The Waikato Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1879.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1121, 30 August 1879, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1879.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or nolitioal. Here shall the Press the People's right maintaiu, Unawed by inS'iance and nnbribed by gain.

In our issao of Thnrsday, the 17tb ultimo, we published an abstract return of sheep owned m the Waikato sheep district, compiled from the District Inspector's annual return, inftdf*- up to that date, and which showed the total number to be G5,682 of different breeds. . Since then, thirty additional owners have rendered returns, among them, the Messrs Martyn, ot Pencarrow, who account for 3,200 Jongwoola. Mr Fantliam shows 500 longwools, and 1,500 crossbreds f in all, 8,794 more sheep are accounted for. As a useful reference, we now give the total numbers returned t> date, viz. : — Mcrnos, 1,352 male*, 9,992 feni-iles; longwool, 11,468 males, 26,291 females ; crossbred, 10,901 males, 13,803 females; total male sheep, 23,781, female, 50,695, makiug iv all 74,476 sheep of different breeds and sex. In the article above referred to, we took occasion to remark upon the difference of opinion which appeared to exist among sheepowners, as to/ what oonstituted a longwool, and what a crossbred .heep, !iu doing wliich, we referred to the return rendered by Mr Fergusson, of Gorton, by way of illustration, as he accounted for 25 longwtsol sheep only. The other 1,433 sheep which constitutes his flock, he described as crossbred, knowing that many of his neighbours (having sheep of a similar kind) had returned them as longwool.s. We .ventured to suggest that the question was worthy the attention of tho ' Members of tlie Cambridge Farmers' Club.

In oar issue of the 24th July, appeared a letter, from Mr R. li. I) Eercusson, m which he takes exception to our remarks. He states, " that we infer," that he was wrong m the manner m which he described his sheep, and adds, very ironically, "at tho siiuie time, lam srnre all sheepownersj m Waikato, will, be tfkd to hear your definition, of ' longwool ' and ' crossbreds,' for, no doubt, they wjll be valuable." We did not consider it necessary, a*; the tiuu', toßQlioe.Mr Fergneson's re-

mark."', but, as we have had occasion to recur to the subject, it may be as well to state that we did not infer that Mr Fergusson " was wi-ontf," nor did we intend to give our definition of what ni rt y bo considered a longwool or crossbred sheep. Wo said exactly what we meant, ancl there was no hidden inference m the matter, namely, that there appeared to he a difference of opinion among sheopowners, and that tlio question might be worthy tho attention of the Members of ihe Cambridge Farmers' Club. We have no objection to Mr Fergusson describing his sheep, m the manner which ho may consider best.