MERINO SHEEP.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1098, 28 April 1883, Page 3

MERINO SHEEP.

TO THE EDITOR, . Sir,—-I will ask you to publish an of a sale of Californian sheep, tha't I enclose, which appeared in the Sydney Mail of March 17th,

I bear American sheep are not thought much of in these parts, but I feel certain they will be the sheep of the country within a few years, when we see the celebrated breeders of Tasmania, Messrs W. Gibson and Sons, giving such high prices for them. I don’t believe we can obtain a heavy clipping sheep without a dash of this blood. I showed some ewe hoggets at the last Titnaru Show which clipped me ll£lb a piece. I bought three ewe hoggets at the same time from a prize-taker, the pick of his sheep, for ton guineas a head. Then I had them housed, clothed, and cared for in every way. One went 9£lb and the other two Now mine had never been clothed, housed, or fed on anything but English grass. Ido hope at the next Timaru Show there will be several classes of merinos, so that justice may be done to all breeds as is done to cattle, horses, and other breeds of sheep.—l am, etc,, 0. G. Tripp. Orari Gorge, 12th April, 1883.

P.S,—A friend of mine, a sheep farmer in Canterbury, told me on his way to England he saw merinos in California that clipped 50 pounds a head. This at 6d alb is something. I believe in what Mr W. Moody says—- * Go in for filling the bale.’

[EXTRACT REFERRED TO,] SALE OF CALIFORNIAN SHEEP. (Sydney Mail, March 17th.) On Wednesday last, at Shark Island, Messrs Brunker and Wolfe submitted to competition, by auction, an interesting shipment of merino sheep. The sheep were brought here by Mr R L. Martin, a gentleman who visits Sydney for the first time, for the purpose of inspecting a few of this colony’s flocks and herds, with the object of future trade. It was not until his arrival in this port that he discovered that the landing of sheep or cattle from foreign ports was prohibited, and for some time he was placed in a peculiarly perplexing quandary, which was specially vexatious from the fact that without hindrance of any kind save a quarantine of 10 days the sheep could have been left

—. in New Zealand, where a market quite as good as that open in Australia was ready for them. The Minister of Mines, who has charge of stock matters, was appealed to ; and as that hon gentleman took a rational view of the position, the sheep were allowed to be landed on Shark Island, on condition that they perform a quarantine of DO days and underwent several dippings. They are on the island in care of an American stockman, who seems to understand his business. They came direct from‘the flock of Mr M. j. Roberts, a Californian breeder, whose sheep have taken first premium in their class at the State fair for 14 years in sue*

cession, and sweepstakes two years out of every three over all other breeds. The shipment comprises four stud rams, aged from two to three years, 10 ewe lambs and 10 ram lambs, now aged about one year.

Mr Drunker commenced the sale with the four four-tooth rams, the first to come under the hammer being Squatter (153 a in, the catalogue.) This appropriately-named animal started at 50 guineas, and was quickly run by 5 guinea bids to 450 guineas, which price was paid by M< Christian, acting for the well-known Tasmanian breeders, Messrs W. Gibson end Sons. Squatter is a large framed sheep of excellent symmetry, and is well covered with a long, dense, and even fleece of good wool. Napier (290) was the next put up. He has a fleece of heavy wool, which, however, was rather weak on the back and rump. He was sold for 220 guineas to Mr Wilson, M.L.A., who was the largest purchaser at the sale. Chief (207), a large framed sheep, with long, dense, and even fleece of good quality of wool, an animal little inferior to Squatter, was knocked down for 185 guineas to Messrs Mills. Neilson and Smith, of Uuardry Station, near Hay. These gentlemen have *he reputation of boina some of the best breeders on the Murrumbidgee, and their own sheep bear some resemblance to these American merinos. The last, offered of the rains was Old Tom (923), catalogued as fullmouthed. Old Tom has been a very fine sheep but age, and the severe knocking about he sustained while crossing the Pacific militated against his appearance The ram lambs were next sold. Ihe first offered, 687, was quitted, after a keen competition, to Mr Simpson for 230 guineas; 523.542, 412 and 410 fetched respectively 80, 80, 40 and 82 guineas. There was a warm contest among the hovers over 562, which was ultimately 15 by Mr Wilson for 300 guineas. This sheep was a twin lamb, and with his twin sister (143 a) showed greater quality than any other sheep of the lot. 93d is a very symmetrica! animal, showing a strong constitution, and his wool, though not of the highest quality, is very dense and full-stapled. We understand that the breeder had a very high idea of this sheep, believing he would develop into another Squatter He was soli to Messrs Mil s Neilson and Smith for 110 guineas. 742 was a sheep of lon# and an( * blight wool, and was purchased for 200 guineas by Mr Joseph Cooper, who will send him to the Hunter district. 900 and 901 brought respectively 155 and 115 guineas, «nd “fell to Mr Wilson and Mr Joseph hooper. , , The first offered of the 10 ewe lambs was 143 a. As already mentioned, this was a twin sister to 502. She was sold to Mr Wilson, who had previously purchased her brother, for 120 guineas. This, in the opinion of manv experts, was the cheapest bargain of the day. 142 a, of similar character to the last, though not of pe high a quality, was knocked down to Mi ■ ' for Messrs Gibson and Sons, Tasmania, for 105 guineas. The same firm obtained 166 for 104 guineas. Mr Wills-Allen, of Gunnedah, who bought 111 for £55. certainly got the worth of his money. 122 went to Messrs G bson and Son* for 152 guineas. Three sheep—ll 4 311, and 171—were sold to Mr Wilson for 49. 113. and 100 guineas respectively, 148 was taken by Mr M’Nicol nf the Lachlan, for 104 guineas, 324 realised 60 guineas, and fell to Mr Simpson’s bid. The total sale was 3589 guineas. H'e average of the four older rains was 258 guineas ; of the 10 yemnger rams. 139 guineas, aud of the 10 ewe lambs, 96 guineas.