THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3254, 26 July 1916, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(FiiOM Ouu Own Correspondent.) WEATHER CONDITIONS. Nature Has been wonderfully kind in providing • such miici weather for the winter, and stock have not been subjected to any degree to the severity of adverse conditions ; that usually obtain at this time of tiie j year. The growth of grass has been won- j derful, there being no scarcity of feed what- [ ever. A fair amount of rain has fallen, \ but in the eyes of competent authorities not j sufficient to meet the contingencies of the I future if there should bo a limited fall : later on. Of course, it is lovely to have '

such a mild season; but the question arises, "Is it good or profitable m the end?" These warm seasons, when there should, in the natural order of things, be rain and frosts—some severe frosts are badly needed, —invariably provoke the pest nuisance; and J while we 'have great productivity on one hancC we have numerous pests, etc., causing damage throughout the length and breadth of the land, both in held and orchard. While south of Auckland there has been an absence of anything like a heavy fall, in the north, in Whangarei and Northern Wairoa districts, there nave been torrential rains, resulting in considerable damage by floods. However, being semi-tropical, that country requires a thoroughly good soaking fairly f often; otherwise thero seems to be a big j development of old pests, supplemented by the creation of new ones. I remember \ about six and a-half years ago crickets be- ! came so numerous and destructive that large areas of grass lands were so stripped that daily men along the raupo swamps were compelled to dry off their herds and place them further back on the highlands tor pasturage. Plenty of rain, however, overcomes that difficulty to a very large extent;, and, though it is annoying and inconvenient at the time, it is, nevertheless, "a .blessing in disguise. Reports from North Auckland show that the country is looking really well, and that next dairying season there should be a considerable increase in the number of suppliers to the various factories now operating throughout- the country. One of the great problems of the county councils in the north is that ot metal. If supplies could be obtained cheaply, and the roads well macadamised, no part of New Zealand offers greater possibilities for successful winter dairying. As a

matter of fact, there is no winter i\i North Auckland as those, living in the south know it and experience, and the only difficulty is that of getting the milk to the 'factories.

Those suppliers who can make use of the groat waterway are all right in that respect; but in the majority of cases fcho cream has to bo taken various distances to tho wharves for collection by tho steamer

employed in that service. However, it is hoped that the North Auckland railway will be the means of providing tho local bodies interested with cheap metal supplies for tho roads, and thus bo tho moans of converting "tho poor north" into ono of tho richest parts of tho Dominion. HEAVY STOCKS OF BUTTER.

The output of butter has been increased considerably, tho cause being duo to the exceptionally mild weather experienced and already referred to. On July 15 there were

35,363 boxes of butter in cool stores, as compared with 15,578 boxes at the same date last year. There docs not appear to bo any. danger of a shortage of butter in the Dominion this winter. As a matter of fact, some factories have within the last week or two started to increase their output—a most unusual thing in the middle of winter. VALUE OF A CATTLE DOG. A rather interesting case was concluded at Masterton Court a clay or two ago. A drover named Jack Smith claimed from Sydney W. Smith, farmer, of •Tanglewood, the sum of £lO as damages sustained by the loss of a cattle dog, which was run over by defendant's motor car. After hearing I he whole of the evidence his Worship said that he was not satisfied that _ plaintiff had proved his case. The plaintiff alleged that the dog had becn'killed while engaged yarding oattle, whereas it was contended for the defence that the dog ran out suddenly at the car barking, and was run over. Ho was inclined to believe the latter contention, as plaintiff had failed to prove excessive or negligent driving. A non-suit, without costs, was therefore entered up. FEDERATION OF UNION'S. Several weeks ago reference was made in this column to the fact that a number of branches <>f the New Zealand Farmers' Union in the southern part of the Auckland province wore considering the advisability of federating. The negotiations havo now taken definite shape, and all that now remains to bring the federation into being is for the branches to appoint their representatives to the District Executive. The proposal has taken definite shape only so far as the actual setting up of the executive- is concerned, the selection and appointment of an organising secretary, etc. The meeting at which the definite steps were taken took place at T" /vwamutu. where seven branches were- represented, and apolo-

gies received for the absence 01. two other delegates. As an evidence of the'apathy of j armor* in attending to matters concerning their own interests, it was stated that when the proposal was launched it was assumed oil fair grounds that at least 600 members were attached to the several branches; but it now transpired that there were onlv a few in excess of 300 who were actually 'financial. It, was recognised that this state of affairs could bo altered by the appointment of a real live secretary. Considerable discussion took place with a view to putting the now federation on a good workable basis, and it is confidently believed that the experiment will be so successful that it will not be long before the principle of federation will bo adopted by other branches in different districts throughout, the Dominion. | UTILISING WASTE LANDS. The question o; a rapidly-failing timber supply has been very prominent lately, and at Auckland the City Council has been considering the proposal of utilising waste lands for the production of timber to meet future requirements. A deputation during the week waited on the Mayor (Mr J. 11. Gunson), and pointed out that at Christchurch the Citv Council had planted out 130,000 troos this year on some of its reserves, and it was thought that something similar might, be done in Auckland The Mayor gave, a sympathetic reply to the wishes expressed by the deputation. DAIRY ANALYST NEEDED. A suggestion that has a great deal to commend it has boon made in the Waikato —namely, that steps should be taken by the dairy companies operating in the Auckland province to secure the services of the bestknown dairy scientist procurable permanently for the 'province, and in view of the fact that the value of dairy produce of the province during the present season is estimated at £1,100,000, the cost to each company doing business in the area should not be a burden. SHEEP DOG TRIALS AT HAWERA. Sheep dog trials held at Hawcra proved successful.- Entries, were good, and the work of the dogs was very creditable. Two classes wore run, and in both competition was keen. The results were as follow: Class I: Driving and Yarding. Maximum points, 46.—A. Rolfe's Lady Chief, 39 points; P. looker's Chum, 38.; E. Johnson's Hemp, 56; M. M. Scott's Lad, 29. There were 21 entries. Class 2: Heading, Pulling, Driving, and Yarding. Maximum points, 43.—L. S. Banaclough's Toby, 36 points; P. Tocktr's Chum Junior, 33; A. Rolfo's Lady Chief, 32; P. Tocker's Chum, 31. A GRAZIER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. A good deal of interest was centred in a case neard at Manaia (South Taranaki) on Tuesday, when Robert Fergusson, of Okaiawa, farmer, sued J. M. Harvey, of Wavericv, farmer, for the return of 12 heifers, "or their value (£72), and 10 damages. According to the evidence, defendant had taken in the 12 heifers to graze, but when nine months later a demand was made for the stock, .only one could be found. Though the stock were dying off, no notice had ben sent to plaintiff of the fact. The defence was that reasonable care had been taken of the stock, and that defendant was not liable for the losses. When the case was about half-way through the magistrate suggested to defendant that a settlement should be arrived at at that stage, as in his opinion it was not reasonable not to have notified the plaintiff of the deaths. Ho also suggested that plaintiff should make some allowance for the grazing. The magistrate's advice was adopted, and after a short adjournment council informed the court that defendant had agreed to pay £4O and costs (£7 os\ and judgment was entered for that amount:* TAIHAPE WINTER SHOW. It is not so many years ago that the Mam Trunk district was heavily clad in bush; but the progress of settlement has. altered all this, and some fine areas of land are under cultivation. This was reflected at the fine annual Winter Show held at Taihapc on Wednesday and Thursday, July 19 and 20, when a very fine display of field roots was made. Swedes in particular proved a strong feature, and the judge, Mr Lonsdale, manager of Mouma- ! haki State Farm, said the entries were by far the best he had boon called upon to judge this year, the exhibits of Crimson King and Superlatives being exceedingly well grown. Carrots and mangolds were not so heavy as in warmer districts, but, wore sound in quality. Vegetables could have been better represented numerically; but there was one collection by Mrs Forster, of Iluanui, which excited a good deal of interest as a result of the variety., size, j and quality of tho entries. Home industries and poultry made a good showing, and. j generally speaking, the Show was in ad- | vance of previous years. Thero was not a j big display of fruit, but tho apples shown were of good size and colour, and so sound that Mr Lonsdale considered they would keep quite throe months. The Oruamatua j Station secured first, and Z. J. _ Davics I second, for dessert apples; Miss Smith first, and Z. J. Davics second, for cooking; and

A O. Reichardt first, and W. J. Forster seocnd, for CQllection.

Ir. garden produce W. J. Forster, of Ruanui, obtained tho bulk of the wins. In the fields roots division first awards were: Carrots, red intermediate, R. Wilkie; ditto long white. E. Torrey; ditto S:nelair Champion, A. R. Fannin. Mangolds: Long red, E. Torrey; Yellow Globe, R. Campbell ; Golden Tankard, P. Clark; heaviest, D. Campbell. Swedes : Green Top. D. W. Hegan (Apiti); heaviest, W. M'Combie. Turnips: Green Top, D. Broome; Purple Top, T. Brady.

LEVIN DAIRY COMPANY'S PEGU .LIAR POSITION.

The Levin Dairy Company finds itself in a rather anomalous position. The animal meeting was to have been held on Wednesday; but only 28 members were'present out of 37, and as there was not a quorum present the meeting had to bo postponed. The occasion, however, gave opportunity to discuss the position, and it wa.s pointed out that many of the original shareholders had sold their farms and had departed from the district. The unfortunate part of the business was that they were still holding their shares, consequently the incoming owner* had rot any proprietary rights in the dairy company. It was further held that, every supplier should be a shareholder, and in consequence of the deliberations, it was decided to have the articles of association revised. SHEEP WORRIED BY DOGS.

Farmers are frequently called upon to sustain losses among their flocks occasioned by the worrying capacity of dogs, and just lately Mr R. Bremer, of Waverley, on going to his paddock near the railway station, found "no fewer than 15 of his sheep very badly injured by dogs—in fact, 11 had been killed. As a sequel John Fogarty was charged at the Magistrate's Court, Waverley, on Thursday with permitting two dogs to be at largo which had previously worried sheep. Defendant denied that tho dogs were his. They belonged to his wife. One witness said that he saw the dog worrying the sheep, and he had seen tho same dog with Fogarty many times, and had told him about the worrying. His Worship held that, though the dogs belonged to tho wife of defendant, the person who had control of the dogs should be deemed to be the responsible person. The defendant would be fined £l, with costs £1 8s). A civil claim against defendant was adjourned till August 17 to allow of Mrs Fogarty being joined as a defendant. GENERAL. On Thursday the Nireaha Dairy Go., in tho Wairarapa, paid out a further bonus of 2d per lb on butter-fat supplied during tho season, which will make payments so far paid for the season Is 5d per lb. Dairy cattle arc realising fairly high prices just now. At a dispersal sale held at Brunswick, in the Wanganui district, a herd, including heifers, averaged over £l2 Bs, tho highest price paid being £l7 ss. Mr Ernest Short, of Parorangi, has just sold 50 purebred Romney Marsh two tooth ewes and 21 stud rams to a South African breeder. The sheep will be shipped via Australia, where they will be reshipped to Durban.

At the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Agricultural Association a letter was received from Mrs Gifford Moore on behalf of the Red Cross Depot, appealing to members of the association to each reserve a small plot < of ground during the forthcoming planting operations, and to devote the products of this plot to the wounded soldiers. The suggestion was heartily approved, and has been "well taken up, and crops of potatoes, wheat, and barley have already been promised. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders' Association, held at Ilawera last week, a motion was carried to approach the Manawatu A. and P. Association and urge that its stock show at Palmerston North should be a Royal Show, and if favourable that all othe? breeds associations bo approached asking their co-opera-tion.