FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 116, 12 April 1930, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

A DRY SEASON. PREPARATION FOR EMERGENCY. (By “Ploughshare.”) The long spell of dry days which prevailed in practically • every 'part of the Dominion this year brought about a condition in the various farming activities which might have been serious in the effects experienced with regard to production, especially in those lines of produce which depend upon grass. Although it is possible by skilful management to offset the drawbacks caused by extremes of weather to a very largo extent, few if- any farmers are completely prepared to meet abnormal conditions such as those experienced this year. No two seasons are exactly alike; on tho contrary, there is a very wide variation, and the best that can be done to minimise the disadvantages is to endeavour to be as far as possible prepared for emergenciecs. In a general way this necessity is provided for by arranging the farm routino so that there will always . be some supplementary food available when the pastures are dormant or not at their best for milk production or fattening a? the case may be. Ardent advocates of top-dressing and rotational grazing often advance the claim that grass can be kept in proper condition for milk production all the summer and autumn. This is perhaps true up to a point, but the -deciding factor hinges upon the amount of rainfall and tho number of days which tho rain is distributed. Even the manures which are most rapid in their action will not act when the ground is too dry, and closely eaten pastures are in consequence dormant for the time being. The enforced- rest and the beneficial effect of the sun on .the soil will manifest themselves after the rain, but in tho meantime the milk yield must be maintained by other means.- 1 With scarcely any rain to help them since the middle of January, root and 'forage crops that were sown for autumn, use have turned out far below the usual standard with tho exception.of maize, of. which there were a great many splendid crops which appeared to be going'to . save tho situation for those who had been provident enough to grow- a good area. Just when it was most unwelcome an early frost did considerable damage and reduced the feeding value' of the maizo when it was most needed. The expeijenco of the season from a dairying point of view has been one of extremes. Right through the spring until early summer the almost continuous rainfall resulted in the production of far more grass than the stock could consume and dairy factories showed record returns by comparison , with previous seasons. 1 Continuing right into the. haymaking season, the rain was responsible • for a great deal of good fodder being spoil in tho fields or stacked in poor conditions. Then for over three months a dry period found farmers faced with anothpr extremo with still another two months to go before tho normal time for drying off tho cows should be expected. The point to be considered is to what extent provision could have'been made to meet tho' need other than What has been done in pasture management and growing supplementary crops. •• The few farmers who have supplies of ensilage available are answering this, question.- 'When tho value of ensilage, both for . cattle and sheep feeding, .was being, stressed in this district last spring by ‘officers of the Department- of Agriculture and others who wero acquainted with its all; the year round uses, great emphasis was laid on the need

for having a good supply of silage on hand to meet the requirements of a dry period like the present when no growth is being made for grazing. Those who have tho ensilage and are using it now are getting good returns for their enterprise and are feeling tho pinch least of any. In order to keep tho cows from going dry, numbers of hay stacks arc being cut into, but for milk production ensilage is far the best fodder. Bearing in mind that when propcfly made ensilage is ready for use in a few days after it has been put' together, or that it will keep safely in the j slack or silo for an indefinite period, there is every reason why one or more stacks should bo always available on every farm. If it is not wanted this year, it can be carried over till the next and makes a good insurance. In tho light of present day needs it fills a place in the solution of feeding problems which no one can afford to neglect. Chou Maulljpr is another useful and easily' grown crop which is now proving a useful standby. This plant gives a heavy yield per acre of good milk producing food and with reasonable care in feeding there is little danger of tho milk being tainted by objectionablo flavours. It will bo remembered that a few years ago a protracted period of light rainfall found farmers poorly supplied with suitable stock food and conditions were even worse than they were this year, but at the most critical time ’ the drought was broken by splendid rains -which acted like magic on the warm soil. In a week or two the parched grass made an extraordinary growth and saved the situation for late autumn ' and ' winter ' feeding. When the rain comes, fields which have .been given the usual autumn top-dressing respond tile quickest. There is wisdom in being prepared to make the fullest use of the rains when they come. Land that has been carrying root and other temporary crops can be ploughed and worked down in readiness for the sowing of other crops such as Algerian oats, Italian rye, oats and tares and other suitable , plants which will provide light grazing in winter and heavy yields of forage in tho spring. It may be advisable to delay sowing until sufficient rain has fallen to ensure tho germination of the seed and give tho young plants a good start, otherwise, unless deeply drilled, tho birds make a heavy toll. The great advantage is in being prepared to make the fullest use of the rain when j it comes in sufficient quantities to promote the gr.owth of permanent pastures and temporary crops as everything will bo needed to keep the stock in good condition in the coming winter arid spring months'. Sinco the- foregoing was written useful rains have unexpectedly fallen in sufficient quantities to relieve anxiety , and tho pastures will soon respond to the much needed moisture, .besides enabling work to be put in hand which has been delayed by dry soil conditions. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Every summer and autumn, when noxious weeds are in their flowering stage and thereby advertise their presence, it is seen that greater areas'are every year being menaced by those undesirable plants which arc not only gradually pushing out the useful grasses but are, in addition, in some instances a menace to tho health of stock. Although under tho Noxious Weed Act power is given to compel people to keep their land free from dangerous plants, the administration of -the law does not seem to have had much effect on checking tho spread ’of noxious weeds. On small farms the presence of undesirable plants is not so much in evidence.because they

are effectively checked from tho beginning. Wo have seen how Californian thistle has defied all efforts .to kill it out and few if any farms are free from it. It is now accepted as-inevitable and the law regarding its control is not enforced. Blackberry is- another plant which- has ta*on possession of large tracts -of useful country, but is being better controlled now that many of tho larger areas are being brought under tho influence of closer settlement. Then there is the menace of ragwort which is held by many to bo the worst noxious weed of them all. ' This plant is said to bo spreading at an. alarming rate in certain localities. Instances have been cited where dairyfarmers have had to give up their homesteads: through being unable to cope with tho menace when it had got out of control. Although a great deal of research work and experimentation have been done by the Governments from time to timo to try and find means of destroying noxious weeds on a largo scale, so far tho results have not come up to expectations. While land holders havo been waiting for the arrival of some effective destructive agent that will prevent the spread of noxious weeds, tho ragwort has been allowed to establish itself over large stretches of country without any serious effort being made to prevent its development. This feature was stressed at a meeting of farmers recently hold at Stratford which had been called together to try and find means for preventing the spread of tho weed and to assist farmers whose places are badly infested. After reference had been made to tho extent to which ragwort had been allowed to spread over river beds, roadsides, native and crown lands, the assertion was made that if somo. drastic steps wero not taken soon to deal with the trouble New Zealand was coming to the point, owing to the spread of ragwort, that dairying in man*' localities would be impossible and all farms would carry sheep. It appeared that tho cinnibar moth, had not. fulfilled -expectations, and therefore something must bo done to attack the - problem .from some “other angle. Tho department was experimenting with chlorate of sodium, ope part of sulphate of iron, and three parts of salt, sheep dip, and benzine.. From the ensuing discusison it was the general opinion that the only really effective way to deal with ragwort was by spraying, which meant a big and costly undertaking .where the plant had taken possession. The question was of national importance and it was thought that the Government should givo financial support. It was suggested that it would b”o a good thing to set t up special boards to deal with noxious weeds with powers such as arc givnh to Rabbit Control Boards. It might then bo possiblo to get tho Government to clear their own land. It was stated that the Government inspectors at present did not trouble about Crown land. Finally a resolution to tho following effect -was carried: “That the Government be urgod to extend the power of their inspectors so as to give them full local control; to givo the inspectors extra assistance, .to provide required finance for farmers to enable them to deal-with weeds, and to amend the present legislation if necessary.” Crown lands must be placed on the same footing as privately owned land. From the discussion which took place at Stratford it is evident that the menace of ragwort in parts of tho Taranaki province has reached such proportions as to call for special legislation to assisf farmers to. get -the weed under control. Instances have been quoted whore ■ dairyfarmers . have . boon, forced to go out of business on account of their farms becoming overrun and a. great deal of labour and money will now be required to restore these farms. ' In parts of. other dairying centres largo areas are'At tho present timo yellow with, the blooms of -this noxious plant which has been allowed to gain a good foothold before, any determined effort has been made to check its spread. By > comparison with other districts Manawatu properties aro fairly v free from ragwort, but here and there the flowering plants in greater or lessor numbers aro to be seen from Qio roadside. There are, however, a few places where -the weed has apparently been permitted to establish itself without check. These infested, areas constitute a serious menace to the surrounding country and in the interests of all concerned it is important that the property owners should bo made to clear their land and prevent tho seed from infected plots from spreading over tho countryside. Itis nothing short of a crime to allow such splendid country as this to be come overrun with a weed which if promptly dealt with is easily controlled. On sheep farms tho problem is not so difficult because tho the sheep graze the plants off and keep them from seeding. Cattle, on tho other hand, will not eat ragwort and for this reason it is on dairy farms that tho plant is most troublesome. It is generally considered to bo a good practice to run a few sheep on dairy farms among the cows and their usefulness in controlling certain weeds, including ragwort, should alone make it worth while to have a few sheep to run over tho paddocks. Whore a few plants only have to bo dealt with tho grubber will soon get rid of them. Cutting the plants when the seed is ripening and burning -the cut stems is effective but if cutting is done before the flowers are well advanced the plants will throw up fresh blooms and the cutting will have to bo repeated. ' Those who havo had experience with spraying - have been well-satisfied with the results obtained from the application- of sprays containing arsenic) which” kills the plant 'outright. Caustic soda and silt, and benzine sprays were good but the plants wero likely to grow again tho following ' year. Recent tests with chlorate of sodium spraying conducted under tho supervision of officers of the Department of Agriculture arc giving every- satisfaction. If mixed in the right proportions, chlorate of sodium is not injurious to grass, but one well directed application will kill ragwort right out in ono season.

. • CANTERBURY MARKETS. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 11. There is little business passing in wheat. It still offers. fairly freely, though that was an indication of a slight slackening during the past few days. Quotations are 5s 8d on trucka for Tuscan, 5s lOd t.o £s lid for Hunters and •to 6s, 2d for Pearl. Fowl wheat is offering more freely at present, but there are few buyers. The oats market is firm. April-September A Gartons are quoted here at 3s lOd f.o.b. S.l..''while pompts are available at Dunedin and’ Invercargill at 3s 9£d. The yield of oats in the south is particularly good this year and the shortage of supplies evident in Canterbury will be largely offset by the outstanding yields in the south. B Cartons are quoted at 3s 9d f.o.b. South Island. The chaff market is practically at a standstill. The potato market is still very weak, with little business passing. There are still a fair number of orders from Auckland. The Karepo took 2966 sacks to Auckland this week and these are selling at from £6 to £6 5s ex the wharf. There is not another shipment leaving until next Tuesday, when the Kartigi leaves. It is expected" that she will take a fairly heavy shipment. Quotations to-day are: 95s for whites and 97s 6d for Dakotas; April-June £4 10s; July-September £5 10s; and July alone, £5 a ton. The price to farmers is £3 10s a ton, on trucks. The onion market continues very low and there has bee'n a further easing tendency apparent during the last three days. Sales haverbeen made at 35s per' ton. The chief hindrance to'the'market is that there is no outlet. , . . . Bran rose 10s a ton to £7 10s f.o.b. yesterday to fall in line with prices ruling in Australia. This brings it level with pollard, which is also £7 10s a ton f.o.b. At the moment, the small seeds market is neglected. WELLINGTON PRODUCE MARKET (Bv Telegraph.—Special to “Standard.”) : WELLINGTON, April 11. Conditions are steady in the produce lines. Wheat 7s 4d to -7s 6d a bushel, and undcf grades 6s lid; pollard is still quoted at £9 10s, but the rise on the Sydney market makes . a. similar movement likely hero; bran,' £9 5s a ton; potatoes are arriving from the south of fair quality, though some lines 'are immature. The market is being mainly supplied from this source. ' Quotations: • 6s 6d to 7s a cwt. Northern onions are practically off the market; southern, 5s 6d to 6s a cwt; chaff, Blenheim, £3 15s to £9 a ton; oats, duns, 6s 9d to 7s a bushel; Algerian, 5s to 5s 6d; heavy seed, 4s to ss; maize 7s a bushel.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE.

, YESTERDAY’S .BUSINESS AND PRICES. A large volume of business was recorded yestreday than for -some timo past. Sixteen sales were reported on the Wellington Stock Exchange, banks, financial and insurance shares being those principally traded. There was a good geneKd demand, apd ' toilers exhibited considerable activity. Prices in -most cases showed firmness, Government stocks and bonds were in keen demand, thel939 and 1938 being 2s 6d up at £97 10s; per cent. Stocks (1933) were steady at £99 ss, and bonds at £99 7s 6d. The 5j por cent', stocks and bonds (1936) wero in ■ demand at £99. The demand for bank shares slackened, although thcro wero several sales at full prices. . Bank of Australasia at £l2 5s wero 5s highor.; Commercial Bank wore steady at-21s lid, with sales at 22s Id. National Bank of . New Zealand were. 2s 6d up at £6 2s 6d. Bank of New South Wales were steady at £39. Bank of Now Zealand long term were in firm demand at 265. Goldsbrough and Co. wero 6d down at 30s. 6d., Now, Zealand River Plate were wanted at 28s 6d, with sales at 295. Wellington Deposit at 105,3 d were up 6d. Insurance in good demand. National Insurance were up 3d at 14s 3d. New Zealand Insurance were steady at 43s 9d and South British Isuranee wore 6d better at 61s 6d, with sales at 62s 3d. Wellington Meat Export were up 6d at 7s 6d. Kaiapoi Woollen ordinary were wanted at Us and Kauri Timber at 12s 6d. Gas shares wero steady: Christchurch Gas at 25s 9d and Wellington Gas at 30s. Huddart, Parker at 37s 6d were up 3d. Crown Brewery were steady at 8s 6d, but New Zealand Breweries wero Is 9d higher at 51s 6d. Staples and Co. were in demand at 48s. Burns, Philp and Co. were 4d down at 36s sd, but British Tobacco wero slightly better at 40s 3d. Wilson’s Cement were 2d better at 38s lOd. YESTERDAY’S QUOTATIONS.

YESTERDAY’S SALES. The following sales were recorded on the Stock Exchanges of the Dominion yesterday : Wellington.—Commercial Bank (two) £1 2s Id, National Bank of Australasia, £5 paid £7 10s, Bank of New South Wales £39 ss, Union Bank £1?, Wellington Trust and I,oan £7 2s 6d, N.Z. and River Plate £1 9s, National -Insurance 14s 6d, South British Insurance £3 2s 3d, New Zealand Breweries £2 Us 6d, British Tobacco (three) -£2- 0« 6d, Burns, Philp and Co. £1 i6s -6d, Mount .Lyell (two) £1 14s 6d. Auckland.—Australian Bank of Commerce £1 ss, National Bank of Australia, eontri. £7 7s; Bank of New Zealand £2 19s, Union Bank £l2, South British Insurance (late sale Thursday) £3 2s, Goldsbrough Mort £1 11s 4d; £1 11s, Pukemiro Collieries (2) £3 Bs, Auckland Gas (late sale Thursday) £1 3s 7d, New Zealand Breweries £2'l3s 6d, British Tobacco £2 0s 6d, Electrolytic Zinc, pref. £1 7s 9d; Farmers’ Trading 8s 6d, Hayward’s Pictures 13s Od, Mount Lyell (late sale Thursday) £1 14s 9d, £1 14s 6d, Wilson’s Cement £1 19s 10jd. Christchurch.—Bank of ' New Zealand, cum div. £2 19s 6d, United Building Society 14s 3d, N.Z. Breweries £2 13s, £2 14s, Staples’ Brewery £2 10s, Beath and Co. £1 7s 6d, British Tobacco (2) £2 0s 3d, Wilson’s Cement £1 19s -6id. Sales reported : Inscr. Stock,' 5i p.c., 1932 £99, Dalgety and' Co. £ll ss, N.Z. Breweries £2 ,12s 3d, £2 12s 6d, Staples Brewery £2 10s 3d, , British Tobacco (2) £2 0s 3d, Mdunt Lyell £1 14s 6d, Wilson’s Cement £1 193 10id. North Canterbury Hospital Board, sj> p.c., 1930 £99 2s 6d. Dunedin.— Sales reported: N.Z. Breweries shares £2 13s.

FEILDING SALE. , - QUIET MARKET. (Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING, April 12. There was little animation in the stock salo at Feilding, yesterday, : but vendors met the price ruling for the most part, and. practically a totai clearance was made. Fat sheep were steady at last week’s rato3 and storo entries were cleared at prices which, if a little lower than late rates, wero good value having regard to market conditions. Dairy cattle came forward in better numbers and sold at improved rates, but tho entry of storo and fat stock was mainly of inferior quality and commanded little attention. Dotailed prices aro as follow: Fat Sheop.—Lambs, 19s 3d, 245; 2ths, 235.3 d, 24s 6d, 25s 3d, 25s 6d; ewes, 15s, 15s 6d, 16s 3d, 17s Is; wethers, 245, 255, •25s Id; 275. . Store Sheep.—4 and 6 and 4yr ewes, r.w. S.D. rams, 22s Id; 4yr do., 235; syr do., 15s sd, 16s 2d; fat and forward ewes, 10s, 11s; 2-th wethers 22s 2d; 6f woolly lambs, 10s, 10s 3d, Us 6d, 12s 3d, 12s 6d; 4 and syr owes r.w. S.D. rams, 15s 6d, 16s 2d, 16s 6d; m s lambs, 8s lid, 10s 6d; owe lambs, 17s 3d. ( Store Cattle. —Cows, £2 15s, £2 17s 6d, £3 ss, £3 16s to £4 2s; weaner hfrs., £1 16s; yrlg hfrs., £1 12s 6d, £2 2s 6d, £2 Us; hfrs r.w.b., £3 7s 6d, £3 12s 6d. Fat Cattlo. —Cows, £4 15s, £5 ss, £5 17s 6d, £6 15s. £7 2s 6d to £7 17s 6d; hfrs., £7 15s; blks., £8 17s 6d, £9 10s. Dairy Stock. —Sprg. cows, £5 10s, £6 15s, £7, £7 12s 6d, £9, £lO 12s 6d, £ll, £l3; cows in milk, £4 10s, £5 17s 6d, £ll 10s; sprg. hfrs., £9. AUCTIONEERS’ REPORTS. Dalgoty and Co., Ltd., report having had a fair entry of both sheep and cattle. There was a fairly good demand for sheep at prices slightly in advance of last week’s rates, owing no doubt to good rain during the week. Cattle wore penned in only fair numbers and met with a fair sale at prices on a par with last week’s sale. Quotations: Fat wethers, 25a; maiden fat owes, 255; fat b.f. 2-ths, 255; fat ewes, 13s 6d, 14s; 4-yr. ewes r.w.S.D. rams 235; b.f. woolly lambs, 10s 6d, 11s, 11s 3d, 12s 3d, 12s 6d; small b.f. lambs, 7s, 7s Id, 7s 2d; woolly ewe lambs, 17s 6d; small m.s. lambs, 8s Ud,» 9s, 10s 6d; small 2-th wethers, 17s 6d; spg. heifers, £7, £7 10s, £fi, £9, empty cows, £3 10s, £3 15s, £4; Jersey cross wnr. hfrs, £2, £2 ss; fat cows, £6, £6 ss, £6 15s. Abraham nnd Williams, Ltd., ■ report: A very small entry of both sheep and cattle came forward. The demand was keener than the previous week, owing no doubt to .the good i-ains we have experienced. Fat sheep sold particularly well. The small yarding of cattle sold at late rates. We quote:—hat ewes, 15s, 16s 6d to 17s 6d: fat b.f.’s 24s lOd to 25s 3d; fat wethers, 245, 25s Id to 275; fat 2-tooths, 23s 3d; f. and f. ewes, 10s to Us; w.f. lambs, 7s 6d, 10s 3d to Us Id; 4, 6 and 4-yr. ewes, r.w. S.D. rams, 22s Id; light fat bullocks, £8 17s 6d to £9 10s; fat cows, £5 ss, £5 15s,'£6 15s, £7 2s 6d to £8; forward cows, £3 10s to £4 2s; store cows, £2 15s, £2 17s fid to £3 ss; weaner heifers, 15s, 355, 36s to £2 lie; springing cows, £9, £lO 12s 6d, to £l3; cows in milk £5, £5 17s 6d to £6 15s. FROZEN MEAT. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd.,, report under date London, 10th April,* 1930: —Lamb: N.Z. prime Canterbury lamb, 28-361bs, BJd; North Island, 28-361bs, 8d; Canterbury, 3642lbs, 7ijd; North Island, 36-421bs, 7J,d; Canterbury, 42-501bs, 7d; North Island, 42501bs, 6£d; seconds over 301bs, 7sd; under 301bs, Bd. Market for New Zealand lamb weaker; demand runs principally on , light weights. Mutton,: N.Z. prime Canterbury

mutton, 48-561bs, sjjd; North Island, 48-56 lbs, sijd; Canterbury, 56-641bs, s|d; North Island, 56-641bs, Canterbury, 64-721bs, sid; North Island, 64-721bs, sd; Canterbury ewes, 48-641bs, 4£d; North Island, 48-641bs, 4jjd. Market for N.Z. mutton weaker; demand, not improved by change; in prices.’ Australiam lamb: G.a.q., Australian lamb, 28-361bs, 7id. Market for Australian lamb weaker; demand limited. Australian mutton: G.a.q. Australain mutton, 40-601bs, 5Jd;. f.a.q., 30-551bs, sd. Market' for Australian mutton weaker; demand poor. Beef: N.Z. prime ox beef, hinds, 6d; fores, Aid] Argentine chilled hinds, 7gd; fores, 4gd. Market for New Zealand beef firm; demand better. Pork: English porkers, 80lOOlbs, - lid;' N.Z. porkers, 80-1001bs, lOd; 100-1201bs, 9d. Market for N.Z. pork weaker; demand poor owing to warm weather. ' ! ' DAIRY PRODUCE. Dalgoty and Coy., Ltd., ’ have received the following market advice from their head office, London, under date of the 10th inßtant: —Butter: Market 6lightly steadier. Danish, 136 s to 138 s (140 s to 144s)j N.Z. finest salted, 120 s to 122 s (126 s to 128 s); Australian finest'unsalted, 120 s to 122 s (124 s to 1265); salted, 116 s to 113 s (124 s to 1265); Australian g.a.q., 112 s to 114 s (118 s to 1225); Cheese: Market slightly steadier. New Zealand cheese, white, 70s to 72s (77s to 78s); coloured, 72s to 74s (78s to 795); spot price for Canadian white, 94e to 98s (96s to 98s); coloured, 94s to 98s (96s to 98s). Last week’s quotations are shown in parentheses. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., Ltd., has received the following cablegram from their London house under date 9th inst. : Butter, New Zealand choicest salted, 120 s to 122 s per cwt; cheese, 70s to 74s per cwt. Market slow. HIDES, SKINS AND TALLOW. The fortnightly sale of hides, skins and tallow was held’ at Wellington yesterday. There was the usual attendance of buyers. We quote:—Hides: As compared with last sale rates, heavies and mediums on a par, lights to id lower; kip and yearling on a par; calf Ad to Id lower. Ox, 331bs to 441bs, s^d; 451bs to 521bs, sjd to 6id; 531bs to 591bs, s£d to 6jd ; 601bs to 691bs, 6d to 7d; 701bs and over 6 3-4 d to 7|d. Cow, 331bs to 391bs, 4£d to 5.3-8 d; 4011x3 to 481bs, 4d to 5 5-8 d- 491bs and over, 4jd to 5 3-Bd. Kip, 251bs to 32Ibs, 4 ■ 5-8 d to bid; 171bs to 241bs, to B£d. Yearling, lllbs to 161bs, 5d to 8 5-Bd. Calf, 91bs to lOlbs, 5d to 8 5-8 d; 61bs to 81bs, sjd to 12id; lib to 51bs, sid to 12d, Dry Sheepskins: id to id per lb. higher, halfbred, Bid to BJd; fine. crossbred, 7id to Bid; medium crossbred, 7id to 7£d; coarse crossbred, 6d to 7id'; half wools, 6 3-4 d to 7d; quarter wooli, 6 3-4 d to 7d; pelts, 5d to 7id. Salted skins : On a par. Pelts, Is to 2s 7d ; quarter wools, 2s 6d to 3s 9d; half wools, 2s 7d to 4s sd; three-quarter wools, 4s 9d; full wools, 7s sd; lambs, Is fid to 3s Id. Tallow : At late rates. In tins, etc. 12s to 25s 6d. Sundries: Cow tails, 14d to 14£d; horse hair, 18 3-4 d. WELLINGTON RABBITSKIN SALE. Dalgoty and Coy., Ltd., Wellington, report, :—Our first sale of the season was held yesterday. The . offering comprised principally summers, springs, racks, etc., and it was pleasing to note that the market showed a much improved tone, prices generally being well up to the rates rulmg. at the late southern sales. At the recent London sales the market showed a good advance, prices boing better by 5 per cent to 20 per cent on the January sales’ quotations and this improvement was. reflected at the sale yesterday.. Large stocks aro still held in London on account’ of 'exporters arid shippers, and until these arc disposed of we cannot look ' for any substantial appreciation in prices for-, some considerable

time. Prime winter skins carefully stretched and well got up will bring satisfactory prices this season as there will be a decided shortage, and trapping, should bo quite a payable proposition. The following is the range of prices: Runners and suckers, 14d; summers, 14d to 16d;- prime racks, 18d to 20d; light racks, 21d to 24d; dawny autumns, 24d to 27Jd; early autumns;- 24£d- to- 29id; autumn blacks, 14jd to 15fd; "outgoing winter, 28d;'hareskins, 9d to lljd; milky does, 12d to 13id; second broken, 12d; wcevily, 3d to 6id. BRADFORD MARKET. LONDON, April 10. The Bradford tops market is very firm, but business is restricted, owing to labour trouble. Quotations compare as follow with those previously cabled: Mar. 20. Mar. 27. Apr. 3. Apr. 10.

BUTTER MARKET. LONDON, April 10. The Australian and Now Zealand Produce Board announces that importers have decided to sell best Australian and New Zealand butter at 118 s to 122 s per cwt. In order to assist in eliminating the pestilential blowfly, which is one of the northern sheep-farmers’ worst enemies, Mr E. A. Mcjvinlay, stock inspector, has liberated a number of parasites _ in the Whangarci district. The parasites are supplied by the Cawthorn Institute.

Buying and selling quotations at the final call on the Wellington Stock Exchange yesterday were as follow Buyers. Sellers. N.Z. GOVT LOANS— 4£ p.c. Ins. Stk., 1939 £ s. d. £ s. d. 1933 97 10 0 — 5£ p.c. ditto, 1933 5i p.c. In«3. Stk. and £9 5 0 Bonds, 1936 99 0 0 — 5i p.c. Ins. Stk., 1941 4j p.c. Bonds, 1941, . 97 0 0 ■ 1939 97 10 0 — 4 If P.c. ditto, 1938 97 12 6 — p.c. ditto, 1930 99 0 0 — 5£ p.c. ditto, 1933 99 7 6 — DEBENTURES— 0 15 0 \ Golden Bay Cement . — 0 Gisborne S. Farmers . BANKS— ~ 96 0 Adelaide — 7 7 0 Australasia Australian Bank of 12 5 0 +12 11 6 Commerce Commercial of Auat. 1 5 3 (ord.) English, Scottish and 1 1 11 ~ 0 Australian — 6 18 National of N.Z. ...... National of Australasia 6 2 6 (£10) Ditto (£5) • 15 4 0 — . 7 10 0 New South Wales 39 0 0 39 10 1 New Zealand — 3 0 0 Ditto (long term) 16 0 — Union of Australia ... Ditto (Melbourne re- ~ 12 1 0 gister) • FIN ANCIAL — . 12 1 6 Goldsbrough Mprt .... 1 10 6 i ii 3 N.Z. and River Plate . 13 6 — Well. Invest., T. & A. Well. Trust and Loan Well. Deposit and — 0 11. 3 0 10 '3 7 4 0 , Mortgage 0 10 6 GASChristchurch 15 9 1 6 4 Wellington (ord.) ...... 1 10 0 — Ditto (pref.) INSURANCE— 0 17 .2 National 0 14 3 — New* Zealand 2 3 9 — South British meat; preserving— 3 16 Well. Meat Ex. (ord.) 0 7 .6 . .— N.Z. Refrigerat. (10s) TRANSPORT—. • “ 0 5 6 Huddart-Parker (ord.) 1 17. 6 2 0 0 P. and O. def. stock .. WOOLLEN— 2 15 6 Kaiapoi (.ord.) 0 11 0 — Wellington (ord.) — 6 0 0 Ditto (pref.) , COAL— 6 3 0 Waipa TIMBER *0 13 6 Kauri 0 12 6 1 10 0 Leyland-O’Brien — National BREWERIES— 0 9 0 Crown ‘ 8 6 — New Zealand 2 11 6 — Staples and Co MISCELLANEOUS.280 1 16 Burns, Philp and Co. Aust; Iron and Steel 1 16 5 6 (pref.) ....' British Tobacco (Aust.) V" *0 19 9 (ord.) ■2 0 3 2 0 6 Colonial Sugar . 45 15 0 Dental and Medical . — 0 13 6 Electro. Zinc (pref.) Holden’s Motor Bldrs. — .. 1 8 0 ’ 0 15 U Howard Smith (ord.) ' 0 17 6 N.Z. Drug N.Z. Farmers’ Fer+5 9 tiliser Sharland and Co. 0 19 0 1 0 (ord.) Wilson’s Cement MINING— — 6 1 18 10 1 19 6 Mount Lyell — 1 15 0 0 13 8 — • *Cum. dividend. +Ex dividend.

■ METALS MARKET. . LONDON, April 10. Metal' exchange quotations are as follows, those previously cabled being given for purposes of comparison: — April 7. April 10. Per ton. Per ton. Copper— £ s. d £ ' s. d. Standard, spot ... 69 1 6 68 7 6 Standard,- forward 67 1 6 67 7 6 Electrolytic ... 83 10 0 83 5 0 to 83 15 0 83 15 0 Wire bars ..... ... 83 15 0 83 15 0 Lead— Spot 18 11 3 Forward 18 12 6 , Spot 18 0 0 Forward 18 12 6 Tin— • Spot 166 5 0 Forward ... 164 3 9 •163 2 6 Silver — Fine, per oz ...'. 19 3-8d 19 11-16. Standard, per oz . 2015-16d 21id

Por lb. Per lb. Per lb d. d. d. d. Sixty.-fours ... 26i 26 27 23 Sixties ... 24 24J, 25 26 ... 17 17 17 17^ Fifty-sixes ... 20 20 20 204 Forty-sixes ... 15 15 15 15i Forties ... 14i 14 2 14j 15