STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnslde, Wednesdays Ashburton, Tuesdays Addington, Wednesdays Walareka Eail way Junotion, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Balciutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Oamaru, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Heriot Monthly. JPalmerston, Ist Monday Ngapara & Winton, Ist Thursday

I Monthly (continued). Mataura & Vvaikouaitl, 2nd Thursday Eiverton, 3rd Thursday Wyndham, last Thursday Balfour & Thornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, 2nd Friday Biversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday Periodically. AYaipiata, Lumsden, Mossbum, Orepuki, Clifdeu

BURNSIDE AND ADDINGTON. Stock sales were not held at either Burnuide or Addington on Wednesday on account of the holidays, and generally the usual sales at the various centres have been put off for a week.

NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Value* of all classes of stock in the North Island arc well maintained. Buyers are busy purchasing fat lambs. The question of selling cattle by live weight has again been raised. Some values ruling at various widely-scattered centres are herewith given. In the South Auckland district, at Hamilton, yearling steers made £6 to £7; year and a-half, £7 12s to £l2; two-year-olds, £9 10s to £lO 10s; three-year-olds, £l3 to £l4; cows and calves, £9 to £l2 10s; wcaner calves, £3 12s; best (shorn wethers, 34s to 26s 6d; others, 29s to 335; in the wool, 37s to 455. In Taranaki good year .tind a-half steers, £7 to £8; two-year-olds to £lO 14s; backward and ordinary two and three-year-olds, £8 to £lO 10s; forward cows, £7 10s to £9; empty heifers, £8 10s; good dairy cows, £ls 10s. In the Wairarapa weaner steers were sold at £5 to £5 10s; year and a-half steers, £8 to £8 10s; two and a-half-year-olds, £l2 to £l3; store cows, £8 to £lO 10s; three-year-old bullocks, £l3 10s; hoggets, 28s to 30s; twotooth wethers, 30s to 32s 6d; fourtooths, 33a to 365; two-tooth ewes, 355; four-tooths, 35a; young ewes with lambs, 425; old ewes, 30s. In Poverty Bay, at the Matawhero yards, some 10,000 sheep and 1700 head of cattle were yarded. There was a good clearance. Mixed two-tooths made 28s 6d; small two-tooth ewes, 25s 6d to 27s 6d; ordinary wethers, 25s od to 2Fs; these prices being for shorn sheep. Woolly wethers were sold, to 40s and as low as 34s od; yearling steers, £7 12s 6d; .good two-year-olds, £lO 12s 6d to £ll 10s; cows with calves. £l3 15s; good framed bullocks, £l3 10s to £ls 7s 6d. STOCK NOTES. Eighteen Lincoln owes and one ram recently arrived to the order of Mr T. 11. Payne, Victoria. They are from foremo.it breeders in the County of Lincoln, and, according to " Bendiloby," of the Australasian, arc a particularly attractive lot. They are at present in quarantine on Coodo Island, and arrived in first-rate order, carrying about three months' wool. All of them are of the 1915 drop, and are entered in the Lincoln Longwool-brceders' Association's Stud Book.

Mr George Mills, of Glcnmona Park, Bung Bong, has lately mado a valuable importation of one Border Leicester ram and three ewes to add to his stud flock. Tho ram, Lord Melbourne, is a shearling, bred by those noted breeders, Messrs A. and J. K. Smith, of Leaston, Scotland, who have previously sent so many highclass 'Border rams to both the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The three ewes ./ore bred by the late Lord Ninian Orichton Stuart, of Falkland Palace flock, and were all got by that great sire His Majesty, who ia noted all ovcr_ the world as tho most successful Boder sire of tho last five years. One hundred and twenty-five of his lambs at one sale realised the remarkable average of £lO 14s per head. Messrs Morehcads (Ltd.), Brisbane, have just received a cable from the well-known Aberdeen-Angus breeder, Mr J. J. Cridjan, of Maisemoro Park, Gloucester, England, announcing that he has won the Grand Championship of tho Smithfield Show, also first prize for the best female, this being fourth time on which ho haa achieved this honour. It is a matter of Interest to noto that four Aberdeen-Angus bulla are shortly to arrive from Mr CridJan's stud, two of these being for Mr J. O. White, of Edingkssie, New South Wales;

one for Mr H. B. Williams, of Gisborne, New Zealand; and the other for Mr Bernard Chambers, of Tcmata, New Zealand. THE POSITION AND PROSPECTS IN AUSTRALIA. Ono word (says the Pastoral Review) is sufficient to summarise tho season this month—saturation. New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania have had continuous, general, and soaking rains. Queensland and tho northern half of New South Wales have also had muggy weather, with the result that rust and take-all, the bane of the wheatgrower, have put in an appearance, and caused serious crop losses. In Riverina and Victoria most of the damage to crops has been the result of heavy winds, rain, and hail; but naturally the trouble has not been so widespread as with the rust. South Australia appears to have had the most favourable weather as far as the wheat harvest is concerned, and a high yield is assured there. With record rainfalls all over the cast of the continent feed and water are, of course, superabundant, grass and herbage are still wonderfully green, stock are in excellent condition, stores being a rarity, but the trouble is that there are not sufficient animals to keep the feed down. Shearing has naturally been delayed in parts In Western Australia the position is quite satisfactory, both from an agricultural and pastoral point of view, and the country may be said to be in good trim for the summer.

As is expected at this time of tho year, many and varied estimates of the _ Australian wheat yield have been published. The season, though, is such that even tho most trustworthy and up-to-date must necessarily be subject to revision almost every day. Wind, hail, and rust are but three of the many possibilities that may alter the outlook for \yhole_ districts and materially reduce tho yield in any State. In the following table an effort is made to, show the crop prospects in the individual States at the beginning of December. The figures are based on what are usually considered the most reliable estimates, and unless any thing further of a really disastrous nature happens, will probably be found approximately correct.

The auction sales of wool held in Geelong on the 16th ult. will probably be the last in Australasia for some considerable time to come. The day following them the Prime Minister summoned a conference of woolbrokcrs, at which he mado certain statements concerning the position of wool supplies, and asked for particulars showing the average price of all the wool sold in Australia during each of the last three seasons. This was taken, correctly enough, by all concerned to foreshadow the purchase by the Government of the clip. Owing to the incomplete state in which the transaction now stands, full particulars of tho scheme are not yet announced, though some general idea of the position may be given. It appears that tho Imperial authorities, deeming it necessary for the more successful prosecution of the war to have complete control of tho Empire's wool clip, approached the various Governments with a view to tho purchase of the whole of tho unsold portion thereof. Tho price (not yet divulged) suggested by tho Homo authorities as the basis of tho deal was considered inadequate, and. after analysis of the figures supplied by woolbrokcrs, the Prime Ministor made a counter proposal, offering tho unsold portion of the Australian clip at an all-round price, which represents an advance of 50 per cent, on that current, on the average, throughout the pre-war wool season—i.e., July 1, 1913, to June 30, 1914. In that year the average price of all tho wool sold in Australian markets was within a fraction of 10d, which, plus the 50 per cent, aforesaid, is > 15d. the flat rate at which over a million bales of Australian wool is now under offer to the Imperial Government. A reply to this offer was expected 10 dnys ago. but is not yet to hand. Pending its receipt, tho Prime Minister issued the following Proclamation on November 23: —"No person shall, except in accordance with (he permission in writing of the Prime Minister, or in accordance with permission notified by the Prime Minister in the Gazette, sell or offer for sale, or buy or offer to buv, either on his own behalf or on behalf of any oiher person, any wool or dry sheepskins." The wool and skin business is consequently at a standstill. That is the position in Australia today. FROZEN MEAT ON THE SALONIKA FRONT. It is interesting to have from the Eastern front at Salonika a first-hand statement by

an army official as to tho methods _ of the commissariat of the Allied troops in that section of tho war front. " The letter comes to me," writes the London correspondent of tho Pastoral Review as follows:—"One doesn't need to be associated with the army long to understand that the most important item in a soldier's day is his dinner, and the principal item therein is his meat ration. A good dinner makes a cheerful soldier, and a cheerful soldier means victory. When a man is discontented he doesn't give of his best; the army authorities realise this { and their motto is ' the best, of everything for the troops. What a difference to our usual half rations of tho Boer war ! Special attention is paid to the soldier's meat ration. Local supplies of sheep and cattle are purchased, but the great proportion of meat is imported frozen. At Salonika a frozen meat supply department has been organised, tho War Office sending out a member of the Incorporated Society of Meat Importers, who also has a general knowledge of frozen meat and produce surveying, to undertake this duly, this department not only sees to British troops, but also attends to the requirements of our French, Serbian, Russian, and Italian Allies, as well as the Allied navies and merchant fleets. To other than tho British, the moat is charged out at a certain price per lb, and the accounts rendered to the proper quarters. British troops draw lib per man, or |lb meat and extra tea and sugar; the |lb is the general ration, men saying that this quantity is sufficient. The Allied troops usually draw |lb per man. On one day a week all British troops draw ' bully' beef in lieu of frozen or fresh meat. There is a ferry service of refrigerated ships between Egypt and Salonika. Moat cargoes cannot be said to arrive at their best; anyone who has had any experience of tho trade understands what transhipment of frozen meat means and the damage that is caused. To realise properly the drawbacks of this system, ono must also understand that the sea temperature at Egypt is from 86dcg to 92deg, and that the Arabs who work tho cargoes are not the cleanest of the people. From time to time quantities of meat have to bo destroyed on account of this. Many practical men have reported strongly against this method of first taking supplies to Egypt; one fails to understand why direct shipments are not made to Salonika, particularly seeing its large daily requirements which are very much more than Egypt s, and that steamers which go to Egypt are within a few hours' steaming. Ono would think direct services to both Egypt and Salonika would be the nest method, releasing the present ferry ships. There is cold storage at E<p r pt for about 1600 tons; a store ship is also kept there, which should bo sent to Salonika. With direct shipments meat would arrive in better and cleaner condition, and the thousands of pounds now destroyed would be saved. However, one has confidence in tho higher commands to know they must have some reason which does not appear to the ordinary business mind. At Salonika all meat is inspected at ship's side, any being found unfit for issue is placed on one sido for a medical board's decision; any damage is noted and reported. Tho quality has in the main been uniformly good; shipments not up to standard are few and far between. Owing to restricted quay space the meat is discharged into the lighters of the different Allies, taken ashore, and loaded direct into railway vans or motor trollies, which carry it to the various army corps' distributing centres; from these it is sent on, mainly on motors, to tho divisional depots, and from them usually bv pack mules to the different brigades and battalions. During the hot weather the meat is in the hands of tho cooks about 36 hours after it has left tho refrigerator. At many of the depots '"flyproof storerooms liave been erected, and, though the meat is only there a few hours, they have proved a great blessing, the fly pest being a great curse and tho cause of much sickness. Cleanliness is insisted upon at all points; on tho lorries the moat has to be kept covered. Everyone is ready and willing to carry out any suggestions to ensure the moat arriving at its final destination in a good and clean condition. After this war in future A.S.O. organisations ono looks to special frozen meat supply departments being formed to look after this important ration. On all hands ono hears great praise of frozen meat, and one result of the war will be definitely to k'll the prejudice against, it. Australian 'crops' are great favourites with all troops, and if a good use is made of the shins, briskets, etc., long may they continue. An occasional issue of mutton is also much appreciated." AUSTRALIAN WHEAT CROP SOLD. Tho Prime Minister (Mr Hughes), replying to Mr Foster (S.A.) in tho House of Representatives on December 13, stated that, although there were some details still unsettled, tho negotiations between tho Commonwealth and the Imperial authorities had proceeded far enough to enable him to make a general statement and to announce tho main details of the scheme. Shortly, the position was as follows:—Tho British Government had bought the balance of tho old crop and the whole of the new crop, excluding only that which was necessary for Australian needs, at a price of 4s 9d a bushel, f.o.b. The British Government was finding the shipping to remove the wheat, which was estimated to be about, but not to exceed, 3,000,000 tons. Great Britain was making arrangements for the shipping needed to removo all the wheat during the first six months of 1917. Other points that might be referred to were the milling in-

dustry and tho proportion of tho vast crop of wheat that was to be transported as flour. Representations had been made to the British Government in regard to that question, but no reply had been received as to tho amount that would be taken in flour. As soon as a reply was received it would be published. Mr Hagelthorn made tho following supplementary statement: —"When tho negotiations wero proceeding tho Imperial Government stipulated for a maximum quantity of 3,000,000 tons, and the Wheat Board naturally wanted to sell the maximum. The board consulted tho Advisory Board as to the position of the stocks in hand, and what it could safely sell. The stocks left on hand from the 1915-16 crop at November 30 were 2,241.811 tons, less sales and engagements 836,511 tons, and thus there wore 1.405,300 tons of tho old crop left available for sale. As to the new crop, the Advisory Board made out a conservative estimate os follows:—New South Wales, 33,000,000 bushels; Victoria, 39.000.000 bushels; South Australia. 29,000.000 bushels; Western Australia, 11,000,000 bushels;—a total of 112.000,000 bushels. From this total there had to be deducted 20,300,000 bushels for nine months' consumption in Australia, and tho Wheat Board was advised to hold back 4,000,000 bushels of wheat or flour for Africa, also 4,000,000 bushels for the East, and 2,000,000 bushels for Peru, and to carry forward into 1918 for Australian requirements for four an da-half months 10,000,000 bushels, in case the next crop was short. Theso deductions would leave of the estimated total 71,700,000 bushels, which was equivalent to 1,920,000 tons. Tho position was summarised as follows: —Old crop available for sale, 1,405,306 tons; estimate of new crop available for sale to Great Britain and the Allies, 1,920,000 tons;—a total of 3,325,300 tons."

SEASON 1915-16. (Actual.) Area. Yield. New South Wales 4,233.000 67,000,000 3,680,000 58,500,000 South Australia .. 2,739.000 3-1,000,000 Western Australia 1,784,000 18,000.000 91,000 500,000 49,000 1,000,000 12,531,000 179,000,000 SEASON 1916-17. (Estimated.) Area. Yield. New South Wales 8,803,000 38.500,000 3,120,000 45,000,000 South Australia .. • 2.697,000 32.000,000 Western Australia 1,500,000 16,000,000 163,000 1,500,000 45,000 1,000,000 11,333,000 134,000,000