AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 15

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

During his visit to London (says the Christchurch Press) Mr F. Waymouth. secretary to the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, arranged with Lloyd's to formulate rules for the classification of vessels engaged in carrying frozen meat. These rules have now been framed and brought into operation. They are very stringent in their requirement?, and will afford an additional safeguard for shippers The Fifeshire and the Moraysliire have already received classification certificates under the new regulations

Tho annual conference of the South Island Dairy Association will this year take place under the auspices of the Otago A. and P. Society during the "Winter Show week. Through Mr Ruddick.the dairy commissioner, arrangements have been made for a series of lectures and discussions by dairy experts. Another conference will aleo be held of the graders throughout the colony. Intimation has been received from some of the North Island dairy factories that they intend to compete, so thai the Otago and Southland factories may expect keen competition.

The Milton Borough Council is again moving in the matter of an abattoir, and on the motion of Cr M'Gill it has been resolved that it is desirable that municipal abattoirs be erected. A Bruce Herald representative, at the request , of Mr MTDaren, butcher, inspected "a four-year-old cow., apparently in good condition, which ho Lad killed, and which was found to be badly infected with tuberculosis. The carcase was unfit for human consumption, and was buried.

For some time past endeavours have been made to open up_a trade between New Zealand and South Africa, and hearing that the Christchurch Meat Company was about to make an endeavour to open up a trade with Durban, a representative of the Lyttelton Times interviewed Mr Gilbert Anderson, manager of the company. Mr Anderson said that for a long time past the company had been turning its attention to South Africa as a fresh field for New Zealand frozen meat and other produce, but bo far it had been unable to make any arrangements with the shipping companies for freights. From inquiries it found that there was a very good optning for produce at the Cape, Natal, and in the Transvaal, and for the past 18 months it has been endeavouring to get steamers to call at South East African ports. The company found no trouble whatever in getting sufficient quantities of cheese, butter, ana other produce for shipment, but the shipping companies were deaf to all appeals to allow any of their vessels to call at ports in South Africa. The Meat Company next went the length of proposing to purchase one of the ocoan liners, but satisfactory terms could not be arranged. Then it asked the shipping companies to allow some of their steamers to call at one of the South African ports on their way Home, and offered to pay full through freight for any produce sent, but the companies declined to accept the offer. At this stage negotiations to send produce via Melbourne were opened, but another hitch occurred. The company is now in treaty with the Lund line to put on a steamer to Durban, and, with another firm in Chrislchnrch, has sent Mr James George, who has had considerable experience in South Africa, to pee what arrangements can be made for distribution, and until he has submitted his report nothing definite will be done. Mr George will advise as .to the best class of meat and produce to send, and the company then intends to enter thoroughly into the trade, as it is satisfied that there is a very good outlet in South Africa for New Zealand produce. Mr Anderson also expressed the opinion that if proper freight accommodation could be arranged there oucrht to be a very good business done with the South Sea Islands, and it is more than probable that the company will also turn its attention to that quarter as a further outlet for New Zealand produce. Mr George left by the Elingamitc to join the Moravia at Melbourne.

The members of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club anncar to have taken umbrage at the alteration of the conditions for county exhibits at the Dunedin Winter Show. The Bruce Herald states that, in giving notice to rescind the resolution that the club should compete at the show. Mr Henderson laid stress on the clause which excluded manufactured exhibits of farm uroduce

The value of butter exported for the year ending March 31 was £430,414, against £429,407 in 1898. The value of cheese exported was £100,870, against £154,144; frozen beef. £101.618, against £74,406 ; mutton, £839,067, against £957,332; lamb, £494,666, against £588,437. The Hutt County Council have resolved that if the Government decide to administer (he Dairy Act it should bear the expense in connection with it.

During the present season 240,000 sheep have been driven from Hawke's Bay to Wairarapa and West Coast.

The Tuapeka Agricultural Society'? Hit-ep-dip at Tu.ipeka Fi.i v,»~ opened on "Wednesday afternoon, lSitl', «nli <• imc ceremony.

Potatoe- a p a glut on thf mprkel^t Hastings — pne 3"i a ton, nncl ll, u n avket falling.

The follov.i 'g u;i < war tli tit with at the SLM, Cotrt, Dublin, on the 12th iost:—

The Owa^ka Co-operative Society v. W. R. Cameron. — Claim £14 12s lOd, amount due in account stated to defendant by plaintiff society. — Mr W. C. MacGregor appeared for plaintiff and Mr Solomon for defendant. — The circumstances out of which the claim arose are as follows : — The plaintiffs consigned 289 cases of cheese to defendant, for sale in England through the Co-operative Company. When the defendant went to get delivery from the Railway department, he was informed that to do so he must pay an amount of freight due by the Co-operative Company to tho railway in connection with another transaction. The defendant applied to the plaintiffs for instructions and was told not to pay this claim, and he arranged with the Railway department to forgo it. On the day on which the vessel by which the cheese was to be shipped to England" sailed, he was informed by the Railway , department to gel possession of it he must pay another debt owing by the same company. Haying no time to communicate with his principals, he consulted Mr Hosking, who advised him to pay the amount under protest, which he did. The plaintiffs contended that he could not charge them with this amount. The defendant, urged that the money was paid to protect tho plaintiffs, and that he was entitled to charge them with it. — In giving judgment, his Worship said: — I think that Mr Cameron did the best he could have done in the interests of his clients in securing the shipping of the cheese, if he had under the circumstances of the case any discretion in the matter. I think, however, that he had no discretion. He had written to his clients on February 9 as to a previous olahn nrtide by the Railway department, asking for instructions on the matter, and received a telegram in reply that he was to pay on 289 cases consigned to him. Mr Cameron had explained the risk there was if the Railway department's claim was not pair! — that the cheese would not be shipped. He found the telegram in reply that the company were prepared to take that risk. If Mr Cameron had paid that claim, it was clear it would have been contrary to instructions and he could not have recovered against his principals. That claim was, however, withdrawn and subsequently "a fresh claim of a like nature was set up and paid by Mr Cameron under protest. That is, Mr Cameron paid the claim, although in his opinion it was not a valid one. He had 'been instructed by his principal in respect of a similar claim not to pay it. I think the letter of February 19 and a telegram in reply are a distinct intimation to defendant that he was to. pay the Railway department on the 289 cases, and the plaintiff company cannot be charged with* the other payment. Judgment for the plaintiffs' for the amount claimed, with costi. — Mr Solomon asked, and obtained, leave £o appeal. dairy cattle returns. (From Our Own- Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 16. From the live stock returns furnished up to 15th November last to the Agricultural department, it appears that dairymen are likely to find a difficulty in renewing their herds. Last year's return show that the number of young cattle had decreased by no less than 30,842* compared with the 1897 returns. It is said that this is accounted for through the practice in Taranaki and other dairying districts of destroying calves in order to increase the supply of milk for the factories.