INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 8

INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

(From Correspondents of th© Paetoralists'

Review.)

NEW SOUTH WALES.

Sydney, March 10.

February is the month during which pastoralists of New South Wales generally expect useful rains, and if late years have somewhat weakened their 'faith in this respect the month just passed has exceeded ■traditions. From the 21st to tho 29th heavy monsoonal storms extended over part of the State, being exceptionally heavy in the northern districts, resulting in floods, which did considerable damage to lucerne, maize, and potato crops. The rain fell somewhat late to do much good to the maize crops, which in many places were dying, and in the flooded districts the damage was considerable ; but against this we have the good done in the way of extinguishing the bush fires which were raging, especially in the New England and northern districts.

As the result of the rain, feed will be plentiful through the winter, and this means a great deal. Breeding ewes will be kept in good condition, which i& of utmost importance in the efforts to restock. Progress returns of stock of individual districts are now daily received, and the gross total for 1903 is officially put down at 27,711,411 cheep, 1.655,150 cattle, and 392,334 horses; and the official increase is given as 1,036,924 sheep, 30,059 oattle, with a decrease of 28,764 horses.

The good rains will enable ploughing operations to commence right away, b\it the probability of having an increased area under wheat this year is lessened by the rumours heard in the wheat listricts of the cost and uncertainty of labour. In regard to the present harvest, grain is coming forward slowly, due to the farmers holding back on account of .the uncertainty in the wheat market caused by the war and the prospects of a shortage in the world's supply, due to comparative failures of the crops of some other countries. The recent rise in Australian wheat further induced growers to hold on the chance of it going higher, but as quotations have now lowered it is expected that an increased quantity will coma in to Sydney during the next few weeks.

Authentic opinione point to the probability that our production of wheat for export was overestimated. So far only 3,100,000 bushels have left the State, and theie are at present about 1,000,000 bushels stored at Darling Harbour. It has been stated by those in a position to know that half the- crop has come down — a bare total of 5,000,000 bushels. But, on the other hand, a large amount of wheat crosses the borders without coming to Sydney, and this may help to make up .the original estimate of something like 18,000,000 bushels. In regard to the local market, buyers are operating quietly at from 3s lid to 3s l^d per bushel. There seems to be little anxiety on the part of the holders to unload in large quantities. During the corresponding period of last year wheat was 6s Id, and the year before 3s 3d. Supplies of oats haye been hardly equal to requirements, and prime samples are eagerly sought after, obtaining 2s 3d. Maize is now steadily arriving from th& Northern River, selling at from 2s 4d to 2s 7d. Barley for malting purposes brings from 3s 3d to 3s 6d. Good chaff cells at from £3 10s to £3 15s, and lucerne hay up to £3 per ton.

There are now indications that as far as the railways are concerned the wool season is coming to a close. Up to date nearly 438,419 bales have reached the three receiving depots, showing an increase over 1902 of 27,729 bales. The net exports for th& month were 62,991 bales, as against 50,580 bales in February last year. The weekly sal&s were terminated on February 4, and those held on the 15th to the 18th were th& comnie.neement of the monthly sales. The wool showed a considerable falling-off, especially iv regard to quality. A large amount of lambs' wool has been forward, but much of it has been in a very burry and seedy condition. The next sales will be held from April 19 to 21, May 17 to 19, and June 21 to 23.

Dissatisfaction is continually expressed by landowners at the action of the Land Tax Commissioners in raising their assessments, in some cases 150 per cent. They point out that the taxes already affecting them exclusively appear more as a penalty for

holding land, and discouraging settlement;. To investigate all matters relating to land tax assessments an association has now been formed in Sydney, its primary object being to take all proceedings on behalf of members for an amicable settlement of disputes between them and the commissioners. Rabbits are becoming plentiful throughout the State, on accoun-t of the abundance «S feed. Foxes, especially in the Yass district, are also getting more numerous. At present they appear to feast on rabbits, but later on they will be a danger to lambs. Authentic figures show that this Stato sent 52,019 crates of frozen rabbits to the United! Kingdom during 1903.

The supplies of sheep and cattle in th<3 fat stock market have been well within the demand, the former showing a great fallingoff compared with the January yardjngs^ and being less than half the number yarded! during the corresponding month of last year. This indicates a great shortage in supply, which substantiates the opinion that New Zealand sheep will again appear in the local market. Crossbred wethers have been in short supply, odd pens bringing up to 24s 6d per head. The supplies ot cattle have come chiefly from the northern and! north-western districts of the State, andl occasional drafts from Queensland. On, February 18 the values eased off, but they shortly recovered, averaging for the month from 23s to 26s per 1001b. Store stock are difficult to obtain at reasonable rates, bub since the general rains there will be a return of confidence, which will, no doubt, accelerate business, though the scarcity of stock is the prime reason for the present condition of things.

QUEENSLAND.

Brisbane, March 6.

The past month, during which we looked for a large instalment of the summer rains, has- been disappointing on the whole. Practically no rain fell during the first two weeks, and towards the middle of the month extreme heat was experienced, which had! a most disastrous effect on the feed, andi gave rise to great anxiety on account of the possibility of bush fires, of which several have been reported, but mostly in xhe coastal districts. After a very hot spell, rain of a general, though patchy, character fell over practically the whole of the State. It is hoped that we may get copious rains? during this month to ensure good feed throughout the winter. Iv the north-west, which appears to be a favoured locality of late for rains, the country is reported to be in excellent condition, and the sheep which have been away on agistment are now^ arriving at their; own pastures, some having been away for nearly a year. Shearing is proceeding at many of the central and northern sheds, Darr River Downs having finished with 70,000, whilst Kynuna is starting on ans estimated number of 130,000.

Th.3 demand for sheep of all ages and sexes still continues very strong, but very few transactions are being effected, as will be seen by glancing over agents' reports or the travelling stock list in any of the country papers. Male sheep of a fattening age are remarkably scares', and buyers have to go far afield and pay stiff prices to filltheir requirements. When Charters Towers butchers are buying wethers in the Longreach district at 15s" a head, the lot of the Darling Downs fattener is certainly not a happy one. Some fairly large transactions are recorded in young sheep, 12,000 Portland Downs wether weaners being purchased by Messrs Perc&val and O'Hara, of Glanelg, Darling Downs, whilst 32,000 mixed weaners, said to be the whole drop, are b&ing moved from Manerdb to a New South Wales property. In Gulf cattle a considerable business is being done, and the rattle of hoofs along the northern stock routes promises to continue for a considerable time.

Pleuro has made its appearance in several travelling mobs in the vicinity of Win-ton, and a good deal of inoculating is proceeding in consequence.

£h<e Central Queensland Meat Company are greatly restricting their operations, in consequence of the high prices being asked for cattle, whilst tho Queensland Meat Company's works at Brisbane are practically at a standstill through the same oause. The latter works, by the way, ' have taken ip the butter business, and are turning out a very considerable quantity for export to England. In the metropolitan saleyards prime sheep are worth 20s each, and oattle 16s 6d per 1001b.

The agricultural districts have been suffering very severely from absence of rain, anl the falls recorded during the month (as much as 4in at T|alby) will afford great relief to the farming community. Muol* more rain of a general nature is, however, wanted for the feed crops and pastures, and to enable the land' to be got ready for planting. There has been a rally in the local wheat market, caused by a mild panic amongst the millers, and very good prices — up to 3s 4d per bushel — have b&en obtained, though at the present time there is * marked apathy on the part of buyers. The farmers are sitting on their wheat bags, and unless they are very careful they are likely, to "miss the 'bus," as there does not seemf to be any good ground for a further rise in values.

The butter industry is largely engaging the attention of the farming community, and the continued acquirement of suitable; estates (such as Glengallan) by the Government for subdivisional purposes will help the movement forward considerabfy. This all means an immc-nss expansion in the production of grain, butter, cheese, and bacon, in the very near future, provided our farmers adopt up-to-dato methods and th© seasons prove fair.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

ADELAIDE, March 10. During the past month the summer has 1 maintained its reputation for being the coolest within _the memory of the present generation, while even tho older hands fine} is difficult to recall a year in which temperature at this period ruled %o persistently low. From a pastoralift's point of view the season is opening gloriously. It is considered that the recent falls have been the most serviceable for two decades, as they have come exactly at -the right time for feed.