STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Monthly (continued). Buni.lde, \Vedneßdajß Woodlands, 2nd ThursAahburton, Tuesdays day Addington, Wednesday* Wyndham, last ThursWaiareka Railway Juno- day tion, Tuesdays Ualfour, 3rd Thursday WaUacetown, Tuesdays Thprnbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, Fortnightly. 2nd Friday Clinton, Thursday. v^B^ ale ' l^s,. ,i ££2 -Balclutha, Friday. W* ka : Gore, Tuesdays Clydevale. last ThursOamaru, Tuesdays aa ? WaUacetown, Tuesday. Periodically as AdverHeriot, Thursdays tised. M«„ihi u Lumsden, Mosa'onm, Monthly. Oiepuki, Mataura, Falmerston, Ist Monday Waiiouaiti, ItiverWinton, Ist Thursday ton, Ngapara, and Duatrocn, 2nd Friday Otago Central sales. OTAGO. A fine week of varied temperatures, with, rain showers, may fairly describe weather conditions in Otago. There seemed considerable' electricity in the air and unusual heat was experienced at times in places along the coast. Grass seed-sowing and f*aymaking are in full swing, and, no doubt, would soon bo out of hand if a .WeClfcs sunshine on end would prevail. InlV ~y. shearing is well forward, and, although the weather is well enough for growth of vegetation, it has hung up shearing at times to the satisfaction alone of the schoolboys lending a hand on wages, who are doing good work, and don't mind a shower of rain if wages go steadily on. The rabbits are reported to be very plentiful Centralwards, and as _ their toll on the grass at the moment is not inappreciable, they are having a royal time, and the reckoning carried over for a while. Big cereal crops are reported from the Lake Hawera district, the thrashing mill being at work from the etook, while most of the standing crop is ready for the reaper and binder. A" number of the licenses of pastoral runs falling in this year in Otago are to be extended for another year to the present holders, so as to allow soldiers now at the front having an opportunity in the ballot on their return. The date on which the Freezing Works at Burnside will be open for the season has not yet been divulged, or, rather, one should say, perhaps, it is known only to the inner circle. Not this month, at anyrate. Stock transactions are at the moment not being rushed. There is a feeling in the air to hang on to stock for a bit, and see how things are going. It is the wise bird, however, who the sooner realises that ."fat" prices have been fixed, and that it is little use to fly needlessly to pastures farther afield and risk being crumpled. BURNSIDE MARKET. The fat sheep marketed at Burnside were quite satisfactory in regard to quality, although the supply was somewhat, small. Sheep sold at about last sale's values, with an, easier tendency towards tho end of the sale. The yarding of fat lambs met with a slow demand, and prices fell away some shillings per 'head despite passings oh a free scale. Good lambs. 26s 6d; fair sorts, 22s 6d; extra, 28s to 30s. In the fat cattlo section 200 cattle were submitted, a useful lot, being chiefly light steer beef, with a fair proportion of cow quality. Prices are back 30s a head, beef making 46s 6d to 47s per 1001 b. Some 200 cattle, comprising ail' sorts, were penned, and met with good competition at the reduced level ruling at recent markets. Yards > of young cows not in calf, fairish sorts in moderate order, realised £lO 10s; three-year-old steers, £l3 10s; best vealers, £5 to £6 13s; yearlings, £5 17s 6d. The entry of fat pigs was a good one, and the quality for the most part excellent. Prices were hardly up to the previous week's sale; buc it was a good sale. The offering of stores was fairly large, and rates were firm at recent values. The stock sale at Burr.sidft was adjourned for a timo out of respect to the memory of the late Mr W. J. J. Charters. The representative gathering of farming and allied interests in the interval passed sympathetic motions of condolences with those who are left in their bereavement. i. ADDINGTON YARDS. Fat sheep at Addington were in short supply, with the result that export buyers were beaten off, and values all round advanced fully a shilling a head. Over 1500 fat lamb 3 met with keen competition, tho trade buying freely on account of tho Eaucity of fat sheep. The quality of tho imbs was but moderate, but rates were la to Is 6d higher than tho previous sale. There was a largo entry of store sheep, and the best sale for the past six weeks. Rape lambs sold particularly well; also ewes and wethers. P'robably there was a shilling rise all round compared with last sale's prices. Tho entry of fat catfcla was a good one, both in quality and numbers. Exporters were operating, and secured several lots at round about 45s 6d per 1001 b for heifer and cow, and a shade more for steers. In the utoro cattle section thf>ro was a fairly good demand, and all forward-conditioned cattle changed hands at late rates. Dairy cows aoll particularly well in this market at tho present time. Medium. £9 10s to £l4; pxtra to £l9. All olasses of fat pigs made late recorded rates, while stores were very

firm, with weaner 3 possibly somewhat cheaper than at last sale. BALCLUTHA AND CLINTON. At the Balclutha stock sale on Friday last some 2500 sheep and 300 cattle wero penned. Most of tho sheep were passed at auction. Indeed, there was but the one yard of open-woolled two-tooth wethers sold, these making 25s sd. Fats were unchanged in values. The entry of cattle met with a moderato demand. Beef was easier at, say, to 47s 6d per 1001 b. Yearling heifers mado £6 17s cd; 15-month heifers, £8 15s; year and a-half steers, £10; good two and a-half-year-olds were passed at £l4 10s; three-year-olds, £l6 10s; dairy cows, £8 to £l2 At Clinton 2000 sheep and 50 cattle were yarded. The 'fact of the stock being in first hands no doubt helped values, and clearances were effected at better rates than obtained at the Cliitha fixture. A line of 600 forward open-woolled four-tooth wethers (Kierawai) made 31s, and the second yard of this lot 27s 3d, other wethers making 26s 7d to 28s 9d. A good lot of four, six, and eight tooth Romnoy ewes (proportionate ages) not in lamb made 31s lOd; fat owes, 325; fat wethers, 375; fair ewes ariS lambs, 19s 7d all counted; year and a-half steers, £8 16s; heifers, £6 17s; cows, £l2 10s to £l4. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Values of stock in the North Island do not seem affected, and very little has been doing since the holidaya. In the South Auckland district small yardings have ruled. Beef remains firm at 47s to 51s per 1001 b, rough and plain stuff from 41s. In the Wanganui-.Feilding districts harvesting and shearing are in full swing, and transactions in stock are limited in consequence. In Poverty Bay, at tho first sale since the holidays, and in the Matawhero Yards prices were unchanged, store sheep being none too brisk. Store lambs (ordinary sorts) lis to 14s, good 17s 3d, 20s to 23s lOd, wethers to 31s, dairy cows to £l2 17s 6d. In the Taranaki province values all round -were fully maintained. STOCK NOTES. At the dispersion sale of the Crownover Belgian horses at Waterloo, lowa, U.S.A., the famous stallion Farceur made £9500, tho purchaser being Mr C. G. Good, Ogden, lowa. Eighteen stallions averaged £659 10s. It wi}l be remembered that the sum of £9500 was paid by Mr Wm. Dunlop, Dunure Mains, Ayr, a few years ago, for the Clydesdale stallion Baron o' Buchlyvie. The annual meeting of the West Australian Pastoralists' Association was held early in the month. The President stated that the sheep in the State for 1916 -were returned at 5,529,860, -an increase over 1915 of about 726,111, so that it would not be over-estimating to say that the figures for 1917 would be over 6,500,000. This became a very serious matter to pastoralists, as when it was considered that there was also a large increase in cattle, and about 30,000 meat-eating men out of the State, the consumption and disposel of the surplus sb&ep required immediate consideration. At present there were no freezing works on a large scale 10 deal with the surplus, except at Wyndham, and even if there had been there were no ships to take the meat abroad. He recommended pastoralists to take immediate steps to get freezing works going at Fremantle, and either a't Geraldton or Carnarvon, or at both. AS New Market, Victoria, at the usual stock sale early this month, some stud rams wero submitted for sale. Bidding was generally dull and passings were frequent; three-year-old Southdown , rarn3 made 2|gs to 3gs, two-tooth Lincolns ljgs to 2§gs, Border Leicesters (two-tooths) l£gs to 2|a;s, merino rams (Riverina-brcd, plainbodied) to £3. In England, calved cows of oualitv recently made £SO at Skioton, £52 10s at Todcaeter, £SO 5s at Kirkly Stephen, and £57 10s at Penrith. The general average for calved cows at Penrith was £54 10s 3d, in-calf cows £49 18s 9d. and heifers £3B lis 6d. A well-known Edinburgh butcher predicts (says a Home paper) that next season the crop of lambs will be only 50 per cent, of tho normal. He might bo right. So many ewes have been slaughtered under the flat-rate price for mutton that there is bound to be a shortage. It is estimated that already the herds of Europe have been diminished by 28.000.000 cattle, 54,000,000 sheep, and 32,000,000 pigs. Mr Paul Nerinckx, a Belgian stockbreeder, has purchased for £IOOO Kelmscott the 15-months-old bull Kelmseott Conjuror 3rd, for service in the Itohin Breeding Stock Farm (Ltd.), Alrcsford, Hants.

THE PATRIOT v. HUMANITARIAN. We are told that there is no cause for anxiety about shortage of food in 'this island if wo had only ourselves to think about (says the Scottish Farmer); but we have to supply the needs of those of our Allies who are more hardly pressed than wo —France and Italy. Farther away there is Finland, which a few weeks asro was said to be threatened with famine. Whether Russia is still on our side, none of us can tell; but if civil continues there will bo wide-spread destitution and actual hunger in that unhappy country. For the sake of our own existence as a nation wo cannot afford 'to be indifferent to the daily needs of those other peoples of Europe -who are friendly to us. Whether in the long run wo can afford to bo indifferent to the hunger of our enemy is a controversial point which we may for the moment put

aside. But we are learning by cruel experience that all the nations of the earth are one family. If one suffers, tho others suffer also. There is no escape from that. Wo are all members of the same body even when we hate each other. It follows that to bo simply a "patriot" is to be selfish and narrow." If wo think too much of 'the good of our own country we are sure to injure some other. We hear over and over again from the lips of statesmen that "tho interests of tho Allies are one." But the fundamental truth of life is that the interests of all human beings are one. In order to save yourself you must save others. To be a true patriot you must be a humanitarian. Here is this simple question of Whoever takes more than his share, deprives others, makes the whole body suffer, and prolongs 'the < struggle. What profit is it to us as a nation if we eat and are satisfied, while across the channel they are in want? It means great loss to all. . It is difficult to realise this in our 'daily difficulty of procuring what wa used to think the simplest necessaries of life. But if we reason it out it helps us to bear moro cheerfully the very slight depreciations which aro all that most of us have had to suffer. If I am careful not to waste food, and if I refrain from hoarding, there will be so muoh the more for tho sorely-tried Italian soldier defending Venice, or for some starving child in Finland. AGRICULTURAL LAW TO-DAY AT HOME. Before the Ryde borough magistrates a farmer of Park Farm, Brading, was summoned under the Defence of the Realm Act for using oat straw otherwise than for fodder.' The proceedings were taken as a warning to farmers and others against the improper use of oat straw, which, according to the order of the department,, should be used as fodder. It was stated that defendant was seen to enter the market with, a load of pigs and a bundle of oat straw tied on behind the cart. Tho defendant .was warned, but declared that the straw in question was a "muckie," stating that tho auctioneer's assistant used it for litter in his absence. At the time the defendant believed, too, that the order had been cancelled. The porter's evidence was taken, and it appeared that he used the straw in. the ordinary way in the market as litter. The bench convicted, imposing a fine of 10s. Tho first case of a charge of failing to cultivate land as required under Regulation 2M of the Defence of the Realm orders in the Northampton district was heard at the Northampton divisional sessions recently, when a. farmer was prosecuted. Great interest was taken in the case. The solicitor for the prosecution stated that the defendant had failed_ to comply with tho notice served upon him to break up 63 acres of grass land, of which 35 acres were to bo ploughed not later than October 1, and the remainder by March 15. Ha averred that not a sod was turned by October 1, and pointed out that shortage of labour could not be pleaded, as the committee offered to do their best to provide tractors or labour if required. No application had been' made for either - . For the defence it was alleged that Mr Thomas (the farmer) had not wilfully flouted the order. He had had difficulties. Ten acres had been ploughed, and ploughed in the best possible manner, so that it was ready for drilling and seeding. The work had been delayed because Mr Thomas had not completed harvest at Dingley before September 20, and he had on his hands 21 acres of fallow which had been twice ploughed, and was not completed for drilling until October, so that his available men were occupied. That land had now been sowed with wheat, and tho additional 15 acres also. The fact that Dingley was 17 miles from Holdenby, where tho offenco in question was stated to have occurred, did not lessen the difficulties; for at Holdenby Mr Thomas had been able to employ only one man. At Dingley he had four men and two soldiers, the latter, although useful, being unable to render the assistance that men brought up to agriculture would give. Mr Thomas had applied to tho local barracks and also to the War Agricultural Committee for additional labour, but had not been able to obtain it. Mr Douglas stated that Mr Thomas had interpreted the order served upon him in the light of relying on his own efforts as far as possible, and he endeavoured to cultivate the land as soon as he was able to do so. He had increased his wheat production at Dingley this year by 100 per cent, above his 1916 crop. Tho magistrates considered their decision in private, after which the chairman said it was a matter of importance to tho country. They regarded tho offence as serious; but, as it -was tho first case of the kind at that court, the full penalty would not bo imposed. The fine would bo £25, with £5 5s costs. SKILLED FARM LABOUR. ASHBURTON FARMERS' VIEWS. ASHBURTON, January 19. A representative meeting of farmers-to-day discussed labour problems. It was resolved to advise tho Efficiency Board and tho Government that there is sufficient unskilled labour available to carry through the prosent harvest, but that hero is a serious shortage of skilled farm labour, and that next season s sowing will be considerably curtailed unless export farm labour is exempted from military service."

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. -

About 9000 bales of wool have been forwarded for the sixth Government valuation, which commenced on Monday. There is a good, selection of wools in the catalogue, including a few station lines as well as farmers' lots. Some of the best-known clips aro not to hand, the wet weather having delayed) shearing. The wools, generally speaking, aro very nicely got up, but on the other hand a number of tho bales are badly mixed, as the wool has not been properly classed and skirted. The prices named aro on a par with thoso ruling at the last valuation, and more Or less on tho basis of the corresponding valuation of last year. This season's wool, however, is in much better condition, and the growers consequently are getting „ the benefit of the enhanced prices. It is pleasing to note that very few appeals are being lodged against tho valuations fixed'by tho Government valuers. The next valuation in Dunedin will take place on February 4. " The crops seem very good from Dunedin up to Christchurch," said the Prirho Minister to a Press reporter on the 14th irist., "and I should say that the yield will bo above the average if the weather is favourable. There\is no doubt in my mind that we shall have sufficient and to spar© of wheat and other cereals in New Zealand this season. With regard to tho supposed shortage of labour, I think if the weather keeps fine the crops will bo got in without any difficulty. Apparently -where the want of labour is felt most at the present time is in. North Otago. lam informed that a number of people in tho cities and towns intend to assist with the getting in of the crops. This is a very good thing to do, and it will bo a pleasant change for the townsfolk. All the country is expected to assist in necessary work at this time, and with so many good men out of the dominion, those that are left can all do a little to make up the deficiency." Mr T. Foster, chairman of tho South Island Dairy Association, and Mr John Fisher, Otautau, being the South Island representatives on the committee appointed to complete the butter and cheese sale to tho Imperial Government, arrived from Wellington on the 18th, after a final conference with the Prime Minister and the North Island representatives. They report that the working arrangement has how been satisfactorily settled. The two points -which had been in doubt —namely, marine insurance in transhipping steamers to f.o.b. steamers, and the limitation of storage—have been agreed to in the factories' favour. The contract for sale of whey butter to the Imperial Government has also been fixed: First grade, 133 s 8d per cwt, f.0.b., with the same participations of any profit from sales in the Home market as are secured by full creamery butter. Tho following motion relating to the conditions of the sale of New Zealand wool to the Imperial Government was adopted at a conference of sheepfarmers at Wanganui on Friday:—" That in the opinion of" this meeting the agreement between the Imperial Government and the wool growers of New Zealand that wool should bo sold at 55 per cent, on pre-war rates had not been adhered to, particularly as regards seedy wool and crutchings, and that the Government should provide such redress as would meet the case." Delegates were appointed to wait on the Prime Minister on Tuesday next in reference to the matter. It was agreed that the provision of a carbonising plant be raised at tho conference with the Prime Minister. The meeting also resolved: "That the Domion Executive should confer with the associated chambers of Commerce with a view to having the draft on wool removed."

At a meeting of the committee of the Gore A. and P. Association Mr John Turnbull again brought forward the matter of differentiation in freezing charges and tho purchase of by-products by the North and South Island companies, which ho held were detrimental to tho farmers of the South Island. The greatest difference was in the price paid for fat. Mr Turnbull quoted the prices charged for freezing, showing that in all instances the North Island prices wero leS3 than at the Southland works. The Canterbury freezing companies had ono consolidated charge 'of id per lb. The Auckland companies paid 3d per lb for fat, Gisborno 32s per cwt for mutton fat and 30s for beef fat. Hawke's Bay 25s 6d and 279 6d respectively, and Southland, Ocean Beach, and South Otago 17s per cwt. There wero other _ charges, such as fellmongering, boning reject mutton, tongues, tails, etc., that also cams into account. He (Mr Turnbull) considered the difference in treatment in favour of the North Island producer was equivalent to Is per head on sheep and 9d per head on lambs. Ho njgved—"That in the opinion of this meeting the figures shown disclose a combination of South Island freezing companies to maintain a _ high figure in froezing charges and to maintain low prices for the by-oroducts purchased by tho companies."—The motion was carried. A ballot of the members of the Agricultural ' and Pastoral Union has been taken on the proposal to Jink up with the Aus-

tralian Workers' Union. It resulted :—For the proposal, 1325 ; against, 450. The election of officers resulted :> For president, Arthur Cook (Christchurch), 785; Arthur King (Timaru), 584; J. Townshend (Wanganuiji, 474. For secretary, O. Grayndler, 1465; M. Laracy, 389. For 'the executive (14 nominations for seven positions), William Boona (Christchurch), 1131; A. Middlemiss (Gore), 1045; J. Mee (Wellington), 1023; S. Boreham (Dunedin), 966; C. Baldwin (Christchurch), 917; R. Register (Blenheim), 837. Tho positions of the last-named three may bo affected by returns not yet received, but their return ie considered to be certain. Mr J. G. Bruce was 'tho returning officer. Professor H. Maxwell Lefroy, who occupies the chair of entorrfblogy at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, and was formerly Imperial entomologist for India, and Mr R. A. Lowe, who represents the British' Wheat Commission which has taken over .the Jmperial Government purchases of wheat in Australia, . have arrived in Sydney (says tho Australasian) by wdy of America. Professor Lofroy said that his object was to sea thai; the wheat shipped home was free from weevils. "Tho condition of the wheat I have seen is very bad," he said. "The key to tho whole position, as far as our views of the crops are concerned, is how far the grower, and the other people through wlioeo hands tho wheat passes, can keep the wheat dry. Drv wheat will not get weevilled. The great problem is to keep the new wheat dry and away from infected" wheat." . In a recent press bulletin published by the United States Geological Survey some interesting statistics with regard to the use of . ground limestone and marl as a soil amerdment are given. These figures show the nroduction of ground limestone in nine States which produced 73 per cent, of tho total tonnage. A little more than 1,000,000 tons of ground limestone was produced in 1916. The output of ground limestone has steadily increased since 1911, when figures of production were first compiled. During the last six years tho output has increased 512 per cent. The increase for 1916 as compared with the previous year was about 32 per cent. , Since the beginning of the war tho Mataurv Dairy Factory suppliers have donated a day's milk each heason to one of the patriotic funds. This year the value of a day's milk during the current month will be devoted to the Y.M.C.A. funds. An endeavour may be made this year to make a general effort by all the factories in. _ Southland, and if successful a large sum' should be raised. Despite the unenviable experience of tho Otanomomo settlers during the winter and spring months, the settlement has made a great recovery and the crops in that locality look healthy and flourishing. Tho turnip crops look particularly well, and the work of nearing completion. Good clip and satisfactory prices are the order in the wool world. One of the best returns mentioned to tho Cromwell Argus so far ia 22Jd per lb, secured by Mr R. K. Smith, Malvern Downs, for super merino. In addition to the price ( the clip was an extraordinary one, both in'- weight and quality. The high standard maintained by Mr Smith in selecting the foundation of the flock is no doubt responsible for the splendid results. _ The Cromwell Argus states that robbita appear to have kept pace with the favourable season and have increased to a remark- N able degree in most parts of the district. Travelling along the main roads towards evening, one sees them in thousands. Onco the various works resume operations converting bunny into a marketable article, big cbrquea should bo the order. Viewed from the high ground towards tho east, Hawea Flat just now presents a sceno worth witnessing (states tho Cromwell Argus). In all directions one gazes on fields of heavy crops, some in the stook, others' awaiting the turn of tho binder, and some receiving the finishing touches with the mill, which is hard at work threshing from the stook. Tho area of grain appears even greater than in former years, while the yield should maintain the high average of this famous grain-producing area. It was reported last week that at the Timaru wool valuations the record price, for South Canterbury, of 23d had been given for an exceptionally good clin of greasy merino. When this was reported the valuations were incomplete. 'ind later _on 23id was given for greasy merino. This is paid to be the highest price ever paid in Canterbury. A Masterton resident has had the misfortune to lose two tons of potatoes through blight. Tho blight is general throughout the town.

THE WEATHER. (Fno« Otjb Own Corhs6PONdent3.) HAKATARAMEA, January 18. The rainfall registered at Station Peak for the 24- hours ended 8 a.m. to-day was 17 points. The weather is close, and very warm. The barometer is low. DIPTON. January 18. The rainfall registered here for-the 24 hours ended 9.30 a.m. to-day was 28 points. WAIPIATA, January 18. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was 31 points. PvANFURLY, January 18. Tho rainfall for the 24- hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was 34 points.