AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

Southland Times, Issue 1345, 9 December 1870, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

I FOURTH AWinrAlf EXHIBITION. ; . * 1 The fourth annual exhibition took • place at the Society's grounds yesterday. The weather during the early part of the day was threatening, and a considerable i quantity of rain fell. By noon it had entirely cleared" up, and the prospects of the exhibition improved in ""proportion. Being partly observed as a holiday the attendance was very large. Arrange- . ments on the grounds were well made and energetically carried put by the com* mittee of management. With one or two exceptions the awards of the judges were favorably received. Indeed, the arrangements all through were satisfactory to the public and creditable to the board of directory. Having briefly disposed of general remarks, we now proceed to notice the exhibits, taking them in their catalogued routine. Both in number and quality draught horses were a very fair exhibit. Five three-year-old and upwards were placed on view, amongst which the two bays owned by Mr B. Hamilton and Mr J. Hamilton were specially remarked for the general excellency of their qualities. The judges were not long in fixing upon those animals, and for a time they hesitated as to which should gain the preference. Ultimately, however, the difficulty was got over, and the animals were placed in the relative positions they occupied when competing for prizes as two-year-olds, viz., Mr S. Hamilton's horse first, and Mr J. Hamilton's second. A notable feature of the exhibition under this class was the absence from the ring of sires accustomed to compete in previous years, such as the Thane of Clyde, Emperor, and Young Clyde. Still it was gratifying to observe that young horses reared in the district were in every respect fit to replace these champions. Mr Birchall's horse Hero stood at a disadvantage in this class on account of his age, still he gave promise of turning out something really good, and not a few competent opinions were expressed that he would yet rival the well known attaiuments of his sire Emperor. The judges very properly awarded him a high encomium. Class 2 — Entire colts, two years old and not exceeding three — was not by any means as well, represented as it has been on previous occasions. In this class Hero occupied a more appropriate position, and carried off the first prize. The award of the second and third prizes gave rise to considerable dissatisfaction, and judges outside the ring did not hesitate to give it as their opinion that the order of award should hare been reversed, and the third horse, belonging to Mr Millar, placed second. Three-year-old, brood mares were but poorly represented as regards numbers, but in point of quality they were quite up to the mark. But little difficulty was experienced in deciding the first prize in favor of Mr R. Hamilton's mare. Number two and three awards were carried off by Mr D. Wallace. Four yeld mares competed for class five. The first prize taker— Mr Warnock's mare I—looked1 — looked much better than she did on previous occasions. Class nine was represented by a very superior lot of draught geldings. Draught mares or geldings underT.s hands was the next class competed for. Eight haudy-looldog little workers were presented. In thorough-bred entires of any age the turn-out was much larger than on any previous occasion, and upon the whole the animals were of a superior stamp. Two of last year's competitors again presented themselves a« rivals, and popular opinion was pretty equally divided between them. The judges appeared to have less leaning towards the tall horse, and awarded Bay Camden first prize, the second going to a handsome little horse — Rainbow — a new importation into this district. When the result of this competition became known, the onlookers confirmed the decision of the judges by a hearty round of applause. The competition for the best two-year-old entire colt was but very poorly sustained. It lay exclusively between the two named in the list. The class representing the best mare or filly was much better filled than formerly. roadsters there was^a_vwy_fikjr-J/ura-out, "anaThVcompitrtion was tolerably keen. The prizes for ponies under fourteen hands were largely contested. Fifteen entries were made, but as three were disqualified, the competition rested with the remaining twelve. This was by far j the best competition of the day. The highest prize-taker in particular was a really beautiful little creature, and deserved the distinction he won. Five light harness horses, fifteen bands and upwards, entered for the next prize. In all the three instances the competition resulted in favor of horses belonging to the town. The remaining class under I this department was a very good exhibitioD, quite equal to previous years, although not by any means as good as the class assigned to larger horses of the same stamp. Taken as a whole, the exhibits in this department did not countenance the opinion we hear so often expressed of the stock deteriorating. On the contrary, they showed a decided improvement on previous years. The show of Shorthorns was comparatively a failure. Except in aged bulls, of which there were four, there was virtually no competition, and in class 4, where there was but one entry, the judges departed from their usual rule, and withheld a prize, not deeming the animal worthy. Herefords, of which there has never been more than one or two shown at a time, were represented by four animals on this occasion— one bull, a splendid beast, the property of Mr Dawson, Long Bush, and three cows ; all of which were reckoned worthy of a card. Class 12 was represented by one solitary littip Angus bull — a great falling off in this sort—- and the next class was blank, altogether. _ Class 14 was a, void, so far a,t

D [ least as any a^vir<l wiia '•'■> : >c«r:ied Ql&*s 15 was. however, tattar filled up. and the judges were for a short time relieved of the monotony of passing empty pans or worthless cattle ." Mr Hamilton got Ist, k Mr Morton, WaUacetown, 2nd, and' Mr Stock 3rd. Fop the prize offered in class 9 16, two Q-oliathß puzzled the judges fora 3 weary time. The huge brutes! were quiet I enough, and permitted the utmost freef dom of inspection, but their merits.were bo nearly balanced, and their carcasses so 3 immense, that a decision could not be . come to while they were in the .pens'," and 3 they had to be given possession of the »" ring for a final examination. After a ) keen contest, first place was given to 3 Messrs Aitkin and Co. 'a bollock — an im- . mense mountain^ of flesh, which was no r stranger to the yards in former years as [ the property of the Land Company; the 2nd prize of course went to his opponent, but many people regretted that a first could not be given to each. The other classes in fat stock were also fairly filled in point of numbers, and still better in point of quality, the pens of steers being remarkably fine. The feature of the cattle division of the yards was, however, the Ayrabires, which mustered in greater force than at any 'previous show. We cannot do justice to this section without occupying more space than can be spared to it, and must confine ourselves to saying that there was scarcely an inferior animal of this prized breed on the ground. There was a very fiae sho<? of bulls, both old and young, and the same might be said of cows. Former competitors were on the ground again, but owing to difference of condition, did not come so much together in the ring as to make the decision to some extent an anticipated event to the public. One exhibitor, who has hitherto been prominent in the list, fell sadly back this year, and Mr Warnock, of Seaward Bush, and Mr ft. Hamilton, come more to the front. The first-named gentleman has been a very successful competitor this year in various divisions, and it is highly encouraging to breeders that all his prize animals are his own rearing. For the best cow in milk, Mr Bankin, Waikivi, got first, with a splendid animal, which has regularly appeared at all the Society's shows, ani always carried away, & prize of some value. It speaks well for the judgment ani perseverance of the dairy farmers near town that amongst them they have, from a very snail beginning, in a few years contrived to collect such a crowd of high-class cattle as were in the .yards on Thursday. The sheep exhibits could hardly be said to furnish a fair representation of the capabilities of the district. The show occurs at the very worst season of the year for exhibits of this kind. All the stations are busily engaged with the season's clip, and a fair representation could only be secured at the sacrifice of serious personal loss. This fact accounts for the entire absence of Merinos, and the limited number sent forward under other classes. The Liacolns exhibited were very good, and the Leicssters were above the average. It_ij_wprth_j?hile .considering whether some arrangement could not be made to meet the exigencies of this important branch of the Association. Singular as the admission may appear, the pigs were more select than numerous. Those exhibited were three very superior large bred boars ot^iadefiaite__agesjj;wo small bred boars of good quality 7 auinmo fat pig whose points of distinction were weight and symmetry. The classes not taken up were large and small bred sows. In point of number this is -the worst exhibition that has yet taken place, but the quality showed many decided improvements as regards. breeding. Although the competition was the reverse of keen, the awards were nevertheless well merited. The poultry was upon the whole a fair exhibition, and the judges had little difficulty in arriving at their decisions. - The specia! notes were two pairs of Brahma Pootra, which were really a superior class of fowls. Those exhibited by Mr Fielder, more especially the cock, which was a fine specimen, carried many points of good breeding about them. Mr Polling's pen was bo slightly inferior that the judges had some difficulty in fixing the award. This is a class of fowl which appears to be getting into good repute in Southland. A iiuuiUtir -wererrecently-impjarted-by Mr Butts from Melbourne, and, as far as we can ascertain, they are likely in a great measure to supersede other breads. The two prize-takers were the only lots shown. Next year's show will in all probability find a larger assortment on view. In the Dorkin species there were three entries, the first prize being awarded chiefly on account of the superior qualities of the two hens. The cock was not by any means so good. The Aylesbury ducks and the turkeys were both very good. The other classes shown were pretty fair average birds — superior as a whole to those exhibited last year. In all, 29 were entered, and although some of the classes were limited to one or two exhibits, prizes were awarded, despite the fact that the udges in such cases had power to withj hold their decisions. This itself shows that this department was 'well sustained. The classes not represented were the light Brahma Pootra, and two species of the Poland breed. As an extra award, hon* orable mention was made of a drake and two ducks. Our attention has been directed to the fact that in some instances the pens were constructed in such a war as almost to exclude the light! In their case no prizes were awarded, so that if exhibitor* feel themselves aggrieved, they have only got their own carelessness 'to blame. This is a matter that could be easily remedied, and we trust that it will be attended to in future. . In native flax, four samples were catalogued. The sample which obtained the first prize was of good pure texture, coupled with strength of 'fibre. It was also distinguished as a medium profitable length. It was cut from off the. Waikivi plains, and was washed and Bcutched, but not heckled. . Its probable value is ..estimated, at £80 per ton/ The dairfpw- -' L> :-.; U ".{ ivi ' -