New Zealand Sheep in Argentina, South Africa.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 8

New Zealand Sheep in Argentina, South Africa.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — There has been qccafiomlly small consignments of Lincoln stud sheep ;.rriving an Buenos Ayre« from. New Zealand, ond, needless to say, in the . exhibition saleyards they ha\e been keenly .scrutinized by those interested. In New Zealand the consignments would not bo classed as Al, but rather as mediums, and would not he exhibited in any of the exptxicions pur.-iipa! of the colony. Alongside of the New Zealandcrs were 'ome Home pens of Lincolns that had been imported from EngL-nd. These latter are what the estancieros and ehacreros have long been accustomed to T>urcliase. The English Lincolns, without- doubt, can give points as far as outward appearances are concerned to their New Zealand pai&anos, for with their immense body and long legs they quite overtower the low-set and well-put-together, close-woolled sheep tjf the colony. At the same time, Dersons who have previously invested in the New Zepland Lincoln speak in terms of the highest praise of them. In the first place, they acclimatise more quickly, and, being stiong and hardy, do not need half the attention that the pampered and less robust Home article requires The price of the wool and of the carcase on the London market is also all in favour of the New Zealandere. England having c'.oscl her ports against the importation of live stock from Argentina on account of the prevalence of peste aftosa (foot-and-mouth cli-ea=e), which was Pouring the pampas, this Republic letaliated by doing likowisa, and closing her ports against England, which hrs therefore been cut off from her best cartomera in the purchasing of etud stock, a:id quien sabe when the restrictions will be again regulated to their ordinary groove, people in authority thinking it will be some years before such takes place. On this subject I enclose tho following paragraph clipped from " Estancia and Stud, in one of the local papers :—": — " Tn the unfortunate and most improbable event of our ports not being open to British live stock r>exfc winter. Argentine farmers might do worse than look for fresh ■blood from our distant neighbours in New Zealand. Several shipments have come to this country, and, if we mistake not, Metis Gibson Bros, are very much pleased with the results obtained from v\hat they received some year or two ago." Now, after w hat has taken palace in this Republic, would not this, S.r, be a fine opening and an extensive market for some of the New Zealand studmaFters to take advantage of to rid themselves of some of their surplus stock? A few shipments of first-claims animals would soon find purchasers, with a good margin of profit to the shipper. The merits and the stamina of the brescl in becoming known would certainly lead to an increased demand, and, to uss the siereoiyped expression, "What would be England's loss would be Now Zealand's gain. A notice or to judiciously inserted in somo of the papers in Buenos Ayres, such as is done by the English studmasters, giving address, etc , would, I am certain, result m negotiations being entered into. Salud, Senor Editor, y pax a Yd. JrLEs H. Taftee. Buenos Ayres, January 23, 1901.