The Best Sheep for Freezing.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6848, 25 March 1897, Page 3

The Best Sheep for Freezing.

At the A. and P. Society's Show in November last there were two classes for freezers, the same sheep being allowed to comoete in both classes. The conditions of one clas3 were that the sheep must not exceed a fixed dead weight of 741b, the weight of the individual sheep being left to the option of the judge. The condition originally attached to the second class was that the sheep must not exceed a specific live weight of 1251b. All the exhibitors, however, agreed that that condition should be waived, and that the judge should award the sheep their places irrespective of that condition. The result was that one pen of sheep—viz., those shown by Mr S. Garfortb, of Christcburch —which was thrown out in the first competition through being, in the judge's opinion, overweight, was awarded first priza in the second class, where this condition had been withdrawn. The sheep in the second class, representing both North and South Island breeders, were then sent to England to be judged on their merits, no announcement being made of the relative position of the different exhibits at the show, There were altogether 70 sheep, which, for the purposes of competition at Home, were numbered by the Wellington Meat Export Company, through whom they were seut, as follows: .James Stuckey, No. 12; Williams and Beetham, 13; James Stuckey (second exhibit), 14; S. Garforth, 15 ; Bidwill Bros., 1G ; W. C. Buchanan, 17 : Williams and Beetham (second exhibit), 18. The report of the English judge 3, Messrs Wann and R. Fletcher, came to band by last mail, as follows : " After careful examination of this consignment we have unreservedly awarded first honors to 10 carcases marked 17. The 10 carcases marked 14 are the next best lot, and then follow the lots marked 18, 16, 15, and 12 respectively in order of merit. We regret being unable to complete a,report of the above carcases in time for this mail, but the same shall follow by next mail. The order of the different competitors is therefore as follows: Nos. 17, W. G-. Buchanan; No. 14, James Stuckey; No. 18, Williams and Beetham ; No. 16, Bidwill Bros. : No. 13, Williams and Beetham ; No. 15, S. Garforth; No. 12, James S;uckey." We may mention that Messrs W. Weddel and Co. referred to some of these sheep as follows :—At Smithfield to-day a line of 30 Wellington Southdown sheep, marked ' W.M.E. Co.,' sold at the fancy price of 4jd per lb, though Canterbury are not quoted even at These Southdowns were, we consider, the best sheep we have ever seen frozen. Can you tell us anything of their history and breeding