A NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10131, 24 August 1904, Page 4

A NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME.

MR G. P. DONNELLY'S IMPRESSIONS, Tho following interesting letter lias bsen received from Mr G. P. Donnelly, by the Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L.C., and by his courtesy we (Hawke's Bay Herald) are enabled to publish it. It will 'be : found to contain a good deal of interest to country friends. The letter is dated London, July 9. Mr Donnelly says : — "I went to Ascot. The horses on the whole showed more quality than, ours; ours show more bone and substance. "I attended the Royal Agricultural Show. Very poor attendance. Tlie Show itself very good, especially m machinery, but not so good m agricultural implements. The motor-power plough, m my opinion, is not yet up to the mark, so have not purchased one. Disappointed m Shorthorn classes; not up to Hawke's Bay. Dovons very good', both m size and constitution ; m 'fact, one of the best of the cattle classes. Tolled Angus very good. Herefords very good, also Jerseys. I was disappointed hi Liucolns; they were well grown, but were on the leg" and bare about the points and small m tlie locic. Your sheep and Mr Tanner's I consider veiy much superior to any I saw at the Show, being three times the width m the lock, more density and weight of fleece. I priced th. champion shearling Lincoln. They asked 500gs, and said they would have no trouble m getting it from their Argentine fi'**-"d s * 1 certainly would not have given lOOgs for him; m fact, li_ would not suit us. There was a splendid lot of Down sheep, and I purchased first and champion shearling Southdowns ; also the _smrad and reserved champion from the King's Sandringham flock. All the arrangements and appointments of the Show Mere- most ex- ' cellent, but agricultural shows do not appeal to Londoners. There was very little .m the papers, and you would not imagine that a show was going on. My opinion is that they would have done much better by leaving il to the count ry shows. The Shire class was very good, showing plenty of size and barrel superior to the Clydesdales, but not so good m their feet. The Suffolk Punch class was very good, and if I couM 1 have attended the auction I would most likely have invested m the two and ' a-lialf -year-old first and champion. I should have liked' to have given the Show more time, but other engagements would not allow it. "1 visited the King's model farm at Sandringham, and had my pick of the shearling Southdown ewes, which were very good', and purchased 12 of I hem. They will be shipped early m August. Their Shorthorns were good of thenclass, which I will explain later on. I went through the thoroughbred**.. The yearlings -were well grown, and showed plenty of quality. The mares were a very good lot. Diamond Jubilee and Persimmon are two handsome horses, showing both quality and size, but I much preferred Persimmon as a sire, and I think lie will leave better stock. Florizel 11. I did not see. "I went to Newmarket one day. ihe racing was very good, and the horses were turned out m very good condition. I also attended the sale, but piissed the sate of Sir Blundell Maple's yearlings. There was nothing very special, with the except ioif of Greyleg, a stallion about 15.2, showing plenty of quality and a beautifully-turned horse with good feet and legs, which was sold for close on £3000. Had he been any other color I am sure he would liave brought more money. "I "have not as yet seen anything m size equal to Birkenhead, and have mentioned! him to one or two people who. I thought, knew most about horses, their opinion being that ho would make a good sire and would leave very good stock. "I visited the meat market one day last week. There was nothing on the market, to equal New Zealand lamb and mutton, especially lamb, with the exception of a small line from Germany, which had been killed about a day and a-half. The English lamb was very plain, and not, finished, anil had it not Deen that they Mere blown tip they would have looked very indifferent. There is a prevailing idea, m England that there is a great deal of disease m our mutton and sheep. How such a notion has obtained credence, 1 do not know, but I intend 1 making further enquiries. "I have seen Mr Borlhwick. sen. Heis determined to go on with the freezing works at Pakipaki, audi has sent out tho rails for the siding. He seems a very shrewd mau. and is looked upon as such m tho market. "I visited the wool stores at the dotks on Thursday morning, aud M-eut tluougln and priced all my own wool, arid 1 was very satisfied with the arrangements and' that tho woolbr'okers do justice to our clips. At 4 o'clock I attended! the sale, lasting till 7, bidding being very brisk, especially for coarse crossbred. Waimarama fleece (greasy) up to lOJd, lambs to Ud. * . . . "As you prophesied, we are having a real good time, the King," Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales being most kind 1 , and all the Royal circle showering invitations on ns. "Mr Chamberlain's views are much talked of here, and I believe will even^ tually come right. "I am pleased to hear that you are having a good winter, and that stock are doing well. As far as I can gather, wool is likely to hold its ( price, large orders coming from Japan." ,