AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2579, 19 August 1903, Page 9

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The Agent-general cables, under date London, 12th August, that the mimber of .carcases of River Piato mutton landed in the United Kingdom in July was 248,072, of which 75,634- were landed in London, 159,636 in Liverpool, 6502 in Cardiff, 3800 in Dublin, and 2400 in Belfast." The number of oarcases of River Plate lamb landed was 6630, of which 2979 were at London and 3651 at Liverpool ; 3216cwt of River Plat© butter was landed m London and Liverpool. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Rakaia, which is loading for Ljudon and several English provincial ports, will take from the colony 40.000 crates of rabbits for Liverpool, and a considerable shipment of oats for London and Liverpool. Mr Reakes, the Government ve-t., has examined specimens of the blood from the cow that died at Wcston (near New Plymouth), and states that death was caused by anthrax. The animal had beon feeding in a paddock that had been manured with imported bones. Mr Gow, the Government commercial agent in South Africa, writes to the* Department of Industries and Commerce, requesting to be supplied with samples and quotations of New Zealand hops and prime barley suitable for malting purposes. Mr Gow thinks a good business cm be done in thesedine?. The department will receive and forward samples and quotations addressed to the head" office. Wellington.

A line of magnificent wether sheep was knocked down by Mcssr* Wright, Stephenson, and Co. at BnrnHde- on Wednesday last to the bid of Messrs Thos. Smith and Co., the well-known maafc salesmen, of Dunedin and South Dunedin, at a price-..con-stituting a record in that market — viz:, 35s each. A number of Swiss milkers in the Hawera district are giving much satisfaction to owner-s of cows by their steady work and kindly methods. They state that many of their countrymen will follow. The Wanganui Meat Freezing Company bad a successful year. The- turnover was nearly a quarter of a million. The directors recommend a dividend of 8 per cent., to -write off £2500, and to carry a balance forward.

Private cable advices receivod from Homo (says the Manawatu Times) indicate that the butter outlook for the comins: season is excellent, and it is predicted that butter will prove even more reliable and remunerative than cheese. Blackleg in n severe fr>>'m is affecting the rattle in the Moruya district, New South Wales, and owners of stock have sustained serious losses in consequence. The Ashburton correspondent of ths Chrlstchurch Press reports : —Wheat— The decision of the Flourmillers' Association to reduce the mill price of flour by 10s per ton will not be looked on by holders as a 'good sign, and already the. market value of grain is feeling the drop. "Whereas last week offers of 3s 7d and 3s 8d were- received for good samples of Tuscan. 3s 6d and 3s 7d are now full rates, at which price millers will purchase. There is no "business to report, and quotations are merely nominal values : Tuscan. 3s 7d ; pearl, 3s 9d ; Hunter's, 3s 5d to 3? 6d. The following werft the gram and produce shionvMYts from Lytt&iton for the ended Friday last-— For the' United Kinerdoin: 572 sacks oats. For Australasia : 117 sack 3 oats, 85 do bran. 511 do potatoes. f*oa=<twif>e: 2774- eaeks wheat, 54-89 do oats, 8 do barley, 222 do bran, 965 sacks and 2P.7R

bags flour, 2578 sacks potatoes, 123 .d$ sharps. Total shipments : 2774 sacks wheat, 6178 do oats, 8 do barley, "307 do brtfn, 965 sacks, and 2278 bags flour, y 3089 sacks potatoes," 123 do sharps. , Although it is estimated that the losses of stock by the snow will bo heavy, one Waitaki runholder was pleasantly surprised to find a large- mob of sheep that it" wa9 thought impossible to save alive and in fairly good order.— North Otago Times. An article in the Taranaki Herald states <• that there are 600,000 acres yet in Taranaki alone of very good to fair land to bo settled, besides rougher pasture lands. With £600,000, and endowment blocks as a basis, a roading scheme might be worked ov.t. Some* of the first lambs of the season in this quarter (says the Timaru Herald) are to be seen on Mr J. Dinnieombe's farm, Rocky Hundreds, a couple of miles from town. The Woodbury correspondent of the Timaru Post writes on. the 11th inst: — A, warm north-west wind on Saturday and Monday, together with bright eunshine, caused a most welcome thaw in the Rangitata and Woodbury districts. Most of eh& snow lias now disappeared from the low land and the front hills, though there is still a great deal left on the higher ranges. The loss of stock has not been so heavy as at one time was expected. Nearly everyone has lost a few sheep, and on the 6mall hill rung the loss will average from 40 to 50. The Orari Gorge run eeems to 'have suffered the most severely. On this station it is feared that when the enow is off thei back country and it is possible to mako a ! correct estimate, tbe loss of sheep will be i well ever 5000, in addition to a Ices of from £1500 to £2000 from damage dono to the fencea, which in many cases were completely flattened by the weight of the snow on them. On Sunday all the creeks and riverswere in; high fresh owing to the thaw. A general meeting of the shareholders of the Seargill (Canterbury) Saleyards Company (Limited), was held on the- 10th inst. for tho purpose of deciding whether the company should undertake- the erection of a shearing shed with machines, the estimated cost being about £450. On the motion that the company should agree to the proposal, a poll wao demanded by Mr Angus Cameron, with tho result that 169 vote 9 were recorded in favour and 107 votes against. Mr Percy Overtoil's motico, that the directors be instructed to proceed with rhe work forthwith, was carried unanimously. At a meeting of Ike Timaru. A. and P. Association, held on Ihe Bth met., Mr "W. Hay (president) occupied the chair. A letter was read from th& Canterbury A. and P. Asociation. dating that they had considered the matter of holding a winter slrow is, Christ church during Grand National week of 1904, and had decided to ask the cooperation of the- different agricultural ami pastoral societies in Canterbury. The presidont thought that if the Canterbivry Societycould not undertake a winter show on their own responsibility they had better leave- it I alone. Some members of the ..committee agreed with this view, but others thought they should lake a broader view and assist the Canterbury Association. It was eventually decided to assist the northern association as much as possible by sending exhibits, but to take no financial responsibility. — It waa resolved to Rive a donatica of £5 5s io the Geraldine Ploughing Match Committee.

Mr O. H. Selby, formerly of Timaru, bub latterly of Ptilmorston North, is now in town (says iho Timnru Herald) spending it little- holiday. Durin? a chat with cno of our staff, he jr.ive a few accounts of that wonderful district. He- says that there is at present an immense, influx of population, from all quarter-*, and farmers are doing very well indeed. The groat attraction so?ma to he the immense area of beautiful level, alluvia! flats^ 1 which stretch for miles in every direction from the main centre, Palmerston North. Tiie results from many of the farm* are simply astounding. > Off cue little piece of 42 acres a man took no less than £534, which was for milk supplied to the local cre-amery and for pigs and calves rea-red. On Mr J. D. Nathan's farm of. 23 acres at Kairanya. 1000 riieep were feet off. £00 beinor fat a* tha end of six weeks. Palmerston North is in a very healthy state. Good land can bo bought in the locality at from £20 per sere un to about £40. and even mc«o for land adjoining the borough.

The American Steep Breeder for July writer: — The shcan 'jicarers are organismg 1 , the herders are t-alk : oi? union, the woollen makers and wool buyers are organised, thewcol twine mm nro in a trust ; every indispensable f.jtJelc use<l by sheepmen, from the effithes they wear to the foods thpv consume. i« the product of a trust, aiid only the wooljrrower himself ia without the benefits of united action. Hr. i* fl><\ snort of alt the combinations, the- football of politico, the nrey of scheme* rind tphemers, and onlr for i(s inherent strength his industry would ero to. pieces in half a r'ozrn years. Isn't; it obout time for a wfolerovvtrs' Irust, fortified in the- union nnd common interest o. the million men who 1.-eep sheep and 1 grow' wool ia the 4t > States and territories o? the American Union? Such a trust would oarrv the price of every pound of raw wool in the country up to 25 cmte in a week. ! A meeting of the <:mmittee of the Can- | terbury A. and P. Association was held afc Christchurch on Wednesday kvst. Mr G. Gould occupied the chair, anet there were* about 20 membsrn present. With regard to the proposal to hold a winter show in 1904, the Ashhurton Agricultural and Pastoral Association wrote stating its willingness to give the naggested guaraTvfre mcl to assist in promoting the show. The Timaru. Lee?*ton, Ellcsmere, Courtenay, and Cheviot Associations, however, were not" prepared to give any guarantee. Dr Levinge said he thouuht the associations were under a. roisapprehensicin, and were making a bogi© of the suggestion of financial support. The* association did not desire to obtain money from the country association^, but hacl desired merely to make the show a combined one. He. hoped that the winter show would- still be held. The association woulel * certainly be admitting weakness if t it allowed it to drop. Mr F. Chamberlain, on. behalf of the Ellesmere Association, said) that his association was willing to assist; in the way of exhibits, but not to take any financial responsibility. The Elleemoro people- did not speak very highly of *he winter show, and lie- thought it should be held afc tho Show Ground?. Mr J. Shitf-

holme said it would be difficult to get effective combination unless the other associations would come in on a "uniform basis. He thought ihat they should be asked ■wliether, . if they would not come in to share the profit or lo&s, they would eharo in tho management and undertake to do all possible to make the show successful. H-e moved that the association, considering the risk of loss on the winter show over tho guarantee to be infinitesimal, was prepared to undertake all the financial respcmsibility, and at the same time admit the district associations into partnership in the management on their assurance of co-operating in mating the chow a success. Some discussion took plao3, Mr H. P. Murray-Ayneley -aying that he did not think associations which took no financial responsibility in the show should bo given sufficient representation on the managing body to rote large sums of money or otheiwiee embarrass tho Canterbury Association. He thought Jhe matter should be referred to the committee. The Chairman supported the suggestion, and the matter was referred to the committee. The report to b& presented at the fourth annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Canterbury Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company states that during tho past year the revenue increased from £686 13s to £931 18s 3d, an advance of 35 per cent., while th© charges account is somewhat less— namely, £239 Us 9d, against.£267 14s. % . Tlie twelfth annual report of the Farmers' Do-operativo Insurance Association, of New Zealand, which will l>e presented at jhe an.uual meeting in Christchuroh on August 19, reepmmends the payment of a dividend at ihe rate of 6 per cent, en paid-up capital, uid a bonus of 10 per cent, to shareholders on' fire premiums. It also recommend* the. transference of £1000 to the Reserve Fund. Tlip balance of tho money available will be zarried forward fro next year. The receipts for the year ending Juno 30, 1903, includimg- the balance from the previous year, Mnounted_to £15,381, and the expenditure £8349, leaving £7032 to be- dealt with. After appropriating £1450 to re-insure current risks, and writing off £19 16s on account of repairs and maintenance of property, the balance remaining for distribution is £5562. Messrs Humphries (Chief Commissioner), Sealey, and Pringie, members of the Canterbury Land Board, went to Fairlie on Wednesday last foi the purpose of personally inspecting the runs and otheT Governmeat leases, and inquiring what losses havo been caused 1 by the snow storm of July 11. They will probably go down the Waitaki Valley on returning. It may bo suggested (says the Pimaru He-raid) that it is rather early to try to ascertain the total losses as the snow has not yet disappeared ; but it will give them a better idea of the tlifficulties the settlers have had to contend •with if they see the country under snow. The inspection ia to be made iui view of the prospect of applications being made for relief in payment of rents on account of tho disaster. At the Addington Saleyards last week the highest price yet recorded in the colony for fat merino wethers was paid for two lobs. Mr Duncan Rutherford, of Leslie HUls, obfajned 28s 6d to 37s 6d for 19 merino ■wethers, and Mv W. O. Rutherford, of Montrose, 23s to 37? 6ct for 35. They were all bought for export by Mr A. L. Joseph. Mr D. Rutherford also got 28s io 43s for 67 halfbred wethers, and Mr W. O. Rutherford 283 6d to 33s for 16. The sheep were all of very prime quality, the merino vrethers being exceptional for condition and weight, and carried splendid fleeces. It is gratifying to hear (writes an ex- j New Zealander now in South Africa to the ! Hawcra Star) that the Cape merchants have expressed tlio desire to deal as far as possible with the British colonies, and, furthermore, they are well pleased with the produce which is shipped from our country and the prices. Altogether, the Government of j New Zealand has every reason to be tbaok- i ful that the trade w doing so well in ite early stages, and I should say to tho exjiorters, keep your profits down to the lowest possible margin to get tho trade on ith© market, and when the people havo had ■time- to te«t tho stuff and its price they will not be inclined to give it up for any trifling advance :u: v price. At thp last monthly meeting of the directors of the South Canterbury Dairy Company, it was decided that a larger refrigerating machine be procured. Mr J. R. Scott, secretary of the National Dairy Association, interviewed tho board, and gave a lot of very interesting and valuable infonnatica with regard to disposing of butter, which was much appreciated by the directors. Before tho Nottingham Bench on Saturday, June 27 ; Thomas Hucksrby, farmer, Carlton, wa3 summoned for selling adulteirated milk. The analyst stated that the Bample of milk taken consisted' of 95 parts of new milk and five parts of water. His opinion was based upon tho fact that the sample contained 8.1 per cent, of non-fatty Bolids and 0.69 per cent, of ash, whereas tho milk regulations of the Board of Agriculture required not less than 8.5 per cent, of non-fatty solids. Mr Barlow, addressing the bench for the defence, said that tho milk fcad mot been tampered with, in any way, aod it was no fault of defendant that the

milt fell below the standard of the Board o Agriculture, and went on' to explain tha on the night before the milk was taken the cows were turned into a meadow, and the temperature fell to 40 Fahr. The cows fed very greedily on tho lush grass, with tho result that the meal produced seven gallons of milk more than the ordinary supply. This was a case which 'had excited great interest in the district, and the Sou h Notts. Dairy Club so strongly believed in the bona fides of Mr Huckerby that they liad taken tho case up, and at considerable expense had arranged for the attendance of expert 'evidence. Under tlie circumstances he should ask the bench to dismiss the eummcais. After hearing expert evidence for the defence, the magistrates dismissed the summons. Tlie Canterbury Frozen Meat Company nas presented the Canterbury Agricultural College with a eet of samples of woo! prepared by Messrs Charles Balme and Co , a prominent firm of London wool brokers. The wool is shown in all its stages, from the greasy fleece lo the manufacturer's material, and comprises all qualities of tops, from 32's to 64's. The samples were enclosed in a glass ca*e by Mr Waymouth. The Board of Governors has thaaiked the donors for their gift, which will prove valuable to the students engaged at the College. y Judging is '-still the subject of a good deal of comment among exhibitors and others interested in live stock. At present (■says the Scottish Farmer) there is a revulsion of sentiment in favour of single judgjag. There is no more effective method of putting incompetent judges out of the ring. When a man errs cnee in that capacity, he does not get leave to try again. When two men or three err it is impossible to know who is to blame, and very likely the burden is put on the wrong shoulders. Itn place of appointing specific judges for each class, how would it do for each society to elect ten or a dozen men each year as its judges, and on the eve of the show select by lot the man or men from this lot who are to act? This would abolish the vicious practice of appointing men to judge certain animals. In the course of an account by a South African correspondent of the Haweva Star of an interview with the New Zealand trade representative in South Africa, appears the following: — Mr Gow considers that there is a big thing to be done in the importation of live stock. A farmer left tliC'S-s Bhorc-3 a few days ago en route for New Zealand, with the «xpre?s purpose of picking out and bringing to this country a quantity of live Etcck. There is another firm which has cabled through Mr Gow for a quotation for 10,000 breeding ewes from New Zealand. The class of sheep chosen as being most suitable to this climate is the merino, and it is for this particular breed that the quotation is asked. There is a great objection to the importation of cattle—from Now Zealand to this country. I was a little surprised to hear it, but in the course of a ccmyersaliou with the Hon. H. D. Winter, Minister of Agriculture here, recently, I learned that the object in preventing the importation of our cattle was that they were so free from the particular class of disease which is common out heTe that it is considered they aro for that reason all the more susceptible to catch such diseases as red water, etc. Under the circums-tancss, md unless Mr Gcw cm persuade tho Ministers, when he meets them (which I understand !-.o is tc do in the course of a, few days) that the cattle will not contract the diisoasfs, it is not likely that any great boom will be in the air for the importation of that elas« of stock.