AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

At Balclutha on Wednesday, before Mr H. A. Stratford, S.M., John Edwards was fined £9 and coasts for failing to keep down the rabbits on his property (1800 acres) at Wahvera. Robert Campbell, Glenfalioch station, was charged with a similar offence with, regard to an area of 4500 acres. He was fined £22 and cosls, having been fined £15 in January for the same thing. Mr R. Robinson. Southbridge, threshed a crop cf cats on Friday last which yielded pome 90 odd Iwshels to the acre. Mr Robinson, we are informed, has since disposed of the grain to a locpl miller at Is lOd per bu-jhcl. — Brace Herald. The Oamaru Mail states that this reason's oats are of exceptionally good quality. Several Ictd weighing over 501b to the measured bufhei, as his-h as 541b being reached. One at leapt of the Tokarahi settlers has obtained a profitable yield (fays the North. Olago Times). He had a little over 40 acres of oats in, and from this lie threshed a yield of 94 bushels to the acre. His total return .was 1072 bags. Tne Lake County correspondent of the Southland Time? writer: — As we arc now in the roiddls of harvest, 4. he weather, next to the Transsaal war, is the most discust'ad topio of the day. Sices harvesting was begun there has not been a week without two. three, or more showers; none, however, have done any serious damage to the crops. Although the (Lcason was late, cold, and dry, there are conic line, and two or three even phenomenal crops. Amongst these latter if Mr David Brodie's crop of barley at Whitechapel Flat," Arrow. The stooks stood so close that the drays had some difficulty in passing through, them. Turnips and other green fodder, as well as native grasses, are of only medium, description, while potatoes are reported to be scarce and inferior in quality. M. Lang, the superintendent veterinary surgeon of the French Government in New Caledonia, who has been commissioned by his Go", eminent to" visit New Zealand to in&pecfc and report upon stock and agriculture in this colony, has arrived in Christchurch accompanied by Mr C. J. Reakes, Government Vetei'inarv surgeon. Longbeach and other leading stockbreeding and farming establishments, freezing workt, and dairy factories will be ins-peeled by M, Lang. The Hon. Ball- Jones during his recent visit expressed surprise at the splendid agricultural land there is in the Hawea district. He was quite astonished to see &uc'.i fine crops and so fertile a country. — Cromwell Times. T>he Christchurch Press correspondent reports that nearly all the grain crops in the WViimate district have been cut, more than half stacked, and a large extent threshed from the stook. Wheats, oats, and barley in the "Waimale district are good crops, the Waihao Downs, Willow Bridge, Waimate Flat, and Hook lands being above the average in yield, and on several farms there are splendid crops. The quality is good and sound. The exports of grain and produce from Lyttelton for the week ending the lOfch inst. included the following lines: — 10,421 sacks wheat, 1233 sacks and 3678 bag 3 flour, 6012 packs oats, 10 sacki> barley, 955 sacks malt, 403 sacks chaff, 523 packs bran, 187 sacks sharps, 18 sacks pollard. 43 sacks meal, 1642 sacks grass seed, 465 sacks peas, 1027 sacks potatoes, 69 sacks and 357 gunnies onions, and 98 bales hay. The grain crops on Inchclutho on the whole promise well, although they have in many cases, 1 run overmuch to stalk. Oat-cutting has commenced on many farms, but on others it will be fully three weeks before a start is made. Root crops will yield splendidly, the wot season having proved particularly favourable to "them. — Free Press. A correspondent of the L3 r ltelton Times, who writes from O'Kain's Bay. slates that the scarcity of harvest hands this season was a. great source of trouble to growers, and that almost every farmer in the district was working with about lialf the number of men he usually employed. Consequently, says the correspondent, some of the men were rather independent, and one farmer was surprised 'to receive a demand for "'fifteen pence an hour and plura pudding every day" from two swaggers. All the space in the Fairfiolri Freezing Works is engaged up to March 23. Mr Waymouth, secretary of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Compiny, visited the works at Ashburton, and expressed his pleasure at the progress, made. It has been decided to enlarge the works at the earliest t>os=ihle opportunity, but that depends upon when the cool chambers caii bo opened. About 13,000 frozo'n sheep are being railed from Oamaru to Port Chalmers for the Perthshire. It is somewhat astonishing to iiud that in. these .so-called progressive times there still c\i"'cs some workers who harbour the old hitter feeling* against the introduction of laboursaving mar 1 ir.evy and apjjliances. A case in

point, says the Christchurch Press, occurred recently in Canterbury. Trials of a potato digger were held in the country districts, arid at one some of those who imagined they satv their means of livelihood disappearing made no secrecy of their intention to "burst yin" the machine vo that future trials could not be held. Sure enough, just prior to the next trial, during the temperory absence of ithe gentleman in charge of the machine, it was interfered with, evidently by some evilclisposed persons, and when an attempt was made to start it was found that an important spring had been broken, and the trial had to 'be postponed till the machine was repaired. There were about 70 .people present on the •occasion in question, including some 20 or 30 potato diggers, but so expeditiousQy was •the damage effected that no one detected the person or persons who did it. A reward will probably be offered for information which will lead to the detection of the offender. Those who remember the introduction of reapers and binders about 20 years ago will recall that somewhat similar proceedings were taken by agricultural labourers, who failed to see the benefits that, were to accrue from them.

During the present season the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board purchased 15,226^ dozen small birds' heads and eggs, at a cost of £127'4s sd. The amount ppent during the previous season was £121. — Lyttelton Times.

Judging by the quantity of rabbits daily sent from Clinton, bunny cannot be much on the decrease, as they come here by the trapload, and appear to be in. splendid condition. — Correspondent Clutha Free Press.

Good weather for the threshing is being experienced in the West Oxford district, and the reports from the machines more than bear out that the yield will be above the average. — Press.

In the Tapanui district harvesting is general, most of the crop being in stook. The crops are far above the average in the majority of cases.

A Waitahuna correspondent contributes the following notes to the Tuapeka Times : — The settlers in this district are now busy harvesting from early morning to dewy eve. lam glad to be able to say thai the prospects of a good harvest — that is to say, a good average crop throughout — are very encouraging. There will, I believe, be a very fair potato crop in the district this season, particularly on the •hill sides where the water has not been allowed to lodge, as it has done on the flats and level ground, with the result that a good deal of the crop in such places has rotted. In a •very fine 15-acre piddcck of oats belonging lo Mr John Scott 1 noticed a few stooks of 'Algerian oats, the seed for which Mr Scott ■brought from Bendigo, Victoria, when on a visit to thai colony a few years ago. Of course, as everybody knows, this particular kind of oat, being indigenous to Algiers, thrives best in a warm climate and is not seen in anything like its best in a moist, humid climate, such as ouis. Yet this sample sown by Mr Scott has flourished wonderfully, and is very heavily headed, theie being three grains to every pickle, which is no doubt its natural capacity of productiveness. In the drier and warmer parts of Victoria, where it is grown, Mr Scott informs me that if it gets a shower of rain at sowing time, and that is frequently about all il does get, it needs no more moisture, and will grow up vigorous .md full-eared, and it usually runs 4J, bushels io the bag. A peculiarity of this Algerian oats which should be of interest to fanners is that the birds fight shy of it. Trapping i? in full swing throughout the district, but I regret to hear that in at least one" instance the Bruce rabbit inspector ha= insisted on poison being laid over a large area of ground. This, I •think, at the present moment cannot be too strongly reprobated, and should be resented >by the combined farmers' organisations throughout the district. At all events it is ■too bad that at a season of the year when rabbits are being sent to the freezing chambers for export farmers should be compelled to poison their lands. Such action is bound to injure the industry, but as that is very clearly the object of the Rabbit department, it should be something for them tc rejoice over. I hear that one agency in the district paid out last week no less than £70 in the purchase of rabbits.

A correspondent of the Christchuich Press, writing from Oamaru, states that the season has been a magnificent one, in fact the best ever experienced in the district. A sample of oats has been seen which weighed 511b to the fcmshel as ft came from the machine, and was equal in weight to a dressed sample that was sent from Oamaru to the Melbourne Exhibition by Messrs J. and T. Meek.

The present Government have frequently received — and merited — severe criticism for covert administration in some of its departments. No such jharge can be sustained against the, Rabbit department, as it is unmistakably evident from the attitude of the Hon. J. M'Kenzie down to the veriest underetrappei in the department that the industry of rabbit trapping is to be suppressed. The pronounced success that has attended trapping has evidentlj created alarm in the 'department, and has resulted in the most strenuous efforts being tised to wipe out what was fast developing into a most important industry. — Waikato Mail.

The Feikling Star says that so anxious are they to secure the advantages offered by the dairy industry for profitable employment, that two or three families who have recently taken up holdings on estates south of Rongotea, which have been cut up into small areas, have taken up their in tents. On these sections cowsheds have been the first consideration, the erection of dwellinghouses being left for a more oonvenient seasonv

Rabbit trapping for export, says the Tapanui Courier, is now in full swing all over this district. At Pomahaka Mr R. Taggart (manager for Messr3 Tonkin and Co.) is making things hum with his three stylish waggons and gangs of rabbiters. It is pleasing to say that the rabbiters are making money, whilst the stock inspectors and their agents look gloomily on.

The most important sale of purebred Shropshire Down sheep ever held in the colonies took place on the 13th inst., says the Christchurch Press, when the Brown's farm flock was dispersed by auction at the homestead, Ashburton. This flock was built up with great care and expense by Mr G. G. Stead, and, together with the farm, was sold by him and his co-par tnei in the property, the, Hon. J. T. Peacock, to a syndicate la&t year, and the latter are now realising on the estate. The foundation of the flock was laid with ewes purchased from Mr T. E. Upton, Sherwood, and rams from J. Grigg, Longbeach, and Messrs Rowley and Hamilton, of Invercargill. Two rams were afterwards imported from the flock of Mr J. Beach, The Hattons, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, and when Mr Stead visited England in 1897 he purchased at the Royal Agricultural Show at Manchester two ram lambs bred by Mr P. L. Mills, of Ruddington Hall, Nottingham. It ti ill therefore be seen that the flock had been improved by the introduction of some of the best English blood. It is to be regretted that such a large and valuable flock should have to be dispersed, but the bulk of the slieep have gone into the hands of well-known breeders to enlarge and improve their flocks. The sale may be considered to have been very successful, and it was largely due to the highly creditable mannei in which the sheep were brought out. They were in capital condition, and though little had been done in the way of classification, except as to ages, the general uniformity of type for such a large flock reflected the greatest credit upon Mr J. W. Rodgers, under whose personal supervision the flock has been built up.

Thursday, the 29th inst., should be the occasion of a large gathering in Tapanui, when the remaining portion of Brooksdale estate will be submitted to public auction at the Central Hall, hy Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Limited), in cotvjunction with Mr W. Quin. The sale of the Black Gully block, about two years ago, marked a record for the district so far as value of farming land is concerned, and the opinion generally voiced at that time, when 1300 acres of land averaged the .handsome figure of £10 Is per acre, was that when the remainder of the estate (comprising land of undisputed quality) went to the hammer there would be keen competition, as many would-be purchasers had to go unsatisfied The final opportunity, therefore, is now close at hand, and as the farming industry, taken as a. whole, has remained in a prosperous condition, there should be many competitors for a selection on the far-famed Crookrton Flat — a locality free from flood, and yet watered from the Blue Mountains by streams that have never been known to fail in the hottest summer seasons. — Tapanui Courier.

In their annual report on the seed crop of Great Britain for the past season, Messrs Goldsmith "Bros., of Bury St. Edmunds, do not give a particularly encouraging; account of the yields of the various crops during the year. Of red clover and cow grass the yield was, they estimate, about an average, but the quantity of white clover seed available is expected In be decidedly shorter than for several years pa*t. The trefoil crop is also spoken of as a very small one, and one of the results of this is that prices' have already advanced considerably, with c'"cry likelihood of a still fur- ' ther increase as the season progresses. The Italian rye grass crop is said to be far under the average, but it is satisfactory to learn that the seed wa=s, an a rule, harvested in good , condition. Prices for rye grass opened at , very little over last year, but have advanced , considerably of late. Messrs Goldsmith add : "We fee! confident that prices will advance still higher when the spring demand corned '• on, as we know of a good many who have not bought any up to the present, and besides this our English seed is still below Irish and French i in price." Messrs Hurst and Sons, of Lon- ' don, write in much the same strain. They | say : "From careful inquiries and informa- ! tjon received, we have come to the conclusion that an appreciable shortage in new seed of almost every article will be a special feature of the coming season. From all Continental districts we hear thin, and as? a proof we have already been selling a considerable quantity of our English red clover to the foreign dealers." I

Among the best prices realised for farm slock in the United Kingdom during the past year mention may be made of thj 950gs obtained bj>- Mr Alexander Henderson tor the champion prize mare Aurea; the 360gs obtained for a shorthorn bred by Mr Duckling, and the 220a;s obtained for a Lincoln ram. The best price paid for a boar during the year war> 120gs, which was paid for a Berkshire at the dispersal of Mr E. Hayter's herd. In this connection special mention deserves to be made of the remarkable price realised in the south of America for the Irish-bred shorthorn bull Farrier. This animal was sold after exportation to the Argentine at the exceptional figure of over £1200.

Phosphoric acid, as is well known, is one of those essential plant food constituents which exist in the soil in somowbat limited quantity, and which, therefore, require to be conserved with as great care as possible. Ow- , ing to the important part played by phos- j phoric acid in the feeding of plants it has been termed the weakest link 'n the chain of soil

fertility. Phosphoric acid enters largely into the composition of milk, and it is for this, reason that the continuous grazing of pastures by dairy cows lends so much to reduce their grass-producing capacities. In some investigations conducted a few years ago in England by Dr Aikman, it was found that the milk ot an average cow withdraws from the soil from 101b to 121b of phosphoric acid in a year.

The average prices of British corn per quarter for the week ending January 6 were as follovs: Wheat 25s 9d, barley 25s 7d, oats 16s 2d. For the corresponding week last year the prices were : Wheat 275, barley 28s 3d, oats 17s. The London Flour Millers' Association's official prices of flour per sack of 2801b for the week ending January 8 were : London whites 265, town households 235.

At the recent representative meeting of settlers at Waittihuna, to protest against the manner in which the Rabbit Act is beingadministered, it was decided that copies of the resolutions parsed on that occasion should be forwarded to the member for Bruce (Mr James Allen) and also to the Minister for Lands. The following letter has bean received from Mr A.llen, and from its tenor it will be seen he is in entire accord with the object of the meeting: — "In reply, I have to say that all my sympathy is^ with those who are experiencing the unjuctf working of the act, and that I will do my best to get their grievances righted. Unfortunately a bill dealing with the question, brought forward by Mr Hogg, M.H.R., last year, did not get very far, and the difficulty is to remove the objections held by the Minister and hir« department to trapping, and to any inteiference with the power of the inspector. It rests with the people who feel the -injustice net only to press their members but the Minister also to put things on a better footing. Immediately on receiving the resolutions I wrote to the Minister for Lands as follows :

" Resolutions passed at Waitahuna on the 4-th have been forwarded to me. They deal with what is considered unjust and harsh action in forcing on poisoning of rabbits at a time when trapping would be as effective, or more &o ; destroying or tending to destroy an industry which lias found work for many. I have, therefore, to ask your earnest consideration of this important question, and to impress on you the necessity foi' meeting the wishes of so many farm era and others in this part of the South Island. The resolutions have been forwarded to you, I believe, and I have not therefore sent a copy, but should you not have received them, kindly advise me at once.' To this letter 1 have not yet received an answer, but so soon as I do you shall be advised."

In the Hillend district the grain crops promise exceedingly well. Cutting will be finished in a week or so. Messrs Allan and Butlin's oats are expected to yield 60 bushels to the acre, and some of Mr A. Cunningham's fully 70 bushels. The average yield for the whole district will be a good one. — Clutha Free Press.

The annual ram and ewe fair under the auspices of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association tcoki place at the show grounds yesterday, says the Lyttelton Times of the 16th inst., when there was a very good attendance. The entry was only about half what came forward at last year's fixture, the principal falling off bsin§, in English Leicestera. The sheep were mostly in excellent condition. The ,^ale began shortly after 10.30 a.m., and Mr A. A. M. Mackeller acted as timekeeper. Each salesman was allowed two minutes for any one lot, and the sale was over before 6 p.m. At the commencement of the sale it was announced that a good many of the English Leicester,? had been sold privately, buyers being very anxious to secure representatives of that breed. The flock rams were offered first. There was only a fair demand for Border Leicesters. at prices which could not have been satisfactory to 'the vendor,'. Competition was decidedly weak for Lincolns, and only very low prices were obtained for those sold, while a good many were passed. There was no demand for Romuey Marsh, only a ringle animal changing hands. Soulhdowns met a fair sale at satisfactory prices. Quite a different complexion was put on the sale when the Leicesters wei'e ofiei*ed, and competition was very keen : most of the lines of good rams changed hands at prices fully 100 per cent, in advance of those ruing at last ram fair. Shropshire Downs also mot a good demand, but Covriedales, which are as vet but little known, and all of which were the property of one owner, were not much sought after. The few Shropshire Down ewes which stood alone in the ewe class sold fairly well. In the stud sheep the only line of Border Leicester rams met with keen competition, but ?11 the Rom-i-ey Marsh were parsed. The bulk of the Lincolns sold about on a par with the prices ruling in the flock rains" for the same breed, but a, few lines of guaranteed pure il rains were in demand, and Mr F. Sutton, of Thornburv. sold two at 30g<i eacli to the Assets Realisation Board, one of which will co to the "North Island, while the other ,will remain here. As was the ease in the flock ram«, thp slud English Leicepters commanded considerable attention, the pheep of well-known breeders fetching' high prices. At the Lumsden Magistrate's Court last week, before Maior Keddell. W. S. Mitchell was charged by Inspector Gilmour with failing to destroy rabbits on Five Rivers and Lynwood estate?. After evidence had been taken, he was fined £10 for each estate, and 7s costs in each case.

On a recent visit to the Winton Meat Preserving Works, we were shown over the premiaeß by the manager, Mr W. A. Thompson.

The scene within the building was a busy one, quite a, large number of hands being engaged in sorting and boxing bunnies. The morning's take numbered 1000. This number represents the purely local catch, as the various depots along the railway lino consign direct to the Bluff.— Record.

" Farmer" gives vent to the following complaint in the Southern Standard: — It has been remarked a thousand times that lawmakers too often have a mysterious connection with law-breakers ; and a painful instance of the truth of the remark is apparent just now on the Government coal reserve beiween Otakarama and Pukerau, on which may be seen a 50 or 100-acre patch of land of first quality completely choked and smothered with the golden-headed stinking ringwort in all its floral glory. This noxious weed is a comparatively new arrival in these parts, and is one that we could have well spared. It is an abominable plant, fit for nothing in the way of food for either man or beast, and when left alone it greedily usurps the place of all other vegetation. It has an odious smell into the bargain. The Noxious Weed Act should be put in force, and the first to feel its weight should be the Crown Land» Board ; the next should be those apathetic gentry in small townships who calmly allow this gaudy, useless plant to flourish at ' their very doors, to become a nuisance and a ' cot to all farmers 10 miles round". A simul- ' laneous effort can alone relieve the world of this new cur»e. I

Writing on the 13th inst., the Ranfurly , correspondent of the Mount Ida Chronicle reports: — We have had splendid harvest v/ea- ' ther for the last fortnight, the harvest now I being general, although late, but just as I' write we are having a good heavy shower, ! which will stop leading-in to-morrow ; but I it will freshen up the grass again, which I must pay is very good for this time of year. Bunny seems to be getting a merry time judging by the amount of trapped 'rabbits going by train doily. The competition between the different agents has risen the price to 6£d per pair — a great difference surely ! from poisoning, polluting both water and air ' with decaying carcase 5 . The appeal against the decision of Major Keddell. S.M., in the Waimale case of Simp- , son v. Grant, heard in September last, has J been abandoned. The case was one in which | W. Simpson sued W. Grant for damages aris- j ing through the defendant having, from April i 15 to 30. depastured sheep which he bought at the Waikakahi sale on the plaintiff's sec- | tion on the Waikakahi estate. The defence ', was that Mr M'Lean, who had ]icen«e from ! the Government to depasture his sheep on the

estate up to April 22, had given him permission to graze the sheep he had bought at the sale on Simpson's section. The magis- ' trate found for the plaintiff, and the defen- ' dant gave notice of appeal. — Oamaru Mail. '

The dry weather of late, "says the Timaru Herald, has enabled farmers to push on har- ' vest operations. Cutting and stacking are j almost concluded, and at the present rate of going there will be very litMe groin un- ] threshed in the district by The end of the ' month, as the majority of the farmers are threshing at once. The harvest of clover, of , which there is a very Inrge amount in the district this year, is now proceeding. Seve- ' ral paddocks of clover arc to be seen in the stook and stack, with everj appearance of i yielding well. The grass and turnips would i do with a good soaking; of rain, as owing lo ( the dry weather they have suffered to pome ' extent. j

The Lyttelton Times of the 16th inf.t. says : f M. Lang, the French Government Commissioner to Australasia, yesterday morning , visited Sunnyside Asylum, and inspected the , splendid herd of AjTshire cattle which Dr , Levm°?e has collected and bred there. The \ Canterbury show grounds were then vibited ; by M. Lang, and the Bne collection of pheep ' of the various acclimatised breeds was closely ' examined, special attention being aiven to i the Corriedales, or half-bred breed, with J which M. Lang, of course, had no previous acquaintance. Some inquiries in to*vn into \ the frozpn meat trade followed, and by the ! express M. Lang left for the south, where j he will visit some of the larere farms, inspect ' some of the gold mines, dredging and other- ! wise, and see some of the scenery. |

Owing to the continued dry weather, complaints are becoming very common as to the damage likely to accrue to the turnip crop in the Mount Benger district, a^ large ratches in different parts are turning quite yellow. — Mail. I

In commenting upon a review of the Canadian export trade in cheese and butter for the year 1899. the Gazette of Montreal drnws attention to the large increase in the profits made compared with the previono 12 months' | trade. It is pointed out that the average price on both cheese and butter amounted to over Idol per package higher for the season. | The expansion in the export trade in butter ( was even more remarkable than in the pre- j vious year, the increase in nuantity being over 5 per cent., while the increased returns to the producer are also over 5 per cent. more. Satisfaction is expressed that the advance in ( prices was not checked by the increased out- j put. The hope is entertained that still larger quantities may be exported during the next season.

The Provincial Government crop report for 1899," recently issued, shows that Nova Scotia, in common with the othei parts of Canada, has experienced an excellent season. Both grain and root crops were, with but unimportant exceptions, well above the average. Hay was also a good crop and was saved in fine condition. Fruit, especially apples, far exceeded anticipations, both as to quantity

md quality, and the satisfactory price? realised on the local market and for export mean much to the groweis. The season throughout was favourable to the production of milk. Dairying on the factory system has made further strides. t!:e prices of butter and cheese being well maintained.

"A typical English noble, of high descent, of stainless reputation, a great landlord, an ardent sportsman." Such is the description given of the late Didce of Westminster by a writer in a loading paper. No wonder that the sentence then ends by describing him as a "simple country gentleman." He had all the attributes needful to make a deservedly popular country squire, and tho^e \\ho knew him beat will miss him most. With all hi 3 enormous wealth, he was the man of business, as well as a generous benefactor and thoughtful landlord. A story is told of him that goes to prove this. A farmer who wanted some help from the Duke towards the cost of draining his farm lands was told that the matter would receive consideration. Before 7 o'clock the following morning the farmer was surprised to find the Duke on the farm explaining how the land miffht, in a great measure, be drained without- artificial aid. "When the natural draining has been done," he remarked to the tenant, "I will -see what more is needed." It was possibly this practical knowledge of the farmers' needs, and his readiness to further their interests, that made him so popular, not onl.t among his own tenants, but in those rural districts in which his patronage was often sought (for some good object), and oftener than not obtained.

The results of the Argentine agricultural census of 1895 have only lately been published. 'They give : Cattle, 21,701,526 (14,192.159 native cattle); sheep, 74.379,562 (56,1C6,187 crossbred); and 4,446.859 horses. According to the reports on the census, there were in the Republic in that year 39 meatpreserving factories, of which 16 were owned by Argentine proprietors or companies, and 23 by foreigners. The number of animals dealt with in these establishments in 1894 was 695,401-, including 582,168 cattle and 113.236 horoes.

The average prices of British corn per quarter for the week eliding December 23 were as follows: — Wheat, 25s 6d ; barley, 25s lOd ; oats, 16?. The prices for the corresponding week last year were : Wheat, 26s 9d ; barley, 28s 6d ; oars, 17s. For the week ending December 30 Hie prices were as follows : —Wheat, 25s 9d : barley, 25s sd ; oats, 16s 2d. The prices for the corresponding week in 1898 were : Wheat, 25s lid ; bailey, 28s 4d; oats, 17s.

Referring to the proposal of the late Victorian Minister for Agriculture (Mr Taverner) to establish a central depot for Australian produce in London, the British Australasian, while admitting that colonial products have suffered in the past from occasional insufficiency of cold storage in London, from (in some cases) defective methods of handling after delivery by the steamships, and from speculative forcing in prices, urges that these drawbacks, which have not in any case been seriously prolonged, constitute the fortune of every young trade cleveloping~"in normal circumstances. As the commodities win their way, and the trade becomes better organised both he:-e and at its source, the conditions improve. On this side the experience of the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company forms a case in point. Mr Tavcrner himself admits that the company was some time ago aKIe to make a reduction of 15 per cent, in its charges for handling Atislralian produce by i educing the number of handlings. And it must be acknowledged that there have been disadvantages which have orighiated with the exporters themselves, and which &iill continue to hamper the trade ; such, for instance, at) the scraping together in time of drought and scarcity of quantities of inferior meat to complete regular shipment*.

It is an indisputable fact Unit our colonies, e=pecially Canada, ai'3 going to supply us with many articles of diet that have hitherto bean sent to us from Ire' and, France, Denmark, and Italy. Canada has this winter sent vast numbers of eggs, end such as compare favourably with Irish in .size and colour. The shopkeepers say they are fine in flavour. Then they run cheaper, a good bit, than those from Erin's Isle. It is said that Canadian eggs are preserved in an especial way — viz., with a glyceiine covering, which enables them to maintain their freshness and flavour. Then Canada is getting busy in her export butter trade. She is beginning to send such quantities to England that may interfere with the Irish, French, Danish, and Italian tradings with us. But what are we doing with our own dairy herds, pertinently inquires tjie Rural World, not to cheek the influx from other lands?

If the port of Sydney has not contributed to South African requirements as largely as might be wished, says the commercial editor of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, a good deal of business has been, and is still being, done, of which the general public hear but little. Purchases are being steadily made, both in the direction of locally-produced commodities and imported goods. Supplies of canned meats have become almost exhausted, and canneries are unequal to the demands being made upon them. Feed grain has been largely concentrated in the same direction,

and the enormous business done in New land oats has not only given place to a high range of values for. grains, but for manufactured foods having oats as their basis. Both directly and indirectly the war is also undoubtedly giving a stimulus to current prices.

As we (Australian Meat Trades' Journal) recently reported in these columns, the total number of Linde machines now fitted on board ship amounts to considerably over bOO. In addition to the four large machines ior the New Zealand Shipping Company, and three for Messrs Turnbull. Martin, and Co., two other orders have just been placed with the Linde Company for fitting up two further boats of the New Zealand Shipping Company, each of which will have a capacity of about 125,000 carcases of frozen mutton. Other vessels have also been fitted up for the Dominion Line, Messrs Elder. Dempster nrd Co., the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, the Thomson Line, the Furncss Line, Eai-le's Ship-building Company, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Empreza Nacionale "Line, Russell and Co., Glasgow, etc. Linde machines have also been supplied to a number of vessels belonging to the North German Lloyd's — 20 in all; and machines are now being fitted on board of two of the Ham-burg-American boats building at Stettin.

Queensland is developing her trade with Great Britain so rapidly as to closely touch Irish interests. In 1898 butter of the value of £37,500 was sent to the London market, equivalent to an increase of more than 50 per cent. In 1895 the amount was only £1400. A few years ago Queensland was importing bacon and hams; now it exports £35,000 of these commodities. It will require all the energy of Irish farmers, says a writer in an English paper, to keep their hold on the English and Scotch markets, where foreign hams are retailed as Irish. Full particulars with maps and descriptive pamphlets are now out of the Pareora No. 2 settlement. The settlement will be open for application under the lease in perpetiiily system on March 22. The estate comprises 8064 acres of first-class agricultural land, situated on the north side of the Otaio River, near St. Andrews, and is subdivided into 32 farms, ranging in area from 93 acres to 603 acres, at rentals varying from 7s 3d to 11s per acre per annum. The ballot will take place at the Land Office, Timaru, on Friday, March 30, and possession will be given on April 3, but the former owner is allowed tmtil June 1 to thresh and remove grain from fields where it may be stacked. The land on this estate is very good, the average yield of wheat and oats last year being 43 and 52 bushels per acre respectively. Good crops of turnips and rape were also taken off; the land is in good heart, and the majority of the sections are well fenred. An imjgprtanfc consideration is that the settle-

ment is well watered. Another to farmer? with families is that there are four schools, handy. Intending selectors should note specially that up to Tuesday, the 20th inst., an officer of the Survey department will be at St. Andrews railway station every day at 11 a.m. to show them over the settlement and locate boundaries.

Rumour has it, remarks an agricultural contemporary, that Ali. Armour and the "elevator owners of the United States are to enginesr another "corner" in wheat somewhat analogous to the "Leiter corner" in 1898. Without attempting to explain, or even professing to understand, all the mysterious wirepullings of "options" and "futures," we may safely say that if Mes^i" Armour and -Jo. succeed in their design, wheat will be forced down to a beggarly price during the winter months, and then when they have got their elevators and stores groaning with wheat bought in at low rates at the expense of the farmer who produces it, those cold-blooded •■pecuiit'ors will bend up prices as they like, and hold such large supplies that they will be j-.ble almost to dictate their own terms. It is to be no one-man affair this time; but, we believe, cue of the biggest combines ever organised, and the farmers are to be robbed of their just rights by a band of selfish speculators. One of the worfct features is that the. greater part of these speculative upheavals are purely fictitious. Tens of thousands of tons of wheat are ostensibly bought and sold that have no existence, and thus the farmers' produce is made sport of. The remedy is to make such transactions illegal. It is a big job, and will need a strong Government to undertake it ; but it will be necessary for farmers themselves to make their voices heard and press the matter on the attention of the Government to bring the iniquitous system, of "options" and "futures" to an end. Let the speculators "bull" and "bear" to their hearts' content, so long as they can give proof that the commodity in which they deal really exists.

By the directors of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, I see it staled in their report that (writes our London correspondent on February 2), after paying all Home and colonial expenses, also interest on debentures, etc., up to December 31, making provision for bad and doubtful debts and depreciation on plant and office furniture, the net profits amount to £12,629, which, together with £2962 from the previous year, leaves a balance of £15,791 to dispose of. From t,his an interim dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum has already been paid, and it is proposed now to pay a further dividend at the Fame rate, and a bonus of 6d per share, free of income tax, making 64 per cent, for the year, and to cany forward £4127 to next account. As the company's profits foi the year show considerable iuijjrove^ient^ and a§ bjisi-

ness has been satisfactory both in London a'ul in the colonies, the directors consider that they are iuslified in increasing the return to the shareholders. The report goes on to say that in New Zealand there is much general prosperity, while land is saleable at fair prices, and settlers on the land are increasing. These facts, together with the great advance in the •\alue of wool, and the remunerative prices obtained for other descriptions of produce, have so materially improved the position of many of the company's account? that the directors are confident that the special reserve will be sufficient to meet possible losses. The estate of Three Springs, which has stood for years in the balance sheel as property held, has now been sold to the Government of New Zealand, and will be paid for in cash at 31st March next.