STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Wsckly Stock Sales. Burnaide, Wedneai Ashburton, - Addington, WednesdayWaiareka Hail way Jnnotion, Tuesdays .Wallacetown, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Oamaru, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Heriot, Thursdays Monthly. Palinerston, Ist Monday .Vinton, Ist Thursday Duutrocn, 2nd Friday

Monthly (continued). Woodlands, 2nd Thursday •Vyndham, last Thursday Ualfour, 3rd Thursday Thornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, 2nd Friday Eiversdale, 3rd Friday Walkaka, last Friday dyd ovale, last Thursday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Moss'ourn, Orepuki, Mataura, Waikouaiti, Riverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO. Early in the past week we had a few light rain showers in Utago; but, generally, enmatio conditions were on the dry side, anu ram is required for both roots and pastures. The harvest is slowly progressing out laieri way, .tnrashing is in lull swings and the yeilds are very fair, although not up to eariy promise, tne growthy weather militating greatly against tne best development of .the berry, while cereal straw ia in many instances of considerable length. Still, the grain is hard, and any sprouting is iniinitesimal. Hoots are doing well enougn, the recent showers proving benefioial, although the wind .111 places is proving somewhat of a trial. Horiot way, the crops appear fairly heavy, and the reaping is progressing under difficulties owing to ''the unskilled intermittent labour available. South Otago way the crops are just xair, and are tangled a bit, witn here and there some sprouemg. However, the mills are making some progress, and stacking is being pushed along. Central Otago has had about enough 01 a dry spell, ana would welcome rain to assure winter feed, ihero have been a few fitful showers, but quite inadequate for farmers' and pastorahsts' requirements. Conditions have tavourtd harvesting, and thrashing is progressing. it is just possible that a portion of the recently-purcnased Teviot Station may be sot aside for experimental uses in regard to the fruit industry. It might well serve ; to help this important primary industry along, and the tune seems opportune to urge the matter in and out ol season. 'lhere is considerable blight about among potato crops; and as the crop this season is not a large one, either in acreage or yield, prices should be quite satisfactory, and owners should see that a good job is made of the digging. In regard to stock, there is quite a firm tone in the store sheep market at the moment of writing, due to the demand continuing firm from the north and the uncertainty in respect to the future. Ewes fit for breeding are very linn, a fact which can well be understood; but why other classes should rbe affected wants explaining. Beef is rather easier, with store cattle no better —in fact, young heifers in calf seem to bo selling at too low value 3 in comparison with other stcok. Perhaps the opening of the Burnside Freezing Works to-day may serve to "scotch" the gambling evil. BURNSIDE MARKET. The fat sheep at Burnside ranged from moderate 'to average quality. The demand was steady, with prices rather beyond the range ot exporters, who secured, however, a few lots. Values were on a level with last sale's quotations. Eat lambs were perhaps a shade better than at the previous sale, while the quality was mixed. Exporters secured a few lots at ■ about 8d a pound. The demand for about 200 fat cattle was fairly steady at a lower range of" values 'than the previous sale. All classes wcro penned. Best beef made from 44s to 46s and cow 40s per 1001 b, the latter quality being in places decidedly cheaper than_ has been the case of late, and just about within export limits. About 150 store cattle made up of all classes were penned. Competition was good at the level of the reduced prices established a fortnight ago, buyers paying scant attention to grown animals lacking breeding. Good sorts of cross Shorthorn steers three to four years old found ready buyers at up to £l4, fair £l2, good-looking, fair-conditioned ycar-and-a-half in-calf heifers £5 5s to £6 6s, boning sorts unchanged, good dairy cows to £ls 10s. Somo 60 fat pigs and half that number of small sorts met with a quiet demand at about last sale's values. * I ADDINGTON YARDS. I A fair yarding of fat sheep was offered at Addington on Wednesday. The demand was on a level with the previous sale, and rathor beyond exporters' limits. The quality of somewhat over 3000 fat lambs was very fair, and values were steady with lighter sorts a shade better than at last sale. The store sheep pens were again well filled with a representative lot. The demand was chiefly for best grades at last sale's values. Secondary quality was not sought, and this class was cheaper. Good ewe j were very firm at late rates. The fat cattlo section was chiefly supplied with cow and heifer beef, which mado about last sale's values, and export buyers were operating very cautiously. There was a good entry of store cattle, and rathor a Better tone for best clashes of cattle, a yard of three-year old steers making £l3 30s. Dairy cows of moderate quality were in over supply, and a number

wore passed. Best sorts, however, realised late quotations. .Fat pigs wore quiet, in view of the new Government regulations fixing the price of bacon, with stores making fully up to late values. " BALCLUTHA AND CLINTON. At the Clutha stock sale on Friday about 8000 sheep were yarded, chiefly ewes and wethers and store lambs. The sale was a good one, and prices were probably Is a head above last sale's values, and were obtainable in most cases. If there had been any certainty that trucks would be promptly provided, the northern buyers present would have lifted values a bit higher; but, as it was, only the most sanguine could dare to' get off the rails. There was a good yarding of cattle, fully 30Q head; but passings were freely made, while oeef was on a par with the easing tendency noted at Burnside on the preceding Wednesday. Forward wethers made up to 34a 10s, others from 295, mixed-sexed lambs 24a 7d, wether lambs 21s 6d, sound-mouth ewes were passed at 33s lid, old failing ewes 13s to 21s 6d. Some bullocks, two and a-halt to three years old, made £l2 ss, yearlings £5 ss. At Clinton on Thursday fully 4000_ sheep were offered to a good attendance, including northern buyers, and quite a bright sale resulted at an advance of 2s a head in comparison with the sale values- a fortnight ago. All classes were yarded, and met with a keen demand. Extra good sound-mouth ewes, station sorts, made 34s Id, 'the second yard of this line 25s lOd, full and failing mouths 23s lid to 31s, a few young sorts, including wether lambs, 20s 4d to 21s 6d,. mixed sexes 20s lOd to 22s 7d, two-tooth wethers 27s lid, (open wools) six and eight tooths 335, medium two-tooth ewes 31s. A lot of hill wether lambs were passed at 19s 4d. Some hill ewe lambs made 20s.

NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Our reports from the North Island regarding stock fail to indicate much change in recent values. In the South Auckland area beef makes up to 51s per 1001 b, year-and-a-half steers £7 15s to £8 10s, two-year-olds to £lO 10s, two-tooth wethers 19s 6d to 24s 6cl, two-tooth ewes 31s. In the Wanganui-Feilding districts values are fairly steady: Two-tooth wethers 23s 6d, two-tooth ewes 28s 6d, four and six tooth ewes 26s 6d to 28s 6d. In the Wairarapa business is quiet: Two-tooth wethers 24s to 25s 6d, two-tooth ewes 25s to 30s, rape lambs 15s to 18s 6d. In the Manawatu matters are quiet: Two-tooth wethers 275, two-too'th ewes to 31s, rape lambs (Downs) 14s to 15s 6d, weaner calves £4 4e, yearling steers £6 ss, year-and-a-half £8 10s. In Taranaki values axe firm at late prices. In the Wellington Province prices are slightly easier, and lines at auction were passed in. Two and four tooth wethers sold from 27s to 31s, two-tooths (Downs) 21s 3d, twotooth ewes 28s, two and four tooth ewes 31s, woolly lambs 14s to 17s. In the Poverty Bay the demand is steady: Twotooth wethers to 275, mixed two" and four tooths 27s to 30s, small mixed ewes and wethers 15s to 26s 6d.

THjE WOOL SEASON IN DUNEDIN. The eighth series of wool appraisement under the Government scheme in Dunedin was completed during the week. The past series proved somewhat difficult to handle owing to the seed being so evident in a number of clips. However, thanks to the painstaking supervision exercised by the various brokers, wool-growers have secured prices which must _ be deemed generally satisfactory. _ Practically the back of the wool valuation for 'this season is now broken, and smaller and heavier conditioned lots will be the rule from now on. About 11,000 bales would comprise the valuation just finished, making to date some 47,000 bales valued in Dunedin. The wool generally has been well grown and sound for the most part, and should yield well; hence the prices undernoted may prove satisfactory to all concerned. Commencing with those clips which have always offered some merino wool, we select a few from widely-scattered districts. Under the brand Argyle (Waikaia), merino 23id, halfbred 21d to crossbred 19d to 21 d; 4S (Taieri), merino 23d, halfbred 21£d; Gladbrook (Central), merino 19d to 21d," halfbred 19Ad to 20|d, crossbred 17£d to 19id; Mt Pisa (Central), merino 18d to 20d, halfbred 17gd to 19£d; Cecil Peak (Lakes), merino 18£d to 19£d, halfbred 20d; CM (Central), merino 19id; Linnburn 'Central), merino 18d to 19d, halfbred 18d to 194 a, crossbred to 17d ; 51 (Central), merino 16id to 18id; SD (Lakes), merino 16£d to 18d; Qirddal (Central), merino 17gcl, quarterbred 18d; Burwood (Lumsden). merino 17d to 18d, halfbred 17£d to 19d, crossbred 16£d 'to 17id; M over two hearts (Central), merino 17d to 18d;. XA (Central), merino 17d to I8d; North burn (Lakes), merino 17£d to 18d, halfbred 17 J 2 d; HF reversed (Lakes), merino 17d to 18d; Lake Hawea (Central), merino 16id to 17£d, halfbred 17^d; M under evebrow (Lakes), merino 16|d to 171 d; HV (Lakes), merino to 173 d, halfbred 17|d; Deep Creek (Lakes), merino 16£d to 17d; Twinburn (Central), merino 15jcl, halfbred 17|d, crossbred 15? d; Glenavy (Waikaia), quarterbred 19£d to22d, halfbred 19? d to 22d, crossbred 19d to 20£d: GJ under a bar (Gore), halfbred 2ld, crossbred 18£d; Crieno (Central), quarterbred to 20d, halfbred to 19;?d. crossbred to 17id; El (Sutton), quarterbred 16-id to 18£d. crossbred 15£d to 16d; Kye (Central), quarterbred Iftjrd to 16id, halfbred 16£d to 11 kd ; Makarora (Lakes), halfbred 18£d to

20Jd; Roadsende (Central), halfbred 17±d to 20d, crossbred 16id; Boichgrove (Lakes), halfbred 17|d to 19£d; Westwood (Tapanui), halfbred JL7|d to 19id; K 3 (Central), halfbred 19£d; Glenview [Central), halfbred 19£d, crossbred 17^d; Glendhu (Lakes), half bred 18d to 19id; Fairplace (Riversdale), halfbred l9id, crossbred 163 d to 17£d; Leo Flat (Central), halfbred to 19d, crossbred to AH (Tapanui), halfbred 18d to 19d; PC (Central), halfbred 17d 'to 19d: TO (Kelso), halfbred 19d, crossbred 16id to 17d; PT over W (Waikouaiti), halfbred 18£d; 06 (Waikaia), halfbred 18id, crossbred 16id; 5 (Central), halfbred 18W, crossbred 16id to 17d; Waiteatua (Waikouaiti), halfbred 18±d; RM (Clinton), halfbred 18d to 18£d, crossbred 17d; The Point (Central), halfbred to 18£d, crossbred 17d to 17id ; T in diamond over Kingston (Lakes), halfbred to 18id, crossbred to 163 d: 8 over Mt Paul (Waikouaiti), halfbred 17d to 18jd; 15 (Tapanui), crossbred I7d to 18*d: Mt Piri (Central), halfbred 18id> crossbred 16£d; Glendhu (Lawrence), crossbred to 18d | Lindores (Central), halfbred to 18d. crossbred 15id; OM (Lovell's Flat), halfbred 18d, crossbred 17d; Strathoro (Lawrence), halfbred 17d to 18d; Diamond (Central), halfbred 17-id to 18d; P Mt Barker, halfbred 18d; three strokes under eyebrow (Waikaka), crossbred 18d; Slogario (Central), halfbred to 173 d. crossbred 17Ad; J2 over Brownie, halfbred 173 d; RH m triangle (Central), halfbred I7id to 173 d; NL (Clutha). halfbred to 17fd; Hawksburn (Central), halfbred 16|d to 173 d, crossbred 16|d; triangle under evebi'ow (Kelso), crossbred 16|d to 173 d; White Cliff (Central), halfbred 17-kl, crossbred to 153 d; JN under eyebrow (Central), crossbred 17W ; TT (Clinton), crossbred KK (Kelso), crossbred 163 d to 17£d; JZ under a bar (Clutha), halfbred 17£d, crossbred 16d; B'O over Stoneburn (Palmerston), crossbred 153 d to Carrickmore (Central), halfbred 16£d to 17£d. crossbred 15id to 153 d; T over A over Minaret (Central), halfbred 16|d. to 17£d, crossbred 16id; WS (Herio't), crossbred to 17±d; Baldhill (Central), halfbred to 17£d;- Moa Hills (Central), halfbred 17^d; H & Co (Central), halfbred 17J,d, 'crossbred 163 d; Closeburn (Central), halfbred 17id' crossbred 153 d; KZ (Kelso), crossbred 16|d to 17id; T 6 (Waikouaiti), halfbred 17d to 17J ; d; BR (Kelso), crossbred 163 d to 17id; WP over B over Moa Flat, crossbred 17id; SS (Herio't), crossbred to 17^-d; 23 (Central), halfbred to 17;£dj Ashley Downs (Waikaia), crossbred 16d to 17id ; Cross (Central), halfbred 17id, crossbred 15|d JBC (Crookston), crossbred 16id to 17d: Clvdevale (Central), crossbred 17d; 2T (Clutha), crossbred 17d; Ardno (Gore), crossbred l&id to 17d; SM (Clutha), crossbred 16|d to 17d; Pukepito Downs (Clutha), crossbred 16£d to 17d; Awatere (Gore), halfbred 17d, crossbred 16id to 16A-d; The Grennan (Moa Flat), crossbred 16£d to 17d; C over bar (Milburn), crossbred 16|d to 17d; JV (Waipahi), crossbred 16£d to 17d; K 3 (Balfour), crossbred 16£-d to 17d; MM over bar (Central), halfbred 16Jd to 17d. crossbred 16id to 163 d; TB (Clinton), crossbred 16id to 17d; TXL (Pomahaka), crossbred 17d"; J and dot (Clutha), halfbred 17d, crossbred to 164 d; NZ (Kelso), crossbred 16id to 17d; Lee Stream (Central), halfbred 163 d to 17d; Castle Hill (Central), halfbred 17d. • crossbred 153 d; WT (Clutha). hogget 163 d; 21 (Heriot), hogget 163 d ; Wharf dale (Clutha), crossbred 153 d to' 16^-d; JB over Redan, crossbred 16d to 16|d; L 5 (Crookston), crossbred 16d to 16|d; cvebrow over EC over Paharua, crossbred lsd to 16d.

POSITION AND PROSPECTS IN AUSTRALIA. Heavy rains have been recorded throughout the north-eastern section of the continent during the past month (says' the Pastoral Review). Queensland in particular has been subjected to a tremendous soaking, and large areas, coastal and inland, have been flooded. Further south the precipitation was lighter, though the greater part of both New _ South Wales and Victoria received considerably more than the average for January. The rainfall in South and Western _ Australia was patchy, but generally sufficient for present requirements. Feed is abundant everywhere—indeed, in most parts of the east too plentiful, and stock would be bettor with less. "This has been the trouble all the summer. Natural pastures, if they receive above the normal rainfall, tend to grow coarse and lose their food A'alue. Then, again, excessive rains often bring plagues of sandflies, mosquito 3, etc., that worry stock and make them restless, so that it is not uncommon for a mob of fat beasts to ?o right off in condition in a few weeks. Grass seeds and burrs aro very bad in a year of prolific growth. Market values for stock with anv pretension to breeding remain high. It is evident that graziers do not fear the future, as they are readily buying up what surplus there may be on the market at rates well above exnort level. The spell of fine harvest weather was broken about the middle of January by a' series of storms that ultimately extended over pretty well the whole of the agricultural areas of Eastern Australia. The floods, so disastrous in Queensland, have not affected the grain-growing districts to any great extent. As might be expected, the heavy rains delayed harvesting and knocked about standing crops. Fortunately, the bulk of the wheat had been ynrnerod before the worst storms happened, and po the loss from lodping was serioxis only in isolated instances. From reports received it appears that a fair amount of grain in the ear has been bleached and reduced in value; also that bagged 'wheat was damaged in pad-

docks and railway yards, and will have to bo dried before going into the staples. i Actual harvesting is at last oonipleted iii all j but tho latest districts. i Tho pastoral position in the past month, J owing to torrential rains and floods in j Queensland, resulting in large losses of stock, : coupled with out-of-season conditions in othor States, has not borne out the promise which the new . year held out. The fly plague has been, owing to summer rains, accentuated, while the over-abundanc© of rank_ feed has producod worms in sheep in j districts where they have been practically I unknown for years. Diseases of various i kinds are rife in eastern areas, particularly I on tho western and south-western slopes of New South Wales, and further west grass j seed has cut up the weaners more particularly . In some districts, it is stated, the 'lambing will barely make up for the losses, the general position bearing further witness, if such were needed, to the fact that Ausi tralia is, as ever, a country of extremes. Appraisements.— Appraisements (says the Review) have been carried on steadily in the various I centres, and with the march of the season | values, as disclosed'in the price catalogues issued from time to time, nave reached a high level. The record price of last season in greasy merino wool has not yet been reached, but several clips have made over 2s _6d per lb, some of the principal brands being set out as under: —Mawallok, 313 d | Carngham, 313 d; WB/Trawalla, 3Q3d; Langi Willi, Mount Hesse, and J in a circle, 3(Hd, in merino; while for comeback 29£d has been touched for Caramut and 28id for Blackwood. These are all West Victorian clips, which generally are exhibiting a high standard, of excellence, their condition and growth in most cases leaving little, to be desired. In Sydney last week Rivcrina merino made up to 27Jsd for the Kinross clip from Holbrook. The Sydney clip handled does • not improve on further acquaintance, the general growth (with the exception of Riverina wools, which are in great heart), being only fair at most, while burr and seed are very prevalent. Both in Adelaide and Western Australia (the Cinderella of the Commonw-alth, so far as wool sales are concerned, and where there are now three appraising centres), offerings have been during the month both representative and attractive. i