AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Mr W. G. Foster (chairman of directors of the Wellington Meat Export Company) referred to the shipping tonnage situation at a meeting of shareholders of the company at Wellington yesterday. The outlook as regards the shipment of stocks on hand and to accrue during the ensuing season, While serious, might be regarded hopefully, ho said. Even if no greater assistance than had been available during the past year was provided no great fear need be felt as next year's meat and dairy produce providing the present cold storage capacity of the country was fully used and any surplus power which existed was availed of, especially as the Imperial Government had sanctioned the halving carcases. With frozen mutton and lamb this method of packing would economise the storage space in both stores and ships to the extent of 20 per cent., and in beef to the extent of about 12£ per cent. Surplus power already existod at certain works which could, at no great cost, bo utilised for oheese storage. Should shipping, however, be further reduced by submarine or other action, it would, so far as meat production was concerned, be possible to lighten the pressuro on the frozen storage by canning old and cull ewes. Both the North and South Islands were stated to be understocked, and thus no national loss would be felt.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) stated last week that, in accordance with requests received, the Cabinet had determined that Sunday,

October 7, should be set apart as a day for national prayer in connection with the war The various churches were being asked to make their arrangements for the proper observance of this day. The mayors in all cities and boroughs were being asked to arrange, if possible, for united services on the afternoon of October 7.

A big sale ot cattle has just been made from Mr Donald MacDonald'a Edendalo Estate, a lino of 215 bullocks having been disposed of to a Christohuvch butcher at £27 a head, or a total of £5805. A Christohuroh merchant is (says tho Lyttclton Times) firmly, of opinion that there has been a good deal of illegal selling c.f wheat in Canterbury this season. One farmer, he said, was heard to boast that ho had sold a line of Pearl at 8d a bushel above the Government maximum prico. Instances are frequently quoted of sellers endeavouring to persuade merchants to give an advanced price, by methods unexplained, and the fact that the agent who refused to operate in this way was given no second offer of the wheat, and that it was subsequently sold, caused a suspicion that things were not all that they should be. A grower of wheat and oats might offer the wheat at the fixed price, but refused to tako current rates for his oats. From Otago come storie3 of silk dresses given to farmers' wives to encourage the grower to part with his produce. These stories, of course, are hard to prove, but their very persistence in mercantile circles is suggestive.

Some idea as to what can be attained by intensive farming in tho Auckland district may be gathered by a statement made at the annual meeting of shareholders in the New Zealand Dairy Association by the chairman of directors, Mr H. E. Pacey. He referred to tho herd-testing department, and stated there was evidence that judicious culling, together with careful breeding of cattle, was improving the dairy herds. The retuVns showed that in 1914-15 season the poorest cow yielded 431 b of butter-fat per day for the season; in 1915-16 the return was 551 b per day, and in 1917 the yield from the poorest cow had risen to 601 b of butter-fat per day for the season. The sub-committee of the North Canterbury Executive of the N.Z. Farmers' Union, who discussed matters with the Farm Workers' Union, recommended to their executive that the wage of harvest hands should bo Is 6d an hour and found, with Is 9d an hour for binder hands and stackmen. It is not a hard and fast agreement, it should be understood, but indicates what farmers have in their minds ais a fair thing, if plenty available labour is in ovidenco in the coming season.

According to the North British Agriculturist, several towns have acted upon the suggestion given, of closing the butchers shop for a time. The Airdrie, Coatbridge, and Kirkintilloch butchers have decided to close their premises for a week on end, in order to save meat, and bring it home to people that economy must be practised. | The annual meeting of the Kelso A. j and P. Association, held on the 25th ult., was 'attended by 30 members. Mr W. Corbett (president) occupied the chair. | The balance sheet disclosed a small balance, but the society was declared by the chairman to 'be about £4O better off than last year, which he considered, under the circumstance®, was satisfactory. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr Jas. Jenkins; vice-president, Mr Alex. Maekay (Pomahaka); secretary, Mr R. G. Foster (re-elected); treasurer, Mr J. F. Herbert (re-elected); auditors, Messrs W. Dunnet and A. M'Kinnon. The retiring i members of committee (Messrs A. M'Kin- j non, Arthur Plaugh, W. M'Kenzio, and : Jas. Sim) were re-elected, and Messrs Win, Kirk. D. Jenkins, B. Ussher, and Chas. M'Lean were appointed to fill j vacancies caused by members absent on active service. At the Canterbury Farmers' Union meeting it was reported that there had • been a fairly heavy mortality among breeding ewes. A few years ago a similar disease broke out amongst owes on turnips, but this year sheep on green oats had become victims of tho disease. Mr Frampfcon, Wakanui, said that recently ho lost 50 owes which were fed on Algerian oats. He had never known these oats to be harmful to sheep. He had noticed, when skinning the sheep, that the gall- , bag was very much swollen. Mr- Lill, Willowby, 'said his sheep contracted a I form of paralysis and eventually died. The chairman (Mr J. Brown) said he had heard of somo farmers losing ewes in tho Cold- i stream district. The annual meeting of the Maniototo A. and P. Association was presided over by Mr J. Nicholson who congratulated the members on the position of the Association, tho balnnco sheet of which showed a balanco of £4O Bs. It was resolved to hold tho show on Decembor 13. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, R. Scott, MP.; president, Mr A. Cromb; vice-presidents, Messrs E. Smith and D. Murray s treasurer, Mr W. Brown; yard superintendent, Mr W. Crawford; auditor, Mr F. W. Inder; committee 2 Hyde, Messrs E. Howard; Kokonga, A. B. Mann and J. R. Peterson; Lower Kyeburn, Griffiths and S. Andrews} Ewe-

bum, Bleach, -J. Mulholland, W. Dowling, W. Mawhinney, J. Glenn; Patoaroa, Herlihy, Greer, M. Cogan, W. E. Beattie, Littlo and J. Blakely; Gimmorburn, J. Weir, J. M'Leod, A. Cleugh, R. Sharkey, C. Dougherty, jun., A. B. Armour, W. M. Mawhinney, P. L. Black, Fenton, H. W. Davis; Waipiata, A. B. Hall, J. O'Neill, Mathias, Coram; Maruimato, P. M. Law, Dow, R. G. Shaw, T. Lindsay, D. Duncan; Blackstone Hill, W. M. Wilson, D. Nicoison, E. Williamson, J. Nicolson; Naseby, H. Wilson, R. Inder, C. Inder, Fraser, Fraher, Dr Lillie; Upper Kyeburn, H. Lunan, Jas. Haugh; Ranfurly, J. Mitchell, W. Crawford, A. Smith, J. Walker, D. Murray, J. G. Weir; Paerau, P. Aitken, F. Bleach, W. Mathewson. Life member: Mr R. W. Glendining.

At a meeting of shearing contractors travelling with portable engines and machines, held in Christchurch, it was agreed to fix the charge for the coming season at £2 per 100 sheep, with meals and accommodation, being an advance of 5s on last year's rates. This increase is to cover tho extra 2s 6d granted \to shearers and the increased cost of benzine, grinding material, oil, etc., which the contractor provides. These portablo plants, on each of which two shearers are employed, are carried from farm to farm, and each outfit will shear from 8000 to 15,000 sheep in tho season.

The Government has been successful in obtaining tonnage for tho despatch of general, as distinguished from i-efrigerated, cargo, consisting of wool, tallow, hides, pelts, flax, and other lines (says the Wellington Post). This will materially help in reducing accumulations of such cargo in the various ports in the dominion. A meeting of shearing contractors travelling with portablo engines and machines was held in Christchurch on Saturday (says theChristchurch Star). It was agreed to fix the charge for the coming season at £2 per 100 sheep, with meals and accommodation, being an advance of 5s on last year's rates. This increase is to cover the extra 2s 6d granted to shearers and the increased cost of benzine, grinding material, oil, etc., which the contractor provides. These portable plants, on each of which two shearers are employed, are carried from farm to farm, and each outfit will shear from 8000 to 15,000 sheep in the season. The Southland A. and P. Association estimates the value of its land and buildings at £23,181. The Fields Supervisor of the Agricultural Department (Mr A. Macpherson) has, by arrangement with tho Railway Department, selected sites along the main railway line .between Christchurch and Ashburton for experimental areas of lucerne, with a view of demonstrating to farmers the suitability of this crop to Canterbury conditions and its remarkable production of valuable fodder. Rabbit-catching has been carried on unceasingly all through the winter. An abundance of men, nearly all from Dunedin. have been coming and going, and judging by the bales and sacks going forward they have fo'ind it remunerative (says the Alexandra Herald). Almost every trap one passes on the road has its parcel of skins. Tho happy hunting grounds of bunny are infested with their young. _ The : r f-upposed enemy, the weasel, is living on fowlyard fruits. To meet the growing demands of the district, the Poverty Bay Stockbrokers' As60ciat;on has decided to erect now cattle and sheep vards at Te Karaka, capable of accommodate g from 5000 to 6000 sheep and 750 to 800 head of cattle.