AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 17

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The Lyttelton Times states that Mr R. Kairn, who has returned from a visit to the Commonwealth, says it is erroneous to suppose that there will be a shortage of potatoes in the marfots there this season. There was a splendid downfall of rain in the potato-growing districts of Victoria in December, and, in place of a scarcity, it is anticipated that there will be a surplus in that State, while Tasmanians are confident that they will easily meet the demands of the New South Wales market. Mr Nairn, therefore, thinks that, if producers here are relying upon high prices and a keen demand in Australia, they will be likely to be disappointed. As a result of the drought in Australia many of the landholders in the afflicted States are (say* the Auckland Herald) turning their attention to New Zealand, wilfah a- view of taking up land in this wellfavoured colony, where they may enjoy immunity from such visitations an that which is now bringing loss and ruin into so many Australian homesteads. At the offices of the Tourist Department at Auckland and in tha other centres frequent inquiries have been made, both by post and by personal application, as to the facilities for land settlement in New Zealand. Many fiot'tlers, some of them very well-to-do, state that they ero thoroughly disheartened by their experiences on the other side, and that they desire to make fresh homes for themselves in a country where the terrors of droughts are unknown. The officers of the Tourist Department have given these inquirers a great deal of informavion as to the conditions of our land laws, etc., and it w probable that one result >f the misfortune of Australia wiJl be an influx -f x goodly number of desirable settlers to these shores. Speaking at the Cheviot show, tho Hon. IW. Hall-Jones suggested that the settlers might take up the poultry industry with profitable results. The importance that the poultry export industry was assuming was hardly realised, and to give an idea of its growth he supplied the following particulars of the quantity of poultry exported from the four depots for 11 months in the years 1901-2 and 1902-3:— From the first of April, 1901, tc February 28, 1902, the number of birds exported was: — Auckland, 1901-2, 2633; 1902-3, 5671— an increase of e983; 'Wellington, 2918 and £o*6— an increase of 5218 ; Christchurch, 16,188 and' 49,698— an increase of 33,510; Duned : n, 5951 and 9364 — an increase of 4033. During the nyrnth of March, in this year the number of head exported was.— Auckland, 1078; Wellington, 2627; Chriatchureh, 5057; and Dunedin, 2253. He strongly urged the settlers to take this matter into consideration, and expressed the opinion that a. cood business

in poultry and eggs could be done with Wellington. The local freezing works (says a Timaru paper) have had an exceptionally good season so far, and at present are averaging 1000 carcases daily. They are Eending away a large consignment to South Africa by the Sussex. The fine weather of the past few days has enabled harvesting to be pushed forward in the Waimate district. The crops will be above average as regards yield, but below average, speaking generally, as regards quality. The potato crop has suffered badly from hailstorm, and harvesting generally has been both troublesome and expenA number of New South Wales agriculturists who are now in New Zealand ex,press their admiration of the crops they have seen in tho South Island: The prospects there exceeded their best expectations. Si°nor Bragato, the Government viticulturaf expert, Is making great improvements in the vineyards at the. State farm at U airanci. Twenty acre 3 will soon be down in vines, and when they are in full bearing there will, he says, be an annual yield of wine worth about £5000. Notes from the Christchurch Press:— lt was thought that the movement for the acquisition by the Government of the Kaituna Bush had ceased, owing to the statement mad© that the bush had been denuded of much of the native growth. Mr H. G. EH, M.H.R., however, has received .information that this is' not so. The Commissionei of Crown Lands has inspected the Kaituna property, and made a report to tho Minister of Lands. This will no doubt be made public in due course. It xS understood that the department has under consideration proposals to purchase otner pieces of bush in Canterbury, and something will probably be done shortly to preserve to the people what remains of the once beautiful native forest?.— The Riccarton "Road Board feels that it h being treated somewhat unfairly by the Selwyn County Council in regard to payment for small birds' eggs. Last year the board levied a rate for rhe purpose, and collected fclUf of which it spent £67 in payment for heads. Just at the time when the boys of the district were bringing in hundreds of dozens of cgs the board wao ready to disburse the balance of £40, but the council forbade this, saying the board could deal in heads, but the law would iot allow it to purchase eggs. Therefore, many thousands of eggs had to be refused, md many boys bad to be sent away from the depots, disappointed. Mr S. A. Staples, chairman of the board, states that the point of the grievance, however, lies in the fact that another board has been purchasing eggs, and its action has not only been overlooked, but it has been given the benefit of the Riccarton Board's balance. Ho urges that, as the road districts have to raise the rates for paying for small birds heads, tho boards, and not the County Councils, should control the expenditure in their own districts. He sees no reason why the purchase of eggs should be lorbidden by law, and argues that it is much better to obtain unmatched eggs at 2d a dozen than to wait until the birds are hatched, and capable of doing mischief, and then pay 3d a bead. . All the crops in the Seadown district (says the Timaru Herald) are cut and stooked, and farmers are making the best of the fine weather, using every effort to get them secured. In the upper part ot tho district three mills have been working during the past week threshing from the stook, and the yield and sample are exceptionally good. A large paddock of oats gave 75 bushels per acre. In Lower beadown, where tares are greatly in evidence, the yield will not, generally speaking, be so good though there are several paddocks ot really good crops. This part of the district is considerably later than the upper, and tho work is not so far ahead. Potatoes and turnips are looking well, and grass _is abundant everywhere, especially towards the beach, where the paddocks are as fresh and green as in early summer time. The Glenavy correspondent of the limaru Herald writes:— The weathei during the past fortnight has been highly favourable and the farmers are getting on well with harvest operations. This sea-son will form a record for future years, with good crops, good weather, and an entire absence ot the usual ruinous nor' -westers.