THE NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. To the Editor of the North Otago Times.)

North Otago Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 792, 20 December 1872, Page 4

THE NORTHERN AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. To the Editor of the North Otago Times . )

Sir, — In spite of Dr Webster's letter to the Committee of the -N. A. and , P. , Association, -protesting ' against the judgment of Romney Marsh sheep! at the recent Oamarn Show, and the action of the -Hoiv. M;- Holmes, I had fully 'intended (to ; have 'kept silence and trended the'matter with iudifference, but tfJhink" thrft the letter introduced into your columns and signed " Merino," compels me in ray own' justification to 'review the whole concern^ 'and must beg yoii to insert the following in your valuable" columns. ' ; ' I noticed a . resolution passed afj a! Committee meeting held shortly after ttho. Show, stating that -HDr Webster's sheep had not been judged according, to programme. This I deny, and most emphatically do assert that' they were judged to the best of "our Ability in strict accordance to the programme held by us. ' It would surely be beneath Br Web- , ster. to base his protest on the tittle- , ■tattle of his employed, and I have it on ! reliable authority that remarks passed between us (the judges) were conveyed to that gentleman : hence the protest. 1 1 "there appears to be a great laxity of decision among some of the Committee, which is proved by the late resolutiqn. If my honesty or ability was doubted, wiry repeatedly ask me to officiate as a judge ? I may say that I went tl lis year in spite of pressing business at home, simply on account of having declined last year, and I take it as a most flagrant breach of couitesy for the Committee to pass the resolutions they 'did. 1 r The "letter inserted *by " Merino" certainly displays (to say the least of : t) the /ungenerous and malign > impulses o * a deeply disappointed and defeated 1 man, and a man who incapable of comprehending abilities butifbr his own gra ;ification, seeks to solace himself under a fictitious signature 'by' abusing' and casting imputations upon the 'object of 1 is unjust egotistic suspicions. iii I -must' thoroughly- endorse Mr Young's remarks as .to the existing relationship betweea the two companies ; indeed the only link, to the best of mj' belief, between them is, that botli have their business > conducted by the same agents. , > , , < If your readers would but consider that I was totally unacquainted with the Company's sheep, they cannot but fail >to see the absurdity of any one ascribing such loose iiotions, as the ap parent- dishonesty of " Merino's" nature, indicates. i And I" would ask, where are my fellow judges ? or am I singled out as the iiiost culpable 1 Are they going to sit tamely and be treated as such perfect ' nonentities # -My opinion of itself could i certainly not award the Cup to the Com- ! pany, v and )I would like to see tny col-, leagues' version of affairs. , In conclusion I would mention that this is all I intend to Bay of the matter, being fully convinced that the dastardly action o£<" Merino" will be ineffaceably impressed upon the minds of your readers, as it most certainly will on mine. Apologising for taking up so much , of your valuable space, T am, &c, Andrew Turnbull. Pareora Station, December 16, 1872.