A LINCOLN BREEDER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 16

A LINCOLN BREEDER.

MR. BUftNQ RAYNER. v ;. CONSTITUTION AND WOOL. ,Tho name of B.ayner has for years boon closely associated with tho sheep and wool history of the Wairarapa, and with tho principal agricultural and pastoral show grounds of tho North Island. The late Mr. John Itayuer com- ' menced she.ep-brceding. about 1875, and continued,it with much success almostto tho time of his decease, when his flock was taken over by Messrs. Bland and "William Rayncr, who now, however, manage- separate establishments. Mr.' John Rayncr's flock...;was 'first founded from sheep bought from Mr. J. B..Sutton. Later lie imported eight . owo's and two rams from Mr. H. Dudding, tho great Lincolnshire breeder, and also four ewes and a Tam from .■ 'Mr. Kirkham. Mr. Bland Rayner-haa,. ■been much identified .with tW'LincQla-' breed as an owner,; and a judge for/--the past fifteen years,' but the!inaugu-r ration of his present stud. dates back only eight; years, when ;it-'comprised ■ 150 owes, and 75 rams'.-. A-great 'iiurn- ' beriof liis present stock.'are from the:Wainsawa- I,'-.who for .three.; consecutive» years' was ./Lincoln' at-.iio. Masterton' show/; and'•'whoso name- '.was', a- hopsehold / vtoii ". amongst ■ all tho ; principal. '.'Lincolnbreeders -of -New .Zealand; - In one' sev':, son' alone he ;sired' 260:-lamjisi'■'!.•. v']-'..'\}J- ■ In breeding,' Mr. .Rayner..has "always mado : constitution" and "wool 'his' objective, and in that order. Breeders, far-' mors, and the great general public are liko the doctors and the lawyers, they agreo to differ. Fashions are constantly changing. At one time-there is a' demand for a coarse. staple, and ..then,.'. as the demand becomes a fad, there occurs tho inevitable reaction-. < A "few years ago, for instance, the demand was for a very rough Lincoln; :\ndw there is a cry for a fleece of wavy silki- .' ness, .which Mr. Rayner admits is -hisi especial liking. He has also a great > regard for a good frame, and, on'the Shakespearean maxim, that one cannot' really have, too much; of ..a' good things —the bigger .the better. Mr. Rayner likes to see that crimp in the wool'which is so favoured by the manufacturers. -He secured first prize last! year at the Masterton , show, against, the principal breeders in the North la-, land, and his Lincoln stock are sent all over tho Dominion.. Amongst his principal buyers are:—Messrs. M'Gre.; gor Bros., Wybourne, T.'Tanner, and.

Gisbome breeders. 'At the last Gb< borne show ho disposed of some of his rams at 25 guineas per head, -while, ai the ram and owe fairs, there-is alwaye a ready demand for the stock, a,nd atgood .high market prices. At the pfe* sent time his stud'comprises the sires Kuripuni, Wainsawa- Yll'i Waingaw* VIII, and about 260 ewes. Lambs kept as rams in 1909 numbered 130, ewei lambs 15S. Mr.. BaynerV address is; Manaia, Masterton. • He resides abonti two miles from the town, and' on thty Masterton-Gladstone Road. • .... ..-.-.