STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2416, 28 June 1900, Page 6

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

~~* By Deoybb.

Weekly Stock Sales : Fortmgh tly : Invercargill, Tuesdays Burnside, "Wednesdays „ „ 7 Askburton, Tuesdays Addington.Wednesdays Clinton, Palmerston and Winton. Fcrtnightly: Waikouaiti Balclutha ridays Periodically : Gore, Tuesdays Heriot.Kelso, and X.yeOamaru Tuesdays burn. The yarding of cattle at Burnside last week was about 200, mostly of poor quality, a sort of clearing-out sale, in fact, of cattle not worth keeping over. For good beef prices were all right: £8 10s to £9 being paid for fair-sized bullocks, and some good heifers ■brought up to £8 10s. Buyers fought shy of old cows and inferior cattle, and I don't wonder, for turnip feeding is none too cheap, and turnips can be put to better advantage now than for keeping poor stock over the winter. Dairy cows are wanted, and are worth £7 to £8 if coming to profit soon.

About 1700 sheep were yarded at Burnside last week, and a few very prime wethers brought up to 21s, ordinary prime freezers 17s 6d to 18s 9d, prime ewes about the same : medium quality wethers about 16s, butchers' ewes 10s to 14s.

Export buyers, both here and in Canterbury, were not so eager to buy at high prices as formerly, and both markets show, a reduction in price of Is to Is 6d, which is^noi surprising, as prices have run very high '^lately, and seem to leave but a small margin of profit on London rates, which are, I am glad to say, higher than usual.

The trouble of disease in the Argentine has already had its effect on the London market, as I predicted. Practically the supply of live stock from Argentine is now stopped, and butchers who relied on this supply have now to go elsewhere, and must give their attention to frozen meat. From all accounts I gather

that spring and summer grass crops have been very disappointing to British farmers, and autumn is expected to be no better; so that prices will be well maintained. This season, unfortunately, our supplies are much pmaller than in past years, biit I think we may look forward to a good season next year. I hope to see the coming agricultural conference in Wellington take lip the question of distribution and proper advertising of New Zealanfid meat in a practical manner. All will admit that in the past this branch of our agricultural export has been far from satisfactory, and great reforms are needed both at this end and in the distribution and handling in Britain. The reforms needed are such as can only be brought about by unanimity and co-operation on the part of farmers here, but the difficulties are, I think, by no means insurmountable, and the names of the delegates appointed to this conference indicate thai ability to deal with the question will not be lacking, provided private interests of existing companies can be got over. This will be the difficulty. These interests are, mainly, first, the farmer or producer, and secondly, the freezing works and shipping companies. The main difficulty will now be to unite the farming and producing interests. The freezing works and the shipping companies have long been united, and are xoractically quite a happy family.

The insurance question, and the frauds perpetrated so long under the present system in making claims for damaged meat will, I hope, also be dealt with, and some better and more honest system adopted. I believe New Zealand insurance companies are willing to adopt a proper system. The difficulty lies in the fact that insurances are done through a multiplicity of brokers in London through Lloyd's. I hope to see Mr Tom Mackenzie take up this question, and throw some light upon it, and I am sure if he can tell all he knows on this subject we shall see that the system of insurance of frozen meat in the past has been most detrimental to our interests, and has left producers considerably out of pocket and helped considerably to lower the good name of New Zealand meat in London.

Some extra prime lambs brought up to 16s at Burnside, but on the whole export buyers were not active, and prices for best freezers were down about Is, both here and in Canterbury. Teg mutton will not go at long prices now, and I consider the lamb season done, and that at present none should be sent.

I am glad to see some enterprise displayed in tho importation of stock. Last week there landed from Tasmania nine splendid merino stud rams, the importers being Messrs R. Campbell and Sons, A. D. Bell, and Scobie Mackenzie. The prices paid were very high, one at least costing £500. I hear of further importations of merino sheep in prospect.

I wish our dairymen and catilebreeders would show a little more interest in the question of bringing in new blood. We want it. badlj'. For dairying we need the best shorthorns of the milking strain, and these will also prove gootl beef cattle. Could not a small company or syndicate be formed for this purpose? It would, pay investors, and confer a great benefit on the whole country. In some of our best dairying districts, such as Wyndham, to say nothing of the Taieri Plain, it would, I think, pay the milk suppliers of the factories and creameries to combine and

form a' company, to import some of the best cattle procurable." 'We cannot go on long profitably without this.

There is also another line in breeding that calls for our attention — viz., horses for the British Army. Major Robin lately wrote to the Otago A. and P. Society -that the Imperial remount authorities intended keeping an eye on New Zealand, and encouraging horse-breed-ing in this colony. From various sources I learn that the horses sent from New Zealand! were very much approved by military men. The main thing is to breed the right stampnot weedy racers, but moderate-sized, strong, active horses ; and we can do this, as the pretty considerable number of this class senfc by New Zealand to Africa has shown. For years to come we may look for a large outlet for this class of horse, as not only the British military authorities, but fII countries, will be using horses in the army to a far greater extent than hitherto.

I Within the last week there has been a little activity in the butter market by purchasers for London taking stored butters at from B^d to 9^d for best factory stored buttere. These have been now cleared out, and we may look for improved prices for some two or . three months. The Waiwera- takes 2800 boxes from. Port .Chalmers, and it is said that some 14,000 boxes have been sold to London from the North Island. This selling, to London ■ at this time of year of stored butter at such prices is unusual. It speaks well for the name of New Zealand butter, but is also, I , think, an indication that the grass crop in • Britain, and even in Europe, has been to ! some extent a failure, and this points to a ' probability that prices for our coming dairy produce season will be good. There will, at anj* rate, be no lack of buyer.'!, I am sure, as I already hear of those willing to make contacts ahead. I advise my readers to hold on. There- really is no need for hurry in^ contracting forward.