FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2111, 31 March 1914, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

CONDEMNED PEACHES.

! SHIPMENT FROM NELSON TO !■■■;■ U.S.A. ■ . ,Sc'me six or eight months ago a.large '; shipment of American peaches had to ' be refused admission into Now Zealand, i owing to tho fact that thc.v .were found ■ to bo affected "with a certain grub that I , was considered likely to spread to our T own orchards. Yesterday a cablegram. ! was received from San Francisco to the :■ ■ effect that a largo shipment of fresh' : fruit, including 600 cases of peaches and - -pears, had been condemned' "as they i ' were found to bo infected with an un- . known motli." Local fruit men, who I v/ere interested in this experimental ' shipment,- arc wondering whether i Brother Jonathan is "getting even" •■ or whether'there is actually anything wrong with the fruit. The solution means a good"deal to New Zealand, for if a. market can be created for our fruit : during-the "glut".'of; our'season, it means steadier prices on the local market. The 'condemnation of the very first shipment hascreated a good deal of sur- ! prise, and not a little comment, , iri.'in.-. , \. terested quarters. '- ' . I On being consulted, Mr. T. W. Kirk, V the Government Director of Orchards, f stated that the fruit in question.-'was

L from orchards in the Nelson district, J . aud had, after a rigorous inspection by t a Government officer at Nelson, been j shipped to San Francisco under Gov- ; .'yoriiment guarantee, which is to say that '■■ iwhe'thor sold or not the- shippers were guaranteed so much, per case, the Gov- • eminent- being . naturally \anxio us to a market for our fresh fruit. Much to his surprise, Mr. Kirk, received.a,cablegram, presumably from . our Government agejit at. San Francisco ; '.(it was unsigned) giv'-ug the same in- ■;■;' formation that appears in', the . Press. cablegram, and that message had been forwarded on to the shippers at Nelson. . As the result of thp fruit being blocked ■ at San Francisco,..it has been sent up " to' Vancouver..': Its fate there ;will be ■ ' .waited, with no little curiosity. ;"' ■'. • . Mr. Kirk, referring to the somewhat; ; yngue reason, given for condemnation,; stated, on being consulted, that the only thing in the nature of a moth that was / likely to have -been discovered was, a ■ tiny ono commonly known as-tho'leaf-rolier, but ho added that, it-was not likely that many, of them would be, ..found as the inspector made a 'Very careful examination of. the fruit;prior. : to shipment. ~v ' _: -. "Wo have no moth," added Mr. Kirk, •jj; "which makes a serious attack on our ■fij'peaches, and I am at a complete loss V 5 * if? know what they (the American au- '.. thorities) refer to. It appears to me ! that the American Commissioners may i condemn anything they think' fit—wo : have to proclaim at once the precise : cause of our action in condemning any : fruit. After the. inspection they, were ; submitted to at Nelson, I am inclined • to think that, there cannot be much ,'. wrong with the fruit." MRMING NEWS; ' ' It is estimated that more than 50 per ' cent, of the farmers in the. Masterton ■district are now possessed of inotor- ', cars. '~'.::' -. { \il - The Wairarapa branches of the Farmi\ ers . Union have a membership of nearly Mfceven hundred.;; . \\ One ofthe butchers at the Waingawa Works slaughters between 110 Maud 120 sheep per day.. At 275. 6d. per ?:hundred it will be-seen that his earntangs.areabout £9..per.week. ; , iv Tlio secretary of;the Farmers'■ Union ' has arranged to "have sent to his office iii Masterton all maps' and particulars of lands being' thrown open for settle-, "-•lneiit in New Zealand, for the inspect : tioii of those in. search of land. "" ■ In conversation with an ■ "Age" re- ■■ . porter on Saturday, the Very Rev. Dean , ■'M'Kenna, V.G., who has just returned '■'■''from an, extended tour of the world, , ; : stated that he v was-particolarly struck ■ in America with;the- advance- , that was beiii" made in apple' growing. Country ; 'that was useless 'tor other purposes was -being converted into apple orchards, and ; : made highly productive,; The apple '■ trees were not planted, as in-,New Zea- ■•■ land where they would derive the benei fit ■of the morning sun. They ■ were I ■ planted on the side of a hill, where the 1- . siiii reached -them in the afternoon so '~',t hat'they,suffefed very little.harm from •'■ -frosts. ; Tho frequent cultivation- of the -■■ ; soil, to keep the weeds down was. con- : ; sidered essential,: to..siiccesstul .fruit-, • growing. '' .' ''.: „'.'■ . Mr. L. E. Jackson has been appoint- ;' ed Opunake manager- for the New Zea- *•' land Farmers'.Co-operative Association, '<.■ and it is understood the society intend ! erectiiif bulk stores and yards for the ; due manipulation of their business in ' that district.' -: ' It is estimated that .the Hawke's Bay iSiWicultural and Pastoral Society 6 au- ' tiimn show will return a profit ot between £60 and £70. The profit on last. ' year's autumn show was £46. Tho world exacts from yon its toll-of worry and work-thereV no need for you to add to it. Make tilings a? easy ns you "Victor" 'Vats lighten labour and help increase the quality of the cheese. ■ "Victor" Vats have that sloping bottom ''■ which caused such a -sensation-. in the "• cheese-making world. Every factory Phould have "Victor" Vata, thej-are bmU for efficiency and satisfaction. Write for , particulars. Albert J.PartoD, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt. ■' LIVE STOCK SALES. Messrs. Dalgety .and Co., Ltd., .report having offered a fair yarding of sheep and. a email entry of cattle at theirDannevirke sale on Friday to a good attendance, oi huv.T3 Sheep weru in demand, and.the lira'elfected a clearance at'prices-highly . ■ Satisfactory to buyers..; found breeuuis ems, with rams, .•Mβ. to 155.. Bd.; medium do., to Us. Id.; forward ewes, 13s: to 13a. 10d.; full-mouth store.eweS.Ha.;.cull lambs, 5». to 6s. 6d.; medium do., Sβ.; good woolly lambs, 13=. Id. Cattle Small weancrs,-2ie.; "ood dairy heifers, in calf, .£4 10s.: ycar- ■ ling bulls, 35a. ■'■'.• ' •-.-.'■ The New Zealand ■ Loan' and'-, Mercantile A'eney Co., Ltd., rcport:->Ve held our fortnightly sale at Porigaroa on Thursday,when we offered a good .vard.ing.ot sheep and cattle to a- good attendance of burcrs. Competition throughout the sale wae spirited, and we report a total clearance at the following rates-.-<!. 6, and f.m. ewes, 13s ; f.m. ewes. 10s; lCd. to 11s.'Id. j 2-tooth wethers, lft. 7d.; cull lambs, 63. 6d.; 3-ycar fiteers, £7 mixed wcaners. 3Cs.; springing heifers, £4 17s. to £6 33. The N.Z- Loan and.. Mercantile Agency Co report :-*At our Levin s?alo on Iriday we had a fair yarding of sheep and cattle, which met ,with ready competition. We quote:—Store lambs. 63. Bd.; good woolly jambs, 125.; aged rams. £1 12a.; store cows, £2 8s : empty cows, £5 18s.; forward cows, £4 123. to £4 145.; fat cows, £7 105.;.. ZU- ,' months heifere, in calf, *5 10s.; bulls, to £4 10s. ; '■■■ Messrs. Williams and Kettle. Ltd., Dannovirke, report having held their weekly sale in the Dannevirko yards on March 27.' when' they offered a small yarding of both sheep and cattle, which met with J;ecn competition; 83 mixed aj:ed owes. 14s. 9d.; 66 in.s.-lambs 9b.: 17 s.ra. ewes 9s. Bd.: 19 18-month steers £4 65.; 7 weancr steers, £2 Is.; 5 fat cows, £5 Iβ. 6d. ■ Messrs Abraham and Williams! Ltd., report:—At Levin on Friday wo had a- heavy yarding of both sheep and cattle, stock comb* forward woll over advertised numbers. Biddins at auction was brisk on all lines, and we have to report a. most euci ccsrful s«le. The steers oilerod on, account of Dr. Newman came forward in nice order, i and made satisfactory prices. Tlio 3-year-olda were eold at £6 5e.; and the 2-year-olds at £5. Other sales wcthflrs, • 19s. 9d.; fat ewes and wethers, mixed, 18s. 7d.; fat ewes, 16s. 6d., 17s. 2d., 17s. 4d.; 2-tootli ewes, lfe. B<l. to 165.; 2-tooth weth--1 era. 183.: forward rape lambs, Uβ.'Bd., 12s. ''. lOdlj forward ewes, 145.; s.m. breeding r ; ewes, 103. 6d., 103. 10d.; woolly lambs, 103, . 4d.. lOe. 5d.; small , do., 7s. Id., 7e. Bd., 83. ' Jd,, Bs. lid.; store ewes, 9s. 2d.. lOe.• ill.; : fat cows, £0, £6 7s. 6d., £6 14s. .£7 17s. 6d.; ' forward cows, £3 lCs.. £3 lfe., £4; 18-montlis ;'■ steers. £3 14s. 6d., £3 175.; yearling steers, i £3, £3 53., £3 73.; 25-year steers, £5 145., £5 17e.; weaner steers, 305., 32a. 6d. to £3;

NEWS AND NOTES.

WHEAT AND FLOUK,

Aveaner heifers, 295. to 395.; 18-months heifers, r.w.b., £4; heifers, close to calving, £8 10s. to £11; bulls, £1 Bs. 6d.,' £6 12s. £a\ to £7 12e. 6d.; vcalcre, J2e. fd. and £2 lie. 6d.; porkers, 275., 293., Ms .6d.,'to 335.; baconers, £2 65., £2 10s.; stores, 17s; 64.; weanors, Uβ. 6d., 12s. Note—We wish to ,ly sales will bo discontinued for this out. COMMERCIAL ITEMS . INVESTMENT SHARES. : . There were no transactions in investment ehares yesterday. The quotations were ea follow:— ■ Buyers. Sellers. ■ "■■■. £s. d. £s. d. Bank N.Z.v (rights) -9 10 0 ..- National ■ Bank — 5 7 6 Metropolitan; Building ... — 12 0 0 Wellington Investment ... — 011 3 Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 6 0 — Gisborne Gas — 2 2 9 Well. (lag (£10) '. 16 2 6 16 8 6 Well. Gas (pref.) 019 6 • - Oiristohurcli Meat 15 7 6 - Gear Meat (£4). 14 7 6 • — Gear Meat (£1) , 3 12 0 - Union Steam (ord.) 14 3 15 0 Union Steam (prof.) 10 0 —. Taupiri Coal 12 0 — WestportrStockton- ..._ — 0 4 0 Leyland-O'Erien .............. — 14 0 Taringamutn- Totara ...... 2 5 6 — Golden Bay "Ce'ment 0 17 9 0.18 9 W.F.0.1. (£1) '...... :.. -.- 1.60: KfPEKIAL TOBACCO. The report of the Imperial Tobacco Company of Great Britain states that the net trading profit for the past year was £3,555,812. Directors' feee, management remuneration, and reserve for income-tax absorbed £221,574; oti account ol freehold building and leasehold properties £100,000 was written off, in addition to tlic normal depreciation, and £1,0W,000' was transferred to the general reserve. The profits available for distribution were £2,193,410,-and --.ut of this. the dividends on eharea bearing fixed interest had been met, an interim dividend oJ IJ, per-cent, paid on the "B" deferred ordinary shares, and £103,325 paid in bonus to customers for tho half-year ended' April 30 last. It is now proposed to pay a final dividend of 7J per cent, on the. "B" deferred • ordinary shares, ■ absorbing £208,724, together with a bonus of <s. per share, absorbing. £556,500. The bal■ance carried forward is £263,835, which includes a reserve for bonus ;to customers in 'respect of the half-year ended October 31 last: Tho report states that the extens'oii of 'factories at Bedminster, Bristol, for Messrs. Wills, at Nottingham, for Players and Sons, at Great Wild Street, London, for Lambert and Butlers, and at Glasgow' "for T. Stephen Mitchell have been com■pleted; that , a new factory ■at - Bristol for the Eraiiklyn/Davey ■ Branch.is iappiooch--ing completion, and that a new factory at Swindon <md a, bonded warehouse'at Bedminuter .-for Wills are in progress. , , . TABANAKI OIL WELLS, LTD.' _ ■According to the report of the 'Auckland representatives' who recently visited New Plymouth, there has been a. response cf £6000 to the appeal of the Taranaki Oil Wells, Ltd., for loan of £12,000 in order to enable operations to be carried on: Of this sum £3000 (s.ays the "News") has been subscribed in Taranaki. The money is being held in trust, pending tho 'full subscription. Should the present negotiations with London fall the Advisory Board,-said 'Mr. Mjiclow, would propose that tho oapital bo increased by offering 130,000 unallotted shares to eharehlders at an underwriting , discount, •of 20, per cent. Theee shares would be paid, up to 10s. each, and this, with a 4s. underwriting fee returned, would leave-6s. per share, which, would produce £33,CC0 of working capital. It was believed that'the balance of 10s. per share would not' be required. Mr. Oollefee said that liabilities amounted to •£81(10. ■ The '■amount required, per week to pay expenses, including work at one bore, was £509. The value of refined products in stock was £2000, and of the oil in Btocl; £2500. Calk in arrears amounted to £4825.

Customs duty collected -at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £3378 6a,

FEILDIJN'G MAEKET EEPORT. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson end Co.', Ltd., report a fair entry of Doultry and a small yarding of pigs at their weekly eole at Feilding on Friday.'. The- former made usual prices, while the'latter were in moredemand than of late. A nice turn-out belonging to Mr. H. E. ' Cuff realised £31.-, Poultry, all at per pair: Ducks and drakce,' 2s. M., 35., 39. 3d.; roosters, 2s-, 2s. 3d., 2s. 6d., 29. ?d.,*. 9d. : cockerels, Iβ. 6d.. Is. 3d.; ohicks, Is., Is. 3d., Is. 6d., 2s. 3d;, hens, Is. 6d. Is. 9d., 25., 1 to.- 3d., 2s. 6d., 3s. 9d.; pullets. 4s. 3d. Pigs: Weanors ,Bg. 6d., 10s., ■lls.; slips, 13eV-(d., 15a. 9d., lCs.; stores, 235. fd.; porkers, 325. 6d., 355., 39a. 6d.; dog, 13s. 2orie, trap', and harness, £31; spring draye, £4, £4 ss. Fruit at per. case (/various weights): Quinces Is. 6d.; pear 2a. 9d., 35.; apples, Is. 6d., Is. 9d., 2s. 3d.. 75., Bs. 6d.; grapes, 3a 6d., 4s. 6d. Other lines (in hag lots). Id. ajid l*d. per lb.: potatoee, 6s. to Bs. "per sack; 3s. for half cwt.; marrows, '3d. each; beans, 6d.' nor. small bag;,co.br bages, Id-, and 2d. each cucumbers, Id. each.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S- CABLE. Tho Department o£ Agriculture, .Industries, and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, dated London March 28,' 1914. (Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on'spot):— , ■

Mutton—As a of'heavy arrivals, together, with a poor demand, prices havft declined. ' Canterbury, per lb., 43d.; North Island, 4Jd. There is a dull sale for heavy carcasses of mutton, which may be .quoted at: Canterbury, per lb.. 4}d.; others, Jd.

Lamb.—There is a dull silo for-all.lamb and an inclination to force sales, with , a result that prices have declined. Canterbury, per lb.; two's,'63d.; heavy-weights, 6d.; other than Canterbury, 6Jd. for. lightweight.

Bcef.-tThcre has been no alteration in the beat market since last week. New Zealand hindquartr*, per lb., 4Jd.j forequarters, 3gd. Chilled hindquarters, sd. per lb.; forenuarters, 33d.

Butter.—There has been 110 alteration in the market since last week. Danieh market, steady, per cwt., 1225. to 1245.;.- Siberian, 106s. to U03.; Australian, 104s. .to 1083;; New Zealand,- 107s. to 110s.; exceptionally choice, 11?.?.; Argentine, 104s. to 1083.

Checes.—There ha,s been no alteration in tho market since last weeki CanicMan whit, per. cwt.. 68s. to 705.; coloured. 70s. to 71a.; finest New Zealand white, 61s. 6d. to 625. 6d.; fine white, 615.; finest coloured. 6fe 6d. \o 65a.; fine coloured, 63e.; Auetralain, 60s. to 635. .. .

Hemp—The market is steady; there is not much demand, but for New Zealand prices are ftijm. ...... ■ • Manila.—The mirket is dull on account cf the large supply on hand and;the continued increase in sisal production. Fair current, per ton, £26 IBs., nominal quotation for all positions.. New Zealand • Good fair, per ton. £26; fair, £23. Sisal: New York quo--tations, 5.50 cents: quotations here about £26 per ton. Mexican sisal shipments for February,; 94;326 • bales, 'against 41,869 for the same month'last year. ; ■

/ . LONDON .MARKET?. By Telecraph— Press Association—Copyrighi

. ' • London, March 29. Copra.—The market exhibits, a. better tone, and there ia more business doing. .South Sea; in 'bags, £25.55. , .t0 £26.55; per ton: X.Z. Hemp.—The market is quiet. AprilJune shipment, £26 103..per ton. Cotton.—March-April shipments of American middling cottou are clearing at 6.67Ad\ perlb.

Rubber.—Hard fine Para, 3«. per lb.: plantation, 2s. 6Jd.: smoked sh'eete, 2s. 6Jd. Tin Platea.— I.C. coke. 13s. per cwf."; I.e. co.ke. Vα. ■ . -

Galvanised, £7 per ton, less 3 per ceni off .list price.

Iron bars, £7 10s. per ton, lees'2J per cent, and- 1 per cent. Angle steel, £5 7s. 6d. per ton, less 2J per cent. .

Tram rail*. £5 pel- ton.Cement, English, £s. 6d. per cask, less ZJ'per cent.; German, Is. net.

„,. , , London, March 29. _Thc wheat market. is quiet and steady. u yC x re ,P- A "?tralian in any position offer about 365.; eellcrs want 365. 3d. -iT T !i° J ,l V l Ji !ilt , ttnd Ro,lr afIol »t for tlio Umted Kingdom totals 4.005,000 quarters; for . the o.£?!J, tln £ nt ' M®-0®; Atlantic shipments, 224 CM; Pacific, nil. The total shipments to Juropo during the week amounted to 1,180.000 quarters, including 204,000 from 'Australaeia.

There are as big fish' in the sea ' '■ As ever yet have been Cnught, And anglers' yarns just ns tall Of tho fishes they hooked (never bouaht) But there's nothing so good inrthis world.' 'Tis no idle boast, I am sure, For sneezas'aml wheezes, and all that. As Woods' Great Peppermint Cure ' , -Advt. A stock sale will'be : held'nt-Palnier-ston North on Thursday, April 2. The New Zealand Railways announce that holiday e.tcursiou tickets, availabki for return: until, April i, have been issued in connection with the Jlnstorton races at Opaki on April- 2-and 3.~ ;