NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8965, 1 December 1894, Page 9

NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

"Weekly Press."

0 I understand that the committee of the 0 Flock Book have decided that it is not c necessary to inspect any flocks that may j, be entered. At present I make no obser- '- rations upon this decision, contenting jj myself with giving It publicity, and d awaiting the opinion of my readers on the y subject. But the reason that is adduced x tor this policy does not appeal to mc as c worthy of recognition. It is said that c inspection would be too expensive. Well, it seems to mc that the expense 3 attaching to the inspection of any flock i would naturally fall upon the owner . «f that flock and not upon the funds of the Flock Book, and further, that any owner who objected to pay such expense.s could not be looked upon as very anxious to see t bis flock entered. " I lanc7 M this idea. I» p=r»eTered witll MMMiiuikuiuulilii 5 success, and indeed I have already la ear d j more than one prominent breeder talking : about starting a Flock Book simply and > solely for the breed he ia interested in - . and that after ill I f ml is what m mall COTXIG to. ! "X" writes:-"I see from the Press of [ the 15th that the Flock Book Council met ; and abolished Rule 6. which says : " The • inspection committee shall inspect any fleck whose owner is desirous of entering and shall count the flock," That rule was what some thought to be the backbone of the whole scheme. I don't pretend to be a lawyer, but 1 understood tbe council were appointed to carry out the rules, not to I alter or abolish them. Rule 12 says : " The I council, as constituted by the above rules, shall ! compile and publish the first volume of the > Flock Book, and shall have full power to provide for and act in cases unprovided for by the rules and conditions." That is the direct opposite from abolishing the rules ; and conditions. If we are to have a plan it mast be a fixed and settled plan. If we are to pay money we want to know exactly what it is for. We may wake up any morning, it seems, to find that the whole affair has been alterec) during the night; altered without either warning or discussion, so far as the great bulk of those interested are concerned, and altered by a meeting that only includes nine out of a total of twenty-two councillors. Rule 2 says: " The council for each island shall appoint three competent men to form an inspection committee in such districts as they may consider necessary, to whom they shall refer applications for entry. Well, they have i already appointed four for each district, one extra as a sort of emergency man after the fashion of our football team. (They must have expected some rough work.) But when they abolished Rule 6 they praticaliy abolished Rule 2 as well, and to coyer this they resolved that the local committee shall simply act as advising bodies to the Council. It is significant that they have- dropped the use of the word in-pector. No doubt they have found ont that the name inspector has rather a terrifying effect upon us poor farmers nowadays, as that awful word has got inextricably mixed in onr minds with men in brass buttons.and Californian thistles. Is there none can tell us the advantages they expect from what may be called "The undesirable sheep-breeders exclusion bill ?" I have attended several of the recent shows, and I have spoken to many sheep-breeders, and without exception I have found them either openly hostile or absolutely indifferent to the proposed " Flock Book." It seems" to them what it seems to mc to be—a hopelessly unworkable muddle—and it is made no better by abolishing Rule 6. The inspectors are now placed iv an entirely di fferenfc position from what th ey were in before/ They now no longer act as experts with superior judgments, but they are asked to place at the services of the Council any knowledge they may have acquired as to the breeding of their neighbour's sheep through tbe sacred intercourse of , private friendship. • I care not what its future may be ; I have marked my course, bubitis a consolation to believe as I do, , that you cannot permanently delude any class of people into supporting a thingthat brings them neither instruction nor profit, and it is not in the power of any i man or set of men to make a scheme such , as this a permanent success, a scheme we i now see shifting before us wilb as much ] uncertainty as the shadows of the clouds j that we have in one form to-day and in < another form to-morrow." ( j The Canterbury Agricultural and j [ Pastoral Association this year gave some ] £906 in prizes, of which £750 roughly was \ from the society's funds. Not withstand- \ ing this, lam glad to know, the society j comes out with a balance well on the right • side of the ledger. ] Rain last week made store sheep value i more encouraging, and at the Addington market hoggets off shears sold really well. , Fat sheep, on the other hand, were much j easier. ■ Ewe mutton of uncertain age and poor t quality is coming freely on to the market, a and it seems only too likely that we shall this summer again see ewe mutton a com- t plete drug. I would again remind sellers t that it is sheer waste of time and energy * to put indifferent ewes in the market at this time of year. Far better if the sheep are not good mutton to consign'them *| straight to tbe "pot." That is what the j -~. Addington buyers will do with them. I *

It is of course quite impossible to congratulate wool growers on tbe prospects, as indicated at the opening of tbe wool sales in Christchurch on Friday last. Indeed, in the face of London advices received on the morning of the sales, it is to mc surprising that things went off as we as they did.' But the blow falls hard after all we were led to expect by the highest authorities from the revision of the American tariff. The drop is, so far as I can gather, almost inexplicable, and the worst feature of all is that the chances of recovery are remote.

i However, as I said before, things were '■ not so bad as they might have been, and some classes of wool can even be said to have sold well and as evidence of this I could name three or four cases where wool sold ou Friday made more money than was offered for it here last year and certainly more than it realised when put upon (he London market subsequently. Still there is no getting away from the fact that values in general are lower and it seems that tbe only thine to be done is to regulate oar operations upon a reduced value. We are nob the only sufferers and judging by tbe samples and values of half and three quarter bred wool, recently sold in Melbourne, which have been sent over here we are still not the worst off people in the world.

1 commend to growers' careful consideration the remarks of Mr Jowitt, one of the home buyers, made before the opening of the sales. All interested must recognise that they have an important bearing oh the welfare, of wool growers. I have re

liable inforrartion that last week some buyers would not touch certain large sized lots at any price because chey were quite useless to them for the reasons explained by Mr Jowitt. The Jttonawaftt Daily Is op in arms (rightly I certainly think) at the comparison of North and South Island shows made by the Premier at the recent Canterbury A. and P. Association's luncheon. Our contemporary says:—" Have ' the southerners anything at all to; boast about? Christchurch, a city (with suburbs) of about 40,000 inhabitants, musters about 20.000 at its show. It must be borne In mind that "carnival week," on account ot the racing, attract! visitors 10 Christchurch from all parts of the colony, and that consequently tbe local population is

very considerably augmented at that time of the year. The Manawatu Show, on the other hand, held in a town which does not master seven thousand ot a population, attracts an attendance of double that number. Then again as to business. We have the statement of a large southern manufacturer that more orders were booked by the firm at Falmerston than at the Cante c bury fixture. These are facts which indicate that the local event is fast overhauling Canterbury, and the time is not perhaps so very far distant when tbe southern show will have to play second fiddle to that at Palmerston. As a matter of fact, in some particulars, it is even now years behind Manawatu. For instance, while at Palmcrston a "parade" of tho horse classes is made, whicn can be viewed from no less than four stands, at Canterbury they have no parade and no stands for the public I Again, we are assured on good authority that the arrangements for j**dp:irij£ in aozxre of the clashes, notorioasly in those of sheep, were very ba.d, stxad eonhawm my?? infiiT?nn j*ij *!» w f m ties for judjiinc a.C Palmerston. _A_s to entries, in 18S15 Canterbury could only muster 1115 entries (tin* year Palmerston ha.d but 14 less), and it is only the very wftwa »vifis Canterbury Show against 244 at the Manawata which has given tbe former such a great preponderance. In the other classes Canterbury had 122 cattle against Palmersfcon's SI; horses, 221, against 216; pigs, ■ 40. against 31. The following reference to dishorning of cattle appears in the report of the Departmental Committee on the Irish cattle i trade :—"Evidence was given to show that dishorned cattle travel more safely than j the horned beastß, but that, on the other ] hand, they are more difficult to tie up. A remarkable feature of the evidence was j the absence of any general complaint as to the occurrence of injuries through ] goring to animals during sea transit, and the disadvantage of horned as compared with hornless cattle moat prominently brought before the committee was the liability of their horns to fracture. With a view of reducing the sufferings of cattle during transit, we are of opinion that the dishorning of cattle should be encouraged, provided that the operation is carried out humanely, and at an early age. We have referred to the j subject because it has been the subject of | considerable evidence, but we do not feel justified in making any recommendation concerning it, especially as it does not seem to come properly within the terms of our report." The rabbit invasion—or the spread of the rabbit pest in South Canterbury—is causing runholders much anxiety. The South Canterbury Times reports that at a meeting tbe other day Mr A. M. Clark produced a map showing the present rabbit fence, and certain suggested lines for new fences on practicable lines for the subdivision of the whole of South Canterbury. These lines were suggested by Mr Marchant, who prepared the map. The map was examined and discussed with much animation for some time, some parts of the lines being asserted, with local knowledge, to be impracticable, through snow- or otherwise. (One line was drawn from the existing fence to the sea between the Pareora and. Otaio; another from this fence along the top o£ the Hunter range &o. to the lower end of Lake Tekapo, one from thin at Burkes Pass to the Rangitata at Peel Forest, another line from the head of Lake Tekapo to the Rangitata along Forest Creek.)

The chairman proposed and Mr Seddon seconded a motion that the Government be petitioned to erect at once certain rabbit proof fences. The lines suggested being all in the north part of the district southern represen atives objected strongly, and the chairman explained .that he left ifc? for them, who knew the district, to make additions to tbe motion.

Mr R. H. Rhodes suggested certain lines

I for the southern district, and these having * been incorporated the motion was put and E carried as follows :—" That this meeting » being representatives of farmers of South i Canterbury, petition the Government to » erect at once a rabbit proof fence from ' Knight's ruu, north of the Raneficata, to ;• Stew Point, and from thence crossing the ' Rangitata and across Acland's Saddle of the Mount Peel range to the headwaters 1 of the Hewson; following under the range ! thence to Burkes Pass, and joining wiih 1 Mr Seddon's rabbit fence at Burkes Pass ; ' from Burkes Pass through Lockhart's 1 Saddle- down the Hakaterainea Valley; thence to the bend of the Waihoa ; thence in a southerly direction to join Mr A. 1 M'Lean's fence; also a short cross fence from the Haldon Saddle to join the new fence; a short line of fence, about three miles, from Mr Seddon's fence to Lake Tekapo; and a fence from the head of Lake Tekapo up the Macauley to the. glaciers.". \ In the course of the discussion on his motion the chairman said the northern '< lines totalled about 70 miles. They must i also seek to assist North Canterbury, or the Government would not help them, and the Macauley fence and the fence north of the Ringitata were meant to do that. He believed that one year's rent of the country affected would etect the fences. - : The Wellington Show has undergone some criticism from the Observer and Fealherston Chronicle. That journal writes thus:—The Pastoral and Agricultural Show just concluded atPetone cannot, by the greatest stretch of the imagination, be regarded as what its promoters proudly announced it would be—a Metropolitan Show. Because a shipping port happens to be the capital of the colony, it is not a sufficient excuse for the attempt of a certain section to establish a Metropolitan Show there. The reason is obvious—it is not an agricultural centre, and no matter how they may endeavour to force everything to the chief town, in this case they will not succeed. In the common nature of things to be successful in obtaining the objects for which such shows are promoted, viz., the encouragement of growers and breeders of farm produce and stock, these annual exhibitions must be held right in the midst of those directly interested. It is tbe large public attendance that is the temptation to the present management to continue the Show, not for any good in tbe shape of knowledge that may be disseminated amongst the crowd, for the bulk of the people who attend merely go for the outing, and, given apnblic holiday, thousands more would have been present at a menagerie than visited Petone last Thursday. Some breeders from the Wairarapa, and in a markedly less degree from the West Coast, give the Wellington Show their support. It has never been spontaneous on their part, nor enthnsiastic, and in fact owes its origin to a few discontented breeders who could not have all their own way in their own districts and so said "let us go forth in our strength and teach these people that we are bigenough to hold a show of onr own," and they went and ever since have run the Show themselves, and an uphill game they have found it, for the fear has continually haunted them that a time might come when they would have to play Hamlet without the Ghost, as breeders fell out and none replaced them, and they had to content themselves with entries of butter and bacoa, instead of beef and mutton. Flattered by the large number of holiday makers who visit the annual exhibition, these " wanderers from fibme," selfblinded, are oblivious to the jibes of the country farmers who attend the Metropolitan Show, and persuade themselves chat they are the cynosure of all eyes. The WeUiogton Fosf, in commenting on the same fixture, makes the following; remarks :—That while we yesterday wie-

ncssed an excellent agricultural show, it was in its scope and character but a country show, when it might and should be expanded into a metropolitan exhibition. There was not enough to see to draw a miscellaneous crowd of sightseers, and in the shillings of the multitude only will the Association find assured financial success. But before indicating the lines upon which we think the work of the Society might be extended, it is well that the public be reminded of the excellent work that has been done by it committee.

On tbe other hand the Examiner is greatly pleased with the show of its district, as may be gleaned from a perusal of the following remarks. '* On Friday Woodville came to tbe front. The show was a magnificent success in point of numbers of visitors, in point of entries and quality of exhibits, and in point of Its importance as a social reunion. The Society has had aq up-hill light in tbe face of ■wr-etcliedl weather **osr the pas& shows ■wlfcla. llxe depressed condition of Che

tiittipGiniji rrunnii? vm

show-, several prominent members of I the society began to feel somewhat despondent over the prospects of the society, and even «poke of the annual ! SIW W\% WTOflg"' This Sfenw was the crisis which marked the society's career. Ie has been a pronounced success, and has marked that success on the prospects of the society. The society's show may now be claimed to be an established institution, and it will go forward by leaps and bounds. The original promoters of the society had one important aim in view. It was ambitious, it is true, but we believe it wil. be realised to the letter. That ideal was that Woodville will become the central show ground of the North Island. It is a noted fact that Hawke's Bay exhibitors have not shown largely at the Manawatu Show —marked success as it i*. Woodville is destined to be a much more convenient competing ground for both Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay; white the West Coast is already always strongly represented at the Woodville Show, and will be increasingly so. As yet the Society has not been able to give large prizes, except in a few cases by the kind assistance of enterprising firms, who have shown their desire to aid it all tbey can. Next show will almost certainly see the Society in a position to give more substantial prizes; and this will be one of the best Incentives to widespreading competition at the Woodville Show, where breeders from the j East and West Coasts, and from Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa Societies can meet together in friendly competition." i