STOCK NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11557, 19 April 1898, Page 6

STOCK NOTES.

[By Tussock ' in “ Canterbury Times.”] Mr C. F. J. Goulter, of Blenheim, has recently purchased a “Wanganella merino ram for his stud flock. The sale of the Werronggurfc Lincolns (Mr T. F. Rutledge’s) on March 31, was fairly successful. Buyers were present from all parts of Victoria and from New South Wales. The highest price for a ram was 40gs, and for a ewe 19gs. An aged New Zealand ram, “Tanner,” fetched 25gs. Mr H. D. Gardiner (late of Purau), of Woodohester, Burwood, who has always been known as a breeder of the best strains of sheep, has just secured, through Mr F. C. Tabart, six pure-bred' Shropshire Down lambs and one ram lamb from the celebrated flock of Mr W. Burbury, of Jericho, Tasmania. They are the progeny of sheep which have won many prizes. A very nice line of thirty-two vealers were disposed of at the A-ddington market last week. They had been purchased by Mr T. Hodgson, from the St James Station, Amuri, and. were, without doubt, the best line of the kind ever seen in these yards, being large-framed Shorthorn and polled Angus breeds. They met with considerable competition, and averaged the satisfactory price _ of 31s per head, nearly the whole lot being taken by the Christchurch Meat Company, who intend to freeze them for the Home market. . It is reported that Mr A. M’Hardy has just sold his seveteen-months’ purebred Shorthorn bull Lord Summerton to Mr W. Eathbone, of Hawke’s Bay, for the sum of 200 gs. Before the animal was disposed of it was subjected to the tuberculin test by Mr Park, Government veterinary surgeon, and was found to be in a perfectly healthy condition. A short time previously the three-year-old champion bull Duke of Longlands, who is the sire of Lord Summerton, was sold to Archdeacon Williams at a highly satisfactory price. Mr M" Hardy intends to introduce fresh blood from Australia to his famous herd. Some time ago a group of Victorian butter factories offered a reward of £2O for an automatic contrivance to accurately measure skimmed milk. Eleven models were submitted, which the committee has reduced to three. These are being erected at factories, where practical trials will be conducted under three judges. The third annual show of the New South Wales Sheep-Breeders’ Association is fixed for June 30 and following days; between £6OO and £7OO will be given in prizes. The stud sheep sales will follow. The twentyfirst annual show of the Australian SheepBreeders’ Association will be held at Melbourne on August 2 to 5. There will not be a competition between the two types of merino for the “ grand championships,” each type having its own champions. The prize-list has been extended so as to include Lincolns, English and Border Leicesters, Cotswolds, Southdowns and Shropshires. A remark of the “ Stock and Station Journal ” gives, perhaps unconsciously, a reason why long-wool ‘ rams are not more extensively used in New South Wales, namely, that exporters of cross-bred mutton do not get so much for it as they ought. Cross-bred and merino apparently fetches the same price, as Mr Bruce, the Chief Inspector of Stock, has done his best to get

separate quotations for cross-breds and merinoes, but all in vain. Probably if th d, crOss-breds were better “ finished'"" would fetch a more satisfactory price. Still greatly' favoured in respect to. weather, the English lambing season^, says the latest “ Field,” progresses extremely satisfactorily. The ' reports furnished notify few deaths either of ewes or lambs, and the health of the flocks generally is exceptionally good.: The lambs are usually-strong and well developed, and with little encouragement commence growing right away. Ewes are in splendid condition, and being-liberally and suitably nourished, are in turn doing well by their offspring. The small .proportion of twins is the subject of comment; it is generally attributed to a brief period of scarcity of feed at the time the rams were put in tire early flocks, and it is anticipated-that*asjtha season advances the occasion for the'murmurs will disappear. . • , The shearers’ manifesto for 1898, issued by the Australian Workers’ Union, is as follows; —1. “To maintain £1 per 100 in New South Wales for shearers, and union rates for shed hands. i 2; The form of agreement left open to members, urging them to secure the best possible terms. 3. Engagements may be made direct with employers or through the Pastoral Union officers.; 4.:r Members are instructed to accept references’’ when offered. ’ 5. Members are urged to-dis-countenance the contract systtem pf shearing. ; - 6. Members are not permitted to buy the shearing machines they use, nor to pay rent for them, or for their shearing 1 stands. 7. All available funds will be devoted to political, municipal and industrial organ- 1 ising.” Paragraphs 2, 3 .and 4 admit the Workers’ Union’s defeat on points, regarding which its leaders had declared “no surrender.”