APPENDIX. 



bull, wonderfully good behind the shoulder, and having a majestic 

 fore-end. 



Arrangements were begun for importing a number of high-class 

 hei'fers from the leading studs of Scotland and England. Mr. W. J. 

 McVeigh was engaged in selecting these cattle for Coolangatta, when 

 an opportunity presented itself for making the herd premier of Aus- 

 tralasia at one stroke. Messrs. W. McNab & Brothers, of Oakbank, 

 Victoria, placed under offer the whole of their celebrated Ayrshires, 

 comprising 218 Stud Book cattle. The Oakbank Ayrshire herd, 

 founded over fifty years ago by the late John McNab, was probably 

 unequalled in the world, and was decidedly the most valuable stud 

 in Australasia. During the past fifteen years thirty-two champion- 

 ships have been added to the Oakbank escutcheon, and almost all 

 of these were won at the Royal Shows of Melbourne and Sydney. 

 To its credit, also, are many milking and butter test competitions, 

 and a number of Brassey and other medals for the best dairy cows 

 exhibited. For many years at Melbourne Royal Shows the Oakbank 

 Ayrshires and their progeny have carried off the most coveted awards, 

 and these cattle have recently been very successful at Sydney Shows. 



Throughout the pages of this book mention has been made of the 

 influence of the sire on the outward characteristics or general ap- 

 pearance of his progeny, and perhaps we might search the annals 

 of history in vain for a more striking example than that of Jemmie 

 of Oakbank. Wherever the progeny of thds bull have gone tney 

 carry with them the stamp of old Jemmie. It matters not which 

 part of the Commonwealth a show of dairy cattle is being held, the 

 judge or judges, as the case may be, are confronted with animals 

 bearing the same characteristics as the old bull, which goes to show 

 how type can be concentrated by intelligent mating of sires and dams 

 in a few years' time into one superb animal. 



Since the above extracts were penned, Dr. Hay was knighted (in 

 1908), and a few months later he passed peacefully away at his 

 private residence, Crow's Nest, Sydney, much regretted by all who 

 knew him well. Immediately after the demise of Sir John Hay the 

 Coolangatta stud herd of Ayrshires were sold by auction at Berry, 

 when that valued collection of stud animals were dispersed through- 

 out the Commonwealth. 



The foregoing facts have been largely taken from a descriptive 

 account of Coolangatta written by an expert, which appeared in a 

 leading Sydney paper. 



323. 



