COMPETITIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12644, 3 November 1905, Page 2

COMPETITIONS.

A W^N-GANUI TRIUMPH. The competitions tonclay began with the Victoria Cross Competition, for members of the Mounted Rifle Corps. Ibis was won by Trooper H. Beatson, o? Feildjng, Seiigt. G.K..Ranby, Feildlng, second. In the Hunters' Competition, for lady riders, Miss Campbell, of Wanganui, scored a triumph, riding tho first second, and third placed horses>^W. J. Bartlett's Utah, Mrs. D. G. Riddiford's Cinders, and her own chestnut, Trafalgar. Miss Campbell was loudly applauded. The Leaping Competition (steeplechase style), was wotf^by J. H. McNiven's Pickpocket, H. J. Cameron's Senorita second, and T. R. Taylor's Dandy third.

CATTLE. The show of cattle this year is on the whole even better than that of .last) year. The Shorthorns, as usual, headed the catalogue. The class, on the whole,- was an excellent one, and fit for exhibition anywhere. The judge, Mr. W. McKenzie, of Masterton, had a congenial task, for he_ had to differentiate between some" line classes of well shown and well conditioned animals. Similar remarks hold good in regard to tbo Herefords, which made a good showing in the judging ring. There were not large entries in the Polled Argus and Ayrshire classes, but the 1 stock shown was well up to standard, and for the most part well shown. One of the strongest sections was the pretty little Jerseys, of whLch there was quite a numerous representation. The Holstein Friesian classes also filled well, but there was not the competition in the dairying classes which is naturally looked for in the Show centre of a district like the Manawatu. Some very fine fat cattle were penned. In Shorthorns, chieT honours were divided between the Mount Herbert Estate (which appropriated both • championships) and Archdeacon Williams, who, between them, carried ott the bulk of the prizes. In Herefords, James Stuckey's bull and coav secured th"c championships, and other sucsessful exhibitors were E. Short (Waituna), Stuckey "Bros., C. and J. Levett, D P. Buchanan, G. Wheeler, and G. M. Currie. W. J. Birch (bull) and. Nelson Brss. t^>w) shaded the championships in the Polled Angus, and, AvitbT the executors of the late J. T. Dalrymple, monop_olised the prizes. In Ayrshires, championships fell to Slack Bros (bull) and J. Kyle (cow), who also appropriated the majority of other prizes. J. A. McCrea was responsible for the Jersey cilampions, the other principaT prize-takers being A. Buchanan, S. R. Lancaster, and Paul Hunter. F. Moore (Kai Iwi) showed champion fat bullock, and also carried off threo other prizes. McHardy Bros, were next most successful exhibitors in fat stock.

SHEEP. Tho outstanding feature of the latest improvements effected by the Association on its grounds is the large pavilion er.ected for the sheep section. Sheepbreeders are delighted with this forward step, * and it marks a new departure in the colony for an Association to provide a roof to cover sheep. The pavilion, which has attracted so much attention, is about 100 feet long by 40 feet in breadth, with a glass and sbeet iron roof, supported on stout wooden pillars, the whole structure being built to last. Under the pavilion tho pens appear as usual. The Linoolns and Southdowns have been given the first experience of showing under the pavilion. In conversation with a prominent Lincoln breeder this morning( beneath the shelter of the pavilion, a representative of this paper was re-

quested by the breeder to make a note or'^ sheepbreeders' appreciation of the Association's enterprise. "You see," said the speaker, "we can now do our Lincolns justice. With the cover of a pavilion, their long wool will appear at their best on judging day. The result for the Association will be that breeders will bo encouraged to send their best to the Show. We hope other Aasoeiations will copy the excellent example of the Manawatu Association, and trust that the latter body wili shortly have pavilion accommodation for every class of sheep." As already intimated in our columns, this latter suggestion is included in the policy of the Association for the doming year. Romney Marsh sheep were of numer-1 ous entry, and the rams were a particularly fine lot of animals, probably tho best ever shown in Palmerston. There was nothing special about the dry ewes, but of the 18-month ewes, tho judge (Mr. Alfred Matthews, of the Lower Valley, of the Wairarapa, who waa assisted by his son) grew enthusiastic, declaring them to be the finest ho had ever seen; and Mr. Matthews has seen just a few Romneys in his time. He added that sheep generally were shown in such a condition of body and wool <as to indicate that the Manawatu and West Coast had had a fairly good winter. And here again Mr. Matthews was accurate in his interpretati^a. Keen rivalry still exists between admirers and breeders of Lincoln and Romney Marsh sheep. These are the two standard breeds throughout the North Island, and if the seeker after knowledge should happen upon a breeder of Lincolns and enter into conversation on that subject, that breeder will declare with emphasis that the reason why there are 170 Romneys entered for the present Show, as against 76 Lincolns, is because the Romney Marsh "is fashionable." Well, the Romney. has been fashionable for three years, and is likely to keep well in front of popularity because of its hardiness and the success of the crossing with Lincolns. At the present time both Lincolns and Romneys sell well, and at practically level terms. "But," to quote the Lincoln breeder again, "the Lincoln is coming back to the first position as the most popular sheep. Why? Because crossbred wool is sd much in demand. And there is a reflex of this in the display of Lincolns at today's Show, in that the quality of the animals shown has never been surpassed here. How is that? Because breeders have sent in their very best animals to show visitors what the Wairarapa and Manawatu and the West Coasfc can produce in Lincolns." These1 comments agreed with the opinions of other experts. And the judge (Mr. J. B. Sutton, of Thornbury) found the Lincoln classes of so even a grade that it took a much lengthier period than usual to pick out the winners. Of the English Leicesters, Mr. H. T. Little, of Canterbury (the judge) declared the sheep to be , a good lot all through. All the placed animals were exceptionally good, and the champions had particular merit. A noticeable thing about the sheep which passed through his hands to-day was that some were shown with care and others very carelessly. Four Irish sheep, imported from County Roscommon last year by Mr. Johnston, were on exhibition to-day, ar>d attracted much attention. They were treble the size of New Zealand's ordinary sheep, and carry a great coat of wool. "They would make a grand cross," exclaimed one breeder as he stood admiring over their pens. The imported Rosoommon sheep were bred in flat country, and are unfit for hilly lands.

The following are the principal points in the prize list as far as sheep are concerned :—

Lincolns.—Perry Bios, took the two championships, and nearly all the first prizes, the .only others who secured firsts being Mr. W. H. Wybourne and the Hon. J. D. Ormond. In Romney Marsh, E. Short was the principal prize-winner. In English Leicesters S. R Lancaster, Perry Bros., and Slack Bros, divided the first honours. BorderVLeicesters.—The Hon. J. D. Orinond and Slack Bros, took the honours in this division. Shropshire Downs (in the wool), the principal winners were W. J. Birch W. A. Beecroft, W. Rayner, and Mrs. B. H. Slack. Southdown (in the wool), James Stuckey took the two championships, and Mrs. Slack was the only other winner of a first prize. Southdown (shorn), Mrs. Slack's ram, and James Stuckey's ewe won the championships. Hampshire Down (in the wool), J. ViHe was the only exhibitor. The winners of prizes for fat sheep were—W. A. Beecroft and D. Collis.

PIGS. There was nothing sensational in the pig sections. Speaking of the Show as a whole, Mr. Johnson said it was highly creditable to the Association, and to tho colony.