AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The results of shipping turnips from the Clutha. district — Stirling particularly — to Sydney have not, the Leader understands, been satisfa-ctory. The margin in value here and in Sydney was considerable, but

the cost of and incidental to transit " took the gilt off the gingerbread."

The annual meeting of the Gore A. and P. Ass-ooiation was held on Saturday. The report and bplancc sheet, which were adopted, showed that the association has had another successful year, the profit for the period being £53 6s 4d, which brings their total credit balance up to £179 13s lOd. The election of office-bearers respited as follows: — President, Mr George Milnes ; vicepresidents. Messrs Logan and Dickie ; committee — Mesii'3 N. S. Kingdon, G. P. Johnston, A. Murdoch, D. Gilchri=t, P Aitken, John Waddell. James Stevenson, R. Fortune, John Dickison, and James Gait ; veterinary surgeon, Mr Cunningham ; auditors, Messrs G Brett and R Dewar. With reference to the complaints as to the accommodation provided at last year's ram fair, the committee was authorised to make the necessary alteration and arrangements. After considerable discu3;-ion, it was decided " that a member's ticket admit a lady and gentleman." At a meeting of the Hamilton N. Farmers' Club a resolution was passed urging the Government to make clear by legislation whether farm hands are embraced in the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act. In the Taranaki district, declares Mr Gilruth, there are 100,000 cows, and fully 15 per cent, of them are affected with tuberculosis.

The Dunstan Times writes: — Lambing has commenced in Central Otago, and lambs can be seen slapping about in most of the paddocks. The weather is favourable, and the percentage generally promises to be good.

At Orcpuki on Saturday throe young men named Homer. Cook, and Beimet were found guifty of shooting two cows, valued at £12. belonging to Mr Stuck, of Waimeamea. Five cows, it appears, got out of Mr Stuck* paddock early in July. Three returned, and after a search the other two were found dead, ha\ing been shot. One of the bullet? found in the carcases was oF a peculiar shape — a shape known to tally with that of the missiles fired by a rifle owned by Homer. From this clue the police worked up their ra c c, and when brought before the court ntcused weio ordered to pay the oows* value and costs (£3 7s).

Says the Tapanui Courier: — The trappers have made such a fhorough clearance this season that there is hardly a rabbit to be seen. The price at present is 7^d p«r pair. An auctioneer's advertisement in the Egotont Settler ■with regard to an auotion of a dairy herd of 220 choice dairy cows, states that during last season the cows brought in a return of ovrr £1700.

Tl.o turnip crop in this (h^lriofc (writrs tl'p Clutha Lradei) ia standing out well. Tn many placs there 13 still a goodly quantity to Vat off. but in most places the last "break"' has been entered upon. Cattle generally have dove well on turnips this year. The Tapanui Courier's Waikaka correspondent ■=av3 that throughout the Waikaka and neighbouring district this season a great number of turnip-fed sheep hav^ died, On? farmer h»J lost aea^Jx iQ jg£

cent., and others have been almost as unfortunate.

Mr Wilkie, M.R.C.V.S., visited Tapanui last week, and examined several flocks of

sheep (in company with Inspector Dalgliesh). Mr Wilkie says the sheep in the district are freer from disease than in many other places, notably Southland.

A largely-signed petition has (says the Tuaueka Times) been forwarded to the member "for Tuapeka by Mr W. F. Smyth, chairman of the Tuapeka Land for Settlement Association, for presentation to Parliament asking that Greenfield estate should 'be acquired by the Government for small settlement.

As a result of the drought multiludes of small -white grubs, with black heads, have made their appearance -at Penshurst (Victoria), and are destroying large areas of gras3 la .id. These pests work in a circle, and turn up the ground, until it presents the semblance of a well-kept garden. Them is not a vesbige of root or seeds to be found where they have completed operations. A new and curious vegetable has recently been (says the Mercury) introduced into Hobart. It is the Jersey cabbage, which grows on a stalk as tall as 10ft. Otherwise the cabbages are much the same as thoso with which people here are familiar. Ia Jersey- the stalks — which are Ihiok an& strong — are frequently U3ed to. make, garden fences, and are sometimes poEshed and converted into walking sticks. According to a report made to the "Western Australian Parliament, rabbits are, increasing rapidly in that State. To save) the couth-west of the Siate, which is so far clc-ar of them, it is proposed to erect a fencs over an immense tract of country. It is estimated that within 50 miles of the railway line 'or of the seaboard the fence will copt £S0 a. mile, and in some places up to £90 a mile. Then, in addition to the coat of erection, is the cost of maintenance. On© boundary rider will be required for every 40 miles.

A telegram has been received by Inspector M'Leod, Stock Department, Lawrence, from the Secretary of the Agricultural Department, Wellington, announcing that one of the Government light horses would be sent into the Tuapeka district, and that arrangements would be made foxsending him once a week by rail to the Milton district. The fee charged will bo £2 2s a mare.

Mr Riddle, jun., son of the Rev. P. J. Riddle, of Rakaia, vrho has just returned from tho North Island, gives (says the Aehburton Mail) glowing £ccount3 of the immense strides that the dairying industry is making. Speaking for himself, land that he purchased some time ago realised £5 per acre and more when sold recently by him than what ho paid for it, and his dairy cows, after being used on his farm for a considerable time, advanced at the rato of £1 per head all round when he disposed of his property. Mr A. Barron, of Mosgiel, who recently went to Australia with an experimental shipmont of "sheep, has been giving to tho Taieri Advocate his impressions as to (ho market for New Zealand pheep there. Mr Barron does not think there is an opening'fou trade on anything like an extensive scale* The market there could not do with more than from 1000 to 2000 sheep weekly from New Zealand. The majority of the sheep we are at present sending, he thinks, are too hea%^y. In place of these we should send merinos, comebacks, or halfbredg. As to the reason for the limitation of our trade with Australia, Mr Barron says tho conditions under which the trade is conducted in Sydney are totally different from those obtaining here. In Sydney there ia what is called the dead moat btrteher, v.'ha buys the live stock, kills it, and sells to the retailer. These work into each others* " hands, and control the supply, and on account of their amalgamation, if th«re is a slight over-supply of sheep there is a serious drop in the pricea. The annual meeting of the Gore A. anct P. Association was held on the 18th hist., and was attended by about 40 Mr A. Murdoch, tho president, occupied the chair. The report and balance sheet were* taken as read. In commenting on the report, the Chairman said that it disclosed a satisfactory year's work. In addition to the £218 odd distributed as prize money, donations and trophies to the value of £47 had also been given as prizes. Their profit for the year was £53 6s 4d. The improvements (the new fence) cost £80. The management of the ram fair had caused some comment, and the outgoing committee had made certain recommendations to the new committee on the matter. He moved the adoption. of! the report and balance sheet. Seconded 1 by Mr Macara, and carried. — The election of officers then took pla£e.» Mr George Milne 3 was unanimously elected -president., Messrs C. Cooper, M. Dickie, and T. Logan- were nominated as vice-presidents, and on a. ballot being taken Messrs Logan and Dickie were elected. — It was resolved that the incoming committee make the best- possiblearrangements in order to carry out the ram fair .in future.— Mi H. Smith moved that a member's ticket admit a lady and gentleman. Messrs Clouston and Kelly strongly supported the proposal, which wa3 agreed to without dissent. General work on most farms is well forward (reports tho Waikaka correspondent of the Tapanui Courier), and farmers are quits ready to start sowing so soon as the weather fines up. It seems from appearances thafa there will be a great area under crop in tiie district bordering on Kelso and through the Merino Downs. ' The high prices ruling jusb now eeem to have enticed a great many to plough up their lea in the hope of gettingin with a big profit next season. The eleventh annual meeting of shareholders in the Canterbury Farmers' Co-opera-tive Fire and Marine Insurance Association was held at Ohristchurch on Wednesday last. Mr F. D. S. Neave, chairman of director*, was in the chair, and there was an attendance of 20 shareholders. The annual reporfl stated that the revenue, including the balaneo carried forward from tbe previous»year, had been £16,927 0s Id, and the expenditure £9337 Is 4d, leaving a balance of £7539 los 9d Provision was made in the account foB all ascertained losses. After appropriating a sum of £1350 to reinsure current risks and writing off £12 10s 9d, a balance of SH-" 7^ remained for distribution. Out of this, th^ directors recommend the payment of- a dividend of 6 per cent on paid-up capital, « bonus of 10 per cent, to shareholders on fan* business, and the transfer of £1500 to th<S

Growers of Fruit should consult Niuira AND Blalk's general catalogue of Plan t», iM which will be found not only a collection of standard varieties, but all the latert novelties worth growing. In this catalogue will also bo found an. up-to-date WiecttO» of S^edg of §11 land*,,.*

reserve fund, the balance being carried forward. In moving the adaption of the report and balance sheet, the Chairman eaid that there was an increase of £1000 in premiums and of £500 in losses. The assets were keeping up an increase also. During the year 1000 £5 shares had been divided into £1 shares, for the benefit of tn"e members of the Fanners' Union. State fire insurance, he believed, would come to nothing, as the Government would find it an impossible work. The report was adopted. The report of the committee appointed to investigate the securities of the association was of a verjj satisfactory nature. Tho retiring directors, Messrs S. Bailey, R. B. Holdavorth, W. B. Howell, H. W. Peryman, R. Slunden, and H. Overton, were re-elected, and Mr J. Holmes was also elected to a seat on the directorate. The meeting resolved to grant a bonus of 5 per cent, to members of the staff. Messrs W. M. Ollivier and R. O. Duncan were elected auditors for the ensuing year.

An important case to farmers was heard in the Supreme Court at Oamaru last week. The plaintiff's case was that defendant had sold to him 8000 bags of wheat, and had signed a store warrant for 8000 sacks, less between 250 and 300 bags for seed, that 7233 sacks had been delivered, that the defendant had failed to deliver the balance, and the difference between the price at the time of the contract and the date on which the demand was made for delivery was claimed. 3?or the defence it was contended that no cpeeifie quantity of wheat was sold, that the plaintiff was supplied with all the wheat the barns contained, iess tho quantity for seed, that the store warrant was .epproximate only, and did not bind him to Bupply 8000 sacks. The judge held tlrat the store ■warrant was not a warranty to deliver 8000 sacks, and gave judgment for defendant, with costs.

Australian producers will apparently have to keep a close watch on the shipping regulations at Capetown (says the Melbourne Argue). In a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, dated July 11, Mr J. K. Hunter, agent for the Victorian Department in South Africa, states that some time ago the Table Bay Harbour Trust Board withdrew the berthing preference hitherto granted to steamers carrying frozen meat cargoes to that port. Recognising that thia would revive the risk of meat cargoes from Victoria by through steamers being carried on to London. Mr Hunter communicated with the general manager of tho Harbour Board, and also with the Acting-treasurer (Sir Peter Faure), pointing out that the new regulation would in effect give a preference to and encourage the live stock trade of South Africa with Argentine, as acainst the frozen meat trade of Australia. The board replied that it did not apprehend much difficulty in the matter, as the military authorities would very soon be surrendering the South Arm quay and a large section of the inner breakwater pier. Although opinion on the board is divided, Mr Hunter is inclined to think that the preference to through-going steamers will be continued. In the board's letter to Mr Hunter, it is stated that the m-embers are dteirous of promoting Australian trade where possible.

Stockowners, and Shire horse-breeders in particular (says the Field), will notice with satisfaction that two of their number have received well-merited recognition at the hands of his Majesty. In conferring baronetcies upon Mr P. A. Muntz. M.P., and Mr Alexander Henderson, M.P., the King has singled out for 'promotion two of tho best known and most eticco'-sful breeders and exhibitors of live ptock in tho country. 3Vfr Muntz has been in the foremost rank of Shire horse-breeders since the breed was established upon its present exclusive basis, and if Mr Henderson has had a shortrr career it has certainly not been Iprs distinguished. On an occasion like this it may be justifiable to refer once azain to his unequalled achievement at the Shire Horse Society's show in 1898. when he furnished all four champion animals. Mr Muutz also breeds Shropshire shpep, and Mr Henderson Shorthorn cattle. Hampshire Down sheep, and Berkshire pigs with creditable eucces«. Another equally well-known supporter of •the Shire breed of horses, although ho has for some years been less prominent aa a breeder and exhibitor, was the recipient of •well-merited recognition at the hands of his sovereign. We refer to Mr A. B. Freeman Mitford. of Batsford Park, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, who has been raised to the peerage. The new peer for many years owned a choice stud of the famous cart breed, and in the noted mare Minnehaha he showed one of the best champions that has been seen at Islington. Ho has aiso tafoen a prominent part in establishing the Moreton-in-the-Marsh Shire Horse Society and show, and in promoting the interests of the breed in general. The acknowledgment of the valuable and energetic services of Sir T. H. Elliott and Major Craigie, C.8., the secretary and aesistant secretary respectively of the Board Of Agriculture, is also gratifying to agriculturists. The Clydesdale stallion "Royal Stuart, rising six years old, owned by Mr H. Saun&ers, of Waimate, has been sold to a North Island breeder for £420. Royal Stuart is by Middlerig. dam Camellia. The latter ■was sired by Conqueror, and the former by tare Diamond (imported).

' A feature in the sales at Komebush on August <• was a draft of prime bullocks from 'Wbmblebank station, Queensland, which had baen fattened entirely on prickly pear in its

I raw state. Their condition was excellent, j and, being dehorned, they were without a scratch. The bullocks were a surprising illustration of the feeding value of prickly pear in times of drought.

The credit balance of the River Plate Fresh Meat Company for the year ended April 30 was £72.,864, including £5041 brought forward. S.x thousand pounds was required for the debenture interest, and the directors placed £25,000 to reserve, and declared a dividend of 10 per cent., and a bonus of 4s per share, leaving £3864- to be carried forward. The large quantities of both beef and mutton exported by the company have been readily disposed of, and further extensions at Campana are now in progress, so that it is anticipated the increased freezing and handling power will be available in four or five months.

Mr Bacon, of Mokoreta, while in Taranaki, witnessed a trial of the LawrertceKennedy milking machine. The cows operated upon seemed quite reconciled to the new conditions Very little hand "stripping" ■was required. A man and boy are capable of looking after a machine that mil" s six cows simultaneously. Each milking takes about 10 minutes on an average — or slightly longer than the hand process of milking one cow. It is claimed ("ays the Wyndham Farmer) that no injury is done to the- cows by this mechanical operation, and the cows milk as well in succeeding seasons. Cleanliness in the tubes through which the milk passes is absolutely necessary. Mr Bacon confesses that the work accomplished by the Lav/renoe-Kennedy machine quite surpassed his anticipations.

Wo (North Otago Times) hear from Messrs Guinness and Le Cren (Limited) that they have scld the Clydesdale stallion Kuyal Stuart for 400gs to a North Island buyer, which pncc is, we think, a record for aiany years.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands has issued large maps of rural lands open for sale or selection in the districts of Mokoreta, Toi-Tois, Otara, Waiau, Wyndham, and Waikawa. The lands will be open for sale or selection under " The Land Act 1892, either for cash, occupation wuh light of purchase, or lease in perpetuity, at the option of the selector. The total area to be offered is 3327 acres. The soil is mostly of second-class quality.

Dehorning of cattle is a subject the milk suppliers of Rate (Rangitikei) eeem to have made a study of. They have now tried both and have watched the difference carefully, with a decided opinion in favour of taking the horns off The cows milk much better, and the tost is much higher on account of the absence of any sign of irritability or fear of one another. The theory that a quiet cow is more profitable than a restless one i 3 here mado use of practically. As regards tho alleged cruelty, it is much over-rated, for the cows go straight away to feed in a few minutes after being dehorned, as if nothing had happened. There is a man at Rata who can dehorn 200 a day quite easily, so tho process is a short one. A yard full of dehorned cattle stand as quiet as a yard full of sheep. The Auckland butchers reckon that dehorned beef is worth quite 10s a head more than horned. That the Americans depend upon a variety of crops for their profits in farming is well known. But the amount of money made out of such a comparatively neglected crop here as tomatoes is surpriFing. Mr Kidd, the New South Wales Minister for Agriculture, has (according to the Sydney Morning Herald) just received from the Indiana Experimental station their re-uort on crops in the State for 1901. It shows that in Indiana, and Maryland combined, 2,159,000 cases of canned tomatoes were put up, the value of which to the fanner alone was about £300.000.

Mco-rs Barron, llumph/ies, Pringle, and M'Millan went to Waiau on the. 18th (says tho Lyttelton Timct) to inspect and report on the remaining portion of the Lyndon estate offered to the Government by Mr D D. Macfarlane for settlement purposes. The block under offer includes the homestead, and has an area of about 24,000 acres, rmich of it being Bomo of the finest quality land in the Amvin County.

The Motueka Fruit-gTowPrs' Co-operative Preserving Company is now fully constituted, the rules having been finally adopted, and most of tho shareholders having signed the bond provided for in the rules, under which all small fruit grown by shareholders must be dealt with by the company, either by marketing in the frosh state, or by pulping or preserving. Power is given by the rules to extend the operations of the company in whatever manner may be considered desirable. Permanent directors have been elected, and a manager is advertised for. Arrangements have been mado by which the complete plant can be landed in Now Zoaland within one month. It is probable the factory will bo situated near Motueka wharf. For tho present, operations will be confined to the Motueka side of the bay, and growers only are accepted as shareholders. The Lyttolton Borough Council has received a letter from tho Agricultural Department, enclosing a report on some pigs kept on a section adjoining the abattoirs, and said to bo fed on the offal The letter stated that the position was highly unsatisfactory, and that it was hoped the arrangements made by the council for disposing of the offal from the abattoirs would be ■trictly enforced. It was reported at the last meeting of the council that the owner

lof the pigs had already complied with the 1 instructions of the inspector in the matter, | and had stopped the objectionable practice. Air D. D. Hyde, Government poultry expert, has received a letter from Major Pilcher, Government agent at Capetown, informing him that at the time of writing fowls were selling at 10s per pair at Capetown, and eggs at from 2s 6c! to 3s per dozen.

The annual meeting of the Clutha and Matau A. and P. Society was held at Balelutha on the 16th inst. There was a very good attendance, several members coming from a considerable distance. Mr James Petrie occupied the chair. The balance sheet showed that the receipts amounted to £322 lls Id, and the expenditure was £293 19s lOd. Other charges absorbed £16 13s 3d, the balance at the bank being £11 18s. Tho treasurer (Mr Turnbuli) mentioned that since the balance sheet had been made up, further receipt* jimoun ting to £9 10s had come in, making a total credit of £21 8s ; in addition to which there were sundry items yet to collect amounting to £22 4s. Several members expressed their satisfaction at the year's operations, and the halnce sheet was adopted. It was decided that in future a register of members be kept, and their names published (in the catalogue). The election of officers for the ensuing year th~n too!- place. Mr J Renton was unanimously ' elected president ; vice-presidents, ' Messrs D. Murray (re-elected) and J. C. Anderson ; treasurer, Mr John Turnbuli ; secretary, Mr T. M'Donald (both re-elected). The general committee, committee of management, honorary stewards, and canvassers w ere appointed. An informal discussion took place with regard to the date of tho show, the wedging of the event between the Milton and Gore shows being looked upon as unsatisfactory. Several speakers urged that the society should fix a date independeat of the others, and that it be held between the Taieri and Dunedin shows. The matter was left over for future consideration.

The two Jersey bulls imported by Mr G. Gould on the s.s. Whakatane were taken on the 18th inst. to the quarantine station en Quail Island. They were landed in very good condition, but were evidently delighted to find themselves on land after th<Mr sojourn of two months on shipboard. They are yearlings. One was bred by the Dukie of Marlborough, and t^o ofipr is from the well--iown herd of Mr Gibbs.

"Talpa," in the Australasian, Eays : The importations of fat sheep and cattle from New Zealand and Tasmania continue to increase in volume, but fewer are now coming from Victoria. The Warrimoo, which arrived from Wellington last week, brought over 1000 sheep and 14 head of live rattle, in addition to a quantity of beef and mutton. There seems to be greater possibilities in the development of the dead-meat trade than shipping the stock alive. The sheep from New Zealand have a rather flattened appearance when they reach the Sydney market, the voyage being too short for them to become accustomed to hand-feeding, and just long enough to make them hungry and thinner-looking than they really are. The butchers say, however, that they "die" fairly well, and a reputation of this kind soon becomes known to buyers. The prices obtained, for crossbreds have ranged from 25a to 38s, and at these figures I am informed the margin of profit js very small compared with what the sheep would have realised in New Zealand. The trade is not likely to assume large dimensions. One of the drawbacks in connection with the importation of fat stock from Tasmania and New Zealand is the unloading of the amma.'a at the wbarvee m the city, and the driving of them along the crowded stiec-ts at inconvenient hours. Cattle from the northern rivers are invariably landed at the Government wharf at Glebe Island, which is three miles nearer to Flemington markets than Circular quay cr Sus=ex strct wharves, and the markets can be approarhed fiom the former along less congested streets The extra distance, danger, and other inconveniences are very trying to the s-tock after the voyage, especially as they have to be driven back again to the abattoirs at Glebe or other slaughter yards. When tho sheep finally reach their destination, they are in a very exhausted condition, aud not at all in a fit state either for selling or killing-.

According to the Field, supporters of the Aberdeen-Angus breed of rattle have good ground for their satisfaction at the manner in which their favourites are" gradually extending their hold south of the Tweed. Tho rate of progress is both appreciable and sustained, while a gratifying feature is tho high standard of merit which can be maintained in English show yards by the exclusive representatives of Knglish herds. It is mentioned by a northern contemporary, as an instance of the aggressive tendencies cf tho breed, that, whereas 20 year^ ago there were only seven herds of Aberdeen-Angus cattle in England, there are at the prohont time about 80 herds. The noted blacks have found new homes in all paits of England, but their chief field of conqne-t has been on tho heavy clay lands south of the Thames.

The following pniagraph appeared in a recent icsue of the London Live- Stock Journal: — "During tho South African war the Australian draught horses used for gun hauling and transport work seem to have proved most disappointing These are not to be confounded with heavy draught horses such as Clydesdales. Shires, or Suffolk;, being

simply clean-legged vanners of the 'bus type. It would be well if the antipodeans would give such types such special attention. At present they seem to be the result of reckless mongrelisation."

Clinton notes, in the Southern Standard : The weather we are now enjoying is of the beet — sharp frosts in the evenings, followed by lovely days. As a consequence, the farmers are making the most of it for ploughing, etc. — The manager of the Gore Dairy Factory has decided to erect a dairy factory here if a guarantee of 200 cows can be given to start with. I understand that the agent has some 140 cows promised, so that lief ore long we should have a dairy factory here.

Drummond notes, in the Southland Times : Farm work is being pushed ahead rapidly, and should fine weather prevail for a while longer, the work) on the land will be in a forward state, and soon farmers will be getting ready for the sowing of the seed. The acrp-age under crop is likely to bo much larger than last season, owing to the high prices ruling for the main product — oats. — A vei-y considerable number of sheep have been changing hands from about this district lately, both for Sydney and the local works, as well as for the Canterbury market, and at prices which ought to be satisfactory to vendors. Stock of all kinds are doing well, and there are still sufficient turnips left for the sheep aroubd the district for a time. — Spring threshing has begun, and farmers ought to reap the benefit of advanced prices ruling.

The Tapanui Courier states that the trappers have made such a thorough clearance this season that there is hardly a rabbit to be seen. The price at present is 7£d per pair.

The* latest addition to the Invercargill Dairy Supply Company's creameries is one at Centre Bush, the erection of which is to be commenced. It is to be completed by the end of September, and will thus be in good time for the coming season. This will make the fourth addition to the company's creameries during the last few months, the others being at Orawia, Otautau, and Hedgehope

At the Ashburton Magistrate's Court on Thursday last, Edward Benbow 'was fined 20s for having exposed sheep infected with lice for sale at the Tmwald yards on July 29. The directors of the proposed co-operative dairy factory at Limehilla have had a well dug in Mr Shand's paddeck near the railway station. The site is central, very dry, and there will be no difficulty about drainage. We (Winton Record) understand that applications for shares in the company are coming in freely.

A saleyards case was heard at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Thursday last by Mr Beetham. S.M., when George King sued the Canterbury Saleyards Company for the sum of £11 ss. The claim was to recover the value of five pigs alleged to have been delivered to the defendant company by the plaintiff for Bale and not forthcoming to the purchaser at tho termination of the sale. Evidence showed that the pigs were yarded and sold. In giving judgment, his Worship said that the company undertook to see that no stock could be removed from the yards without an order from the auctioneer. No order had been given in the present case, and the pigs were allowed to be removed by the company without an order. The proceeding* seemed to him to be of the loosest possible character, and he thought that, as matters were carried on in the yard at present, tho way was left open for any amount of chicanery and robLery to take place. The sooner the thing vras amended the better for ev-erybody. Judgment would be given for the plaintiff, but the defendant would be given leave to appeal, as the case was a rrost important one.

The Mauawatu and "West Coast A. ar.d P. Association have issued their catalogue for tho coming season. The association designates its exhibition the metropolitan show of the Wellington district, and maked good its claim to the premier position by offering £1500 in prizes.

Notes fiom the New Zealand Dairyman for August: — The Ballance Dairy Company has sold its July and August output in bulk at Is Id. — Quite 10,000 cows wore dehorned in Taranaki alone during last autumn, and it is probable that in another year or two horned dairy herds will be a tiling of the past. — At a recent clearing sale in Taranaki, on account of Mr W. Willcocks, dairy cows sold exceptionally well, from £7 10b to £13, the herd of 65 realising the very high figure of £10 Is lOd each. Thoy are all early calvers. — The Ballance Cooperative Dairy Co.'s butter scored the highest aggregate number of points for tho last soa=on at the PP rtft °f Wellington. Tins company's J£onim Factory was first, anrl the same company's Ballance factory second. — During the pa.-t year the Levin Dairy Factory turned out 115 tons of butter, and paid out eomp £12,000 to milk supplier.", who received 9d per pound of butter-fat for the whole season. The profits will allow a bonus of gd pf-r pound to suppliers, and still leave a margin. — Following are particulars of amounts paid by a Taranaki factory to some of its suppliers last season, which are not without interest: — No. 1, 50 cows, £500 (another £60 was made by this man from his pigs, and his calves sold totalled ir> rash £75) ; No. 2, 18 cows, £158 ; No. 3. 16 cows, £155; No. 4, 35 cows, £330 —The report of the directors of the Maurieeville Dairy Company concerning the season 1901-92 says th« number of milk suppliers was 50;

amount of milk received, 2,909,0131b; amount of cream received, 13,8911b; amount of butter-fat paid for. 116,6471b ; amount of butter made, 132,9271b; amount of milk -to pound of butter, 2231b; cost of manufacturing pound o? butter, lid ; cash price per pound of butter-fat paid to suppliers. 9£d for September and B|d for the remainder of the season.