LOCAL A. AM) P. NEWS.

A threshing mill belonging to Messrs Henderson Bros, was destroyed by fire at Edendale on Saturday evening. It is surmised that a soark from the engine, -nliich had been worked that day, had found its way through the cover of the mill, and ignited the straw beneath— the straw being used to support the cover in the form of an arch, vhich would shed tbe rain mo:e easily. — Wyndham Farmer. The Wyndham Farmer says the _ exceptionally hlsrh price of 31s was realised at Wyndham 'stock sale last Thursday lot a pen of heavy-weight ewes, fattened by Mr H. Warden, of Tuturau. The condition under which farming operations are being conducted in the JTaieri have not improved. Farming work of all kinds is being carried on under difficulties. In East Taieri olay ground is verysour, and the bulk of farmers have not completed sowing. Very few, if any, have made a start with their green crops. — Advocate. ' ' Elderslie settlers are jubilant over their prospects for the coming soasou. Both grass and crops on this estate are looking remarkably well, and everything points to a successful season. — North Otago Times. The provincial directors of the new Teviot Preserving Company are pushing on matters with all hasto (says last Wednesday's' Mount Benger Mail), and the company will be registered this week, after which the shares will be allotted and a suitable site selected for th© building. . Tho following Tapanui district notes are from last week's Courier: — A committee meeting of the Tapanui Farmers' Club was held on the 29th ult., when the priz©^ schedule for the annual show on December 9 was revised, and some slight alterations made. In place of farmer's buggy horse, best dog-cart horse has b£&n substituted, and attractions will be afforded by polo races for men and boys. — Amongst farmers' | flocks the percentage this year appears to be from 90 to 100. The best return we have heard of was at Milrig, Mr Gco. Howat marking 145 per cent, for his fiock of 150 ewes. Mr D. Kcir (one of the 140b selectors) marked 130 per cant, of lambs for 100 ewe?. BrooKsdale has over 100 per cent., counting a lot of young ewes. — The managerjof the Tapanui State Nuisery has the spring work well advanced, and the lined-out_ yearlings . are now .looking- splendid. The new plantations are also making a nieo appearance, and will prove both ornamental and useful. Work on the newer portions of the nursery is going ahead I rapidly, and a large area of tree seeds has } already been sown, and a temporary break- i wind is being built around them. The new bridge over the- creek is finished, and road work is being proceeded with on the newlyacquired portion. Some tree seeds e.rc being grown to order this year for distribution, but under the present regulations young trees for planting- can only be supplied when ordered at seeding time. A .manager's residence is needed at the nursery, as Mr R. G. Robinson finds it very inconvenient to reside in the town, so far from Ihe scene of his labours. At present fifteen men are employed at the nursery, and with the' increased area under cultivation tney find plenty of employment. The committee of the Gore A. and P. Association met on the 29th ult., Mr M. Dickie (president) in the chair. The Massey-Harris Company, Andrews and Beaven, Reid and Gray, P. and D. Duncan, Morrow and Bassett, Booth, Macdonald, and_ Co., and Cooper and Duncan wrote stating that it was not their intention to exhibit at the forthcoming show. Mason, Struthers, and Co. wrote that they would exhibit the "Alfa-Laval" cream separator at the show, and probably the "Ivel" agricultural motor. A. Storrie and J. Macalister (Invercargill) also wrote stating that they would exhibit. Reid and Gray, at a later stage, telegraphed that several firms were desirous of exhibiting, at the show, and wishing to know when entries closed. Messrs J. E. Watson, Nimmo and Blair, Gore Retailers' Association, Donaghy, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., N.Z. Warehousemen's Association, and Briscoe and Co. wrote offering donations towards the prize fund. Mr W. Macara was appointed yard superintendent for the show. Mr G. P. Johnston offered, on behalf of an enthusiast, a special prize of £1 for a walking competition. Offer accepted. — Mr "Green said that last year the committee. had beea a bit hard on the press. No doubt they deserved a knock now and again, but the press gave the committee a sort of knock last year. The committee had no hostility to the press, and he thought they should make amends this year by granting refreshment tickets. Mr W. j. Johnston said that it had not been intended last year to exclude the press, but a member foolishly moved a resolution to that effect, as against another objectionable mot L on 'ii and ib was P assed - The president should get a free- hand in - awarding privileges. It was decided to leave the matter m the hands of tho president. — Thirty-nine new members were elected. A well-attended meeting of the Central Otago A. and P. Association was held at Ophir on the 27th ult. Mr E. Gerkens presided. The question of the erection of dairy produce and grain, sheds was dis cussed, and eventually it was decided, on the motion of Messrs Isbister and Gerkens, that Messrs M 'Knight Bros, be' given the contract, the price being £17 15s. Messrs Laidlaw, Kinney, Ramsay, Fraser, and Hawson were appointed a committee Lo lay off the grounds. It was decided to ask the Minister of Railways to grant excursion fares on the Otago Central Railway, starting on November 17. and available for four days, and also requesting that a special train be run from Middlemaroh on the morning of the show. The following special prizes have been presented : — Kaitangata Company, one ton coal; Marshall's Chemical Company, 10s ; Alliance Box Company £2 2s; Benjamin and Co. 20s; Donaghy's Twine Company, 30s. The monthly meeting: of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club was held on the 31st ult., Mr J. Cowan (president) in the chair. A letter was received from Messrs Reid and - Gray in reference to the decision of implement makers not to exhibit at future shows. The following is the concluding sentence: "In cutting your show and district out, we may say that no slight is Intended, and we wish your society every success in the future." — Thd collectors for the show prize fund reported that they had been successful in obtaining donations in Dunedin, Lawrence, and Waitahuna. Two other collectors' lists are not yet to hand. Stewards

were appointed in the different classes. The secretary was instructed to apply to the Traffic Railway Superintendent for special train accommodation on show day. _ A discussion took place about the music to be provided on show clay, and it was cai-ried that a few of the pipers from the Dunedin Pipe Band be engaged, and a sub-commit-tee was appointed to make arrangements. The president, vice-president, treasiirer, and secretary were empowered to allocate the prizes and to prepare the programme. — It was resolved that 2d per dozen be paid for small birds' eggs and heads, and that the following members be appointed to receive them: — Messrs D. M'Corkindale, Johnston, W. Crozier, Mount Stewart ; the president and J. Scott, Waitahuna. — The President, in closing the meeting, thanked the members for their attendance, and the keen interest taken in the club's deliberations from time to time was very gratifying to him. The usual meeting of the committee of the North Otago A. and P. Association was held on Wednesday last, when there was a good attendance. Mr J. Reid (president) occupied the chair. The Railway Department wrote that last year's train arrangements would be adhered to as much cis possible, but that it was not considered advisable to extend the issue of excursion tickets to include Christchurch and Invoreargill. The tickets, would be issued from Christchurch. to persons in charge of exhibits. This was in answer to suggestions made by a deputation of the committee. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Morton, seconded by Mr Douglas, that the committee again interview the railway authorities, with a view of getting hotter terms. The general opinion was that the matter should not be allowed to drop at the present stage. — The MasseyHarris Company wrote stating that it was not its intention to exhibit at the society's show. — Judges were appointed for the forthcoming show. — Mr TV. D. Burns, secretary of the Poultry Society, wrote regretting that his committee could not fall in with the Agricultural Society's suggestion re the holding of a poultry exhibition, as the members had not fche time to spare, but the writer promised a fair amount of individual supporc if an exhibition of poultry was held. — Mr J. Mitchell, secretary of the Horticultural Society, alto wrote regretting the inability of his committee to co-operate in the holding of a flower show in connection w-Ith the agricultural show. — It was noiified that a C4overnment poultry expert would give illustrations of forcing, plucking, and packing poultry at the forthcoming show. — It was decided to have a telephone laid on to the ground, the secretary stating that the work could be carried out at a reasonable figure. Mr Douglas moved in the matter, the Coledonian Society to be asked to bear half the expense of installation. — The question of having 1 a buckjumping competition at the forthcoming show was discussed, and it was decided, on the motion of Mr Gardiner, seconded by Mr J. Mitchell, to have such a competition, the ring to be properly cleared for the event. Several of those present who had seen a similar contest at Timaru were greatly in favour of the proposal. A subcommittee was appointed ■to attend to details, and the prizes were fixed at £5, £3. and £2. Writing on the 2nd inst., the Wendon correspondent of the Mataura Ensign reports : — The dry spell of weather we have experienced in ihis district has permitted most of the crop to be sown. It is all oats that are going- in hero this season, and this week should see the sowing finished. This is the latest season we have had for years, but, given fine weather, the crops are sure to come away fast, as the ground was in fine order during sowing, and the harvest may come on earlier than was at first anticipated. The grass has also come away well during the past fortnight, and lambs are having a good time, though the first of the season was none too favourable. I have not heard of any great loss in this part, and I think that the percentage will be equal with past seasons. The Otiake correspondent of the Oamaru Mail writes: — We are having very wet weather in this quarter of the world. More rain has fallen here this spring than any spring that I can remember. The season here is usually dry, with strong- winds, but we have had very little wind this year. The autumn crops are looking remarkably well, and the straw is certain to be heavy. It is tco early to say what the grain will be. The soring- crop looked backward for a time, but is now doing- well. Grass is plentiful, and although the season has been wet the lambing has been good. By what I can learn all have 100 per cent., and some a little over that. One party has reached 130 per cent., but he spent 'most of his time amongst his ewes during the lambing j season, and doubtless saved a good many lambs that would have perished in the wet. The Hyde correspondent of the Mount j Ida Chronicle writes: — Farm work has been much hindered by ihe excessive rainfall, and j long hours are now 'being worked to make j up leeway. Very few crops have more than inado an appearance abovp ground, ana a 'co'nisidera.blo area of oats has yet to be j sown. More wheat has been sown than icr many years past, the prospect of good prices being the inducement. Some of tho more fortunate farmers, having their cereals in, are beginning- to sow turnips. _ In miny cas-es the ground for this crop is already prepared, as it was ploughed (if lea or iussock) while other groi'iid was too soft, po that though the cereal crops are later than last year, the turnip crop will probnbly bo earlier. In the paddocks the lambingis about over, and farmers are beginning to think of docking and the reckoning of percentages, while among tho flocks on the hills lambing is in full swing. Notwithstanding the tain and snowstorms of the past six weeks, peioentages promise to be very fair. In some cases, I believe, it will average over 100 per cent., which, though it may seem small to those fortunefavoured ones who get_ 140 to 160 per cent. increase, is quite satisfactory to •farmeis in this district, especially in view of piese-nt and prospective prices. In this connection, a well-known buyer or fat lambs who was in the district ra, few days ago ventured thj opinion that the fat lamb market of '05 would opeai at about 14s. Needless to say, he. did not make any purotiasas for forward delivery at that figure. A meeting of th,e Maniototo A. and P. Association took place on the 29th ult., Mr P. M. Law (president) in the chair. The Massey-Harris Company wrote stating that they had decided nofc to exhibit this year. — Mr J. Mitchell's tender of £48 for the erection of the building on the show ground was accepted. — The programme of last year was adopted with very few alterations. In order to pi-event one animal winning! the two classes for fat biillookis, the weight in Clas-g 22 is laised to 7001b. Glass 46 W

been altered from best mounted trooper #t bert paced hack — walk, trot, and canter. Class 94 is deleted. — The following attending members were appointed: — Cattle, Messrs Mulholland and C. J. Inder; draught horses, Messrs Charters .and W. Davis ; thoroughbieds, Messrs R. F. Inder, Shaw, and Calder ; polo, leaping, and tilting- contests, Messrs Bleach and Kirk : 'sheep, Messrs R. Scott, Grecr, and J. Duncan ; swine and dogs, Messrs W. Dowling and M. Cogan. — Resolutions were carried as follows: — "That the programme be published! in pamphlet form ; that the society is nofc in a position to raise the prize money ; that tht; rule providing that no horse is to be ridden through the show ground except when being exhibited miist be strictly enforced." — Mr C. Indcr said he had had am interview with the official of tbe Railway Department, when that gentleman came up to inquire into their request for railway cono?ssions on show day, and had given himi all the information as to number of entries, attendance, etc., he could. There was nofc much prospect of any alteration in the up train, but the department might se& ita way to run the train that came to Ranfur'ly right on to Blacks ; and there wasi also a chance of a train to Middlemarch. — The secretary was instructed to supply all necessary information. Mr F. M'Kay, of Gunimies' Bush, informs the Western Star that he had 155 per cent, of lambs in his Romney studi flock.

The Lake County A. and P. Society is to be congratulated on the excellent schedule submitted by it for its first annual show, to be held at Ay-rburn, Arrow, oa Wednesday, November 30. The schedule comprises 26 sections in all, under the following headings: — Horses, competitions, cattle, sheep, pigs, dairy produce, clogs, poultry, grain and seeds, sundries, flowers, implements, and a shearing competition. Tho various sections have been well arranged, and made as attractive as possible. Quite a number of special prizes will be given, and we understand more will be forthcoming. — Wakatipu Mail. The annual meeting of shareholders of the Winton Saleyards Company was held on the 3rd inst., Mr Thomas Paterson, retiring chairman of directors, presiding. The report and balance sheet were read by the chairman, who moved the adoption of same, which was seconded by Mr James Hamilton, and carried unanimously. The> profit and loss account showed a credit balance of £291 5s 6d, the cash balance being £84- 0s 4d, the difference having been sunk in improvements to the yards. Tho adoption of the report carried with ifc the placing of £60 at fixed deposit at the bank for one year, and the declaring of no dividend, there being no funds available for the purpose. A vote of thanks was passed to the directors for their past services. Mr Paterson was re-elected chairman of directors.

The Ringway correspondent of the Western Star writes: — We are experiencing" splendid weather for all farming purposes, and farmers are busy potato-planting: and getting the ground ready for seeds and! mangels. For winter feed for milking* purposes there" is no better feed than, mangels and plenty of good oaten straw. Then there will be no complaint of tainted] butter, the result of cows being fed on either yellows or swedes. A good preventive of taint is to cut the shaws off previous to being fed. A very old and successful system of manuring the ground is common in "Victoria, and is carried- on to this day — viz., green manuring. Red: clover, cow-grass, peas, and vetches are sown, and when fit to be cut a chain is oonnected to the plough behind the mould-board, and this beautiful green feed! is ploughed down, with the profitable result of clean ground and splendid crops of wheat. Although it has never been practised in Southed, now that so many weeds of all sorts are making their appearance there could be no better system, of manuring and no better fertiliser. It; would be less expensive than the artificial manures at present used; at anyrate, ifc would be a most successful way to kill that very troublesome weed "yar" or "yarrow," in many instances said to come in guano or bones. In some parts of Southland winter wheat succeeds well, but as a general rule the climate is too wet, with the result that the spring wheat is more commonly sown, and succeeds well. In all sheep paddocks the lambs are looking well, and to all appearances there is a good percentage. Wool still maintains a fair price, but invariably just before the wool sales down comes the price, and once again the farmer's hopes are blighted^ Still they come. Mr Sam Fletcher, from Gore, has bought a line of 80 splendid bullocks from the herd of Mr R. Cupples, sen.. Fairfax, and the same buyer also inspected 100 good bullocks belonging to Mr Hugh Erskine, the well-known settler at the Waiau. Such extensive purchasers as Mr Fletcher are at considerable acqiiisifcion to the . Western; district. But again there is no other district in Southland that could supply .the same quantity or quality. The Waikawa correspondent of the Southland Times writes: — Although the early spring, accompanied as it was by chilly east wind?, was backward, the recent favourable conditions have promoted a luxuriant growth of grass, while crops of oats are coming away well. The bird pest is as strong and mighty one, in spite of careful poisoning on the part of tho farmers, who will have to resort to some more effective measure for their destruction — such as trapping. The sowing of young grass is now occupying the attention of the farmer.