FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 848, 21 June 1910, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW OPENS TO-DAY. A GLANCE AT ITS FEATURES, (By Telegraph—Spccial Reporter.) Palmerston, June 20. . During this week Palmerston North will be> the rendezvous of many portions of the farming coimnuni'ty of the North Island. . The interest taken in the big winter show is astonishing, and its only rival among tho agricultural fixtures of tho Island is the spring sljow held in the same town. The magnitude and completeness of tho exposition is somewhat ljeyoud tho conception of any who have not "attended ono of the later gatherings held in. tho growing Jfanawatu centre, and, iu.'fuqt, there is no other winter show. in tho Dominion which nearly equals it, except 'that at Dunediji. Tho southerners, sometimes contend that theirs is the greatest show, but, per contra, (ho North Island is inclined to he emphatic that Palmerston,eclipses it. The present is the seventh annual National Dairy Show held under' tho auspices of the ilanawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The first winter show in Palmerston North was held in 1901, when tho National Dairy-"Asso-ciation held >a .conference and a small show in connection therewith, and that 6how- was n<j>t successful ' financially. There was no show iu 1902, as a suitable building could not be obtained. In 1903 the Hanawatu A. and 11.I 1 . Association and other institutions guaranteed ,£3OO towards carrying on the undertaking, and tho .show was a. great success. Every Bhow since has' likewise been .both -creditable and encouraging, and. since 1903 all tho fixtures have, been under > the sole management and direction of-.the Mana-"W-atu A. and P. Association.- Dunedin .was the, first Dominion centre to hold a ■winter show—that was about 15 years ago. Then Canterbury tried, failed",'and did. not persevere with 'tho ideu'. Mnim■,watu tried next, and 1 eventually succeaded. . To distinguish-the-exhibition-at S'aliuorstooi North from fixtures which are merely,winter shows, :tho annual fixture under review has been designated the National Dairy Show, because the greatest features • of- tho'show are tho competitions in dairy factory butter and glairy factory cheese., -Tho'attraction which the show presents to th« farming, community of the whole Island is remarkable. The whole rural population of■' the ' West Coast s,eerns to be m town to-day. The nunrbeV, ol Taraualii, Hawke's Bay, AVairarapa, and even Main Trunk people, who are here is also ■a great tribute to the popularity, and the .importance of the show. For days the weather has been miserable, but this afternoon tho clear sky, the ; brisk air, .and a return °f sunshine served, to indicate a. fine to-morrow. The show proper will be practically opened at half-past nine to-morrow . morning,' but noon is'the time of the formal opening. There may. not be' any official opening this.yeaT. -The' Hon. Thotnas Mackenzie, - Minister. for Agriculture, had .been' invited to perform' the ceremony, but he from Stratford .to-day' that he.would be unable to do,so. •The Programme. The, programme is as follows:—Tomorrow morning, at 10.30, the annual meeting of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand, Ltd., will be held. Air. A. Macfarlane is to preside. Tho conference will be commenced at half-past ten on " Wednesday ' morning, when a paper !on "Pasteurisation" will be read and discussed. At 11.45 Mr. S. I{. Lancaster will deliver an address ou "How to Judge a Dairy Cow," which address will- be illustrated by. practical demonstration. The .New . Zealand- Factory Managers'.'Association have arranged for a lecture on "The Care, and the; Treatment, of.l Milk, from .the Cow to '.flic: Cheese - Press," which will be /called on at 2.30. : At '3.15 "The London Produce Trade" will .be dealt with/by Mr. 'K. Ellison, London.' On Thursday, at 11 a.m., Mr. W .A. Boucher, Assistant Director".of Orchards, will be heard' on • "Apple Culture." A smoke concert will be .held in tbe.;lecture hall on Thursday night. - .- Tiro Rugby" football 'jnatcfres' will' be played on Wednesday. . About one o'clock the annual event between To Auto' College and College . will take place. Later , in. the' afternoon Lincoln College and Palmerston; .North High School will'.'meet.-. The horse-jumping events come on on Thursday.. ■. . A Splendid Novelty. ' The march of. milking machinery in the dairy districts of New-Zealand has been great, almost beyond words. Eight or nine years ago suggestions, that mechanical devices would displace the hand-milkers were scoffed at. Then, one kind-of milking machine was introduced; others followed, and now there are a large number in- the market. Hundreds are put ,in on the farms iu the off season of every year, and next season will see another substantial increase. Still, the machines will ■ bear improving, so the Agricultural■ Associations are .doing well in featuring the exhibitions of the kind. The National Dairy 'Association features them more than any other association in the Dpminion. This year it lias introduced a novel and excellent idea. In a, building adjoining the machinery hall a platform has , been erected and fitted with , five bails, each of which will accommodate .two cows. Five different milking machines will there be shown in actual operation daily. Eaised seats have been provided for; the public, for whom, there is seating accommodation for about 250. The exhibitions are to bo given on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, Thursday afternoon, and Friday night. Tho machines will be: L.K..G., Alpha ,Laval, Austral, Dominion, and Eidd. The machinery: will be driven off a lino of shafting provided by the association, and the association supplies the power also. Fruit: The Department Does Thinos Well. last year the exhibition of apples made by the Department of Agriculture was one of the most magnificent features of the whole show. Again this year the Department has an exhibition which, from an instructional point of view, is probably unequalled at any ■of the annual agricultural fixtures in the Dominion. The fruit section is under tho supervision of Mr. W.'A. Boucher, the assistant director of orchards. It consists of soma of the best commercial varieties of apples and pears, grown in various districts ■throughout New Zealand, and partly of collections from tho experiment stations at Moumahaki and Wereroa. In addition to enabling visitors to see for themselves, and to make notes on tho best commercial varieties, tho display, also, demonstrates the value of cool storage. Many of the exhibits were in. cool chambers for months before being placed dn show, and the cool storage method of lengthening the season, during which locally-grown fruit can be marketed, should commend itself to all commercial growers, for the benefit of the process is obvious. By cool storage, not only aro tho markets relieved during a-period of possible congestion, but there is fruit to mnrket when the orchards are bare. The market is thus regulated and prices kept at a rirofitable and reasonable basis. Further, the returns have been proved to ' have been enhanced 50 to (JO 'per cent, as compared with the results- obtained' by marketing direct from .the, orchard when fruit is fairly plentiful. Some of the most profitable varieties shown are the Stunner, Jonathan, Ohineinuri or Munroe's Favourite, Delicious and Scarlet Queen. A variety comparatively new to New Zealand is shown called Eed Calville. It is a promising kind, but little can-Teally be'said of it (is yet. The specimens shown were grown by Messrs. Shailer liros., of Palmerston North. The apples, taking the whole exhibit, have been collected from all the fruit-growing districts of the North Island, from Nelson and from Canterbury. There ia also a, fine exhibition' of < pears,

NEWS AND NOTES,

which include the following varieties:— P. Barry, Winter Nelis, Josephine, De Malines, and Vicar of Wingfield.- Many varieties of apples and pears were not included, and it was stated that this was on account of space being somewhat limited. There arc plates of lemons; Poor Stan oranges* and sweet oranges, from the Moumahaki and Tauranga State farms. There used to be a very good demand for Poor Man oranges, but for sonic unaccountable reason it has dropped off 'considerably lately. It is surprising that such is tho case, as tho variety is a most useful one. The manner in which Mr.-' Boucher and his assistants have got up the stall is highly creditable. Farmers' Foes\ In the hall.allotted to the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Cockayne has a splendid exhibition of tho farm weeds of New Zeahtud, farm grasses, and native plants. The collection of weeds is fairly comprehensive, and the chief feature i«? that tho weeds aro not only labelled with their botanical and their Erglish .names, but. a short, description of their injurious qualities and of the best methods of checking them is attached. Among tho most interesting are the following, some of. which, though common, are frequently mistaken -,by farmers:*—Ragwort, Californian Oiistle, cape weed, shepherd's" purse, narrow-leafed cress, and other members of the cress family which are particularly obnoxious to dairymen, ' as , they taint milk. iProminence.is given to the various poisonous plants, such as Strathmoro weed, hemlock, and scarlet pimpernel. Grasses and Native Growths. 'There is a collection of 150 different species'"of grasses,'and the labels give an indication of their possible value in New Zealand. Chilian fescue, a little-known grass which might be brought under notice, is , shown. There is also a. very 'fine collection of fescues, many of whicn are not yet in cultivation in New Zealand, and which should prove of great .value .on second-class land. The newer grasses," such as paspalum and the canary varieties, are represented. The'-native plants form' an exceptionally interesting part of the display. They are arranged right round the walls of the. hall, and, besides giving indication of arousing latent interest in native l growths, set off the exhibition very nicely. 1 Entomological. Another section in which agriculturists will find much to interest them is a collection of insects which Mr. Cockayno ' is having opened up. It comprises insects both useful and injurious, and ono .of the main' features is tho beautiful mounting, which should servo as an object lesson to school teachers as to how to set up insect specimens. Insects which attack both fruit and farm crops aro shown.' • Butter and Pasteurisation. - Following the usual, custom,' the exhibits in the classes for 'factory butter were judged at the Wellington grading stores by the Dairy Commissioner (Mr. D. Cuddie)'and his staff. With regard to the quality of the butter, the judges'expressed the opinion that it was well up to the standard of previous years, although tli® flavour of a number of the exhibits left something to be desired. The com petition in 'these, classes has become so keen that the makers "iio ; doubt \mt forth a special effort to secure a place, and, in doing so,' seeiued to have departed somewhat from their ordinary methods, and, iiv some cases, tho results have not proved satisfactory. Of course, the prize-winning exhibits are of excellent quality, but it may be mentioned, however, that the flavour of the butter in Class 5, tho entries for which are selected irom tho ordinary consignments sent Home by dairy companies, was on tho whole superior to the produce in the other classes, excepting, of course, the entries which secured prizes. One noticeable feature of the butter all through was the uniformity of'its manufacture,; very little variation being ; noticeable between the exhibits. The;judges mentioned, that .they had learned since.the judging was'-done that the majority of the exhibits which gained'place's 'in the prize list were made from pasteurised cream., Thai; should !jc* gratifying to the factories which have already adopted the "principle, and . also act as an encouragement to. rmy v'/io may be cqrtteinplating its adoption. A Tier of Flax. In view of the importance cud the possibilities of expanding the New Zealand flax- industry, the Agricultural Depart,ment's display s of phormium tenax aud its products is of exceptional .interest. The stand, is in the centre of the hall, and only-occupies a floor space , of seven lec-t by. seven feet. It contains nineteen varieties of flax growing in pots. These varieties are particularly instructive, it 'being clearly shown by labels which kind are weak, strong, of no value, of value, contain • abundance of fibre, and so on. •The following are ..notable extracts, which illustrate the worth of the exhibit to millers and growers:—(l) Gutnnni, a profitable milling variety; (2) kaitikankawa, a good milling variety; (3), huhiroa, a valuable variety; (i) putaiore, one of the most valuable varieties; (5) tihore, a Bay of Islands flax, highly prized by millers. Most 'of the other kinds were unfavourably commented on. Hanks of flax, ready to be put into bales, were shown; also several thicknesses of ropes, and twine. The whole was arranged in tier shape, with, the growing flax around the base. AWARDS MADE TO DATE. BUTTER HONOURS. The butter championship, resulted:— Wanganui Dairy Company (maker, J. A. Bower) 1, with Rangitikei (maker, J. W. Swede) 2, and Bunnythorpe (maker, B. Edwards), and Mells (maker, D. Campbell), equal, 3. Tho class was for the best box of export butter, sGlb. CHAMPION CLASS. s . > O 4J *2 "3 rt J n H a S CP U -W S Wanganui 46 2-4 10 10 5 95 Rangitikei 45 24 10 10 5 94 Bunnythorpe 44£ 24 10 10 5 93$ Mells (D. Campbell) U\ 24 10 10 5 93* Ballance (M, Ross) 44" 24 10 10 5 93" Ballahce Co., Pahiatua (G. Taylor) 44 24 10 10 5 93 Box of export butter open to any factory or manager not having won a prize of £5. u , i'o - 'O o £ £ £ B g Glen Orqua (J. Cameron) 45 -24 10 10 '5 94 Ballance (M.-Ross) 44£ 24 10 10 5 93£ Tauranga (W. Marshall) 44 24 10 10 5 93 Moa Co., Inglewood (H. W. James) ... 44 22J- 10 10 5 924 Otaki (H. H. Meredith) 10.10 5 924 Tihana (J. O'Dea) 43i 24 10 10 5 92! Rongotca scored 92, Taieri and Peninsula Milk Company 91, Makahu 91, Huiakama 91. Box.export butter, open to factory man- : ager who has not previously won a prize at the National Dairy' Show. i • ~ ' | | | 5 1| ; 5 ' P? o' m s H Cambridge (A. Beange) 45 24 10 10 5 94 Levin (J. Smithie) 444 24 10 10 5 931 There were 10 entries. Box of export fritter, open to mwubers of New Zealand Dairy' Association. §' ■ bn . Hi 111 ti W O H Levin 45 24 10 Ift 5 04 Rangitikei 44i 24 10 10 5 im Whenuakura (Parsons) 14 24 10-10 5 93 Ballance -44 24 10 10 5 93

Factory butter from bulk. Box of oxport factory butter, 561b., manufactured at tho factory of tho exhibitor. I •& ! I I 3 £ o o A -3 o [i( pq O w ft S-i Okato (W. Hibberd) 15 21 10 iU 5 01 Whenuakura (Parsous) U\ 24 10 10 5 Lepperton (W. jfoberts) 44 24 10 10 5 93 Tho Okato Dairy Company won tho Challenge Cup presented by tlie Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company l'or the highest points in the fifth class. They also take £10 and gold medal presented by tho association. LISTER SHEARING MACHINES. fPi'iiLisiiKD by Arrangement.] The Lister Sheep-shearing Machino • Company have a very fine exhibit of their, manufactures in motion. Although the Lister lias only been placed on the New Zealand market since tho beginning of the year it has attained a wide celebrity amongst sheepfarmers—a statement confirmed by tho fact that it has already established a New Zealand sheep-shearing machiue sales record. Apparently the Lister has jumped right oil: the mark, and i:i now easily on the top rung of tho ladder of public appreciation. Sheepfarmers generally praise the perfect finish and the smooth running of those machined. and shearers themselves aro now sending in flattering testimonials as to ; their worth. Tho Lister is no experiment. It has I been made especially to the order of j Messrs. Uaugar, Gedye, and Company, of Sydney, and .Messrs. Levin and Company, of Wellington, ami these firms have had twenty years' experience of sheep-shear-ing machines ' and their management, i They and their experts are fully aware of what is required, and the 1 result is seen in the present excellent machine working to-day. The superior qualifications of the Lister are so nimiorous that they are somewhat difficult to set out in detail, but it may. be said at once that for accuracy and smooth running they stand alone. They have reduced vibration to a minimum. It is interesting to note that the Lister skew belt "drivo" invented by Mr. Ales, j .Hutchinson, of the firm of Levin and Company, is included in to-day's exhibit. This year this appliance.has won its way into many sheds in New Zealand. It allows the shearer the greatest facilities for shearing his sheep. It is easily adapted to low and frail sheds, whilst its silent running commends itself to all who use it. All the shaft bearings of this gear are fitted with ring oilers, and they aro distinctly superior to any other shaft oiling now on tho market. They economise time and material, as only one oiling is required during a shearing, and there is no drip of oil to the floor. All parts of the Lister are interchangeable with tho.Wolseley, and they may be obtained "from-any of tho chief agencies throughout the Dominion. It may be added in order to give an idea of tho practical manner in which tho agents deal with the business that last season Messrs. Levin and Company taught over one hundred sheep-farmers and their sons in their work schoolroom at "Wellington how tho machines arc to bo managed and attended to. This year the schoolroom, lias been enlarged to accommodate a still larger number of pupils. To the farmer a thorough knowledgo of sheep-shearing machines is, of course, now absolutely essential, as shearers now demand that every five machines shall require an expert attendant. - The Lister Company has also one of tho oldest and largest cream separator manufactories in England. Their machines have a world-wide reputation, as al.so have their churns, coolers, and other dairy requisites. . > The company makes a, special lino, of oil engines of 2s, •!, G, and H h.p., vertical type. Other engines arc also stocked with the shearing machine top motion. They are made attachable to 2, 3, or 4 shearing machines, portable, with or without' wheels. The shearing portion can be re-; moved within a few minutes, and tho eiw ginc is then ready for any work of it/ kind on sheep station or farm. / Those who require a shearing machine or a cream separator should not fail to inspect Lister exhibit.. The sole New Zealand* agch'is 'arc' Messrs. Levin and Company, while the representative in charge of the exhibit is Mr. A. G. Hutchinson. . WOLSELEY SHEARING MACHINES. (Published by Arrangement.) The "Wolseley is practically the pioneer of all sheep-shearing machines. It has stood tho test of-time and competition, and its absolute 'worth is shown by the fact that to-day it holds the premier position -in the world for general uso as a shearing machine. Machines may come, machines may .go, the Wolseley goes for ever. Oldest and best. Fifty thousand Wolseleys annually shear 80,000,000 sheep.. The quality of the machines is well known, and many shearers stipulate that Wolselev machines must be installed, or they will not seek engagement. Wolseleys are never known to fail, or to cause loss of time. Makers say that there are other machines, but only one Wolseley, the old original make, which is known and trusted wherever sheep abound. Duplicate parts may bo procured from all depots connected with the well-known firm of Dalgety and\ Company, who are the New Zealand agents. A distinct novelty in the way of sheepshearing machines is the "Wolseley Gum" outfit, designed and made to meet (he requirements of the small sheepfarmer, and also for crutching on large stations. A "Wolseley Gem" should bo indispensable for a man with from 200 tfheep up to a few thousand. It is now i'airly well recognised that blade-shear-ing must go, with its barbarous cuts. The "Wolseley Gem" will fill the bill. The . "Gem" can be carried about. It consists of a substantial iron stand, upon which is mounted a 2J h.p. petrol engine with all accessories, driving a specially-designed gear at one end, and grinder gear at the other end. Attached are two standard Wolseley machines in active operation. The exhibit is something new, and should readily commend itself to favourable notice. Tho petrol engine may bo used by farmers at other seasons than shearing; for driving separator machines, and»other like profitable converted uses in connection with farming. In every, way tho '"Wolseley Gem" is a compact and reliable plant of inestimable valuo to farmers who can best do with such a machine and engine about the place. Mr. R. L. Nicholls, the expert, will demonstrate every day with this plant and other Wolseley machinery. JOHN CHAMBERS AND SON, LTD. [Published by Arrangement.] To-day it is almost an axiom that the progress of an industry is coincident with the development of machinery as applied to the functions thereto. To stand at the entrance of tho machinery building at Palmerston and to see the multifarious running dairy farm mechanisms and marvels is indeed an object lesson on tho drastic changes which have taken place of late years in farm life enacting. Prominent amoug tho exhibits is Messrs. John Chambers and Son's stand, showing their latest pattern Mof-fat-Virtue sheep-shearing machines, which have u quietness and smoothness in their running which speak well for their design and manufacture. The firm also have in evidence their well-known Tangye engines, both benzine and kerosene, fitted, with all the latest improvements which make for simplicity and economy. A Sirocco fan for ventilating purposes, and a Tangye drum pump, pumping water, are further features whicli will command interest to the technical farmer. ' Mallinson's oil sheep dip makes its ad- 1 vent on this stand, and from accounts given this new and scientific preparation, backed by the technical experience of leading Australian woolmen, is going to revolutionise the famci's ideas concerning sheep dips. Among tho other feature* of this stand are American steel split pulleys, self-oiling pedestal bearings, belting, a firewood saw bench, and 'langye lifting jacks—each with its purpose on the modern farm. Fittings for steam boilers and engines such as valves, lubricators, and packings are also hero in profusion, and will bo interesting to tho man in charge of steam plant. Altogether this interesting stand is well worth careful attention, embodying as it does lines which make for progress. Such a display may be said to mark a milestone on tho road towards the country's development.

LIVE STOCK SALES. Messrs. Dalgcty and Co., Ltd., report having held their fortnightly sales at Wanganui 011 June 15, and at Waverley on June 17. The report states:—At Wanganui we had a good yarding of sheep and a small yarding of cattlo. We yarded a good line of 1400 forward wethers 011 account of Mr. 11. V. Hammond, which realised 14s. Breeding ewes were in good demand, and prices for this class showed a good rise on recent sales. Several small lines of fat bullocks and cows met with very keen competition. At Waverley the rough weather experienced during the two days prior to the sale prevented a number of lines from coming forward. We had a small yarding and a quiet sale. We quote-.—Forward wethers, 13s. lid., 145., 155., to 15s. 3d.; full mouth ewes, in lamb, 10s., lis. Id., to 12s. 9d.; lambs, Bs.; fat bullocks, £8 10s. to £9; fat heifers, £5 145.; light do., £4; fat cows, £5 165.; store' cows, £2 13s. to £3; forward cows, £4; mixed hand-fed weaners, £1 17s. 6d.; springing heifers, £5 4s. COMMERCIAL ITEMS. INVESTMENT SHARES. A sale of JVard and Co., brewery shares, at £4 18s. 6d. was all the business recorded yesterday. National Bank, buyers £6; Wellington Investment, buyers lis. 3d.; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers £7 75.; Wellington Deposit, buyers Bs. 3d.; National Mortgage, buyers £3 4s. 6d., sellers £3 65.; Feilding Gas, sellers £1 2s. t ! Napier Gas, buyers £12 55., sellers £12 1 10s.; Palmcrston North Gas, buyers £7 155.; Wellington Gas, £10 paid; buyers £18 55.; £6 15s. paid, buyers £13 7s. 6d.; new issue, sellers £2 10s. premium; Standard Insurance, buyers £1 45.; Gear Meat, £4 paid, buyers £10; £1 paid, buyers £2 135.; New Zealand Shipping, buyers £8 2s. 6d.; Taupiri Coal, buyers 193- 9d.; Wcstport Coal, buyers £6 10s.; Leyland-O'Brien Timber, buyers £1 ?»s.; New Zealand Drug, buyers £2 95.; Taranaki Petroleum, buyers 12s. 3d., sellers 13s. 6d.; Taringamutu Sawmills, buyers £1 75.; Ward apd Cobuyers £4 18s. 6d. THE WOOL MARKET. The Bradford top market was quiet last week, and coarse qualities, such as forties and forty-sixes were a halfpenny lower. Piue wool counts were unchanged. The demand appears to be still very good for fine wool, and on this feature of the market a writer in the "Economist" (London) says:—"lt is recognised on all hauds that merino wools, both scoured and greasy, are very dear, and, therefore, vcry_ dan-, gerous. Consumption, it is true, is on an unprecedented scale, and at the moment nobody can see a.chance of lower prices; but this is always the case under present conditions, and yet the change always does come, and experience has proved that wool never remains at a very high price for any lengthened period. In the autumn of 1907 very similar conditions prevailed, and few saw auy chauce of a collapse in values, although warnings appeared reminding the trade t that, with vaJues ou such a s high level, it was very dangerous to buy large quantities of wool in distant oversea markets .and run the risk of a fall in values whilst the wool was at sea. Warnings of this kind appeared in the "Yorkshire Post' in Sentember, and again in . November, 1907, the latter just before the crash came. Ihe warnings were for the most part unheeded, and the "bulls" rushed in with their eyes shut and heads down in the Australian markets, with resulting losses on such a scale, that the lesson then learned should not yet be forgotten. At that time the trouble began 111 the Lnitcd States, and the present uncertainty arises chiefly from the unsatisfactory reports received as to the state of the woollen and worsted industries across tne Atlantic, it is said that the great combines m the United States hold the consumer of woollen and worsted goods in the hollow of their hands, and no.doubt up to a certain point this is true, for the cruel tariff enables them to exact very hirii prices. But even in tho United States the consumer has one powerful weapon with whkh he can. more or less, successfully fight the combines. If the cost of livine vises higher than the means of living, the consumer S3 compelled to buy less clothing, and down come price.i with :i run. It looks as if this state of things now prevailed in the "United States markets. The markets for woollens and worsteds are congested, and values of wool, both foreign and domestic, have suffered .an important decline, and the tendency is still downwards." SUEZ CANAL DUES. Tho strong agitation for a reduction of the dues appears to have had some effect, for the board of the Suez Canal Company have decided,to reduce, from January 1 next, the dues on ships passing through tho canal from 7f. 75c. per ton to 7f. 25c. This is the fifth mdiiction.sin.ce 1885, when they were put back .from 10f. to 9ft. 50c. Tho board have full power. to decrease the rates without the ratification of the general meeting of shareholders. The board also decided to increase the dividend from l«f. to 151f. The increase in receipts in 1909 on 19G8 was £88,01.0. but the increase in 1910 over 1909 amounts to £276.800, due to the development of the traffic, tho number of . ships that uasscd through the canal having risen from 1343 In 1908 to 1406 m 1909, and to 1702 this vcar If a comparison were made m tho tonnace of the three periods, the increase would be greater as the deepening of the channel permits, of vessels of gieater draught to make the, passage. PROVISION FOR LOAN RENEWAL. The States of the Commonwealth have some very large loans maturing during the next few years, and providing for these loans will give the various Treasurers a great deal of worry. The amounts falling duo during tho next ten years are as under Year of Australian London Redemption. Register. Register. Total. 1911 1,783,583 5,051,300 6,834,883 1912 11,308 692 145,C00 11,4;3,E92 J9 3 2 876 299 5,916.550 8,792.849 1914 1,110 880 ' 834.900' 1,945,7£0 1915 2 866 596 17,920,000 20,785,596 1916 5 434 186 8,049,270 13.433,456 191? 7 142 545 3,542,600 10,685,145 1918 104,210 14,263,710 14,367,920 1919 148 050 3,998.000 4.146.0E0 1920340,300 15,182,500 15,522,800 Durintr the nert three years provision must be made for about £27,000.000, and if we extend the period for five years, the sum required £49,000 000. . The amounts due by New Zealand during tho nest five years, according tt> the tables given in last year s Budget, are as under:— Year. £ iqii 1,300,300 19T9 4,696,900 1915 :.... 671.3C0 1914 1,083,000 1915 2,266,200 £10,217,700 1 This, added to the fresh loans of two millions a year, which is about the average for tho past few years, New Zealand will require to arrange over £20,000,000 in the next five years. The year 1912 will be a difficult one, for in that year nearly five millions of maturing loans must be provided for. 'CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £1027 12s. 2d. WELLINGTON MARKETS. Mcsstb. Laery and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market:—Wheat, fowl, 3s. 7d. to 3s. 9d;; feed oats, 2s. sd. to 2s. 7d.; dun oats, 2s. 7d.. to 2s. 9d.; seed oats. 2s. lOd.'to 35.: Algerian oats, 2s. 7d. to 2s. 9d.jmaize,3s. 6d.t035.8d. ; crushed malt. 75.; fowl barley. 2s. 9d.; Gape barley seed, 35.; flour, New Zealand £10 ss. to £10 10s.; Australian, none in market; peas Prussian blue, 6s. 3d., split £18; bonedust £5 155.; superphosphates. £5 to £5 5s • pollard, £510s. to £6; bran, £4 ss. to £4 10s'- pearl barley, 155.; basic slag. £4 10s>; chaff (oatensheaf), £4155. to £5 55.; oatmeal, £12 10s.; potatoes, table, £6 10s. to £7 10s.; Tasmanian Up-to-dates (seed), £7 to £7 10s.; anions, 4s. to 4s. 6d. cwt.; molasses fodder £5- bacon (factory), sides7id.. hamß9d„ rolls Bd.; butter, prime bulk, 9d. to 101 d. ■ Poultry liens, 3s. 6d.: ducks, ss.| to 6s. per pair; turkeys, gobblers 18s. tb 205.. hens 10s to 145.; fresh eggs. Is. 6d.; preserved eggs, Is. 2d. per dozen; cheese, sjd. per lb.; Akaroa machine-dressed cocksfoot, 6d. to 7d. per lb.; farmers' dressed cocksfoot. 4d. to sd. per lb.: ryegrass, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel; Italian ryegrass. 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel; white clover, 70s. to 755. per cwt. BABBITS. The market for rabbits is firm owing to a scarcity. Best largo Sydney's, 155., ex store. HIDES AND LEATHER. Hides were neglected and withdrawn. Nominal quotations; Sydney heavy, 7 l-16d.; light ox, 6Jd.; cow, 6£d. Leather and.basils unchanged. WHEAT AND FLOUR, By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 19. Tho wheat and. Hour afloat for the United Kingdom is 3,260,000 quarters; for tho Continent, 1,230,000; Atlantic shipments, 89,000; Pacific, 5000. The total shipments to Europe during tho week amounted to 860,000 Quarters,, including 415,000 from Russia. ■ 149,000 from India, and 18,000 from Austi'alasia. FROZEN MEAT, fly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, June 19. The Fror.en Meat Trado Association's Sinithfield market quotations for the undermentioned classes of frozen meat aro based on actual salea.ot not.lesa than, one i

I hundred carcasscs of mutton or lamb, and twenty-fivo quarters of beef of fair average quality. The quotations ara not ! for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of the shipments now on the market. Tho priccß which follow are on an average a. farthing per lb. more than the value ox ship, this difference representing an average cost in expenses, handling, conveyance, j and selling the meat;— j June 11. Juno 19. Mutton— d. d. Canterbury, light — 4 Canterbury, medium — 31 Canterbury, heavy — 3* Southland — — North Island, best 32 311-16 North Island, ordinary 3 9-16 3 9-16 Au.straliajj, light 3i 3 7-16 Australian, heavy 3 3-16 3 5-16 Itivcr Plate, light 3$ 3£ Jiivcr Plate, heavy 3g 37-16 LambCanterbury, light 53 53 Canterbury, medium 5£ 5$ Canterbury, heavy 52 5 5-16 Southland 5 7-16 5 7-16 North Island, selected... 5 7-16 5 7-16. North Island, ordinary— 55/ 5J Australian, best 5 ' 5 Australian, fair 43 43 Australian, inferior — — River Plate ; 5 — BeefNew Zealand, ox fores 4J 38 New Zealand, ox hinds... 5 At Australian, ox fores 4 3J Australian, ox hinds 43 4ft River Plate, ox fores 4h 38 1 ftiver Plate, ox hinds ... 43 4i 111 OH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. i Tho Commerce and Tourists Division of 1 the Department of Agriculture has re- I ceived the following cable from the High : Commissioner, dated London, June 18:— j Mutton.— I The market remains firm. There is more demand. Average price for Canterbury mutton to-day is 33d. per lb.; North Island, 3§d. Lamb.—The market is a shade weaker in anticipation of large shipments. Canterbury, s*d.; other than Canterbury, s|d. Beef.—Tho market is flat, and holders would like to realise. There is less do- 1 mand. New Zealand are quoted at 4id., and fores at 3fid. per lb. ; Butter.—The market is quiet, but steady, and supplies are increasing from the Continent. Choicest New Zealand butter to-day is 108s. per cwt. Cheese—The market is firmer, and there is a general and active demand for white at 575. 6d., and coloured at 555. per cwt. Hemp.— I The market is very dull. There ; is little demand and no change in prices. | New Zealand, good fair, on spot, per ton, £?A 10s.; fair, £23; fair current Manila, £22 10s.; forward shipment: New Zealand, good fair, per ton, £24 10s.; fair, £22 10s.; ; Manila, £22. Cocksfoot Seed.—There is a better demand for this season's cocksfoot seed. For last season's crop, which is at present held in store, the market is dull and irregular. Grain.—The market is quiet, with a tendency in favour of buyers. Mining News will be found on page 7 of this issue.