A SUGGESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 3579, 10 December 1879, Page 3

A SUGGESTION.

Editor Times,-7A^ Hne^ Southland A. and P. Society's Show- will be held shortly, I maj be permitted refer to a matter that has caused considerable ill-feeling in the Mataura district: I refer to farmers judging horse shoeing at shows. lam n6t "for ' one moment trying to disparage the judges, as I have no doubt they did their best, and all "honor to them for the time, trouble, and expense^ incurred -consequent on coiniug from a "distance to do air- unthankful task at best.- But I xnain- [ tain that, however well a fanner mayj know the points of a horse or bull, he 'can have no practical or scientific knowledge 'of horse shoeing as a science. . His, knowledge is -usually, confined to a casual visit, to the village smithy perhaps once^-iri a ihonth, while -tfie farrier, who makes his living by horfe shoeing and knows" (or ought "to "know) the anatomy of a , Jiorse's foot, and, who sees different kinds— of horses' feet every day— he ought to be " the best judge of kthe shoe that will suit the particular, animalfthat is to be' shod for a prize, as their is as much diversity of horses' feet as their are different- opinions among men. Jfow, the fairest plan would be for two gentlemen — practical farriers from a distance—to judge this important' branch of local industry. Ask the competitors, and they will one and all ell you that they would prefer to be judged by a farrier. Some people will immediately say that I was an unsuccessful competitor at the last show, and am grinding my axe at the expense of the judges, but such is not the case; I did not compete for the very reason I have mentioned — I am, &c, s . : W.-H. Mathieson,- V.S. Wyndbam, Dec. 7th, 1879. i