FARMING & COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL.

BEE-KEEPERS' CONFERENCE ' THIRD DAY'S PROCEEDINGS, ; .. ' Tho annual conference of tho New Zoa- ; land Bee-keepers' Association was'resumed ... yesterday. ; The annual report and 'balance-sheet • : {already published) were adopted.. .. ; ■ ' Mr. Bi-ickell, on behalf of "the Ueraldino > .bfaiich, moved: "That-;'this; association r strongly recommends that tIK Association ;i of'.Bee-keepers' Annual Conference be held | ••'. 'in,different centres each year, td suit the 7ql;*.''peerkeepers in. different. . Mparts, of the country.''' • .*»•. Mr.-W. E. Barker seconded tlio motion, .which he stroiigly supported. It was.im- ; - i>ossib!e -to expect bee-keepers to eomo up ; to\ ; Wellington each year. It was necessary, in order -to ..jMpul'arise tho associa- ;• /atipnj; .and in touch' with b .; .;:,-shat;was doing',;to hold tho'- conference ;. ochtres'i. at'least for a time. \" t It was decided to refer the matter to ;V|itlie.:.;executive for favourable oonsidera- • tion.. ; ; -'. ;..Gn .tha motion of tho chairman,; a num. ' . ; ber.. of amendments to the constitution, i •• '.rendered necessary by registration under ; Societies Act, were egrced la. ; vthe motion of Jlr. Briclcell, secby, Mr. W. B: .Bray, it was 1 decided ;v\ v'tolaijd the following new clause to the !- V constitution:—"Subscriptions arc duo and ; : payable on'Jline'l of each year, and must ;i.be'paid within two calendar months from . -i.that "dale. Those who do not resign, by i- .'{■ signature on or before July 31 in. each i-.yea.r.^baU--:bV;;deeiu'ed. , ''to ; be: members of ;': ;';the.-'association 1 for'!th'o year,' and their' .. -';'Bubscriptions shall be duo and payable." : ' ■; -'C-JUr.. Allen reported that he had seen ;. " the' Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. D. ; '; Bi:MacDonald), •who had promised tliat I.; . the. Bluff should, be made a gracing port. . The Minister had promised, also, to givo careful consideration, to the request of f . . the., association that a. State Agency ho established in the South Island. Mr. R. H. Nelson gave a,short address, ; • demonstrating how to get over the thick . honey difficulty. ; :The following papers were read:—"The . Management- of Out Apiaries," by Mr. J. iC. Hobbs; "Winter Management," by : . Sir. .James Allan. i ; A discussion arose as to the possibility ; ' ?of, insuring tees. .Several members de- ?•' ; cldred that they- had their appliances and •- bees insured. , .■ - /'. , - > ■ Mr. Bnckell said that. as a general' P : -Xfule, insurance companies Would not insiiro. an apiary. . . . ( ; - ""jMr. Gilling said he had several policies \ over .his apiaries. - i•" . : -It.-was decided to Tefer. the- matter to tile-executive. Mr.'.Barker moved: "That legislation be introduced prohibiting-the use of poison- 1 ;. . - ~ ous-spray w-hilst fruit trees are in bloom.'" / -The mover said ho forward the motion pro forma. He did not thinK it was necessary, as it was very.seldom thatfruit .trees were sprayed, whilst trees were in b'oom. 1 ■ •/■Mr. T. W. Kirk, Director of the Hortlculture Division of. the Department of Agriculture, 6aid it would be a mistake to:'pass tho motion,''.as/the 'beekeepers would havo the fruit-grower's opposed to l them.: Tho motion lapsed, in default of a seconder. ' ' v " A motion' by.Mr.'Barter,- that the Gov- : ernment ba 1 requested'to-lift, the prohibi-. tion of the use of petrol cans for honey during'the war, was-rejected; -.-..' -. -Mr. A. C. Askew _ gave au address on ,"A.Publicity Campaign,"'and, Mr. R: EC. Kelson read, an instructive paper, dealing ' mth'.practical .work''and the various kinds of- appliances. ; ' , ;.. Messrs,' Earp and Jacoljsen, apiary iii-

NEWS AND NOTES.

structors, -gave short addresses on honey samples, grading, and bottling. Mr. G. V. Westbrooke, Apiarv. Instructor, read-a paper on "Testing; Honey for Ripeness." On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved that all members of the association serving nt the front bs made honorary Til embers during their absence. This concluded the business of conference. • Votes of thanks to the chairman,to' Mr. Kirk,, and his staff, were carried, and conference closed.

THE MEAT TRADE

• " , RISES'; IN * FREIGHTS. The following reference toltlie ship, mout of meat was mado by Mr. Harold' Benuchamp at yesterday's meeting of tlio Bank of New- Zealand:—"The insulated' ships .'that'.are'employed' in our meat trade could, ivere thej'..free from control, earn very much'higher'freights than they, arc obtaining, now.; A few instances of tho rise in freights may be cited here;The homeward rate from ' to London at the end of February was 1355. ..per. ten, 1 against 115s. Gel. in 1914 a rise of 718 per cent. The rate from the River • Plate was 1555., against lis. Cel., an advance of 1248 per cent. The rate for grain from tho United States wjts ,;175.-, M., against Is. Sd. in 1911, an increase of .914 per cent. The rate for coal fromCardilf to Port Said was 80s., against 7s:. 3d., a rise of 1003 jier ■ cent., while the rate from Cardiff to the River Piatt, was 445., as compared with 14s. 3d., an . increase of 209 per cent. In the face of these abnormal advances,there does, notappear ■ to be any reasonable grbunds of complaint in connection with the rates freight current here. Nevertheless, the difficulties that we are experiencing are c-alculated to bring about a congestion of. produce at ports of shipment. This congestion must affect prices in the long ru,n. It must not be supposed that it is only British shipping concerns that are. making big. profits-Vas a matter of fact, it is the neutrals that are reaping'the greatest benefit. Every vessel of suitable dimensions capable of steaming or sailing has been put into service, while the construction of now vessels is being, carried oh as rapidly as circumstances will permit,. In Great Britain the losses of last' ysar were replaced by new tonnage:, there are at present 500.. vessels under constructipn, and efforts,:are being made to; accelerate building operations. Build-, ing is also going on-. in the United States, japan; and other countries."

LIVE STOCK SALES

Messrs.' Dalgety and Company,'-'.-Limited, report having a small entry of sheep and a large yarding of cattle at their Palmerston North sale on Thursday. There was a particularly good demand right throughout' the sale, and w&h the exception of a few lines of dairy cattle all lines changcd hands. Quotations:— Sheep:, Small mixed, lambs, 15a. lOd. , Small ; wcaner steers, 265. 6d.; weaner heifers, 30s. to 315.; 18-month, heifers, £3 '25.; low-conditioned cows, £4 135.;. 2-year heifers, to £5; small 15 month. steers, £4 165.; fat cows, to £11; springing heifers, £9.103.; fat and forward cows. £7 10s.; 25 and 3-yea-r steers, £10 • ss. 6d.; 52- 20-month Jlolstein steers realised, £7 169.; 84 20-month steers. £7 76.,

Tho N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency C0.,-Ltd., report that at'their weekly stockBale, held at Levin yards on Wednesday, they offered a small y&rdin*r of sheep and cattle, the Vulk;of which they : sold at the following prices Fat • ewes,- 28s. 6d.; fat and forward wethers. 30s. 4d.; 2-year lorward-conditioned sjjoyed heifers, £6 to £6. ss.'; 24-year empty heifers, £4 2s. to £4 lZs.; empty store cows, £4; weaner wteers, £2 65.; mixed sex weaners (small), 17s. 6d. to. 213. 6d.

The Hew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy t!o; report:—At Palmejston North on Thursday we Md a'.small yarding of sheep and a. f»6od yarding'of cattle. Competition waß keen' throughout. We sold Uie whole of Qjir entry at auction. Emnty eves, 18s.. 6d.: prime fat cows, £13 7s. 6d.i fair fat cows, £7.155. to £8 2s. 6d.'; forward cows, £6.173.' 6d.; fat heifers, £8 155., store pnwn, JiA to 111 9a. 6d.: B.H. cows and calves. £8 l!s. to £8 l?s. 6d.'; empty heifers, forward. £4, £5 to £5 ? 10s.; 3-year steers, £10'9s. 6d:vsmall. mised:wcaners, 26a.; good' 1 heifens, £2. ■

Messrs. Abraham and William?.'liimited, .rorwt:—"We had a "small entry of . stock at PiJmerston North srfie on TliurEday. xfa Bold practically every pen at: following priced Shew: Ho&prets, 14s. 3d. Cattle: Pat sows, £9 165.; store cows. £3 12«. to 46 125.; fat heifers. £8; spring, heifers, £4 16s. .to £7: dairy cows, £5 10s.; wenncrs, JOs.. 6d. ,

Messrs. Abraham and Williams,. Limited, report"We held a very successful clear. InK sale for, Mr. GifTord Mooro on- Wed. B"Vera "-cro n-cs"nt. in strong and Ahe whole herd of 60' cows -»n S disposed-of at, prices ranging Irom £1 15s. k> £14 lt)»„ the average for the herd 'bein" 12s. 3d. per head.

COMMERCIAL . ITEMS

INVESTMENT "'SHARES,'; ;The following were-yesterday's quotations for investment shares:— ' Buyers.'. Sellers. - ■ '■•.'£ s. d. £ g. d. Kational Bank 5,9 6 — Bank N.Z. (£3 6«. Bd.) ..." — u io o Bank N.Z. (£6 13s. 4d.) ... — 17 10 0 lUnion Bank — 5510 0 Equitable , ; Building 9 15' 0 . — - Well.: Gas (pref.) 0 19 0 _ N.Z. ] Insurance 6' 5 0 6 7 6 .Sew Meat (£1), ....v.-.,.;.....' 4 7 { _ : Well. Meat Export (£2125..- • - 3 2 6-

Union Steam (ord.) .1,12 0 — Union Steam (pref.) ......'1 0 9'.. — Taupiri Coal , — 014 0 Waiii.a Coal 018 3 ' — Leyland-O'Brien ..' ;... 119 — N.Z. Drug 2 5 3 ' - Golden Bay Cement ......... 12 6 . — Customs duty • collected at the port-of Wellington yesterday amounted to -.£3055 16s. -M. . ; '. WOOL, SKIS. A'Kl) DIDE SALE. • Mo fortnightly sales of wool, skin, and hides- were hold -yesterday by the various bi-uK<sto ... ' Dalgoty and Company, Limited report:—.Animated competition, and. practically a total clearance of all lines aA very stttisjactary prices. OwinE to the apiiroaolnni: ■ crutching Eale o£ .July i, tna Urin .are holding all bale wool, and us the market Is. at present very, found lor all elusses of cruUuiings. they .yivise clients to take advantage of it by forwarding eonifignnients -as early as possible. Sheepskins sold well, with t-lie market at. pat to Jd. advance. on last, gale; hides wero disposed of at prices on a. level with, tho previous sale, and ynUo maintained at tlio rise of a fji-'risht ago,; selling up to iMI 15s. when in shipping; order. ' Messrs. * Abraiiam-' and. 'Willi&ms, Ltd., report that'they 'offered a fair catalogue or all classes of produce. Competition was oxtrc. keen for tallow, which sold at an Advance on last sale rates, skins were a farthing higher, and . <tow hides >vero slightly easier, showing o. dccline of a limit Id. tcl 3d.: ox were down Id. pbr 11). Messrs. Levin-and Co. report that. ■' '.i few. fadsea of wool wore offered, wool. -- licld for tho sale on. July .7. The sheepskins market was firm at id. t.o Jd. advance oh all lines. Hides wero. firm, and generally unchanged. Tallow wae firmer, Messrs'. Murray, Roberts and Co. report:— "Wo submitted a catalogue of 2CCO sheeyskins, .350 hides, and about 60 . bale? of ivool, besides tho--usual tallow, oddments, Competition was ... animated., prices,. foi sheepskins advancing 3d. to }d. per lb. for dry' skins.-..and 9d. to Is. cach for salted. The wool offered was mostly of rough and eeedy character, and sold at rates equal to last'week's sale. Hides showed a/slight .dccline of Jd. ,por lb. for sound, hides, damaged lotß.- selling. at about- pa.r. ■ Tallow showed a further advance of about 18 to Is. 6d. per. cvjt. . The N.Z. Farmers' Co.op. Distributing Co.. Ltd:, report very animated competition. For nearly everything offering prices wero firmer, especially for sheepskins, both half and full-wools. Pelt® again sold at very high .rates. The market for . hides was also strong at a slight improvement in values. Following -upon the Improved prices for tallow reported a fortnignt ago there was a.' still further advance of between 3s. and 4s. per ewt. on tallow in tun;. ' J a fact, tho demand for thin elijs:) of produce seems to bo in excess of the supply for the, moment.

The New ; Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co,. I/td.', report that, they submitted about 60 bails' of wool, some bags Bint fair-sized catalogues of sheepskins, hides, and tallow. "\\fool sold 1 at about laet •a'uw . prices, altins advance/I about 4d, .pei ]l)., hides, at level of last sales.. Tallow was in pood request at a 'slight ad tonco on lute rates.

AfeHsrs. W. and Q.. Turnhull arid Co., Limited, report having held their fortnightly oalo yesterday. ' Competition wiw ■exeeertinfrly keen '• throughout tho '• salo Combing, sheepskins showed an. advance of about 3d; Hides were, sliprhtly easier, vfith the of e-nlfekins, which were in hellers' lavour. Tallow showed an adwiflco of mahout. Zs,' i>pt nxn. Sales wot# a!»o held by tlio TTnitod Farmers' Co-op. Association and the TVairaraua Farmers'. Co-op. . Association. The wnGre of prices was us under•—

Wieeiwhifls.—Pine erossbred, lid. to 12d.; nedium coarse crosabred, 10? d. to 113 d. • short, to hojf-wools, 71d. t£» 1034.; dead and damaged crossbred, Bd. to lOd.: inferior and '.™'p damaged. 2d. to 63d.;-.lambs, 9d. to lzd.; damp, salted, and ereen.; 2s. 2a. to lis- 5d.; pelts, Z».,to Zs. 5d, ; lambs, salted V I'd. to U. lii.

nides.-Ox, heavy,, IOJd. to 11M.; os, jnedlum. Jod; to ll}d.; ox. light.. 9d. 'to. lCfrt-t I*7' heavy, 9d. to !fld.; cow, medium. 5d lOd cow light, 9d. 10 lOJd;; cut, slippy, and anferior, 6d., to bull, ,stag. 5Jd. to iftdy yoaillngs, fl?d. ta 9M.; cajf,- superior to MU.-. calf,: medium. Tood, Bd. to IMd,; calf, iiamagud. Sd. to 93d. - Tallow—Tn nasks, 255. to 315.: in tins, etc., 21s. to 31s. Sdt ..

) SOUTHERN MARKETS.' By Telegraph—Prnsa Association. Chrlstoliurch, June 9. The wheat and oat<s market is firm, but with little business doing. There is now less wheat' offering thain at any period this season, bat. thjero Is a demand for prime milling wheat, whilst out of 'condition lots are 'difficult to sell, except for fowl wheat. There is a sharp rise in the oatsheaf chaff market, but tho demand is tor ioc;nl consumption only. Since the late rams'horse paddocks have become cut up and bare of feed, henco the greater demand for oatslwaf chaff. Prime quality Is now worth from 4s ; to- 4s, sd. at coun r/ stations, but a good deal- of what is" uttering'is discoloured' and .inferior, and' commands- less' 'money. - The potato market' »• "fm;. and "offers'ard limited;' The trade i* more or, less of' a hahd-to-mouth character, as Worth Island -buyers are only prepared, to inake,. purchases for a few woks supply, at «, time, .instead of the usual forward' contracts. Merchants have therefore held only small stocks, and malic purchases as orders come in. This method keeps the market firm, but at the same time thoro is no. tendency -to advanco prices. For this 'month's delivery, £5 at country stations is still .offered, BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN.. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. June 9, 7.30 p.m.) r ni „ , „ _ , London, June 8. ~ ■ L " e of England return. issued for' the week'ended Wednesday, Juno 7, is as under: •, Issue Department. Note Issue £78,577,000 Gov. debt ... £11,015,000 Other'securi- ' ... He® 7.434,000 '; Gold 60,123.000 £78,577,003■ .-. £78,577,000 • _,BiNKiKG Department. - 'Proprietors'.;' ' , Gov. sccuri- ' » * capital "£14,553,000 ' tics... £12,167,000 Public do- • •/ Othor socuri- ••• .. posits . ...• 50,801,000 • ..ties 63,603,000 Other deposits ... 82,286,000 Kotes 43,003 COO Best, 7-day nud other bills ... 3,1E5,C00 Coin ■ 1.J43.C00 £150,32;),000 ' £150,325,000 The leading, items of the Bank of Eng. ,'nnd return afford thp following compandor::— This week Last week Lastyear £ .£ £ Bullion... ... 60.125.CC0 . 58.310.000 58.207,0C0 Kesci'vo ' ... 4-1.51JG.00t) 43.276.000 44,683.000 Note Circulation i)5.46'4.1)00 35,369.000 33,153,000 Public Deposits 50.301.0U0 50.531.000 123.342.000 Other Deposits ' ij2i2B6.ouo' 60,558,(100 91,443,000 ; Proportion of reson-e to , ;. liabilities 33.58 . ■ 31.72 . 20.80 : GOVERNMENT Tha following are the latest quotations for Colonial Government securities in comparison with those ruling last week:—

MONEY MAKKE'IV • The Dank of linglaikL discount rate was on January 2, 1914, reduced from 5 to 4} per cent., otr January 22 it, was reduced to 4 pel' cent., and on January 28 1 per cent. On July 50 the rate was raised to 4 per cent., and oil July. 31 it was raised to 8 per cent., and on August 1 it was further advanced to 10 per cent. On August 6.tho rale was roduced to 6 per cent., on August -7 it was further reduced to l> per cent., at which rate it now stande. The open market discount rate for three months' bills is 4 9-16 per cent., as compared with -4 9-16 per cent, last week and 2j per cent, last year. Short loans are Quoted at 4 per cent„ as against 4 per cent, last week, and 15 por cent, last year COLONIAL AKD OTHER HIODUOE. Butter.—Market dull. Danish, firm, about 1765. Australian and New Kealami temporarily cleaned. I'ricea nominally unchanged. Olieosa.—Market steadier. Npw Zealand white, lC6s, to 110s.; coloured, 104 a. to lCfc. . Sugar.—Market unchanged. Canned Meat.—Twenty-four thousand oases corncd beef in 21b. tins, "Kensip;;ton," "Victory." "Rosewarno" packs, were auctioned on behalf of the South African Government, and brought 245. to 265. per case; 1291 lib. tins, "Bulimba," 28s. Bradford Tops.—The market is strong, hut business _ is_ restricted. Sixty-fours, 50£i1.; super sixties, 49id.; common sixties, IBid.; fifty-sixes, 40d. : fifties, 33d.; fortysises, 29d.; forties, 27d,

' - . . Variation Stock ' compared . bWck Price.' nith . iasb \7celi. . . . £ s.cl. ' ■ 24% Imperial Consols ' 69 5 0 3»<j htehor . 34 „ War Loan. 6B 12 • 6 o/6 lowoTij „ War Loan- ■ 85 15- 0 UnolMnircrl i ,.N.S.\Y.]833Jan.-July 8110 u 2'M lower & «« • 2/6 hijhor 3S • iSiirly Curl- 7:3 10 o 2sslowm3 ..H.S.W. 11)25 Apl.-Oct 7110 0 K s higher 4 ,.\'ic..l92UJan...)uly . 96 0 u 17;61mvcr Si „Vie. J9a-6 . Jiln.-July H. !! 6 07 6 w™ 3 „Vic. lS2IM9Jair.-July tu 0 0 ,Toshi"her 31 „K.A. 1916 Jau.-Jnly" 74 0 0 ' 80s higher '3 ,.S.A; 191(j Jftu.-July . 59 G 0 luwer 4 .-.OTdMS-SUJau.-July 01 0 0 ,2Sa loner 34 ..QTillOW-WJan.-July W 10 0. o/(i highor .3 ..QTdHK-JIJau.-Jiily -<ii"7 6 .i-2 f G lower i "X.Z. 1K3 May-Nov. ' &S 2 li I.ti hfaivr ■35 "N.S. JA12-SU .lau.Jly il 'I 6 10s lower 3 "K.Z. IfcM April-Oct K> 10 0 loshifilior .35 '-W;A. 1915-biM'y-N'v 75 . 7 6 17/6 highor 3 "W A. 19U-3r/M'y->lov W 10 U Ms higher US "Tub luiiu Jan-.) lily 72 5 0 ■ ; j ,0h lower' 3 "Tag llHO-i!) Jaa-July W 10 0 Ono-hHngcri