LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS

A Dunback farmer who haa 600 sacks of wheat stored in Dunedin recently refused an offer pf 5s 6d per bushel for the line. He is now vainly looking for a buyer at a sixpence less than that figure. A largely-attended meeting of farmers and others was held in the Hedgehope Hall on the 251h ult. to discuss what steps should fc taken to get grass-seed sown on the :ge area of bush burnt on Sunday, the 17th, the extent of the fire being about 500 acres, of which 200 acres is a very clean burn. It was the feeling of fhe meeting (says the Southland News) that if left in its present state "it would be a serious menace to the settlers of Hedgehope, as it would come up a. mass of Canadian thistles and ragwort, and then every wind from, tho north or north-west would do a great deal of damage. It was resolved to write to the Land Board, asking them to v fow the 200 acres. The Tuapeka Mouth correspondent of the Clutha Leader writes: —The general aspect of affairs amongst the farmers at piesenc is of » "% cry encoxxrefcg-iiigf nature, and slxoiild the present prospects be maintained we shall have every reason to be thankful. The crops are assuming a very healthy appearance, and, in fact, bid fair to surpass anything in the line of crops grown for the past few years. The weather during the past, few weeks has been of a phenomenal character —nice warm days with mild sfiowers,— and has had a magical effect in propagating the growth of grasses, cereals, etc. Shearing operations are in full swing. The wool clips are not likely to be equal to last year's, which is no doubt accountedfor by the absence of a plentiful supply of grass during last summer months. Judging from ap'pearance3 this is not likely to be the rule, but rather the exception, this year. A considerable area of turnips has already been sown, and a good amount cf land is being prepared for sowing. A. meeting of the committee of the sheep dip subscribers was held in the school on Saturday evening, the 23rd ult., when it was definitely decided to proceed with the work of construction. The Mataura Dairy Factory is now receiving 2600 gal of milk daily, which is expected to increase considerably as the result of the effect the recent rains have had on the pastures. Though the milk supply at the Oamaru Butter Factory and its allied creameries continues to rise steadily (says the Oamaru Mail of the 26th ult.), the output of the factory still falls a long way helow what a good season should produce. For last week the output averaged a little under 50001b a. day, and it is not likely to reach the record this season. This is the consequence of an enforced reduction of the number of cows owing to the drought end the low or comparatively low condition of those remaining. Like the British returns, the preliminary agricultural statistics of Ireland show a decrease in horsea amounting to 8389. For cattle, on the other hand, there is an increase of 35,910 to set off against the British decrease of 98,337. Small increases in Irish fiheep and pigs. 101,163 of the former and 72,536 of the latter, are to be added to the substantial increases for Great Britain. The totals for Great Britain, and Ireland together now 6tand as follows:—Horses, 2.152,431. or 20,663 fewer than in 1905; cattle, 11,587,353, or 62,427 fewer; sheep. 29,933.408, or 797,306 morej pics, 3.953,537, or 385,833 more. The number of mules in Ireland has fallen fiom 30.967 in 1906 to 29.809 in 1907; and that of goats from 267,342 to 247,385. An increase of nearly one-third in the number of poultry is shown in the table, the number being 24.318,752; but it i 3i 3 explained that much of ihid apparent increase is duo to a more complete lutuin of joung birds having been made is. 1907 tbaa in previous year&