HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 565, 13 December 1881, Page 2

HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.

To the Editor.

Sir,—" Admirer of Good Stock " seems to have some quaint notions about cattle, surely he does not want to make us believe that all a bullock's breeding is in his mouth, I have heard it argued by many on the Peninsula, but a visit to the Christchurch show would have convinced the most sceptical that it requires more than cake and corn to produce a well bred beast. Mr Checkley bred the bullock that Admirer speaks of, and in my opinion he showed his good judgment by keeping such a steer when he sold his yearly draft of stock. It certainly was Mr C.'s milk and grass that laid the foundation of the mass of beef in question, and for Admirer's information I can tell him that he was a descendant of the famed bow and arrow brand, and had Mr C. allowed him to roam his paddocks for the laat five years I have no doubt he would have turned out quite as good as he did in Mr W. Birdling's hands. The Hay Bros, produce them in Pigeon Bay, and why not we in Akaroa, neither Mr Birdling- nor Messrs Hay can beat us for climate and their grass is of no better fattening qualities than ours. But, of course, they make a trade of fattening stock, and consequently n-ver over-stock their paddocks, and, Mr Editor, there lies the secret of fattening any kind of cattle. If we give a breeder no credit for breeding first class cittle we should, for without breed you cannot got quality, or the class of stock that will put flesh and fat on evenly, and take the eye of cither dealer or butcher. Now, Mr Editor, in my opinion the Farmrs' Club might do a deal of good for the breed of cattle on the Peninsula if they would all pull on the one end of the rope, and work for the common benefit of the community. In the first place let them again try to start the Agricultural Show, and hold it not earlier than March. In the second place let the Club raise a fund from its members and purchase one of the best bulls to be had for tho money they can raise, and let him be limited to a certain number of cows to each member, on an understanding that a fee should be paid to the Club for the maintenance of the bull for each cow served by him. They might do the same by stud sheep. I think, Mr Editor, that if the Clnb act on this and take the factoiy system for cheese, butter, and bacon, we shall have the pleasure of seeing Akaroa advance, and the community at large, I am quite sure, would have good cause to thank the founders of the Farmers' Club, for every man, woman and child would be benefited by their action.

Apologising for this long rambling letter. I am, etc., '

E. S. CHAPPELL.