AGRICULTURAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL.

From a single orchard in Whangarei district, 1,100 dozen lemons were gathered this season. .'■,■' ■ ... ..'.'•• . '...,. ';. ~ ..■'!; The. New Zealand Shearers' Union now numbers 2,300 members. • The charge for sheep-shearing has been fixed at £1 per 100 for. the North Island and Is 8d for the South Island. ,<>;•.•] ■■■ ■■'■'■■ • : ,/ : ' v ,- ': r; "

The steamer Glerieigarrived front the Kai* para on the 29fch ult. with the ostriches that have been on v the;farm. at Otamatea for' the' last couple of months.. The birds were all in,separate cages, and placed in the steamer's: hold, the total rfumber recorded being 46; They did riot appear to be in firstclafis condition, andduringthe voyage, which Wasi somewhat rough, two of the. birds died reducing the numßeV to 44.' These have been landed at, Turanga- creek, and conveyed to Mr L. D..'. JNathah's farm whei-e it is expected they will thrive more satisfactorily than hitherto. ' ■•■' : .We understand-that Mr J.C., Firth has sold nearly, the whole of, the Matamata estate to a syndicate of English capitalists; who, we believe, intend to continue Mr Firth's policy of placing small settlers upon the .block under advantageous conditions. ..The .private residence," stock, and machinery Jiaye _be§n...disposed .of along with" the estate, and the : only portion of the latter that has been, reserved, from saleis a, small area around the hot springs. No particulars as to price, etc,'haVe yet transpired, but at any rate the transaction has been arid Matamata'. \ has passed into other, hands...' It is to be hoped, that its new proprietors will do as much for it in the way of legitimate settlement arid cultivation ab Mr Firth has done, . • .■ ; "'-' J, -'-'