MANAWATU SHOW.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1916, Page 7

MANAWATU SHOW.

OPENING DAY. FINE DISPLAY OF STOCK. (By Our Special Reporter.;' Palmerston N., Yesterday, the weather for the opening, dav of the Manawatu Show is unsettled, ' but there is nevertheless a good first-day attendance. Judging of some of the horse events was commenced promptly. The cattle will not be judged until to-mor-row. The Arrangements for the " show are again good, and everything augurs well for its success. One would naturally have expected that the scarcity of labor that is so general, especially among the farming community, this year, would have, been reflected in the entries. Undoubtedly this cause has considerably limited the entries from Taranaki, where the majority of pedigree cattle fanciers are engaged in dairy farming, and find it extremely difficult to spare tho ne.cessary time from home to take their cattV to Manawatu, with two local shows claiming their attention the same month. It is pleasing, therefore, to be able to chronicle that tho-entries on the whole are in excess of those of last year by nearly 100, the totals being 3230 as against 3171. HORSE? Horses show a slight decrease, being only 237 as against 273. No thoroughbred stallions are shown, and saddle horses show a decrease, as also do draughts, but in working draughts there is a big increase, and these are a strong feature. Taranaki is strongly represented in the horse section, entries including such well-known draughts as J. W. Burke's (Eltham) Fritz, J. O'Donnell's (Inaha) Grey Star, J. M. 'I. Blair's (Hawera) Captain Starlight, H. W. Brewer's (Hawera; Utility. J. Priestly (Hawera) is showing SheUfire. In the draught section, B. B Zureher, late of Kaimata, and now of Longbum, is an exhibitor. In the jumping evejits, Taranaki has a strong hand, being represented by Grey Star, Utility. Shellfire, and Captain Starlight, and R. H. Pepperell's (Waitara) King Simon and Leo. O'Neill's (Urenui) Utility. CATTLE. Both in number and in quality this is ft strong section. The entries total 430, as against 401 last show. All are comfortably housed in the magnificent new pavilion that was opened last show. It is unquestionably the finest building, of its kind on any show ground in the Dominion, and is appreciated both by those who exhibit the stock and those who come to view them. The exhibitor .finds every convenience at hand in tho shape of lockers, etc., for his feed; whilst the cattle do not suffer any discomfort, no matter what tho climatic conditions may be. The committee are catering in every way possible for the convenience and comfort of exhibitors, a w'ise policy, and one that must be followed if Palmerston j is to. maintain its premier place among the North Island shows. The feeding arrangements for tho stock are good, the committee having grown a. fine paddock of oats within a stone's throw of the pavilion. There are also a number of handy grass paddocks. Numerically, Holsteins are the strongest section. \V. I. Lovelock is strongly represented, but he has strong competition from as far away as Give and Cambridge. A notable absentee from the catalogue is Newton King, who has gone out of Holsteins. J. W. Gardiner, of Eltham, who has entered a couple of yearling heifers in two classes, is Taranaki's only representative. Jerseys are also very strongly represented. E. Eagle, S. R. Lancaster, and F. J. Watson are exhibiting very largely, hut they have competitors from Hawke's Bay, Wellington, and Taranaki. This province, which t. few years ago was known as the home of the Jersey in New Zealand, is represented by A. and J. O'Donnell's (Inaha) champion cow Goul's Bilberry sth, whilst Mr .C. Goodson, of Hawera, is also showing a couple of yearling heifers, including Mercedes Noble Lady, bred by E. Griffiths. Out of a total oi sixty Ayrshires entered, Taranaki is not represented. This class shows a, decrease on last year. There is the best exhibit of Shorthorns, both beef and' milking strains, that have over been shown in Palmerston. G. A. Turner, of Eltham, is showing some magnificent cattle in competition with local, Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, and Waikato exhibitors. Herefords are a strong class, but competition. is mostly confined to E. Short (Feilding) and C F. Moore (Kai Iwi), though there are odd entries from Marlborough. In i strong class of dairy cattle, A. and J. C'Donnoll are making a bid for the Alfa Laval Cup with Goul's Bilberry sth. Entries \ in fat cattle have more than doubled, j and some magnificent specimens are be- j ing shown by Messrs. E. Short. K Arm-1 strong, If. K. Mc-Kcnzie (Mastirton), and Sir W. C. Buchanan. SHEEP. There is a great falling-off in the number of sheep exhibited, the principal decrease being in Lineolns, while Rom<ieys, Southdowns, and Shropshire Downs show an increase. No fat she"p were shown, as against 03 last year. Taranaki is not represented in this section. PIGS. These show an increase in numbers. One of the sheep pavilions has been allotted to the pigs. Porirua Mental Hospital is again strongly represented, as U E. J. Rogers, of Ngaruawahia (South Auckland). Hawke's Bay and W'aikato are also well represented. Symons Bros., of Pungirchu, winners in this section last year, are not showing. DOGS. In dogs, there is an increa«° of 100. J. W. Barr, of Eltham, is showing ir. the deerhounds; F. Willis, of Patea, •greyhounds; and A. A, Cuthbertson, Stratford, bulldogs, GENERAL. Home industries, photography, art, and Technical and Public School classes show a. large increase. There are ' also fine displays of machinery.