ANGORA GOATS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5331, 29 April 1878, Page 3

ANGORA GOATS.

The following letter has been sent to the Chief Secretary ;of. Victoria from Constant:-' nople regarding the "importation of Angora goats ; — : , . , Constantinople, 24th January,lß7B.—To tho . hon. the Chief Secretary, Melbourne.—Sir, —l ain desirous of introducing the far-famed Angora goats, into your colony, either by importing them upon my own account or selling them to your Government. May I venture to trespass on your kindness in asking for some infonnation on the, subject. These goats are hardy and prolific. ..They throw two and sometimes three kids. They will thrive where sheep can feed. , In this country we have occasionally very severe winters, snow covering 'the ground for many days and weeks. They arb then fed on dried branches. Hay is not to be had, except, in rare instances, the farmers not being willing to incur tho expense of stack-, ingthis fodder.' The yield of wool, or as it is called “mohair,” is about four pounds each goat,; and the price in England, with an almost: unlimited demand,, varies . from,,3s. to 4s. per pound.; If tho.’commoh white goat exists in: your country, .a ; pure-bred Angora can ■be'produced by crossing, for three generations. They 1 afb‘ J better when located some little distance from the,sea.coast. These animals have been introduced'into dape Colony with great success." 1 Mohair now- forms a considerable item’ln 'the‘ export .'returns. Last year,' ;I belibvejit amounted ,to £140,000. Some few years ago I sent'Boo goats to Port Elizabeth, and now the colony takes yearly about ,100 animals 1 to 'Keep up tji'e .breed..: X would undertake to deliver into your colony any number, say not less than. fifty pairs, at £SO per pair for'the very finest two, three, or four year old animals, mala-and female, In such proportions as you might deem it desirable. Ho advances .required, all risk,.born, by me:;.payment only • to be made say one-balf on arrival at your port and the remainder fourteen days after. 1 If you 1 Could faypr me with,.an order, I .would act’ini. ’.mediately upon a, telegram, andi .you;might; jroly .upon the animals reaching you by steamer iia'; throe or;fouy months.,after ..the receipt of iypur, order.:,,,! send you.,herewith a specimen ’of the goats’ -hair, and trust you will in some way; be aM.C.to, entertain.-my. proposition, as I feel convinced the importation of these animals into your colony would prove in course of time to be of great ijnportance.—Yours, &c., John B. PAKBV. ' 1 ' .