CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 224, 21 November 1874, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our columns are open for free discussion; but we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents ]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —When reading yoiir journal I thought what a benefit the cattle and sheep would derive from a Protection Society being formed in tl is district. From what I have seen and heard, there must have been many hundreds of sheep and cattle starved to death, which I think is more ciuel than an occasional rough beating. I think that several of our runs are stocked too heavily which is very bad management ; we cannot expect a good staple of wool unless our sheep are kept in good store condition ; but in several instances they are reduced to skeletons or death. That is the cause of disease and unsound staple. If runs were stocked on a medium growth of grass, in the full growing season, they could be put or a smaller space and reserve the other portion for hay for them when grass is scarce. It is a pity to see so many tons of good good winter feed destroyed by fire or else allowed to rot. Instead of after it is thrashed to gather it up and have it properly thatched; cattle and sheep would eat the whole of it in winter, oriel would be kept in condition; there would not then be ?uch a scarcity of meat, instead of that no oiie provides for their stock ;Ahey have to take what comes; stock are generally in good condition at the fall of the year, but they are allowed to go back to bones, and then to graze until the fall again to get to the condition of the previous fall. It is very strange that those that have had so much experience, and know so much, have suffered most by starving their stock. —Yours, &c.,

Observer.

Sir, —I am at a loss to know what a local which appeared in your contemporary of Thursday last, means—unless it be to deceive. The bachelor Editor may not be in a position to know Ahythiug of the costly cafes of a household; but it is fact to state that “ btitter, eggs, and vegetables are now procurableat very (sic) reasonable rates.” I wonder what version the proprietor of the Hotel where ho resides,-would give of the matter ? There has been no “ considerable reduction ” either in these articles, or in dairy and garden produce, as he states. The necessary articles of daily consumption, such as those mentioned above—to which may be added meat, bread, and milk—are nt a scandalously high price in Gisborne ; a price not warranted by the state of the times ; and if things continue as they are (to say nothing of their getting worse) tradesmen will either find their customers unable to pay their accounts, or we shall have to seek protection in a co-operative store. —Yours, &c , Pater.