STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3270, 15 November 1916, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Weekly Stock Sales. Mataura & Waikouaiil Barnßiia, Wednesdays 2nd Thursday Asa burton, Tuel.cU.7S Hiverton, 3rd Thursday Addinyton, Wednesdays Wyndham, last Thursday Haiareka Railway Juno- BilUour & xhombury, tioii. Tuesdays. lst i^ nday Fcrtnlglitly. Dnatrooo & Ot&utan, Cliutou, lUurßdajs 2ad frt**7 Balolutlia, Fridays Riversdale, 3rd Friday Gore, Tuesdays WaUaka last I-riaay. Oamaru, Tuesday! _ .. ~ WaJlaoetown, Tuwdays. Periodically. fcfionUiiy. Heriot, Keiso, ft aipiata, I'alinerstou, Ist Monday Lumsduu, MiwaDuru. Kgapara & Wiutou, Ist Orcpukl. Uildeii. aumiday BURNSIDE MARKET. Thcro was an average, yarding at Burnsido of fat sheep, and values fluctuated considerably, the previous week's rates being exceeded at times, only to fall away beioro the sale closed The quality was good for the most part. Fat lambs were m short supply, and prices firmed. 'iho big yarding ot fat cattle brought back prices by about 30s a head compared with the previous week, beef selling at up to 46s per 1001 b for choice, and from 40s for heifer and cow beef. 'lho yarding of store cattle was a mixed one, and values were very firm at last sale's rates. Inferior and old dairy COWS were unchanged, but anything of quality was very firm. A big lot ot tat and store pigs came forward and realised lower rates than at the previous sale. BALCLUTHA AND CLINTON. Possibly about 2000 sheep were yarded at Balciutha, a few hundred ot them being fats. Values ruled high, and prices appearnot yet to have reached their maximum if buyers' anticipations are worth any tiling. Fat ewes made up to 37s 9d, wethers to 44s 3d, forward wethers 38s 3d, old owes with lambs (all "Counted) 20s 9d, two-tooth ewes (woolly) and lambs 24s 6d, good mixed hoggets 335, extra ewe hoggets (shorn 26i lOd. The yarding of cattle comprised some 300 head, and met with an active demand, a forward line of three and four year old well-bred bullocks making £l4 'l7s 6d, while other young lots were freely taken at up to £4 17s tor yearlings and £5 10s for extra good sorts. About 1500 sheep were yarded at Clinton, and the large attendance bid with spirit, and a good salo resulted. The entry comprised hoggets and wethers, with a few ewes with lambs at foot. Some of the prices obtained were .as follow:—Good wether hoggets, 27s lOd, fair two-tooth wethers to 31s, two-tooth ewc-s with lambs 21s (all counted), failing ewes with good lambs 20s 4d, extra good to 30s lOd. Good yearling cattle made up to £6 10s others to £4 10s, a small line of Hereford heifers, two-and-a-half-ycar-old (about calving) £9 2s 6d. PALMERSTON SALE. At Pahnerston, as at other stock sales, values are; firming every week for the better class of stock; interior sorts also being firmer sinco last sale. Few sheep were yarded, and they made 31s 3d for torward wethers and 33s 6d for another lot of aged wethers. About 150 head of mixed cattle were offered to a considerable gathering of dealers and graziers, and made high prices, yearlings making from £3 10s to £4 17s 6d, two-year-olds £/ 10s to £8 15s, three four-year-old steers £l2 2s 6d, empty young cows £6 10s to £7 10s, young heifers £5 to £6. STOCK VALUES IN THE NORTH ISLAND. Values of stock in the North Island remain very firm. In the South Auckland district, at Hamilton, three-year-old steers wero sold at £l2 15s, two to two and a-half year olds £9 to £lO, yearlings to £7 10s, store cowa to £9, fats £ll to £l4. At Manawatu small yardings only have been offered, and clearances were effected easily; good evve3 with lambs to 43s 9d, others from 31s. In the anticipation that rather higher mutton and beef prices would have been offered by the Imperial Government, values show some slackening. At Wan-ganui-Feilding, mixed hoggets made from 32s to 355, ewes in lambs to 455, shorn hoggets 255; Hereford heifers (yearlings) £B, two-year-olds £ll ss, good yearling steers £6 15s, ordinary £3 15s to £4 ss. In the Wairarapa, at Masterton, three-year-odl polled Angus bullocks to £l6 6s, Shorthorns £l4 7s. three-year-old Shorthorn-Here-ford cross £l4 10s, Hereford yearlings £8 3s, others (good colours) £7 to £8 10s, crossbred three-year-olds £ll to £l3 10s, two-year-olds £lO to £l3, yearling steers £5, store cows £5 to £6. In Marlborough mixed storo hoggets wero sold at _23s 6d, two-tooth withers at 245, four, six, and eight-tooth ewes, each with a lamb, at 39s 3d (lambs in), store cows £5 to £6 10s.

STOCK NOTES. Last week saw tho dispersal of Mr A. j Chamberlain's (of Ellcsmcrc, Canterbury) I famous Shorthorn herd, and naturally attracted a largo attendanc i from all parts of Now Zealand. It is over 30 years since Mr Chamberlain commenced breeding Shorthorns, and stock o;' his breeding has seored j in tho leading shows in tho Dominion. : Cows or heifers or . Ii ;v . ired out- i sido tho dW.rict by ' v.srs V, ['. Cameron (Tirnuru), W Gardin r (Oamaru), 11. Anderson (Southland), ]>. Murm> (Clydovalo), B. Seth-Smith (Waiaii), T. -iercom! (Bay of Plenty). Bulls were et>Jicn far afield by

Messrs T. Seccombe (Bay of Plenty), D. Murray (CTydcvale), while P. Chamberlain (Elksniere) bought several lots, and presumably tne Tnornsieigh Shorthorns are not to bo allowed to be eliminated completely.

High prices wero realised at Blctchley (says the North British Agriculturist) for a number ot purebred dairy Shoruiorns. Tho 45 head sold made a total of £3BOI, or an average of £B4 9s. The highest price was 520 gs ior a bull, while 260 gs was paid for one ot ttxo cows. Buils averaged £/'6 ss, and heifers and cows £B7 2s. According to Hansen's Dairy Bulletin, the Danish Stock Law of 1912 provides that, two years from its enactment, no Government subsidies will be provided for bulls at shows unless the yieid and fat percentage of their mothers is furnished, and five years hence no subsidies will be provided for cows unless the yield and fat percentage in milk is stated, thus proving their faith in cowtesting associations. MEAT NOTES. Tho Pastoral Review, commenting on Russia's live stock, says, inter alia: '•'Bearing in mind her population, and comparing her with other countries, Russia is very badly off in respect of stocks of cattle and other farm animals. A report has just been presented to the Duma on tho ratio of stock to every thousand inhabitants in Russia and other countries as follows: — Horned Shoep and Cattle. Goats. Pigs. Russia 313 521 94 England .. .. 263 704 91 Germany .. .. 327 106 351 Denmark .... 758 433 G 43 Unit:-I States .. 730 709 '742 Canada 803 370 339 Australia 2,021 18,091 176 Argentina .. .. 4,487 10,358 216 "Not only is Avussia, compared with other countries, short of cattle, but the disparity is seen to be greater still when the average weigiit of thq carcase is taken into consideration. In Russia the average weight ot a cow is only 3801 b, whereas in Germany it is 6501 b. Further, owing to the drink restrictions, the consumption of meat among tii • rural population has increased by 150 per cent. All the soldiers in tho vast Russian armies were practically vegetarians before the war, as meat was only eaten by the peasant half a dozen times in the course of the year; but they are now receiving liberal allowances of meat, which will be bound to materially increase tho consumption of meat alter the war. This tacts show that Russia should offer a very large market for British-bred stock. It should be d or at opportunity for the cattle-breeders of tho Homo Country, and also for the i,;i p-brctd-.rs of .Australasia." The London correspondent of the Pastoral Review, in a reference to the Port of London, says: "As may be well imagined, war delays have greatly impeded the new cold storage equipment at tho north-west end of the Royal Albert Dock. But the Port of London Authority now states that the actual refrigerating machinery is being installed, the building work of the new cold stores having bee n completed, and the new stores and insulating ■sorting sheds are thus approaching their final equipment. The completion of these btvldings will enable the Port Authority to accommodate, at its various cold stores frozen meat equivah nt to a million and a-half carcases of mutton. It is hoped to bring a portion of the new store and tho sorting shed into operation before the end of the year. A feature at the Albert Dock is the provision of 43 electric cranes, ench capable of Jift : ng three tons at 60ft radius. Nearly all the cranes have now been delivered by tho contractors. They work admirably on the special track laid down for them on the north side of the dock and basin, and are giving great satisfaction to ship-owners. The construction of tho walls of the now South Albert Dock, which is 65 acres in extent, and of the new Dry Dock 750 ft long by 100 ft w'de, is nearly completed; but work upon the swing bridges, lock gntes. and caisson is unfortunately being held un owing to Government requirements When completed the Drv Dock will add considerably to the facilities of the port for repairing the largest tyn" o f vessel. Trie existing gravmp docks, which are in close proximity to tho new Dry Dock, are being continually utilised for the ropairinir nnrl fitteng out of ships, especially Government vessels." WARTS ON A COW'S TEATS. "Milkmaid" writes:—"Perhaps you will be interested to learn of a simple remedy for worts on the tents of cows which has boon found successful. It eon.vsts of rubb?n<r tho r,«n.ts nffor+orl «,,'rh Hi" ?t>«iV?" of a broad bean pod. A bad ease treateel in this manner two vears ago was completely cured, arid there boon no reappearance of the trouble. Tho remedy is also ofFocHvo in the ease of warts on the hands." • Wo hone to hear from nnvono who tr ; es this rom"dv ns to whether it proves efficacious in all cases. B"TTFR AMO CHEESE MARKET. Tho National Mortem <rr> and Agencv Comnn.,v nF N""' 7l"ilanr! fa .%. rwH -f tho following cablegram from Messrs Mills and ftmrvoiv. I mvlT :•—" Rnft"r. ?" to 4s ,] .. r-u. ■- ... „,„i pnol-iingorl." Tho National Mortgage and Agency Compnnv of Nov Zealand is in receipt of the 11 >■• P -■-, TV.,.,.,. IT.MI -, Sparrow, London: "Butter, strong; Danish, 216. ito 21Ps; colonial cleared Cheese, very firm; Canadian, 116 s to 1205."

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. The Otago Land Board on the Bth resolved to approve of the following applicants who were successful in the ballot for land : Small grazing run 238, Tarras, 4320 acres, Henry L. Paterson; small grazing run 23Sp, Tarras, 5970 acres, William D. Smith; occupation with right of purchase, section 67, block IV, Sutton, 10 acres 2 roods 21 poles, John M'Donald; occupation with right of purchase, section 11, block VII, Catlins, 194 acres 2 roods 20 poles, Hugh White; section 35, block IV, G'.enomaru, 211 acres, Leslie G. Cook. With tho exception of John M'Donald all tho successful applicants are returned soldiers. A meeting of directors of the Otago Farmers' Union Mutual Tire Insurance Association was held on Thursday, Mr Win. Grey (chairman) presiding. Mr D. M. Philip tendered his resignation as a director owing to having gone out of active farming. Mr Philip's resignation was accepted with regret, and a minute of appreciation of his valuable services was recorded in the books. A large amount of correspondence was received from new districts, inquiring as to the insurance business. The total insurances to date were reported to be £270,912, being an increase of £9647 since la t meeting of directors.

But one shipment of fat cattle to Sydney has been made this year (writes the Suva correspondent of the New Zealand Herald), the back loading of steamers being so heavy since tho Rabaul run has be-en included .n tho itinerary that no space can be had for the carriage of live stock. There must be nearly 10,000 head of cattle on the various plantations, and .each year provides a large addition to tho areas suitable for grazing. The Age reports that a Masterton settlor has just disposed of over 1000 store lambs in the paddock at 18s per head, for delivery in January.

The Eltham Dairy Factory will be interested in the next voyage of two large steamers. One will convey £IO.OOO worth of tho company's cheese and £2OOO worth of butter to London, whilst the other will include in her cargo £3OOO of cheese for Liverpool. An Otekaike correspondent writes to the Oamaru Mail that feed is plentiful everywhere in that district, and there is a fine show of fruit, especially of stone fruits. Green fly is very bad, and trouble has also been experienced with black aphis, which has attacked the Japanese plums and poaches. If not tackled at once it plays havoc with the stools of the young trees. The writer has vanquished it by taking it in time.

A Mokoreta lad, the son of Mr William Bcange, farmer, did useful service to the district when the last two snowstorms occurred (says the Wyndham Herald). While the ground remained covered with snow he saw his opportunity for making a raid on small birds. A bag of sorrel seed, refuse from the seed-cleaner, was his bait; and a sieve of small mesh, with a long piece of string attached to a peg which propped up the sieve on one side, was the trap. By this primitive method the boy accounted in two days for 887 linnets, sparrows, etc. His biggest haul at a pull was 56. Mr Robertson, who has acted ?s manager of the Balclutha T. and P. Dairy Factory for the past few months, has been promoted to the position of manager of the Herbert Dairy Factory (says the Leader). Mr Dick, at one tinie on the staff of the Inchclutha Factory, has been appointed manager of the Balclutha factory. The Bruce Herald understands that during the last fortnight one of the local stock agencies has sold, for forward delivery, between February ai.d March, a total of 16,000 sheep owned in the district, at prices ranging from 13s 6d to 24s 9d. The takings for the three days at the Metropolitan Show at Palmerston North last week totalled £9BO Os lOd, an increase of £175 7s lOd over last year's figures. A prominent fiockowner in the Ngapara district expressed the opinion (says the Oamaru Mail) that tho lambing for his district would be under 100 per cent, average. Notwithstanding this there are one or two fortunate farmers who have exceeded the one lamb per head. One flock of 500 tallied out 112 pc r cent, of lambs, and another got the excellent return of 140 per cent, from a flock of 900. The mortality among ewes has been more severe than usual, and a 6 pcr cent, loss is reported in one instance. In connection with the price of flour, Mr J. M'Combs, M.P.. forwarded the following telegram on the 7th inst. (says the Lyttelton Times) to the Hon. W. D. S. Mao Donald (Minister of Agriculture and president of the Board of Trade): —"Flour has gone up another 10s per ton, making an advance of 50 per cent, on the prices ruling in 1912 and 1913. Further advances are proba.blo unless the Government, temporarily suspends tho duty on Austral inn (lour. Such action would have a steadying effect on prices without endangering local industry." The triennial election of members of (he Board of Agriculture will take place in February. Tho |d per lb war tax on butter-fat for the first month of tho season at tho Matnura Dairy Factory amounted to £l5O 12s 2d. Tt Is estimated that during the current export season meat sold to the Imperial Government will return to producers, or

whoever disposes of tho moat, £10,000,000. The export is expected to amount to the cimi'vO :,' ..'' 7,000,000 carcases of 601 b, this includinu beef. EXPORT OF PRODUCE. WELLINGTON, November 9. The New Zealand produco entered for export last week was valued at £258,685, including : j Butter and cheese £34,938 Frozen meat 112,452 ! Hides 33,426 i Flax 27,593 i Wool 26,850