OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 21

OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S ESSAY. The judges of the school children’s essay competitions in connection with the recent Winter Show —Messrs G. C. Israel (Musselburgh) and J. Jeffery (Anderson ,Bay)— ha.ve handed in their awards, and place the winners as follows: — Seiiior Class: For best and most original description of show by boy or girl between the ages of 13 and 16 years. —Jean C. Woodhead (Port Chalmers District High School), 83 points, 1; T. Moynihan (Christian Brothers’ School), 87 points, 2; James E. Kinnear (Maori Hill School), 86 points, 3; Hilda Martin (St. Clair) and Irene M. Storie (Albany Street School), both 85 points, divide fourth and fifth prizes; Mona Marwiok (St. Mary’s School, Mosgicl), 84 points, 6; commended —L. M‘Governe (Mornington School) and Mary Caldwell (Albany Street School). Junior Class: For the best and most original description of show by boy or girl under 13 years of age).—Dorothy L. Leedham (Otokia School), 78 points, 1; Charles Shortt (Mornington School) and W. A. M‘Lean (Albany Street School), both 74 points, divide second and third prizes; Jas. B. Miller (Otokia School), 69 points, 4; Charles Jolley (Mornington School), 68 goints, 5; Agnes E. Gibson (Otokia School), 7 points, 5. Freda Stokes (Albany Street School) would have been placed second with 76 points had she not exceeded the word limit of essay. The judges state that, in the senior class, with the exception of prize-winners- and a few others who were disqualified owing to non-observance of conditions, the general standard seems to be indifferent. More care should have been shown in the writing itself,.-%nd there should have been less cataloguing of the exhibits, and much greater keenness of! observation demonstrated. With some the fine Government exhibits escaped notice, and others overlooked the fruit and wool, while the most surprising general omission seems to have been the admirable school exhibits which undoubtedly should have attracted the attention of one and all. Two alone out of the whole of the senior competitors even referred to them. With regard to the junior competition, except in a few cases, the section dealing with originality of thought and observation was not handled with mcuh success. Curiously enough, however, the juniors excelled the seniors in the description of the Government exhibit, the prize-winners and runners-up standing by themselves in their own class as well. Two points struck both the judges —namely, that the juniors gave a better description of what they (the judges) considered the most educative sections of the show, and that there was an entire absence of a sense of humour in the essays. It is well known that many children have a keen sense of humour, and its absence was commented on by both the judges. While the prize-winning essays in the juniors were good, a higher general average could bo reached if competitor? could get a lead by moans of short lectures delivered during the show.

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS. (Lyttelton Times, July 17.) The dearth of offerings of grain, to which reference has been made in several recent reports, still continues, and as far as farmers’ parcels of either cereal are concerned, the market is at a virtual standstill, and the prices quoted below are purely nominal in the absence of transactions. The number of farmers who still hold any considerable parcels of wheat or oats is, of course, limited, the majority having sold off the machines; but there are a few who still have in ' store fairly large parcels. However, good as the prices are at present, they are not sufficiently enticing to induce them to part with their holdings, many predicting that ere the now season’s giain is placed on the market there will bo an advance in values. Some of the smaller merchants are still on the lookout for parcels ; but the demands are in most cases beyond their limits. Some of the larger millers, on the other hand, have practically ceased buying, and those circumstances have combined to bring the market to a standstill. The oat market Is distinctly quiet, and little business has been done between farmers and merchants _ and millers for quite ev long time. Inquiries ar - e largely confined to local requirements, but it has been found necessary to supply the bulk of these from stores. The potato market is scarcely as firm as it was some days ago, and current offers

range from £5 15s to £6 on trucks at country stations. Despite the prohibition, shipments still continue to be sent to Sydney. The offerings locally have not been by any means extensive, the majority of holders being reluctant to open their pits unless they are conceded higher prices than arc at present obtainable. The chaff market is scarcely as active as it was a week ago, although there has been no quotable change in values. The following quotations are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, delivered at country stations; Wheat (nominal) —Tuscan, 6s lOd to 7s; Hunters, 6s 9d to 6s lOd; Pearl, 6s lOd to 6s lid. Oats —A grade Gar tons, 4s to 4s 2d; B grade, 3s lOd to 3s lid; Duns, 4s 2d to 4s 6d; Algerians, to 4s 3d. Barley (nominal) —Prime malting, 6s to 6s 3d; medium, 5s 3d to 5s fid. Peas —Blue Prussians, 6s 4d; Partridge, ss. Chaff —Bright oatsheaf, £7 10s to £7 15s; oat straw, to £4; wheat straw, £2 15s. Bran —Local, £8 15s; f.0.b., £8 10s. Potatoes —£6. Onions —£4. Pollard—£9 10s per ton. Oatmeal—£23 per ton. Flour—Sacks £l6 10s; 1001 b bags, £l7; 501 b bags, £l7 ss: 251 b bags, £l7 _ 10s. Seeds (nominal) —Ryegrass, Italian and perennial, 5s fid to 6s; cocksfoot, 131 b seed, 7gd to 8d; white clover, farm dressed, Is; cowgrass, 6£d to 7d. Dairy Produce. —Cheese, factory lOad, dairy (largo), S^d; butter, local factory prints, first grade Is 7gd, second grade Is fi|-d; farmers’ separator, Is 3d; farm dairy, Is Id; hams, lOd; ham rolls, 10|d; lard, pats, lOd; eggs, Is 4d, TIMAPvU. The correspondent of the Christchurch Press at Timaru reports : Business on the local grain market has been very quiet this week. There is very little wheat offering, and no one is keen to buy. Prime Velvet is worth up to 7s, and Velvet, Tuscan, and red chaff, in equal proportions, 6s 8d to 6s lOd, delivered Timaru. Oats are also quiet. Most of the business in this cereal continues to be done from Southland. Values range from 4s to 4s 3d, according to quality. Oatsheaf chaff is very firm, at £7 to £7 10s per ton, on, trucks, country stations, sacks extra. In straw chaff (both oat and wheat) there has come a drop, owing to a slump in Sydney. In this district, however, there is very little straw left to out into chaff, and what is will be wanted for local use before the winter is out. More than could rightly be spared has already been shipped away. For potatoes, up to £6 10s per ton. on trucks, country stations, has lately been paid; but buyers find now that they can purchase in North Canterbury for £6 a ton. Large quantities are still going to Australia, and an order was received this week from Montevideo for 2000 sacks.

DISEASE AMONG HORSES

STRANGLES AND MUD FEVER. (Fhoii Ook Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 18. Regarding the suggestion that there wore 1 oases of strangles and mud fever amongst the horses at Trentham, the Minister of | Defence has received a report by the Director of Veterinary Service and Remounts on the subject. The report states that mud fever is not a contagious disease, but simply an inflammatory condition of the skin and legs, and occasionally, of the ! under part of the body. The last bi-weekly report on Trentham from the veterinary officer did not show a single case of tho affection, and no case has been since reported. Only one case of mud fever has occurred at Trentham since the camp was initiated. Very few cases of strangles have occurred at Trentham, and none are in camp at pre- v sent, it being the practice to remove all strangles cases at once to special lines at Wallaccville Laboratory. The total number of cases of strangles from Trentham, now at Wallaoeville, is 14. Some of these have nearlv recovered. WELLINGTON, July 13. | Mr C. J. Reakes (Chief Government j Veterinarian) has made a statement in ! reference to the conditions of the horses in camp at Trentham. At the time tho 1 mounted men left for Tauherenikau there ; were 14 case of strangles under treatment, 1 and at present there are only 12 there, 1 two having recovered. Of these 12 cases 1 five have nearly recovered, and the re- ! mainder are progressing favourably. “Immediately the cases are discovered i the horses are removed to the Wal- i laceville laboratory, which' is being < used as a horse hospital. The aver- I age period which elapses fi\«ti the time j strangles occur up to when they are dis-

charged as convalescent is three weeks. Since the main Expeditionary Force left very little trouble has occurred with strangles. In regard to mud fever the name is a misnomer, and is liable to be misleading. Mud fever is really the inflammatory condition of the skin of the legs, and occasionally it is to be met with ■ among the hunters of the Old Country. Often it is caused by horses which have been among mud having their legs washed, it being recognised that the best means of preventing is to allow' the mud to dry on the legs and then brush it off. Throughout the whole occupation at Trentham camp only one case of rand fever has occurred there. What probably gave rise . to the belief that it was prevalent in the camp was that a number of horses in the j remount camp had contracted it, all of whom had been taken to the Hutt River : daily for water. At the present time there are only five cases, and these are rapidly improving. Mud fever is in no case contagious, and does not affect the general health of the animal.”

MEAT FOR THE ALLIES.

PURCHASES IN NEW ZEALAND, j WELLINGTON, July 19. Up to and including Saturday last, the i following are the quantities of meat purchased in New Zealand on behalf of the Imperial Government since the inception of the scheme on March 4 135,369 quarters of beef, 875,853 carcases of mutton, and 1,456,187 carcases of lamb. The total I value of the purchases amounts to ! £2,613,121 10s. i

SHORTAGE OF FREIGHT.

' PRODUCE. AWAITING SHIPMENT. On Monday Mr P. Barr (secretary of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce) received the following’ telegram from the Right H'on. Mr Massey:—“Referring to your telegram of the 16th inst., I have brought suggestion j in re Willochra under the notice of the Defence authorities, but am afraid it may not be practicable to give effect to the request.” _ 1 Mr Barr then sent the following reply: — “ Thank you for wire in re Willochra. Ascertained in response to advertisement that | the following cargo is waiting here for ; shipment to Sydney:— 70,000 sacks straw j chaff, 500 tons oaten sheaf chaff, 700 bales straw. 80 tons potatoes, 400 packages peas, and for Melbourne 11,000 packages straw chaff, 40 tons baled straw, 65 tons bran. Merchants sincerely hope Willochra may be available.”

THE WEATHER,

HILLGROVE, July 16. The rainfall registered at Trotter's Creek, Hillgrovc, for July up to date is 34 points. | The winter in this locality may be said to be the finest on record —much finer than the usual spring weather. There is a certain amount of growth, which is very unusual in July. DIPTON, July 15. The rainfall recorded on the 11th was 14 points, on the 13th 25 points, and on the ; 14th 2 points.