WELLINGTON RAM FAIR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 933, 17 January 1890, Page 16

WELLINGTON RAM FAIR.

Wr are sorry the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Society did not resolve to hold a ram fair this

season, as many settlers were looking forward to it, but no doubt there were good reasons why the fair was not held. The Committee has had much work to do in starting the first show, which eventuated so successfully in November last. It would, however, be scarcely good policy to interfere with the local ram fairs without all persons receiving due notice. Buyers and sellers would both be placed at much inconvenience thereby. Next year the matter will be on a different basis. All persons will know that following the show in November next will be a ram fair, and no doubt it will be of a metropolitan character. We have as little faith in local ram fairs as we have in local shows. Ordinary settlers rely too much upon the stock bred in their own localities, to the consequent disadvantage of their flocks. Exceptionally energetic settlers, of course, look abroad, and visit the Canterbury, Oamaru and Dunedin fairs. But the North Island of New Zealand is especially a long wool country, and we can breed here admirable Lincoln and Romney sheep, which the South can buy from us in the future. On the other hand the South

can bleed sheep which we want, notably merinos. In this exchange there must evidently be one meeting place, arid, witli : out egotism, we think Wellington affords! the proper spot. Truly, pastoral matters here have received but slight attentioii from Wellington people, but we are beginning to wake up to the fact that a considerable portion of our prosperity rests upon a pastoral basis. The success of the late Wellington show proves that. We should therefore like to see a good Metropolitan Ram Fair held here in February, 1891. The railway will by that time be through to Hawkes Bay, aud we will then see whether the South Island Lincolns or the Hawkes Bay Lincolns are the better sheep. We will then see also some of the South Island Hampshires, South Downs, and Merinos, and we will show New Zealand what we can do ourselves in the way of Romneys. Such a fair will prove of some use to our flocks, and each year it will improve in quality. Meantime, for this season, as promises have been made and settlers are looking forward to a fair of some kind being held, we would suggest to the worthy manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Mr Todd) to hold a private fair, say on February 16th, and to get a few sheep together to supply 1 the local demand. This will nob interfere with tbe provincial fairs, and the settlers about Wellington will have their wants supplied. And as we are writing upon the subject, we hope that our Wairarapa, West Coast, and Hawkes Bay readers will not fail to at once select and put their stock in order for next show day. Show stock must be well looked after all the winter, and not left to the last moment to select. Given a fine day, and there will very likely be 14,000 to 15,000 people at the next Wellington Show, so that it behoves settlers to put their stock in good condition. We shall be glad to see both the show and ram fair succeed. We are apt in Wellington to favour the interests of our harbour and to neglect just a little the interest of the magnificent grazing district which lies at our back. However, this will all be remedied in time. Festina lente.