LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 19

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

j A case of supposed swine, fever was I reported as having occurred among 26 store pigs on a- farm near Gore. The pigs were purchased at auction , a week ago. Two developed symptoms coinciding with swine fever, «nd~ died on Saturday. *Me Kerrigan, Government 'Veterinarian, reached the farm on Monday to investigate ■the matter. He sajfc that there is not the slightest suspicion that the outbreak is swine" fever. • ' ' A, well-known farmer in- the Wyndham district of progressive tendencies has decided to make another forward move — by purchasing a Babcock milk-testing plant, qo> that he m«y thoroughly know the rela- • tive milking properties of. the cows in his dairy herd. The farmer in question ir .-(file Farmer believes) the first in the distriot to invest in a, Babcock outfit. Rabbits, are scarce all over the Milton district? but there is more trouble with lice on sheep than has» been the* case in years past (says the Bruce Herald). The Stock Department is aware of this fact, and is ' dealing with it vigorously to prevent its spreading. A Duntroon settler, who has over 30 years' experience of that and surrounding districts- to draw upon, stated, in conversation with a North Otago Times, reporter oik Saturday^ that this winter has been the finest he has ever known, without exception. Just recently the cold has been keen, and the Ji rost severe ; also, the farmers could do with some more moisture, but, taken all round. th« season could hardly have been^betler if made* to order, and the prospects for crops and stock are excellent. During the last two months Mr E. Short, • the- noted Romrney breeder of Waituna. West, sold 10 ram lambs at an average of £32 -each, of them— by this breeder's. I well-known rtm Record — going at 50 1 guineas each. _ .. The sheep-worrying evil is rampant in the Gore district (says the Standard). During; the last . week Mr rM. R. Lawlor, * butcher, .'has had no fewer than 15 sheep ■ worried. » The first- lambs of th« season in the Glenore 'district; made their appearance last week' on* the farm of Mr J. A. Tulloeh.— Bruce Herald. - : '; ' The Greenfield settlers continue lo'-work in unisoa. (says the /Jlutha Leader^ They have arranged to. go. in for 'simultaneous poisoning _'right over' the settlement, and hope to clean fh©- rabbits -right out. There was" a good attendance" at the meeting of. the North Otago A. an<f P. Association on the Ist inst., the president (Mr W. W.'Wylie) being "in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed and the outward correspondence approved. The vice-president, Mr O. W. Reid, moved an expression of sympathy with -the president in the recent bereavement 'he had sustained i» the lose of his . son. • The committee appointed to deal with the matter of the new ground- and Mr Banks, the engineer, furnished reports us to the arrangements, but little eventuated save a considerable amount of discussion. The sub-committee stated that, having put a price On the old Show Ground, they bad met a delegation from the Caledonian Society, whose offer was so much below the figure fixed that tliev had not entertained it. The figure they" Im d fixed was £2100, with the ring fence stand. The Caledonian Society offered £1750, which appeared ridiculously low. The sub-commit-tee.'s report was adopted, and their valuation upheld. The chairman bi ought up the question of the Felectiorr of judges, which it was decided- should be made by baliot. Mr Little pointed out that few ' of tho members had come prepared to discuss the matter of judges, and ho thought that it would be advisable that in future tho notice- should contain the fact that judges would be selected. The secretary pointed out that the judges were always chosen at tho July -meeting. The fortieth annual meeting of the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club was held at Milton on the 21st ult., when there was an attendance of 61 menfbers, the president (Mr James M'l<cod) -occupying the chair. The report and balance sheet were adopted. — ' Office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year as follows: — President, Mr T. Fal- \ coner; vice-president, Mr James Norris ; j treasurer, Mr W. W. P. Hall ; auditors, | Messrs J. J. Lane and H. Bell ; committee, , Messrs J. France, T. Scott, H. M! Driver, J. M.'Leod', J. S. Inglis, J. Heads, J. Par- \ lane, J. W. Petrie, E. Martin, and T. H. Russell. — The publication of the first meeting of tho club recalled the nairae of the original members, and Mr M'Leod stated that Mr Arch. M'Callum. of Waitahuna. was still a -member. Others mentioned were Mr James Drinnan and Mr A. Jerrard (Wyndhaml, and it was unanimously . resolved that these gentlemen, be elected . hfe members of the *lub. — It was decided to hoid the next committee meeting on j Thursday, August 9. The annual meeting of the Palmerston | end Waiheino A. and P. Association was held flii the 28th ult., Mr T. Muir (president) in the chair. The report submitted by the retiring committee for the year ended 30th June, 1906, was read by the secret. lry. The leporfc stated that the twenty-filth annual show was held 1 on Deten^ber 1 under mo=t fa\ourable circumstances. Tho entries were numerous and excellent iu_ quality, and tho attendance was exceptionally large, and, takon all round,- the show had been a thorough success. The gate? receipts amounted to £48 . Ils — a rcpord. The sum of £121 15s vra^ ghen' in prize-money in addition to gooth to the value of £20 '9s. The balance showed the total receipts for the yeai as £217 6s Bd, and the expenditure as £20+ 15s Bd, ieaving a credit balance £12 11s. The liabilities amounted to £30 7s and" the assets (exclusive of buildings and plant) to were, adopted as read. — The* election *of office-bearers resulted as folium: —

President, Mr E. ■ H. Clark; vicepresident, Mr A. Fleming; secretary, ,Mr Wm. M'Gregor (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr W. B. Galloway (re-elected) ; auditor, Mr W. H Fielder (re-elected) ; committee — Messrs R. Cameron, J. Chapman. Gk B. Charlton, A. Fraser, A. Gillies, D. Guffie, P. Ireland, E. Lefevre, J. M'Gill, F. M'Calium, A. M'Laren, A. Miiennan, T. Muir, A. S. Orbell, H. O'Neill, J. Qrmeby* D. W. Philip, W. Pollock, R. Riddle, W. J. Ross, D. J. Ross, Jno. Rendall, J. Sloan, and T. E. Sltenhouse.— The following were elected life members of the association : — Messrs Ohas. Gillespi^, D. MLeod, W. Robertson, D. Ross, J. Ross, and W. Soiuor. — Mr Lefevre reported that the proposed extension of the 6how Ting had bpen considered, and he gave details of the work that would be necessary. He had, received promises of assistance from several farmers and others, and he thought the work could be done free of cost to th& society. A committee was appointed to make evflngements for carrying out the work. The Otautau Standard says: — There has been a northern buyer for cattle in this district for the last week. We understand he finds it difficult to get the class of cattle he wants (well-grown steers), and has expressed surprise at the increased value owners have' placed on all descriptions of cattle. Why shouldn't they? We think' few coming events are more certain than a substantial rise in the value of cattle. The- annual meeting of the Central Otago Saleyards -Association took place at Ranfurly on the'2Sth inst., Mr .Bleach in the chair. The balance sheet showed the receipts (including £1 ITs 9d brought forward ff"in last year) to be £38 15s 9d, and. the., expenditure _£3&- 5s Bd. The bankbook fetowed a credit balance of £4 4s 7d, which- included a, sum of £1 7e paid in by th«j secretary eince the' balance sheet had been drawn out. The Chairman, in nfoving the adoption of the balance sheet, said ■that at the time of the last general meeting j the yards were lying idle, and they decided to J get ti.-e secretary to write to the stock agonts und see if they could make use of them but they declined. They thon made j overtures to the firm of "Waters, Ritchie, and Co., and ultimately agreed to fence | the ground and give them permission to hold sales of stock at any time during the currency of their lease of l\v^ years. The term ivouhi expire in December 12 months. It was also agreed in th# conditions of the lea«e that if they refused to hold sales at any tinio the directors asked them, the lease would be null and void. The balance »lu?et was adopted. — Last year's directors j were roappointod— viz., Messrs Mitchell, J. i M'Donald, A. Smith*- W. Mawhinncy, and j Bleach. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr Bleach was re-elected chairman. We (Mount Ida Chronicle) hear that Maniototo this year has the honour of producing lambs- before most of the downcountry districts. At Mr R. F. Inder's farm at White Sow Valley several had made their appearance by the 19th ult., and a few days later some were skipping about on Mr Jacob Lory's farm. They thrived satisfactorily. The Mon^yinore correspondent of the-! Milton Mirror reports: — The price of sheep, still- keeps up, and as an instance I might mention , that Mr A. ' Fraser has sold a, pen of ewes at two guineas per head .to Mr C. N*. Draper, and has also disposed of his culls tc another buyer at 37s fed each.. This, has had the result,- I heard, of some of the neighbouring farmers asking even higher prices. The local stock inspector. Mr Ironside (says the Oamaru Mail), acting under instructions from the Agricultural* Department, forwarded to Christchurch a box of sheaves of grain grown in this district to constitute a. portion of the department's display at the International Exhibitiop. Sheaves have been obtained from Messrs B Seth-Smith (Algerian oats)? A. Hall (Carton oa^s and velvet wheat), three varieties of wheat from the Totara Estate, G. Lijingstone (wheat), A. Kennedy, Windsor (barley), and S. Clark, Enfield (two sheaves r>f wheat and one of oats). The inspector met with some difficulty in collecting the sheaves, and some of them were hardly up to the district's best standard owing to the unfavourable weather experienced j after cutting. However, it, is hoped thai, better samples will bp obtained next season, and these Avill be forwarded before the Exhibition closes. Bags of grain will be secured also from each of thoso who Supplied «hea\es, and it is anticipated that, in tins ro->pcc-t. tho district will have no cause to be dissatisfied with it-, di-play. The gram will be &t»nt to Dnuedin to be dressed before it is forwarded to the Exhibition. At Mr Hannah's sale last week (says the Otautau Standard) Mr John M'Farlane (Drummond) had an offer made to him in our presence of 120 guineas for a yearling[illy of his own breeding. Mr M'Fariane did not appear very ready, to sell, but if business eventuates tho filly will be at once shipped to Melbourne. We are so often sending, away our "best draughts, yet our local breeders seem to be able to .breed others to take their place, and be the envy of fanciers from all parts of the colony and the Commonwealth. The following notes are taken frpm last Friday's Winton Record:— The output of the Edcndale Cheese Factory has more than doubled since the Government bought and cut up the large estate on which the factory stands. The present position is very fitting tfhetk it is remembered that Edendale was the first dairy factory established in New Zealand.— The Merrhalc and Ote-kaike-wool-clips brought top prices for New Zealand wool at the London May sales. The Mcrrivale wool (all in the grease) sold at Is 3£d (the bulk) down to Is, but nothing less than Is, while the first pieces brought Is ljd. When congratulating Mr Ellis on these good prices, he told us that the first year he owned Me»rivale the wool from the whole flock, which had been swum through the Merry Creek &o that the fleece could be termed "washed," netted over 23 per 1b at the station. Those were the days when sheep-farming was a good business. — Few commercial concerns have been started under mofp promising conditions than the Otautau Co-operative Dairy Factory. First, its shares weie readily and easily subscribed to the amount pequired. Next, it has purchased a comparatively new factory and plant at less than half its original cost, which, jwith the addition of a cheese-curing room, which has been designed tor it by Mr f%a\vcr*. Go\ eminent ilaiiv instructor, will Kive it an up-to-date cheese factory of 750 gallon 1 ? capacity for under £600, beside* a valuable aroa of land more than it will require for factory purpose? ; also separator and other requisites, which will be of value should it want at any time to go in for butt££-makiug. There seems to be a

consensus of opinion among Commercial men, d*ir= experts and instructors, and others, that milk this coming season, whethei used for cheese or butter making, will command record prices. The Taieri advocate of Friday last says : The question of the disposition of the shield wpn by, the Taieri Agricultural Society in the count competiton at the winter show was considered at the meeting of the society on Tuesday, and it was decided to request the Otago A. and P. Society to hold the shield m trust for the Taieri Society, and to exhibit it at the winter shows, the Taieri Society to be allowed to have the use of the shield for exhibition at its annual show. Time was when there was no milk inspection in our cities and no examination of the byres and dairies closely associated with the supply of that milk. Weird stories have been told of the method of storing the fluid and the schemes for making the cream rise — but that was in the dark ages, though not far distant in point of time. Now, howover, these matters are arranged differently; we are enlightened. On© of our reporters (says the Oamaru Mail), speaking to Mr Ironside, the local inspector of stock, who also has the responsibility of the oversight of dairies, was informed that -th« milk supply of our town was excellent from *very point of view. The byres were for the most part roomy and airy, the milker 3 were cleanly above the average, and the utensils received .the attention essential to 'place them quite beyond suspicion. Further than this, the- quality of the milk is, according to numerous tests made by Mr Ironside in various places, quite up to the standard. The annual' meeting* of the- Tuapeka Agricultural Society was .held on. Thursday last at Lawrence, Mr James Robertson (president) in .the chaif. The secretary submitted t*e balance sheet for the past year, which showed that the receipts were £197 14s Bd, and the expenditure amounted to £187 13s Bd, leaving the sum of £10 Is i in- hand. The Chairman, in moving its adoption, congratulated the society on its ; satisfactory financial position considering the adverse weather met with for the show last year, spoke in flattering terms of the merits of the Tuapeka show as compared with other country shows, and strongly advocated the introduction of fresh blood on the committee, so a s to keep up the enthusiasm in th«ir work. , The balance slieet was adopted.— Office-bearers were then elected. Mr James Roberteon was unanimously re-elected president. • Mr H. ; Cameron was elected vice-president, Mr J. 0. Browne and treasurer, and Mr M. Potts auaitor. The old committee was 1 re-elected as a. whole with power to add all new members.— lt was resolved to fix the date of this, year's (show for-Deeemfcer 19. — The Chairman said that last year they fixed a day for the commencement? of general poisoning throughout the. district, and the result had proved thoroughly satisfactory, and he suggested they should do so again. As the spring was coming on the sooner this work was taken /in hand the better. After a long discussion, it was resolved that this meeting rfecommend that the - farmers of .this - district < commence » general poisoning immediately the weather is suitable. — The Chairman, brought up the question of procuring the- services of one of the Government's light stud horses for the district The stock left f by. the Hocommefrted upon, and it was very favour-ably commented on, and it was resolved that an effort be made to" secure the services of Lupin for the distriot this year.