THE WAIRARAPA PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4924, 4 January 1877, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA PASTORAL ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES.

SIR, —I do not purpose answering at any length the letter which appeared in your issue this morning, signed “J. G. Rockel,” but must ask you to give nie sufficient space to reply to some points in it. Mr. Rockel refers to the programme for the show held at Masterton on the Ist December, 1875. I have a copy before me, and find it is distinctly stated— Cattle; Class Ito 5, for the best shorthorned bull, cow, and heifer. The word pure is not mentioned, neither is there any reference to the “ New Zealand Herd Book.” There is a foot-note stating pedigrees of all the above cattle must be lodged with the secretary at the time of entry. Every breeder of stock is aware that there is quarterbred, half-bred, three-quarter-bred, and purebred shorthorned cattle ; and, as I understand the regulation requiring the pedigrees to be lodged, it is for the purpose of assisting the judges in deciding which is really the best animal exhibited. I wished to enter my calves in Class No. 1, for the best shorthorn bull of any age. The stewards decided that this could not be allowed, and I was obliged to transfer them to Class No. 13, in which the competition was confined to yearling bulls of any breed. It is therefore absurd to accuse me of entering them as short-homed, when the stewards refused to allow me to do so.

Mr. Bockel next proceeds to use the words “ The entries of the calves Perfection, and Enchanter were accompanied by what purported to he their pedigrees. These pedigrees were further put up over the pens when the prizes had been awarded, and were given to the buyers of Enchanter.” This is what I have alleged all along, and consequently there could be no doubt or misunderstanding as to the class of animal exhibited and afterwards offered for sale. I do not think I should have noticed Mr. Kockel’s letter had it not been necessary to put him right on one point. He states that he came to me and that “ lie fMr. Hunter) related to me that he had bought the grand-dam a pure-bred cow, when she was nineteen years old, and that from her he had one calf, being Snowdrop, the dam of Perfection." Mr. Eookel is laboring under as great a mistake here as in the former and latter portions of his letter. I told him that I had bought a cow in the year 1863, named “Queen O’May,” for pedigree see “Coates’ Herd Book,” vol. 14, page 660 ; that I had been very fortunate, as she had dropped a calf every year, that I had kept the heifer calves at my town station, that I had sent the bull calves to my station at Porangahau, and that the dam of Perfection was out of the old cow, and was known at the farm as “ Snowdrop.” I have since named her “ Third Queen O’May.” He then goes on to state : “ I took Mr. Hunter’s word as that of a gentleman, and fully believe that what he told me is correct. Put as a gentleman he should also have refunded Messrs. Bcetham the amount they paid for their purchase. In my mind I have not the slightest doubt that the one was brought in and passed off under the good name of the other.” If Mr. Kockel relied upon my word as a gentleman in his own case, he ought to have done so in Mr. Beetham’s. I attach very little value to a certificate of character under such circumstances.

He next states: “ Mr. Hunter, as above stated, asserts that he entered both as of ’any breed.’ Is it likely, I ask, that he would put, a pure-bred animal into an inferior class ? Your readers can draio their own inferences." Surely there can be no doubt in the mind of any reasonable being as to which class the calves were entered. This has been settled by a reference to the books of the AVairarapa and East Coast Pastoral, Agricultural, and Horticultural Association, and no doubt influenced the committee when they decided—--Ist. That there is nothin'/ to show that the " hull was entered as pure-bred. 2nd.- That there is also nothing to show that the pedigree, as furnished by Mr. Hunter, was not correct.

I think enough has been said and written on this subject, and shall not feel myself called upon to reply to any further attacks that may be made upon me.—l am, &0., George Hunter. Wellington, January S.