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Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 11

was a yarding of over 3000 sheep, and a?l wera quitted at satisfactory prices. The j quality of the ptock offered was excellent, a marked improvement being shown on previous entries, thus proving that breeders are going in for an improved class of stock. ' The result of tho sale is ample .encourage- ; ment for them to continue improving on I the lines they are working on. Two-'tooth wethers sold from 22s to 24s 6d, four-tooth I \v ethers from 25s to 28s 6d; a pen of fat i wethers made 335, fattened by Mr M'Laughlin, Waikawau, and purchased by Mr H. Lowe, Thames; ewes from six to fresh full mouth from 22s to 25s 9d. A draft of 700 ewes from Whangapoua made 265. There was a large yarding of good, healthy lambs, and 'they made from 8s 6d to 14s'. A draft of 200 from Messrs Stodman Bros, topped the market at 15s. CLEARING SALE AT HAWSE'S BAY. A most successful sale of Mr H. J. Poole's stock, on the farm, near Waione, Dannevirke district, took place oh Monday. The sheep were particularly good, heavyclipping, and big-boned. Every lot was keenly competed for, and last year's values reached with the four-tooth ewes, which mado 40s, two-tooth ewes reached 365, two-tooth wethers 32s 4d, and shorn lambs 16s and 15s 3d. The rams were very keenly competed for, full-mouth Romneya making I% gs the line, and Lincolns 12|g9 for four-tooth, and 'to sgs for six tooth. The cattle were also a creditable lot, and sold well, a line of Polled Ai.gus cowa with calves making £l9 ss. The following were tho principal sales: 299 four-tooth ewes at 40s, 185 six-tooth ewes at 34s 4d, '.89 five-year ewes at 28s 6d. 340 shorn ewe lambs a't 16s, jH Polled Angus cows and calves £l9 ss, seven twoand. a-half-year fcteers £l3 133 6d, seven cows and calves £l7 ss. 316 two-tooth ewes at 355, 51 four-ysar ewes at 25s Id, 279 two tooth wethers at 32s 4d, 313 shorn wether lambs at 15s 3d, 25 m.e. Polled Aligns yearlings £ll ss, 17 cows and heifers in calf £l3 10s, two five-year Polled Angus bull? 27|ga. HORSE SALE IN THE WAIKARAPA. Horses are not rushed at sales now like they used to be. This was evidenced dur-

ing the week in the when the disposal of seven draught geldings and mares took place on account of Mr J. Jamieson, Taueru, who has given up carrying work. There was an outside entry of 20 horses on account of various ; vendors. The competition was not i keen, although prices were fairly I satisfactory considering the way in I which the horse market has been affected by the motor car. Altogether 21 horses sold under the hammer at the following prices: —On account J. Jamieson : Aged draught geldings and mares at £l3 10s, £ls, £l7, £l7 10s, £lB 10s, £l9 to £3O, -single buggy and horse £ls. Account G. Dayeh: Four brake horses, brake and harness, at £IOO. Account ether vendors: Aged draught gelding £25, aged mares £lO 'to £lO 10s, hack and harness horses £5 10s, £7 to £B, children's ponies £8 10s to £l2 SHEEP-RAISING IN HILLY COUNTRY. It is a well-known fact that the Mangaweka district produces some very good sheep, and evidence of this was given by a line of nearly 2000 prime sheep entered at the local sale on Thursday last on behalf of Mr H. A. Lambert. It has long beer, stated that good utility rams of any size cannot be produced on hilly country without the aid of artificial foods. The sheep under notice have completely exploded 'this theory, for the rams were bred from the owner's own stud ewes, and have never been off tho hijls, or had any food other than what the hills produce. There is no flat land on the farm, and the sires had simplv to "rough it" with their humbler kith and kin. The sheep were of the Romney class, and the ewes sold on Thursday proved how successfully this line can be raised under ordinary conditions. The main lines were sold as follow: —490 two-tooths 32s 4d, 286 six-'tooths 375, 80 six-tooths 31a, 200 four-tooths 36s 7d, 146 four-tooths 365, 304 four-year-olds 31a 6d, 203 three-year-olds 27s 6d. The quality of the stock * and the record prices obtained speak volumes for the district, and suggest a future that is full of golden possibilities. The sheep were raised under the management of Mr J. Lisette, who is deservedly proud of his splendid achievement. FAT STOCK PRIZE WINNERS. In connection with the Fielding Show it was interesting to note in the fat cattle classes that tho winning two-year-old bullocks were of the Polled Anprus breed; the second prize winners were Shorthorns, and the thirds were half-breeds of Angus and Herefords. Mr T. A. Duncan's Shorthorns were 'the wnners in the three-year-old steer class, tho yearling class of the single bullock and any age crossbred bullock calved siico 1914. SEEDY WOOD. Farmers for some little time have been agitated in mind ever the price paid for seedy wool by 'the Government, and on Tuesday a deputation from the Wairarapa waited on the Prime Minister, and urged that freezing and fellmongery works be allowed to treat farmers' seedy and inferior wool, and that tho Government assist the various companies in" the importation of tho necessary machinery. The Prime Miuister sympathised with tho deputation, and said he saw no reason why the demands should not be complied with. Ho

thought that satisfactory arrangement*) : could bo mado for .tho reopening of tho felJmongery works so'that they could clean tho wool on behalf of faririfcrs. Ho held out special hopes for this privilege so far I as the Waingawa works were concerned, | where practically all tho necessary machi- ' nery was available. Mr Massey further : etated that he would again instruct the Government valuers to value on a 55 per cent, increase on pro-war prices for all ', wool. It is needless to say that the Primo 'Ministers remarks will be viewed with . satisfaction all farmers. W. A.NUI EAM FAIR. ) Some iL,o rams came forward at tho : Wanganui Rani Fair, but tho prices worked out at just a good average—that io, there . was nothing sensational. The highest price . for flock Romneys was paid to Oleland Bros, for 50 one-shear, which sold at from 6J;g3 to 7gs. In stud Lincolns J. Cbombe's two onerehear brought 26gs, and one twoshear 20g9. The best price for flock Lincoln? was realised by R. J. Linn, on whose behalf 16 one-shear sold at from to Kjrgs. Moumahaki State Farm's Rylanda onr-shear sold at from 4£ga to sgs. John Henson Estate submitted 40 one-shear Southdown flock rams, 29 being sold at 2J>gs to 3gs. The Remuera Estates penned 45 cue-shear flock Romneys, and all. sold at frcm Bgg3 to loge. Other lines for different vendors sold from 6<>gs to Bgs. Stud Lincolns were represented by Messrs J. Cbom.be and G. V. Pearce. The former sold one one-shear at 14gs, and ono to J. Donald at logs. The latter's quittings were four one-shear at from lOgs to 16igs. J. Blair was tho only vendor of stud Romneys, and he sold one at 27gs and two ai 12gs. TII9 highest price for flock Lincolns was secured by li. Bremner, 20 twoshear selling at from 7gs to Ten ono-shear Border Leicesters penned by C J. Hawken brought 6gs each. FARMERS' WHEAT. In reply to a Wairarapa deputation with regard to sacks and the storage y>f wheat, the Minister of Agriculture stated that instructions were to be given the millers that they must purchase the maximum amount of wheat required for tho season and arrange their own storage. Any wheat left on 'the hands of farmers over and above ; that required by millers tho Government ; was quite prepared to pay up to jier '. bushel per month for storage. Mr Mac- | donald expressed the opinion that tho in- j creased price received by farmers for late wheat would more than compensate 'them I

for storage losses. r £jne Minister promised to go into the question of sacks. ; WOOLS, SKINS, AND HIDES. ! The War Office has raised certains points in ccnnection with the requisition of slipe wool, sheepskins, and hides for Imperial purposes, and Mr Massey has consequently circularised producers with a view to holding a conference. The circular is being issued to all freezing companies, tanners, woolbrokers' ~ associations, fellmongers, ; masier butchers' associations, meat exporters, and New Zealand farmers' unions requesting that they will appoint delegates with power to act at the conference, to bo held on a date to be mutually arranged. The circular shows that some rather interesting matters will come up for consideration —in fact, the Prime Minister, in his circular, states that the "proposals are of such importance and will have such a far-reaching effect on the disposal of the country's produce that it is cons ; dered advisable to hold a conference at Wellington in the very near future of all parties interested, to discuss the position." The main points 'to be considered are to what extent will the interests of the country and the farming community be affected by: "(1) The desire of the Imperial Government that final appraisement of slipe wool be made in the United Kingdom. (2) The proposal to abandon 'the requisition of butchers' and country skins and leave same to be purchased by fellmongers and dealers, the resulting slipe wool and the lamb pelts to be taken over by the Imperial Government. (3) The abandonment of the requisition of calfskne and all hides under 451 b weight." GISBORNE'S WOOL VALUATION. Gisborne is having its fourth wool valuation The catalogues comprised 7090 bales. Although some clips were carrying a fair amount of seed, which depreciated the values somewhat, a lot of very fine, clean wools were shown. Messrs Bennett and Skorrat obtained the following prices:— j Super lambs up, to 18£d, first lamb 17id, good lamb ]sd vo 17d, medium 14d to 15id, : AH up to l7d, BH up to 16id, AE up j to 163 d, BE up to 16id, Lincoln wethers up ! to 16d, matted 14gd, first pieces 13d. crutch- I ings lOd, bellies 11R, Jocks 5Jd to S*d, j seedy wools from Id to 2gd down. j NATIONAL APPLE SHOW. The National Apple Show, to be held iu ' Auckland in May of this year, is receiving considerable attention, and the Auckland ! committee is leaving no stone unturned to : make the show equal to, if not better than, ! the one held at Dunedin. As a matter of fact, the committee has really set out to make the show the greatest exhibition of all classes of fruits ever held in the Dominion. Already every province in tho j country has promised exhibits, an*. \ Hawke's Bay, Canterbury. Nelson, and Otago are -expected to feature provincial displays. Mr J. Hopkins is at tho head of a committee to arrange for a varied . agricultural display at the show, and the

Government Department of Agriculture. ha( pledged itself to provide a big horticulf turaJ exhibit. AUCKLAND POTATO CROP. The Auckland market has been, glutted witn supplies of potatoes this week, with the result that the price dropped to £ft and £6 10s per ton. The main crop in the Auckland district is now ready for digging, and there is a certainty that local supplies will be.ample to carry on this market until the new potatoes arrive from tho south. . GRASS AND CLOVER. (Small inquiry is setting in for grass and cloven seeds, but the season is likely to bo late owing to the fact that the showery weather has delayed the burning off o« felled areas of -bush, so that the demand for surface-sowing has not set in, except* ing _in case 3 where tho fires were started" earlier in tho year. The showery wcithei has all been to the advantage of tho far* mers who sowed early.. WELLINGTON'S WOOL. Some 80,000 bales of wool from Wellington valuation district will have been disposed of by the Government valuers by tho end of this month. Many of the clip's are lighter in weight, not so much on account of the absence of grease as want of weight of the wool fibre itself.