THE AUCKLAND SHOW.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 368, 17 November 1898, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND SHOW.

I« connection with the late show held at Auckland, the success of our Waikato stock-breeders and flock-masters has been most pronounced, and the flattering remarks made by the judges on the various classes should do much to extend the popularity of our district as a breeding centre for stock of all kinds. Light horses were not shown in quite such large numbers as on previous occasions, but a good percentage of the prizes fell to exhibits from this district, and some of the specimens were of such quality as to be capable of holdiug there own in any show ring in the colony. For many years past a gradual improvement has been wrought in the quality of our draught stock. The start in this direction was first made by the late Mr John McNicol in introducing the best sires procurable, and his efforts in this direction have been ably followed out by our leading breeder, Mr Wm. Taylor, whose stock practically cleared the board of the principal prizes in this division. In the entire championship the competition again lay between MiTaylor's Royal Conqueror, champion at Claudelands, his Better Times and*the New Zealand Land Association's General Gordon. At the local show the judge (Mr Alexander) was greatly struck with the quality of the last-named horse, but considered it was hardly fair for him to compete with the older horses, and expressed the opinion that with age, he would displace his sire to whom on that occasion he had to take second place. The judge at Auckland reversed the position, awarding the younger horse the championship, and, although Mr Taylor's horse bad to take second place, the award to his scion shows that mated with mares of the right class, he is able to transmit his good points to his stock, and the champion prize for mares also fell to a yearling daughter of Royal Conqueror, bred and owned by Mr Taylor. The Land Association and Mr Taylor were the principal exhibitors in Shorthorns, both championships being awarded to yearlings bred by Mr Wm. Taylor. The prizes in Herefords all fell to Mr R. Reynolds and Messrs Williamson Bros'., and for pedigree Polled Angus these gentlemen, with the Kereone Estate, were the largest prize-winners. With one exception, Mr C. Day swept off all the first prizes in the Jersey stock, aud also accounted for the majority of thcotherawards. Waikato stock was also well to the fore in the fat classes, and some of the exhibits would have been hard to beat. In sheep, our Lincoln breeders were not so successful as on previous occasions, but in the other classes they came well to the front, the Woodlands Estate being prominent in Lcicestcrs, Mr J. Barugh and Mr W. Allen in Romney March, Mr W. F. Burnett and Mr C. Day in Shropshires, and the Waitoa Estate in fat sheep. Mr Taylor, who was one of our largest exhibitors, bus a record that will be hard to beat, viz., out of'2s entries, he secured 3 championships, 13 firsts, 7 seconds (in four instances also first in the same class), 3 highly commendeds and 1 commended, and had only 1 exhibit unplaced. At the Waikato 4. and P. Show at Claudelands his record was an equally good one, as his stock out of 27 entries, were awarded 3 championships, 17 firsts, 6 seconds, 2 highly commendeds and 1 commended, and only 1 animal did not secure mention.