CHATHAM ISLAND SHEEP.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8477, 8 May 1893, Page 6

CHATHAM ISLAND SHEEP.

TO TIIE EDITOR of the press. Sib, —Your facetious correspondent who signs himself " Chathams " is evidently of a bilious frame of mind. We have not the slightest wish to atop the best of the Chatham and North Island sheep coming to Canterbury, but have a decided objection to receive their culls and weeds. We have too many of our own. We have to thank your correspondent for giving us an opportunity to write upon this subject, for we are patriotic to a degree and intend to guard with a jealous eye the interest of our province, and especially its far-famed meat trade. Any act which would endauger this grand industry will find us in our "war paint" ready to fight against it. Now tbat 44 Chathams " has opened up the subject, let us point to a danger against which we must put up our snutters. We hold in great respect the sheep farmers of the Chatham Islands, and sympathise with them in consequence of their isolated position and want of a market, and when we consider the difficulty uuder which they lie we are quite prepared to aid them in finding a market by locally freezing tbeir sheep and shipping to European market- ; but here comes the rub. It is an admitted fact tnat oar C-nterbury muttou at present " takes the cake," and we must not allow even a tinge of suspicion to creep iv to alloy our fair uaine. To prevent this, iv regard to those sheep which corns irom a-jro-s the seas, we protest that any should be shipped Home as Canterbury mutton. Let all sheep other thaa Canterbury bear the motto oi their own identity. Evil commuuioation corrupts good manners. As it is with m_ti, so it is \vit,h muttou. We welcome the Chatham aud North Island sheep fanner to Canterbury, but he should come uuder Canterbury rules. None but the best.—We arc, &c, The Stock Sax.ks.ues Referred To.