THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 341, 30 October 1908, Page 5

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS. , RONGOTEA DAIRY COMPANY. (BT TXLKGBAFJI. —SPECIAL COBBXSPONDSKT.I • Palmerston North, October 29. The fourteenth annual meeting of the Rongotea Dairy Company was held last night, Mr. Perry, chairman of directors, presided. Tho report set out that although the volume business for the past year is\nearly £6300 less than 1906-7 the profit for the year compares favourably with other seasons. The prospects of the market in Great Britain aro at present satisfactory, and prices continue to rulo at payahle .figures. The opening of the season here is the best experienced for years, and tliero is a probability of a large supply of milk, which, it is hoped, will help to counteract the ill effects of the drought in tho early part of this year. The balanco disclosed by the profit and loss account amounts to tho satisfactory sum of £868 Is. lid,, and it is recommended that that sura be distributed as follows:—Dividends, 6 per cent, on paid-up capital bonus; }d. per lb. on butter fat supplied during the year by suppliers holding shares in the capital of the company; write off for depreciation tho sum of £255 18s. 7d.; carry balance to credit reserve account during tho year. The report adds: —We received 372,863.361b. butter fat, and manufactured 410,6691b. commercial butter. Milk suppliers have been paid £16,773 13s. 10d., and the following prices woro paid for butter fat during tho yoar:—SeptemberOctober, lOd. lb.; November, 10} d. lb.; December, lOJ'd. lb.; January, 10Jd. per lb.; February, lid. per lb.; March, Is. per lb.; April, lid. per lb.; May, Hid. per lb.; June, Is. per lb. ;• July-August, Is.' la. per lb. The average for three months was 10.003 d.; for nino months, 11.335 d.; and for twelve months, 10.196 d. The expenditure for the yoar amounted to £20,540 10s. Id., of which the principal items were: —Butter fat, £16,773 13s. lOd.; shipping charges, £881 4s. 6d.; fuel, £354 4s. Bd.; maintenance, repairs, and renewals, £344 18s. lid.; boxes; £344. lis. Bd.; salaries and wages, £809 2s. 4d.; com-, mission, £253 65., 3d. £180' was, paid in dividends, £259 2s. 3d. in bonuses, £233 10s. allowed for depreciation, and £272 19s. added to reserve fund.' Tho. total receipts amounted to £21,408 125., including balanco of £945 11s.' 1 3d. carried forward : from last year. Tho principal items woro:—Consignments, £12,631 lis., 2d. ;■ colonial sales, £8539 165.; balance in hand, £4877 19s. Id.; to which is to be added profit and loss account balanco of £868 Is. lid., making a total of £5746 ,Is. The assets totalled £5746 l,s. During discussion on the report tho directors adopted an amendment that nothing bo carricd to reserve account, tho extra, amount to go to suppliers as bonus. Messrs. Lost, Bottcher, Darragl, 'and H; Hunt were elected directors. COOD LAMBING AT HAWERA. Docking of lambs (the time when heads are counted) is now general in Hawera's back oountry, and the percentages this season aro something like. a record for this district. One farnier has, 115 per cent., th'rco have 100 per "cent, each, and three others 95 per cent. each. Tho average for the district is about 100 per cent; "I do not remember such a favourable season at lambing timo as we experienced this'year," said a well-known farmer in reply to a question as to what particular influence had brought about such high percentages.

On a . farm in South Canterbury, a few miles out of Timaru, 166 per cent, of lambs has been obtained from a flock'of 1000 ewes. For a flock of this sizo such a percentage is a record for the district, and some farmers declare that it is a record for New Zealand. ■ ■ ' LONDON WOOL SALES,' 1909. The London wool sales for next year have been fixed as under:— January 19, unlimited. March 9,. unlimited. May 4, limit not yet fixed. July 6, limit not yet fixed. September' 21, limit not yet fixed. November 23, limit not yet fixed.