LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

The peach crop ..appears to be in great danger of being practically a failure^ in"Gentral Otago districts from the 'effects of blight, curl and" green fly being especially noticeable. In the Roxburgh district the trees ar© said to .be in a particularly bad condition from these causes, and in the Clyde and Cromwell districts the orchards ar© all more or less' affected. — Dunstan Times. The Wyndham Herald states that the Myross branch of the Farmers' Union last week agreed to urge all farmers in the district to undertake rabbit-poisoning on December 5. In-ca'ses of neglect the name* of individuals will be reported to the executive, which will hand the names to the stock inspector. / •- The Mount Benger Mail says that with a few clays of fine weather Teviot fruitgrowers expect to be busy with their strawberry and cherry crops, and as there appears to be a scarcity of fruit in other parts of the colony good prices should be realised. Cherries in some of the orchards are already ripe. The following "Stock Notes" for November appear in Friday's Winton Record: — Notwithstanding the high prices ruling at Home for frozen mutton,' the short supply forward of fat sheep has compelled butchers to give prices which the freezers are quite unable to compete with, and the late severe weather has hitherto prevented sheep more than holding their own also. However, the end of November has given good promise of more seasonable summer weather, and already the country shows signs of having benefited; and should the heat continue, with the wool off sheep are bound to fatten readily, when it is only reasonable to expect that the supply will more than equal the butchers' demand, and once more bring the price of mutton within range of the freezer; therefore, with the additional handicap of summer freights controlling the hands of the shipper, farmers must' be prepared for a fall in prices at the commencement of the new year. No anticipation of anything like a partial slump, however, appears- to possess the minds of store buyers, for the values of these have been steadily increasing since October. No doxibt the satisfactory reports of the wool market, both-at Home and in the colonies, is particularly responsible for this sanguine state of things. I heartily trust that the buyers' fondest hopes will be realised, but like Cassandra of old, "I .h&e ma doots." The late tempestuous weather has also kept the fattening of cattle back, those coming forward to the yards being more conspicuous for quantity thanquality. Prime bsef has, however, held its own, and 1 no doubt has given a helping hand to its more forward brethren among the store division, for which there has been good inquiry during the month; but, except in this particular store cattle of all descriptions have gone back in price. A slump- is imminent. The yards all over the country are overcrowded, and more than hatt the entries are passed unsold, and it is not easy to see any reason for hope that this market will recover 'tor many a day. There has been a splendid percentage of lambs in the district this season (writes the Waipiata correspondent of the Taieri Advocate), teveral owners having secured over 100 per cent., and- others from 100 to 80 per cent. Shearing has commenced at several of the stations, but owing to the unsettled weather not very much progress has been made. > The Mount Benger Mail of Wednesday | last reports that at Monday's meeting of the directors of the Teviot Canning Company, Mr 6. J. M'Kenzie was appointed manager. Mr M'Kenzie has had considerable experience in Dunedin and Canterbury, and possesses testimonials of the highest order. -It was reported that the boiler was now at the factory, and the alterations were being pushed on." In all probability thero will be .15 hands empoyed in the factory when it is ready for a start — eight men, two boys, and five girls. I Another instance that Central Otago can hold its own with the rest of the colony in the matter of stock-raising is to be found (says the Alexandra Herald) in the fact that a. large consignment of sheepskins, recently despatched by Mr J. Nieper, of Alexandra, brought a record prioe in the Lhineddn market, the agents stating 1 that they had never scent skins of suoh splendid quality in th© colony. The animals ffom which the skins were taken were bred and fatteued on Mr B. Naylor's Ohestermains farm at Mata'kanui. The monthly meeting of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club was hold on the 28th ult., Mr W. Cameron (vice-president) in the ' chair. A letter was received from the Traffic Manager of Railways, Dxinedin, saying that the train, from Lawrence to Milton would' h& delayed to leave Waitahuna on the day of the show at 5.30 p.m., connecting at Clarksville with the evening train to Clinton, and afe Milton with the goods train" for Dunedin. — The New Zealand Hardware Company forwardted a donation of £2 to the prize fund! — Mr F. Vannall, acting-manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, wrote offering two five-gallon drums of M'Dougall Bros.' non-poisonous sheep dip as special prizes for classes in sheep. — The secretary was requested to write accepting the services of the Dunedin Pipe Band.— lt was decided that those wanting space for side shows be charged' the usual fee of 10s. The Dipton correspondent f the Winton Record writes:— The weather this last week has been all that could be desired. The crops are again gaining their natural colour, and should the weather continue fine there is every prospect of fairly good crops. The wheat crops in this district that were sown early are looking exceptionally well, so if the price keeps good the farmers should have a good innings this year. The lamb marking is now all over, and I hear of some very good percentages. In many cases it is 120 and over. On last Wednesday afternoon (says the Bruce Herald), in a paddock belonging to Mr E. Reid, the first public trial of Mr Robinson's combination for drilling and sowing turnip seed and' guano all at once took place in the presence of a number of farmers representing the length and! breadth of th© Tokomairiro plain. The "combine" was attached to a cultivator, suoh as any farmer may possess. The box for guano, by means of txihes., laidi the manure clpwn

in four rows, immediately behind which were four other tubes depositing the turnip seed. To the frame of the cultivator behind were attached the drill ploughs, which effectually covered the seed and manure in one process. Mr Robertson-, who was there in ptopria persona, explained' to the attendant farmers the various attachments, and just -aY pleasantly took hints as he did -Orders fo^the combine. When all attachments were adjusted and explanations made, Mr Reid's team, in the careful hands of Mr Brookes, walked easily away with the machine, and soon everyone saw that it combined economy of cost and time with good workmanship. As a result of the purchase and closer settlement of Edendale estate by the Government, applications have been made by the School Committee to the Southland Kducation Board as follows:' — (a) addition to the school building; (b) addition to the teaching staff; (c) supply of extra desks, and (d) facilities for the conveyance of children to the school. — The proposals were referred to the inspector.' The Board decided to make application to the Department for a special grant for the erection of a new school, outbuildings and fencing on a site set apart for the purpose on the Edendala estate, about midway between Edendale and Mataui'a. It is doubtful (says the News) if the agricultural science classes conducted under the auspices of the Suthland Education Board, High Schools Board, and Farmers' Union will be continued next year unless much greater interest is shown by the farming community. Mr R. Allen, the secretary, wrote to the Education Board l on Friday, stating that the classes had not been very successful, and asking that body to contribute a proportion of the expenses incurred. This was agreed to, Mr Gilchrist, the board's representative on the management committee, remarking thair ifc would be better to discontinue the classes unless they were accorded better support. The speaker considered that preference should be given to the study of veterinary science and medicine — ana,tomy, physiology, and general pathology.