ROMNEYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 64, 18 March 1901, Page 3

ROMNEYS.

MR COBB’S EXPLANATION

A statement was recontly sent out by a Gisborne correspondent in reforonce to the expense and risk shccpbrecdcrs are often put to in purchasing stud sheep, and instancing a ease in which a local rosident had paid £2O for a ram from a Palmerston breeder, which he declined to accept, and which ho sold aftorwards for £2. Mr Robert Cobb, the well-known Romney breeder, of Palmerston North, in a letter to tho Times, manes an explanation. lie says : As this is evidently intended to be a slur upon tho breeders of the Manawatu in general, and mo in particular, I must ask you, in all fairness, to allow mo a little space to contradict tho unjust insinuation—evidently tho outcomo of an ondeavour of mine to oblige tho said Alexander Mackenzie, of Poverty Bay, who, during the Hastings Ram Fair of F.IOO, took such a fancy to my draft of ram hoggets that he beggod mo to send him a stud sheep simitar in most respects to those ho pointed out there, which I consented to, conditionally that his brother, living near here, should select tho sheep to avoid disputes.

His brother, however, being unwell at tho time, and Mr A. Mackenzie urging tho despatch of the sheep, substituted his son (an equally good judge), who decided upon the ram which I eventually sent, but was surprised, some weeks after, to receive a letter from the said Alexander Mackenzie objecting to tho animal on the grounds only “ that he was not suitable.” Failing, however, to elicit from Mr Mackenzie, by letter or otherwise, in what particular the ram did not answer the description given, I offered to “ take him back and givo him tho pick of all my stud hoggets this, following, year, should the ram fail in beating all others in his class at tho Gisborne Agricultural and Pastoral Show, after ordinary care and feeding during the winter.’ To this I received no reply, arid consequently was compelled to instruct my solicitor (Mr Loughnan) to demand payment, which was subsequently made. That Mr Alexander Mackenzie (although a reputed judge of Lincoln sheep) should have considered the ram I sold him unsuitable, I maintain, sir, is no criterion of his valuo, or that ho should subsequently have realised only two guineas at a public sale, does not confirm Mr Mackenzie’s opinion. I am prepared to guarantee that at the time tho sheep was sold he was a more promising hogget than one passed over by his agent for which I subsequently refused 50 guineas, and another recently sold to Mr Short, of' Halcombo, at 20 guineas. And I understand, from a communication just to hand, that n Lincoln ram valued to mo at 30 guineas, by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company last year, among a selection purchased from them, and which last week was awarded second prize at the Masterton Agricultural and Pastoral Show, in a stiff competition, was accidentally offered without reserve, at their ram fair, end knocked down at 3.J guineas. Also, that X myself purchased a Romney ram at the late Palmerston Ram Fair for the absurd price of six guineas, which subsequently only just escaped the champion ticket at the same show in Masterton, although in competition with sheep valued at big prices. Considering that I have taken a premier part in the breeding of Romney Marsh sheep in the Manawatu alone for the past 21 years, I feel sure you will grant me the necessary space to put my side of this matter before your readers.— l am, etc., Robt. Cobb.