N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 20

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

The almost total absence of rain in )tago Central during the past two months ha<d produced a rather acute position, and the generous rainfall which set in on Monday must prove very welcome'. The country on all sides bore a thoroughly parched and burnt appearance, and the extreme 6carcity of grass had forced a great many sheep and cattle owners to rail their stock to Southland, where better feed was procurable. Grain crops have been very seriously affected, and yields will certainly be light. The rain that has set in will do an. incalculable amount of good to turnip crops and pasture generally, but is too late to prove of any benefit to cereal crops. The additions which the Otago A. and P. Society is carrying out to its premises in Crawford street should be completed by the end of February. When completed, % the society will have a spacious hall 65ft wide by 150 ft long, giving practically double the space now provided by the Brydone Hall. The construction of the roof will be such that there will; be no floor obstructions such as posts, and while the hall will ba connected with the BryIdbne Hall adjoining it by three archways, there will be a separate entrance from Crawford street. The new building will prove an excellent revenue-producer, and has already been leased for a period of five years, the society retaining the right to reserve the hall for one month in each year foar its own purposes. The Southland Branch of the Farmers' Union has been, in direct communication with " The Central (Unemployed) Body for London," an institution under the control of the British Government, and as a result of the negotiations (says the Southland Times) three families of picked immigrants have arrived in New Zealand by the s.s. Morayshire, and will shortly take up their work in Southland. Two of the families will go to the Dipton district, and the other to Balfour. All bear excellent references as to character and qualifications fo;r farm work. It is understood that the Farmers' Union executive has also cabled for 10 lads for whom work is available in the district. It was mentioned at a beekeepers' field day at Wyndham on Wednesday that the industry was growing rapidly in Southland. There are 1907 beekeepers in the district, and the orders for bee requisites far ajid away exceed the supply; in fact, one firm had had repeatedly to refuse orders, although they thought they had made ample provision. Shearing operations have now concluded in Southland, with tho exception of one or two small flocks, and the shearers are departing from the province. On the whole they have made good money, and as the wool has been unusually clean this season their work has been by no means heavy. On the average they sheared about 4000 apiece, which, at 18s per hundred, means ai cheque in hand of at least £36 per man. 'A large number of Australians ca.me over this season after the close of the Aus-: tralian season, and' their numbers would have been even greater but for the mishap to the Warrimoo, which delayed a number eo long that they decided not to make the trip. " There is not a great deal to tempt 'Australians'across,'.' one of them remarked to a Southland News reporter, " because they have' fewer sheep to operate on per man,' and at a smaller wage. The .Wage in New "Zealand is improving, as a couple of years ago they could only make 15s a hundred as compared' with the 18s'' prevailing to-day, and it was to be hoped that the rate would continue to increase." ''ln Australia," he said, "a man was able to get through about 10,000 sheep at from 19s 6d to 25s per hundred, generally receiving a cheque for about £llO as compared with the £3O or £4O they knocked out in New" Zealand. Certainly," he concluded, " Australians would never come to New Zealand, but for the fact that their ■ own season .;vafi over first." It an eye-cnener .for some of those wio.vare continually:decrying the d'rou'ght-stricfcen staie : of Central Otago' to take a trip up to this district (says a Wanaka correspondent to ihc Cromwell' Argus), where they would see splendid crops, also fine green pastures. There is abundant feed on the stations around the 'The Otautau-Standard, tells: the follow-. »ng Story *Wt a lo<-i

owns a white tEog. The other morning, after a heavy dew of the previous night, he was going through his oats raising the small birds, which were pretty bad', when a black dog came bounding towards him. " Get out, you brute; we ha.ve enough without extra dogs," was the greeting of the farmer. The friendly attentions of the animal, however, caused closer observation, when the farmer was afitonised to find his son's white dog painted black with smut from -bis oats.