STRATH-TAIERI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 22

STRATH-TAIERI.

February 10.— The school picnic took place on Friday, the 9th inst., in a paddock on the Garthmyl estate, the use of which was kindly granted for the purpose by Mr R. Stewart. The children marched from the school to the rendezvous under the marshalage of Miss Macadam and Mr Matheson, their teachers. The time was spent

chiefly inthe usual racing, jumping, and outdoor pastimes. About 3 o'clock a ring was formed in which were Mr Walker, secretary to the school committee, Mr and Mrs Matheson, and Misses Mabel Cartwright and Mary Webb, Miss Mabel Cartwright read the following address :— " Mr Matheson,— Dear Sir— We, on behalf of thepui ils of this school, in view of your recent marriage, wish to present you with this album as a token of our regard for you. We hope you will long continue to live in Middlemarch and be our teacher. I am sure all the people and children wish Mrs Matheson and yourself every happiness." Thereupon Miss Mary Webb presented the album. Mr Walker, in a few well-chosen words, then presented Mr Matheson with a purse of sovereigns as a souvenir of his marriage, and also of the friendly feeling existing between him and the people of the district. The recipient feelingly replied, and then the air was rent by a volume of ringing cheers for all concerned. The school comniitteemen present were Messrs G. M'Donald (chairman), M'Lay, Jennison (who worked hard to make the thing a success), and Walker, secretary.

Mr J. B. Moir, of Jlnvercargill, has invented and patented an ingenious contrivance for preserving sheepskins, &c, from the attacks of rats, which often render the skins of little or no commercial value. At the ends of the beams over which the sheepskins are hung are placed t!n flaps surmounted by rollers, which revolve on the slightest touch. The rat on attempting to surmount the obstacle touches the roller, and the smooth tin offering no foot or tooth hold he falls to the floor. Repeated trials with the same result have rather a discouraging effect, or if a bucket of water is placed underneath considerable execution results. The desideratum of a cheap but effective motor capable of easy handling promises to be filled by the introduction of oil motors of various capacities. The capabilities of this form of power will be shown at a trial of the Hornsby-Ackroyd oil engine to be held at Messrs Allen, Begg, and Co.'s yard, Manor place, on Saturday and Monday next, when those interested are invited to be present.

12s ; for Mr John Findlay (Urydale), 64 crossbred ewes to 14s ; for Mr D. Edmond (Otakia), 24 crossbred ewes at 11s ; for Mr H. M. Driver (Clarendon), 51 crossbred wethers at 12s 3d ; for Mr John Heads (Milburn), 36 crossbred ewes at 9s to 11s ; for Mr J. A. Riddell (Sandymount), 6 crossbred ewes at 9s.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 422 as follows : For Mr John Douglas (Waihao Downs), 50 exceptionally prime crossbred ewes (heavy-weights) at 14s to 15s 3d ; for Mr David Ross (Meadowbank), 75 prime crossbred wethers and maiden ewes at from 13s 6d to 14s 9d ; for Mr D. B. Macdonald (Tapanui), 56 prime halfbred wethers and maiden ewes at from 13s 3d to '4s 6d , for Mr John Coutts (Janefield), 47 crossbred wethers at from 103 6d to 14s 6d ; for Mr Donald Borrie (Papakaio), 67 crossbred ewes at from 10s 6d to 128 ; for Mr Peter Duncan, 8 halfbred wethers at 12s 6d ; for Mr John MacMillan (Whare Flat), 60 crossbred ewes at up to lls ; for Mr Alexander Hastie (Greytown), 28 small halfbreds at 103 3d ; and for Mr John Bruce (Greytown), 24 crossbred ewes at 10s.

Lambs. — 620 penned ; prime lots being scarce compared with the number of second and third class lambs on offer. There were buyers present for export, and all lines suitable for freezing were either taken for this purpose or secured by the " trade " at an advance on last week's prices for the fame c'ass of lambs. Several lots scarcely good enough for the butchers were purchased by farmers, and the day's sales were thus more satisfactory than for several weeks past. Best brought 9s to 10s 6d ; others, 5s 6d to 7s 9d and Bs.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold : For Mr D. Fraser (Waitahuna), ' 36 at 10s Gd, 36 at 10s ; and for various owners, .'& at Bs, 65 at 7s (3d, 43 at quotations. — | Andrew Todd (on behalf of the New Zealand Land Association, Limited) sold : For Mr A. H. Anderson (Stirling), 3*5 at 8i to 8s 9d ; for a southern client, 45 at 7s to 8s 3d ; and privately I during the week 850 at quotations. — Donald Reid and Co. yarded 309, and sold : For Mr | John Finch (Milburn), 30 at 9s 6d. 45 at 6s 3d ; for Mr D. M'Millan (Whare Flat), 30 at 83 to 7s 3d ; ' for Mr Andrew Grieve (Crookston farm), 11 at 10s ' 6d ; and turned 19S out unsold.— The Farmers' | Agency Company (Limited) penned 199, and sold for Mr J. A. Riddell (Saudymount), 43 at 7s 6d , to 10i 6d ; for Mr D. Edmond (Otakia), 14 at 8s 9d ; j

high all through the season, but fortunately for those who purchased early, the market sales for beef have been well maintained also. With s6 favourable a season, the crop will doubtless be a heavy turnip one, and cattle will soon be inquired for to feed the same, so that there is but little prospect of purchases being made on more favourable terms. — The Farmers' Agency CompXny (Limited) report having sold 41)5 privately since last report as follows j—lloj — 110 cows and steers at £5 10a, 911 heifer 3 and steers at £(i, 105 yearlings at £2 2s 6d, 20 steers (small) at £5 53, 20 yearlings at £2 10s, 87 mixed cattle at £1 15s.

Country Sales.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) report as follows :— On Friday, February 9, we held our usual fortnightly sale at the Crown yards, Balclutha, when we placed an entry of 819 sheep and about 20 head of cattle (chiefly dairy cows) at satisfactory prices. Crossbred ewes (with lambs) brought 10s 6d, crossbred lambs 7s 6<i, crossbred wethers to 12s 10d, and dairy cows to £7.— Andrew Todd (on behalf of the New Zealand Land Association, Limited) reports having held his regular sale by auction on , Friday last, the 9th inst., at the Crown yards, ' Balclutha, when there was a very fair attendance of both buyers and sellers. The former, however, < exercised a very considerable amount of caution, being hardly prepared to operate up to sellers' reserves, and while a few lots were disposed of, most of the entry was passed in. — Donald Reid and Co. report : — We held our usual fortnightly sale at our saleyards, near Greytown bridge, on Tuesday, and submitted a moderate entry of stock. The attendance of buyers was quite as good as could be expected at this season of the year, when everybody is busy harvesting. All things considered, the sale was a I satisfactory one, especially for cattle, not one being turned out unsold. Store Cattle : 114 head < were yarded, principally bullocks and heifers, and ' dry cows about three-parts fat. Although there were not many buyers present there was a good ' demand, and satisfactory prices were realised for \ every pen. Bullocks sold at .£6 5s to £5 10s, i heifers at £5 Is to £i 5s 6d, cows at £5 3s to £3 16s, yearlings at 465. Store Sheep : 760 were J penned, all crossbreds, of which the majority were | two-tooth. There was scarcely any demand, and only two or three small lines were placed under '

'Gram.— Wheat: Tn reporting the local market dull we scarcely represent the situation at the nioment, as there is little, if any, business passiog in milling lines. Odd lots for feed are occasionally placed, but without any improvement in price. Local operators are holding their hands, pending a more favourable range of values. No new wheat has been on offer so far, and with a continuation of the unsettled weather prevailing harvest operations will be very much delayed. Quotations : For best milling, 2s 8d to 2s ~9d ; choice velvet, 2s lOd ; medium to good, 2s 7d to 2s 8d ; inferior to medium, 2s 3d to 2s 5d (ex store, sacks weighed in, terms).— Oats : While a steady business is passing in these the quantity put through is only to a very limited extent 1 but with so few coming forward from the country, and stock in store being pretty well all run out, sellers have up to the present been able to secure prices ruling during the past few weeks. There is no demand of any consequence for export. Shippers are unable to secure business while prices here remain as at present. Buyers for local consumption are purchasing no more than actually requ'< -gd just for the time being, expecting soon to h<ve a fuller supply on the market; also that prices are likely to be more in thejr favour. The prevailing idea is that immediately the new crop is on the market that prices must recede if business is to be done. Meantime, best feed and milling are Is lljd to 2s ; medium to good, Is lOd to Is lid ; seconds and inferior, Is 8d to Is 9d (ex store, sacks extra, net).— Barley : In the absence of supplies there is no business passing. Quotations meantime are merely nominal, Bay, for prime malting, 3s 9d to 4s ; medium to good, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; milling, 2a Cd to 3s ; feed, Is 9d to 2s 3d (ex store, Backs extra, terms).

Grass Seeds. — Ryegrass seed meets with a moderately fair demand, but there is no apparent improvement in price. Quotations : For bes+ machine-dressed, 3s to 3s 3d ; very choice, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; farmers' best dressed, 2s 6d to 2s 9d— extra clean and prime seed a shade more ; medium, Is 6d to 2s 3d (ex store, sacks extra, net).— Cocksfoot : Market quiet ; best dressed may be quoted at 4Jd to 4Jd ; medium, 3Jd to 4d per lb (ex store). Potatoes.— The supply this week being considerably in excess of requirements, they are now 10s to 15s per ton lower than last week. Quotations

and prices may firm ; but we do not look for an advance. We certainly would not advice farmer 8 to hold lines, as we anticipate a Burplus over the demand when the autumn season closes in the iSorth Island. We quoto: Prime machinedressed, 3s 3d ; extra prime, 3s 6d ; good machinedressed, 3s ; farmers' clean lines, 2s 10} d ; dirty, from Is 9d to 2s 7}d. Wool.— We hold our next sale on the 22nd inst., and would urge upon our clients the necessity of hurrying their wool in, as we expect a good attendance of buyers ; whereas, if there should be a clearing up sale, the attendance will likely be composed of only local buyers. Prices should rule equal to last sale for finer wool, and in all probability equal for poorer qualities. Ohaff.—rhis remains steady, and prime lines 3*£2*s i srscMsas.'ss