AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 12

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

From tho Taieri Advocate we learn that good progress is being made with the erection of a dairy factory at Waibola for Messrs Saxton Broi. A splendid supply of water has been obtained, ar.d the si to selected (opposite the Lake Hotel) is a good one, the factory being conveniently near tho railway station. Both batter and cheese are to be manufactured, and as Messrs Saxton bave scoared a thoroughly experienced manager in Mr Shaw Crosland there ehonld be no difficulty in Qnding a market for tbe articles manufactured. We learn that Mesira Saxton Bros, axe paying 3d pec gallon for milk. . An ex-Dunedinito now settled at Deniliquin, New South Wales, writes tbe Southland Kewa':— "ln tbU country our squatters are much behind in 111 9 producing of freezers, and instead of picking and classing their obeep on their properties they send all their stock mixed here. As regards their crossbred*, they will never, to my idea, bring them anywhere near the standard of New Zealand mutton ; and as for the lambs, they can never oome near to New Zealaud'a. Oar works have tbe latentrimprovements in the frefzing business, and are •without the slightest doubt tho btst in tho world. We can kill 1600 freezers in a day, can pretervo 1000 at night, or boil down 3000 sheep and put through 25 hoad of cattlo. We employ 150 hands, and we treat every bit of offal — even the gravy we run on to a eew»ge farm, the property of the company. As you bave had a Dad •winter, I am afraid we are going to hwe a dry summer. It is a very bad lookout for Australia, and it will mean ruin to the iquatle»."

Tho Fortrose correspondent of the Wyndbam Herald writes-.— •• B->th the dairy faotcries hive mado another (tart for tho season — the Otaxa factory, under the management of Mr Dumbledon, began or ernlioDS a week ago, aud the Toi Tois faotory, in charge of Mr Robie, on Slcnday last. The Or*rn price is 2d to Btarfc xntb, and the Toi Tois 2£d. Tbe supply is not yet very large, as it is si rmwbat oarly for tho cows to come in. Every week, however, the yield will get larger."

The Wyudham Farmer s*je :—": — " The young growths in this district are looking well, but &r« very backward. This particularly eppliee to old pasture grasses, which are quite a month behind tbe general run. Cattle and hhtep are &* « rule in low condition. At Edendale and other centres we bear that more turnips have baen gown this spring than ever before. This 3s assuriDg, as it shows owners arc determine! to bd better prepared in tho future to have plenty feed for their stock then was the case in too many instances during the severity of last Tsinter." According to the Blenheim Express Mr J. H. Boundy has just received account sales for 170 bags of peas tr\ m London, which he grow last season and thifped through Messrs W. B. 'douston and Co. The price realised averaged '.7s per baahtl, much to the dtl'ght of the ;*mt>teur farmer. The kind of poas grown #ras Veitch'fl petfection, and had thoy been handthreshed and graded a much better price would , tave been the result. As it was, no extra care fits taken.

Uiidex tho beading "A Meat Trede Dispute : Strike of Ca't'e Dealer*," the Sydcoy Town find Country Journal says: — " A strike of -cattle buyers bao taken place in Sydney. It seems that some time *go some aDple&eanfcBCBi occurred between Mcs-rs Harrison, Jones, and Devlin and Mr M'NeiU, a carcase butcher carrying on business at Giebe Itltnd, in regard to payment for two condemned bollocks. It is the recognised practice for agents, on behalf of owners, to lefuud sums paid for animals afterwards condemned by the Goveramenfc inspectors, end this arrangement is held to bo joafc by bo-h •ides. On one occasion, in August last, three bollocks purchased by Mr M'NeiU were condemned, bat the firm of agents disputed the brands, and refused to pay. The matter was in abeyance for s ime time ; but tho fat atook buyers held a meeting at Homeboah before Won day 'd salo, end arrived at a decision not to purchafc. The result was that while a large cumber of animals was disposed of to nonmembers of tto association, a number was called in. On Tuesday the buyers of pigs and calves, who constitute a distinct body, held a meeting and decided to stand by the other buyers, with the result that when 840 pigs were pat up at the usual morning sale there were no buyers." The drought, it is said, will cause a loas of nearly a million in Now South Wales.