KAITANGATA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 14

KAITANGATA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Tho autumn show of the Kaitangata Horticultural Society was hold in the Presbyterian Hall on Friday afternoon. There was fair competition, and tho standard was quite up to that of previous ehows. During the continued dry spell of weather a good deal of attention has been given to watering of flowers and vegetables grown on the plots on tho high ground, a factor which was decidedly against -equal chances of success in competition with growers residing on the rich flat soils of tho lower areas. Classes in pot plants were, in some instances, strongly supported, while quite a number of classes claimed only one entry, others none at all. Cut flowers and vegetable classes are always in favour, particularly the latter classes. A feature among these vegetables was the fine showing of onions entered by Mr R. Craig, of Benhar. These drew the remark from the judge (Mr H. Clarke) that they were positively tho very best he had handled. Fruit claimed more than the usual amount of attention, as also did the baking and cookery, as well as knitting work classes At the clcee of the show many exhibitors handed over their exhibits to be sold in aid of the funds for Bed Cross work, and the funds materially benefited thereby. The following are the . principal prizetakers:—Pot plants (judge, Mr H. Clarke) — J. Reid, G. Aitcheson, Miss M'Orostie, Mrs J. T. Ramsay; floral and decorative —Miss Cornish, Miss K. Smaill, Miss Robertson, G-. Aitcheson; cut flowers—J. Sbarman, Mrs A. Bisset, R. Craig, J. Reid, Miss Cornish, Miss Smaill, Miss M'Crostie; fruit—M. Carson, Mrs D. Humm, Miss Houliston; G-. Aitcheson, R, Craig, T. S. Cairns, L. Anderson, P. Cockerill; baking, cooking, etc. (judges, Miss M'Laren and Mrs Potter, Milton)—Mrs E-. P. Davery, Misp It. Ramsay, Miss Edmiston, Miss Weaver, Mrs A. S. Jarvio, Miss Weaver; industrial, etc. —E. P. Lavery, Miss 'Smith, Mrs J. E. K. Brown, Miss Cornish.

DUNEDIN MAEKETS. FABM AND DAIEY PBODtfCX Mr B. J. M'Aethttb (successor to Messrs M'llroy BroB.), George streat, reports paying for produce during the week ending th« 26th inst., as. fellows: Stamped fresh Eggs Honey (Jib P*t), 4/6 1/9 doa Honty (bulk), 8d lb Salt Butter, 1/- lb Honey (section), 7/6 doa Sep. Butter, 1/-lb Honey (Cartons), lib, 6/- | 21b, 15/- doi | Beeswax, 1/8. Compressed yeast, 8d packet. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. WELLINGTON, February 25. The High Commissioner reported a's follows on February 23 (Note: The quotations, unless otherwise specified, are the average market prices on spot): Meat.—Meat continues in "active demand, but the market is poorly supplied, and the supply falls short of the demand. The supplies consist chiefly of New Zealand and Argentine lamb, each of which realises Hid f.s. Frozen beef and Argentine and Brazilian chilled beef in each case is selling at the following rates: —Hinds, Hid; fores, 9^d. Butter and Cheese. —There is no change since last report. Both are in active demand, with short supplies. Wheat. —Business is curtailed owing to the absence of offers for account. The Government official quotations have not changed. No. 2 Northern Manitoba and No. 2 hard winter, 765. Oats. —The market is firm, especially for landed. American white, 61s 6d (mutilated word here); Western Canadian, 635. Hemp.—Tho market for Manila and New Zealand is quiet, but firm. OAMARU MARKETS. (Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) OAMARU, February 23. The week has been a favourable one for harvest work, which has been pushed forward with all possible speed. Though thrashing mills have been kept at work long hours, they have not been ablo to overtake the requirements, and a considerable amount of grain has been put into stack. Farmers have been too fully occupied to come into town, and offers of grain have been few. Some small lota of wheat have been taken Government rates. Very few oats are now offering, thrashing of this cereal having been arrested in the meantime to enable wheat to be dealt with. A few samples of Gartons have been submitted,- but no business has been reported. Sales of Algerians of fairly good quality have been made at country stations at 3s 3d and 3s 4d net, buyers having Hound it necessary to raise -their limits in order to fill contracts for forward delivery. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, February 22. Tho thrashing of early oats is now under way in a few localities, and although none have yet been offered by growers, it is quite certain that Southland oats this season will be of exceptionally fine quality. I find that there is a diversity of opinion among merchants as to the future prospects of this market. Some aro quite ready to do forward business at from current rates to a shade over, being of opinion that, though the area is restricted, the yield will be quite equal to that of last year, which was affected by bad weather conditions shortly

prior to cutting. Other merchants, on tho contrary, are not prepared to make forward sales, preferring, no doubt, to do business on safo lines. Tho general opinion, however, seems to bo that thero are sufficient oats in Southland to do all the business for which shipping facilities will bo available. Rates to farmers at present run from 3s> 5d to 3s 6d for A grade Gartons, depending on tho distance from port. A littlo business is being done in chaff, but merchants will not .go further thani £6 per ton on trucks for last season's primo quality. Thero has been a good deal of movement in ryegrass during tho last fortnight, and prices have advanced somewhat, owing chiefly to operations of Otago buyers. I find on inquiry that local merchants are of the op.nion that tho Southland yield considerably exceeds that of recent years, and as there is an absolute dearth of inquiries from the North Island, it is anticipated in most quarters that prices will materially recede. Italian ryegrass is pretty much a drug on the market, only the primesb samples being worth 3s 3d per bushel. Various parcels of cocksfoot are coming in from, different parts of tho province, in lines varying from the. child's parcel of a fewpounds up to 40 or 50 sacks. These lines have been cent in in very fine condition, quite equal to the usual primo Akaroi quality.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Donald Reid and 00. report:— Oats: There is good demand for the new. season's crop. Prime Gartons and SparrowDills have most attention, while dark Duns and other special seed lines have a strong inquiry. Prime milling, 3s lid to 4s; good to best feed, 3s 9d to 3s lOd; inferior to medium, 3s 3d to 3s 8d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: Thrashing of the new season's wheat has commenced, but no old wheat is now offering locally. ' Potatoes: Consignments havo been coming forward freely during the past week, and values aresomewhat easier. Best freshly dug lots, £6 6s to £6 10a j others, £5 10s to £6 per ton (sacks included). Chaff: The market at present is well supplied. A large quantity of medium chaff, for which there is little demand, has come to hand of late. Tho inquiry is confined chiefly to prime oaten sheaf, vifhich meets with ready sale. Best oaten sheaf, £6 5s to £6 10s; choice, £6 15s; medium to good, £5 15s to £6; light and discoloured, £5 to £5 10s per ton (bags extra). Grass seed: The demand is mostly, for good heavy lines of perennial ryegrass. Light lines are offering freely, and for these and Italian ryegrass the market is weaker. Best heavy perennial sells at 3s 6d to 4s per bushel (sacks extra), on trucks country stations. Cocksfoot is in strong demand.' Best heavy seed, Is Id to Is 2d per lb (sacks extra).

Messrs Dalgety and Do. report :—Oats: Of late there has been a stronger inquiry for all lines at prices in advance of lato iates. Any samples of new season's Gartons, Sparrowbills, and any other varietiea that have become available during the past week have been readily sold at quotations. Prime milling, 4s; good to best feed, 3s 9d to 3s lOd per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: Practically no business passing, pending the arrival of new season's wheat, the thrashing of which has just commenced. Potatoes: Consignments continue to come forward freely, and recent arrivals are in many cases showing signs of disease. Lots of this description are not so readily quitted as choice, freshly-dug lines, which are receiving preference from buyers. Best' tables, £6 to £6 10s; medium to good, £5 to £6 per ton (sacks in). Chaff: Of lato the market, has been well supplied, the bulk of the offerings being of medium quality. Choice heavy oaten sheaf is most sought_ after, and meets with fair sale at quotations. Choice quality, £6 15s; good! oaten sheaf, £6 5s to £6 10s; medium to good, £5 to £6 per ton (sacks extra). RABBITSKIN SALE. The Dunedin Woolbrokers' Association (Messrs Dalgety and- Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association, Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.), report: The monthly rabbitskin sale was held) on Monday, when the usual buyers were present. The catalogues submitted were small, as is usual at this time of the year. The bidding was keen, and the following prices were realised: —Summers, to 26£d; spring does, 25-id to 34£d; spring bucks, 28|d to 42sid; autumns, 32fd to 40d; incomings, 42d to 43fd; summer gutted, to 17^d; summer does, to 29Jd; outgoing, 33j|d to 39sd; summer black, 20£-d to 24d; blacks, 46s to 60id ; prime racks, 26d to 28d; light racks, 24id to 27d; suckers and runners, 12d to 17£d; winter bucks, 49d to 50id; winter does, to 49£d;fawn, 184-d to 21id; springs, 27d to 34d;, milky does, lßd to 18id; mixed and broken, 21d to 22|d; hareskins, to 13id; catskins. to 6id ; ferretskins, to Id; horse hair," l4id to loid; cow tips, 16£d to 17d; weevily, 8d to 21id. DISPERSAL SALE. The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association (Ltd.) report upon the dispersal sale on behalf of Mr A. D. M'Master, of Matawhero, that some sensational prices were recorded, and competition throughout was animated. The two-shear and threeshear flock ewes sold readily, and satisfactory figures were obtained for the oneshear ewes, Mi- S. Broadbent being the principal purchaser at prices varying from 1/Ogs to 26gs The stud rams followed the ewes, and the highest price was for a twoshear sheep (Corporal), purchased by Messrs Percy Bros, at 310 gs, a dominion record.' Mr W. Perry paid 210 gs for the threeshear sheep Field Marshal, and Isogs for Lieutenant, a two-shear sheep. Mr D. M'Kenzie paid 150 gs for a one-shear ram, and other prices included 140 gs, llOgs. and lOOgs. The first 10 sheep passed through the ring mad© the high average of 130 gs. Several ram lambs, offered singly, brought high prices, two being purchased by Messrs Paul Hunter and Wyley Bros. at 51gs each, one by Mr W. Perry for 30gs, and another at 26gs, and one by the M'Gregor Estate at 24gs. Those offered in pens of five sold readily, the highest being purchased by Mr A. Anderson at 17gs. The ewe lambs all offered in pens -of five met keen competition, the highest price being 36gs. The total offered and sold comprised 780, and made the high satisfactory average of 12£gs throughout. Appended below is a list of the general averages obtained: —110 one-shear ewes, 13£gs; 135 two and three-shear eives, Bgs; 65 four-shear ewes, Bgs; 70 five-shear ewes, 6is?s; 65 aged ewes, 3gs; 118 ram lambs, 13igs; 135 ewe lambs, Bigs; 30 one-shea*

roans 52gs; 7 two-shear rams, 114 gs. 4 three-shear rams, 97igs. Two shorthorn co-war— Te Auto Kcllerby 43rd and To Auto Rose 6th—made 66gs and 25gs rspectively, the purchaser being Mr R. Chadwick, Dannevirke. Two heifers—Glensido Lily and Glensiclo Duchess—made 71gs and 150 gs, tho purchasers being Messrs Robt. Buick and Frank Perry respectively. Two bull calves were purchased by Mr R. Buick at 59gs and 49gs. OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. The Ota go Farmers' Co-operativo Association report:—Wo held our weekly horse pale on Saturday, and offered 25 horses, comprising about five or six medium draught fillies and geldings. The balance of the entry was made up of a few tidy young geldings suitable for farm or springCart work. Quotations: Young, sound, Sharp, clifty geldings, £25 to £2B; extra heavy horses, £26 to £32; seven-year-old and over mares and geldings, £l3 to £2O; and what is usually termed aged, £lO to £l2; vanners and. spring-carters, £l4 to £2O; light sorts of harness horses at fluctuating prices. PROPERTY SALE. There was a largo gathering at the rooms of Messrs Park, Reynolds, at noon on the 19th, when tho lato Mr T. W-. Kempthorne's property, situated at the corner of Albert andl Cargill streets, was submitted to auction. The section contains 24.38 poles, and has frontages of 54f£ 6in to Albert street, and 121 ft 6in to Cargill street. Bidding started at £SOO, and reached £7OO, thereafter proceeding by bida of £25 and then £lO, till the total of £B6O was reached, at which figure the placo was knocked down jto Mrs Oliver. There was a good atteiidance at the sale of freehold city and suburban properties held on the 25th by tho Perpetual Trustees Company. The first property offered was tho freehold quarter-acre section with brick shop in Georgo street. The bidding started at £3OOO and reached £4300, but, failing to roach tho owner's reserve of £4BOO, was passed in. The suburban residence and grounds, St. Clair, tho property of the late Mr W. L Philp's trustees, created competition, starting at £7OO and resulting in the sale of the section to Mr J. E. Macassey for £I4OO.