NEXT SEASON'S CROPS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 8 September 1930, Page 12

NEXT SEASON'S CROPS.

PROSPECTS IN OTAGO. [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, September 7. Alth&ugh lambing is not yet in full swing, a number of lambs havo made their appearance in North Otago, and reports indicate that the percentage should be well up to the average. Now that there is green feed the trouble recently experienced with is passing over. The prospects for the 1931 crops are exceptionally good and great headway has been ma/de of lato. with boia autumn and winter-sown wheat. It is. many years since such an early spring has been experienced, and the growth lias been phenomenal. Reports from the country indicate that the wheat has stooled out much better than in former years. Ample rain has fallen and now plenty of sunshine is required. It is anticipated that a large area ol oats will b© reserved for crop as the pasture feed has* come ' away so well that the majority of farmers will not require to eat the crops off, or, if so, but very lightly. North Otago growers are fortunate this year that the bulk of the oats supplied for sowing are a change from the. usual seed, as most merchants have ha<l to secure supplies from Southland. The autumn-sown Alegerian oats show much promise. Fanners are now beginning to sow mangels and swedes, and during the week fair supplies have gone forward, • and with the present weather conditions, it is expected that much heavier sowings than usual will take place. WOOL CLIPS. AN AMERICAN ESTIMATE. (Received September 7th, 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 6. The Department of Agriculture, in a preliminary estimate of the United States wool clip, places the amount at 328,000,0001b, five per cent, greater thian 1929. The present indications were said to point to a world clip, exclusive of Russia and China, not greatly different from last year. NITROGENOUS MANURES. In a review covering the year ended June last, Aikman (London), Ltd., brokers, state/. "Nitrogenous fertilisers havo, like all other commodities, been subject to over-production. By January it became evident that production figures which had been estimated at a ■ total of 2,365,000 tons of pure nitrogen for July, 1929, to June, 1930, might bo somewhat exceeded unless restriction was imposed, and, at the same time, it was clear that consumption, which, during the previous two years had increased at the rate of about 20 per cent, per annum, was unlikely much tc exceed last year's figure oi 1,895,000 tons. The lead to restrict production was taken by the Chilean Government in conjunction with the Nitrate Producers' Association, and arrangements were made early this year to close down oficinns, representing about 80 per cent, of the _ current production. The two largest synthetic nitrogen producers fo'lowed suit, and it is understood that for somo months now both of tfetn—viz., the 1. G. Farbenindnstrio and Imperial Chemical Industries—have only teen producing ot about 50 per cent, of their capacity. Theso restrictive measures have, however, been to some extent nullified by tho action of synthetic and bye-product nitrogen producers outside the 'bi(j three,' especially in Belgium, Holland, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, where production has boen increased, and the products disposed of at prices below those agreed to by the "big three' in June last year." AUSTRALIAN COAL. ' ■ NORTHERN OUTPUT IMPROVES. Reports of Australian coat mine companies all show the effects of the prolonged cessation of work in the fields. Directors of Bellambl Coal Company, Ltd.,. a southern mine, report a net profit for the year ended June 80th last of £30,945, as against £51,153 for the previous twelve months. In October, the capital" was lowered from £IOO,OOO to £200,000 by a return; to shareholders of 10s per share; and, in consequence, revenuo has been affected by reduced intorest from investments. Dividend of Is ■6d per share (absorbing £30,006), equivalent to -15 per - cant, on the 10s shares, compares with an average of 10 per cent, paid previously on tho £1 shares. Tho directors, however, intimate that in.view of the general resumption of operations on the northern fields, and reduction in the price of' coal, the company's prospects for the current year are less promising than heretofore. Hetton pellbird Collieries, Ltd., having been idle throughout practically the whole of the £ear'ended June SOth last, a loss of £17.44& was incurred for the period—such result being exhibited "after providing for all expenses and a measuro of depreciation." There is no dividend for the term; and a credit balance of £13.555 brought into account has been converted into a debit of £3893. Against this there aro visible reserves of £11,521. Operations at the collieries were resumed on June 2nd, following tbo arrangements by which the price of coal has been redneed. Vale of Chvydd Coal and Brick Company, Ltd., reported a loss of £6946 for' the six months ended June SOth, which reduced the total of reserves and undivided profits to a £16,281. Net earnings for the previous period amounted to £6073, Tho directors have been authorised to raise £40.000 by debentures—the proceeds to be used to liquidate an overdraft of £87,545. According to a file tabled in the Victorian Legislative Assembly the Victorian railways will save £175,000 on coal this year. Ton* ders wero invited in "New South Wales for the supply of 150,000 tons, and contracts made for the Supply of 82,000 tons each from Hebburn and Abermain-Collieries, at 305.6 d, a ton, landed at Melbourne or Geelong; This price will save the Victorian railways £50,000. and as the price of Wonthaggi, a Victorian coal, to the railways is regulated by the price of New South Wales coal, there will be a saving of £125,000 on the '450,000 tons of ; Wonthaggi coal required this year. Eielit tenders were received from New South Wales. MOUNT ISA. Reviewing- the progress of operations at Mount Isa, Queensland,' tho warden, Mr S f Wilson, reports that Mr C. A. Mitke. the designer of the layout of the milling system, and a member of tlie technical'committee of the Mining Trust, Ltd., is on the field, and will probably remain until production is commenced. The work of developing the system has advanced so far that the completion of all operations preparatory to crushing is now in sight. It is expected that, at the end of November the mill will commence crushing, at the rate of 600 tons a day, ore which will be placed in the skips by hand. The automatic hoisting of ore should be put into operation immediately after Christmas, and 2000 tons a day will then be treated. As the mat ter of treating the stino concentrates has not yet been finally determined, Mount Isa Mines. Mil., will aim at low ziDC production in the early stages of crushing. In consequence, the carbonate ores from the three developed ore bodies will form the raain bn'k of the ore to be treated during 1931. The lowergrade ore from the Black Star lode will be mixed with the richer ores from the Black Ilock and Rio Grande lodes, and it is estimated that the 2000 tons to be put through the mill each day will produce about 200 tons of lead bullion. The American Smelting and Refining Company, which has acquired a substantial interest in the Mining Trust, Limited, and has provided the necessary capital for further development and equipment of Mount Isa on an extended scale, and also for the construction of a silver-lead bullion refinery, has agreed to place at the disposal of the Mining Trust, Limited, for a minimum period of ten years the benefit of the experience assistance, and advice of its technical staff' The American Smelting and Refining Company during the last financial year produced nes J v<H J 1)002 ° r 545,100 tons of lead,_ 619,398 tons of copper, and 90,000 00002 of silver, or one-third of the world's' total production of lead, copper, and silver vo spectively. i 0 TALLOW STOCKS. (TOITEP PRMS ASSOCIATION—BY BLICTiIo WLBOB4PH -COPYRIGHT.) . , LONDON, September 5. Tallow stocks are: In stock, 2376 casks. Imports, 712 casks. Deliveries, - 944 casks.