MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8362, 19 February 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

TWENTIETH ANNUAL SHOW. The twentieth annual show of the Masterton A. and P. Association will be held on the Showgrounds to-day and to-morrow. The gathering promises to be a success. The entries total 1685, as compared with 1,716 for last year, the decrease being attributed to the serious drought in the early part of the season. The entries in cattle total 178, which is an increase of four on last year. There are 18 entries in the purebred Shorthorn class, as against 25 last year. The principal exhibitors are Messrs W. C. Buchanan, Fred Moore and the Trustees late D. McMaster. Grade Shorthorns show a falling off of six as compared with last year. Messrs John McMaster, W. E. Bidwill, C. F. Vallance, W. Mace, and W. and H. Beetham are among the exhibitors in this class. Mr A. McLean, of Hastings, will judge the Shorthorns. In purebred Herefords there are nine entries, the exhibitors being Messrs G. F. Moore, J. McGregor, and R. McGregor. As has been the case for three years past, no entries have been received in the Polled Angus class. In Ayrshires and Jerseys good competition is promised. The entries total 12§and 25, respectively, and the exhibitors include such wellknown breeders as Messrs Slack Bros and S. Standen in Ayrshires, and Messrs Paul Hunter, S. R. Lancaster and W. H. and A. E. Booth in Jerseys. In the Holstein-Friesian class there are three entries as compared with five last year. The fat cattle give promise of being the strongest among the cattle classes at the show. There are 58 entries, an increase of 24 on last year, but a decrease of 37 compared with 1905. Messrs W. C. Buchanan, W. H. Beetham, G. F. Moore, W. E. Bidwill and W. Mace are among the chief exhibitors in this class. In the sheep classes the total number of entries received (589) show a decrease of 48 when compared with last year. In the Lincoln class there are 26 entries as compared with 38 last year, 34 in 1905, and 36 in 1904. In Leicesters there should be keen competition, entries having been received : from such prominent breeders as Messrs W. Perry, S. R. Lancaster, Slack Bros., A. Hardy, and D. J. Cameron. This year there are 53 exhibits in English Leicesters, while last year there were 54 and the year previous there were 96. Mr J. Sowden, of Canterbury, will judge the Leicester classes. Romney Marsh still maintain their popularity with Wairarapa breeders, but the exhibits this year are not quite so numerous as last year. This year they number 132, as compared with 146 in 1906, 97 in 1905, and 94 in'l9o4. Mr P. Mungavin is the judge, and his task of awarding the prizes should not be an easy one. The exhibitors in this class include Mesrs Gray Bros., W. Rayner, W. B. Allen, McGregor Bros., E. Short, W. H. Buick, and Mrs B. H. Slack. Another class which is well filled is the Southdowns. The entries received during the last four years are as follow:—1907, 63; 1906, 76; 1905, 96; 1904, 155. Mr J. Stuckey, a prominent exhibitor of former years, is not exhibiting this year. Entries have been received this year from Mrs B. H. Slack, S. R. Lancaster, J. McGregor and H. J. Dagg. In this class Mr J. Stuckey offers a prize of £lO for the best Southdown ram under 21 months, to be won three times (not necessarily in succession) Last year Mrs B. H. Slack was the winner. There is an increase in the number of entries received in the Shropshire class this year, the total being 81 as against 65 for 1906. Mr T. Brooks, of Canterbury, will judge the Shropshires. In the freezing classes there are 83 entries as compared with 90 entries in 1906, 71" in 1905, and 55 in 1904. In the farmers' classes there are 21 entries as against 30 last year, 27 in 1905,. and 37 in 1904. Fat sheep exhibits number 45. Last year there were 44 entries, an increase of nine on the preceding year. In dogs there are 45 entries. Mr Paul Hunter, of Porangahau, will be the judge. The dog classes will not be judged until to-morrow. l&The entries in pigs total 54, as against 47 for last year and 49 for 1905. Messrs Slack Bros., T. P. Lett, E. White and W. Morris are the principal exhibitors. Mr J. O. Batchelor will judge the pigs. I All the'sections in the horse classes are well filled, and there should be keen competition. The entries this year total 299, as compared with 358 last year. / The public ' are well catered for lon both days of the show in the matter of competitions, for which the|entries total 161, being an increase of 50 on last year The competitions to-day will be as follow: Trotting horse in saddle, pony jumping competition (for which there are 26 entries), maiden jumping competition, mounted infantry competition, and hunters' leaping competition for the Buick Memorial Challenge Cup, for which fourteen entries have been received. The principal competition, to-morrow,- will be the champion jump. Nineteen wellknown hunters have entered for the competition, which should prove of special interest to the public.