ARISTOCRATIC SHORT-HORNS.

Southland Times, Issue 3298, 15 January 1879, Page 3

ARISTOCRATIC SHORT-HORNS.

— — ; , - ~? , r-r- -.-■ -On board the Ringarooma, while lying at : the BlufE wharf on Monday afternoon, we had the pleasure of inspecting some very : ; aristocratic shbrt-horn cattle from the herds of Mr S Gardiner and Messrs Robertson "Brothers, "Victoria, which had been purchased at their late annual sales,. and were consigned to thei.order of Mr C. Simpson of; Bainesse Farm, Epxtoii, ,' Manaw.atu.According to the information . supplied "to us they < comprise the)prke-biul, Matilda's Double Brunswick, 22 - months old, which gained first prize at -the Victoria Agricul- : turol, Society's Show, 1878, at which time the'sum.iof 800 guineas was refused for liim,he being reserved at 10.00 .guineas." He is a magnificent red roan, carrying his beef, so far as we cpuld judge in his confined berth, very low, and -with ample -size for his age, presenting/the tout ensemble of a compactly put together, and eqiially formed, shapely shorthorn. His condition was blooming, -his) hair deep and mossy, and altogether he was the very perfection in handling of What a highbred bull of fancy Bates blood ought to be. In short 1 we have not before met with an animal inthe colonies presenting touching qualities so, pre-eminently good. His skin is deep - and mellow, and as velvety as that of most cows. His head is unniistakeably ". Bates," but of a fine and subdued type, and not of the strongly pronounced style "that appears so objectionable to the eyes to those who of late years have "been unaccustomed to that peculiar development of this strain of blood. Sorry were we tb see /VDouble. - Brunswick's", steam -.-past-trre'shpres o± Southland, and we could not help regretfully speculating on the benefit such an animal could not fail to bestow on the - -lucky locality where he may be stationed. ' • Next on the list is a white 9 months old bull bred hy Messrs Robertson Brothers, Colac. •' He is the "Earl of Alvie" by fifth Earl of ' DeiTimut by Earl of Geneva, (31,068) of pure Bates blood, which was purchased by. Messrs Robertson Brothers for 1650 guineas! He a youngster of a very highb red appearance/and remarkable development' for his age, but although he touches fairly" well on this point, ; he rather suffers in comparison with his more" highly favored comrade. *WThe queen of the lot was a red cow, "Countess of Colac," by the Earl of Geneva with bull calf at foot, by 22nd Duke of Den-imut. This was a magnificent cow, showing in almost every point lines of the highest breeding, albeit there was *a little deficiency in tbe shoulders, but', that probably was only made apparent through the great development of the hooks and Jiind" quarters, and a little loss of condition , from suckling, &c, 'Her finely set head . and mild p/ominent eye complete"*! [a picture that,, so .tp speak, was) well worth "framing. Her calf was a worthy chip' of the old block ' There- was also a very tempting, and for her age (5 months) buxsome young damsel, by Oxford Cherry 'Duke (32,016), a sire Avhich cost Messrs Robertson Brothers the- handsome sum of 2500 guineas. She may be fitly termed the " Princess Royal " of the importation, and is a .'remarkably „ ., sweet looking and promising young .Jieifer. She is good all round, and barring a slight rise "at the tail-head capribt.be taken exception to on a cursory view. The spread of her top was particularly admirable: ||The remainder of Jth? |lot consists of

five hejfefs> : brother to the)* ' Duke of Aiyje,''the champion >buß^of all the^iAustralian ; ;colbhies. Thdy are in calf i)to" the -$sth '' Duke pf Den^ mut," by "Earl of Geneva." "They are ;a very superior lpt^and 'quite-fit to exhibit successfully at; most provincial sho\vs.) Thewhole of the importation wereput on board in fine condition^ and as the passage has been exceptionally pleasant they have suffered very little from the voyage; The bulls and the iyoungest heifer ("the) latter by the way being still in the enjoyment of a foster "nurse) were): in quite •show condition. The owner. Mr Sunpsbn,; who hails from the Darlington district of; Ybrkshire, and- is ah enthusiast in short-; horns, '.-appeared'' -delighted to show us through the cattle. He has another; similar lot to follow; on thenext trip of the Ringarooma. The mate, Mr Webster, appeared to take almost more interest and care over the cattle than the owner, and in^ spite of tlie opposite character of his present vocation, the true Yorkshireman's instinct for shorthorns was strongly manifested. The next importation, we; were informed, will be mostly disposed of at the various ports at which the steamer calls;; including Bluff iand Dunedin, and should, | sufficient encouragement Offer, a portion ' may be -landed here. But-in any case,", as :thp. *st^amers^kee-p)their tinfe /^ery regularly breeders ; who '••wish to improve their stock could select from on bpard shij> ■without much trouble or risk of deten--; 1 ..tion.''.'-. ■;■;-"■ ; ;" ;.' -kk-.k-P. Ak\