LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

A visitor to the Greenfield Settlement states (says the Clutha Leader) that the country is looking splendid, the grass being better and further forward in that district than any ho has seen. In consequence the stock is looking well, and while the recent wet weather killed a number of lambs, y.>t good lambings are reported, 100 per jent. not being uncommon.

Ida Valley farmers are complaining bitterly (says "the Dunstan Times) about the prolonged drought in that district and the consequent scarcity of feed for stock. While the spring has been a more than usually wet one in parts of Central Otago, Ida Valley appears to have missed the greater part of the rain with which the lest of the country has been favoured. So dry has the season been that the ploughing of lea ground has been practically an impossibility. It has just been discovered that sheepstealing on a pretty large scale has been proceeding in parts of North Otago, and at Papakaio Plain particularly, where the farmers have been mustering ewes and lambs for cutting and tailing the latter. It has been found iv several instances that owes have disappeared, as many as 25 and 50 on single farms. The discovery has created considerable tmeasiness in the district.

A southern exchange says that a wellknown pastoralist in the Tuapeka disirict states that his neighbours are shepherding the few rabbits left as much as possible, fearing that if these are exterminated the stoats and weasels will turn their attention to lambs.

Mr A. J. Stevens, of Pleasant Point (Canterbury), has had a very good lambing season. A flock of 500 evies produced 115 per cent, of lambs. The Clutha Leader states that Mr J. R. Fleming, of Meadowbank, shore seven bales of wool from a flock o£ his crossbred wethers, and sold the clip to the Bruce Woollen Mills for 13d per pound net.

Sheep-worrying- has been rife lately at Wangalon (says the Clutha Free Press), Mr John Smith, of Roseneath, having been one of tLe principal sufferers.

The Oania.ru factory of the Taieri a Lid Peninsula Company recomimnced separating opantions this morning (says the Mail oi the Ist inst.). when a good start was made with between 60& and 700 gallons of milk, which must be considered very satisfactory indeed. Wo may mention that the Machinery- lias a capacity for treating 380 gallons per hour. The freezing plant for installation is expected in about a fortnight's time, and will complete one of Hie most up-to-date factories in the colony. Camaru-auide butter will be- available in about a fortnight's time.

Mr I. W. Raymond, who is a candidate for re-election to the Southland County Council, In an address to the ratepayers of Tois-Tois Riding said he was satisfied the County Council's action, in including ragwort in the schedule of noxious weods was a .mistake. If elected, he would do his utmost to have ragwort removed from the schedule. It was wrong to retain it there, because they tould not compel all to cut their growths down. At the present moment the departmen: deemed it opportune, with the parliamentary and county elections at hand, 1o issue informations; moreover, Southland was at present fortunate In having a- discreet inspector in charge of affairs ; yet he had the power behind him, if he chose to exercise it, to order the eradication of any patch of ragwort in the district.

The annual horse parade in connection with the Otago Central A and P. Association was held in Mr Jno. Pitches's paddock, Ophir, on Thursday, 26th ult. A large number of farmers put in an appearance, but unfortunately the opportunity of parading their animals before the public wa3 not largely availed of by horse owners. Only two Clydesdales were paraded, Mr Jno. Wilson's Marksman and Mr Peter Anderson's Britannia. Both horses were shown in excellent condition, and were much admired, Marksman especially being well spoken of. Three thoroughbred stallicns were brought forward, Mr W. Paul's Kelburn, Mr Jno. Wilson's Young Epicure, and a Cheap Jack colt belonging to Mr T. Mcc, the latter being 1 evidently just off the tussock. Kelburn was shown in great buckle, and looked a perfect picture of a racehorse. Young Epicure was also shown in good order, and though not up to the quality of Kelburn, has established a record in the district as a sire of good utility horses. Mr A. Doeherty's standard bred trotting stallion Del Paso v<as also exhibited, and showed to good advantage, his action being matchless. Mr Geo. Fache, on behalf of the Central Otago A. and P. Association, called, over the card.

A -well-attended committee meeting of the Gore A. and P. Association was held on the 28th ult. r Mr C. Cooper (president) in the chair. Mr Macara referred to the death by drowning of a gentleman who took great interest in the society, and who had frequently acted as judge. He referred to Mr Robt. Watson, of Castle Rock. The lea3t the committee could do was to pass a vote of condolence with deceased's friends and relatives. He moved to that effect. The motion was seconded by Mr M. Dickie, and carried. — W. Cowie, Balfour, in forwarding the £1 member's subscription, wrote that he did not see the advantage of raising the subscription to £1. It did not raise the standard of the show. The success of sn association depended on the number of members, which the raising of the fee would affect. — The Agricultural Potash Syndicate wrote offering a prize for competition among members of the association f<sr the best crop of 1 unrips grown with the aid of their manures. A list of conditions was attached to the offer. Members expressed the opinion that the conditions appeared somewhat restrictive, and it was agreed that the letter lie on the table until members had an opportunity of reading it and acquainting themselves with the terms.— The drainage of tha ground was discussed at length. The secretary stated, in reply to a question, that the work had cost £69 8-s 9d. Mr Logan suggested that drain ploughing the ground would do _ a lot of good, and work in with the tile drains. It was {.-ointed out that the Gore Retailers' Association had only donated £5 5s this year. The retailers did not support the show a& they should. It was agreed to hold over the question of drainploughing in the meantime. — Mr A. A. Maedonald (Reaby) was appointed -judge of Lincoln sheeo and dogs.— Mr Macara said that the Railway, Department was now

lengthening the siding to within a short of the show ground, and he had discussed w'th the station master the possibility of getting the department to extend it to Ihc ground. Tho station master advised writing to the district engineer. The secretary .said the engineer had inspected the place, but no reply had been received by the association. After cliscu'sion. it was resolved, on the motion of Mr M. Dickie — "That the engineer be wiitren to unent the matter." It was further resolved that tho president (Mr Cooper) and Messrs T. Green and W. Macara be a deputation to wait on the Minister of Railways when he passed through. — On the suggestion of Mr Clouston, it vas resolved that stud stock in the leading classes should have the names of the tire and dam printed -in the catalogue of entries. The catalogues conveyed no information of the breed. It was stated that owners did not ahvays supply particulars of the breed, and it was" resolved to advertise a notice that particulars were desired.—Mr Macara «as re-appointed yard superintendent for the show. For some time past (says Fiiday's Palmerston Times) farmers in this district have been complaining of the indiscriminate ase of pea-rifles, and that they have reason for complaint is evidenced by tho fact that on Sunday last three lambf-^ the property of Mr Alex Cochranc, were killed by means of those small, albeit dangerous, weapons. Mr M'Gradie, manager for Mr Cochrane. discovered the dead lambs on Sunday afternoon, and on examination found that two of the animals had been killed by pea-rifles, while the third had received a charge of shot. The matter is in the hands of the police, and it is to be hoped that the persons responsible for the shooting will be apprehended. The North Otago Times of the 3rd inst reports that the present season is provuig little better for stock than for crops. The grass is of a watery kind, and has no strength, and lambs are commencing to suffer in consequence. A representative of this paper was }-esterday told by a wellknown dealer that unless the weather improved there would be few fat lambs, for the simple reason that there is no feed to fatten them. The same authority says that graziers ou the north of the Waitaki River on the upper portion of Weikalcahi are losing a number of lambs. In these cases the lambs are about six weeks' old and in good condition, and the trouble is not scour, but some mysterious complaint which is carrying off a considerable number. The facts seem worthy of the investigation of the Stock Department. A meeting of the Palmerston and Waihemo A. and P. Association was held on the 28th ult., Mr T. Muir (president) in the chair. Miss Charters advised that she would b& willing to act as one of the judeos of dairy produce at the show. Mr Telfer (Elderslie) also wrote accepting appointment as one of the judges. — Mr G. Barclay, stationmaster at Palmerston, wrote asking for particulars of the train arrangements required by the association on show day. On the motion of Mr J. Ross, the president and secretary were instructed to interview Mr Barclay in the matter. — It was decided to retain the gates, the matter of engaging gatemen to be left in the hands of the treasurer. The matters of arranging for luncheon and disposing of the right to sell refreshments were left in the hands of the chairman and secretary. Mr Young was appoinied to assist at the sheep pens, and Mr Wise was appointed bellman. — Mr Galloway drew attention to the leakage at the gates on show days. He was quite certain that many persons who were not entitled to it obtained free admittance, and he thought that no person, whether in charge of an animal or not, should lie allowed to enter the grounds without producing a ticket. He would move — "That no person be allowed to enter the grounds on show day unless a ticket is produced." Mr A. Fraser said that in order to test tho feeling of the meeting he would second tho motion. Several members expressed the opinion that very few persons who were not entitled to the right got in free. The gatemen used discretion, and only; members and their families, and those in charge of animals were passed in free. An amendment was carried that it was too late to make any alteration this year. A committee meeting of the North Otago A. and P. Association was held on Wednesday last, when thei - e was a good attendance. Mr G. Brownlee, in the unavoidable absence of the president and vice-president, was voted to the chair. An application was received from Captain Robertson for the use of the Show Ground from December 1 to December 8 for the annual training of the infantry battalion. Granted. — The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company (Timaru) wrote enclosing cheque for £5 5s for special prizes. Mr Basil Seth-Smith forwarded a donation of £1 Is for the best shorthorn yearling bull. — Mr C. W. Cooke, secretary of the Exhibition Committee, wrote asking the association to nominate its representatives on the committee. The secretary's action in sending the names of the executive sub-committee was approved. — Colonel Robin wrote stating that the Minister for Defence has approved (with the object of increasing the general efficiency of the Volunteers) that challenge shields be provided for each of the branches of the local forces, to be competed for annually. The Government .propose to grant a subsidy of £ for £ money collected for the above purpose up to £100. It was resolved to defer consideration of the lefcier until after the show, when it can be seen how the association stands financially. — On the recommendation of the executive sub-com-mittee Messrs T. Cunningham and F. Robertson were appointed honorary surgeons to the association. — It was decided to insure the public against accident for the two show days with the New Zealand Insurance Company. — The stewards of the fat sheep classes were instructed to draw exhibitors' attention to the conditions of _ the Christchurch Meat Company's special prizes, that they may distinguish between those who enter for these prizes and those entering for the association's prizes only. — It was decided to instruct the judges to commence their work as early as possible on each day of the show. — The next meeting of the General Committee was fixed for 9 a.m. on the Show Ground on the 16th inst.

In last week's issue of the Winton Record the special contributor of "Stock Notes" writes as follows in reference to business transacted during the month of October : — Probably owing to the fact that farmers for the most part take a natural pr-ide in the number of bales they can turn out at shearing, and also to the sanguine hope that has been fostered by the late sales in London thai record prices will h& ruling, the entries of sheep at the public yards have been very limited this month, even the fat pens at Wallacetown producing scarcely sufficient to supply the

lceal butcheis. Consequently the markea for fats has kept up, notwithstanding freezers were not competing; but the stoic. market has been by no means active, although the entries were few and the fleece heavier. It may be that "coining events throw their shadows before," but there is no doubt that an uneasy feeling is abroad that there will he a compaiatne fall in prices after shearing. Indeed, it is a question with some as to whether it would not be wiser to accept the present maiket and sell before shearing; and without wishing- to pose as a pessimist, the writer is inclined to -think it would be th-s safest course to pursue, as lvgards wether hoggete at least. The bottom seems to have altogether fallen out ot the frozen mutton market, and, in the face of the threatened competition from Australia, even lamba look none too bright. Still, there -is no telling what the morrow will bring forth, and the writer is quite aware that, although such a course might be pursued by a breeder, it would scarcely commend iteclf to anyone who had bought at the prices that have been ruling during the last three months. I regret to see also from the latesc cables that the Bradford wool market seems to have a weakening tendency, which is not altogether surprising now that peace has been definitely porclaimed between Russia and Japan, and in view of the enormous increase in the wool shipments from Australia ; but it was not anticipated by experts that prices would be affected to a great extent this year, so we have reason to hope that our first sa!e at least will still find values on the flow. Cattle : Doubtlsss owing to the hea'iy drafts that left Southland during Seiitembcr tbe price of prime beef has not fallen to any appreciable extent this month, and those who have been able to bring their stoolc to the late metropolitan sales have met with a short supplj and consequent good competition. However, as the season advances and entries increase, history will probably repeat itself, and the butchers will have the graziers at their mercy, as, at present fit leapt, there seems to be no reason to indulge in the hope that freezers will come to the rescue. I would therefore advise those readers who are hanging on to fat cattle to strike the iron while it is hot. for assuredly it will cool shortly and suddenly. Hitherto the various salev-irrls have been crowded with stores of all kinds and sizes. which have either been slaughtered or taken back by their indignarft owners, for. unless exceptionally well bred, there is absolutely no competition ; but now. for some inexplicable reason, a sudden breeze has sprung tip, and there seems to be a glimmer of hope that durint, the next month or two it will freshen into a fair demand for young cattlp nnd dairy cows. The Warepa co-respondent of the Clutha Free Press writes : — We are now paying np for the extremely mild winter we experienced. For some w^oks past we have been enjoyins: a superfluity of rain, and the really fine days could be counted on the finprers. Work of all descriptions ha~ been seriou=lv delayed, and in spite of all efforts it will be some time before sowing -orerations are completed. Several farmers have managed to pet their potatoes in between whiles, but the ground is sodden ami almost unworkab'e. Grass is more plentiful, and any crops that were sown before the weatlifT.' broke show a fine healthy braird. Lambinsf is almost over, and I hear the perccitace is rather above the usual, ilthough sev-eral farmers suffered lvavilv by deaths durinsr the early nart of the season. Docking is being attended to. and, what is somewhat unusual, I have not heard of any loss* thereafter.

The Tuapska Mouth correspondent of theClutha Leader writes:— Thou «rh the wpather has been cold and wet a good lambinp is the general rule. Of course there are exceptions. Mr Edward Thurlby up to the present has 116 per cent., and all his ewes are not lambed yet. The average over all •the district should run out at 100 per cent. Mr John M'Cann has about 220 acres -in, crop, whioh is looking exceptionally well. The Gieenfield settlers as a whole impress me with the idea thai they are a sound class of settler — practical and progressive. The Fairfax correspondent of the Western. Star writes: — October has been very deceptive so far as weather is concerned. Many farmers have a good many acres of oats to sow, delayed by the weather. Although the ground in almost every case was ploughed, yet tho seed cou'd not be sown nor the harrows set to work through getting so many occasional showers. Lam bin? in every case is over, and the work of marking is proceeded with, which universally shows splendid percentages. Sheep are still high. I heard a local farmer refuse 24s rer bead for a line of splendid hogcets. There are a few Canterbury buyers for first-class cattle in the district, " and foi real'v prim« stock good prices can be obtained. Tbpre _is every indication that wool will sell at Hsrh. value. I notice thnt 10^d to Is. has K*n refused, but he who r-ofuses such vriecs must have overlooked the fact hat theie is a great increase in sheen .Ims -sear over last. Lambs are also eroing to command good prices. Up to 15s can readily be aot for forward Lambs. When the weather permits turnip ground is Loing got ready. There are a great many usinotwo tons of lime r;er aero, and with splendid! results. Mr Meek's two lime kilns are kept in full swing, and can hardly supply the demand.