AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2080, 4 January 1894, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The Hon. J. M-Kenzie, Minister for Agriculture, informed Mr J. R. JScott, the secretary of the National Dairy Association, when the latter was in Wellington, that he had definitely decided to provide cool storage for dairy produce at Port Chalmers, which would be available at the commencement of next season. The Intermarine Supply Company are erecting their pork-curing works in connection with the Islington Freezing Works, Canterbury, and will be ready shortly to commence operations on a large scale. If the matter is taken up by farmers, the pork industry , should develop rapidly, and become almost of as muoh importance as the dairy produce or frozen meat indnstry. . The fact that a purchaser is always ready to take the pigs at any season of the year at a fixed price per Ib will enable farmers to take it up, knowing exactly what to expect. Mr J. R. Scott, the agent for Otago of the company, who is prepared to purchase in any quantity, informs us that he visited the works at Islington, and was greatly impressed with the value of the secret process by which the po»k is cured. The curer can, by regulating the amount of injection, turn out an article to suit any palate. As soon as the pig is dressed and the injection made, the animal is seized by machinery and thrown into a hot furnace, where it is allowed to remain for only two or three seconds. This is sufficient to melt the outside fab, which in a manner seals up the carcase, which is at onco removed to a very cold chamber, and the process is complete. The Hessian fly and sparrows have destroyed 30 per cent, of the wheat crop on the Upper Plain in the Wairarapa district. The late wool sales (writes our Auckland correspondent on the 18th) show the great strides which have been made in this industry in the province of Auckland, more especially in the Waikato and Thames Vallay districts. Unfortunately, owing to the weather we have experienced, several of the clips arrived in damp condition. Taking this ciroumstance*into consideration the prices were satisfactory, and a Blight average increase took place in all classes with the exoeption of merino wool, .which was neglected, and prices- lower. The greatest competition was for crossbred merino and long wool. The arrangements for the sales have been greatly improved, and through their all being held on the one day, the local grower has had the benefit of southern and Australian competition. Our wooigrowers are consequently in better" heart, and are paying greater attention to the esseutial duty of improving their flocks. Another matter which has received attention is the reduotiou of expense in loading. By dredging in the vicinity of the quays the wool ships are enablu 1 to come up to the vioinity of the Loan and Mercantile Company's warehouses and those of private firms, so that both labour and cartage are considerable lesseaed, to the great satisfaction of woolgrowers. The following is the resnlt of the guessing competition of the weight of the bullock at the Tapanui Agricultural Show. Mr R. A. Rodger, 11271b; Mr James Logan, 11251b ; Mr S. Nicol, 11231b (winner last year). The actual weight of the bullock was 11301b, thus showing very good judgment of the competitors. The bullock came off the Moa Flat estate, and was bought by Mr. D. B. M 'Donald.

Of the recent sale of the Meadowbank pro* perty at Tokomairiro, the local correspondent of Clutba Leader says : — "The well-known Meadowbank property, at Clarkesville, has once more changed hands, one of the Palmers, of Otakia, Edwin by name, I think, being the new owner. The price, says the man in the street, was £16 per acre. At* that price the property should be cheap and a good investment. The land is in the best' heart and order, the fences and buildings well kept, and besides, a system of liming the paddocks in rotation has been carried out for the past three or fonr years. Messrs Nelson Bros. (Limited), the late owners, have reserved about 25 acres near the railway station together with the buildings oenstituting the slaughtering establishment, which your readers will remember was in fall swing on a large scale some three years ago, and which was intended to be ultimately run in conjunction with local freeziug works, the whole being discontinued after a month or two's work. Through Messrs Nelson retaining this part of the estate it' may be presumed that the prqspeot of snch an establishment at Clarkbville is not yet wiped out. The clearing sale was a big success both in point of attendance, and prices realised for the stook. The qnly ' bargins ' going was in a few of the implements, notably two self-binders (Massey and M'Cormick), a Reid and Gray 15 coulter broadcast drill, a Cambridge roller, a Hpward digger, and other ploughs also sold very cheap. The visitors were royally entertained. A bar and refreshment room, where drinks, mixed and unmixed, or a good meal with tea or coffee was obtainable, was fitted up in the woolshed, and attended by professional waiters. Mr Palmer gets immediate possession of his new and splendid estate, in the acquirement of which I wish him success — the best of it."

TheNorthObagoTiroeßsays:— "The suppliers of milk to the Hatnpden creamery received last month in cash £300 for milk. About 900 gallons, are received daily at the creamery. The present price is 3d per gallon, and to shareholders -|d extra is paid. A large quantity of milk is beirg driven from the Otepopo district, and if sufficient shares are taken up. by the ' farmers a creamery will be erected in the Otepopo district in the near future. The pro- , ptietors hope to ultimately convert the Hampden creamery into a butter factory.- .Mr A. Bagshotb is the present manager, and is giving every satisfaction." • '

There is no sign of the Auckland fruitgrowers arranging for the export of fruit during the coming season to further test the London market. The faot is most of them are so sickened over tbeir grievous losses that they are inclined to let well atone, and yet it is contended by experts that there is a remunerative opening for fruit if the growers will only take the trouble to paok and grade high-class fruit properly. Every season the waste of fruit in the Auckland districts appalling, owing to tha growers, through transit and middlemen's charges, being unable to get a fair price for their produce. At the very time that this state of thingß exists fruit as an article of daily diet is limited to a omparatively small class, owing to the prohibitive rates charged by the retailers. No one has yet been able to bring grower and consumer into touch through the operations of the fruib rings. Various plans have been devised, bub they have all ended in failure, the rings coming out "top of the heap" in the contest. Each year the production of fruit is increasing in volume, and, at whatever cost, the local grower will have to look further afield for hiß market unless he is to suffer the fate of "having all his eggs in one basket." — Auckland correspondent. (Continued on pagt 11.)