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The Royal Show at Auckland

The Dominion's classic livestock Show, the Royal Show of 1926, is now a thing of the past. For three days, 16th to 18th November inclusive, there was gathered at Auckland such a collection of the Dominion's stock as had never been assembled before. In honour of the occasion, the week ending 20th November was declared in Auckland to be “Carnival Week” and a special feature was made in the shops of New Zealand made goods. Owing to the geographical situation of Auckland, some apprehension had existed as to the advisability of holding the Royal Show in Auckland, but distance proved no deterrent to the farmer who could exhibit an animal of Royal championship class, and exhibitors from the South Island successfully competed with Northern breeders. It was authoritatively stated by Mr. Perry, President of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, that the dairy cattle exhibit was the finest yet seen in New Zealand and probably the finest ever seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

With regard to dairy stock, the total number of entries was 476, comprising 166 Jerseys, 157 Freisians, 81 Shorthorns, and 72 Ayrshires. The animals were judged on type and the butterfat record of any particular animal was not taken into account, thus a Jersey cow, which holds the Dominion record of 1,056 1/2 lbs. of butter-fat for 365 days, was not placed.

Waikato breeders are to be congratulated on their success in dairy stock.

The sheep section caused the judges a strenuous time, some of the classes being exceptionally fine. The name of the Canterbury Agricultural College figures very prominently in the list of prize winners.

The winners in the “pig” section were mostly far ahead of others in their class.

A feature of the Show was the section devoted to dogs; the exhibit proved a tremendous attraction, notably the Alsatian Wolfhounds.

The judging of the “penned” animals was practically completed on Tuesday, but ring events and competitions were reserved as attractions. People's Day, Wednesday, was declared a half holiday and the attendance at the Show was over 30,000, the gate receipts being £1,989 14s. This demonstrated that at least one advantage obtains in holding a classic event in the greatest centre of population. Vast crowds from the city were catered for by the Tramways, whilst trains conveying rural visitors were packed. Shortly after lunch, His Excellency the Governor-General decorated with Royal championship ribbons the stock which had received the judge's approval, after which the grand parade was held. This was truly a magnificent spectacle.

Then followed the jumping events, physical drill, and games by girls from the Auckland Inter-house Girls' Sports Association, an exhibition by Cadets from H.M.S. Philomel, trotting exhibition and other equestrian events.

The special features of the third day's show were the finish of the Hamilton-Auckland cycle road race and the sales of cattle and sheep.

For some days prior to the Show Remuera station was the scene of unusual animation. Practically all the exhibits were handled there. The reception of the exhibits, however, was nothing compared with the dispatch of the returned exhibits. This presented a difficult task largely owing to the fact that the destination of a great number of animals was unknown till after the sale at the Show Grounds. Thus preliminary arrangements were of little avail. The trucking of the animals started about 2 p.m. on Thursday, and at 4.30 p.m. the first special train with returned exhibits was despatched, taking stock as far north as Kaukapakapa.

A special train with stock for the Waiuku Branch left at 6.20, and a third with stock for intermediate stations to Papakura left at 7 p.m.

The Waikato stock was returned by a special train leaving Remuera at 9.30 p.m., 59 truck loads being forwarded, whilst, at 5 a.m. on Friday, a special train conveying 53 wagons of stock for Wanganui, Wairarapa, and Wellington was despatched.

The whole of the train arrangements worked smoothly and elicited the encomiums of the Press, Show authorities, and the Exhibitors.

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