The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 231, 16 December 1874, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1874.

We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: At e shall defer to no man justice or right.”

New Zealand is making wonderful progress in wool growing, and bids

fair to out-rival some of the older colonies of Australia, whose respective areas are much larger. Had greater attention been paid to the breeding of sheep in the early days of the colonization of these islands, the result would have been largely to the advantage of the colony, compared with what it now is. The capabilities of the country for rearing the best wool-producing classes of sheep are great ; and, although sheepfarmers have, to a great extent, systematised the development of this branch of trade, it may safely be said that it has not yet reached that state of perfection which will enable it to compete, under all circumstances, against the other, and older markets of the world. There can be no doubt, however, that at the present rate of progress in quality and quantity, the wool exports of New Zealand will continue to maintain the credit of the colony. Every year witnesses a desire to improve the staple by the introduction of new blood ; and, so long as it maintains a top quotation at home, there is every encouragement for the utmost enterprise being manifested. Even if the value of wool were to decrease—of which there is no present prospect—there would still be a sufficient margin left to stimulate the production of that commodity upon the largest possible scale, without any loss to the producer.

The report of the New- Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. for October, shows, unmistakably, that, insofar as the merino flocks are concerned, an immediate attention is required to remedy the evil complained of. It' says: Many of the New Zealand flocks of the Menno stamp show very plainly a need of recruiting with fresh blood of fine growth to keep up their original standard of quality. The influence of climate and pasture in that colony evidently tends to make such wool stronger in growth and coarser in quality ; and the remarks among French combers of the increasing scarcity of flocks from that quarter of true Merino character and quality, are becoming general.

As wool forms one of our staple commercial productions, care must be taken to keep up its “ original standard of quality,” which, it would appear, is not being done now. Skill, and judicious management are essential to the cultivation of the fleece ; they form the indispensable conditions . of success, and any neglect of either is sure to thwart the best efforts. Inattention to a proper classification of wool—of which complaint was made in a recent Home report—tends greatly to a decline of confidence. Tlie same may be said of the sheep themselves.. Good, bad, and indifferent breeds are, not infrequently, allowed to mix indiscriminately, especially on the back, unfenced runs, where the paddock system of farming has not been entered upon. An inferior carcase is the result; and, as a matter of course, the wool is deteriorated also. These, probably, are in the minority ; but still, as their products find their way. into the Home market, they give rise to unfavorable quotations. The latest returns show' that there are about 13,000,000 sheep in New Zealand; and, as there are vast territories yet unstocked, and many that have been taken up considerably understocked, the probability is that double that number could be depastured. We are not, how'ever, amongst those who would wish to see this fine country converted into a huge sheep walk, to the detriment of the agricultural and other producing interests ; but we are decidedly of opinion that lands better adapted for pastoral than for agricultural purposes, should be set apart for sheep runs, and so give to the latter industry a chance to get a footing in the soil first hand. The remarks to which we have drawn attention, are the opinion of English buyers, and may, or may not, apply to the wool grown in this district ; no specialty is expressed ; but it is as well to know that the Reflection, is to be considered rather from a colonial than an isolated point of view'. Po--verty Bay, is,■.essentially, a sheep district. and conkiins some of the/best flocks in the Nbrth Island. 1$ wool is not inferior tap that of the neighboring districts, ahd has Ayfcys commanded first class quotations, therefore, we trust thbt the iftlictures so generally made, nifty no/haVe an individual application In tpo ca4e of our own staples. It is Ape duty; then, of those who are most iwferested/to hedge this question every safeguard, so as,to bri/gVlie standard up again in it. has fallen, and to create an/ maintain a first class reputation ; wijfli this ei\d in view we have to say a word or two in another i direction. Hitherto our clips have been shipped for England at Napier and Auckland, and catalogued and quoted in the London market, to the great detriment and disadvantage of this district, which has not been, as a rule, specially notedin the Wool Circulars?" We are, now, however, sufficiently numerous and independent to undertake the shipment of our own wool to Lon-

don, and to have it disposed of there by our own agents as direct consignments from Poverty Bay. Such a fact, must, of itself, operate in favor of this, port; and we trust there is spirit and enterprise enough amongst us to more completely carry out so desirable an object. This should require little illustration. Direct shipments would secure the advantage of our clips, with exporters’ brands, being identified with the district ; they would be so quoted in the wool transactions at home, and W'ould be saved the risk and expense of transhipment. The movement that has been recently made, and is about to be brought into practical working by the loading of the Queen Bee at this port for London, is one upon which we are disposed to congratulate the Settlers of Poverty Bry, as it is also one likely to be attended with the best results. Our roadste d is reported to be safer and less risky than that of Hawke’s Bay ; and, as the facilities that exist here for expeditious loading are not likely to decrease, it is to be hoped that all our future wool exports will be made direct to the home markets, and that the Queen Bee may be the happy precursor of other English ships to our Bay. The annual visits of w'ool ships would, as a matter of course, prove as beneficial, in other respects to Poverty Bay, as they do to the various ports in the colony which they frequent.