LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 16

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Th® largest daily intake of milk at the Mataura Island dairy factory up to date is 2240 gallons, this being received on Boxing Day. Fhis constitutes a record for the factory. The directors of the GorS Dairy Factory Company have disposed of the factory for the Bum of £1050. Poosession is to hs given in April next. — Standard. The Southland Times reports that Mr James Nunn received from the Underwood Factory £244- J6s Id for 121,7691b of milk, which equals 5.3d por gallon on a basis of 111b per gallon of milk. This return was due to the general excellence of tho milk, which tested in butter-fat from 4- to 4.7, the average for the 12 months being 4.4. The manager of the company states that this is the highest test he has known in New Zealand. The Tapanui Courier states that the ojpcutive of the Otago branch of the N t w Zealand Fanners' Union has arranged for a series of three" lectures — one at Milton, ore nt Tapanui. and one at Lawrence — by Mr Wilkie, M.R.CW.S. Subjects and dates of meeting have yet to be arranged. Says the North Utago Times :—" While wheat-growers are satisfied with the weather, those who are looking forward to winter feed, especially ia the shape of root crops, are a trifle despondent. The turnip and other root crops are feeling the effects of the absen_co of rain." The daily supply of milk at the Mataura dairy factory this week is about 2200 gallons. The establishment of the Tuturau factory has deprived Mataura of nearly 700 gallons daily. — Standard. Tho crops thrmighoufc the Clutha district are> looking well, and harvest promises co be six \yeeks earlier than last year. The early potatoes in the> North Otago district are turning out of gocd quality and t fair yield. A movement is being made by members of the Farmers',, Union in the Western district of Southland to secure among tlhemeelves guarantees of a sufficient amount to appoint a veterinary surgeon who would devote the whole of his tim© to their requirements. Says the North Otago Times : It is estimated that the depreciation in the value of oats now held in this district since the period when Home-going steamers were carrying grain cargoes at 15s per ton would considerably more than pay the entire interest on the proposed loan for harbour improvement of £17,000. The farmers of this district missed the market owing to the absence of wharfage accommodation for large steamers. >. Items of interest from the Western Star of the sth inst. : — Several Clifden settlers are rending their wool clips to Waihoaka, among them being Messrs Blatch and Horrell, but the value of the extension is greatly minimised owing to the fact that settlers in that; part jf the district are unable to go and return in one day. Were the line run on to Te Tua, this would be possible, and the extension would be of real service in opening up the back blocks, £nd making them accessible to the markets. 'We trust the Southland Railway League will not allow theii agitation to cease. — JPrivate buying of wool has been eomewhafc confined this season, but here and there- lots havo changed hr.nde at Bd, 7£d, and 7d ; about half these rates for pieco3. A g-re*t quantity of wool is reported to be going dnto store, .and the bale-3 forward at the current month's sales are likely to be less than last year. Although the London sales' have not been quite satisfactory, the North : Island sales have shown an improvement on 1903, and the same may, we think, be confidently anticipated in the South, whero ,irool generally brings a shade more than it does in the — The country never looked better than it does at present. The .■weather has been magnificent, and on all lhands there is promis of an abundant 'harvest, which is going to be early this year. _ In fact, another six weeks should see the binder at work in several quarters. In ■the Oreti district oat, barley and wheat crops have already shot, and nearer home, up the Jacob's Valley, both wheat and oats are looking splendid. Turnip thinning is going on apace, and there should be jßome excellent fields of ''neeps."- It is many ». year eince there has been such a season, Jind the grass harvest, which will soon be in. progress, will be exceedingly good. The MandevilJe correspondent of ths Mataura Ensign writes:— The crops are beginning to shoot, and to all appearances JiriU. be ehort, the eorrel showing above the cats in many place®. An. aarly harvest ia assured, more especially if it keeps dry for another week. During the last three days ■» high wind has been blowing, and a shower Js needed. Turnips are giving a fair promise I of <& igood crop, and no doubt will be the j ibest paying crop for 1904. Grass at the I present time is abundant, and stock of all j lands are in prim© condition. After the j holidays I think there will be a movement I in sheep, and there is no doubt this district is very understocked. During the. last month (says Friday's '.Wmton Record) the yarding of all classes of sheep has been so small in every centre that quotations would only be misleading. However, the tone of the market was Sufficiently indicated by the caution preraihnjr with fcha f<aw buyers willing to

operate. This was the natural reflection from Canterbury, where the importation cf store sheep from the North Island, scarcity of food, and other reasons, have caused a considerable slump. In the early part of the month, however, a slight demand for wethe-rs led to a few private sales being brought off, and some station lines were quitted at from 14s to 12s 6d for selected four, six, and eight tooth wethers, while a straight line of good two tooth were sold as high as 12a 6d. Although, fat lambs are daily becoming more plentiful buyers are holding off. No orders seem to be forthcoming, and there is a growing suspicion that the hop.-j entertained pretty ge-nerally of the market opening at from lls to 12s are. not going to be realised. However, when the demand d«es come, and it cannot now be long delayed, we expest it will be fairly active, as the phalanx of buyers and agents ai'e apparently keen to be up and doing when tho "office" is given. Luckily for own&rs the cattle market shows no signs of weakening as yet, and at Wallacetown, possibly owing to a rather short supply, the prices realised " at tho last market showed an improvement of from 10s to 20s on the previous sale, prime beef averaging about 255. Stores also chow mo decline, and, although there are no big^ sales to report, lines up to 40 or 50 head have been changing hands pretty freqtiently. The genial rains of the past two day 3 (says last Thursday's Mataura Ensign) havo been warmly wc-leomed in all parts of the country as likely to have a most beneficial effect upon grain crops and feed. The grass harvest will mot be seriously interfered with, and in any case a little- inconvenience in this respect will be gladly sustained if other departments of the farming industry are to be advantaged to any extent. Contrary to expectations the turnip crops in meny lecalit eg arc not promising well, and oats too in places are not thriving as substantially ss might be wished. In th© Waikaia district, however, unusually heavy crops are expected, and it is stated that on the whole they eclipse even those in the fertile Waikaka Valley. Complaints come from Kurow and Waikakahi (reports the Oamaru Mail) that some of the oat crops are coming in too rapidly, with the result that the ears are not filling properly. The change that has taken place in the weather may, however, prove of benefit by the cold checking the premature ripening of the grain. From Cave Valley there are reports that red rust has made its appearance in some of the oat fields, but inquiry shows that the presence of rust has not been extensively noticed. A meeting of the Tokarahi Crown Tenants' Association was held on Wednesday last, Mr Dasler in the chair. The Crownri Tenants' Rent Re-bate AcE Amendment Bill came up for discussion. It was pointed out that this Bill affected a large number of Crown tenants. In June, 1802, a deputation from the association waited upon the Hon. the Minister of Lands, with the result that the above bill was framed, but unfortunately two sessions have now 'passed, and each time the bill has been dropped, although meeting with support from members in the House. This session it reached its second reading, and mot with the same fate. It was resolved that the Minister be written to expressing regret and disappoint ment that this bill had only reached its second reading, considering it should have been passed this session, as it was believed that members were in favour of it.

Writing on the 7th inst. the Kurow correspondent of the Oamaru Mail reports : A heavy downpour of rain fell last night, which will do a great amount of good to the grass and root crops. It is feared that the heavy wheat crops will suffer by being laid (flat, tout so far I have not heard of any damage being done. Many of the crops are ripening too fast, consequently, although the appearance in straw is great, the yield will not be <-o good. The small birds and grubs are doing a large amount of damage., but on the whole the crops in this district, barring accidents, will give a fairly good average. The rain cam© most opportunely for the turnip crop, which was beginning to feel the effects of the protracted drought. Several paddocks of barley are iai stook, and it ia expected that the general harvest will start within a fortnight.