, bred by Mr Grant, and Ibis is supported right and left by splendid bullocks, weighing over 1030 lbs each, from the pastures of Mr S. XJristol, and the late Mr Laudsborough. On either side arc rows of lambs dreMSjd with flowers, &c., in the highest style of the butchers’ art, from the rich fattening grounds of Air S. Bristol, while beneath are suspended prime wethers, weighing 70lbs to QOlbs—the pick of Mr J. Kelland’s flock, well-fed porkers, bred by Mr Gardiner, and a sample of exceedingly, choice veal from Mr Dormer, the dairyman. The principal window is made gay with an as-

sortraent of dressed heads, feet, and sucking pigs from the Dunedin market. Several saddles of mutton are uresented as samples of decorative art in all the glory of artificial ships, boquets, and coronets, wrought in coloured suet, and moulded with consummate skill. The small goods window is stocked with an appetising variety of cooked transparencies, from German sausages to delicious looking brawn and puddings of various colors. One great feature of this show is that the meat is not only beautifully dressed, but the quality speaks volumes for what South Canterbury is capable of growing. This evening the band will perform opposite the premises of the firm, and the exhibition, which is admittedly the finest that lias yet been presented, will no doubt attract a large crowd of spectators. EDMISTON & KIDWELL’S City Butchery is resplcndant with at-' tractions, grave, comical, and seriocomic. Some enormous carcases of well-fed oxen from the grazing lands of Mr Garforth, Kakahu Creek, occupy the place of honor. They are surrounded with wethers and lambs, nicely dressed and in splendid condition, from Mr A. Grant, of Temuka ; porkers and veal from Mr Gardiners 1 . The shop has been chastely decorated with flowers and evergreens, and the windows afford a pictorial display of dressed heads, saddles of mutton, hams and sides of bacon, gay with Christmas legends and compliments, and small goods calculated to make one's mouth water. The saddles of mutton contain a variety of comic specialities, embracing a model of the Timaru water cart, with its advertising crinoline, drawn by a pair of Jerusalem ponies, and a bird of paradise crowing on a three-rail fence. The other goods, consisting of dressed heads, &c., are beautifully got up, ami altogether the City Butchery has never figured to such advantage as it will do to-night. G. GREEN. Here another line display of beef, veal, lamb, and pork is to be seen, and the sight will repay a visit. The beef is a perfect picture, and some of the carcases roach 10 ami 11 cwt. The beasts were bred by Mr Patterson, of Temuka. The lamb, of which there is a capital show, is very tempting. Mr John Smith, of Saltwater Creek, bred the lambs. The veal is also very nice, and would almost tempt a vegetarian to forgot his vows. The calves supplying it were bred by Mr E. P. Scaly. The pork, which is furnished by pigs bred by Judge Ward will repay inspection. B. THOMSON AND SON. Messrs B. Thomson and Son, of the Great North Road, exhibit a magnificent lot of meat, the beef being particularly worthy of notice, one of tire carcases weighing llJOlbs ami another UGOIbs. This beef was grown at the the Levels Station by Mr C. N. Orbed, and was killed expressly to furnish the time honored dish for Christmas Day. Mr Michael Quinn of the Star Hotel, Temuka, was the breeder of the lamb, and finer meat no epicure could desire. The calves—and the veal of first class quality—were bred by Mr C. Eusor, of Kakahu. NON-COMPETITORS. Among the non-competitors for the Christmas prize, whose exhibits arc still worthy of all praise we must not omit to mention Mr Acton, whose establishment has always acquired a reputation I’m tlie quality of its joints and carcases. Although no particular preparation has been made the premises are made attractive with some choice samples of Timaru produce, Mr Acton having always an independent supply of choice meat of his own cultivation. Latham and Meehan, of the Southern Meat Mart, present for the edification and enjoyment of their customers some really prime beef,raised by Mr Dowling,several wethers which are almost phenomenal, for they weigh over loOlbs each, and a number of grand lambs, bred by Mr Ben Bailey, of Mount Horrible. The porkers and sucking pigs are grown, by the enterprising exhibitors, and they display the results of good feeding. The shop has been tastefully relieved with shrubs, and the meat is dressed with a skill and neatness that will commend it to all counoiseurs and experts. To sum up, we have no hesitation in designating the Timaru Meat Show of Christmas, 1880, the grandest that has jmt taken place in this part of the world.