AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 21

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

"A Supplier" discusses the affairs of the Taicri and Peninsula Milk Supply Company, and, eliminating portions of hie letter on matters whioh are more appropriate for discussion at the company's annual meeting, the following is fche gist of what he has to say: — "As a milk supplier, I am glad to see that ,the shareholders are commencing to take an interest in the affairs of the above company. There is. no doubt that there ia growing discontent amongst milk supplier's, and it is hinted that the Peninsula suppliers propose starting a new company in opposition. "We want reform, and until proxies are done away witii I can't see how we can get ifc. Still, if all the creameries would unite and appoint delegates from each to act for them, something might bs done. I may mention that the idea of voting papers being sent to all milk suppliers has been discussed in our district for some time back as oar only hope of putting new blood on the directorate. I hope ihe suppliers will insist on having the hope the suppliers will insist on having- the annual meeting open to the pre£s, as it can do no liarm to get an impartial report of the doings of the company." At the fourth annual meeting of the South Canterbury Dairy Co., Timaru, the repoi-6 showed a profit for the year of about £590. About 10^ million pounds- of milk were bought, and milk, butter, and cream sold for £21,976. The town supply of milk was reported to be profitable: 430.9511b of butter were made, of which 255,0001b were sold in the local markets, and the rest shipped Iloine on consignment, and this netted £d more than best offer made by Home btiyers in the colony. The company has now 13 creameries.

Lambs are doing very well this season in Lower Manawatu, between Hoiowhenua and Paraparaumu. By the s.s. Waikaro, which left Lyttelton on Friday last, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company shipped for Sydney 542 sheep, 275 Shropshire ram hoggets, __ 62 Lincoln ram hoggets, and five Lincoln two-tooth lams. Of the Shropshires 125 were from Mr D. Mulholland, of Darfield; 100 from Mr S. H. Amyes, Irwell; 20 from Mr William Grant, Tiniaru; and 30 from Sir George Clifford, Stonj hurst. The five Lincoln rams also came from Sir George Clifford's estate, and tho Lincoln hoggets were sent by Mr J. F. Reid, of Elderslie. Seventyfive rams were shipped for Melbourne in the s.s. Monowai by Messrs Field and Royds.

An Ayrshire farmer has succeeded in obtaining £200 from the municipal authorities of Maybole for injury suffered by his cews drinking water, which had been contaminated by the drainage of the town. The farmer averred that his cattle were poisoned through drinking water from Heart Loch, into which the borough, of Maybole drains its refuse and decomposing vegetable ami animal matter, and that in consequence of so drinking 1 , eight cows aborted, three bucanie ill and gave less milk, arid" 21 became lean and out of condition ; and the sheriff before whom the case was argued held thai he had made good his claim lor compensation. '

The agricultural motor (says the Field of July 15) has been the object of considerable attention during the present show season. One or other of the few patterns that nave so far assumed practical shape has been on view at moat of the leading agricultural shows, and although farmers are still disposed to regard their intrusion with a certain amount of disapproval, they cannot help revealing a pardonable curiosity respecting the construction and capabilities t& the invention. Many farmers have enjoyed the privilege of seeing one or moro of the machines at work, and thus they have acquired just sufficient knowledge of the powers and adaptability of the machine- To create a natural curiosity to learn a litMe moxs concerning, not merely tho capabilities ofcihe invention, but also cf the relative cosfc and efficiency of the work it accomplishes. In these days the financial aspect as well as the efficiency of tillage operations and other farm work 'lias to bo closely scrutinised with the view of keeping the expenditure fi? well within the diminished revenue as possible, and if ever the agricultural motor acquires a place oi prominence, and trust on the farm, it will be because of the saving it will effect in the. cost, of crop production. A« to whether or not its adoption would lessen the initial outlay in rai-siiig crop 9 may still be an open question ; but until the iaventor? can convince, farmers that Jnotot power is materially cheaper than horse-power, and equally efficient, not only for field work, but for the varied other forms of traction work that have to be attended to in the course of the year, they need not expect to succeed in supplantingthe horse- labour. There i& no doubt that the horse, as the friend and mainstay of tho farmer, will d ; c hard, and nothing short of overwhelming etiricnce of superior economy and efficiency will indnco the average, farmer to tolerate nracli lec-s to prefer, tie

motor to his equine friend. If the former really possesses all the advantages claimed for it, however, it will no doubt prevail in the end, if not entirely in displacing horses, at all events in largely reducing the dependence upon them, and in the meantime (.he hope of achieving this partial triumph is sufficient encouragement to th<? inggniouc* inventors to persevere in their interesting work.