AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

' The new Government veterinaries, who are coming out in the Wakanui, are expected to arrive here at the end of the month.

Tho showers of the- past few days have exerted a beneficial influence on feed in the Manawatu district, and both store and fat stock show a decided rise on prices lately ruling.

The Manawatu A. and P. Association have decided to invite competitive designs for the new grand stand and other buildings to be erected on the show grounds. Fully £5000 will be spent on the grounds before next show. The value of the 'seed wheat distributed to fanners in New South Wales during the nast five years was £20,334. Up to the present £6108 had been repaid to the department by the farmers.

The growing of tho wattle for its bark is now carried ori upon a large, scale in the Waiknto district, and "the stripping this season has been more extensive than for years past. Still, the quantity grown does not meet the requirements of Auckland farmers alone.

Tho Ida Valley correspondent of the Alexandra Herald writes: — I noticed a fresh land mark on top of a knoll on Mr Thomas Beck's farm, and on close examination I was not a little surprised to see a windmill at work. . . . . Mr Beck said he had always been under the impression from what he has observed that Ida Valley was formerly a lake, and that, on -sinking, water would be found in sufficient quantities to irrigate the wholo flat. .The result of his experiment has gone to prove the correctness of this view. Water was struck" at "a depth of 34ft, and quickly rose to the height, of 14ft. The tower of the windmill -is of galvanised angle steel, ,30ft hiffh,' theriSrheel beinjj Bft in diameter. The mill is at present, lifting .the water 32ft, but can raise it higher if required. The plant was supplied by the well-known Arm *i Jaa. M>tin and Oo.« of Sydsoyu

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, April 4. The total quantity of whe^ifc and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 3.192,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,445,000 quarters. [ Share quotations: — Bank of Australia, bbl ; Bank of . New §outh Wales, 40* ; ! Union Bank, 28Jj ; National Bank of New Zealand, 2{ ; Bank of New Zealand 4 per cent, guaranteed stock, IW \ ; New Zealand Loan and Mervantile Agency -Company 4 per cent prior lien debentures, ' 9^£ The stock of tallow consists o? 17,456 casks. The imports during tho month ; amouuled to 4914 casks and deliveries "to 8200. ; Tin.— Stock, 24,899 tons; spot 7444; afloat 1710 ; delivering 1534 tons. The copper market is excited, and it is quoted at 71£ ; supplies, 21,225 tons ; deliveries, 17,054; stock, 28,497; advised from Australia, 2950 tons. April 7. The Bank of England returns show the stock of gold, coin, and bullion at £27,940,000 ; reserve. £18,996,000; : proportion,of reserve to liabilities," 37.20.- The notes in-"oirculation tofcil- £27,895,000; public deposits, £12,736;000 ; other deposits, £38,126,000 ; Government securities, £13.350,000; .other securities, £36,372,000. Three months' bills are discounted afc 2 J.-8 per cent. . ' Consols, 110£. . Quotations - for colonial Government ; stocks are/ subjoined, compared with those I ruling at the end of last week : — '

The American visible wheat supply is estimated afc 51,238,000- bushels. The wheat markets s ara quiet. Reports have been received of damage by frost sustained in America. ■ Twelve thousand five hundred quarters of Victorian wheat, prompt shipment, realised 27s 3d ; steamer parcel due in May, 27s 6d. Copper : Spot, 77| ; three months, 77£. Tin, very firm at 112$. • Iro,n, -54s 6d. „ , - Lead, 14|. - I Sugar is steady. ■ German, 9s l£d ; Java, 12s 4£d. The Bradford wool market is improving. Common sixties, 21^ ; supers, 22£. Butter is quiet and imeh'anged. April 9. The British Board of Trade returns show that the March imports decreased by £1.920,000, while the exports increased by £-1.490,000 compared with March of the previous year. Frozen Meat. — Mutton : Crossbred wethers and maiden ewes, Canterbury, 3 15-16 d ; Dunedin and Southland are not I quoted ; North Island. 3 7-16 d. Lamb : Prime Canterbury, 4|d ; fair average (including Dunedin, Southland, Wellington, j and secondary Canterbury), 4§d. River Plate crossbred or merino wethers, heavy, 34d; light, 3|d.

New South Wales 4' a .. Now South Wales 3£'s .. New South Wales 3*3 . Victoria 4's . „ Victoria 3J'a . . ... South Australia 3J's 3a South Australia 3's *. Qiieenßland 4's « £■, Queensland 81' s • : ji New Zealand 4's -** New Zealand 3J's . New Zealand 3'a ' .w Tasmania 3J'a M „ Westralia 3J'3 Mar. 01. . 1192 .. 106 . . 99* 113~ ;"-j 107 . 108 . 96J :•-, 112J .. 107J .. 116 i . . 108 i ** 962 i- • 107J .^ 1051 Ap. 7. 119 106 • 99J 113J 107 108 951 112J 107 i 114 108 i 100J 107 i 104