RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14201, 25 October 1906, Page 9

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL, The Ashburton Show will open to-day and will be continued to-morrow. At the Addington Saleyards yesterday, a particularly fine Berkshire of ex- ■ ©optional size, realised £5 ss. This is the highest price realised for a V chopper ” for some time. The weather in the Amherley, Lcithfiold and Omihi districts has been very good for, seed sowing, but twenty-four hours’ rain would be very welcome. A welcome rain fell throughout the Ellesmere district on Tuesday night._ It was badly needed, and will do an, immense amount of good. Yesterday the weather was still threatening. The first of a class of pigs new to the local market was offered, at Addington yesterday, when two pens of cross-bred Devons and Berkshires were offered on behalf of Mr H. Stewart. One, a small lot of weaners, realised 18s each, the top price of the day, and the other J a pen of suckers, brought 13s 9d. i About three months ago a North Canterbury farmer purchased a sow at ithe Addington market for 37s fid. In the interim she produced a litter of ten, and, keeping a picked pair at home, the owner sent the sow and eight suckers to Addington yesterday. At auction they realised £6 7e fid. The prize-winners in the, fat sheep classes at the Ellesmere Show were submitted to auction on behalf of their owner, Mr W. B. Andrew, jun., at Addington, yesterday. The pick of the wethers (shorn) brought 22s 6d, and the ewes as high as- 20s fid. The Ashburton correspondent ofi the “Lyttelton Times” .writes: — The wind, which for 'tho past week has been blowing from the north-west, changed on Tuesday to south-west, ana brought up heavy masses _of clouds. ■ About eight o’clock rain began to fall, and continued for several hours. The pastures, which, especially on the lighter lands, were beginning to suffer for want of moisture, will get a fresh lease of life. The rain will also I have a good effect on store sheep, as, ’ owing to the prevalence of dry weather, and the scarcity of feed, the larger part of the entry at Tuesday’s sale failed to find buyers. On Wednesday the wind was from an easterly direction, tho sky was cloudy, and the air cool. There were two or three light showers in tho northern district on Tuesday. Although the fall was hardly sufficient to moisten the surface of the soil, the crops and vegetation generally were reafter, the four days of northwesters. I The annual meeting otf the Fairlia Saleyards Company was held on Tuesday, Mr J. B. Goodwin presiding. The report and balance-sheet were read, and the chairman, in moving their 'adoption, said he considered the accounts showed satisfactory results. Thirtythree thousand five hundred sheep had been put through the dip in connection with the yards, a number considerably in excess of last year, the yard fees , amounting to £4l. It was resolved to make some improvements at the yards to Cope with the increasing entries. - 1