LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

A droving feat worthy of notice has just been performed in Southland. Leavings Blackmount Station, in the Western district, on Sunday, March 6, with 1000 ewes and 1025 lambs, the driver reached Tei.teiroa in the Tois Tois district on the !Sth, •having travelled the sheep approximately 140 miles by road, with a loss of only two Jambs. . The mill-owners this year (says the Southland Times),are not making the big tallies that have been reported' in former years. Many stacks of nice short stuff tnat have run up to 60 bags per hour are not running more than 40. However, there are. always some exceptional cases ii nearly every district where a paddock has been properly treated and has been in a state of good cultivation to withstand the want of rain at certain periods. Reports of good returns have come from Hokonui and Hillend districts. Pike Bros., of Hillend, have threshed from 80 to 90 bushels of oats in some paddocks. Mr Keith, of Winton, has an exceptionally good paddock of wheat that looks as if it would yield anywhere up to 60 bushels to the acre. Mr Hamilton has also threshed over 50 bushels to the.acre of wheats His oats have run about 60 bushels, the samples being ' this year as yel; nearly all A grade. Rarely, have the "oats in Southland been of such bright sample. It looks as if the mills will have a very much smaller run this season than usual, some being well through already. The Winton Record says:—Mr Acton Adams, of Moa Flat, purchased 400 head of cattle in the Western district between-Beau-mont and Wallacetown. The line contained about 80 head of prime beef, the remainder forward stores and young cattle. The whole line goes north to Culverden to the order ot Mr Duncan Rutherford.

At the statutory meeting of shareholders of the Awarua Cooperative Dairy Factory Company the report submitted showed that, 794 contributing shares had been allotted. Th© cheese exported amounted to 854- cases, on which - the company had drawn £2338 Vs 6d, and on which.there was an estimated balance of £2OO still to draw, and 799 oases sold valued at £2308 16s Bd. The provisional directors were all re-elected, the board comprising Messrs H. R. Wilson, D. M'Kenzie, F. Frew. Wm, Smith, Robert Thomson, W. M'Rae, J. M. M'Callum, D. King, and W. Thomson. t At a ■■, subsequent meeting Mi Duncan King was elected chairman of directors. According to the Free Press certain farmers and others are obtaining information as to the cost of establishing and running up-to-date freezing -works at Balclutha. An Inchclutha farmei, on being sooken to on the subject, was enthusiastic in favour of the proposal. He points out that the small farmer is at present handicapped. If ne is raising fat lambs he has to wait until he has- a truck-load before sending to Burnaide. A truck holds 60, and by the time the small man gets that number ready for market some have gone off, and the chances are that -the consignment is by no means oven. That is one instance where the local 1 freezer bettei than the outsider, because the farmer could trot hie fats in • ljyjroada'to the freezei as .they were ready—a 'dozen at a time, say. It is contended'theY© would' also be a saving in freight. , . The Clutha Veterinary Association, formed three vears ago to enable farmers *, have the benefit of filled attendance for their call, appears to have proved a success. Thereport sub-

* mitted to the annual meeting stated that -the .receipts had been £505 135.9 d, while the expenditure totalled £455 16s lid, leaving a credit balance- of £49 16s lOd. The fees have been raised to 12s 6d for the first visit and 7s 6d for the second visit. Mr John Danskin, the veterinary surgeon, had given the greatest satisfaction. Some discussion took place with respect to outstanding visits." It was resolved to alter * the boundaries of the district by taking, in - Greenfield and cutting off the country beyond Ratanui. Mr Moffat was re-elected president, and Messrs W. Keys, T. A. Johnston, J. Gordon, G. Moffat, Jasper Clarfc, James Smith were After a discussion concerning the expert taking outside practice, the matter was left over till next annual meeting.