STOCK EXPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1578, 23 October 1912, Page 10

STOCK EXPORTS.

THE SEPTEMBER SHIPMENTS. Lho stock cxpcts from New Zealand last month comprised 489 sheep, 177 j horses, 39 pigs, and 9 head of cattle. Jho , bulk of the sheep (381) went to the ', Pacific Islands, whilst 80 were dispatched . to South' America, 14 to Australia, and 4 , to tho Argentine. With tho exception ot, 22 to Fiji and 15 to the Pacific Islands, tho horses were all for Australia. The Pacific Islands took all. the cattle and - pigs shipped. The Wellington contribution to the month's figures was 73 horses. Particulars of the total horses shipped arc as under:—B7 draughts (4 stallions, 26 i mares', 35 geldings, 22 fillies), 44 mixed i draughts (18 mares, 26 geldings), G thoroughbreds (2 mares, 3 geldings, lcolt), 3(1 , haclcnoys (33 mares, 2 geldings, 1 foal), ' 1 ponies (1 mare, 3 geldings). ; FRUIT-UROWINO. -THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS. ! Reports received by tho Orchards and Gardens Division of the Agricultural He- : partment from its officers in various parts of' New Zealand indicato that tho present . prospects Uor the coming fruit season are ■ bright. The various reports are summar-. ised below:— Whangaroi.—Generally speaking fruit trees are not so backward as might bo' anticipated, considering the weather that has been experienced, Ijut young trees in' the more exposed positions have suffered. There are good prospects of an average' crop of both stone and pip fruits. Peaches are showing well all round.' Loquats scarce. : • „ ~ '~,.'■ Auckland North—Present conditions indicate good crops. • Auckland South—Peach' leaf-curl is very bad where spraying lias not been carried out. but where Bordeaux has been used is fairly free from this diseass. Everything points to a heavy crop of apricots, as they have set, exceedingly well considering tho state of the weather. Peaches have set fairly well, and Japanese plums ore light to good. Hamilton.—Notwithstanding'; the wet weather, peaches and nectarines appear to be setting their fruit freely. Pears in many places are showing a wealth of bloom. Gooseberries give promise of an abundant harvest. '• Wanganui.—The prospects at present ot the stone fruit crop—peaches and plumsare poor to medium. The buffeting peaches, got last year evidently made heavy crops this season an impossibility.'. Plums promise to bo a lighter crop, although if weather conditions are favourable they will probably be a finer sample. Apples and pears are flowering well, but the boisterous weather imist.affect tho ' earlier, varieties of the pear in unsheltered localities; otherwise the promise of the pip fruit crop is excellent. Manawatn and Wairarapa.—Most trees are showing an abundance of blossom,' and should better weather set in a good. . setting of fruit will result. ' Hastings.—All; orchards are looking extremely well. Apricots have set in abundance, and also peaches. This, so far, has been a record season for, bloom, and if the future weather-conditions are favourable, the season's' fruit crop should be a heavy one. Nelson.—Pear and apple trees are coming into bloom, and promise good crops. Tomatoes are now being planted out pretty extensively. Christchurch.—There is every' promise of a record season, almost every variety of fruit blooming profusely. Dunedin.—All fruit trees arc showing an abundance of blossom, and everything points to a good crop this coming season, although it is rather early yet to predict anything, as there is always the possibility of the fruit not setting. ... v;. '.; _.- _. ENGLAND'S srpCK'STATISTICS. ■- EFFECT OP LAST AUTUMN'S DROUGHT. Exceptional interest has been taken in England this year in the appearance of tho preliminary agricultural returns as they were looked to ,'as furnishing the, first authentic testimony regarding the . effects of the remarkable drought of last autumn which resulted in such a scarcity of feed that excessive numbers of live stock had to be marketed because there was no alternative course. The returns, which deal only with England and Wales, reveal losses in all classes of live stock. ■The totals for 1912 are 1,406,099 horses, or 14,820 fewer than in 1911; 5,841,908 cattle, or 72,339 fewer; 18,053,584 sheep, or 1,277,006 fewer; and 2,496,358 pigs, a decrease.of 154,681. The heaviest falling-otf in cattle is in cows and heifers in milk or in calf, • which- are fewer by 44,818, while cattle under one year are fewer by 39,151. It was well known how severely the drought and shortage of food told on the dairy industry, and this is indicated by tho decline in the number of cows, while younger animals had also to,be sold for tho same reason. It may be mentioned, howlever, that it is only necessary to go back to 1908 to find the total of cattle 111,179 fewer than they now are, and with plenty of keep and fair prices it is honed the I moro recent high figures will soon be reI gained. •

-, Sheephave been the class of stock most adversely affected, as the total. has decreased to 18,053,53-4 from 19,330,650, a loss of 1,277,066. or 6.6 per cent. Ewes aro fewer by 322,514, sheep one year and above by 510,137, and sheep, under one year by 111,415. Tlie loss follows large declines since 1007, when the total was 20,290,151. Hero the cumulative, influences of bad trade and short keep have to be taken into account. Prospects have now improved, and if the -danger of liver fluke is averted it is hoped the numbers of flocks will once more begin to increase. Tho falling-off in pigs is also considerable, tho total for England nnd Wales of 2,196,358 comparing with 2,651,039 in 1911, a drop of 151,681, or 5.8 per cent.. The number of sows kept for breeding is less by 41,514, and of other pigs by 113,167. ■In 1910, however, the total was 2,210,577, so that the present year has an increase of 279.759 over the total two years ago, and it has often been noticed how rapidly tho numbers of pigs advance if tho trade is good. Losses in all classes of stock arc certainly ' much to be regretted, says an English writer, but in view of the exceptional season of 1911 it was feared that a result of the kind was inevitable. There is now tho prospect of a large supply of keep during the winter and spring, if the root crop should keep sound and somo warmer; weather be experienced to promoto bulb growth, and to allow stock to-lie kept at grass. Unfortunately much of tho corn will only be Qt- to feed to stock, nnd farmers will, no doubt, make the most of it in this way. These circumstances should tend to a recovery of the lost numbers, if only the necessarycapital is available for purchasing stock. Tn tho bad season of 1879 (with which the present, adverse harvest has been compared by many, although in some of their main features they do not resemble each other) it was frequently said that thoso agriculturists were best off who had somo stock growing into money. It is to be honed that this year a larger number will be able to tide over a bad season for hay and corn by reliance upon livo slock, the sheet anchor of British agriculture.

A good thing is cheaD at any price. That's why so many factories have installed "Victor" Vats. Over'a hundred Vats havo been ordered, and the'better known they become the greater is the demand. Pull particulars concerning tho labour-saving, profit-increasing qualifies of "Victor" Vats can be had from Albert J. Parton, Carterton.—Advt. A" WINNER OF COMPETITIONS. Tha Egg-laying c6mpetition3 for 1910-11 and 1911-12 were both won by pens reared on 'A. and P." Chick Raiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping. Obtainable from all Storekeepers— Auvt. Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company ar'nounce that, their spring horse fair-will bo held at flnwcra on October 26. The sale logins at 1(1.311 ami. each day. . A reminder is given by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., that they will hold a sale at Levin on Ootober 25. The tale beUlna at JI.SO,

FOR MANAWATU SHOW.

(By Tcleeraph.—Press Association.) Dunedin, October 22. Messrs. Thomson and Co. are' ponding four Clvdes.lalo horses to the Manawatu show lo'coinpete for the Union Company's 50-guinea cup. This is the first string of vnluablo Clydesdales to be sent across the Straits to compete in the North Island. COMMERCIAL ITEMS. INVESTMENT SHARES. Yesterday Leyland-O'Brien Timber shares changed hands at 2fe. 9d. The quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. ■£ s. d. National Bank — 6 2 0 Equitable Building - 9 17 6 N.Z. and River Plate - 2 2 0 Well. Trust and Loan — V 10 0 Well. Deposit ■ - 0 7.6 Christchurch Gas 800 — Feilding Gas 10 6 - Gishornc Gas : — 2 10 0 I'almerston X. Gas 9 2 6 — Well.' One (£10) - ;» 0 0 Well. Gas (third issue) ... - .1415 0 Well. Gas (preference) ... 1 0 0 — Gear Meat (£1) 3 4 0 - „ Jteat Export (£4) - 5 0 0 Meat Export (525. 6d.) - 3 0 0 Well. Woollen (ord.) 3 14 0 - Well. Woollen (prof.) - ' 2 17 3 Hikurangi Coal 0 17 6 0 18 6 West-port Coal — 18 6 Leyland-O'Brien 16 6 „ T . Taringamutu Totaro. ... 2 5 9 2 6 9 C. M. Banks, Ltd - 10 6 Golden Bay Cement - 1 1 3 Shariand's ordinary 12 3 1 2 6 Sho-rland's preference ... 1 2 6 1 3 0 W.F.C.A. (£5) - 7 5 0 ' TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Vegetables.—Green peas are now coming in more freely from tho Nelson district. An excellent demand. exists for cabbages, cauliflowers, parsnips, and carrots. Consignments of new potatoes have been coming by steamer from. Auckland, owing to the recent block on the Main Trunk line, and have sold well. French beans; hothouse grown from the Hutt, have come on the market, and command good . prices. The market has weakened for rhubarb, owing to nea-vy supplies. Fruit-.—The Maiti, from Sydney, is bringing a small shipment of mandarines, lemons, passion fruit, and oranges. . The Monowai reached port yesterday with transhipments ex Talunc from the Cook Islands, consisting of pineapples and oranges and bananas. Nearly the whole of the pineapples were detained for fumigation, and will be ready for sale to-day. Shipments of New Zealand lemons have realised very satisfactory prices, and further shipments are.recommended. .Onions — Californian are quoted at. 15s. to I£m. per case of about 1001b. Flour is selling at £8 10s.. to £8 15s. f.o.b. south, according to braud, and less the usual trade discount. Pollard is in good demand at £6 15s. to £7 per ton. •' Bran.—Heavy shipments have been made to Australia, and the market here is firm at. £5 ss. to £5 lite, per ton. Maize is realising ss. to ss. 3d. -per . bushel for New Zealand-grown, and 6s. 6d. for imported seed maize, "Hickory King." ■ Oatmeal is selling at £13 to £13 10s. per ton.

Eolled oafs, in 41b. bags, arc quoted at ' 9s. per dozen, and oatina at 9=. 6d. ■ .Oats.—Short feed and dun oats realise . 2s. 9d. to 3s. per bushel, and seed. Algerian h 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. ' Ij Hay—Choice is in short supply. Prime c rye and clover is quoted at £5 15s„ to £6 , per ton; medium quality, £3 Ills, to £4. Chaff.—Prime oatcnehcaf cliaff, £4 15s. to £5 per ton; medium quality, £3: 10s. to £3 lffl., all. sacks in. Fresh ejre- are realising Is. per dozen. Butter.—Prims milled, in bulk, lid. to Jllcl. per lb.; good quality,. 9d. to lOd. Margarine, in 281b. tins, Scottish manufacture, Bd. to 81d. per Ih. Cheese.— factory, medium size, 7d. per lb.; loaf, 7»d. to' 73d. Hicemeal is dull of sale at £5 15's. per , ton; and riceflour at £6. J - Split, neac arci quoted at 17s. per owt. ' Prussian blue peas are scarce, and aro f quoted at 7s. to 7s'. 6d. per bushel. Partridge pens have moderate inquiry at f 3s. 9d. to. te.'3d. per bushel. IThole linseed is-in fair demand'at 17s. i to 18s. per cwt. Linseed nuts nrc in moderate demand • at 15s. ' Crushed linseed cake, 14s. per cwt.. t t Customs duties collected at the port, of j Wellington yesterday amounted to, £5685 ; 15s. Id. . . CANTERBURY GRAIN ILvRKET. I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) , Christchurch, October 22. i Not much grain has been offering < during the last few days. Oats are dull < of sale in the absence ot an outlet, and - the only demand for wheat is for stock- : ing up big millers. A line of Hunters was '. •recently purchased at 3s. 5d., and a mixed ' line at a nearer station at 3s. 5Jd. The ' nominal value of wheat, is 3s. sd. at conn- ] try stations, but specially, crime or handy lots may command from id. and Id. more. , Space on 6hipboard has been offered to load erain for West of England poris at 355. freight fully hooked. Shipments by this steamer wiil, however, be of a more nr less speculative character, as increased freight will absorb the profit on present f prices. The potato market has firmed in ; conecnucncc of good inquiry, both local , and for Australia, but fupplies are now very short, and potatoes are not in a eon- ; dition to keep for any length of time. Tho price now ia £7 to £7 10s. at country stations. EABBITSKIN SALES. (By Telegraph.—Pross Association.' Dunedin, October 22. At the rabbitskins' auctions yesterday, as high as ss. 93d: was reached for superior does—a record for Australasia. • SILVER. By TeleeraDh—Press Association—Conrrieht London, October 21. Bar 6ilver is quoted at 29 3-16 d. per ounce standard. BEET SUGAR. / London, October 21. Herr F. '0. Licht, the well-known sugar expert of Jfadgeburg, in the monthly circu-. lar. states that, tho production of beet sugar in Europe shows an increase of 6900 tons. He estimates that for the season there will be a total increase of 2,590,CC0 tons. MINING NEWS. WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. The sales recorded yesterday were as under:— New Sylvia, Is. 2!d. (second call). ■ Old Hauraki, Is. (second call). '. Progress, Bs. 6d. (first call). . The quotations were aB under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ s. rl. £ s. d Blackwater 14 9 16 0 Con. Goldflelds —' 0 15 0 Mountain King , 0 0 3 0 0 5 Murray Creek I' 9 6 111 6 New Big River , -- 5 5 n New Sylvia 0 12 0 13 Old Hauraki 0 0 11 - Progress 0 9 0 — Ross Reconstructed 0 5 2 0 5 5 Talisman 1 18 0 1 18 9 Waihi 115 0 115 9 Waihi Grand Junction ... 12 3 12 9 Waitangi 0 07 0 0 8j STOCK EXCHANGE IBy Telegraph.—Press Association^ Auckland, October 22. Business was done on the Stock Exchange to-day as follows:— Waitangi, Bd. Watchman. Is. lOd. ! Ross, ss. 4d. Mountain King. Is. 6d., Is. 7d. New Waitaia, Is. 8d„ Is. 7d. Loan and Mercantile, 9s. Auckland Trams (con.), £1 Es. Business done at the 3.15 p.m. call to-day: Wa.intn.hi, Is. lid., 25., 2s. Id. Waitangi Consolidated, Bd. Wilson's Cement (ord.), £1 16s. 3d. WAIHI GRAND JUNCTION. ■ By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright \ London, October 21. ' Yesterday's closing quotations were:— Waihi Grand Junction, 225. (buyers) and 235. (sellers). '

The reports of the United States GovernI ment on the cotton crop, published on j September 3, showed an average condition > ot 74.8 per cent., a figure slightly exceeding the condition at a year previously, and ' also' exceeding the ten-year iivcrage. Ae- • cording to "The Times" correspondent, the condition Indicated a probable yield of „ 14,000,000 bales, but, the season being ' ' about a fortnight late, much depends on the weather conditions and possible late il Iroste. According to the "liritish Trade Review" there is a. slight improvement in the Iti-ii-I i'sh galvanised slicet trade. Some ttood , ' orders. have been received from South A America, Australia, and India. The iiuu- '■• tation at time 'of wrltim? for 24 gause .stood at f.com £11 17s, Gd, to £12,