FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1074, 13 March 1911, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

MEETING OF PALMERSTON BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston Farmers' Union was held on- Saturday. Mr. J. Balsillie presided, and there were also present Messrs. L. E. Bryant, A. Buchanan, H. J. Barbei',' Alex. Farmer, A. Harding, Capt. Hewitt, and J. Wingate. On the motion of the chairman it was resolved to fo.rward a letter of sympathy to. Mrs. Wheeler and family ip their bereavement. Several members spoko of the valuable' work done by Mr. Wheeler in the early history of the union as a member of the Provincial Executive. Notification was received that the Arbitration Court would sit at Palmerston North on March 21, when the shed hands' dispute would come up. The chairman reported that the Provincial Defence Committee had this question in hand, and were watching tho interests of tho farmers. The matter of insurance on grain stacks was discussed, and it was decided to reoommend the Farmers' Mutual to tako up this class of insurance, within certain limits. Tho chairman announced that the annual meeting of the branch would be held next month, when the election of officers would tako place.

TIMARU A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. ICy Tclcgrarh—Press Association.) Timaru, March 11. At the annua'; meeting of the Timaru A. and IJ.1 J . Association next Saturday, the balance-sheet will show the net receipts for the year to Ik> .£IOB3, and net. profits „£»(>. From tins, awl XISB balance. I'liOO of debentures were redeemed; t £23o was spent on now buildings and some renovations. Members' subscriptions amounted to ,£lO3, and prizes were distributed to the value of ,CGS3. The secretary (Mr. E. I/. Orbellj was granted six months leave for a health trip. The agricultural show for Tcniuko.and Geraldine is being revived after many years in abeyance. The show will take place at the end of the month, and the interest display! tl gives promise of a good show. >....:

The new Knupokonui. dairy factory has been begun, A very up-to-date building will be put up. to cost about .£IOOO (states tho Ilawora "Star"). Tho shecn-gue-.sing competition at tho Hawke's Bay A. and P. Show resulted as follows:—Actual weight. 41011b.: 11. Symes, Hastings. 1111b.. 1: A. Moroney, Paki Paki. 4i:)J1b.,:2: Twyford. and .1. Woou. Havolock, tie for third place with ■HSJIb. Tho-Mastertoii A. and P. Association is pleased with the -way in which tho railway arrangement* for their show at Solway were carried out. At the first agricultural';show in tho Ohura, held at Nihpniho last week. Mr. \V. T. Jennings, M.P.. who opened (ho function, said tho coining census would show tho population of Ohura Cquiity at cloSo on two thousand person?. Thd stock would reach: Sheep, 120,000; cattle and horses, 8000; pigs. 3000. Forty tons of butter would bo tho output of tho present season, and 1500 bales of wool (.had already been sent cut.

LIVE STOCK SALES.

Messrs. Dalgcty and Company, Limited, report having held their foiiniphtly sale nt the Upper Ilutt yard on Friday. There was a very full yarding of both sheep and eattle. and practically a total clearance was effected. A line of 1000 tiro and four-tooth wethers, on account of Mr. W. A. Cottle, Taita, was sold at lis. There was keen competition throughout the eale, springing cows and heifer:; and cows in milk being in Rood demand, and very satisfactory prices were realised. A line of thirty, consigned from a llawera client, averaged a little over £7 per head. Tho prices realised were as follow.—Sheep: 24 four-tooth wethers, lis.; f.f.m. ewes. It's. 2d.; f.m. ewes. ss. 4d. to 6;. 4(1.; woolly lambs, 6s. 4(1. to 75.; shorn lambs, ss. 2d,; Komney rams (old!, 10s. to 275. 6.1; Southdown rams. £1 le. Cattle; Cows in milk (just calved), £5 2s. Cd. to £9 155.; springing heifers, £5 to £3 Is.; cows, with calves at foot, £4 Is. to £5 7s. 6d.; fat cows and heifers, £4 to £4 155.; store cows. £2 to £3 95.; two-year heifers, £3 7s. 6d.: twoyear steers, £3 12=. Cd.; weaners, 225. 6d. to 275. 6d.; bulls, £3 to £4 ss. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report :-The Levin sheep fair held on Friday constituted a Tccord in point of numbers, over 15.CC0 sheen being penned by the various firms. Bidding throughout lacked animation. We, however, eventually cleared all our entries, with one exception, at tho following prices :—Two-tooth wethers. 12s. j two-tooth ewes (small), lis. 6d.; mixed-aged ewes, Bs. Cd., 95.; cull two-tooths, 7s. 3d.; four and six-tooth E.L. rams, 21s.

STOCK AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs. A. 11. Atkinson and Co., Ltd., sold on Friday a small yarding of pigs at prices showing no advanco in rates with diminishing milk supply. Nothing except forward sorts and porkers are inquired for. The poultry penned showed little quality, the entry being made up chiefly of hens and half-grown cockerels and chicks. Largo Quantities of fruit wcro marketed, including a good lot of peaches and tomatoes in sound condition. Souud table potatoes of good duality are now offering freely, and ton lots on rail at rates which compare favourably with southern offerings. Quotations:—Weancrs, 23. 3d., 2s. 9d., to 4s. 6d.; slips and stores, 4s. 6d., fe. 6d., Es., to 12s. 6d.; light porkers, 17s. 6d., 18s., 20s. 6d.. 21s. 6d., to 235. 6d.j two-year filly, £7 155.; pony, £5 12s. 6d.; hacks, £3. Poultry (per pair): liens, Is. 9d., 25., 2s. 6d., 2s. 9d.; cockerels, 25.. 2s. 6d.. to 2s. 9d.; chicks. 6d.. Is.. Is. 3d,; ducks, 35., 3s. 6d.; 3s. d.; hen and chicks, 2s. 6d. Produce: Pears, 2s. 3i., 35., 3s. 6d. ca=epoaches. 4s. 6d. to Es.: bananas, 3s. 6d.-' apples. Is. 9d.. 25.. 2s. 6d„ In. 3d.; tomatoes, 35.: potatoes, 9s. to 10s.; pig, 2*. to 3s. 3d.; onions, Jd. lb.: watermelons, 6d. to Is • pie. Is.j second-hand sacks. 4s. to fs 6d' dozen; peas, 4s. to 4s. 3d. bushel; harlev' 3s 2d. to 3s. 6d.; wheat, 4s. sd. to 4s. 6d ■ Algerian oats, 3s. 6d.; bacon, 7d.; hams, 9d