AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The shorthorn bulls Avhich Mr Gilruth is fco purchase in England will be Kept at the centres of the dairying industry (at State 1 farms Arher k e practical), and be placed at the service of limited number of cows, which are^ to be carefully selected after examination as to fitness for breeding purposes. The stallions will be kept at State farms, and services regulated by a similar restriction. Mi John Beattie, formerly of Green^ale, writing from Scotland, says that the prospects of the sheep farmers are fairly good, and that the price of lambs is 7s and gwes 10s better 1 than the previous year. Some of the sheep farmers ape doing remarkably well, but the agriculturists are having a poor time, oats being only 2s a bushel in Scotland. Labour is scarce and dear in country districts, partly owing to the war in South Africa taking so many men away.' Mr Beattie's present intention is to take a. sheep farm in North Britain. — Tapanui Courier. Foity years ago the number of sheep in the provincial district of Canterbury was 20,000. Now it is 4,000,000. In some of the rabbit-infested districts of New South Wales the runholders are offering 2s 6d per head for the destruction of the pest. The Wyndham Heralu states that Mr James Sawers, dairy instructor, has been removed to Invercargill, where his headquarters will be in future. The Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Society's late show resulted in a profit of £203. On the 21st inst. there was a sharp frost iri different parts of the Timaru district, md potatoes were again cut back. Several sections in Invercargill are overrun by the Californian thipile, which is already a pest in several parts of Southland. Late files from the old country state that foot and mouth disease among cattle is very prevalent. ' The Board of Agriculture is dealing with the disease in a very energetic manner, md hope soon to stamp it out. The disease has been very bad in the midland counties of Scotland. At an early hour on Saturday morning (says the Western Star) the -stables belonging to Mr J. "Wohlers, whose farm is 1 midway between Riverton and Thornbury, were destroyed by fire, as also were the contents, a lot o£ valuable harness, 10 tons of chaff, and numerous sundries. Mr Wohlers's loss is estimated to be not less thafi £200", the property being entirely uninsured. Mr Geo. Butler, Pleasant Point, had an unfortunate experience on the 17th inst , losing a score of sheep by sorrel poisoning, the sheep being blown up with gas, in a similar way to that seen with fresh clover. He had 50 shee\D affected, but succeeded in saving 30. The Hawke's Bay Herald learns that the proposals made to the Government for cutting up the Omarantu and Fuketapu estates for close settlement have fallen through. The Land Purchase Board, after inspecting the properties, rnftde an offer for the Puketapu estate alone, but the owners would not part with it unless the other estate were taken with it. So great was the demand foi lodging accommodation in Palmerston North at the time of the show that several applications were made to the police to be allowed to occupy the lock-up. A good number walked the streets all night. In many cases, rooms were secured — a year in advance — for next show. The committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association met on Saturday, the 17th in«t. ; Mr C. N. Orbell (vice-president) in the chair Mr G. P. Wood, as secretary to the South Canterbury Jockey Club, wrote that the club had considered the advisability of amalga mating the show and the Jockey Club'sjspring meeting in one week, and asking if fch'e committee favoured the idea that a committee be appointed to meet the Jockey Club's subcommittee on the subject. After tlie matter had been considered in all its bearings, a motion was carried that a committee be appointed to confer with the Jockey Club, to report at next mtetin^. — A summary of the balance sheet submitted by the secretary shows £219 6s was received in entry fees, £259 5s 6d _ from gates, £99 8s from private prizes, £98 10s from sale of privileges, and £19 Is od from the new grand stand. The chief item in the expenditure was £412 in prizes, the credit balance on the show being £209 13s. The Chairman congratulated the committee on the result, and said that they could spo that the expenditure on improvements had beeu justified. The receipt

of £19 for admission to the grand stand meant about 4i per cent, on the outlay. Ih replvto questions the secretary stated that the total liabilities on buildings, etc., were £890. Against these tht-re Avas £460 in hand, and" debentures to the amount of £225 were applied for. Tlie balance of the debt could bo paid by further debentures, one of the principal creditors, Mr Jackson, being willing to take debentures for his supply of timber" If they raised the full £1000 by debentures they would have £225 in hand. — Ten new members were elected. The follcAving are the shipments of grain, &nd produce from the port; of Lyttelton for the week ended Friday, 16th inst. : — For United Kingdom, 23,779 sacks Avheat, 2932 sacksoats, 439 sacks barley ; for Calcutta, 9310 sacks wheat; for Durban, 149,327 bags (801b) oats; for Australian ports, 4019 sacks potatoes, 1085 sacks oats ; coastwise, 2886 sacks potatoes, 915 sacks and 935 bags flour, 456 sacks wheat, 426 sacxcs sharps, 57 sacks barley, 151 sacks bran 20 sacks oats. Total shipments, 33,545 sacks wheat, 40f2 sacks and 149,327 bags oats, 496 sacks barley, 6905 sacks potatoes, 915 sacks and 935 bags fiour, 426 sacks sharps, 156 sacks bran. Mr J. Hopkin3on, now leading a retired life m Christchurch, has travelled extensively. After a long sojourn in Canada and the United States, he arrived in this colony some . years ago, but business matters recalled him. to the old country, whose foggy climate sent him abroad again. His next port of call | Avas Capetown, where" he entered the railway service of the Cape GoA'ernment. Passing up .and down -tlie line, he had an excellent opportunity of cultiA r ating his natural powers^ of observation for the attractions and disadvantages of a new country. v "I left South Africa two years ago," Mr Hopkinson remarked to a representative of the Lyttelton Times. "I saw the Avar coming, and, as I was too heavy for my old branch of the service, the cavalry, and as my feet were not good enough for the infantry, I thoiight I would eorae back |to NeAV Zealand." Since the outbreak of the Avas the duty on mutton has been taken off. Mr Hopkinson is confident that New Zealand can open up a profitable trade with South Africa, not only in this commodity, but also in other lines. "But you must lose no time in setting about it," he insisted. '' If you do 4 r«ct look out. the Yankees will get in before you. ■ and once they get a footing, they are hard to shift. What" could you do against them?" he continued. "'Why, Chicago alone kas 32 millionaires in the canned meat trade, and they would not mind losing a few thousand dollars to beat j'ou." If, hoAveA'er, Ngav Zealand exporters bestir themselves, Mr Hcpkinson believes that the quality of their goods will ensure them a prosperous business, even in tinned meats. "Take rabbits alone," he said." "In America a tin of rabbits costs half a dollar (2s Id) ; in South Africa Aye paid Is 6d, and in England Aye could buy them as cheap as you, can in Christchurch, so it would pay better to send them to the Cape than to London." While he was in Cape' Colony the only tinned provisions he saw hailing from ,this quarter of the world were exported from Victoria, 'and he is certain that the New Zealand article is superior to the Australian. Frozen mutton, however, offers the best field for our enterprise. "Your shippers should take the matter in hand at once," declared Mr Hopkinson. "They c?n't get on without cold storage, and they ought to fit up , a hulk in Table Bay with - freezing apparatus to receive their cargoes. They needn't think that they can wait -till they have erected stores on - shore, or they will find they are too late. You can't knock up buildings in Africa like we have run up the Exhibition here. The bricks all have to come down the. colony from. Worcester, and there's only a single line of rails, so that Avould take time. Then all the building timber has to be imported- from Norway and Sweden, and by the time you had creeled your stores you would find that the trade had been secured by ot"cer people. If the Yankees got it they would undersell you 2d or 3d a. pound, and consumers would not give- your produce a trial on account of the difference ih price, and so they Avould never knoAV its superiority. But if the trade is established at once, they would recognise the value of your goods, and Avould tie willing to pay, perhaps, a little more for it than for other importations." Correspondents of the Southland Times:— - Gore -.^Farmers are beginning to complain that the cold is retarding the growth of the crops, more Avarmth being needed to bring them along.-- -Waikaka : The area unjler grain here this year > . is quite Tip ; to forrper years' averages. I notice quite a number of crop? that promise Avell, havins; come right away after sowing. Oats are lookins much more promising than wheat ; the hish, " cold winds have kept the latter much bacV. - Many of the farmers in the - district have been greatly troubled witn the small birds" this season. Spar cows, linnets, . and "goklies" haA-e been exceptionally - obstructive The local bodies are purchasing • eggs, heads, and young birds. Sheep and . cattle are living very highly this year. The shortage of stock has leftmost farmers with more grass on their hands than they know " what to do with. I hear very few farmers are proposing to seed their ryegrass this «W they have got "such a gruelling these laflt few . years that 'most are off gaining more experience There perns to -have been a very fan* percentage, of lambs, and stocks may increase a bit if too many are not frozen. . Mr Duulop, of Pine Bush, who has just returned from a visit to the » north, relates us imnrassions to a representative of the Wyndham Farmer:— The most noticeable improvements I saw in any district , during my trip were on Tokomairiro Plain. There the cultivation is really something worthy of, being made a pattern. Draining is done ma practical manner, and attended with good results; liming follows to some purpose, and i&en manuring ; hence the live stock had a more robust, healthy appearance than any other that I came across. The Tokomairiro district also appears to be carrying more stock to the acre. There is undoubtedly a great shortage in sheep and cattle on all the farms between Dunedin and ' Christchurch— l feel sura not more than half the-carrying capacity is being used, and it is easily to be seen why beef and mutton are at a premium this season." All along the route quantities of splendid pasture were to be seen going to waste, especially in Canterbury, cattle and sheep fairly wading in the grass. The crops generally appear to be backward, with a sour and stunted look, as though they had suffered from- an over-abundant rainfall. The North Otago Times reports that the NeAv Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company held their annual show horse sale at Taltersall's Yards on the 17th inst. In* spite of the A-ery wet day, there Avas a largg attendance, buyers beting present from all

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parts of .Otago and Canterbury. Between 40 and 50 draught horses came forward for competition, and it was at once evident that good sound horses were not difficult to quit. Messrs J. and A. Dalgleish's six-year-old bay ■mare Polly topped the market at £60, falling to the bid of Mr W. M'lntyre, the new ■"Laird" of Whitstone. The next highest price was for a splendid two-year-old filly belonging to Mr Carson, of Enfield, that went to Mr G. M'lntyre, of Tokarahi, for £56. The hacks were some of the best ever offered at Tattersall's. Mr J. O'Brien's handsome bay cob, which, took many prizes at the show, ,was sold to Mr Wills, of .Kurow, for £25 IQs, and his roan cob to Mr Muir for £18. Hack*' -Bold up to £23 10s, and harness horses fca £25 10s. Mr Thomas Likens yearling filly by Xord Ranfurly (which took first prize at the show in section 10, in a class of eight) was disposed of to Mr John Boag, of Brookside, Canterbury, for lOOgs. This, we believe, is the ihighest price ever obtained for a yearling in New Zealand. Mr J. S. Anderson's three-year-old filly Jennie Deans 111 fetched 70gs. It is not easy 'to say for how many years the Birchwood clip has been the fir3t to reach town, says the Southland Times of the 20th inst., but it has secured that distinction pretty regularly for a considerable number. This year it is again first on the road, 50 bales 'being now in transit to the Bluff. Mr Gardner informs us that the wool is in beautiful condition. Contrary to his usual custom of selling in the colony — mostly, at' the Invercargill sales — Mr Gardner is this year shipping ■to London. He has adopted this course in anticipation of a rise in price in the Home markets. ," The Ellesmere correspondent of the Christ'clrureh Press of the 20th inst., writes that the eou'-wester of Saturday and Sunday has done but little damage- to the crops or stock. The tearly grain "crops are somewhat battered about, tvhile the orchards have been damaged slightly. The weather will have rathe* 1 a good effect upon the grain crops, as the rust which was prevalent will be just about de- , strcyed with, the heavy rain and low temperature. The low-lying lands are very wet. being full of water, but a few days' nor'-wester-ond a higher temperature will rapidly improve both tli6 grain" and pasture lands. There is (adds our correspondent) every prospect of very heavy crops this season all over the coun- ! try. The season promises to be similar to that rsvanderfully good harvest of 1876, when enor- ' motis jsropt were reaped after a wet bpi\ng. . Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. "held a most successful clearing sale on the 16th inst., ' on account of the administrators of the late John M'Kinna, of Otama. There was a very large and representative gathering of farmers, and the bidding throughout was spirited, no difficulty being experienced in eliciting offers for the various lots. Young horses were in keen demand, satisfactory pales being made. Sheep also sold remarkably well, as will be seen from the prices annexed. The farm, a freehold property comprising 579 acres, was offered in one lot, but failed to find a purchaser. The following are some of the prices obtained : — Sheep : 463 ewes and lambs in fair condition at 21s 2d ; 118 topping hoggets at 17s Id. The cows were a nice lot, and. sold at from £5 5s to £4- ; yearling steers, £2 -2s ; and calves, 15s, Horses : Bay mare £39, -grey gelding "(9yrs) £42, mare with foal at 'foot £39 10s, ditto £4-3, three-year-old gelding £35 10s, three-year-old filly £33, harness colt '(by Texas) £33, N hack filly £21, two-year-old filly £32 '10s, two-year-old colt £21 10s. Im"plements, etc., sold -remarkably well, -and everything offered was cleared at satisfactory "figures. , ..... The approach^ of the wool season brings jtbout the usual " activity in Home shipping matters'. ■ 'The Shaw-Savill and Albion Company announce that the first wool steamer of the season, the well-known trader s.s. Matatua, will visit Oamaru about the 15th December, to load wool for the March sales. Last season- the demand for steamer space was so- great as to render the visit of a sailing 'ship to our port unnecessary. There is, however, a desire t"o ship by sailer this year, and the company is arranging to have the ■wants of avool growers satisfied in this direction. An Al sailing ship will be on the berth early in December. — Oamaru Mail. The Wallace County (Southland), for the half-year ended , September 30, expended the sum of £31 19s 5d on the destruction of small birds. According to a statement made by Professor Liljhagen at a meeting v of the Swedish Agricultural Academy, there are now 1550 dairies established by co-operative associations and joint stock companies in Sweden. The number of co-operative dairies is 450, of -which 300 manufacture butter only, 100 manufacture cheese only, and the remaining 50 produce butter and cheese. Of the 1100 dairies run by joint stock companies, 300 are en- . gaged solely in the" production of butter. In -addition to. the foregoing establishments there ,are*about 200 estate dairies, and a large number .of smaller private dairies. A special meeting of the Timaru High "''School Board of Governors was held on the '19th inst. — Mr Howell in the chair — to con- ; eider a series of recommendations by a com*imittee for amending -the system of leasing ,/the board's reserves. The practice hitherto (has been -to let the reserves by tender for '21 years. The committee recommended that " the tender system should be discontinued ; that the rent should be fixed by the board, ■vvhidh should select a tenant from the applicants in each case ; and that the board •tould ' give an existing tenant the refusal

[ of a renewal of his lease at the rental fixed, | before calling for other applications. The | board adopted the scheme, -and remitted it to its solicitors to see that it does not conflict with the law. Lord Ranfurly is undoubtedly the moft popular Governor New Zealand has ever had. jclis unfailing courtesy and urbanity have endeared him to all classes of the community, and his visit to the Western district of Southland will, if possible, increase the high estimation in which he is held by all who have had the pleasure of meeting him. Duringhis recent tour he visited Riverton, where he received an enthusiastic reception. Accompanied by the Mayor of Jviverton (Mr Durbridge) and other gentlemen, his Excellency went for a drive in the country to have a look at the thriving settlements in the neighbourhood. On arriving at Gummies Bush the children were drawn up, and there was a large gathering of settlers. Mr John Playfair, on behalf of the residents, gave his Excellency a most hearty welcome, and mentioned that it was the first time they had had a visit from a Governor. It was a pleasure to them to see his Excellency viewing their farming laud, and he would notice, as probably he had already noticed, that the farms were not too large and not too small, but just of a nice size. He hoped his Excellency would be pleased with the loveliness of the dictrict, with its agricultural progress, and wished him a pleasant drive. The Governor thanked them for their welcome. He was extremely pleased to have had an opportunity of meeting them, and he looked forward with pleasure to the remainder of the drive, which was evidently thrdugh splendid agricultural country. He quite agreed with what had fallen from Mr Playfair that it was a mistake to make farms too small, and he was glad to hear that their farms' were of a suitable size. He was a .belisver in what was cplled close settlement, but by that class of settlement, as he read the words, v he meant 'farms by which a man could make an'lionest and good living, and not exist simply on the principle of from hand to mouth. New Zealand should not, with so much land available, be divided up too closely. Naturally, near centres they did not like to see very large farms of^everal thousands of acres, because the smaller farms meant a much larger number of inhabitants ; but the large farms ought, if properly managed, to be by no means a real drawback, because, as a rule — he could not say whether or no it applied to this district — from those large farms they got better breeds of cattle, while their owners went in for experiments in a way that smaller farmers conid not imitate. He mentioned that to show chat he was in sympathy with them as regarded farms of reasonable size, and he wished their district every prosperity and a good year. Notes from the Tapanui Courier, 21st injit. • — Owners of stud flocks are experiencing a keen demand for rams this year, and some breeders have already sold out. — A leading wool buyer roque«ts us to mention for the information of graziers that it i 3 very desirable to keep "bellies" and "pieces" separate when packing their wool, otherwise re-sorting is imposed on buyers.— During his absence from Mainholm on a trip north for the benefit of his health, Mr David Dickison lost two of his best mares, one from inflammation and the other at foaling. There is a heavy mortality amongst the good draught mades this season. — -This district is noted for the excellence of the Clydesdale stock raised, and numerous first prize-takers against all comers have been produced within the past few years. That the district is not losing ground in this respect is evidenced by the grand -colt, just 'two years olo; bred and sold by Mr Charles M 'Donald to Mr Felix O'Neil. This colt is by -Grown Prince, and is a beatitiful bay, well made, standing on legs of the right sort. He is a credit to the breeder,' and if our farmers keep on raising stock of this description there will be no fear of defeat in the city show rings. The gathering of settlers at Palmerston show enabled a representative of tha Wellington Post to get into conversation with some of their number from the most promising districts of that province upon their experiences and. their views as to the life of the small settler. One elderly farmer, who is now, and has been for some years, devoting himself to dairy farming in the Rangitikei district, said he was a draper in London before corning out to the colony. "I was a 'toff' in those days, I can asstire you," he remarked, "but you wouldn't think it of me now, would you?" The pressman, taking note of the sturdy figure, ruddy face, heavy boots, dark woollen shirt, and rough clothes, confessed that "he wouldn't have thought it." - This led the farmer to tell a- story about a nephew who came out from London to do cadet work on the farm quite recently. "He reminded me of my own jouth, for he came acrosri to the farm thoroughly up to date in style, from boots to lyit. When he informed us that hi<* luggage was 'down at the station,' and would we send for it, 'because he needed a change,' I can tell you mother and the girls and I stared. j Well, he was a 'toff' for a^while, but he very i soon found he hadn't time to clean his boot's ; then he forgot 'to shave, sometimes neglected to manicure his hands, and before six months had gone by he. had. -become as rough-looking as any onfi on the farm — but he is the best grafter I ever had. This farmer, who lives in the midst of a settled i and well-ro'aded district, has 50 cows lin milk, and runs bis own separai tor. His greatest trouble is to get suitable labour. "All the farmers round the Rangitikei," he said, "are at times stuck up for want of suitable young fellows to look after

I the cows and milk them. The lads are yearly ' getting more averse to milking, and as soon ] as they can they clear out to the city or the towns." Asked if milking machines had not , proved satisfactory, he replied that the inventions were many, but none had yet been found anything but hurtful to the cows.-Seve- l ral Manawatu farmers had erected machines' in their dairies, but had had to give them up after a trial. The human milker was still the best, and the expert was becoming scarcer e\ cry year, despite the fact that good homes and good wages were offered. At the Oiiristehureh show stock bred in the Western district was again very successful, says the Riverton Star, and it speaks well for our breeders that in the be^t show ring in the South Island they can more than hold their own. In the three-year-old filly class first and champion in the ward were taken by Mr Buckley with a splendid animal bred by Mr John M'Farlane, Drummond, and by that prince of sires, the celebrated Mpcarthur, whose stock are noted for their superior excel.lence. In two-year-olds Mr Buckley took _ir&t and second with promising animals, also bred by Mr M'Farlane, and a Christchurci Cv. ..- I temporary in eulogistically referring to the i two-year-old filly said it was the best the \ judge had seen in the colonies. , The size- ' ces>3 achieved is certainly something of which | Mr M'Farlane may well be proud, and tho- ' roughly establishes him in the front rank of successful breeders of first-class stock. We also learn that some horses sold to Mr Buckley 1 last year by the late Allen Jones, of Drumi mond, and which annexed prizes in their class at the 1899 show, were again successful this year. > A meeting of the committee of the Northern A. and P. Association was held on the 20th inst. There was an attendance of 18 mem- ' bers. - Mr J. Stevenson presided. Mr "W. F. Buckley was nominated as a representative' of the association on -the Lincoln College ' Board of Governors. On the motion of Mr ' N. Maefarlane, the prize money, amounting to £382 15s, -was passed for payment. This • concluded the business of the committee, and a general meeting was then held. There were 24- members present. The secretary read the interim balance sheet of the show. The receipts were .6565 2s lOd, and the expenditure was £541 Is 9d, leaving a credit balance of £25 Is Id. The president regretted that the balance sheet was not a~ more favourable one. He pointed out, however, that £17 had been spent on permanent improvements to the ground. Mr T. M 'Donald said tlipt he was agreeably surprised at the financial results of the show, he having expected a balance on the wrong side. He moved the adoption of the balance sheet. Seconded by Mr Leggett, and carried. A hearty vote of thanks 1 was passed to the judges for their services at the show. I The Hedgehope correspondent of tne Southland News reports: — Crops are looking well considering the cold weather we have been ' getting lately, and with a fairly good summer, farmers should get a good return for their labour. Tutu has been playing havoc with cattle in the district of late, Mr A._ Currie having lost several head by this 1 poisonous ' shrub. Other settlers complain of losing a considerable number. _ • 1 In Tasmania, stud sheep are shorn in July, 1 consequently the merinos imported from the island colony and shown at the Christchurch I A. and P. show carried 16 months' fleece. [ ', The sheep have the advantage over New Zea- ■ land shorn "animals in weight of fleece, but it is very rarely that the wool can be~ kept in its best condition with so long a growth. The absence of the rams which last year were ' throw out at Christchurch. and afterwards " won at Dunedin, was a disappointment to ! many who" had made predictions, favourably, and otherwise, upon the appeal ance they would bear this year.— Canterbury Times. j The residents of the Woodville district are anxiously waiting the decision of the Government respecting the acquisition of Cross's es- . tate under the Lands for Settlement Act. j A peculiarity in connection with the awards 1 in the merino lamb classes at the Christchurch ' A. and P. Association's show this year, is that I a ram which cost 25gs ha? been awarded the 1 champion medal in front of another which cost 500gs. j' A meeting of the provisional directors oi ! the proposed Farmers' Bacon-curing Coni- ! pany was held at Ohristchurch on the 17th ' inst. It was decided to call the company "The Canterbury Farmers' Bacon-curing and , Produce Export Company (Limited)." Other I matters were dealt with, and the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight. i ] Shearing operations in the Amuri are being constantly delayed by the broken weather. The tailing and marking confirms the estimates of a good lambing on nearly all the runs. — Press. ' ] Fraudulent packing of wool is fortunately ; of infrequent occurrence, but in a case which ' has just been tried two offenders in this re- ' 6j)ect have been convicted and 'sentenced. It is seldom that so pronounced a case as the one ! undei notice is brought to light s and it is j well that the fraud was so promptly discovered, and the perpetrators punished as a warning to others who" may have thought that such practices can be carried on with impunity. Whilst such glaring instances are j of rare occurrence, some growers are inclined 1 to' top-up their bales with fleece? brighter and ! in lighter condition than the bulk in the lower part of the bale. Others packi special bales, and request their brokers to show them as samples. Although not absolutely false packing, such practices are meant to deceive the buyer, though they very seldom do. The system of careful examination of the bulk during the three days allowed for inspection

after sale as a rule brings to light any difference that existb between the bulk and the sample bales, and no reputable 'broker will knowingly show bales which he knows are belter than tha bulk, even if asked" to do so by the grower. Considering, however, the magnitude of the trade and the great number of consignors, it must be said that the business is conducted more 'than, generally on fair and honest lines, and in a manner which will compare favourably with any other anywhere. — Sydney Co-operator. The following special lines of ' sheep, "says last Thursday's Press, were disposed 'of at-the Addington Saleyards :— A number of pens of Mr R. W. Chapman's show sheep were sold, down cross wethers making 31s, crossbreds to 30s, halfbreds to 265, and merino wethers 21s, the sheep being shorn in all cases. A line of 61 fat lambs, from Mr J. Stevenson, Flaxton, was bought for export by Mr L. C. Gardiner, at 15s lid. Forty of these took a number of first and special prizes at the Rangiora and Christchurch shows. They comprised longwools and Shropshire Down crosses. The former were by Border Leicester rams out of Starborough halfbred (Lincoln-merino) ewes. The Down crosses were out of the same kind of ewes, and they took special prizes at both shows for being the best lambs for export. — One of the finest pens of fat merino wethers ever offered at Addington was sold on behalf of the Acton Estate. They took first prize at the late. Canterbury Metropolitan Show, and were similar sheep to those that took first and second prizes at the late Dunedin Winter show. They were said to be bred at Montlose, and when shorn averaged 161b of wool." Their condition was perfect^some of "them looking almost like Southdowns, and' they, brought the record price for shorn merinos of 25k, Mr W. B. Crarkson being the buyer. In the guessing competition which took place in connection with the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show, the following were those who guessed correctly: — Wm. TurnbulT, Maheno ; James M'Arley and Leigh .Baxter, Pukeuri. The weight of the sheep was 1101b, and each guessed the weight correctly. There were £0 guesser?.. Some of the others were near the mark, but the guesses ranged from 701b to about 1201b. Notes from the Christchurch Press, 22nd inst. : — By the Delphic there arrived at Wellington yesterday a consignment of three pedigree Shropshire rams and two Leicester rams, for Mr W. Grant, Timaru, and a prize Lincoln ram for Mr J. Tombleson, of Wellington. A Clydesdale stallion also arrived for Mr Grant. — At the Marlborough A. and P. Association's annual show yesterday, Mr P. C. Threlkeld was awarded the first prize for English Leicester rams. Mr H. Overtoil gained the first prize and championship for Lincoln rams, Messrs P. C. Threlkeld and D. Bishell dividing the rest of the honours in this. class. The Christchurch Meat Company's special prize for the pen of fat lambs suitable for freezing was won by Mr John March. Sir George Clifford's Stonyhurst secured the first prize in the thoroughbred class for stallions. A feature of the show was the excellent exhibit of implements placed before the public by several Christchurch firms. — Correspondence from Sir John - Hall was received at •the meeting of the Acclimatisation Society's "Council with regard to the shag nuisance, and the damage done by these birds to sheep m Irs district. Several members spoke of the losses caused by shag?. The secretary said the birds did a lot of good as scavengers at Lyttelton, and the Harbour Board had complained to the Government about the birds being shot. A furthei letter was read from Sir John Hall^ giving" an instance in which a gull had been seen to attack a lambing ewe, picking out her tongue and one of the lamb's eyes. Although the gulls might do good as scavengers on the coast, farmers needed protection from what were practically birds of prey, and the writer requested that the matter be brought under the notice of the Colonial Secretary. The Chairman said it was understood people could kill the gulls on their own propert3 r . It was resolved to make representations as requested by Sir John Hall. Mr John Miirchison wrote with regard to the shag nuisance at Rakaia Gorge, the secretary stating that a man had been employed at 2s pei head to kill shags in that locality. From the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times: — There is a certain amount of astonishment at the determination of the 1 Agricultural department to utilise Mr -Gilruth's services for buying horse and* cattle stock. It is felt in some quarters that tbe department ought to inform the public that the stock is in the country, but the department is quite aware what it is about. The horses, to be used for breeding remounts of a good stamp, will probably come from Ireland, for the Irish hunter has got back to his old form of 40 years ago when every first-class cross-country horse was thoroughbred. The breed deteriorated owing to the admixture of Suffolk Punch blood, under the- mistaken notion that the animals would carry more Vv eight and be as high-couraged. - number of "dirty coats" in the hunting field soon dispelled the ilkision, «nd the Irish hunt**" is once more purebred. I hear it advocated that the=e horses should only be allowed to serve approved mares, and that, 1 have reason to believe, will be done. In the United Kingdom it is , the custom to give prizes for good horses on condition of their service of approved mares at low rates. Among horsemen the idea of the Agricultural department taking the matter up in cordially approved.

and when the general public finds that this country, which is 'one of the best for producing horses, produces a very poor fraction o£ the first-class article she ought, the approval will be endorsed. A contributor to the Rural World of September ~29 writes: — Of all the foreign dead ir eat sent to our markets none is 'equal in quality and flavour to the lamb from Mew Zealand. It comes in "earlier than our owl in the spring, and is on sale even until now. 1 True, it varies a bit in goodness according as I take it, to the degree of temperature it is brought over in. It frozen excessively it loses its flavour, and is neither wholesome nor nutritious. It ought only to be what is L.iown as chilled really,' nor frozen e\-n a degree. Then ifc keeps perfectly well, and is altogether gcod for human food. There is. of course, both lamb and mutton brought in quantity from other "parts than New Zealand, but fi-.m-that country, as I have said, far away the best is shipped as a rule. The Hon. "W. T. Loton, M.L.C., of Western Australia, who is at present visiting England, says a Home paper, has shipped some valuable purebred cattle for Fremantle. They are the shorthorn bull Gladiator, the' heifer Pride of Kirklevington 15th, the shorthorn heifers Gay Princess and Princess Annie, the Ayrshire bull General, and the Ayrshire - heifers Shamrock^ and Lizzie. These seven, ai imals would be^a valuable addition to any flock. The Hampden correspondent of the Pal- ' mereton Times writes: — The stormy weather wo have experienced lately has told upon some of the newly-shorn sheep. I- understand Mr . Weld lost abput ISO hoggets, Mr. J. Lefevre 20 out of 60 shorn on the previous clay, and Mr M'Kerrow 12_and a few lambs. Otherp have suffered more or le^s.- Neithei the Moeraki station nor Mr J. Ross, KartigiJ had commenced shearing, otherwise the losses would hai'e been much larger. -Referring to the successful settlement of the Barnego estate, the/Clutha Free Press says : — Thus will another monument be "raised to the wisdom and beneficence of the State acquiring land for close settlement, and some 22 settlers will be able to support themselves in comfort where formerly there was but one. - ... There 1 are plenty of other magnificent I estates throughout the country Waiting to be broken up, and now that .the day has gone by for building roads and railways to this friend's wooished or that friend's granary the money should be spent in putting people on the land. Back country settlement must go slow ; tlu» railway and the passable road must precede it. The results of land settlement under the piesent Government point that way, and the new Minister would do well to profit by the experience of his predeceesor. A lady won the bullock live-weight guessing competition at the Manawatu A. and P. show, Mrs J. M'Rae (Bowlands, Masterton), guessing the exact weight, 7311b. Mr Alfred Reid, of Hastings, won the prize for nearest guess to weight of pen of five fat sheep with. 3731b — half a pound less than the true weight. Mr J. Stuckey" (Te Rangitumau) gained first prize for judging the weight of a single bullock for shop purposes.. ■ ' The eighth annual show\mder the auspices of the Central Otago A. and P. Association took place at Ophir on the 16th inst. , The day being fine, the attendance was above 'he average. .The amount of gate money taken * — £20 6" — was a record for the club. Numeious visitors were present from Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, &nd' the surrounding districts, whilst not a few came from the distant 'plains of Maniototo. The show was held in Mr Pitcher's paddock. The total number of entries- was slightly in advance "of that for the previous year, and the quality on the * whole was slightly superior to the average. As usual, the greatest competition took place it the classes allotted to horse , and in the hackney section thp competition wa-j very kepn, soms really splendid animals' being shown. The cattle exhibits wore numerically small, thouph the quality left little to be desired. In the sheep classes, Messrs • Laidlaw and Crawford and Mr J. Wilson were the chief exhibitors, and it was generally acknowledged that the majority of the exhibits would not hav.J disgraced any show in Otago, the quality generally being very fine. In the dairy v>ro"duce and sundries sections, the quality of the exhibits was just about up to the average of previous shows. The poultry classe r were poorly represented, but in the wool 'a d grain classes some first-class exhibits were on view. Agricultural implements of varioiis kinds wero exhibited, and att-acted a good deal of attention. On the whole, the show may "without exaggeration be said to have bee-i the most successful held for a numb.' of years, and the committee have reason to 'ongratulate themselves on the fact. The Bruce Herald of the 23rd inst. gives an account of how the recent flood affected the farmers resident in the Clarksville.distiict : — The water spread over the farms of Messrs Matheson and Hampton where sheep and cattle were in jeopardy, Wit time 1 / attention saved all. A lar a c pond of \vat-j> still lies' on Mr Mat'.ieson's paddock which '• yd v ieoii ■ well embanked, bjt burrowing ]y rany had bored the Dank, a'ld the water burst through the barrier On* the northern side the rush from Meadowhank and the rail ;ny me careered over the best fields of the following fstr-

mers:—Messrs Tough, Maley, R. Murray, - Hamilton, Ferguson, and E. Reid.- The homestead of the two last were visited and many young fowls drowned.- The culvert "between theii farms had its planking lifted of? bodily, and so the families of Messrs M. Murray and J. Tough were isolated, so far as access to the main road was concerned, till the ■waters subsided and the bridging was replaced. The slaughter-house paddock, in which all the drains of the Clarksville drainage system 1 meet/ was one muddy lake, and Mr R. G-. ■ Xiockhart's young grain will suffer before the 'paddock' is dry again. On Sunday morning early, those who had sheep, and lambs were Tavisy removing' them to a safe place, and few, if any/ casualties have to be recorded. Dead ' rabbits are to be. seen in many places, but none will # mourn' their loss. 'Two of the Clydesdale mares bought by northerners at the Awamoa.sale a little over two years ago won great distinction at the recent Auckland Provincial Agricultural Society's show. These were Mr T. D. Reid's Blythe 11, by Crown Prince — Busk V, which ■won the first prize for mares in foal or with ioal at foot, and Mi J. Baxter's Princess, by Crown Prince — Young Busk, which was also j ■first in her class and champion. The Herald, in its report, makes the, following remarks reference to these mares: — The judges found little difficulty in arriving at a decision in the mares, any age, in foal, or with foal at foot, Mr T. D. Reid's Blythe 11, a-splen-did mare, scoring very comfortably from the only other entrant. Quite a hum of admiration went the rounds as the mares, any age, -were led into the ring for inspection c\t the -Lands of the judges, and it was not difficult jto see that the one upon which all eyes were 'fixed was Mr J. Baxter's Princess, a bay mare •by Crown Prince. She had no difficulty in. claiming the post of honour in her class, and also the distinction of champion of the show, ixhe judges not finding it necessary to delay a moment in their finding. Mr Baxter is cerriainly possessed of a grand mare. Having a lot of white about her some may be found •taking exception to Princess on the score of colour, but otherwise they would find it a decidedly difficult matter to fault her, so good is she all round : a massive, fine mare, of great ! •weight. Princess was awarded the chain.- j pionship at'the recent Waikato show, has also won many leading tickets on the West Coast and elsewhere, and it is doubtful if a mare the equal of Princess stands the North Island; in fact, it would be a good one that she could not hold her own with in any part of the colony.- '„.-) • ; . In connection with the ChristchurcU wool Bajeg;.ono"jof 'the side shows at the Jubilee Exhibition on Wednesday night, "says last Friday's Lyttelton Times, yielded ar> incident * that may interest wool growers. Several

feelers ot the market who were in town for tlia "wool sales , visited, the exhibition, and went in to haye 1 a look at the "human spider" exhibition. Amongst other things in this show is a skull that talks and answers questions. Asked by one of the wool men what would be the top price on the following day, tho skull promptly replied, "Eigbtpence." Gome sarcastic remarks were made in regard to the "answer, and the showman said that evidently the skull was not in the business. But events proved that the skull had more prescience, than the good shepherds gave it credit for, inasmuch as the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association sold a bale of scoured merino tvool (lot 40 R W) to the Timaru Woollen Company, and at just the price the skull said — 8d — which was the highest price realised.