AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

Owing to the warm recommendation which Sydney millers give the Manitoba wheat for its stiong milling qualities-, and with a view of testing the grain in the south-east, Mr '£. H. Williams, of the Telegraph Milk, Mount Gambier, a few weeks ago" procured some 20 or 30 bushels, and has had the giain sown in that district with a view of testing its quality. The president of the Master Bakers' Association, Sydney, pays £3 per ton more for Manitoba flour than other samules.

We are informed by the Otago Farmers' Cooperative Association, the local agents, that the Southland Implement and Engineering Company, the New Zealand agents, have received cable intimation that the Osborne Columbia reaper and binder has been awarded th.3 Grand Prize at the Paris Exposition.

The number of sheep in Australia is estimated at 110,543,000, or nearly 27 per cent. of the total number in the world.

' The fourteenth annual meeting of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company (Limited) was held on August 29. Some 30 shareholders attended, and Mr John Gray (chairman of diteeiois) presided. The annual report stated that the past season had been the most successful experienced by the company. The sum of £6778 15s Id had been paid for milk, which was fully £2000. more than had been paid in any previous season. The whole of [ the season's cheese had been sold to one firm at a price considerably better than had been got for some years past. The revenue account showed a credit balance of £403 1b lid. -From this the directors recommended that a dividend of 6 per cent, on the capital be paid. That would absorb £107 7s. and leave a balance of £295 14s lid to be carried forward. Miss Dumbleton had been engaged as manager for another season at a salary of £270, and in consequence of the very large increase in her labours owing to the* greater milk supply, the directors had given her a bonus. The chairman, in moving the adoption of .the report and balance sheet, expressed his pleasure at seeing so many present, which showed that a keen interest was being taken in the affairs of the company. This was the fifth year hs (the chairman) had presided, and he could say that this was the most successful season "they had yei experienced. They had put through more milk and paid away more money to suppliers! than in any prevous season during the history of the factory. He did, not know of any factory that had done so well. They had sold their cheese early in the year, and paid the suppliers a good round sum for their milk. The suppliers ought to be pleased, and, judging by the happy, contented-looking faces befoie him, he believed they were well satisfied. A discordant note was struck by Mr M'Gillivray, who in a lengthy speech traversed the management of the company, ' and objected strongly to the bonus granted to Miss Dumbleton. The Chairman- said the remarks of Mr M'Gillivray were uncalled for and ill-advised, and he was surprised, in view of what had been placed before them, that any shareholder could find cause for complaint. Several shareholders spoke in a similar strain, after which the motion for the adoption of the report and balance sheet was carried without dissent. It was agreed that the' directors should receive half a guinea for each meeting attended during- the past year. The Waitahuna Farmers' Club, says the Clutha Leader, is a very live body, and freely exercises its influence- to promote the best interests of the farming community throughout the ' colony. It is, we believe, the only organised body connected with the agricultural industry in the colony that has taken action to support the Premier in his efforts to permit of agricultural machinery being imported free of duty. It is a pity, adds our contemporary, that farmers elsewhere do not manifest a like vigilance in matters affecting their own interests.

The Dunstan Times says: — As an instance of the large business in rabbitskins which may be done in this district, Mr D. M'Connochie, jun., this week bought skins to the value of £250 from a party of three rabbiters.

As the date of the Northern Agricultural Show will clash with the opening of the Canterbury Industrial Exhibition, it is expected that arrangements will be made to hold the show a week earlier.

The annual horse parade of the Canterbury A. and P. Association will be held at the show grounds, Addington, on September 29. Entries will close on September 27.

The twelfth annual meeting of the Tai Tapu (Canterbury) Co-operative Dairy Company (Limited) was held on August 28. There were 73 shareholders present, and Mr Thomas Quayle presided. In submitting their annual report for the year ending July 31, 1900, the directors again congratulated shareholders on another successful year's operations. The total quantity of milk received was 801,558ga1, for which 'suppliers were paid at the rale of about 4^d per gallon. The average quantity of milk required to make lib of butter had been 23.741b, or 2.27ga1. The total quantity of butter handled during Ihe year had been 351,3Q01b a O* k hi *i 244 A o7_6lb had

been sold locally by the company's salesman ; 19,6631b had been sold to suppliers for home use; and 81.8721b had been exported. The average price obtained for the butlei had been , 10 2-3 cl, which left 9d net after providing foi working expenses. The land, buildings, and plant at the Tai Tapu Factory and the Greenpark Creamery were valued at £4557 bs 9d, and the estimated balance of assets- over liabilities was £685 18s Bd. The credit balance at the Union Bank of Australia was | £286 Is 7cl. The sum of £12,272 had been , distributed amongst the milk suppliers in cas.h, ' butter, etc.. and £631 6s 6d had been paid in wages. The refrigerating- plant had cost . £750. The Chairman referred to the keen J competition and the spirit of rivalry exist- j ing amongst the various dairy companies" in che colony. He was pleased to state that all the butter exported last year from the Tai Tapu Dairy Company had been passed as first grade. It was recommended that a dividend of 5 per cent, should be declared on subscribed capital at July 31, 1900. The Government intend to set up a select f committee to inquire into the question ot ' meat-freezing, manufacturing, and exporting,*' and the purchase of sheep and cattle ; to examine into the affairs of the companies carrying on such businesses as to their profits, and as to "whether there have been mutual understandings, agreements, or compacts as between the oompa,nies 'to the prejudice of breeders, farmers, producers, and dealers ; also as to the profits of the' &aid companies during the past three years, and how such ! profits have, been disposed of. The commit ! tee is to " consist -'of Messrs Field, Hogg, J Hornsby, Lethbridge, Lewis, Massey, T. Man- [ kenzie, M'Nab, O'Meara, and the Hon. T, j Duncan. ' . I A sign of the times is an advertisment in J the Woodville Examiner offering to exchange ! a double-furrow plough for two young cowl \ just about calving. In many districts the j dairy industry is superseding the tillage of the soil., A draught horse bred on Scadown has been the subject of litigation in the Supreme Court at Ohristchurch. Mr Small, of Ashburton.. sold the horse at Christchurch, and the purchasers, finding 1 out that the horse was "inbred," and therefore unsuitable for the stud, claimed £172 as damages for breach of war- j ranty of pedigree. The judge decided in j favour of defendant, on the ground that zh<~ horse was not bought on his pedigree. ( A settler in the country behind Tutaelcara recently applied for a lean from the Govern- j menc Advances to Settlers' Office. For a ! long; time he was kept waiting for a definite ' reply, and when the reply came it was to the ' effect that no advance could be made, owing to the almost inaccessible slate of his faction. We have this on good authority (says the Pahiatua Herald), and it strikes us as beingthe most astounding reason foi a refusal. In ! the first place, the inaccessible state of the I section is not the fault of (/he settler in qaec- i j tion. If negotiations had proved effective; i I he would have had means of access long- ago. i When the responsibility xebti with the (Jo- j yernment, why should the settlers be punished? And that is what such a course practically amounts to. At tiie amfual meeting in London of the | Colonists Land and Lean Corporation, the j j-chairmanj -chairman stated that in the last 31 years j the corporation had paid the New Zealand i Government £76,000 for land, and in interest, j rates, and taxes, £33,000. They had also { spent £60,000 in improving the land, and i put in the colony between 4000 and 5000 good settlers. And they had paid ' £95,000 in dividends, on a capital of less than £72,000. At the Waimate Court, on August 30, before Messrs Wilson (chairman), Petit, and Clark, J.P.s, John Gale was charged by Stock Inspector Emnson'with exposing a diseased cow for sale in the Studholme Junction saleyards. Defendant pleaded guilty, but said he was ignorant of the cow being diseased. " The bench being desirous of Rearing evidence in the case, Duncan Munro, stock inspector, said that he went to Sludholme Junction on August 18, being the day after the sale. The cow had been sold, but the buyer refused to take delivery on account of its condition. It had strayed from the yards, and was running on Ihe road. He had the cow killed, and made a post-mortem examination. It was suffering from tuberculosis, and anyone selling such an animal must have known something was the matter with it. Pus was issuing from the nostrils. The cow ;ould not run four or five yards without couo-hing. He spoke to the defendant, who said he was not aware the cow was disea&ed, and he had others suffering- iri the same way. Witness went and examined them, and ordered them to be killed. T-he disease was common in the district. The bench said they were alive to the benefit which the public derived from the Stock- department, and the inspector had done his duty; but considering that the defendant had not been aware of the ; animal's state, ..they would dismiss the case. ; Mr Empson ..protested against this decision, as the defendant had actually pleaded guilty, but the bench thought that their decision was proper under the circumstances. — Comment- - ing on the singular conclusion arrived at by the Waimate justices, the Ximaru Herald re- ; marks : There was a» very clear case, and we \ should have thought that the -bench could not i go astray in their decision. They did, however, go very far astray, for -in spite of the fa»t jthat defendant had pleaded guilty, they

took upon themselves to "dismiss the onse '' Such a decision may fairly be characterised, as "monstrous. We have shown that Knowledge by a defendant that stock are Misused is not necessary to secure- a conviction ; I ulthese Waimate justices based .their decision, on their belief that defendant was not aware » that his cow was diseased. For the future, when these justices have a similar case before them, they will have to dismiss the informa-"" tion unless the defendant admits that he knew the animal to be diseased within the meaning of the act, or the inspector is able to prove that defendant had such knowledge. This case is of importance. Inspeotoi Munro stated that tuberculosis amongst cattle is common in the Waiirate district, and we suppose Jhat he knew what he was talking about. As we have already said, the disease is a menace tc the public health. It is therefore incumbent- on the occupants of the Magisterial Bench to back up the efforts of tho stock in-" spectors to stamp out the disease ; and the assistance which the bench can give is by firmly administering the Stock Act and imposing leo enable penalties on conviction of onendcis.