FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 992, 6 December 1910, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

■// GREAT SHORTHORN : : SALE.: ' W; GUINEAS; FGE 4 A: CALF; : ■••': The .following ''.particulars'- furnish'- a ■;- : .linking:iillustration' ;.' of- the remarkable; .; prices .ivliicli are" paid for .pedigree cattle 'irpni some of the.dld established studs in '.England and. Scotlaiid.'■' The' -Mr. "Diithie/ '..'•whftse Collynie stud is ■ mentioned, is a V to'usin.of.'.Mr.' John Duthio,: of Welling- ■; ton;:-...;- •■■■ ■;■ ■'.-. ■'•:■■ .■'.■': : .■•'- : -.- .■• ■!■'. -..-. '• ;. The- sale referred'-to ,-tboi-i place ...at Up- '■■■■ permill, Abefdeenshire'.' arid" is described ,- by.a Home paper asVtlie'principal Short- , : horn- 'sale, of the -year.-:-Drafts' of- bull -.calves from ithe.famous.Collynie aud TJpi permill;herds .were offered at .auction.' i; Bleeders or their'; rdnresentatives • were various .'parts l of' the world: ■ S6utK; America and :Canada<werc promin'.ent, 'anda large -parly ■■ 'of' Germans was' ;:. there. ...;•.-;The; record.'■.'■price of .1050 guif<tieas was obtained ifor.a-.CoHyuie calf,.but' t.yliile ■' this -was the '■highest'' individual price' ever" reached for.such an animal,; /the average-for eighteen was .£37s Bs.'-'2d.,-./against'' ,£409 16s. 3d.'; for ■ seventeen ■in .1907.. The "following, arc .the principal -Jprices'obtaiiied for Mr. ButhiVs Collynie ;-hertl ;and.-the: buyers:—Snowstorm, 10.50 ''"gns'.,'.Bdgc:ote Shorthorn Company,; CoiiiMr; -Leon,-of Bletch-v'.-.ley-; Collynie Christma.V;pOogns., Mr: L. ~ de :E6thschild; jLavehder-'Victor, • COOgns., ...11r.,-A.-T. Gordon, Combscnu'eway; Col;ly.nie. Stamp, sSogns.,_ Jliv Casares, 'Lon.;'don;Collynio Standard "53rii;ns.y Mr. ,G! .'.Harrison, .Gainfcrd:'Hall; Royal Stamp,- ; Mr.; Anderson", Sipliock; Storm ■■ Prince. : -560gns.,jrr.. C-W. Tindall. liin- . coin;- Storm ,Signal, ESOgris., Mr. Yeitch, :Crieff; Collynie Crest, 2So?ns., Mr. Ka- '•. phael, of Porter's Park;. Skv. Pilot, 260 pns.V. Mr. C. W. -Jollifre, "Darlincton j ■■' Gpldeii Sunset, 180gns., Mr. Briice, Hjath-' /-erwick; Aberdeen S(qrn»: Knight; 160gns., vllr. .Tindall. Lincoln; .March Storm, 100 .:■'gn"s..-'!3lr."-p. Anderson,- Loirstone, Kin-. . carrllnesbire; --Golden- .Stamp, .85i;ns., ,'Messrs.. ■ Young, .-'' Cadho.ll>' .Boss-shire; -';Kins?s. Guard, 72gns.,'; Mr.-.G: ' Walker, •■ Tillygre'ig, 'Aberdeen/ ~..'

GREAT NEED;OF; RAIN. f-HAWKE'S ■ BAT- "AJTD". GISBOMe' ■■V;.;,-.-/ PIGUBES. , - ■ -■■"' ' The'great need of.rain 'in.-tne : Hawke's Bay .and tkef Gi'sborne districts has. teen relerred: to.on-several, occasions in these columns/, but' tho. shortage w.ill; be better nnderstood from a - quotation ..qi , ' actual' figures;:.' /. ■-.;'..;' •■;■■'...•.■;.■.•;,'.■... : ' .;' .According to.tiie Kev.. Bates's:infqrma-tion,'-'loss' rain was recorded at. lleanee .duriEg-Gctober.jthan at.nhy other station in-tlie'Dominion: '_■■■';■ .- ■".-■.-■ .' : .While, from ■ Makaretit i11 , .,*C. Lewis ;iepqrted.2.os^ : iiiche>.;of rain, .pii; fourteen days; , ;mainly, brought , 'by westerly.:winds. .Jleanee'sVrainfair.(w])icn- is fairly repreecafa'tiya of Hawke's Boy) was 0.20. 'inches i'or'.the/ month.' ; : ■ Gisborue's" was' •' "0.46 'inchest ,v.-.. ;■:'•■ ■'■■ : '.-':' '■"■ r- : ':-. v '" '-. -The scarcity of rain'in certain parts of the South. Island, has..also ..been mention-, pd; 'and. -tiic.'•-following figures illnsti-ato the. statements Aniuri-, there, fell 0.47 inches, at' Chrisfcch.urcli,-0.21'; -Lincoln:, 0.32,'--Kapu.ha.tiki ■ 0.48; Oariiavu; 0.78v'-.-Dui\edin

I SUFFOCAT EEX S <3F;F ;THEL FARM. ; ! CAHFOENIAN', THiSTLE: UNDER - : ':- ; i ■■'.;;.■':''■■; ■.'.' .; ■;.- ■■:■■■ -. '-• ■-.' '■■ ■:The.fields snpernsor'of the.Canterbury •^district Has reported.- as -follows .to":the Agricultural .Department,' respecting the : . .tobtrol. : oj Cnliforniaii'thistle:—'..,''■■ •. . "Fairly .good work has been-done in :. kteping .the Califofnian thistle,,'in check. -'In. sonic instances the ,fariners. left the '; cutting.too late,-thinkfiig.that one cutting ,;iyqnld be sufficient, ; but thejast (1903-10) being 'a. favourable season, the growth was '.strong. ; The farmer v/ho believes that.by '. -cutting, off .the '. beaMs .-of the:. thistles, h'e : .is: keeping them : -from spreading is stor■j iins. up trouble for: another day;. for the ■'jloss'oi the seed-heail no-more keeps the .:Califprniaii thiitle.fromf.nnorishirig 'than -,ja pinch' of/Salt-iippn 'its-tail, prevents.- a" -rabbit., from '.rhoViiig away.., It :is very' .j.iisurprising, how; little somV fa'rmers'-'wiil ,; ,dp to. try-nnd cope -with this trouble-:on, •. .'their, properties,':iiiaily thinking that- as, ;.,lo.ng as., thby keep within ..the■■ letter- of. : ' ;, the. law they have .dono enough,., :little i.-thintihg' thai the,' riuisaiice- is getting'..a hold in the. land even' ■■ year. ■ On ■ tljo othe'r'hand,' there ;ara-,a;"s6od : many ■fir'mers/wjjo are. tryiii(t.'jeyery mean's in .their . power to cope.vHth-.the. .liuisance',-v-'and many :are:-proving.-very successful.

'" "One instance' I may '.mention: where jgood . work lias'.'.bije'n' .'most successful— .that'is, "on■ a- farni; belonging -to Mrs. •i,'Wihdn,-;ah-promore'.:';,-The, thistles' have, '..Wen' growing' 'on*this,-.farm for- the. last fifteen -years, •'-and-..different menus have ,; -'been ■ ,trjed'.-to,.eradicate thetti;...\>nt they ■were- only, kept'.-in,. cHpck' Wil. -about vthree years■ ago,"when' Mrs. Wilson'? manager took, up the idea-of.cultivation—or, at least,.to. keep: the':pla"nts'c'nt''dp\vn. below ; the. -ground; so. :as.not. lo<;let. them . .'breathed. To.'accomplish/ this, .the.ground where,, the;'thist"le.V were''.growing .' was ploughed,'• and. rolled,v'arid \ \ every ■,- >week throughout, the -growing; , is, , from Nearly -in N"pvember- ■ to. the' end of April—a grubbeHwithMit." broad shares ,fitted"'(q the; tine's 'so'that- they : overlap,- . /and: are\set. about'.3in) underground,' is. -.wcrked'nn. the patch. '.:;'•-•■. -.-■•; mode proved,most successful,' as - .'I was.shown places that-had;been .treated V-Jri'. this.'way three'and ' two",years' ago,. - and -.were;- now in gras; , ,'. and- not', a sign' ■'.- of a.thistle could .ba'sMai,, although .1 :. was, informed, that tj\,e thistles", we're bad. . when work-, was:'first'-.started. ; on. -them.-z'VI :s'aw sixteen-'different patches ■■■'.■".that were being treated .this-season; and '-■; only. 6n : one, patch■ were seen two' small ;plantsVshoiving.through' the ground,.ia'iict- ■ from 'appearance this "patch - had -beeii ' missed-for some 1 time.' Tho'land is .-light,: ,: and., suitable for such: work, bu t.there is ~-, no .doiibt that .this'; treatment has been •„'jnost successful."V^.--. V ;'■:./"' ■•' ■ . ■■ EGG-LAY ING COMPETITIONS. ."■,'■;•'.-■-. ■•THIHTyJfIKST WEEK.,,- i ■ . ; ' \V. Knight's,white.lighorns "still lead . in - the, - i'apanui -.laying . competitions'. Sail's pen is. a sood, second, and Thoni;6ori's has dropped ; back- to. third. The leading twelve ore:—' •'■ '•-.'''- -. ~-■•.. ■■ l .. ':■ ".;• '~ ' AVeek jnd.ins Total to ■/■:■:.' ..'■ ■■■.Dec:l. -Date." ■W. Knight'swhite.Leghor'ns &.•'■' ■• 959 . ~"\V. 0. Sail's white. Leglwrßs 35 • : . 851 '.- tones'.-. Thomson's white. : - .- ~ Legharhs . ..„........:....'..... ':2.j ; - '.-. 9-16 : -'' Mrs. E. ;W. Ha'wke's white "." ; ' ■■: ■ .Leghorns .....'...:......,..,..: 32.:' .•:•'-: 3H ■ ■ i. Smith's.■-white'Leghorns 32 :'' D 42 . .'-■' VV. Balch'-?whUe,".legh-sr4s 35 ■ ;.''. \ 912 ' • r;-'Kennedv'S'si!ver:liVyanj-■--.'■ -■•',• ■■■■■' • ■ ■'■ 'dottes. ....;..;:„........../..;:. 'is;'; : : -,::035 : G. H.: Bradford's, white :V..< • -■•"■ ..- Leghorns ..'. .':... ..36 ■'■■■".■-'-". _9S2''; Eangiuru. Egg ■ Ranch's--;-. ~-■:'• J ~--• : white Legh0rn5:....:..... '.10 -922- ' 5. S.- Steele's white IcghornS 30 v . . .921 - Mrs.-.J.Mills , s : whtte'L<g--' ' •' .-: horns, 25 , 901 : ifi. H. Padiuan's white Leg- ' . ,-:' horns : -'.ii;..-.r:...'.:'.'.'.:.:>....:.-. : 26. ;. 892 h' ■;'■ ■: '. ".- THE : DUCKS.,' . : : <' ■': Knight's two pens of. Indian Runners :"nre still leading in : the-.duck''division.- '■-'■ -tfisXori pen's total stands at'.7oS and ' '- liis.:-Xo. 2 pen- at 765. Both scored 33 .during the week;. C; ilammond's Indian :'';Runners .-are' 742, having laid ■■ ■ 32' during. '.t!ie week. . ' . ■ . The heaviest rainfall,in: ■ the. -North Is- ■■' la'nd;.' : diirins''.Octol)er'. was recorded' at, ' Jhgleivood. . Ihglewooil is very close: to • Mount Egmontrahd aboi\t.' there and Mid-. -' ■ t'irs't. is generallj' , reclcohcd to Kef. Tara- : naki's. ; wettest .locality..'. Rain fell-- there ' on-seventeen days, -and on October, 3 '. 2.61 inches-fell. '.Inglewood's total was - . 12.50, inches. The greatest fall for the .-'• Dominion was ;at" llokitika; wlierp 10,10 . inches, fiiii,. The: folfoirt'iig shows the fall at various place?:—Auckland, :2.19;-Wai- •,',-' ul:u; .'I.Sil; Waihi,.- 5.80; GisborneV 0.40j -.-'ileaneci 0.20; New' -Plymouth, 5.72;' Ingleivooii: 12.5(ii\Vaii3aiiu!,-3.(--9; Levin, 7 -4.90;'. -.Wellington, n.'J5; Nelson, 5:28s- -Hdkitilta,' '. !G.j:ii Clirisilcluirch, 0.21; Oamaru, 0.70; :'. 1.78; [uvercargill, '4.23.

tiEWg AND NOTES

HEAVY SHEARING. ■ ; '1281"'SHEEP IN ONE.DAT,' ' ' News from Blayney, in the "Sydney. Morning Herald," , w'hidt came to-hand yesterday," gives particulars of a. good shearins; record which was just, completed at Mrs. P: Russell Glasson's Hazelwdo(l. Estate. ' . . - -"■.The contractors—two working fSearet'S named Cowcn—in three weeks-and four days, with a team of-eight men, put through 17,556 mixed sheep, in.spite of several' breaks, due to showery weather... The best run for the eight men enraged was 12S1 in ono day,-the top tally, being ISO, "and the average IGO per man. One mob of 1260 wethers cut 45 bales:/ '■ GENERAL FARMING NEWS; ■ •On November 30 the.milk supply.at the' llangntainokn chc.ese'factory was 2250 gallons, 'which is the largest 'quantity yet delivered on any one day this ,season. The tests rdcordad showed an improve-' ment, the average at,the", factory bain?between ■ 3.8 and 3.7, while the highest was 5.0. ■' The' next shipment of cheese, .comprising 190 cases, will be sent to WeK ling ton on' Friday,, says-a correspondent of the Pahiatua "Herald." ' : ; .'A""supplier to one of the factories inthe/'llanga.tainoka district is. delivering 729!b. of milk from a herd of seventeen cows,.and has a test of 4.0. The gate takings .at the Hawera Show have been. given "as follow. The figures for previous year are in parentheses:— First day, 17s. (J627 175.); second day, JB4S 3s. od. (X 227 os. fid.), an increase of £zi' lGs. ' '

Mr. J. W. Deem, a well-known Inspector of Stoclc, is reported to have told a Hawera "Star" reporter : that he had : never seen the country looking so fine in Northern Taranaki as it was at the present time. Feed was plentiful everywhere. - - ... ' ■ ... A Taranaki paper states that the reserve champion bull in Jerseys at the laranaki. Show (Mr. J ; Petersen's twoJ'°Y r -o!,(l Bainb6w)'wiis subsequently sold to Mr. O Donnell, of Inalui (near Hawera) , for 80 guineas. ' ' Messrs. Dalgety and Co.'will hold stock sales _:n the. Hawke's 'Bay district during December us : follow-:—Waipiikurau December G and-20; ; Waipawn, December 12; Eastings, December 13; Oiiga Onga, December 15; Otane, December 22. Mr. W. H. Smith, the well-known: orehardistj who presided over tho recent Oonterence of.-Dominion. Fruit-growers; is .leaving, Hastings to .resido in the country.- --ny- --■-. ■• .--. ■.■ ■ The Jersey bull Oculist V, the propertv of Jlr. Paul Hunter, of Porangahau, was disposed-of at auction at"New Plymouth on iridayfor. thirty r nvc guineas. Mi: •i.- Luxtou, ..of -Waitara, -.was ' the pur'ChaserV'-'■"' .'' :■/•'■':-' .' ;.■■' - -- Tho farmers in the neighbourhood 'of ■Uk-okmo now have up-to-date'stock saleyards These yards (Jays the "Hawke's' May Herald ) have been lately erected through the enterprise of three of the principal brokers;'of .Ha^vk'e's .-'Bay, and tile opening sale--will' be held in them on rijiturday next.' A - verv-- full yardin" •is. anticinated. ■ ■ ' ■ -.' . ■ °

i- Evidently things are' fresher in north-: ern Hawke's . Hay now than they \yoi-o a .month ago. At Poluii, 20 miles northwest of Kapier, the frequent mild rains have.had a beneficial eifect upon., "the district. . Feed, is abundant, and gardens .are overflowing with all/sorts ,ol vegetables. '■• ■ ■•'■ -. ; . At Whnugqmomona, it, is reported the weather has been too wet for shearinsr until tho last few days, but now the operations are in full swing; . The biggest supply of milk delivered to tlic Mangarainarama cheese'factory in liny one day this season was 1280 gallon?, .the daily supply during;, the past week ranging between this quantity, and 12G0 .gallons... The .tests■ are showing a slight improvement, the highest being 3.!), while .the. majority range from 3.5 to 3.7 (says a correspondent of the "Pahiatua Herald")*. - •■'■ " ' ' ■ '"■• '■-. ..Steady enlargement of rfperations .is a feature .common to .most of .the. bis export slaughtering works' in the North '-Island.at -the: present time.'--To- an ex:tent,. notably in Hawke's Bay, "the seat-on ;had been'.'thrown back by drought, but ;this.is not .expected;to affect in any important degree the output for the year'.' The Wellington• works -of the Gear Meat Company and the', Wellington Meat Expart Company are each ;as yet employing only about one-half their full "board" of ;butcbers. The Hawkt-'s'Bay works --at. Paki- Paki, Tomoana, and. Port Ahurirl all, started export slaughtering last-month, although none of them have.'yefaUaiiml ,their maximum output. At. Castlecliff (Wanganui) export • slaughtering started 1 on Friday Inst. . In North..; Canterbury the I'reejinp: Works are' also'going, .anil stock is-'beiiiß sent "up to . thenr A\oa ■South Canterbury, neither -the Par'e'ofa nor Smithfield works.havinpr opened...yet.' -"Vrairarapa.. Daily' r Timesi"

' Moth the Roads amf the: Public 'Works Dppartmeats require lnoii (says tli9"Taranafci- 'Herald's" Wlinnuimompna- -correspondent); aLsov (liefarmers' roqnirc men for.scrub-cuttirig,-ferieiiig,-and-grass-scetlhig. A nuinter. of i»cn'(.Uie' cofrcspo'ndent a.lsb -states) have.left the railway -works • and- gone ■to--AVcstern,'Aus-.tralia after another Bullfinch-;, gold' "«»?/ ■Jlen are, still very scarce in this district. •■'•..- . , '•■•• '

..It .'was mentioned'■'■in. The v Dominion , ajew days ago that haymaking had already been started in-, the ■Ayaiforaya. The "Age/" after statiiig the: some "iact, says: "Though' tlic quantity, of hay-this season .is not equal to the average pi' past' years,;- mainly-on / account- of the ilry,-weather, in. tlis spring, some excellent'crops', will- , nevertheless he mown. Jlrl D. lime?, of Kuripuiii, has already secured his.hay .in the; stack.".' •. A considerable areii of land about Mangaramarania. has been- town" in crops, which arc baking well, and give promise :O.f. a: Satisfactory yield. There is, also a plentiful supply or grass in the district, according to. an exchange. ■,

'•_ fine- weather, is the vogiie at Pohue (llawkc's Bay), and shearing is progrossing rapidly. S-omc of tlie sheds are hill up to- tiia doors with . bales reudy for transit., ilost of tlie 'wagon's ' ' av> ;left, the timber carting to get the wjol away (says a. 'iierald" corespondent). Tlie A\ haDgooiomono. correspondent of .the ■ "Taranaki HoraUl' 1 „ wjitc? that Mr. H.- H. Menneti, wh'o lately Void'liis farm ,to; Mr. .ll'Cntchoh.'.'has bniiglif, a property in the'. Bay of Plenty, and takes possession on January 1 next. Mr. Bennett was one of the pioneers of the district. Boxes holding 21- Californiaji pears have, been sold,at.Covent Garden for .£1 ,5'5 , .-, while hundreds' of similar boxes fetched jCI 2s. each. , ._ . ': Thcf effect at the Arataki,Jssperime.nt Farm of the- heavy. October, frast, which was so destructive in Hawke's Bay, i. was comparatively trifling, according to a note in the departmental journal. The damage iyas confined to come of tho earliest tabid '■ grapes, and tlie testing orchard practically escaped damage. Commenting on the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' -Conference recently held at Hastings, tho "Journal of. tho Dc.partment. of Agriculture" says tho conference'did some really excellent work, marking most decided steps in' ad'vance. The conference's emphatic decision to a s\i tho Government to legalise ono. case as a standard—viz., bushel case, 14Jin. by Sjjin. by 18in.; halfbushel case, 7 l-Bin. by 8.2-3 in. by 18in.,' inside measurements—is very ■ satisfactory,-inasmuch as Inst year's (confcreu'cc carried a resolution In favour of two distinct shapes. This year ;tho. meeting considered, such a regulation undesirable-, and that one shape only of case should be used. The model now adopted is already used by most commercial growers." '.-',. ..Sometimes 'farmers' are inclined to discard heifers because they do not milk well with their first.calf. Not infrequently a, heavy milking at an early 'period'.in.-lifo.-. means' a: weak-constitu-'tiorii'.-and'Vonstitution is.no.unimportant ; factor, in/.the, -. milcli- ;"co'w's worth.— arid Stockbreeder.". ■■' . "

LIVE STOCK SALES.

The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report :-At Himitanci. on. Monday, we had a fairly representative yarding of both sheep .and cattle, which, sold at full rates. There was a fair num-. m'er of buyers present, and, .bidding heintt spirited throughout, every line war, quitted under the hammer. Wo ruote:—Shejn: Fat owes, 15s. 3d.; dry ewos, 12°. 4d.;'ewes,' with lambs, 11s. -Id. Cattle: Yearling- ■ heifers, £2 2s. 6d.: ye-irliiiK bulls, £1'10s.: empty heifers, £3 9s. to £-1 !55.; fat-cown. £4 15s. to £5 IBs.; store cowf, £2 13s. to £4; cows and calves, .« 3s. Gd. to £1 165.; forward cows.'£3 l's.; springing rows, £3 17s. 6d., £4 ss. to £8 10s.; bulls, £2 ss. to £4. 6s. '■ .- ■' ' . ■ ■ COMMERCIAL ITEMS. INVESTMENT SHARKS. Sales were reported yesterdi' - of Dank of New Zealar-d at filfi 125., and ' Taranaki Petroleum' at 9s. The' Quotations were aa under:— ■ ; . :, ■ - .' ' Buyers. Sellers ' .Sales. ■"- . •' ■ £ s.d. £ s.d./ £'s:a. National 'Bank .:.... - 517 0 — Bank N.Z.. : •— ■'-. t- - 10 12 0 N:Z. Loan and Mer- . ■ ' .': . . cantiie .'...■....;....;.. 010 0 — ■.•■•■—-■■■ K.Z. iistl. siver - .■'■"'•• . Plate ..: - 119 0 - FcUding O'as-- — 12 0 — Well. Gas f£10) .... 19 0 0 ■'—-. ,— Well,- Gas (£6 155.) 13 10 0 '. - — Lnion Steam. :...- 116 0 '— . — Well. Woollen lord.) 313 0 - . — Taupiri : Coal - 10 6-W.estport-Stockton — 0 7 3 Leyland-O'Uricn ... 16 3 — — N.Z. Oor.. Dental ..-. 1 .2 6 1-3 6 - Taranaki Petrok-um o'B 6 OID 0 0 9 0 TaringamutuTotara 2 3 o—. — TASASAKI PETROLEUM. . .; The fourth annual report of the directors of the Taranaki Petroleum. Company, Ltd., is somewhat lengthy. It is stated that never. in ■ the history of the company has there been so much accomplished at the works, and never so,much oil won. There appears to 'm a great accumulation of oil 'at the works, and it 'is desirable that-this crude oil should be turned into a" marketable commodity, altogether apart from the fact that it is taxing the management- in making nrovision for its' storage. Tho recent decision of the Admiralty to supplement coal with crude oilfor steamir.s purposes has 'given .a. great stimulus to the oil industry all over the world, and with a view to attracting attention to the Taranalti oilfields, the directors have donated 25 barrels of crude oil to the Admiralty, and the oil han been forwarded to the Bish Commissioner, by the' New Zealand Government. Tho quantity'of'oil won during the year cr.ded September 30 last- is coinnuted .it 76,844 sallons. The annual meeting of shareholders will bo held, at New Plymouth on Friday.

AUCKLAND ELECTF.IC THAMWAYS. .The report of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, Ltd., tor the halfyear ended Juno 30 last, states that the total revenue for the rix months amounted to £97,000. The traffic receipt:; totalled £9a,8!0, an increase of £65C0. After deducting a!! .expenses chargeable to revenue, including £8200 far debenture interest, and £2300 in respect of the rental and percentage of profits ■ payable to the Ai'.ckl-int! Oily. Cov,*ici!, and netting aside '•7600' to' depreciation account, there romains, a surplus of 520.5C0, waking, v;ith .€3500 brought forward, a total of £241C0. From this an-xtint £6000 has been placed to reserve, and, after Bavins a dividend on tho,ordinary pharos at. the- rate of 6 per pent, per annum, there remains to be carried forward .£61(10. Since January last £3470 of five per'cent, first mortgage dcbhnturo stock has been redeemed at 105 per cent., leaving £325.532 of this stock still outstanding. ■ Capital expenditure for the six luont-ta amounted to £15,2C0.-the largest portion of which was in connection with the extension of the nower-Uous; plant a.ud distribution system.

V BRITISH PATENTS ACT. ' ■' According to recent mail advices, tho British Patents and - Design's Act , has proved of preat benefit to the , industries of Great Britain 'Generally, ar.d more esnecially to those districts which, succeeded in attracting manufactories to their territory. Over 40 foreign firms are now established ' in the United Kingdom, while more than 25' English undertakings are working on a. royalty basis, British patents held abroad. The trades include several branches of engineering and the chemical, pottery, wood working, clothing, match-making, roofl- s felt, rubber, leather and other industries, whils the districts in which foreign firms are working arc widely 'distributed. The value of. land and premises acquired represents now well over £200,000, while nearly J51.000.0cn has been, and i:i still being, spent or. buildlnt'f, . plant, . machinery, and genera! equipment. What this means to the prosperity of the different towns in whi"h 'the-new-Industrie* -have settled con be readily appreciated. One offeotof tho Act is to give a considerable impetus to 1 movement which had already bepun be-'-gun, before the legislation in question was onacted. That is the tendency to remove works and factories • from the congested city districts to-more spacious regions on" the outskirts of -. some provincial tDwhs. In' response to this development enterprise hasbeen r.hown by'-many .public authorities, in setting forth/, the attractions of their districts. Yarioiis railway companies, itoo, have drawn attention to the facilities offered to manufacturers by their lines: These include land in-advantageous positions at" low prices with siding accommodation at reasonable terms, good water, fMs. and electricity supply for lighting slid power nt- cheap T.ilc3. Also low "rcii* tals for houses for.the industrial clasFc.t in healthy towns, possessing abundant educational and recreative" advantages, and with moderate municipal taxation, iln. brief, the advent of tho Pat"ntn Act .has been productive of more- good to the .masses., after barely three years' 'trial than was. ever' anticipated by its most ;sanguine. supporters. ~ -

j ■ OIL SEEDS. The comparisons of rubber ceed with linseod and cottor.-ssed, have led to inquiries as to tho possible commercial utilisation of rubber Eocda in the future. At present ..there is such a, demand for- seeds ■for planting that there i<: no surplus supply. .The- Botanio G-ardeirs at Sinuapere—whioh "is really tho birthplace of 'Jis Malay rubber industry—h.ive" already furnished, great quantities of teed for the plantations, but tho authorities now refuse to. undertake any more order? .for. seed just at present, owing to the,. engage ments already booked. But the time will not be long in coming when there, will be a larpp surplus of Eec.ds from tho ninety .millions of trees already planted, investigation of the rubber seeds has proved, that-they "yield a fine clear oH of apod, drying quality. It has recently been 'euggested that, having in view the future cominertial value, of the seeds. <tt would be wise in erecting .new machinery on. plantations to make provision for-noWr and rpace for Eecd-crushing, machineBy doiiig so, the residue from the crush: ors. which 1.3 valuable both as'caVflc food e?t'ite fcrtil - inB ' would ,K Won the

.DIVIDENDS BY POST. It has always been a moot legal point whether or not dividends may be sent- bv poet at the payee's risk. There have beeii two recently decided cases. In " tho case or the Great Northern Railwav ■■ Company i nhd ThairhvaH, the company "had transnutted by post to a shareholder a dividend warrant which did cot reach him The shareholder claimed repayment of the dividend, but- the company would oihy agreo on condition that he gave an in. demnity in respect oh the lost dividend This ho refused to do. The Cour.try P Court judge decided tor the shareholder, but the Divisional Court, on an appeal by tho company, reversed this decision, contending that the. directors had power tu specify, withu limits, how and when tho dividends should be paid, ' and'y that tho conditions which appeared on thefa-o of the stork certificate (that dividends would bo payable by warrant sent by post to tho. proprietor s registered address) wero not unreasonable. Another similar case was recently decided in the opposite. «3v by the Full Court of South Australia (Aonman v. the South Wales Gas Comnanv\. The plaintiff claimed «8, being the dividend on eighteen shares which tho company had forwarded to him by post to his usual address. Someone opened t!sc letter in,transit, stole the cheaue, forced tho shareholder's signature, and cashed the cheque, at tho bank. The Court decided that payment of dividends by post was not actually payment by the company, and found for the plaintiff with costr,. It is generally supposed that a company'e liability in this respect ceaEes as Kooii a≤ the dividend warrant' has been posted, It would be well to have the point settled one way or ■ the other.

Customs Tcveaiw collected at the nort. of WellinKton yesterday amounted to £2024 3e. 8(1. WELLINGTON ■ MARKETS. ' Messrs. liacry and Co.. Ltd.. Wcllincton, report wholesale prices ruling on the markets:-Whcat, fowl, 3s. Ud. to 4f,.; feed oat?, 'is. ICd. to 35.; Dun oats; 35.; seed cate, 2s. 10d. to 35.-, Algerian oat?, 2s. 3d. to 35.; rye corn, is. lCri. bushel; maize. 3r;. 3d. to 33. Si.; crushed malt, 75.; iowi barley, 2s. 9d.; Cape barley seed, 35.; fiouv, How Zealand, £9 53. to £1 155.: n'eas. split. .618, partridge peao 5:.' per bushel; bonedust, £5 155.; siiperpubsphatOF, £5 to .£5 55.; basic flag, .£<l 10s.; pollard £6 10s. to £6 155.; bran, £5' 10s.- tn £5 15v s pigmcal, £5 per ton; pearl bar'.dy, '155.; chaff (oatensbcaf), £5 se. to J?5 10s.; potatoes, table, old, £12 ton;' potatoes. bow, £12 to £U ton; onions, -Victorian, £U ner. ton; molasees fodder. £5 . lCc:

bacon ttictoryl, ddec 7i(i.. hams Sd., rolls Bftl.; butter, prime b'r!l» 9d., to 9Jd. Poultry, hens 11.ti.; dupKsJ'te. 6:1 .to Ss. 6d. per pair; tnrteys.r Eo'bblcrs. 18s. to 205.. nens !C->. tn.Ws.; fresh eegc. 10d: .to UA. dozen; cheese, 53d , . Ib.;, AKftroa machine-(lre.-'.ed carkffo'at, ,8Jf1..".0'-M. per 11).; farmers' -ilrsssed cock:fo,it. Cd. per !b.; ryegrass, Js. 94. p'3T bushel; Italian. rysgrKo, is. 9d. per bushel; white clover, U'ss. per cwt. , . .■• ■ ■' ' LONDON - WOOL SALES. l!y Telcgra-pli-PreES Association-Cojiyrisht. 1 London,. December •]. At the woal. sales' the top price -for the Parcroa clip . was : 16d. ■ per Ib., and the average Hid. . .'. v . . ; Fi'.OZEN MEAT. ' Dj TclccraDb-rrc3s Association—Copjrißht (Rec. November 27, 5.5 p.m.) ' London, December 4. The Frozen--Meat- Trade Association's Smitnflold market quotations for the unbased on actual sales of not less than one hundred carcasses of mutton ov lamu, and twcJity-flvo quarters ot beef of fair average quality. The quotations are not for selected lines, hut for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of tho shipments now on .the '-market.. .The prices which follow, aro, on an- average a. farthine; per Ib. more'than the value ex ship, this -difference representing. an average cost in Sipenscs, handling, conveyance, and celling the meat:- ■ ■; ■ ■ .. ' / N0v.26. Dec.S. Mutton- <' :'■ '.''• . ■d. : d. , Canterbury,.'light ..; 43 "';'•' Canterbury, .medium .'...;. l i «i Canterbury, ■ heavy - — Southland- ....; .: ••' * ' North Island,-best .....:.', 43 43.■ North -Island, ordinary.:. 41-16 41-16 Australian, light ...........33-16 33-16 Australian, heavy 3i 11, Eiver Plate, light 31 ' 3) Eiver Hate, heavy ......:... 31. . .3i Lamb— ' ~-•'■ .' .'..' . : Canterbury,' light '.; .? 55 55 Canterbury, medium ..:.'. 53 53 . Canterbury,.-heavy. ......... 5J- i\ ■'-. •Southland -:........: 62 53 North Island, selected ... 5i 6J'. K"orth Island, ordinary ... sfi ' ' 5S ' Australian, best 51 • ■ -sj. Australian, fair 5j '54 Australian, inferior 4J 4i ■ Kivcr Plato .......,..;; - ; - fieef--: ;'" ; '■

l\cw Zealand, ox' fores... •2S 2J ' New Zealand, ox hinds... 33 31 Australian, ox fores ..:... ■■23 ■ ■ ■2j Australian, ox- hieds ...■'3'3-16 33-16 Kiver Plats, -ox. fores'... -23 ' 23 Eiver Plaie, ox hinds....- 3g 3a Eabbits are dull, and prices are nominally unchanged. .-;'■ ;.• - •■'..-

I HIGH-COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. Tho Commerce and Tourists Division of the Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists has received the following cabled maTket report from the High Co'mniissioner for New.ifealand.'dated London, December 3. (Quotations, un!«s otherwise speciocS, are average market prices on spot.) :— • Mutton.—The market is slightly weaker, with less demand. Itivcr Plato mutton is in large supplj'. ■ Stocks qi No-.v Zealand mutteu or.» hand are light, and are firmly held in few hands, on account of the airal' shipments ■- expected. Canterbury. "\A. per lb., nominal; Korth Island. <d.; Biver Plate, 3Jd. per !b. . , Lamb.-Tho market is steady, owing tn local dera.-ind. . Buyers aro not inclined t-D- make forward purchases of lamb at present prices. Arrivals are likely to be heavy.' Australian, 5Jd. per lb. , ])o?f.—The market is weak. Supplies of River Plate beef are heavy. Now Zealand hinds. 38f1.; fores. S3d. per lb. Butter.—The market is e_uiet but steady for best quality or.ly. 'The market is weak and inactive for second-class omlity. ChoiccEt New but'.?r. 1123.; Australian. 108s.; Danish. U7s.; Siberian. lC3s. per cwt. Cheese.—Thero is a hotter dom.ind, nnd th 3 ir-irket is steady/ Coloured, 575.; ■γ-hite, 565. per'.etft. ' Hemp.—ThJ.; inai'Ket is flat, nnd nothing whatever doing. New Zealand, coon fair. nn spot; per ton, £22; fair crrsdo, £20 10s.; fair current I'.anHa, f.VS We.: forward. sliipment.Mbout' the fame. Tho output from Manila.' , for the wesli was 23.000 bales. Cocksfoot Seed— is quiet,but' holders are firm. Bright clean . New' Zealan- seed, weighing ;17Ib. to, bushel, 7te. ■ Wool.—The market, i's steady, and prices aro- wejl ,maintained. ; .' ' MINING NEWS. WELLINGTON SHAKE MARKET.' Consideriufr tho dullness of tho market a, fair number of transactions in mininit .shares v.'crc recorded ycstord.uy. but. witli few exceptions, the tendoncy is dowjnvards. Talisman-3 were steady, and so were Waihis, but Junctions were easier. The Slary lodo in No. 3 level, the width oE reef is Kft, and, the value 21s. 3d. The "itav Sy.lvia;,3s.?d.'(first cail). ' Waihi', £5 :iCs. (second call). Progress.. 12i. 3d.. Ife. (first call). Ross BJd.. 2s. 6d. "(first call). Tho tuotafions-and last sales were as ' Buyers. -Selleri Sales ■ : £s.d. £s.d. £s.d Hauraki , ltcefs ..- - 0,0 8. - .Kurmui, 0 0 3 0 0 7 — Kuraniii Caledor.'n 0 15 0 17 — Hay Queen — 0 3 6 — ! New Sylvia 0 3 9 fJ '3 10 0 3 S Old Hauraki. ..';.....- 0. 2 0 0 2 1 - Occidental ...-. 0 0 3. — — Old Eapanga 0 0 6 0 0 9 —~ Saxon '0 17 -0 18 —" Tairui Broken Hills 0 1 0 0 12 -■ Talisman :.............. 211 9 212 3 - Talisman (Hew) ... 2 0 0 - — i Waihi 516 0 5!7 0 516 0 Waihi Kstcndcd ... 0 2 .-4 0 2 6 ' — Wnihi G'd. June....' — 111 6 - Waitangi : .....'...:..-;. • ■ - 0 19 —■ Watchman '....... - ;. 0 3 4 -. ■B!ackwntei-' -110 9 - ' - Con. Gold fields ■ -10 0 - New Bii; River 3 10 3 5 0 - Prosres's ' 011 9 012 6 012 0 Ross Goldfields 0.2 .4 0 2 8 0 2 6 ' STOOK EXCHANGE. • (By Telegraph—Prcs.i Association;) ' , '■' ■ fluokland, December 5. Business done on 'ChanKO this morninc:— Kay Qu0?.".,"3f1.: sd.' Hauraki, 2s. -Id; . : . - Hauraki Itef, 7d. ■' ■ Waihi Exchange,'2E.,6d.-, 2s. 7d. Grand .Jiinctioii.'..-ei llj. 6d. New Zealand Portland Cement, £1 16s. 6d. : The following' business was done at the 3.15 p.m. ca!l today:— ,- Watchman,.2«. 3d. ' fceh-in Oonsolidatcdi ,lCd. Tairna Broken Hills, Is. Id, Waihi, 17.5. '■■ • Waihi Extended. 2s. sd. ■ ' Waihi Grand Junction, £1 Us. 6d., £1 He. 3d. . ■■::■■ Old Hauraki, 2s. Id:. May Queen, 3s. 3d..

New Zealand Insurance, £1 15s. ..South British Insurance, £i 35.. 6d. ■ Duncdln, December 5. Stock Exchange sales:— Waihi Extended, 25..4 d., 2s. -lid., 2s. sd. Sales reported:— Watchuiau, 3s. 3d. ■•'..- Waihi Grand Junction-.,£1 lie. 3d.' Island Block,'6s. 3d. ; iiay C!uGen,.3s. (d. ■■ ■:;■ Stock Excliance '.Quotations.—Drcdeins Stocks: Blackwater. 11s.; Golden Treasure, buyers !5;., sellers "fl 25.; Island Block, sellers-6s: 6d.; No Town Creek, buyers Bs. 3d.; Eise and Shine, buyere £2 Is. Mining Stdokci-Bosa,- GoldßeUh, eeller3 2s.' lOd.'; Consolidated Go'.d(le!ds, sellers £t Cs. 6d.; Mav'Quccii. soUei-B Js. 5d.; New Sylvia, buyers 3s. lCd.-..fallen 3f. lid.; New Zealand Grown Mines, buyers <ls. 2d., sellers '.& 7d.; Old Hauraki, ■ sellers Bs. 2d.; Watchman, buyers 3s. Id., seHers 3s. 4d.; Talisman Consolidated, seHers £2 lfc.; Waihi. buyers £5 Ke. 6d., Eel!ej E £5 !B S . £d.; IVaihi Extended, buyers Z.i. <d>, sellers 2s. 6d.; W.iihi Grand Junctcs, buyers £1 10?. 9(1., tellers £1 Us." 3d.. Invesimcnt Stock?:—National Bank, sellers £5 '7s. 3d.: Kationa! Insurance, huycjs £i Ms. 5d., MUsr-i £1 lEs. 3d.: New Zealand Insurar.co, buyer:, PA 2?.; Union SUim Ship Co., buyers fil 16s. 9d.; Westnort Stockton, <s\ters, 7s. '.d.; llilbnrn. Limp and. Cement ifV-, buyers f.l 15s. 6d., sellers £2 Is.; New Zealand Drus Co. (£2l. kllers £2 10s.