AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The Programme Committee of the Otago A. and P. Society met on Thursday evening for the purpose of completing the schedule of prizes and competitions for the forthcoming summer show. The general regulations were revised, and the various classes and sections for 'competition were carefully considered. A number" of extra classes have been, added, particulars of which will be found in the society's schedule, which will be issued in a few days. The society's nineteenth annual horse parade will be held at Tahuna Park on Thursday, 27th inst., entries for which will close on Saturday next. A good number of entries have already been received.

Some years ago a number of Hawke's Bay ncople proceeded to California lured there by the glowing reports of the vast possibilities, of the fruit-growino; industry in that part of the world. ITor a time after their arrival there the prospects were favourable, indicative of the realisation of the most sanguine expectations. Latterly, however, matters have taken a decided turn for the worse, and a letter received the other day from. Mr Andrews. (say 3 the Napier Telegraph) give^i a very gloomy picture of the outlook. Writing from Rosevale, Bakersfield, Mr Andrews says that the fruit crop has failed for three successive seasons, and the se+tlers dependent on this industry are in a bad way.

In his charge to the Nelson Grand Jury at the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice incidentally referred to the question of a means of avoiding the theft of fheep and cattle. His Honor said that it had occurred to him that if every pmehasor and seller of sheep and cattle was required by law to forward p list of the number, together with the brands, earmarks, etc., to n central registry office, it would, prove a li+tlo deterrent to theft, and would thus be highly beneficial to the settlers. The Legislature, however, had not yet seen fit to adopt such a system, and it was probably owing to the lack of it that sheep and cattle were sometimes missed, and not accounted for.

The Wvndham Farmer hears that the ohe«se outputs of Olara, Tokonui, and Toi Toi Dairy Factories have been disposed of for the current season, the prices being in advance of nny previously received by those factories. Cheese prospects are particularly promising.

According to tho Waiknka correspondent of the Matauvn Ijiisign. rabbits are no longer a MBit in that di^U-iot. Men employed in catchIip bunny aio making up to £4 and £5 per wpek.

The North Otago Times understands that \ heat freights by steamer aVc now 25s a ton, s>v»d a large quantity of cargo is offering — 1 irp,or, indeed, than room can be found for ia tho meantime. It will be some months, h y-icvoi 1 . before frozen meat pircrnet; are available, and following steamer- in.r, he able to t"1 c wheat, although the v'» 1 uip will taL-p jiiii, place. Tho scarcity oi ! i,->opt lias 2,' hen the opportunity for sli ; i2pm;; away ur-tin.

Only for that all the gnin would have remained in the colony.

At a recant meeting of the Squatting Investment Company at Melbourne the chairman made referenca to the drought in Queensland, saying thnt £10,000 had been sjient on maize and oats to keep the company's ewes alive.

The act providing for advances to settlers is stated to be working satisfactorily, in New South Wales. About £200,000 has been granted to date. The administrators of the act consider that the moneys are being returned in v satisfactory manner.

A large number oi j-oung lambs are being killed in the vicinity of Bunnythorpe and Stony Creek districts by wcifel".

There ha* been an unusually large mortality among the young lambo already in the Geraldine district, one farmer alone losing 200 in one night. . H its difficult to assign a cause for it, as the weather, until the last day or two, ha« not been severe. Thero has been a lull 'of Jate in spring threshing, owing to farmers being busy seed-5-owing, and a'no partly to the fret that ruling prices for wheat are low. A strike of mill hands in the district took place this week. One farmer who was about to have his stacks threshed declined to pay tho men the same rate of wages he had paid other mill hands foj^ the &ame class of w r ork several months ago. — Bruce Herald. ?

The attention of our readers is directed to an advertisement elsewhere in this issue with reference to a Thursday edition of the Witness, specially designed to meet those of our readers who are interested in the Burnside market reports and the report of the Land Beard. The Witness is now published permanently on Wednesday, but those who would prefer the Thursday edition, containing' the markets, will have it forwarded to them on intimation being r received to that effect- . ■ That extra quality- frozen mutton will command a good price in -the Home market appears to be shown by the following extract trom Messrs -Thomas iJorthwick and Sons' report, dated London; d^ily 27: — We had some very prime carcases of Southland mutton consigned to us by Mr John Deans, of Christchurch, on the WhaVafane," frozen at the Balfast works. The quality was particularly good ; parts were ratiier heavy and too ripe, otherwise they were about the nicest lot we ever put through our hands — bright and welldressed, with the name of his farm stamped on the leg— *-and though they missed the high prices thiough delay in discharging, the brand being well known they were a ready sale at 6d per 1b for the lighter weights and 5d to s^d for the others — a record 2 51 *iei ce > taking weights into account, and shows what buyers can give for a really good article.

The Southland Times says there seems to bs absolutely no market for oats excepting in South Africa and China at the prices at present ruling, although B New South Wales seems willing to purchase our oats if values go lower. It is estimated that in Dunedin there are something like 200,000 sacks stored on farmers' account, and probably another 300,000 throughout Southland. In addition to these figures there is a large quantity now being thrashed up country, and it must be taken into consideration that the Victorian new crop will be on the market early in December. It will therefore require a good many large China orders to work off the surplus stock here. Indications at present point in the direction of lower values within the next week or two. Sales are at present made at equal to Is 6gd to Is 7£d, sacks sd, on trucks, at country stations.

Island Cliff notes, from the correspondent of the' North Otkgo Times: — It is some time^ago since_the cieamery at Island Cliff was mooted, and I thought it had disappeared from the minds of those who had the lead oi affairs, but lam glad to say that is not sq. I hear by report that the promoters had approached the Government to get an extra train per v/oek, say Monday, and there is some hope, if promises are any good, that the building and plant will be smarted right away. — owingto so much hard fiost during the winter the farmers are not so forward with their crops as they would like to be. They are busy at work. However, it is not too late for oats. They have put in a good deal of wheat. The stock in this district are in good condition, especially the sheep. I had a \poh around the Tokarahi estate the other day, and I see the farmers are improving their homesteads o good deal this year. This shows that last harvest was not a break-neck altogether. Mr Dasler has put up a very fine house on his section. Mr Robertson has also put a large house of some 13 rooms upon his section, and is planting trees and a large orchard with the very best of fruit trees. This shows that settlers mean to make a permanent home for themselves and their families.

The committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association met on the Bth inst., and made arrangements with regard to the show, that will be hold next month. The Chairman reported that a contract had been let for election of buildings, and the contractor had no doubt that he. could complete them before the f-how. Mr G. 11. Rhodes presented a piize of £3 3s for tho horse mobt suitable for a mounted rifleman's charger. The Christchurch Meat Company forwarded a report from London on the competition pens of freezers at last year's show, part of tho competition being judged by the result^ of sales at Home. All tho lots but one, i\lr R. H. Rhodes's, had been disqualified, through being over tho weight limit of 601b. Tin exports of grain and produce from r.yHollon for the week ending 7th inst. included die following lines — Two hvindred and

two sao^s wheat, 1670 sacks and 4230 bags flour, 4084 sacks oats, 75 sacks meal, 931 sacks baJcy, 255 sacks malt, 590 sacks bran, 188 sacks sharps, 100 sacks pollard, 1220 sacks chaff, 654 sacks peas, 272£ sacks beans, 3333 sacks seed, 12,573 sacks and 50 cases potatoes, 67 sacks, SO" bags and 234 gunnies onions^ 23 sa?ks caivots, and 118 bales hay. The country up the Waitaki Valley looks as well for this time of the year as it has tor a good many years. The prolonged spell of fine weather, very mild for this time of the year, has been much in favour of the lambing, which is now pretty general on the farms, and a high percentage must have been obtained in some of the flo'eks feeding on the hillsides near the railway line. The grass is in good condition, and the young grass is springing nicely. The crops alongside -of the railway line look particularly forward and promising. — North Otago Times. Rabbits in Victoria are being turned to very good account indeed. In the 12 months between duly 1, 1899, and June 30, 1900, that colony exported rabbits to the value of no loss a sum than £224,812. What was once a pest, now turns* out to be a valuable source o± re-

The annual meeting of the Otora Dairy Factory Company was held on the Bth in&t.* 'Mr Robert Biair (chairman of directors) prefided. The secietary read the report and balance sheet. The balance sheet showed that the amount last year due the bank and liabilities carried foiward came to £1017 17a Bd. This has now been reduced to £913 12s Bd, which is the full indebtedness at the present time. The payments for the year have been £2978 Is 4d, to which has to be added £62 2s 4d, written off for depreciation, making the total £3040 3s Bd. The prodiiee -sales amounted, to £3ui37 6s 6d, .leaving (vvith stock in hand of £11 10s 9d) a credit' balance for the year of £57 8s Id/ which, -deducted from the previous debtor "balance, .shows the profit and lo^s account now at £786 14s'5d. The Chairmvn, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said they were now paying, on the butter-fat principle, as against 'that -of per gallon, an alteration which had given general satisfaction. * Good success had been-theirs-in the past seasoli, and £1000 more money had been paid to suppliers than during the previous season. This year promised even better results 1 , as cheese was selling at higher .prices than formerly. Mr Taylor, their manager, had resigned, and Mr A. Robbie (late of Toi-Toi factory) had been engaged as manager for the incoming season. Mr Robbie had proved himself a capable cheesemaker, and everybody was well pleased with his appointment. In answer to a question as to what price had been paid for butterfat, the Chairman said that shareholders under ' original bond received 9d, and- non-share-holders and shareholders not in when debt was incurred 9Jd. A long and rambling discussion ensued as to why the factory was closed so early last season,, one shareholder stating that he had incurred a loss of about £25, and another £30, owing to being obliged to dry off their cows and turn them out. A suggestion that the matter be drop-ped was adopted, and the report and balance sheet ■ were passed. Several speakers were of opinion that the prospects of the factory were bright, and thought there would be no .difficulty in ppying off £200 at the end of next season. The dote of the next annual meeting was fixed for the second Saturday in September, 1901. — At a meeting of directors, ■ held immediately pfterv/ards, Mr Robert Blair ' was re-elected chairman of directors for the I enf-uing year. I The clover from a paddock of 14 acre* be- , longing to Mr BrookJand, at Lower Pareora, was thieshed recently, and yielded 30 sacks 'of clover seed. As the price of clover seecj is between £5 and £6 per pack this yield muit ,be considered most satisfactory. — Timaru Herald. / The monthly meeting of the Tokoma'iriro Farmers" Club took place on the 6th inst. ; Mi J. Tough (president) in the chair. Charles Lorimer, solicitor, Colac, Victoria, wrote stating that there had recently been some question _jn Victoria as to the relative performance? in New Zealand of the New Zealand Clydesdale mares, Flower of Balmoral , formerly the properly of Mr Jas. Patrick, and Queen, formerly the property of Mr Jas. Blackie. The owners of the former had requested him to communicate with the local and other societies for a list of the show performances of the two mares in New Zealand. The secretary was instructed to supply the information asked for. It was decided that the Walking Show be held on Tuesday, Oct ober 2. Arrangements in connection with the forthcoming stock show, the date of which I was fixed for Tuesday, November 6, were then ' piocceded with. Canvassers and stewards were appointed. By 12 votes to 8 lady j judges were chosen to decide in the dairy proi ducc classes. A committee was appointed [ to draw up rules for the club. i Presentations are the order of the day. One of the latest took place at Wyndham last week, when Mrs Crombie (familiarly known as "Granny"), widow of one of the oldest settlers in tho district, was presented with a purse of sovereigns and a handsome travelling rug. Mr ! Milne, on behalf of Mrs Crombie, returned , thanks. The old lady, who is proceeding north to reside with her daughter, is highly esteemed in Wyndham, and her many acts | of kindness, especially in cases of trouble and sickness, will be held in grateful remembrance. Songs were rendered by a number of those present, and a dance wound up a very pleasant evening.. Every year, without exception, "fly" attacks on the young turnip plants arc more or less general, causing repeated re-seedings

from which, moderately good crops are seldom obtained. In May and June of this year the_ British crops were devastated, andconsequently curative or preventive devices were much discussed. Such of these as proved efficient, cheap, and at the some time easy of application aire brought under the notice i of farmers in the article which appears eJse"whera, and as in a few wee'es' time a nuin-' moncemeni will L-e made of turnip-sowing m the early district^ special attention is averted to the subject. 1 yiv Andrew Noble, of Cluny, "Wyndham, made a satisfactory sale of bheep a few days ago. when he disposed of 750 ewes, 4- to BtooLh, to a Gore buyer at 19s apiece. A largo number of friends and neighbours met at Mimihau on tho Bth inst. to bki farewell to Mr and Mrs John Johnston, who are lenving the diol.net, after a lGoidence of nearly • 20 years, for their new home at Al.ila.iira Island. Mr A. Bsange, who was voted to the chair, as tho mouthpiece of the settlers, presented Mr Johnston -with a silver dhert (vain and pendant, and Mrs Johnston with a marble clock and silver, saher, and wished them every hoppiness. Mr Johnston feelingly returned I thank-. During the evening several vocal and instrumental items were given, alter which a dance was indulged in. On Monday, tlie 3rd in»t., the many friends of Mi- and Mrs W. T. Murray and Mr and Mia P. B. W. R. Dunn met in the Wallaceto.vn Rail to bid them good-bye. There was a leprepeutalive gathering of settlers, and the milk suppliers and employees of the Underwood Milk Condensing Works. The Rev. Wm. White was called upon to preside. During the evening an illuminated address was presented to Mr Murray, and a tea and "coffee service to Mrs Murray. In making the presentations Mr White referied to the beaefit • the' district had derived from TMr Murray's' - having resuscitated the condensing of milk iii • i "the disU'lct, thereby" affording employment to many who otherwise must have sought "fresh fields and pastures new." Several speakers referred toiho happy relations that had existed b'eiween Mx Murray and the employe.es ingeneral'. Mr-Murray, in reply/ thanked them ■ for ' great kindness „in presenting . Mrs Murray and himself' with 'such "valuable ijifts. " Referring to the works at Underwood* his withdrawal would in no way, he said, interfere with the success. This would go on as before, under the new management. In saying good-bye he wished to express his best wishes to all with whom he had been brought in contact in the past. Mr and Mrs B. W. R. . Dunn were also made recipients of presents, as tokens of the respect and esteem in which they are held in the district, and by the many who are engaged at the works. Mr Murray and Mr Dunn have severed their connection with Underwood and with the company of W.T. Murray and Co., to establish works on their own account in Queensland, on the Darling Downs, near to Toowoomba. The situation is believed to be very fcuitable for manufacturing the article, and their many friends wish them all suOoss . ; To give New Zealand merchants and producers some idea of the extent of business doing between Melbourne and South Africa, we append the following list of steamers loading and to load produce at Melbourne, according to the Sydney Daily Commercial "News of August 28 : —Windsor 2892 tons, Ras Rowa 2840, Mortlake 2645, Aldershot 2177, Blackheath 2632, Chiswick 2123, - Greenwich 2938, Romford 3095, Woolwich 3258, Bloemfontein 2745. These are all tramp steamers, and outside of the companies maini tainins; regular service, such as the Aberdeen line, Lunds, White Star, and the Gulf line. The quantity of produce required for these 'si earners will probably have an effect on the prices in New Zealand. So conservative is the British farmer that it i^ necessary at this time of day for a SomerI set farmer to appeal to his fellow? throughout the country to give the leaper and binder a trial on the ground that it has been over 25 years on probation ! Messrs G. B. Starkev and F. Courage have each given a prize of £5 5^ for competition in the heavy-weight hunter classes at the Canterbury A. and P. Association's November show. The well-known draught stallion Rin£>ma«tor, the property of Mr W. Waddell, of Roughcraig, has been purchased by the "Waiau Stud Association. Messrs. Scobie and King, of the Waiau Association, were delegated to select a suitable stallion, and, being interviewed by Messrs Henderson and Batp,er, \ isiteel Roughcraig, the homestead of Mr Waddell, and splected Ringmaster. The Waiau Association is to be congratulated on the ac- ' quisition of such a fine horse in their district. — Southern Standard. Waikika iottings, in Mataura Ensign: — The poisoned grain sent out by the South land County Council haL, I am informed, not done much damage to the small birds. It is , asserted that tho birds shell the grain, and I seem to get fat on it ! The enormous numbers or small birds about this season has in1 duced a number of farmers to go in for drills and cultivators to avoid feeding the pests. The eggs and heads are seemingly the surest means of getting "rid of the little chaps, and, also, it gives employment at odd times to a , large number of small boys, whos« time, ' otherwise, would more than likely be wasted. j — Lambs are frisking about, and farmers are busy looking after their sheep. Ewes at 22s are now grown to a big importance to the | poor man, and every one he lets die through.

i I If you wish to grow vegetables successfullyand with comfort, buy a "Planet Jr" wheel hoe. Full particulars from NIMKO AKD. Blair., Duncdiu.

his own neglect touches him in the pocket. Ewes in former times were left to look pretty much after themselves, but now one may see owners among their flocks early and late. A good percentage of lambs this season will mean something to the man who has a few hundred good ewes. The big rise in sheep does not seem warranted by the outlook at Home, but those "in the know" out here predict a scarcity for the next few years. — Farmers are Iru&y sowing now, and there will be few holidays, if the present fine weather .continues, till the seed is in. The ground is in splendid heart, and fine for sowing. Mr Richard Bath, of Mayfield, Gummies Bush, -writes to the Southland Times, attributing the small bird nuisance in chief measure to the neglect of all local authorities in reBpect of Ihe-roads under their charge. He says the birds breed mostly in the towns, and the streets and roads, owing to animal droppings being allowed to lie there, are their feeding grounds in the breeding season. He thinks tho=o in control of roads should be forced to abate the bird pest thereon.

The Oxford correspondent of the Cliristchureh Press writes that matters agricultural and pastoral are looking decidedly promising in that district. The lambing season is likely tbvbe a good or>fe. Bush produce is in excessive demand at good prices ,but the profits are not great, as a lot of labour is required in dragging it lo the front. Labour of oil kinds is fully employed.

The twelfth annual report and balance sheoi of the Sefton (Canterbury) Mutual Dairy Pioduce Association, which has just been issued to the shareholders, shows that the factory has made a rery satisfactory return for the year. The directors, in their report, state that the total amount of milk received was "3,017,8331b, and the quantity of butter made 124,3341b, as against 108,9461b the previous year, or an increase of 15,3881b. Tho Bum of £5396 10s 8d was received for butter, and £4073 3s Id was paid to suppliers of milk. The assets of the association were shown to he £229 12s 6d, the credit balance and cash in hand being £400. The directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 6 per cent, to the shareholders ; and it is also suggested that a .sum equal to one farthing per pound ,on the butler fat should be returned to the suppliers. The tenth annual meeting of the North Canterbury Co-operative Stores Company was held on tlufllth inst. at Eangiora. There t was a good attendance ; Mr J. Dobson, chairman of directors, presided. The report showed that the year had been a very prosperous one, there being an increase in the records of all departments of 19 per cent.,moro than last year. The profits were 25 per cent, more, and amounted to £1224 9s sd, Avhich, added to the amount brought forward last year, £56 12s lid, gave a total of £1281 2* 4d Lo be dealt with. Tho directors propo&ed

— — — — — to pay a dividend of 7 per cent, on all paicl- , up capital, and a bonus of 3a per cent, on all shareholders' purchases. The profits for 1900 , were : — Seed and grain store (earnings) £108, t in commissions and discounts £682, in auctions £131, and sales of merchandise '£3608. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, alluded briefly io the piosperity of the business and satisfactory <r position of affairs generally, and pointed out that although the price for grain had been , low, yet the price of wool at the early sales and for stock throughout the period counterj balanced the effects. During the year, 27,640 , sacks of wheat, 42,720 sacks of oats, 4915 Fi.cr.-s i of beans and peas, 1360 sacks of barley, and ' 3390 sacks of grass seed, cocksfoot and clovers, j were dealt with. The report and. balance ! sheet were adopted. — At an extraordinary meeting a motion was carried unanimously fhat the capital of the company be increased to £25,000 by the creation of 2*0,000 shares of £1. I ■ — At a meeting of directors Mr H. S. Carmichael was elected chairman. Mr R. Brookland has been unforUmiJO enough to lose 25 ewes through dogs worrying them. His is not an isolated instance, as another farmer on the southern side of the ' Pareora had 50 lambs killed in one night in i a flock of 100 ewes which were lambing. — Timaru Post. The Lyttelton Times says: — The Government has purchased 4200 acres of the Lyndon Estate, near the Waiau township, and the surveyors of the Lands department have started to cut up the property into suitable blocks. It is slated that a dairy farmer in the Wairaiapa with only 36 acres of land during last year drew cheques for £144 for milk alone. This made an average of £12 per cow, and what he made out of his pigs brought the average to £13 Is per cow. The co-operative works in the Pongaroa district, in the- North Island, are" all bein^ carried out by the settlers residing in the district. The same slate of affairs exists throughout the Forty-mile Bush. - — A pcore of young men have gone lo the United States from Argentina to study agriculture. Their Government sends them, at Xmblic expense. a They are now learning the English language, and will enter an agricultural college, and alsO^ spend some time studying and working on stock farms atid western ranches. From every point of view this is a good thing (says an exchange). Some one may say that Americans nay the taxes which support our agricultural colleges, and these foreigners have no business to take advantage of our free education. This is a. small and narrow view. This very education will be worth millions in trade to this country. When these young men go home they will want live stock, implements, and fixtures*, which can only be obtained here. We &end agents abroad to tell foreign people the value

of our pioducts. It is better yet to bring teachers here, and then send them home to tell their countrymen what we have for sale.

It is understood that the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have retired from the Implement and Machinery Association, formed a few nioiilhs ago. They found that their stock and produce interests would not allow of their being tied down by any special terms in regard to the talc of implements and machinery. Bolh at Sydney and other leading sheep rhowp held thi-j season, writes "Talpa,"' in the Sydney Mail, the Widgiewa flock have proved very successful, and at the Forbes exhibition Mr T. S. Horsfall'? pen of 20 twotooth Gwes w ere again in the van. The WidgieN.a, s-heep aie of the pure Vermont sti'fin, one! there are certain breeders in this and ihe other colonies v. ho are unconvinced of the superior merits of the American merino. Among this latter class is Mr G. H. Tiebden, of Erambie, near Molona;, a\lio was also an exhibitor at the recent Foxbes show, and thL gentleman challenged Mr Horsfall for a slake of £50 a-sidc*lo compete with his second piisc pen of 20 two-tooth cv.es next year, the conditions being that the sheep were to be shorn, grazed in the same paddock for 12 months, shorn again, and the fleeces weighed and valued in ths grease, and scoured respectively, when the owner of the most ■valuable lot will take the stake?. After this dual contest had been arranged two other competitors — viz., Mes=rcs Edols and Co., of Burrawang, and Mr N. A. Gatenby, of Jemaloiia\ ako expressed a. desire lo join in, each exhibitor slaking £50, which was agreed to. The contest, accordingly now assumes a very important character, and is looked to as a match botween the Vermonts and the principal strain of Australian and Tasmanian merinos. The four lots of sheep have be°n

pent to Borambil, where they will remain in the charge of Mr Whitehead until next show. The first shearing took place lart week, with the following leaults:— • Widgiewa ewes averaged 15 3-51b ; Jemalang, 13 3-51b ; Erambie, lo^lb; Burrawang, 12 7-101b. Mr Horsf all's sheep have, therefore, a clear lead of 21b to their credit in the initial f-tages of the contest, but the others may easily overtake this weight by next shearing should they happen to thrive better on the new pasture.

The usual monthly meeting of the committee of the North Otago A. and P. Association took place on the 11th inst. Mr J. S. Holmes was in the .chair. The secretary reported that the list of judges was nearly all filled up. The Railway department wrote stating that no further concessions could be made by the department in connection with trains and farss for the show thaa is uf-vally made. It was resolved that the hors3 parade be held on Saturday, September 29, and that, to guard against accidents, the parade be confined to the fho-v^-ring. Stewards were selected for the various elapses. Two committees were appointed — one for arranging the implements on the ground, and an award comnyttee in connection with the implements*. In 1594 17,000,000 rabbitskins were exported from the colony, and in 1900 7,744,000. If to- this is added the 5,122,000 trapped in 1800, we have about 13,000,000 labbits accounted for for that year, while in. 1594 there were 17.000,000 sklns.alone sent Home. -This is a coasideraWe decrease for 1900. — North Otago Time?. " ' ' ' " % The general committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association met in Christchurch on the 12th inst. Mr G.-Jamison (president) occupied the chair. Mr- O. P. Pemberton wrote accepting- the" terms of the office of secretary, lo which he had been appointed. Tho secretary of tlie Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association wrote asking if the committee had considered the question of the combination of implement makers to raise prices. The committee decided not to move in the matter. Accounts amounting to £295 l^-s 3d were massed, for payment. . The sum of 20gs was" voted to the late assistant secretary as a bonus in appreciation of his past services. The Luncheon Committee reported that the tenders for the privileges at the show amounted to £490, as against £300 for last year. The Chairman announced that the Governor and Lady Raniurly would be present at the show. A siib-committee was appointed to revise the rules and report to the general committee. It was resolved — "That this committee desires to bring under the notice of farmers the resolution passed at the late Agricultural Conference that owners of entire horses should be asked to produce certificates that their horses are free from hereditary unsoundness." Says the Scottish Farmer: — The tuberculin test movement has lately had a considerable set-back, or rather will have as soon as facts become more widely knov.n. Some time ago a gentleman resident in the Argentine imported five high-class pedigree shorthorn brills, for all of which he received certificates signed by English veterinary surgeons, purporting that they had been tested with tuberculin and found to be free from tuberculosis*. On arrival at the Argentine port they were examined by the Government vet.,' and two of them failed to pass the tuberculin test. The result was that he was ordered either to destroy them within a given time or return them to England. He decided to do the latter, and instructed his agent to sell them to the butcher, and at the same time to emuloy a qualified vet. to examine the carcases, and to report if they w ere really suffering from tuberculosis. This was done, and after very careful examination they were pronounced perfectly free from disease. It i would be unfair to insinuate that the Argentine vet. was an incompetent practitioner, as it is quite probable that the long sea voyage had set up .a feverish state of their systems, and that the tuberculin seized upon this and caused tho reaction. The only fair inference is that, as far as our present knowledge carries us in the use of tuberculin, it is not an absolutely reliable diagnostic under all conditions, and the real question to be decided is, What are the conditons under which it is thoroughly reliable? Everything points, to the wisdom of delaying the enforcement by law of the ii?e of. tuberculin until we are in possession of more exact knowledge.