ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10631, 9 May 1912, Page 5

ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

AN OUTSIDE DEMAND. At the Romney Marsh Breeders' Association .meeting-in Palimerston N. on Tuesday, a letter av&s read from MiHenry L. Reynard, Pent a Arenas, Straits of Magellan, •who fiaid: — "This country presents a fine field for the teale of your sheep, and there as only one thing that militates a/gainst the satisfaction of a larger demand for New Zealand bred sheep, and that is the lack of direct steam communication between New Zealand •and this port. At present all ;New Zealand products for here have to be taken to Monte- Video and there transhipped. This entails very heavy expenses, and in case of live stock, considerable risk. The delay caused by the extra distance of over 3000 miles, meaning also freight, food, attendance, besides the great expense and disk of transhipping causes intending purchasers to held back. A good number cf New Zealand sheep "have in spite of all the drawbacks mentioned been l imported, but the prices whiieh thcee drawbacks entail prohibit all but ith/e wealthiest farmers from entering into the business. New ZeaOatid filiecp are preferred to Baalish bred ehecp on account of the greater attention which has been! given; to the fleece. T,n fact, it i f s only in- recent years that the Kentish farmers have really paiel proper attention ; : to ttois importa'tit- .matter. I have \ % no doubt that many cf your members are breeders .cf other stock bci;:des shoe-p. Here there is a good dcunand ■for draught liorses, light a>r.d heavy, cattle, thlc-rouglibred horses, pigs (well bred), .and poultry. Other farm products in great request aire v.heat,' barley and malt;, t-aits, grass seeds, other seed?, (flora*, potatoes, 'butter, cheese, fruit (fresh and preserved), In manufactured articles' the demand is great for leather harness, saddlery, carts, waggons or drays,, and gome agricultural 'implements New Zealand can supply, and we here in Patagonia' want all the above, hut wc .camlet induce the shipping companies to call here. You at your side may be able to hiring pressure to bear upon, them and, so induce them .to make this : a port of call." The writer goes on to refer to the difficulties encountered in getting outside communication), and points out that new the Straits, cf Magellan are wel lighted and are a great highway for a very considerable lruraber cf 'large steamships. Ponta Arenas is a prosperous town of 12,000 inha'bitaflts, land a distributing centre for a vast region, which (includes -half cf Patagonia; and the whole cf Tierra Del Fuego. It has good banking and eom.me.rcial facilities ,with the rest cf theAvorld.