INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 6

INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PA S TORAL NEWS.

(Pastoralists' Review.)

VICTORIA. Melbourne, March 13.

Very large quantities of wheat are coming into the various stores, although the want of trucks delayed arrivals considerably, and farmers are very irato on the subject. We are very much interested in the Riverina season now, for a3 soon as they can spare good breeding ewes from that quarter a large number can be taken in this colony. In every Victorian saleyard the deterioration in the quality and breeding of the sheep offered for sale is made manifest, and the difficulty in getting good ewes from over the border, owing partly to the stock tax, and principally to the scarcity caused by the prolonged droughts, has had most to do with such falling off in the character of our sheep. There is at present great controversy as to the best style of merino sheep to produoe, and in Victoria crossbreeding is of no less importance. Unfortunately too many different breeds are favoured, for whereas at one time a line of sheep of similar style could be obtained by taking small lots from different small breeders and putting them together, few small owners now have crossbred lambs to match each other, much less another owner's. Only the larger breeders have level lots, and those are difficult to secure. Farmers in one district should decide on the best breed to suit them, and stick to it ; then a buyer .can put their small drafts together, and make- up a line. The block in the grain traffio is still very bad. The railway commissioner has recommended the erection of new stores at Wil-liams-town, capable of accommodating 200,000 sacks of wheat, and the building of 1000 new railvvay trucks, in addition to the 8500 now available, and 50 new heavy goods engines. The increase in tho grain traffio t^it season between December 1 and February 17 amounted to 244,000 bales as compared with last year.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney, March 10. Wool prices were at their best in January, after which a considerable fall took place in February. We are glad to say, however, that that fall has since been recovered, and prices for "greasy" are pbout on a level now with January figures. The buyers, however, do not seem to want "scoured?," and values are from lid to l^d below January rates. Sydney sales are now held fortnightly, instead of each week.

The storms and weather disturbances that have been reported in t'-e ncrth-east quadrant of the colony during the last few days, together with the heavy tropical rains that have fallen in the Northern" Territory, and good storms reported from various parts of Queensland, inspire the hope that March will not pas 3 without some measure of relief comma; to this State. If good general rains should come now. there would be sufficient heat in the ground to bring on a rapid growth of grass for the winter, and although it would probably be quickly followed by cold on the mountains and highlands, it would be by no means too late to do immense good to the pastures, as well as in replenishing the sadly-diminished tanks and watercourses.

Owing to the large number of middling and inferior cattle that have been coming to market, prices of fat cattle have declined somewhat, but fat sheep still command top prices. It must be borne in mind, .however, that this month is always uncertain for fat stock at Homebush, as the prices of meat are adversely affected by the Lenten season, owing to the slackened demand just before Easter.

Store stock are changing bands at fairly good prices, though the transactions are largely between those who have to sell on account of failure of grass and water and those who are looking out for comparatively cheap stock, to put on country that has been resting.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide, March 11. During the past few months pastoralists in the far northern, north-western, and north-eastern portions of South Australia, in the pouth-vvestern tracts of Queensland, and in the extreme western plain? of NewSouth Wales have suffered the most severe drought known for many years. The losses of stock are simply appalling. A succession of tropical storms lifted a great vei«ht off many a squatter's mind, and these disturbances culminated in a rennrkably heavy downpour over a vast nr>»a of country, e\tendnifir from the Gawler Ranges, in the north-west, to OodnadaHa, in the north, and Broken Hill, in the east. It was refreshing to hear of creeks swollen until the flood was n mile wide, often miles of country around Broken Hill being under water, and of the railway line neai Oodnadatta beinsj so submerged that tho train could not pa?<=. At the Pedko 7ft of water was running over the X>eimancnt way. The extensiyo plains so ic-

ceu'ly bare of vegetal on will soon be transformed into vavivg fields of grass and herbage, with every waterholo and dam filled, so that the land may be once more stocked. Mr Cruse, the Victorian dairy expert, wag greatly impressed with the South Australian butter ho had to judge at the autumn show. Speaking as io the effect intercolonial Freetrade will have upon the industiy, he said: " Speaking from a Victorian standpoint, I think it will do much good. It will enablesettlers in portions of New South Wales and South Australia to giovv stock and have them topped off in our more favoured southern districts to the mutual gain of all. The slight advantage South Australian? now held will not last long. For a time of the year South Australia produces more than can be consumed, but there will come a time when throughout the year the other States will be able to produce t ere than can be consumed, and they will then come into competition with South Australians in the outside market. Although she will lose a slight advantage at the start, South Australia, as regards the dairying industry, will benefit in the long run under Freetiude."