ENTIRE STOCK ON GOLDFIELDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 172, 25 May 1871, Page 5

ENTIRE STOCK ON GOLDFIELDS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, — Tn your last issue your readers cert- inly are much indebted for the useful information »iven them by "Cattleowner " regarding the " miserable scrubbers " of cattle now upon the Tuapeka Commonage ; and to be informed that a Mr. Pillans had sold some of his cattle lately as high as £20, is indeed information not to be dispised. He does not inform us how many brought that figure, but I have been told that one cow alone realised that price. "Regarding the " miserable bulls " which he complains of as b^ing the me'-ms of producing the rubbish of cattle now crowding cur ■ ommonage, may I be permitted to ask "Cattleowner" if ho has ever used the means to introduce this valuable breed of cattle into the Tuapeka Commonage 1 if so, has he found them to maintain the same fine appearance and good qualities when exposed here to all weathers, and compelled to find an existance from partaking of flax, sno vv -tussock, tutu, &c, as they would do tinder Mr. Pillans' kind treatment ? I only wish for his satisfaction that he had purchased the L2O cow referred to, and turned her out for the winter, either on Breakneck or on the hills above Weatherstones, and I have little doubt by October next he would not know his own cow Does he mean to tell us that the cattle owners of this district can, from the treatment and exposure that their cattle receive, produce the same form and qualities as Mr. Pillans could do under very different circumstances ? In my opinion* he might as well infer that the great butterfly breed would do well in the north of Scotland, for it is a well known fact that some breeds of cattle require particular treatment, and although " Cattleowner" may set little value upon the scrubbers of this locality, I can assure him that there are cows now upon the Commonage that L2O would not purchase. lam even open to show a six months old heifer, free from pedigree except that of a scrubber, against any of Mr. Pillans' breed of the same age, and brought up under the same treatment. I would have liked if " Cattleowner " had shown in his letter the benefits that would be conferred on the settlers at large by confining the bulls. I think it would prove a disadvantage to many who have not the means of maintaining a bull. I never was aware before that Mr Mackay had at any time impounded bulls on account of their breed, but that he did so because they were unbran'ded. T quite agree with " Cattleowner " that there is much room for improvement, and I will greet with pleasure any suggestion that will tend to improve our breed of cattle, and be beneficial to the settlers at large. — I am &c., Oid Stager.

(To the Editor.)

,Sir, — I see a letter signed "Cattleowner " in your last week's issue. I would like to see that gentleman sign his name to the letter and then the public would know his meaning. He speaks of bulls running on the Goldfields Commonage. I would tell that gentleman that there are as good bred bulls on the Commonage as perhaps he has on his clover paddocks. 1 daresay they do not look so well, simply because they have not half grass ; but if " Cattleowner" got all the "rubbish of bulls," as he calls them, put off the Commonage, he might come into the market with his one and do well. I would like him to tell me what a miner would do with his bull having no paddock for him ? I suppose " Cattleowner" would have the miner to dispose of his bull and bring his cow to his clover paddock. I see some of my neighbours keep a bull which they tether with a rope, but this I consider is nothing short of cruelty to animajs. "Cattleowner" also speaks of Mr. Pillans' cattle fetching L2O per head. The comparison is odious in the extreme, for it is absurd to put Mr. Pillans' cattle which were tended with a religious care, side by side with the fossickers on the Commonage. My brother "Cattleowner" refers to Mr. Mackay impounding such rubbish; I think he ought to let that gentleman alone, as he is doing his duty to perfection. When a man pays assessment for his bull he ought to be allowed to keep him on the Commonage with his cattle. I know parts of the district where cows go round from year to year and can get no bull that will not enable their owners to pay the assessment. 1 think the best thing cattle owners of this district can do is to club together and make " Cattleowner "ranger and so stop his mouth. Surely he must l>e a friend of the poundkeeper, for he evidently wishes to put something in that worthy gentleman's way. — I am &c, Another Cattleowner.