NEW SOUTH WALES WHEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 7

NEW SOUTH WALES WHEAT.

YIELD OF 50,223,000 BUSHELS. LOSS THROUGH BUSH FIRES. The Government Statistician of New South Wales has issued a preliminary estimate of the wheat harvest of the current season, received from the wheatgrowers of the State, indicating a yield of 50,223,000 bushels. The yield of hay was 405,000 tons. The total area sown with wheat was 3,670,200 acres. Of this area 3,254,800 acres were harvested for grain, 312,800 acres for hay, 74,900 acres failed and 27,700 acres were fed-off. The average yield of grain was 15.1 bushels per acre, being 3.6 bushels per acre, or 31 per cent, greater than the average in the State for the past ten seasons. The total production represents an increase of 16,408,000 bushels of grain and a decrease of 37,000 tons of hay compared with the harvest of the previous season.

It was anticipated that the excessive rairlfal). of' March, April and May would restrict the area sown, but the late sowings made up the deficiency. The thorough saturation which occurred in the wheat belt during March to May was followed in July and August by falls equal to, or slightly below, the average, while in September the rainfall was above the average in all divisions except the southern Riverina. November and December were comparatively dry months and during this period disastrous bush fires occurred in miny parts of the wheat belt. More than half of the area which was recorded as having failed was in districts so affected. In* addition to the standing crops, which were destroyed, 243,000 bushels of bagged wheat were lost in the fires. The area harvested for grain, the yield and tho average yield per acre in recent years have been as follow: Yield Harvested Production P.'A. Acres. > Bushels. Bushels. 1922-23 . . 2,943,000 28,668,000 9.7 1923-24 . . 2,945.000 33,176,000 11.3 1924-25 . . 3,550,000 59,767,000 16.8 1925-26 . . 2,929,000 33.815.000 11.5 1926-27 . . 3,324,500 50,223,000 15.1

The stocks of old season's wheat and flour held in New South Wales at the end of November, 1926, were equivalent to 1,676,000 bushels of wheat. With the estimated production there are available 51,899,000 bushels. The maximum requirements. including seed wheat, may be estimated at approximately 17,500,000 bushels, and allowing for the 243,000 bushels of bagged wheat destroyed by fire, there should be a surplus of at least 34 million bushels available for export.

NEW ZEALAND LAMB. PRIZES AT SMITH FIELD. HIGH PRAISE FROM JUDGES. A. and N.Z. J LONDON, Feb. 8. Some prize lambs from the Royal Agricultural Show at Auckland were judged at Smithfield. First and third prizes were awarded to Mr. Neil Reve and second prize to Mr. A. Miller. '■ The judges say they consider the lambs comprised one of the finest displays seen at Smithfield. The dressing, condition and finish were excellent. Harrods, Ltd., purchased all the 93 carcases for the purpose of making a special display. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCERS. DEMAND FOR PROTECTION. (Received Feb. 9, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Feb. 9. The president of the Primary Producers' Union has lodged with' the Federal Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr. H. E. Pratten, a formal request that the Tariff Board shall be authorised to Inquire into the protection at present afforded to Australian butter, cheese and* bacon. A request. has also been made for an increase to 6d a lb. in hams and bacon and 3d on green pork from the Dominion. —i SOUTH AFRICAN WINE. ENGLISH COMPANY'S PURCHASE.' (Received Feb. 9, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Feb. 9. An English company has purchased the whole exportable surplus of the Co-opera-tive Winegrowers of South Africa until 1928. This will amount to about 3,000,000 gallons and will consist of sweet wines of the port type. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. MARKET REMAINS FIRM. (Received Feb. 9, 11,49 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Feb. 9. At the Svdney wool sales to-day, the market was tully equal to the best point of the week. Comebacks met with exceptionally strong demand. Greasy Merinos sold to 34Jd. FLOUR DOWN IN SYDNEY. * (Received Feb. 9, 11.49 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Feb. 9. The wholesale price of flour has been reduced 5s to £l2 5s per ton of 20001b. CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET. A. and N.Z. CHICAGO, Feb. 8. Wheat., —May, 1 dollar 41 7-8 cents per bushel; July, 1 dollar 35 3-8 cents; September, 1 dollar 33 1-8 cents. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. (Received Feb. 9, 9.45 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Feb. 8. The following are quotations on the London Stock Exchange to-day .-—Bank of Australasia, £l4 2s 6d; Bank of New South Wales, £47; Union Bank of Australia, £l4 18s 9d; National Bank of Australasia, £8 15s; National Bank of New Zealand, £7 0s 7d; Bank of New Zealand, stock, £9O; shares, £2 17s 6d; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, debentures, £73 IGs; stock, £92 10s.

SOUTHDOWN EWES AND RAMS. Dalgety and Limited, in conjunction with the North Auckland Farmers' Co-operative. Limited, report having held the annual sale oi Messrs. G, and R. Coates' Southdown ewes and rams, There was a large attendance oi buyers, the majority oi whom came from Whangares, Kaikohe and Broadvrood districts, while others came from Auckland. Waim&uku and Warkworth districts.. The sale was a very spirited on®, competition being exceptionally keen, especially lor the rams. Flock rams sold at 7 to 11 'guineas, averaging well over 8 guineas. Stud' rams sold at 15 to '2l . guineas, 'the latter price being paid in two instances, one for a "2-shear ram bred by Messrs. G. and E, Ccstes ana pnrceased by Mr. 3. Edwards, of Warkworth; the other was a 4-ehear ram bred by Messrs. J. and J. Johns and purchased by Messrs, J. M..Metcalfe and Sons. The ewe* •were also the subject of keen competition. Stud ewes., with a transfer, selling at Z\ to 7 guineas. The following were purchasers of transferable ewes:—Mr. S. Edwards Warkworth; 'Mr. T. J. Griffin, Whawnreii Dr. G. M.* Smith, Rswene; Mr.. H. King. Whangarex; Mr, L. R. •• Goiasv Okaibau. Flock evre-s realised 11 to 3? guineas, .■ The .sheep. were all in great heart and were oy far the best line ever oSexed by ilia ?«adcrs.