The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-11 00:00:00

SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW,

At the Agricultural Hall, Islington, the Eighty-
ninth Annual Cattle Show of the Smithfield Club
was opened. on Monday, Shortly after nine o'clock
toe judges commenced their labours in the ex-
amination of the cattle, and in the award of the
prizes. The Queen was awarded the first prize for
three-year-old Devon steers, and a first for Devon
steers between three and four years. The
Prince of Wales was the winner of the first award
for two - year - old shorthorn steers, and Mr.
D. Pugh, second in the same class.
General Sir Redvers Buller took first for
Devon steers not exceeding two years, and third for
Devon steers between three and four years. After a
severe competition the £5O Breed Cup for the best
steer or ox in the classes, was awarded to No. 51, Mr.
Freder:ck Platt, of Newark, Notts, for his three years
and six months old Hereford steer, and the £5O
Breed Cup for beat heifer and cow fell to No. 104,
Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P., for his two years and eight
months old short-horned heifer. The Champion
Plate (value 100 gs.) and Gold Medal, or blue ribbon
of the Show, also fell to Mr. Platt.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who had tra-
velled from Sandringham, arrived at the showyard
shortly before three in the afternoon. The Princess
was accompanied by the Countess Spencer, and in
attendance upon the Prince were Colonel Kingscote
and Sir Dighton Probyn. The Royal party were re-
ceived by Mr. J. J. Colman, M.P., the President of
the Club, the Council, and Mr. R. Leeds, chairman,
and the directors of the Agricultural Company,
They were conducted into the Central Avenue
where the prize anniais were paraded to undergo the '
ordeal for the best beast and the best pens of sheep
and pigs in the respective classes, entitling them to
the Champion Plate and the Gold Medals. The
Prince and Princess did not remain here to witness
the result of the final awards, but preferred taking a
general view of the show. After remaining about
half an hour, the Royal party quitted the hall amidst
general cheering. 1

The annual meeting of the members of the Smith-
field Club was held on Tuesday at the Bedford-street
offices of the Royal Agricultural Society. Mr. J. I.
presided, and there were present—
Lord Spencer, Lord Bridport, Lord Feversham, Sir
John Swinbarne, M.P., Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. A.
T. M. Druce, Mr. H. Bullard (Mayor of Norwich),
Mr. Jonas Webb, and many other members.
The Secretary (Mr. Hine) read the annual report,
which began by stating that, in reply to the official
letter announcing that the Duke of Edinburgh had
been elected President for 1887, a communication
had been received intimating that his Royal Highness
would have pleasure in accepting the office, and the
council trusted that, although his Royal Highness was
now absent from England, he would be able to be pre-
sent at the show held during his term of office.
Regret was expressed at the death of Lord Penrhyn,
one of the vice-presidents, and it was reported that
at a general meeting Mr. Hine, the late assistant-secre-
tary, had been elected secretary. As mentioned in the
last report, the council at the last show continued the
examination of the dentition of cattle and sheep in-
stituted at the 1884 show, with a view of obtaining
further particulars before deciding, or otherwise,
upon instituting a permanent examination. Professor
Brown, the veterinary inspector of the club, reported
upon the facts elicited by the further examination,
and after a careful consideration of the two reports
submitted, a regulation was adopted by the council,
and was made one of the rules applicable to the
present show—that if -the dentition was inconsistent
with the age given in the form of entry, the exhibitor
should be made responsible for proving the correct-
ness of his entry, and, in the absence of a satisfactory
explanation, the exhibit would be disqualified. The
council, while congratulating the members on the
freedom of stock generally from disease, and
on the national benefits arising therefrom, had,
as a precautionary measure, continued to enforce
the special regulation requiring with each animal sent
for exhibition a certificate that for 14 days before being
sent to the show the exhibit had not been in contact
with any animal suffering from a contagious disease.
(Hear, hear.) The Council had modified the rule ex-
cluding an animal which had taken a first prize from
being again exhibited at the shows, and had allowed
that such an animal might be exhibited a second
time. A special committee had been formed to re-
port upon the practicability of giving prizes for
animals entered for slaughter, and to award prizes
for the best carcasses, and recommended that the
suggestions made should be carried oat. (Hear.)
The finar,cial position of the club had been examined,
and showed that the balance at the bankers' and in
the hands of the secretary was £2887, and the club
had to receive £1355 from the Royal Agricultural
Hall Company for this 'year's show. The funded
property amounted to £3999 Three per Cents. The
entries for the present show, though not so large as
the last, which was the largest ever held, were in
every way satisfactory and quite up to the average
for the past few years, the number being 487, as
against 543 last year, and 479 in 1,883. The prizes
offered amounted to £3466. The membership of
the club now consisted of 299 life members and 609
annual members—an increase during the last five -
years of 245._

- The President moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. Parsons (Hampshire) seconded the motion,
which was adopted unanimously.
Lord Bridport moved that Lord Feversham should
be president for 1888.

The proposal was carried unanimously, and Lord
Feversham, in thanking the club for the honour thus
conferred upon him, said he would do all he could to
promote the interests of the club.

..
The vice-presidents and the trustees having been
reelected, the meeting assented to the proposal of the
council to institute prizes for carcasses, and agreed to
the arrangements proposed for carrying out this new
competition.

On the motion of Lord Spencer, seconded by Sir J.
Swinbarne, M.P. a vote of thanks was passed by
acclamation to the retiring president, Mr. Colman,
M.P.

The proceedings then terminated.