NELSON, Last Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1200, 6 March 1880, Page 2

NELSON, Last Night.

COLO\I.\L FIRIMi. Okey (Taranaki), 203, is leading for the rifle championship ; Purnell (Wellington), *2,")0. Carbine championship : Thomas (Thames), 177 : Burr (Wellington), 177, l«fi'ling • Par.soJow (Thames), 174, next.

AN EXPOSITION OF SAMPLES OF WOOL FROM FLOCKS AND STUD ANIMALS OR A SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION OF THE VARIOUS STAPLES OF WOOL AS DEVELOPED HY FLOCKS SUITABLE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MANUFACTURER.

To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Sir,—ln introducing this subject tor your consideration it is with the greatest diffidence I approach it —more especially in suggesting the adoption of a principle hitherto not acted upon or recognized. The yearly imports into Britain of colonial wool having reached 400,000,000 pounds weight and this large quantity being absorbed with an increased demand, points to this interest as remunerative, and one susceptible of greater improvements and expansion. The lands of this colony, aided by its rare climate, have already demonstrated their adaptability for this special interest, producing the finest merino Jibre to the long clear bright staple of the Lincoln, including all other of the leading classes of wool, combing and clothing, long and short staple, with the crosses obtained therefrom, according to the fancy or requirements of the breeder. The Government sheep statistics of this colony issued to May 1879, shew, under their headings, number of jjieepownerss9Bo, number of sheep, 11,405,389 to what extent the culture of wool has reached in so brief a period; —protected, sheltered, and aided by the Legislature so as to secure it against the inroad of those special diseases to which sheep are and always will be subject, it reveals also the fact that out of 5980 owners, 4049 own a less number than 500 each, but few of those are stud breeders, the greater number are. parties who have entered upon the undertaking of producing wool for a foreign market, merely as a speculation, or as an adjunct to their other landed vocations. References are often made to those qualities of wool most subject to variation in price at the London wool sales —small quantities —irregular — ill-conditioned lots, both washed and in the grease, generally compose this category, they suffer most in as much as they are not adapted, for any particular class of goods. The refuse of other wools being taken in their place. As a rule, many parties commencing sheep fanning upon a small scale, begin by purchasing cheap lots at sales, those generally are culls of flocks discarded for age or quality in the animal not desirable to possess, in fact, the vei*y reverse for the purpose to which they are applied ; and again, some are obtained from flocks, which themselves require to be completely renovated, hence the fact of a great quantity of indiscriminate wool exported being of this description. It may, Sir, not be out of place here to refer you to the wool statistics of the colonies,|froma table compiled by Messrs Webster, Darvall and Co., London, shewing the imports and prices of Australian, New Zealand and Cape wools.

This table shews a marked progress by New Zealand in production in 1878, in proportion to either of the other colonies.. At the same time, the price table which I copy verbatim, exemplifies tha necessity for immediate and decided action, to place this colony, with her natural advantages,/?/'^ in regard to price in place of being fourth upon the list of prices in the worhVb market.

To remedy this evil, to raise the colony in this respect to its proper standard, to j)lace the present great staple of the colony upon a sure and substantial basis, and to bring about that receprocity of interest that should exist between the u-oulgrowcv and the manufacturer. I would most re* spectfully suggest the establishment of a room or court to the Museum or other public building for the deposit of samples of various staples of wool ixoxa. flocks where they assume or have established a distinctive character, and also baiiipla of staple from siiidflotkb or an unah to be deposed in the order or class to wliich they naturally belong. The Government has wisely and judici* oubly prescribed in respect to preventativc measures for the protection and security of the animal, which is the ./? r.st and most essential part. But with this, we stand lace to face with one of thegreatest (^>wbaeks in respect to fibre from those animals that can possibly be conceived. To deal generally, and nn ithout entering too fully upon the subject (as the question would assume an exj^ansive and dilatable, character), £l may remark, the censorship exercised over this interest, the super* vision and inspection ueeessaiy to carry it to a successful issue, is the very machinery at present employed by the Go* vernment, wliich could be most profitably utilized in securing the second great end — the culled ton of tUflncd cldbscb of icool, or proiiounccd character of staple from flocks. | At one view, we should see the uniform fibre,' the compact fleece, the density of fibre, the length of staple, in combing a bright clear flexible fibre ; in clothing, a soft clear elastic serrated fibre, both approaching in their several capacities ag near as possible the properties of silk. According to the special interest taken, information and tending the flock wottld be produced, the individual class, the distinctive character of libre which it is necessary to cUabhbh in all flocks, either great or small. The facility for obtaining ocular demonstration of the various qualities of wool, would, of itself, lead to the question of the adaptability of the land or country, and in some instances, climate suitable for the growth of the class of wool it would bo desirable to produce, ov vice versa, Yov instance, to produce the. Jbrinq

for the manufacturers, for crap'ee, lamies; bombazines (mixture of silk and wool for priests vestments), and other such fine fabrics ; also, fine flannels, Berlin wools, fine broad cloths, and textures requiring soft felting properties. Long wools : The many and varied uses to which the art of the manufacturer subjects them ; length of staple, in colour bright, yet soft and Instants. The elastic quality or springiness in the fibre being a decided requirement. Coarse and strong wools must possess ' this quality to as great an extent as possible, aa without it, in a small degree, reduces the price of wool, as in the process of manufacture. We take another instance—a pile carpet — which will show a loss in two ways, the weft passing to and fro hold the wool which is woven in with the warp (that is without elasticity) like a thread of hemp or flax, it tucks up, in place of expanding or giving to pressure, and upon the pile it is hard and round like a loop of wire, whereas, if possessed of elastic propeiiiies, with the same tension, it would give to the weft, producing a soft article with the great advantage that the same weight of wool would produce from J to £ more of the manufactured article, labor, and all other expences being the same in both instances ; or in other words (in tliis respect), according to the elastic character of the wool, the value is to the manufacturers. It would expose wools with Kemp or dead hair. These being tracable in both young and aged sheep in some flocks. This is a serious fault, as they sohw not only in the wools, resist the action of the dye, but appear prominently on the surface of the manufactured article. By this means could be avoided producing from flocks that yield too large an amount of yolk or fatty matter in place of fibre, as, when dive&ted of the yolk, the specific gravity of the wool is small compared to the weight when clipped. Here, could the dud breeder realise the value of those rare qualities in fibre it is his especial pride and province to produce, and experience the results upon an extended scale in the disposition of the crosses to which they have been applied. If they are to be pure-bred wools, let them be so ; if they are to be Merino, Leicester, Lincoln, or any other breed or degree of ctosb, in or out, let the flock bear that distinctive character ; let such cross have a speciality in its fibre to recommend it as & fixed quality by insuring this principle, and allowing none other to be exhibited, the institution would become one for reference and practical utility, being assured that none other but reliable qualities and information were entered or admitted, To give the proposition a greater, and, if possible, a more substantial basis, I would further suggest, sir, the propriety of inviting the Australian colonies to entertain a like project, with a view to an interchange of samples, and general information respecting them, which could also form a part of the standard exhibition. Samples, also, of renowned breeds could be procured from England and the Continent, through the Agent-General or other source which you would deem most expedient, and form a distinct exhibit for the purpose of comparison and reference. Agricultural and Pastoral Associations could add this interest to their collections, and induce shepherds— that are in many instances as mere machines taking in and out their flocks— to take an intelligent interest in their growth and produce, giving their experience to their employers. The Government Sheep Inspectors m their respective districts would be acquainted with the produce of each flock ; how far they were of that pronounced character of staple that would justify them in taking samples, representing the quality or general character of the individual flock, noting in each case, name of wool, age, sex, staple, from what part of animal taken, age of wool, and any feature either to its advantage, or that would be a drawback to it for the season or clip— as cotted fleece, break in wool, or other cause ; also, character of the paddocks upon which they are depastured, if recently laid down in grass, long-standing, new land, or otherwise ; of runs, general features, if improved by grasses having been sown, to what extent nock benefited, we t very wet or cold, subject to floods, &c, over stocked, &c. " Stud sheep," if housed, paddocked, artificially fed, upon what, if specially tended, how. Thus, sir we should have from the Government down, through all ranks and positions, a practical and personal interest brought to bear upon this great national production, providing, as I have before stated, in the greatest degree possible by the wool grower for the special requirements of the manufacturer. As it now stands according to the table referred to, 52,000 bales only from all the colonies and the Cape were forwarded direct to the manufacturing districts against 1,040,467 bales sent to London the same year. It proves the great disparity that exists between the interests that ought to be one ; it exposes the want of action necessary to provide a produce favourable for the production of certain general articles in manufactures such as I have referred to in " Fin© Meiinoes " and other qualities ; it places the exporter, and consequently the producer in the Jiads of the Home and Continental brokers, who purcha&e in Lulk for the purpose of supplying the manufacturers. The question of cost in this instance could hardly arise, as the duties imposed upon the staff of officers already employed would be light and other additions small. At present the system for the protection of sheep costs about £15,000 per annum. The returns as regards the animal highly satisfactory, yet in respect to produce, as I have already demonstrated, far from encouraging, as the main points, quality and price, are not obtained, consequently the sheep farmer and the colony suffer in proportion. With these few remarks upon a question so immediately affecting the wool tn-ower and the colony generally, I will only add, that if, sir, you deem the subiect worthy of your consideration, I should feel a pleasure in aiding, with your permission, as far as my humble abilities would allow, to lay the foundation of a system I confidently submit would command success —I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, Albert Pottkr, Wool Scourer, Hamilton, Waikato.

Quantities New Toward which 1876. I 1877. 1878. ! 1878. ! i • ai&* 93»,776 993,757 1040,467, 3£ % c; q « m 1 -x) 3 c <-> 162,154 160,280 178,174 ! « S «-^ Zealand contributed

Ihe importation of Australian, New Zealand and Cape wools into London: —

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