ANNUAL SHOW.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 9662, 20 October 1882, Page 2

ANNUAL SHOW.

The annual show of the above association took place on the Eacecourse Reserve yesterday, and was an unmistakei.? success, the weatherfortunately pro v- ; almost all that could be desired, the ju.i shining brightly throughout the.day, though the breeze which was blowing right across the course was perhaps a trifle too keen for the unalloyed enjoyment of the crowds of spectators who thronged the course during the afternoon. The town during the afternoon, as might be expected, was almost entirely deserted, the whole of the principal business houses being closed, employers and employed alike wending their way to the one scene of attraction, where, from the receipts taken, there must have been fully 1500 people assembled after 1 o'clook. In the earlier hours of the day there were few persons on the ground besides the judges, stewards, and those in attendance on stock. A central spot had been selected for the various pens, which were so placed as generally to show their occupants lo best advantage ; while a wooden frame with canvas roof was provided for the perishable exhibits, such as dairy produce, &o. The secretary's tent was placed in. a convenient position alongside the produce shed, and presenter) a busy scene until late on in the afternoon, when the lust awards were made in the sheep exhibits, the work of judging which class of exhibits is invariably a most onerous one for both judges and stewards. The various booths, which were owned by Messrs Morrow, Ormsbee, Coburn, and Mrs Broughton, were efficiently and satisfactorily conducted. At the Grand Stand Booth— Mr H. Morrow's — an excellent luncheon was provided, to which the stewards, judges, and others, to the number of between sixty and seventy, sat down, Mr James Aloxander occupying the chair, and the President of the Association, Mr J. Q-. Wilson, M.H.R., the vice-ohair. During the afternoon the scene was enlivened somewhat : by . the strains of the City Rifles . band, which ■ performed sonic very fine selections ■ under their pro teni. bandmaster Mr O'Hara. The judges in the various classes performed their duties with scrupulous care and fidelity, though their were not wanting some 'instances in the smaller classes where differences of opinion were found to exist as to the merits of the awardß. In the poultry class this was perhaps especially the oase, an exhibitor — Mr it. Russell — cwnplaiming that his exhibit of game houdans was judged with ordinary houdans, so losing him an. award. The receipts of the show were rather behind those of last year, notwithstanding the greater attendance of the public, the reduction in the charge of admission not being recouped by the uxtra attendance. Shortly before the proceedings terminated the booths and other properties of the association were put up to auction by Mr Liffiton, according to established custom at these shows. ' For the hurdles there was no bid ; the secretary's office fetched .£1 Is, the produce booth £5 15s, and 75 totara posts Is. ld each. The gate money amounted to .£BO ss, catalogues and entries realised £5 10s, sale of tents i>lo 18s 3d, or a total of about ,696. In the Draught Stock Class Mr W. Craig exhibited to great advantage, and was awarded first and champion prize for that grand stallion Sir Robert Bruce. Mr Craig also won the first and champion prize with the Clydesdale mare Flower, . and first and second prizes in the class for mares, four years old and upwards, with Beauty and Miss Bauker. Mr Craig was again first with his three-year-qld entire colt Nobleman. Mr Oraig was the only exhibitor in Class 23 (yearling draught filly), and was awarded first and second prizes for two very handsome 'fillies by Sir Kobert Bruce. In Class 24 Mr Craig was again the only competitor, and gained first and second prizes with two nice draught fillies by Sir William Wallace. With the exception of the show of draught stallions Mr Craig had almost a walkover, but that does not in the least detract from the high position he attained in the prize-list, as it is generally acknowledged that there is nothing in the draught line in this district fie to be shown against Mr Craig's draught stock, Sir Robert Bruce being really a magnificent stamp of a Clydesdale horse, and one that would be hard to beat in any part of the colony. Next to him came Clansman and Lord Lome, and the latter ran Clansman very close for second honours, and both are horses that will bear criticism at the hands of the best of judges of draught stock. .Lord Derby, Pretender, and Lord Clyde, although they failed to gain a prize, secured many admirers during the course of . the day, and are each splendid types of this class, and creditable alike to their owners and the district. Mr Gr. D. Kirkwood gained a first prize with* a powerful draught gelding (subject to any trial), Messrs Baker and Allison being second. Mr Craig was again to the fore with his splendid pair of draught mares Kate and Jess, which gained first prize as best pair of draught horses for farm purposes. Mr G. D. Kirkwood also exhibited a pair of serviceable draught geldings in this class. The exhibits of thoroughbred stock, with the exception of the covering stallions, was very poor indeed, showing that the breeding of thoroughbred stock has not received the same amount of attention in the district that it has in other parts of New Zealand. In the class for mares four years old and upwards, only Mr Lethbridge's Foam, by Ravensworth — Maid of the Mist, and Mr J. Heslop's Sweetsauce, by Cassivalaunus — Sweet Lip 3, were exhibited, and, although the former (Foam) was in rather rough condition, she easily gained first prize. Mr John Fleetwood's Glenavy, by Traducer — Sweetmeat, had a walk-over for the prize given for mares (in foal) of any age. Mr J. Abbot exhibited a very nice yearling colt by Barbarian, out of Phyllis, and was awarded a first prize. Mr T. A. Bryce's two-year-old colt Soio, by Painter — Candour, was very much admired, and looks every inch a gentleman. He, although the only exhibit in his class, was deservingly awarded a first prize. Mr Craig exhibited two nice fillies from his mare Waipuna, yearling by Patriarch, and a two-year-old by Prickwillow, and was awarded a first prize for each. Marcs of any age, Class C. Stud Book, had two entries, Mr J. Abbot's Phyllis, by Glaucus, with a very nice foal at foot by Barbarian, and Mr W. Craig's Wai puna, by Peter Flat, in foal to Don Juan. The exhibition of thoroughbred stallions was watched with considerable interest, including as the; list did such sires as Hippocampus.,., Cap-a-Pie, Patriarch, Dilke, and Barbarian. Each horse had ovidently been carefully attended to, and each looked their level best. Hippocampus, who was awarded the first and champion prize, and also Mr Drew's cup, value £5 os, appeared to great advantage, his great propelling power, beautiful action, and conformation, striking the eye both of judges and tho general public. Th Auckland Stud Company's Australian bred sire, Cap-a-Pie stood next in public estimation, and although only awarded second honours he had plenty of admirers, lie is a spleudiil-topped. horse, and is in >

magnificent condition, and appeared to great advantage. -, Patriarch also had many admirers, and looked what be has proved himself to be, every inch a racehorse, he is scarcely of such robust constitution as th« first and second prize horses, but he is undoubtedly a stoutly bred one. Barbarian looked well, and in many points resembles his sire Traducer ; he has the same powerfull quarters, and strong loins, and »s - -- a son of the prince of sires he should receive attention at the hands of breeders. Dilke looked fairly well, but although a well-bred horse he is not a taking one, stiil he may leave some firstrate stock which, is one of the best traits of a sire. . . "..-'.'. j" l.i". Under the heading of miscellaneous horses came weight-carrying hacks ;ng to 16st. This prize was won by a wiry 4 •.-.■ " looking grey gelding owned by Mr J. •< McLennan, John l?leetwood's St. Duri-stan-being awarded second prize. .The:-'' latter is an active sort of a horse, and desiiedly up to the weight specified. The;other entries were Mr Bremmer's '- Corsair, Mr Greig's Yankee and Dinah, Mr Abbot's Zulu, and Mr F. R. Jackson's Auckland. Class 23, light- carrying hacks up to 12st; brought forth four entries, and Mr W. G. Watt's Fathom, by Ravensworth, ' was awarded first prize ; Messrs Baker I , and Allison's gelding by May King, second. Sunray, by Day Dawn, and , Dark'e were the other entries. The ladies' hack competition excited ' considerable interest, perhaps as much on account of the fair equestriennes as ' ' the animals upon which they, were ' mounted. Mr John Heslop's Messenger, ridden by Mrs Heslop, was this year ' beaten by Miss Imlay's chestnut gelding, ridden by Mrs W. Paterson. The other entries were Mr B. Pharazyn's Ruby, , ! ridden by Mrs Lomax, Mr T. Ham- : mond's Rangatira, ridden by Miss Hammond, and Mr Bremer's Zillah. The ladies handled their steeas in. a, very artistic style, and were the subject; of much admiration. '„'"'■' In! the single-carriage horse class, a gelding, the property of Miss Imlay, gained first prize, and Mr Heslopjs Rose seoond prize. A number of exceed-, ;. ingly handsome ponies were exhibited,' including Mr W. H. Watt's pony Cupid -i' (Ist prize), Mr W. F. Russell's Vernon, Mr : : Lethbridge's Johnny Gilfin, and a number of other interesting little specimens ■of horseflesh. The prizes were about' equally divided amongst them, as will be seen onreference to the prize list." ."'"" The following horses we're entered for the hunters' competition : — Mr W.. H, : . ; Stent's Hinu,Mr W. McKenzie's General, '. Dr Connolly's Dhudeen, Mr W. Keith's r Dick, Mr G-. McLeod's Chandler,- Mr W. T. Owen's Kedstait, Mr W. .G: Watt's Fashion, Mr J. Fleetwood's St Dunstan, and Mr T. Hammond's Kan> gataira. The jumps over which the ■ horses were tried were the stone wall; the water leap, and a flight of hurdles' 3ft 9in high. Chandler, ridden by B.. F . Watt,' was the first to lead off. He '! ' jumped bapUy at the stone wall, .and | : , also seemed rather afraid of the crowd '."- at the water, but got over safely, and afterwards flew the hurdle in good style. The General followed, and took the wall ', cleverly, but fell on landing on the other side of the water, aud, as he evidently- . injured himself, he ■ was not afterwards persevered with. Bradlaugh, ridden by' John Higgie, performed next, and being" carefully ridden he jumped very nicely. Fashion, ridden by her owner, came next, and took her jumps hi a clean flying style, clearing the water jump in her - stride. Himi (owner up) followed, and jumped clever enongh, although not so pretty as some who preceded him. Dhudeen, ridden by Dr Connolly, was the next to display his jumping abilities, and took the various jumps' in bis usual style. Redstart, a roan mare ridden by her owner, followed, and although evidently rather green at the business, took all the leaps in good style. A. Keith, on Dick, came next aud jumped nicely, taking matters very comfortably. gSt. Dunstan, ridden by J. Bay, was the last of the bunch, but although Bay managed to get him through, it was evident that. the horse was rather green for a competition of this sort. After the various horses had gone through a like performance a second time the judges reduced them to six — Bradlaugh, llinu, Fashion, Dick, Dhudeen, and Bedstart, and the halfdozen were sent over the course a second time. The result was that Bradlaugh and Hinu were returned first and second respectively, and thus* concluded the hunters' competition, in "which some ,„ first rate jumping and good horsemanship was displayed. „ . • Under the heading of cattle the entries were within two" o.f the number of last year, while the quality of the stock was ' • generally equal and in some respects ' superior to that of lastyear. For in-" stance in the case of bulls, the splendid animals which came to the fore last year and previously, Mr McLennan'a ! Double Brunswick aud Firby, while still , taking a frort place, uad to yield first' place to a new-comer, Messrs Arnndel and Boss's Sir Hercules, which was awarded Ist and champion prize ; while Mr Owen Hawes' Springfield Duke, and , Mr G. T. Lethbridge's Invincible Ist • and Kingcote so won upon the judges as to call forth the awards of very highly commended, highly commended, and commended- respectively in Class A. ■ The whole of the animals exhibited in this class were really splendid, and . elicited very favourable comment from breeders, the prize-takers being espe- , cially admired. In Class B Mr Lark- . worthy's Umbelini, which was awarded ' a first prize last year, was again successful; the second place being taken by Mr H. A. Owen's Premier ; Mr J. Abbot was also an exhibitor in this class, with his bull Mandarin 3rd. In Class C there was no entry deserving of special mention. In Class DMr W. Craig ■ carried off lirst prize with his Duke of Waiora, and Messrs Baker and Allison second ; with a roan ; Mr Craig having two other fine animals in the class, and Mr G. Y. Lethbridge his bull Amutiti. In Alderney b-iUs Mr James Booth took a first prizu ; there were, however, no other exhibitors. The female animals were not equal in point of merit with the bulls, and the judges, who were most painstaking and careful, had some difficulty in making several of their awards. In, Class F the judges were divided in opinion as to which animal was deserving of first prize, and Mr Owen. Hawes was called upon to act as referee. Finally, Mr G. Y. Lethbridge's Formosa 2nd was awarded Ist prize ;. Mr William Craig's Duchess of Wangaehu, 2nd ; and Mr G. Y. Lethbridga's Formosa 3rd highly commended. In the remaining classes Messrs Craig and G. Y. Lethbridge pretty equally divided thehonours as prize-takers, Mr Larkworthy, Mr Booth, and Mr J. Abbot being also prize-winners, Mr Larkworthy's Champion Charmer beiug awarded the champion prize, as well as first prize in Class H. The sheep exhibits were nearly equal in point of numbers to those of last year, and if anything superior in respect to the weight and quality generally of wool. In Liucolns the principal prizetakers were Mr W. V* ilson, Messrs D. and W. Blair, and Mr James Dickie. Mr Wilson carried' off the Ist champion prize for Lincoln ram, and Messrs D. and W. Blair for Lincoln ewe. Messr Baker and Allison, Robert Hair, aud Kobort Wilsoii were also among the prize-winners iv Lincoliis. la Leicostera

Mr W?-iS.:--Wa^w ; as : ~the principal prize;taker,, Messrs^.Craig, Moore and Currie, and- Ji/Stqne, also taking prizes with some fine exhibits. In cross-breJs Messrs D. and, iW.' Blair and T: Thatcher - were the only exhibitors, the former taking;four first and two second prizes, and the ;latter,' who competed in two classes .ionlyY taking one first' and two secondiprizes. i Messrs W. J. Willis and ]?. E.. Jackson- were the only exhibitors of Roinney Marsh sheep, the former gentleman securing a large proportion of the prizes; In : long wools Mr James Dickie 5 secured first prizes in Classes Y3 and Yi'for ram and ewe hoggets respectively,'\while in . Classes 'Y 1 and Y2 Messrs.. .Baker and Allison secured first prize for. hjngwool ram and ewe respec- • tively.f-^Mr,,.!?. E. ; Jackson's cup, value £10 lOsy-for the, best pen of 5 ram hoggets, was awarded to Mr W. Wilson, and Mr Mackersey's £5 5s cup, was awarded to Mr James Dickie whose pen of 5 longwool ewe hoggets was considered the best.; ' The display of pigs at this Bhow, as ■ at all ;previous ■ exhibitions, was small but good; Mr Robert Hair carries all before Tiim, his Dickering boar and sow being a' high 'order, of merit. The sow, fourteen months old, was exhibited last year as ,'a suckling. In the class for bow anil litter. Mr Hair was again successful^; with: a fine Essex sow and a half-bred litter. The exhibits in this class, however, were far too small to do justice -to the resources of the district. k< The Ofowl coops were ranged along ■ the outside of the produce tent, and attracted throngs of admiring visitors all day, the birds being as a ruld far over the average, 1 and constituting one of the most valuable and interesting features Of ''the show- Chiefly noticeable were Mr; Maclean's' black Spanish, which "'were, really 'noble birds, undoubte'dly'the .finest in the exhibition, and incomparably ahead of any others in the], iime, class. Mr Lightband's Houdans < and Langshangs were good Bound fowls,,' and Mr J. R. Russell's game Houdans were undoubtedly the finest amongt the extra exhibits. They were shown a ■ few weeks ago at Wellington, and took the first prize, but yesterday they were unfortunately classed not as game' but as ordinary Houdans/- and • consequently took no prize. ''This- was the more to be regretted' as the birds were highly bred and in good. condition. Under, the head of "poultry "'must be included a pair of handsdme white cockatoos sent in by Mr J. J/ Crawford, though unclassified and not for competition. It cannot 'honestly be said that the produce exhibits yesterday were worthy either .of the association or of the dißtriot. ' The commodious building erected to hold the exhibits was more than half empty;' but, on the. other hand, what the show ■ did contain was of a high .order of excellence. The butter was toroughly good, and hailing, evidently, >m model "dairies ; so that it was no wonder ,'that the judges (three of the most experienced men to be found to deal with the subject) had long, and anxious debate upon it. In the end, however, Mrs John Heslop -" swept the board" in all the classes, and this, we believe, for the third year in succession. The special prize for the best collection of bacon fell to Mr T. D. Cummins, amongst whose exhibits was a well cured complete pig, entire even to the ring in bis nose,, and bred, we understand, by Mr Eobert Hair, whose fame in connection with' the porcine species seems to be well established. The first prize for a side of' bacon was awarded to Messrs - Baker and Allison, and a better or more toothsome looking sample of bacon we could not see or wish to taste. The cheeses exhibited were very few, but all thoroughly sound and good flavoured. We repeat, however, that the produce . ■ tent was very unworthy of a district like Wanganui. There was. little to call for remark in \fcjhe exhibits for grain, &c, and the ■^judges - had very little difficulty in dealing with them. We noticed a good sound sample cf that useful American commodity buckwheat, shown by Mr T. Ellis, of ,the Goat Valley. It is a pity that this species of grain is not more cultivated,. in, the neighbourhood. Mr F. Whitlock had the field to himself in sauces and. pickles, and contributed several varieties, for all . of which thosn who appreciate compounds of good vegetables and pure malt vinegar will know that Mr Whitlock fully deserved his prize.■ ■ ■ i-• As usual at Wanganui shows the classes for dogs were numerous well filled (with some exceptions), and really interesting. Aud, just as usual, xhe judges had ticklish duties to perform, and more perhaps than in the case of any other class on the ground were the decisions :. questioned and protested against, j 'Many of the best animals shown 'yesterday' weref old friends, having figured, sometimes as prizetakers, in shows of . past years. In th* English ' Setter Class the judges appear to have 'simply " highly commended " the only dog which professed to be purebred, theresult being that Mr Lightband, its, owner, entered a protest against the two animals to whom prizes were award. The protest will be decided in the course of a day or two, but we believe., that, whatever the pedigree of Mr Harle's Sam and Jess may be, there is no doubt as to the purity of the blood of _£^Mr Lightbahd's Eimu. Mr R. W. " >< *'Littlewoba?B Juno again secured leading honours 'amongst English pointers, the iy coarseness , of nose and other features "N placing the other dogs in the same class •; at a lower level. Mr Amesbury's Turk, which was first in the' Sheep Dog Class, is a really beautiful anii intelligent creature, and the judges could have had little doubt about its merits. It took first prize last year, and a full sister occupied the same proud position the year before last. ' In the' Bull Terrier Class, many persons expressed wonder, that Mr: T. Gardiner's brindled dog Tiger was passed over without even mention, but there is no disputing that > Mr Ashforth's " Snap " isa fine speci- ■, men of its class. In Spaniels there was ~. t again, very keen competition, and very a . general satisfaction was felt that Mr J. t Paul's beat|a|tilly - marked black and \ white Dasb?[tppk the. first prize. The • ' owner of the Sussex Spaniel Shot, which took a second prize last year against some of the very dogs exhibited yesterday, felt aggrieved that it was not even honourably mentioned, and lodged a ' protest, which was ruled to be informal. j Shot, though decidedly inferior to Mr i Paul's dog, deserved recognition in'pre- ' ference to the others which the judges seem to have taken a fancy to. In the class for Greyhounds Mr Maclean's Duke was adjudged to be first, and Mr W. Kirkwood's Lion (a noble dog) had to be content with a second place ; but there was little to choose between them, and other judges ,jnight fairly have reversed their position. I only other animal in this departi - ment of the show calling for special !K remark was Mr S. Foreman's Bully, a ' , pretty fox terrier, nearly white. Upon 1 the whole it may be said that the exhij % bition of dogs was interesting and successV I ful, and would no doubt have attracted ■'■ ' even more attention had they been ' placed in the saddling paddock or some '! ' spot less bleak and inconvenient than the * , open racecourse. . J The display of farm implements and '■i other kinds of machinery was remarkably 3 fineVand seemed to excite more genuine <r study and attention than any othei

branches of the show. Most prominent on the ground were Clayton and Shuttleworth's thrashing machine, worked by a 6-horse power portable steam engine, and exhibited by Messrs Drummond and Alexander*. [ Steam was, got up, and these intricate machines 'were pat into operation yesterday, ' arid their movements eagerly scanned by hundreds of people. In fact, Messrs Drummond and Alexander's exhibits were deserving of patient study all round, the more especially as, in the case particularly of the ploughs, harrews, and chaffcutters the colony has reason to be proud that they have been turned out by a New Zealand firm — Messrs Eeid and* Gray, of Dunedin. Mr Ellis had on the ground his small and large churns, and showed for the first time in public a new patent farm harrow. This implement (which attracted great attention) is a flexible wooden structure, with a sod -cutter attached. There are three skeaths to each harrow, and the sod-cutter is easily removable. The object of the combination of harrow and cutter seems to be the proper amalgamation of the soil with the vegetable matter. Mr Holcroft had a large and varied collection of machines, Yankee notions being well represented. A large number of prizes fell to his lot, and deservedly so. Amongst the exhibits we noticed a triple-furrow plough, the only one la the show. Mr D, Murray was strongly represented; towering above the show yard being his windmill, which, however, unfortunately met with an accident in the afternoon, and ceased to revolve. The breeze blowing during the day showed the ease and practicability of the machine. Mr Murray also exhibited a Speedy's patent wool-press, which was narrowly inspected by a good maDy persons, and a Bertram's patent flax maohine, which deserved more attention than it appeared to receive. Mr Murray's three specimens of garden chairs wero also much admired, and many should be the business orders received by him in consequence. The articles locally manufactured by Mr J. Buck, of St. Hillstreet, were worthy of high praise, and Wanganui can evidently boast of possessing at least one cooper fully up to his work. The oval and round tubs were strong and beautifully finished. A novelty, in the shape of a bee-hive of peculiar principle, was shown by the maker and inventor, Mr R. Sharpe, and not the least satisfactory element was its cheapness. Mr Sharpe had the pleasure to book several orders on the ground for his beehive. Bofore leaving the implements we must not overlook the collection of drays shown by Mr Gavin Hamilton, all of them of a solid and durable character, worthy of the reputation of the establishment they emanated from. The display of harness was exceedingly limited, , Mr Kitchen being the sole exhibitor. His articles were creditable specimens of local manufacture, a lady's doeskin side-saddle particularly attracting our attention. In the course of the afternoon the competition for the best-shod horse took place, Messrs T. Hamilton, W. Armstrong, and R. Shannon ■ entering the lists. The contest was keen, but in the end Mr Hamilton was decided the winner both as to the draught horses and the thoroughbreds. The following is the prize list : —