CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1763, 5 September 1885, Page 13

CURRENT TOPICS.

Our Wakatipu correspondent writes : — After an exceptionally fine and seasonable winter, it at present looks as if we are about to experience another wet spring, but then early spring is, as a rule, always a wet season in this district. The land under wheat — what there is of it — looks very well, the young plants being in a forward state, but the total quantity is much below the average of former years, and under the present circumstances of low prices and uncertain markets it is not likely that the local settlers will go so much into grain-growing as they have done. Much of the land is laid down in grass, and cattle and sheep as well as dairying will no doubt receive more attention than those branches have hitherto had devoted to them.

Our Tapanu^ correspondent writes that the very wet weather has brought farming and all outdoor work in that district to a temporary standstill.

Our Henley correspondent reports: — Waihola : Most of the farmers busy ploughing. A fair amount of seed has been sown. . The crops that are through the ground are looking very promising. A case of some importance to threshing-mill owners has recently been decided. A Mr Fleming sued Mr Smith, of Waihola, for threshing done for him, which the latter refused to pay, as his crop Bad been so badly threshed that he considered he had lost by bad threshing more than the account came to. Smith gained the day. — Henley : Mr Malcolm Bruce, who has about 100 acres sown, is the only farmer at Henley who has any ground sown. Very little ground is turned over at the present time. If the farmers of: this locality were wise they would have had their land all sown now instead of just commencing ploughing. — Otakia : Farmers are moviug forward with their work in this district. The autumn-sown wheat is looking very healthy and strong. — Kuri Bush: Farmers are busy ploughing. Not much grain has been sown. The rabbits are getting very numerous again.

At a meeting of the committee of management of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, lield on Saturday evening, Mr Scott brought under the iiotice of the club that he had lately been making from potatoes an article which would pass muster as arrowroot, being equal, if not superior, to anything that could be purchased in the stores. He understood that a good deal of potatoe starch manufactured in the Colony was sold in the disguise of corn flour. It was his intention that evening to have submitted to the club a sample of the article which he had produced, but as there had not been very much sunshine during the last day or two, he had not got it properly dried. He would, however, lay a sample of the article on the table at next meeting. He thought if this matter were taken in hand that a factory for the production of starch or cornflour could easily be started in the district. The soil was Well adapted for the cultivation of root crops, and that as potatoes would yield' about one-sixth of their weight of pure starch, worth about £15 per ton, it would not be amiss to give some attention to the subject.. The cost of machinery would not he understood, exceed £300. — The President, read a report of a meeting held at Greytown (Wellington) to consider the advisability of starting a starch factory there. One of the speakers at the meeting in question showed conclusively that potatoes at £2 10s per ton would yield a handsome profit to the farmer if a starch factory were established in that district. — It was decided to give some consideration to the subject at a future meeting of the clvb — The Tuapeka Times, from which paper we quote, further says: — The secretary (Mr Moggath) in his annual report, referring to the culture of linseed, says : — " Your committee endeavoured last year to test the practicability of growing flax for seed in this district, but owing to various causes, the result was not as satisfactory as was anticipated ; but I think it would be advisable to give it another trial, as from information received from one of the settlers of the district, who has given it trial again this year, there is reason to assume that with the necessary care and attention linseed could be grown to a profit." Mr Moggath further points out that the price per bushel of 601b is 5s 6d, and even with 20 bushels to the acre, which is a very moderate orop, linseed will pay better than grain crops at present rates.

The New Zealand Agricultural Company have disposed of 26 head of their well-known polled Angus herd to some enterprising Melbourne capitalist. The animals were shipped by the Te Anau.

The Wellington Moat Export Company have been rather unfortunate in their operations. Last year's balance-sheet showed £1514 to the credit side, but this year's operations showed a debit balance of £565 19s. The chairman attributed the loss sustained by the company to misfortune, and gave the result of one shipment as follows :— Out of 12,300 carcases, 1167 were landed in dirty wrappers, 205 in blood-stained wrappers, 134 in torn wrappers, 123 in charcoalstained wrappers, 308 with broken shanks, 53 with broken shoulders, 116 with grazed skins, 172 soft and badly blood-stained, 63 soft, 27 with flesh torn, 8 with broken legs, 3 without wrappers, and 115 condemned.

The Laval Cream Separator (says the Sydney Mail) was tho most attractive exhibit of the late Forbes Show. To the greater part of the visitors it was entirely novel, and crowds eagerly watched its operations. On the first day there was a hitch in the trials, the horse used not being suitable for the work, but on the second day the tests were satisfactory. Much harm is done to exhibitors of new machines by hasty preparation for trials. We have known many good inventions which have been thrown aside simply from the fact that a few mishaps occurred in connection with their trial on the show-ground or in the field. With regard to the Laval Separator, however, it has now established itself so firmly that a mistake or two cannot oust it from the enviable position it occupies in public favour.

At the National Agricultural Show in Melbourne, in the draught horses class, the second prize was taken by Young Clydesdale Hero, a horse just landed from New Zealand.

The Waikato settlers (writes our Auckland correspondent) are still determined to carry out their endeavours to resuscitate the agricultural interest by going in for a district meat-tinning factory on their own account, finding that prices for stock havo not hardened, as was expected, through the operations of the New Zealand Moat Freezing Company. The latter company is not, as was anticipated, making any opposition, believing that there is room for both enterprises, The farmers see quite clearly that they must themselves find the necessary capital, some £10,000 or £20,000, if they mean to succeed, and the farming co-opera-

tive societies seem willing to help them. By the beginning of next month, some definite scheme of operations will be settled.