LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

From all accounts (tays the Palmorston Times) the mortality amongst lambs in Waikouaiti and Palmerston districts during the recent wet weather has been vcrv heavy. During Thursday and Friday ]o«t Mr William Souter, of Flag Swamp, lost 70 lambs and several farmers in that district have sustained equally heavy lebses. Mr J Ross, of Kartigi. and Messrs M'Kenzie Bros. (Bushey Park), have also los=t heavily, Mr Ross's deaths including a number of stud lambs. ° The North Otago Times learns from a ■jsntleman who came from Waikaka.hi on Saturday, 23rd. that tho loss of lambs by last week's storm was not so heavy as might have boon expected from i(s severity. It is feared that the percentage of lambs in the Clyde district this season will prove a good way below the average, the losses being chiefly attributed to the fact that the bulk of the ewes are in exceptionally low condition, owing to the scarcity of food during the winter. The recent unsatisfactory weather has had a serious effect upon newly-sown potatoes so far as cut seed is concerned (says the Oamarvi Mail). Those in the Maheno district have been rotted, and it has been found neoessary to resow. The whole seed has apparently not suffered to any appreciable extent. The Omarama and Benmore district is looking exceedingly well for the season of the year. Lambing has just commenced under the most favourable circumstances, and stock generally has wintered very well. Many farmers up the Kurow line report that both wheat and oats have rotted in the ground owing to the wet weather, and that the paddocks will have to be resown. At the month!/ meeting of the Waitalnina Farmers' Club, held on the 25th u't., Mr "W. Cameron (president) occupied the chair. A letter was received from the manager of Ihe Otago Farmers' Co-opera-tive Agency, Duncdm, enclosing draft agreement, for the approval of ,he club, , for the right to occupy a portion of the club's paddock for the erection of cattle and sheep yards. After some discussion as to a proper understanding between the lessee of lhe paddock for grazing purposes, the Otago Farmers' Co-operative Agoac-y, and the club, it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Cowen and Bateman— " That the sub-committee appointed at last meeting be empowered to deal with the matter." — The secretary reported that, as directed at Kfct meeting, he had written to Mr Oudaillo, the membar for the riding, requesting that the road between the club's paddock and Messrs Auld's property be opened up and put in order for the cartage of material for the erection of the saleyai-ds. The county engineer had been down and inspected the road. The president, secretary, and Messrs Cowen and Livingston were appointed- to meet the engineer and point out whac was required. — The unsatisfactory nd risky practice at present in vogue of selling stock on the ground through agents was introduced by Mr Batoman and taken part, in by most members present. A general discussion ensued, the opinion expressed being that sellers should make sure of their mark before- disposing of their stock by this means. The Fairfax correspondent of the Western Star writes:— With tho absence of frosts and the mild rams we are getting, the ■ grass is coming away splendidly, and better i weather for lambing could not be wished for. All old shepherds are great believers in damp or moist weather for lambing. In every instance the ewes are looking well, ! and a good percentage showing. Mr Dick- j son. of Portobello, has taken anothei draft of fat and forward cattle, in ill 100 head, j from the herds of Messrs Meek, M'lntoFh, ' Cupples, and Carrick, and each and all at very satisfactory prices. Mr Dickson has this season taken away from the immediate ' Western District very close on 500 head, I and at an average of £6 per head. A i handsome sum of money thus goes into | circulation by one man to the benefit of many. Sheep are well maintaining their price. Hoggets are again on the rise, and fat wethers command up to 30s. The fat i lamb "market will open at from 12s to 14s, \ and wool up to lOd, so that those who possess a fair flock of sheep may predict for themselves a good teason. Horses are also selling at good prices; anything of size and quality can command up to £50. The Moa Flat correspondent of file Mount 1 Bengei Mail writes: — As the result of a very mild winter, farmers have hada splendid opportunity of getting on with their ploughing operations. Some of the farmers who acquired additions to their holdings by purchasing land from the Moa Flat estate are going in for cultivation on a fairly large scale. The spurs and terlaoes near Moa Flat, .where tried in Hie past, have yielded good crops. A short time ago rabbit-poisoning was all the rage, and I understand that in many places bunny took to the fare provided. The system that ib in vogue— more e&pecially in the high country— of laying the poison indiscriminately, without making any "scrape" whatever, is to my mind a great waste of material. lam informed that where settlers have used the plough t-h© result has been most satisfactory. In the high countiy this cannot always be done: but tho ordinary trappers' grubber is always available, and might be used to advantage in those- places where it is notcouvenient to use the plough. The Awamoko correspondent of tl.e North Otago Times reports: — There is just about the usual area in crop in this locality this year. The majority of farmers are now goii'g in for mixed farming, but j my idea 's that it wo.ild pay some of the large landed proprietors -f they would go in more for sheep-tanning. It would i^ay them much better, and would be tho means of giving cheir land a. spoil from this continual cropping. Moc-t of the land around here is affected with aioxious weeds, more especially couch gras=. There are a lew that have bee a cleaning their land within the last year or two, but some are quite indifferent about the matter. It is no use oue fanner trying to dean his land if his neighbour cultivates weeds. Potatoes are ■very scarce here just now — in fact, we can hardly get any for seed. There are a few Cam-era who have got their early potatoes in. but I think some of them must [ have rotted in tho ground. Osts have been ' a §ood prico lateiy, moi'£ especially spod lines of which I am sony to say only * sgiajl numbj-r of farmers £o£L air£. Gar-.

ton oats aye the favKirite here, and have \icldcd wall since tbcy were introducer! into this dWric;. Most of ihe early crops of whsit arc looking splendid. J knuw of ove iarmer near C4oorgetown, who bas sown artificial manui'3 with some of l -is v. hj;it this season, and it is looking splendid. A meeting of lh<? Palmorston A. and P. Association, look place on the 23rd ult., Mr T Mmr (president) in lhe chair. The De- . parLment of Agriculture wiote .stating thai the association's application for one of the department's draught slallioiis to be located in the district next year would be kept in mind. — Imitations xo act as judges at the coming show were accepted by the following :— Messrs A. Macfarlane (Dmiedin) and J. H. Fleming (Ulenavv), Ayrshire cali'o ; Messrs Jno. Spratt (Dunedin) and Jas. Eobertson (Lawrence), hacks; Mr Alex. Douglas (Oamaiu). fat stock; Mr R. Pater,oll (Duiiedin). poultiy; Mr T. Reid (N&apara). she^p; Miss Qemmell (Maheno). dairy produce. The follow: ng attending members were appointed to act as stewards on show da> : —Shorthorn cattle- and fat ' stock, Messrs D. Gtuffie and R. Cameron ; Ayrshires, Messrs 81oan and Pollock; draught horses, Messrs T. Dent and A. Flemiug; -thoroughbreds, Messrs Lcfevre, O'Neill, and Philip; shsep, Messrs Sfcen-hou=-e and A. Frasor; dogs, Messrs Riddls and Lefevre; dairy produce. Messrs Clark and Isbister; implements, Messrs Ormsby, D Ross, and Robertson. — The programme for the coming show was then drawn up, and after considerable discussion last year's programme, with a few sl'ght alterations, ! v.as adopted. In Ayrshire cattle the fol- ' lowing class was &<kled : — 'Cow and two of her progeny. fir c i prize 15s. second 7s 6d. In the poultry section the classes for Dorking, Brahmapootra, Light Brahma, Spanish and Cochin China fowls were deleted, and classes for buff and black Orpingtons, gold, silver, and white Wyandottes and Mmorcas I were added. The section for clogs was j retained. — The Ground Committee was I authorised to draw up a scheme with a. i view to accelerating the proceedings on ' show day, so as to bring the judging to a close at an earlier hour than has hitherto been the case. Miss Bessie M'Lauchlan (says the Wyndliam Farmer) has been appointed secretary of Glenham Co-operalivo Dairy Factory Company, Limited The young lady — who, we believe, is the first member of her nax to occupy such a position in this colony— 1 has received a practical insight into this class of clerical work under the supervision of her father, Mi- James M'Lauchlan, of Wyndham, the doyen of secretaries of dairy factory companies in New Zealand. Canada Reef farmers report heavy mortality among their lambs through the recent wet weaiher. — Milton Mirror. -The Mokoret-a- correspondent of the Wyndham Herald writes: — The long spell of fine weather which we have enjoyed dur- , ing the past winter ended with the equinox, and we have had some severe easterly squalls since, which have doae some damage among the young lambs, tho lambing being general in the Valley. Stock of all kinds are in fine condition, ' owing to the mild winter, and the consequent abundance of feed. The girass paddocks (especially young grass) were looking beautiful and green before the storm came on, but are slightly checked again. 4. farmer from Wyndnam remarked that they had' no grass to equal some of the paddocks he had Seen here. Mr Bacon, proprietor of the factory, had a meeting of the suppliers, and a satisfactory arrangement was made for the ensuing seaso-n. The price for the milk is very encouraging, and I understand there i will be one or two more supplying this year. In a year or two I expect to see the factory haviug as big a supply as when it first started. I notice the County Council have postponed the question of taking the ragwort off the schedule of noxious weeds until rext meeting of the council. It is to be hoped it will see its way to take it off, or at least make some discrimination between rough countr}- and small dairy farms, as it is an utter impossibility to clear it in rough ferny country where sheep cannot get at it. It h never seen where sheep are running continuously. It is to be hoped the farmeis in the back-blocks will bestir themselves, and help the members of tho council who are trying to get it off the schedule. The flax mills have again started operations. Under date September 27, the Gimmerburn correspondent of the Mount Ida Chronicle writes : — There has been nothing to prevent farm work being well forward. { A new kind of plough has been introduced j here- lately — a three-furrow diso plough. A number of farmers were present when the expert agent gave a satisfactory trial to the buyer, Mr John Law, of Redeourt. I am informed taht it has continued to give satisfaction in the class of land it has been worked on. The lambmpr season will be general about the Ist of October. Given moderate weather during- the month, the increase will probably be great. Most ewes are showing indications of a heavy lambing and now all depends on the weather. One indication of coming events is the fact that " in some flocks of big heavy ewes there has bopn a few deaths from ante-partum para- j lysis, which almost without exception is j confined to fat ewes carrying twins. A j considerable number of lambs have this spring come be-fore the time wished for by the owners. The ram paddocks are seldom well enough fenced for some rams. However, I think the loss will this year be trifling. At anyrate one very careful owner had seven ewes which lambed out of season in the worst storm of the late winter. They dropped 14- lambs, and 13 ! of them are Hying and doing well. It i should bo mentioned that the ewes were, j immediately after being seen, put into ' covered pens and fed on turnips and chaff for a few days until the lambs grew strong and the weather settled. Few people realise that something like an average of 25 per ! cent, of the lambs born die from stress of I weather, want of milk, and other causes during the first week of lamb life. When we hear of a 40 per cent, lambing, we calculate- that there has been a 70 per :ent. death rate in the young lambs. The usual meeting of directors of the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Association was held on the 22nd ult., Mr R. A. Anderson (president) in the chair. The Secretary reported that arrangements had been made for conducting a working trial of sheep dogs within the ring on the first day of the show, and thai Mr Prendergast had kindly undertaken to make the necessary arrangements in connection therewith, including the supply of merino sheep. It was resolved to convey the thanks of the association to Mr Prendergast for the interest he had taken in tho matter, and Messrs J. 4, Mitchell and John M'Kerchar

were appointed to as=ist in carrying out tha necessary arrangements. — lhe various marshals who acted at the previous year's show having consented to occupy the sam-o position again, and having sent in recommendations as to the stewards whom they desired the directors to nominate, it was agreed to accept the recommendations of the marshals in all cases, and the necessary nominations were accordingly made.— The Special Prize Committee reported that they had can\a^=ed the town and received a highly satisfactory response-ifroin the firms and business people, who were waited upon.— Various suggestions were made in regard to providing further accommodation for horses at the forthcoming show. It is the intention of the director', so far as it may be within their power, to increase the accommodation before next show day.— Attention was called by a letter to the danger arising from the public crowding round the outer entrance to the ring in which the horses are judged, and Steps a* ill be taken to endeavour to prevent this, and if possible minimise the risk of accidents which may readily occur through the manner in which the public continually throng around these entrances. It is hoped that visitors will see the necessity for discontinuing this practice. — Nominations for the necessary number of judges having been, received from the directors, the voting in connection therewith was proceeded with, the result being that a list of names which, should satisfy the most ex-acting was ultimately decided upon. — A communication from Sir J. G. Ward regarding the terms on which a Government subsidy would be granted for the- purposes of the association was read, and it was decided that a subcommittee, consisting of the town members, should be appointed to talre the matter into consideration in all its bearings and report at the earliest possible date. Mr James Haining, chairman of directors, presided over the annual meeting of. the Seaward Downs Dairy Factory Company. The report congratulated the shareholders upon a successful year, and stated that the success of vhc company was now well established. The output for the past season (110 tons) v.-as nearly double that of any year since the inception of the company. Suppliers were warned against feeding turnips and rape to dairy cows during the export season, and were advised to make precision for suitable feed up to the end •of March, although it would be preferable if turnip feeding could be kept back till the end of April. The receipts for the" year, including £658 of overdraft, amounted to £5137, of which £4-360 was received from cheese sales. The expenditure, including abalance brought forward of £34-9 ; totalled £5137, the principal items being milk (£3680) and the not cost of removing the factory (£344). The assets showed a balance of £181 over the liabilities. The balance sheet and report were unanimously agreed to. Messrs A. F. Hawke and J. C. Morton were re-elected directors, and Mr DA. Raymond auditor. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr M'Call, seconded by Mr Sbeppard, to recommend the directors to instruct the rheesemaker not to receive any milk at the factory between October 15 and March. 31. (inclusive) that was in any way tainted by feeding with ill-flavoured roots. Mr A. F. Hawke congratulated the shareholders on the prosperity of the company, and a highly enthusiastic meeting terminated with votes of thanks to the directors and to the paid officers of the company. The annual horse parade under the auspices of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday last, in fine weather. There was not quite so good an attendance as there has been in previous years, although there was a fair gathering of farmers. The display of draughts was not quite up to that of last year, though the 19 draughts, a thoroughbred, 5 hackney stallions, 3 trotting stallions, and 1 pony stallion which entered the ring were of the first quality. Possibly the most generally admired amongst the draughts were Cedrie the Saxon, Sandy Erskine, and The Sovereign. Rosemere, who 'secured first in Dunedin on Thursday, was the only representative of the thoroughbreds. The judge (Mr Hugh Craig) considers him one of the best thoroughbreds ho has iudged. and, besides being the sire of racehorses, should also be a sire of useful hacks, harness and hunter horses. The hackneys and trotting stallions were also shown in good condition, and altogether the parade was a most meritorious one, and reflected the greatest credit on the district.