AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 17

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

J.ac Sydney Commercial Newa says: As adversity frequently makes us acquainted with strange bedfellows, co the drought eeema likely to faring about tome curious features in trade. We are told by the EngKsfa. mail that certain cargoes of Aus-tralian-grown wheat are now afloat for the tJnited Kingdom which will in every probability be returned to this country in the bottoms now carrying them. It is almost definitely stated, indeed, that at the date of writing one wheat-laden ship then reported off the English coast was as good a> fixed for a voyage orrt to Sydney with the grain she was carrying, and the statement ie added to by the sentence " more to follow." It is pointed out that South Australia and Victoria may not be in a position to mipply New South Wales and Queensland demands, and that -these drought-afflicted Bt«te# must look to California, a course which would be obviated hj eimply ordering those ships now en route to European ports for orders back to Australia. The idea is novel, and is probably a record one of its kind, but then the drought is also a record one , The Press's North Canterbury correspondent writes that as the present month has been exceptionally open and fine, with occaeiona] frosts and but little if any rainfall, the work of ploughing and sowing has progressed without interruption. Lambing continues with favourable results. The coldness of the ground has not yet allowed a good spring of grass. Tn c majority of the farmers in Orange Jliver Colony will arrive on their farms m iime for Boring ploughing and sowing, and fsays The Times' correspondent) it seems "likely tbat the country will cot take a great time to recover its normal state. Poultry clubs are being formed in most districts, as the importance of poultry as producing a rapid supply of food ie realised. A North Island syndicate have acquired an extension of flax-cutting rights in the Hokitika district, and intend erecting flax mills on a large scale. The Department of Industries and Commerce will 6hip 27,500 caees potatoes to South Africa by the Norfolk. Some 800 cheep and 35 cattle left Masterton on Friday for Sydney. Further shipments will follow. Drummond notes, in the Western Star: .Farm work is going on apace. Stoci of all descriptions are in demand, especially fat cheep. There have been a few thousands chipped from this district to the S3'duey market, and a very profitable trade seems to ihave been done. Fat cattlo are also selling well. Mr John Lindsay, of Isla Bank, sold five bullocks under three years old for £11 per head, which must bo considered very eatisfactory. Horses still find a ready sale, especially for young and sound sorte. Mr John M'Farlane- had a good offer the other day for his colt by Vanquisher out of Miss M'Arthur. I heard the price was £150, but I think he intends to keep him, as. in another year ho will be at the £cr V ice of far-xne-rs of the district. Woodside notes, in last Saturday's Taieri Advocate: The exceptionally fine weather experienced lately has had the effect of causing everything to put on a spring look very early this year. Growth, however, has been retarded somewhat by the severe frosts cf the past few nights. Farmers are vtiy busy with ihe'ir preparations for next seaBon's crops. Good headway has been made with ploughing, and a good deal of wheat is being sown. Tho annual meeting of shareholders in the OKfiiapoi Woollen Alanufacturmg Company (Limited) will be held on September 1. The report to bo submitted states that during the year the works have been krpt uusy on usual trada orders, supplemented by considerable demands for the outfit of various contingents for South Africa. The efficien.y of the buildings and plant have been maintained, and due provision made for depreciation cf had debts. After providing lor the dnterim dividend paid in February last, the profit and loss account shows a balance cf £7277 10s Bd, from which the directors lecommend the following appropriations : £3500 for the half-year's dividend, at the rate of 7 per oent. per' annum ; £2500 to be passed to the reserve, and £500 to form an accident insurance fund, leaving £777 10s 8d to_b& carried forward. t , It i 3 understood that the Stud Bill, which ', •was withdrawn in tho House, is to be sub- ( jnitted to the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies next year. " The Timaru Farmers' Co-operative Association has had a good year. The balance sheet to be presented at the annual lueetins? • chows the net profit for the year to have •been £12,305, besides £1148 brought forward. Thf directors will propose a dividend o! 8 " per cent, on tho capital, a 6 per cent, bonus ' on purchases, and 6 per cent, on salaries, tlie * Bum of £1500 to be added to the reserve, , 1 and the balance carried forward. c Several farms in the Woodville district A changed hands last week at prices ranging I from £15 to £20 10a per acre. , * A North Island syndicate- has acquired an *■ extension of fiax-cut'ing right* in the Hoki- * iika district, and intends erecting a tl^x l mill on a largo scale. % , c Hie Canterbury Woolbrokers' Association a has fixed the following dates for the local * wool sales for tlie coming season: — ifoveni- ?> ber 20 nnd December 11, 1902 ; and January a 16 and February 19, 1903. According to a ronort made to the West *

Australian Parliament, rabbits are increasing rapidly in that State. To save the south■west of the State, which is, so far, clear of them, it is proposed to erect a fence over en immense tract of country. It is estimated that within 50 miles of the railway lino or of the seaboard the fence will cost £80 a milo. und in some places up to £90 a mile. Than, in addition to the- cost of erection, is the cost of maintenance. One boundary rider will be required for every 40 miles The Hawera Star states that butter buyers Lave been attending meetings of the diroctorates of various dairy companies during the past week. The companies, however, aro not very anxious to close Previous to 1894 there was practically no export of butter from Siberia. Smul! quantities of farmers' butter of inferior quality were produced, and in. order to make it skeepabls, it was melted into butter fct, and generally sold on the markets of Nishni Novgorod. Bince the opening of the "West Siberian railway, the butter production and dairying in general have changed entirely. The butter is now produced od what is fcnowc as the West-European system, and £9 exported to Denmark, Germany, and Great Britain. Tbe Siberian butter export since 1894 has progressed as follows: — 1894, ♦001b; 1895, 50001b; 1526, 16,5391b; 1897,

72,5-*»'>; 1898, 174,4251b; 1899, 314,5131b; 1900, 1,054,7991b ; 1901, 2,200,0001b. This development is certainly amazing, and it is no wonder that the Russian Government , does all possible to facilitate this industry. Just recently a special Imperial Commission ha* been appointed to design the most suitable refrigerator waggon for conveying the I butter from the Siberian towns to the BalI tio ports, in order that the butter may come i forward in the best condition on the Continental and English markets.