THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13934, 16 December 1905, Page 3

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Although the shipments of dairy produce from this colony, so far as the season has gone, do not exceed by comparison the shipments sent Home for the corresponding period of last season (says the “New Zealand Times”), they have, on the whole, been well maintained. The most gratifying feature is that prices for butter on the Home markets are fully 10s per cwt higher now than, they were in December of 1904, whilst Now Zealand cheese, correspondingly, shows an improvement. Since the season proper started, the following' Home shipments have been taken;— OCTOBER Butter. Choeee. • (boxes). (cases). Corinthic . . 11,963 Paparoa . . 21,830 616 ( NOVEMBER. Kumara . . 30,578 1,264 Ruapehu . . 38,417 3,507 DECEMBER Gothic . . 50,120 5,557 In addition to the above quantities of butter, the Corinthic took 173 kegs, Paparoa. 328 kegs, Kumara 363 kegs, Ruapehu 434 kegs, Gothic 637 Kegs. There are still two shipments to go this month, and as the exports for January, February and March are the heaviest of the season, the total shipment from the colony should be well up to .the average. Last season the largest:' .shipment was taken in the month of February, by the Matatua, the totals being 67,084 boxes and 643 kegs b.utter and 6888 cases cheese. Reports from the Wellington, Wairarapaj Rangitikei and Manawatu districts, in respect to feed for stock, are very favourable, and as there is not likely, to be a repetition of the drought of last season on the west coast, with a corresponding scarcity of grass, dairy farmers are hopeful of increasing former outputs. Generally speaking, the pastures on the whole of the west coast of this island are very good. The following comparative prices for butter are interesting:— 1904. 1905. October . 106 s October . 112 s November . 105 s November 112 s December . 104 s December . U4s The first of the season’s shipments of New Zealand cheese are now on the way Home, and the new season’s product is not yet quoted, but, in view of the fact that Canadian is bringing 60s per cwt, tliiis may be taken'as a good augury that New Zealand cheese will be quoted at a higher figure than the quotations for the corresponding period at the commencement of last season.