NEW ZEALAND LIVE STOCK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND LIVE STOCK.

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. A visitor's impression of New Zealand slock is always interesting, though lint always flattering. In the present case, however, tho opinion is fairly good. It is that oi Mr. Charles Elliott, F. 5.1., v/lio' is at present in Wellington, aud who was for !i"i years manager of the estates of Mr. F. IS. Mildmny, M.P. lor the T'otnes division of tho County ot Devon. Mr. Elliiolt, accompanied his Excellency tho Governor on his visit to the show at Solway last week. "I thought sonic of the grade Shorthorns were very good," says Mr. Elliott, "and some of the lieivfords ran them a close second. 1 do not consider myself a judge of tlie Jersey, Holstein, or Ayrshire," lie added. "No doubt they were very fair specimens of their kind, and if milking is the only tiling required they would do justice to tho breeds in question." Mr. Elliott, it must be remembered, is a strong believer in the dual purpose cow, and as such ho strongly rceommends the South Devon for trial in New Zealand. Tho sheep, according to tho visitor, were a splendid exhibit. The two breeds that interested him most were tho Romnev Marsh and the Shropshires. A cross between these two, judiciously managed, would, he thinks, in a line sheep country like the Wairarapa, produce the finest of lambs. In fhe former there are constitution and wool, and in tho latter early maturity aud aptitude to fatten. Taking the horses as a whole, Mr. Elliott did not find them up to the standard lie expected, as ho had heard a good deal in Australia abiut New Zealandbred horses. The draught horses, however, were a fairly good lot. Like a good many more people, Mr. Elliott is surprised that the Guernsey breed has-not been taken up in New ZeaI land. These cattle are proven high testers, and aro bigger aiid hardier animals than the much-sought-after Jersey. During his stay, Mr. Elliott says he 1 has seen some very good stock in New Zealand, both cattle and sheep. Some of tho cattle on Mr. R. H. Rhodes's run were excellent animals. He was not particularly taken with tho Shorthorns at Lincoln College, but the herd at Sunnyside was a very good one, and excellently managed. -On Mr. Threlkeld's farm in Canterbury lie saw some splendid specimens of Leicester sheep, and some very line Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Elliott will pay a , visit to tlie Wrreroa State Farm on Wednesday, and he will leave New Zealand for London on March 7. On his return to the Old Country he intends publishing a book on his travels.