AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL HEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2735, 15 August 1906, Page 20

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL HEWS.

Some outspoken comments on the way in which certain public works are carried out were made by Mr B. M'Kenzie, M.H.8., at the opening of the Tadmor section of the Midland railway. It had, he eaid r been a. Ing struggle to get so far. Twenty miles o£ extension had been done in 20 years— a mile a year. This rate of progress meant the throwing away of public money, and beat anything on the face of the earth.— (Haughter.> A contractor Would have completed the extensions for a third of the money they had cost in one-tenth of the time.— (" Bear, hear."). The fault ■was at headquarters. The Rangitikei Co-operative Dairy Company, which won the big butter competition at the late Manawvtu winter show, has (says the Farmers' Union Advocate) forwarded an exhibit of butter (two boxes) to the London dairy show for competition in the special class for colonial butter. This will be the first tune New Zealand butter trill be represented at the big Home show. The question has been raised, in the press as well as in Parliament, as to why the colony has hitherto failed to take advantage of the advertisement which exhibition at this show would give, while Australian butter has been largely represented — in , fact, monopoEising the awards. To this j the Dairy Commissioner has replied that the time of the year at which the show is toeld does not give «a opportunity for New j Zealand butter made under the best con- j ditions to be exhibited. The Australian season, of course, commences much earlier than our 3. However, Mr Swede, manager of the Rangitikei Company's factory, coneiders he has made a good butter, though not the finest article the factory can turn Out. The exhibit has already been shipped. The idea of the Rangitikei Company competing at the London chow emanated from Dalgety and Co., who have made the necessary arrangements for shipping and exhibition. The Cambridge (Waikato, Auckland) .Dairy Factory Company have had a satisfactory year. The fifth annual report shows that the milk received during the past season was 15,359,0061b, and advances were made on 587,8741b of butter fat. Butter sold and in stock amounted to 652,2281b. It took an average of 23.551b of milk to make lib of butter. From each pound of butter fat I.lolb of butter was made. The average test for the whole season was 3.96. Out of the surplus of £2069 03 lid thrf directors propose to pay a further sum of 3d per lb on butter fat supplied during the season, which will absorb£lß37 2s Id; to pey 5 per cent, on the paid-up capital to 31st May, 1906, amounting to £175 2s 9d; Feaving a balance to carry forward of £56 I6s Id. Suppliers have already received for the months of June and August 10d ncr lb for butter fat, and for the months of September to May (inclusive) 9d, which, with the payment of Id bonus, will make the total payments lOJd and 9Jd respectively. The average grade for the season was 93.11. This is a high standard, and that the butter stands high in the estimation of buyers is borne out by the fact that not one complaint has been received from consumers during the year. A private cablegram received from London states that it has been found that the fire which destroyed the barque Pitcairn Island (when on her way from Wellington to London) originated in the wool cargo. Seasonable farm work in North Canterbury has been somewhat retarded by moist weather, but good progress was made with ploughing during last week. The grass is beginning to show decided signs of growth, and is in a forward condition. Other vegetation indicates the approach cf spring. Sheep and other stock have wintered well, both on the plains and on the hills,, the snowfall on the latter having up to the present been much below the averaged Flock-owners are looking for a satisfactory wool clip as the result of the favourable winter season. The Levin Co-operative Dairy Company bas sold its output for the coming season at lid per lb. Messrs Friediander Bros, had on view in their offices at Ashborton recently six particularly well-shaped swede turnips, which weighed a total of lewt. The largest •weighed 211b 15oz. They were grown by Mr Charlea Doherty on his Tiewmont Estate, near Methven, and were a fair funmU of an exceedingly prolific croo.