TIMARU A. & P. SHOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2418, 29 October 1892, Page 3

TIMARU A. & P. SHOW.

In our last issue wo gave the most extended report of the list of prizes awarded at the above show last Wednesday, and consequently had to hold over our general comments on the exhibits. We did this because we have noticed that other papers have been giving orlv very cramped reports of the show lately, and we decided to make two parts of it, and give a full account of the great event of the year in South Canterbury. Looking at the show from the number of exhibits point of view, we regret to say that it was not a success. In many of the classes there was a great falling off, while some classes were not represented at all. The total number of exhibits last year was 628, and this year 588, or a falling off of 45, but this would not have been so noticeable only that the great falling off was in THE SHEER. This department has always been the feature of the show, but this year it was veiy weak, the falling ofi being 84 exhibits. When it is remembered that one exhibit may consist of any number of sheep, from one to twenty, one can easily see that the 84 exhibits may represent several hundred sheep. The show of sheep was therefore far from what might have been expected, and this, we believe, is attributable to the fact that Mr A. M. Clark and Mr W, Grant did not show, owing to having been displease I with the way they were treated last year. The short facts of the case are these : In the catalogue of last year the society offered a prize of £3 3s for “ the best pen of ten fat wethers or maiden ewes fit for freezing, to be shown in the wool.” This is the language of the catalogue. The National Mortgage and Agency Company also offered a special prize of £5 5s for the best pen of twenty fat sheep suitable for export. Now Messrs Clark and Grant entered for these prizes, and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the catalogue showed their sheep in the wool. They, however, were not awarded the prizes; which were given to shorn sheep. On the ground that the catalogue specified sheep were to be shown in the wool, they objected to the prizes being awarded to them, and hence, we believe,the reason they did not exhibit this year. In sheep alone these two exhibitors represented last year close on 70 exhibits, so that accounts for almost all the falling oil. However, it is very probable that good will come out of this. Some of the large land-owners appeared to be rather ashamed of the show, and we have heard it whispered amongst them that it was their duty to help it better than they have done in the past. So fur as we could learn, there are several of them determined to do so, and consequently we look forward to next year’s show being the best yet ever held in the district. That, we are in a position to state, was the determination a good many of those in a position to do so arrived at last Wednesday, and we are inclined to think they will adhere to it. The committee have, we believe, recommended that in future all freezers shall be shown in the wool, so that there will be no further dispute over that point. In fine combing merinos this year, there was a falling off of 16 exhibits, and the competition lay between Messrs Hoare (of Raincliff), Gideon Rutherford, and A. B, Smith. The first-named exhibitors showed some splendid sheep, and carried off the great majority of the prizes, but the championship fell to n splendid ewe belonging to Mr A. B. Smith. Mr J. D. Richards, who at present manages Raincliff, may be congratulated on the success of his exhibits. In slnng combing merinos the numbers were even with those of last year, and the quality was good, but Messrs McMaster had practically everything to themselves. In this department Mr C. G. Tripp has for several years been very successful, winning several first prizes and championships, but this year he had to feel contented with a second prize and two highly coxnmendeds. The weather has recently been very cold and wet, and the sheep were not iu the condition of the previous year. Mr Tripp’s grand old champion ram was passed oyer with a highly commended, after haying won the belt three years in succession; but this is only the fate of all champions. For a pen of five young rams he got second prize, and highly commanded for five ewes under 18 mouths old. In English Leicesters there was a falling off of 32 exhibits, and the competition lay between Messrs Mawson Bros,, E. Kelland, and A. B. Smith. Mr Holland got first prize for almost everything he showed. The Border Leicesters showed an increase of two exhibits, although Mr Murdoch, last year’s largest exhibitor, was conspicuous by his absence, and the competition lay between the N.Z. and A. L. Co. and Messrs Little Bros, and A. B. Smith. Messrs Little Bros, took the best of the prizes, as well as the championshipIn the Lincolns, Romney Marsh, and extra exhibits, the Land Company had the show all to themselves. Taken all round, the quality of the sheep, though good, v/as not equal to last year, ftnd the general opinion was that the cold season had a great deal to do with it. CATTLE. The only thing we deem worthy of notice iu this class is that Mr J. B Wareing brought a few prizes to Temuka,' but he had no one to compete against. HORSES.

The Clydesdale class in this department had live exhibits more than last year, and when Mr .Rhodes’ Bonny Breast Knot got nothing better than highly commended, and his full brother, Mr Twomoy’s Banker, was not noticed, we may safely conclude that quality as well as quantity was present. It is, of course, very little use to find fault with the decision of the judges now, but, notwithstanding this, there were many who were of opinion that these two horses did not get fair play. They are two beautiful horses, they were in good condition, they came of a line of prize winner's, as well as being prize winners themselves, and that they were passed over did not meet general approbation. Mr James Austin came well to the front in this class, securing several first and second prizes, ami narrowly escaped getting the champion prize, which went to J. R. Mitchell. Mr Alexander McKenzie’s yearling colt, by Craigiovar, carried off first honours in his class in competition with five good colts, and a second prize went to a yearling filly belonging to the same owner. Messrs Austin and McKenzie are the principal breeders of the district now, and have _ in late years sustained its credit well. Mr W. bnelh of Rangitata Island, also carried of! second prize in the three-year-old gelding class. In the lighter class of horses this district was not bo well represented as in other departments of the show, and the only prizes were won by Mr Deßonzy, ami Messrs Luvegrove Bros. The district ought to have done better. It is

the finest in the colony, and it .show,', great lack of enterprise that it is so badly represented. nous. There was nearly twice as many dogs exhibited this year as last year, but as in other departments this district was not represented by prize winners. nos. Two solitary boars put iu au appearance, and got first and second prizes. Thee was a falling off of 40 entries in pigs alone. DAIRY PRODUCE. In this there was a large increase, the entries last year being 25, and this year 40. The quality, too, was excellent, and this district contributed fairly towards it, Mrs Dalton, as usual, coming well out of it. Mrs Dalton took one first prize, and Mrs Frew two seconds. In former years Mrs Frew has been more successful, and won first prizes, not only in Timaru but in several other shows. CHEESE. This was a poor show, and with all the butter and cheese factories the district was entirely unrepresented. CUBED AND PRESERVED MEATS. The best display of bacon we have seen in Timaru was exhibited, and almost all the prizes came to this district. Mr D. McCallum won all before him until he came into competition with Mr Opie, of Winchester, who took two first prizes. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. A single sack of potatoes exhibited by Mr Greenaway, of Orari, saved the honor of this district in the .agricultural department. Mr Greenaway has won first prize three years running in potatoes, and it may be interesting to some people to know that he has some of the same kind for sale for seed. MACHINERY.

There was a splendid show of machinery of all kinds, and the reapers and binders competed keenly for public favor. Messrs Beid & Gray made a splendid show of all kinds of farming implements, amongst which was' the Mercer reaper and binder,

which works altogether without canvass and was much admired. Ploughs, seedsowers, chaffcuttors, and all kinds of farm implements were there in great variety, and made the biggest show on the ground. The Massey-Harris new open-back reaper and binder attracted great attention. It was driven by steam, and working all the time putting through very strong great sheaves and tieing them with unerring regularity. The only machine on the ground was bought by Messrs Matthews and Trezise, but several orders wre booked. This is a combination of the Brantford and Massey, and the frame is so constructed that there are no joints at the corners. The main wheel which drives all is so constructed that it can be tightened or loosened as it wears, or according to the weather. The machine is constructed for long or short crops, as owing to the open back it can take in either, and new attachments have been invented which prevents, so the experts say, baby sheaves. Mr D. Henry is agent for Temuka. The Walter A. Wood, which was run by Mr Maclean, erstwhile the genial expert of the Massey machine, claims to have been greatly improved. The chain drive has been adopted on this machine instead of the spur gear, and the shafting runs in ball-bearing swivel brass boxes on the main frame. The packers are so adjusted that they cease working while the sheaf is being tied, and so there is no danger of any of the grain being threshed out. Messrs Booth & Macdonald also had a large show of implements, amongst which the spading harrows were conspicuous. This is a very formidable implement, and bears a resemblance to the disc harrows, the chief difference being that instead of discs a large number of spades keep constantly revolving and tearing up the ground. Messrs Priest & Holdgate, of Timaru, had a large number of exhibits, foremost amongst which was the old and favorite reaper and binder the McCormick. The new McCormick has not yet come to hand, the vessel having the machines on board being stuck at Dunedin for a’ out a fortnight and unable to get up to port to discharge her cargo. The machine has been improved on, more room having been given in the elevators, the canvass runs on wood guides, and the machine is strengthened all round. Messrs Priest & Holdgate also showed Howard’s digging ploughs, which are, we learn, becoming popular, besides some Planet Junior tools, and a beautiful road daisy cart. This is a very neat vehicle, and ought to become very popular, as the price is very low, being only about £l2Mr W. E. Brumby, who has bought the business recently carried on by Mr Carston, of Winchester, had two wellmade farm drays and a splendidly-finished dog-cart on the ground. The Buckeye Harvester Co. had a frameless binder, a low-down binder, and a light mower in the show. The mower has been improved as regards the driving rod, and the lowdown and frameless binders have undergone several improvements in the raising and binding gear. In the frameless binder all the gear is inside the main wheel. Mr James Findlay, of Temuka, showed a Deeriug Junior steel binder, and attracted a good deal of attention. In this rocking supports for the binder have been put, and this does away with friction, and makes the binder easier to move. Another feature is the sheafaamm, whiph js attached to the binder, and moyes wifh it. We loam that Mr Findlay sold three machines on the ground. Amongst the novelties was an invention for protecting horses from the hot (iy. The theory is that the fly lodges its eggs on the horse and oapses itch, and when the animal licks itself with its tongue it swallows the eggs. Messrs Minchin A O’Hara have invented a headgear which enables the horse to feed, but will not allow it to bite itself, and consequently it cannot swallow the eggs. The arrangement is very simple and very cheap, and if tfio theory is correct it ought to bo efficacious.