STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3433, 30 December 1919, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sains. Burnside, Wednesdays Ashburton, Tuesdays Addington, Wednesdays Walareka Kaiiway Junction. Tuesdays Wallacetown. Tuesdays Berlot, Thursday* Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Owaia, alternate Thurdays with Clinton Balolutha, Friday* Gore. Tuesday* Camara, Tuesdays Sfallacetown, Tuesday* Monthly. Palmerston, Ist Monday Wlnton, Ist Thursday Buntrocn, 2nd Friday

Monthly (continued). Woodlands, 2nd Thursday Wjndfcim, last Thursday Balionr, 3rd Thursday Thornbury, let Friday Duntroon & Otautau. 2nd Friday Riversdalo, Brd Friday Walkaka, last Friday Clydevnle, last Thursday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mosebujn, Orepukl, Mutaura, Waikouultl. iliwerton, Ngapara. and Otago Central Sales.

A fair week with overmuch wind has been Otago’s experience, but at least the grass is making and the clover looks very promising. The crops require warmth to send them along, as they have been hanging fire overlong. A fair number of acres of turnips have been sown, and they are doing well in places, but in many instances had to be resown. BURNSIDE MARKET. The last sale of the year at Burnside was held under windy conditions, but stock were forward in fair numbers and prices not out of the way. All the fat rheep yarded with the exception of about 100, were shorn, and of fair quality. The demand was much on a parity with last sale’s prices, with here and there some slight improvement for choice sheep, while young unfinished wethers were cheaper. There were a good many owes which had not been long away from their lambs, and these were easier. The entry of fat lambs was a good one, more particularly as some of the butchers had bought outside and were indifferent buyers, with the result that’ prices were easier by 3s to 4s a head, with young lambs practically unsaleable. A good many were passed, but, even so, the sale got easier as it progressed, except for the pick of the entry, and these were undeniably cheap considering the quick sales butchers are making. The entry of fat cattle was small, and nothing in tho way of special quality. The demand was good, and prices firmed about 12s 6d a head, beef making to 72s per 1001 b. Only about 70 store cattle were yarded, half of them' being medium two to three year old steers. The demand was very quiet, excepting for the steers, and these made improved sales, ranging in price from £lO to £l3 7s fid, extra quality £ls. Eat pigs were a shade easier than at last sale, while very, few small sorts were visible, NORTH ISIAND STOCK VALUES. The trend of store stock values in tho North Island may be gathered from the following notes regarding prices ruling In tho various districts. In the Auckland area beef, at the Westfield market, is a good deal easier than it has been for a while, the beat making up to 56i per 1001 b, forward wethera 23» to 30s. In Poverty Bay extremely dry weather is being experienced, and an occasional frost; forward shorn wethers sc Id to 30s, young mixed wethers 19a to 24s fid, mixed two 10 three year old steers aro hard, to sell at £8 ss. In Taranaki more rain is wanted, and cattle are slow of sale; good two-year-old steers £B, three-year-olds to £l4 10s, forward wethers (shorn) to 275, good milking heifers to £l2 10s, cows £9 to £2O. In the Wairarapa, despite recent rains, prices are inclined to ease., forward wethers sold 28s to 30s, others from 15s to 23s fid, station yearling steers £5 15s and as low as £3 ss, three-year-old steers £lO. empty heifers from £5 10s to £7. In the Wanganui-Feilding areas grass is going off fast, and, although sheep aro changing hands, cattle are dull of sale. In Hawke’s Bay 1 food is getting scarce owing to lack of rain, fair wethers sold at 23s to 265, small from 9s fid, Hereford yearling steers £4 4s, inferior two-year-olds to £6 ss. forward two-three-year-old bullocks £lO 17s fid. in-oalf Polled Angus heifers £4 9s, very fair two-threo-ycar-old dairy heifers to £7, in-oalf cows £5 15s, cows and calves £B. STOCK NOTES. The close of the year in Otago witnesses the slock markets in a state of quietness, the tendency of prices being to ease. There may bo fitful spurts of appreciation, but with it all we have for the guidance of buyers of store sheep or cattle the _ fixed export prices, and it would be unwise to imagine that our small communities can consume all the fats which will probably be offering during the incoming months, and t who knows whether tho stores are empty or full? Beef may bo short enough, but mutton should not be scarce, while even, the former one would think must recede a bit. There is every prospect of a big area being got in turnips in Otago, and this, together with the shortage of sheep may tend to exhilarate the store wether and lamb markets shortly.

The council of. the Shire Horse Society (England) has determined upon a publicity scheme, and is appointing a press agent to keep foreign supporters of the Shire closely in touch with matters of interest to them in this country. It has also been, determined to co-operate with thp American and Canadian Shire Horse Societies, and for this purpose the council has voted a considerable sum of money to further Shire interest in these countries. At the annual sales of Shorthorn bulls at Palermo this year's champion went for £BSOO to S?nor Eduardo Healy, one of the most accredited breeders in the country, who has on no fewer than four occasions won the supreme championship at the show. This establishes a new record for this sale, the previous record being £7500 given for the 1913 champion. At the big sale of Clydesdales in Cumberland in October 940 animals were catalogued. The demand for quality animals was considered good, but ordinary were slow of sale; two-year-old Clydesdale geldings mad.> from lOOgs to 2Cogs, two-year-old Clydesale fillies 90gs to 140 gs, colt foals 33gs to 50gs, filly foals 36gs to 103 gs, yearling geldings to 52gs. _ . During the past tortnight export certificates have been issued for between 40 and 50 Kent or Romn'ev sheep, in addition to the large number following the annual show and sale at Ashford (says a recent Farmer and Stockbreeder). The most interesting, and certainly a highly important, consignment is that of five ln-lamb ewes and one ram from the registered flock of Mr R. G. Tayler,' of Nash Court, Margate, This consignment is the first to be purchased and sent out direct from the home of the breed, and was secured by a member of one of the largest firms of Japanese merchants, who takes esnecial interest in the promotion of the advancement of agriculture and stock-raising in his Own country. The first known case of Kent or Romney Marsh sheep being imparted into Japan was that of a vear or two back, when some were sent there from Australia or New Zealand, and this, the second lot, is probably the result. The further development of the progress of the breed in Japan is looked forward to with the keenest interest and every confidence. At Reading (Er-sland), in October, the annual sal-» of recorded dairy cows . was held, and under smart competition the total entry of 61 averaged over £76, 40 of the highes*-priced animals averaging £94. WOOL IN OTAGO. 1919-20. The woolbrokers in Dunedin have already handled a fair amount of Otago-grown wool, and the third valuation last week giyes an idea of the season's clip in respect _to quality and weight. Growers' returns fairly well indicate that the weight will be less than last season's, while the quality is not up to the standard of last year. The wool is generally not so well grown, and there is a lack of character in over many clips. If a growor has notched a price per lb as good as formerly, then he has in most cases* lost in weight, and his cheque is the smaller in consequence. It is net to bo inferred that there ia no good wool about, because there is and there are station clips yet to be handled. This season's clip is a comparatively light olip, and. this applies throughout the Dominion, possibly a reduction of nearly 10 per cent, on the previous year's output. Some of the prioes secured for Otago* wools at the last appraisement with brands and districts indicated are as follow: North Otago.—Shag "Valley (Wainemo) — merino 20d. halfbred 18d to 21d, crossbred ]6id to ]7i-d; Dlt (Palmcrston)—merino 20d, halfbred 18d to 18|d, crossbred l&id to 17id • Glendabough (Palmerston) —halfbred hogget 18£d to 20d; JC over G (Dunbock)— halfbred 18d to 19£d, crossbred lo^d; Clover Mill (Hillgrove)—halfbred 18d to 19d, crossbred rod to 17d; Goodwood (Palmerston)— halfbred to 18£d; LX (Dunbaek)—halfbred 17d to 18id; M (Palmerston) —crossbred. to 17id; \VR ,'Palmerston) —Corriedalo 17£d to 18d, crossbred 16d to-164d; AR over 2 (Palmerston)—crossbred 16|d to 17d; Bp (Waikouaiti) —crossbred l&id to 17d.

Central Otago.—JC over Strathclyde (Clyde)—halfbred 19d to 22J,d, crossbred 17d to 19id; Dunard (Clyde)—merino 18£d, halfbred 18d to 21d; cross under eyebrow (Gimmerburn)—halfbred ewe 20£d, hogget 19d; Avonrath (Lauder)—halfbred 20£d, crossbred 18id; Cross (Omakau) —halfbred 17id to 20£d; JHT (Central)—halfbred 19d to 20Ad, crossbred 16£d to 18Id; OB in oblong (Central)—halfbred 19d to 20d; WB conjoined (Central)—halfbred 18£d to 20d, hogget to 17Jd; Blackstone (Oturehua) — merino 17£d to 19d, halfbred 17±d to 19^d; Moa Hills (Roxburgh)—halfbred 18d to crossbred 15id to 173 d; Crieve (Central)— halfbred 19£d, crossbred 16id to 17£d; Home Hills (Oturehua.) —merino 18d to 19d, halfbred 17d to 19£d; A over eyebrow reversed (Central)—halfbred 18d to 19d; GI (Central)—halfbred 19d; The Point (Tarras) —merino 18id to 19d, halfbred 17d to 19d; WK (Central)—halfbred hogget to 18id; Oriffell (Tarras)—halfbred 17id to 18£d; JWB in oblong (Central)—halfbred 163 d to lSJjd; Maritamja (Central) —Romney 15id to

17id; 1 over 4 (Central)—half bred 17d; B 7 —crossbred I6id; EC under eyebrow—crossbred 15;Jd to 16d; Cotte'sbrook (Central)— crossbred I6d. South Olago.—Lakeside- (Lovell's Flat)— halfbred 21£d- crossbred 16|d to 18£d, Romney heart over Waiwera—halfbred 20d to 21d; Birohgrove (Wakatipu)— merino 19d to 21d, quaxterbred 19d to 20£d; HE, over sheers (Central)—halfbred 19d, hogget lSd; S2 (Glenore)—halfbred 19d, crossbred hogget 17|d; Ardmore over heart (Tapanui)—crossbred 18d to 18gd; 78 (Man-deville)—three-quarterbred hogget 1«T to 18£d, crossbred hogget 17£d . to 17|d; M (Tapanui)—halfbred 18d, crossbred 16*d; Dl (Gore)—crossbred 15id to 18d; JO over Marama—crossbred l7id to 18d; Canterhope (Balolutha)—crossbred l«6id to 17W. pieces 14 bellies 12id; M under eyebrow (Clinton) —three-quarterbred 17d to 17£d: Sunnysxle over JH conjoined (Tapanui)—hogget 17d; MB (Taieri;—crossbred 15£d to 164 d, pieces 12Jd, bellies ll|d; ST-crossbred Is|d to 16id; E in diamond (Lawrence)— crossbred 16d; PW—crossbred 15d to 15id. Merino necks realised to 17£d, fine pieces to 17d, halfbred pieces 13d to 15£d, crossbred pieces to 13id, halfbred bellies to_l2Sd, crossbred bellies to ll|d, and locks to 7id. THE WHEAT QUESTION. At a meeting of Hhe South Canterbury Executive of the New *£ Tnio f TTnion held in Timsru on the 20th. inst., the wheat question was again discussed. This time the discussion was of a, quite hopeful nature, by reason of the fact, as members said, that-New Zealand now had a stable Government, and one which they were convinced would deal justly with, tne Avheatgrowers. !;.."'« •»* t> \ The president (Mr John Bitchener, Ml.) said that Mr Massey was fully seized of the importance of giving encouragement to the wheat-growing industry, and he intended to call a conference of at an early date. He (the speaker) hoped that only practical wheat-growers would be delegate* to the conference. It --was a very important matter, especially to Canterbury, which was the principal wheat-growing portion of New Zealand. ' - . Mr F H. Buckley said they were in a very serious position at the present time in recrard to this matter, and something should be done without delay . They were up against a stone wall m iherr fight, and had never got justice. When the projected Sonference %m held he would like to see 'Labour represented at it. . The following remit was received trom the Timaru branch:-«'That, in the event of the Farmers' Union being represented at a conference to bo held m connection with the wheat-growing industry, the iimaru branch recommends the executive to adopt the import price, plus duty, as a basis _ of negotiations We aisa fcuj?gest that an import duty equal to that imposed on New Zealand farm produce be at once placed on Australian farm produce. Mr A G. Hart moved this motion at a meeting of the Timaru branch, and he spoke in support of it. and proposed that the execut ; ve should adopt it. Mr W. J. Bassott seconded the motion. Mr Fart said they should arrive at a decision as to what was best to bo done to encourage wheat-growingr. The first thing to do was to give them protection from Australia. Given reasonable protection, farmers would come back to gram-growing. Mr C. N. Orbell said that with the new Government farmers had a very much better chancs of getting justice than evor before, as to many practical farmers had been elected to the House, and they would have men who knew all about grain at the head of affaire. . Mr Steven moved—'That in view of the food shortage all over the world the farmers of South Canterbury be earnestly requested to grow as much wheat as possible in the 1921-22 season." The motion was not put as such, but tne president said it was to be hoped that farmers would grow as much wheat as possible. Mr J. M'Aulav said that the Albury branch of the Union had discussed the wheat question, and had decided that what was wanted was a minimum guarantee for wheat for at least three years, and a free market for wheat, flour, and bread. Mr J. T. Hay said the prospects, for the wheat-grower were now brighter than in the past, by reason of the fact that so many of the .new members of the House were pledged to give encouragement to the industry. Farmers should be given a price equal to the value of wheat on the world's markets. Mr Orbell said the meeting need not bother to dicuss the matter at any length. What they should do was to appoint thoroughly reliable delegates to the conference and leave it to them to use their judofment, after hearing all that would be said there. In reply to a question regarding price, the president said that the Hon. W. Ncsworthy had not committed himself to any price, but the Hon. _W._ D.S. Moe Donald had done so. He said in hia letter to the Union in August of this year that he proposed to pay a minimum of 5s 6d, 5s Bd,

and 5s lOd f.o.b. for Tuscan, Hunters, and Pearl respectively. It was decided not to appoint delegates to the proposed conference that day, but to ask the chairmen of the several branches to arrange for the delegates. It was also decided to writ© to the Prime Minister, inquiring the probable date of the conference. The President said he had- heard it suggested that the ' Government should give a bonus of so much per acre, in- order to encourage wheat-growing, but, he did not approve of this at all. The' meeting in general also disapproved of it. [ln connection with the foregoing, it is to be hoped that Otago will be there, and not rest content without a representative from the southern areas -—A a, Ed.] AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. The “Glasgow” tractor factory at Cardonald is equipped with the latest laboursaving appliances. The building covers about 12 acres, and the site extends to 24£ acres. As soon as the installation of necessary plant is completed, it is anticipated that 3000 workers will he employed, and over 5000 tractors constructed annually. At a recent meeting of th© Towai Branch of the Farmers’ Union Mr Clark brought up the question of compulsory cow, testing, and in speaking to the motion he stated that it was compulsory in Denmark. All cows not up to standard would be , branded and would not be sold as dairy cows. Ho thought it would be a good thing for the country if it was in force. He moved; “That Government he asked to test ‘ all milking cows, and those not up to standard be branded.” The motion was carried with one dissentient, who stated that he was not against it, as he believed in testing, but thought th© measure a little before its time. Very hot dry weather set in during the week, which js quite a change and feels oppressive after the long spell of cold v ecther experienced (states the Mount Ida Chronicle). Shearing is being pushed on vigorously and will soon be finished in tbs district. On© of the largest dairymen of the Matamata district predicts that next season the prices for -real good dairy cows will be in the vicinity of £SO (says the Matamata Record). A number of farmers in the county who had closed up paddocks for hay are now talcing advantage of the fine weather to do the harvesting (reports the Ashburton Guardian). Reports indicate' that there will be considerable bulk in fodder. Cocksfoot and other grass seed crops also give promise of exceptionally good yields. The approach of the harvest has meant a large influx of labour into the Marlborough district (says the Marlborough Express), and it is not likely that harvesting operations this season will be hampered as in previous years. The repatriation officer has claimed the attention of the farming community with a view to th© engagement of returned soldiers, and a number are to be employed.