LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

The Alandeville correspondent of the Mataura Ensign 6tates that a. millowner had an experience last week that was the reverse of pleasant. The mill finished threshing two stacks at 11 p.m., and the millowner, to save time, decided to shift to another stack half a mile distant in a level paddock. - Accordingly, with a good supply of coal and full steam up, he started. In the meantime the fog came down suddenly. After steaming ahead for an hour the man sent out scouts, who reported no stack. After another hour's steady steaming had been done a large stack looming in the distance cam© in sight. The millowner, after close inspection, found it was the same stack that he had finished threshing two hours previously. Next morning the farmer, who expected the mill to be threshing, was surprised to find it in the same place, a. circle of roads around his paddock, and his coal about finished.

The sixth annual exhibition of the Mantototo Fanciers' Club is to be held at Naseby on the 6th July, and the secretary (Mr James Kirby) states that it promises to excel all past shows. Much attention has been paid this year to the classes for grain and root exhibits and fruit, and entries in these classes will doubtless exoeed in number those of previous years. Additional interest will be added by an address to be Riven by Mr J. C. Blaekmore, Government Vomologist.

Mr Jphn M. BeKg has informed the Clutha Free Press that he has completed arrangements with the Taieri and Peninsula Company for the erection of a creamery at the new settlement of Blackburn. Mr Be?g will erect the building and take ill

the risk for the first year; after that the settlers will haTe the option of taking it over. Out of the 30 sections in the settlement, over 20 hare now been taken up, and there is erery prospect of the remainder being disposed of before long. A Gore speculator, has leased 40 acres of land in the Charlton district for the purpose of growing potatoes next season. He intends (says the Mataura Ensign) to go into th© venture in a. thoroughly systematic fashion, and as a preliminary will dress the land with lime at the rate of two tons to the acre.

To show the lateness of the harvest, it may be mentioned (says the Milton Mirror) that the last of the standing crop of the season in this district was cut last week on Robinson's farm at Moneymore. At Clarksville Mr Matheson was cutting a green crop for chaff at the same time.

The required number of cows has now been promised for a dairy factory at Clinton, and those promising are to be called upon to sign the necessary guarantee. — Clutha Leader.

A number of prosecutions under the Stock and Noxious Weeds Acts were conducted at the Lumsden Court on the 11th inst. before Mr M'< Earthy, S.M. Fines were inflicted as follows :— W. H. King (Invercargill), failing to cut noxious weeds, fined £7* 10s. costs 7s ; M'lndoe and Tanner (Harrington's), failing to cut noxious weeds, fined £2. costs 275 ; Jag. "Lush (Balfour), exposing lousy sheep at Balfour yards, fined, £5, costs 235; JasT Lush, failing to dip, fined £5. costs 15s; R. Anderson (Mossburn), exposing lousy sheep at Mossburn yards, fined £2, costs 235; Fleming Bros. (Mossburn), exposing leusv sheep, fined £2. costs 30s. Inspector Taylor conducted the cases for ths department.

The Wrey's Bush correspondent of the Otautau Standard writes: — Threshing operations are now in full swing. There are few reports of heavy crops this year, and, on the average, the sample is much below that of last season. Owing to the indifferent condition in which it was gathered in a large proportion* of the grain in this district is^ likely to remain in the stack till spring. * Ploughing has commenced on somo farms, but will not be general for a few weeks. The Wairio- Wrey's Bush Ploughing Match Association met in the Public Hall on Saturday evening, June 2, there being a good attendance of members. The r rc ' s 'oent (Mr T. Stroud) was in the ■-.tjiair. The annual report and balanea sheet showed ths society to be in a good financial position, with a credit balance of £15.- On the .motion of Mr JR. James, it was decided to hold the annual match on Friday, 6th July. A committee was appointed to select a suitable paddock.

The Aparima correspondent of the Western Star reports: — Harvest at last is about finished, the grain being saved in exceptionally good order considering the amount of bad weather. Threshing is fairly well on, and although the yield in the majority of cases is not up to the average, yet there are 6ome good returns. I hear that Mr S. James's return of a large area was about 70 bushels ocr acre, and the price at over 2s per bushel must be very satisfactory. Mr W. Lightfoot, as far as I have heard, holds the-, record for price, having obtained 2s 3d per bushel for a, fine sample of Newmarkets. Ploughing is again becoming the order of the day, several having commenced to turn the black side up again, and by the set of some of our ploughmen it is evident that" ploughing matches are in view. Stock have been suffering by the bad weather, and in many cases there will be a shortage of food before winter is over.

The following district notes arc supplied by correspondents of the Bruce Herald : — Table Hill : All the harvest is now finished, and those who have not got their grain thresh-ed are waiting for the threshing-mill. The returns, I Tiear, arc very poor, there not being half the grain there was last year, owing no doubt to the extremely bad season' -experienced. Most of the farmers have made a good start with their ploughing, but I do not think there will be much ploughing done this year, as sheep farming has been paying them better lately, on ac ccunt of the distance they have to cart the grain. The potato crop on the whole was very fair ; the b'.ight did not affect them as much as was at first expected. — Circle Hill : The harvest, though not as bountiful as in former years, owing to the wet season, is now completed in the Milburn di»>trict, and the farmers ai-e now turning over the land with the plough in preparation tor next year's crops. In some of th© outlying districts the harvest is not quite finished- In Circle Hill some of the farmers aro threshing, and others are not all Jed in yet. Although the weather during the harvest has been very changeable, yet the gTain in this district has been very little damaged by the wet weather, but was considerably knocked about by strong winds. Now that the winter has fairly set in we are having real sunshiny weather, which comes in a very opportunate time, as it allows the threshing plants of Cowio Bros, and T. Crane to get on with their work at a very lively rate froih eorlv morning till lafe at night. The flaxmill worked by Shanks Bros., which is situated in a very favourable position, and is surrounded on all sides by high hills covered with first-class flax, which will keep it going for years to come, is very busy. The flaxmill interests the farmers in Circle Hill a good deal, as they can now get a good price for their flax at the mill and have not far to cart it. The turnip crop is not so good as for some years back, and some of the farmers will barely have enough to winter their stoeik ; a few will be more fortunate. The potato crop is fairly good, and the present good weather is favourable for digging them. At th» Balclutha Court, on Wednesday last, before Mr Oruiokshank, S.M., W. Poff was fined £5 and 7s costs for failing to cut ragwort on his property. Sheep are still good property (aays the Bruce Herald of the 14th inst.), and the Milton district can produce some of the best. On Tuesday afternoon last, Mr T. E. Jefcoate, auctioneer for Messrs Stronach, Morris, and Co. (Ltd.), Dunedin, placed a splendid line of four and six-tooth wethers, belonging to Mr Mark Finoh, at the very satisfactory figure of 255, on trucks Milburn. We believe this is the highest figure touched in local sales this season, and. both seller and buyer are well pleased with the deal. The sheep ar« a well-finished line, and reflect great credit on the way Mr Finch has fed and topped them off. The "Western District A- and P. Association held their annual winter show at Riverton on Wednesday last, the exhibits occupying tho Victoria and Oddfellows' Halls. The weather was not of the best, but early in the afternoon the sun shone out. and the townspeople attended in fair

numbers. The entries were quite up to the ' average, numerically at least, though in some departments there was a- falling off in quality. It was no surprise to find, after the bad season that has been experienced, that the exhibits of grain and seed were very few indeed. The quality, in sympathy with the quantity, was not at all remarkable, not going over the medium mark. The bulk pi tho awards were taken by Mr F. Forde. of Isla Bank, who has consistently exhibited at the Riverton show for years. In the root crops and garden produce classes a very much better show was made, again remembering that the season has been distinctly unfavourable. The potatoes were surprisingly good, and- the turnips were almost sensational in their fine quality. The dairy and farm produce classes are always a strong feature of the Riverton winter show. The competition among the house- ; wives and housemaidens is apparently of the keenest description, and the result is that : some excellent exhibits were presented for the judge's scrutiny. The cheese class is j perhaps the exception as far as numbers are i concerned, and on this occasion again only two exhibitors came forward. The first prize went to the Aparima Dairy Factory, and the second to Miss Guise (Wild Bush), both showing nicely-manufactured cheeses. In the hams and bacon tections the Titiroa brand met very little opposition. The exhibito of bread, scones, etc., were numerous, and the quality was generally of the best. The display of flowers and ferns is never a \cry extensive feature of the show, but it is usually interesting. It is' beyond question that the principal attraction at the show was thepoultry scction,2and the association is to be com'plirhented on the rapid strides made in regard tc these exhibits' during tho past few ' years. Three years ago Mr G. Double was required to" judge about 60 birds, but on this occasion over 200 were submitted for his verdict. In keeping with the increase ir numbers there has been a proportionate advance in quality. An inspection of the pens showed that while some classes had fallen off the more popular had materially advanced. Mr James 'Eaton, of Caroline (says lastFriday's Winton Record). who tried Wavcrley oats on his farm last season, has just discovered what a suitable oat that variety is for the land in that locality. Tha paddock he tried them in had been under wheat during the two immediately previous seasons, and yet this year, when the average yielded throughout the province is much below the usual, his crop threshes out just oVtr 50 bushels to the acre.. The sample was a particularly bright one, and he sold 'ast Saturday to Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. (Ltd.) at 2s 3d on the trucks at Caroline. This, when it is taken into consideration that tho oat market is easier than it has been for a month past, must be considered about the best price paid in Southland, and the best recommendation that the sample can have is that it has been secured for exhibiting both at the Southland winter show and also at the Christchurch Exhibition next November. During the coming seed time this variety should find great favour with the farmers who have similar land to Mr Ea/ton's. The following notes from Tuapeka Mouth appear in the Lawrence paper of Saturday last : —The crops are now all stacked. The weather this year for the harvesting was. the worst ever experienced, but oespite the weather and all prognostications to the contrary, the sample is very good. The saleyards are now completed, thanks to the, energy of the provisional directorate. They are capable of holding, I bhould think, from 5000 to 7000 sheep. The finish of the yards is all that could be desired, being well and substantially constructed, besides being easy of ac^cs. A notable feature of the site is its proximity to a plantation, which shelters them from prevailing winds. Mr Thos. M'Milla.n, of Waitahuna, has sold his farm to Mr Brosnan, of South Canterbury. The price, I understand, is £5 10s per acre. Mr Brosnan is to be congratulated on acquiring this valuable property. I also hear that negotiations for the sale of two or three other farms are taking place. The rabbit carte are etill running, but I think their loads are small, as the rabbits were never, within my memory, so scarce as at present. A number of farmers attribute this to weasels, which are very plentiful. Some people maintain that when the rabbits aro very scarce the weasels will kill the young lambs. I was talking to a gentleman the other day on the matter, when he told me that whore he came from at Homo the weasels were much more numerous than here, and practically there were no rabbits, and the weasels did not bother the lambs. Let us hope the same will be the case here. . The Fairfax correspondent of the Western Star writes: — The few farmers who have threshed find the yield very disappointing, but for anything at all saleable the price is quite satisfactory, which greatly assists in making up for the shortage in yield. >o doubt through the appearance of northern buyers in the district sheep young and sound have advanced fully 3s per head; but if feed were plentiful such 6heep as are going should be kept in the district till they matured, and thus be sold at their full value — viz., from 18s to 225. Fat cattle are also .advancing in value through the searoity of feed, and I predict that by September beef will be 30s per 1001b. All the above goes to show tho great loss the failure of a turnip crop is to the farmer. Horses, on account of the ploughing season, are advancing in price. , and anything of quality is eagerly picked XMr R. Cupples, jun., trucked to Dunwintei sale six splendid mares and geldings, topping the market with a pair of mares sired by Shepherd Lad, and bred in the district. This plainly demonstrates that the Western District can more than hold its own at both the winter and summer shows held in Dunedin. Except those who feed and house Cows daring the winter months, dairying is closed down for this season.