CORRESPONDENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 278, 5 June 1875, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Our columns are open for free discussion ; bui we do not bold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents. :o: TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As according to report in the Herald of the Ist inst., the Native sheep upon the East Coast may now be looked upon as being “ to all intent and purposes ” the property of the Government, a few remarks upon the arrangements as they are said to stand at present will, I think, not be considered premature. Looked at from a general point of view, everything appears to be highly satisfactory, and, doubtless, reflects great credit upon the officer who has brought this matter (at any rate the internal part of it) to a successful issue.

With reference, however, to the practical part of it, I have a suggestion to make which for the aftermentioned reason will, I think, merit consideration.

I have noticed that the lambing season along the East Coast commences in the month of May, owing, I conclude, to some peculiarity in the climate, and also to the fact that the rams are not kept separate until the proper tupping season. May, it will be observed is one of the months during which delivery of the sheep is to be taken, therefore the chances are that the Government will have to pay Is 6d a head for newly dropped lambs, which are of no value at all either in skin or carcass, while the lambs of the season previous—which ought in reality to represent the lamb portion of the sheep—will, for the same reason, (viz., early lambing) be sufficiently advanced in growth to be called by the natives full grown sheep, and charged for as such. To guard against this it will be necessary to castrate all rams about the month of October or November; the result of which will be, not only that there will be no young lambs to pay for, or to impede progress in mustering and removal to the place of delivery, but that the whole of the sheep will be in much better condition for killing, and will, consequently, offer more inducement to purchasers in the event of their being resold by tender or otherwise.

This may appear,’ at first view, to be somewhat difficult to accomplish, as, by existing arrangements, the Government have nothing to:do; with the sheep until they are delivered at the place appointed; but even if it was found necessary to double the price to be paid for these animals, aud to pay half at the- time of castration and the other half at the time of final delivery, it would, in my opinion, be found to be a profitable amendment to existing arrangements."—l am &c., Two Heads &c.