TIMARU A. AND P. ASSOCIATION SHOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1260, 1 November 1884, Page 3

TIMARU A. AND P. ASSOCIATION SHOW.

Space did not permit our making many remarks on the Timaru Show in our last

.issue further than give the prize list. f unpleasant but as the Geraldine public The weather on the whole was all that could be desired. The first day was certainly never attend on that day it did not interfere much with the success of the show further than probably to prevent a few timid people who live at a distance from attending. The second day was all that could be wished, the heat of an unclouded ■un being cooled by a refreshing breeze. The attendance was very large, but it was mainly composed of South Canterbury people, the numbers from other quarters being smaller than on previous occasions. The ground was in excellent condition, and the arrangements all round were as good as any we have hitherto seen. It is only just that we should again express our appreciation of the obliging civility and courtesy with which the Secretary, Mr Stubbs, treated the Press. Never did we meet anyone more willing to do all in his power to afford information. It is impossible with our limited space to eirter into any lengthened description, but a few general remarks, expecially on looal exhibits, will, no doubt, be interesting. SHEEP.

This department was undoubtedly the best, It was admitted on all sides that never before was such a fine show of sheep seen in Timaru. This was especially the case in the merino class which numbered abou t 140 exhibits in 30 classes. In the first six classes (housed and clothed sheep) the competition was limited to Mr W. Lyttelton, of Rakaia, but in the grassfed merinos, Mr McMasler, the N.Z. and A. Land Company, Mr E. Elworthy, and Mr R. H. Rhodes divided the honors, and the sheep they showed were on the whole very good. In the strong combing merinos, the competition lay between Messrs John Bor ton, W. Moody, Rutherford, McMaster, N.Z. and A. Land Company, and Mr Andrew Grant, ofTemuka, The latter had 12 pens and exhibited some splended sheep, which secured a fair share of the prizes. Some of Mr Grant’s sheep, notably a hogget which he exhibited, were really splendid, and many of his exhibits which did not meet with judical approval, appeared to lookers-on to have been unjustly slighted. Before leaving the merino class we must say that the absence of Mr Tripp’s name from the catalogue was an event so singular as to call for a remark. So long as we remember Mr Tripp has been a large exhibitor, but his absence from home in England caused him not to exhibit this year. He, however, took as keen an interest in the proceedings as ever, and was on.the ground during the two days. In the English Leicesters Mr Threlkeld took the lion’s share of the prizes. He exhibited 8 pens, and nearly all of his exhibits met with recognition. The N.Z. and A. Land Company came next in point ©f prizes. They exhibited 15 pens of good- sheep. Mr Russell (15 pens) and Mr J. Reid (2 pens) were the other exhibitors, but met with little success. Mr Reid, however, had the Border Leicester class all to himself, the only other competitor being the N.Z. and A. Land Company. Mr Reid showed 9 pens, and the N.Z, and A. Land Company 22 pens, but the former carried off most of the prizes. Mr Reid was also very successful in the Lincoln class, but the N.Z. and A. Land Company had the best of it there. In the Down breed of sheep this district was represented by Messrs S. D. Barker and A. Grant, the former showing 6 pens and the latter 5 pens. Messrs Dudley and Northey and Mr Russell were also exhibitors, but Mr Grant won all before him with Southdowns. The crossbreds were also well represented by sheep exhibited by Mr W. Grant, who carried off most of the prizes, CATTLE.

There was a marked improvement in this department, the number of exhibits being 63 as against 25 last year. In shorthorns the competition lay practically between Messrs J. Reid and A. Perry, the former winning most of the prizes. Mr W. Grant was the only prize-taker in Herefords, and Mr A. Grant in Devons. In Ayrshires the competition was better, Messrs W. Steenson, J. Phillips, Goldie, R. 'Brown, Cole, Fyfe, Ross, and Perry exhibiting. In this class Mr _ Goldie got two first and two second prizes, Mr Stevenson one first, Mr R. Brown one second* and Messrs Phillips and Fyfe highly commended. Mr W. Grant and ■ Messrs Peacock and Geaney got one prize <each in the fat cattle class. HORSES. The show of horses this year was very good both as regards number and quality, and as rusual this district was well represented. Of course we have lost Lord Gastlereagh and Young Wellington, but -there is still some splendid stock rising tip in the district. Among these is Mr John Alexander’s three-year-old draught entire. Early Morning, one of the handsomest animals on the ground, which got first prize. This horse is a Banker, and is a credit to the breed, Mr Matthews’s Strathmore was as showy as ever, and met with considerable attention, although the judges placed him second to Luck’s All, the champion. Last year Young Wellington was champion, but since then he has changed masters and name, and did not look as if he liked it. He is now the property of Mr Stumbles, his name is the Duke ot Wellington, and the condition he appeared in showed that he regretted leaving his old master, Mr R. Matthews. The latter gentleman showed some magnificent youngsters, but owing to their not having been placed in the right class, by some mistake, they did not get placed as

they reserved. His stock, however, came off well, getting five second prizes, and one first prize, which of course was given to Violet (a mare that has won more first prizes than any perhaps in New Zealand) with two of her progeny. Mr Robert Davie was the principle prize-taker in the draught horse class. in all the other classes of horses the only exhibit from the district worth special mention was Mr A. Macdonald’s hunter, Brilliant. The Hunter class was the poorest we have ever seen in Timaru. Mr Macdonald’s horse was a splendid one, and wellmerited the first prize which he got. PIGS. The show of pigs this year was the best ever seen in Timaru. There were 27 exhibits, and the nearest approach to this was in 1872, when the number was 26. This appears to indicate an increasing interest, in the pig industry. Farmers are evidently beginning to find out that nothing pays so well, and hence the evident popularity of the “ unclean animal.” The competition lay between mo N.Z.M.P. Company, and Mess -- J. Rowe and Exley, and the only honors brought to this district were two “ highly commendeds ” won by Mr P. Wareing. IMPLEMENTS. In this very important class there is always much dissatisfaction with the judges’ awards, and many hold that Reid and Gray get more than their due share of the prizes. The result this year was that competition was nearly limited to Reid and Gray, other makers declining to exhibit as they do not consider they receive justice. The only exhibitors in the ploughs, harrows, and sowers against Reid and Gray were P. and D, Duncan, of Christchurch, but as usual they only got second places. The show of reapers and binders were excellent, and among the exhibits was a new one called “ The Champion,” shown by Messrs Maclean and Stewart. Wonderful are the virtues the man in charge of it claimed for this machine, but as the judges declined to award any prizes it would not be fair that we should single out any one machine as better than the others. The judges decided not to give prizes until a public trial of the machines had been held. Mr John Craig, of Terauka, exhibited a highly-finished farm dray, but the exhibit of Reid and Gray won first prize, while he only got second, Mr Alfred Colville, of Milford, exhibited < a corn screen, which he has greatly improved since last year, and deserved recognition, but the prizes were awarded to English and American goods. In the carriage department Messrs J. Birratt and J. Fraser, coach builders, Timaru, secured all the prizes. DAIRY PRODUCE. In this department Mrs P. Dalton as usual carried off the largest number of prizes. She got two second, one first, and Mr Ballantyne’s special prize of £5 5s for the best sample of batter made suitable for export. Mrs Wm. Grant also first prize for the best 31bs of butter without salt, Mr Bowman, of the Temuka Butter Factory, got highly commended and commended for his butter, and his cheese took first and second prizes being altogether without a rival in the class. Miss M. Wright’s exhibit of powdered butter was highly commended, and the other prize winners were Mrs J. Goldie, Mrs Dawe, and Mrs M. Acre. BEES. In this class Colonel Bayley took all before him, the only other exhibitor being Mrs Stack. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, This department was weak, a fact which is more remarkable as South Canterbury is the largest agricultural district in New Zealand. It may be there are patches of richer land, but taken all round it cannot be beaten. There were four exhibitors altogether, and not one of them hailed from this district, ■WOOL. Mr Robert Smith, of Smithfield, was the only exhibitor in this class, and he got two first and two second prizes for excellent samples. FLAX. It gave us some satisfaction to see that the Temuka Linseed Factory was represented there by samples of European and Native flax, and brought away first and second prizes. EXTRA EXHIBITS. This department showed a marked improvement, the most pleasing features of it being many colonially-made and invented articles. Perhaps amongst the most important of industries were the Woollen Factories’ exhibits, which, without exaggeration, were extremely creditable. The products of the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory, which were bought by

MR J. D. SLATER, of Sydenham House, Timaru, showed improvement, and gave evidence of great progress being made made by the Company. Their tweeds are well known, and to these they have added “silk mixtures,” worsted coatings, and other fabrics of new designs. MESSRS GABITES AND PLANTE, of “ The Corner,” Timaru, were the exhibitors of a large variety of fabrics manufactured at the Roslyn Woollen Factory, There was here a selection of goods which ought to satisfy the most fastidious, including tweeds of new and exceedingly handsome patterns, blankets, flannels, made-up clothing, etc. MESSES QTJELCH AND CO., ironmongers, Timaru, exhibited in another tent a great variety of splendid kitchen ranges, and many other articles of house and farm use. Amongst these articles were washing-wringers, mangles, and a swing churn, made especially for use in hot weather. Amongst the most remarkable of the many handsome articles in this tent was a Standard Sewing Machine, . worked by a young lady. This machine could sew ten thicknesses of any cloth, or a piece of gutter lead, as easily as a piece of silk. Anoiher machine was exhibited in this tent which was still more remarkable. It could be worked with one or two needles, and did the gathering in ladies’ dresses at the rate of 2500 stitches per minute. MESSRS PRIEST AND HOLDGATE had in the immediate vicinity a tent in which and endless variety of garden implements and other small implements were to be seen. The framing of the tent was composed of water-pipes of the firm’s own stock, ingeniously put together, and amongst the exhibits were articles of tinware, made in rhe shop recentlj 7 established by the firm on their own premises. In this tent were also Kitchen ranges', tools of every description and a most interesting collection of the firm’s

stock, including Mr Roberts’s patent sanitory system.

ACME BARB WIRE COMPANY. A considerable degree of interest was taken in this factory’s exhibits, as a new machine used in the works was kept, going, and boys were at, work putting the barbs on the wire. The factory is a local industry which promises to be very succesful. THE BELFAST MANURE was also represented on the ground by several samples in charge of Mr Rutherford.