THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) , About twelve months ago the weather conditions were somewhat similar to those which are being experienced at the present time, heavy storms having passed over the whole of the island during the past week. r l here were no exceptions, each province having received such a soakin’g that if no rain fell for a month little harm would be done. Auckland, perhaps, was more badly treated than most places, there not only being a torrential downpour, but thunder and lightening played an important part iri the week’s storms. The gale was one of the strongest that has occurred off the coast of Auckland in reoent years, the wind velocity in the city being close on 200 miles. Several places were struck by lightning, and considerable damage was done to orchards, the heavy rain having had a detrimental effect on plums, nectarines, and peaches. Pastures and growing crops benefitted considerably by the rainfall, especially turnips and maize, which form the staple fodder crops for cows in autumn time. The harvesting of oats, however, is being interfered with, and if is confidently believed that chaff will be very dear this coming winter. The dairy industry is still responsible for a big output of butter and cheese, and wherever dairying is being carried on the various factories are producing record quantities of produce. Dairymen are quite satisfied that this season will prove to be one of the best on record. Not only has the output been really abnormal, but the advances for butterfat have been quite good, and the season generally will yield remunerative returns. GISBOrvNE FREEZING CHARGES. The farmers of Gisborne district through their union recently made an effort to induoe the freezing companies to reduce the present freezing charges, which they consider are too high, compared with the charges of Hawke’s Bay, but their appeal met with no response. The G.S.F.M. and M. Co. replied to the request that the directors, amongst whom were some of the largest shareholders in the district, recognised that their first _ duty was to the shareholders of the Company, which is, of course, co-operative. That being so the directors were satisfied that, for the coming season, they could not make any alteration in the charges with a margin of safety. The scale and conditions were such that any surplus annual profits arising from freezing were divided among the producers by way of bonus, so that if an overcharge was made the producers received the benefit. The Poverty Bay Meat Co, also wrote regretting their inability to reduce the prices. The balance sheet showed that they had only put up their charge ,25d on lamb and .10d on mutton, but they had made a reduction of -25 d per lb on beef, on the opening charges of last season. Last year their killing charges amounted to £26,509, whereas, on this season’s charges the same killings would amount to £28,461, the difference being £1925. -But, as against this, it was pointed out, the Poverty Bay farmers got the advantage of lower charges last year, these being lower than at Whakatau. When the matter came before the Farmers’ Union the letters were formally received, but the meeting did not feel disposed to thank the companies for the replies sent. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. A few years ago several districts agitated for the establishment of an agricultural

college in their respective centres, buo the Government would not make any promises. The farmers of the Auckland province are again on the warpath, and meetings are being held to re-affirm previous resolutions that the Government establish a North Island agricultural college at Ruaknra. GOOD STOCK. The sheep classes at the Wairoa Show came in for high commendation from the judges, Romneys in particular being considered very high-grade. Mr A. J. Cameron said that he experienced very great difficulty in picking the winners of the Romneys, six classes being particularly fine. The two-tooth crossbreds were, in his opinion, a credit to the district. The judge of draughts said he would like to see two distinct classes, one for dry mares and one for mares with foal at foot. jVIr M'Cullook said he would like to see the horses educated to lead, walk, and trot. The first prize draught was unquestionably a credit to Wairoa. PARORANGI RAMS. At a sale held at Mr E. Short’s Parorangi property, Feilding district, last week the best flock rams brought from 12gns to 23gns, and others from 7gns to lOgn's. For the whole flock of 45.0 an average price of lOgns was realised. The best stud rams brought from 80gns to 125gns. Rams seem to be in good demand. AN UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE. Auckland papers record the fact that a farmer in the vicinity of Helensville hot springs last week had left 15 head of cattle grazing in a paddock containing a lot of olovelr, and rain overnight (produced a growth so tempting that the cattle fairly gorged themselves, with the result that they were found in the morning to be in a very bad way. One fine heifer was seen to stagger, and it fell to the ground dead. Another beast seemed likely to share a similar fate, and four or five others were in a very bad way. The surviving animals were put into a bare paddock, and treated medicinally, with the result that no other fatality occurred, and there was, at latest advices, every reason to look for their complete recovery. THE SEASON’S LAMBING. It was generally anticipated that the season’s lambing would be greatly in excess ot the past two or three years, and, according to figures now published by the Department of Agriculture, expectations in that direction have been more than realised, the North Island having produced 6,118.530 lambs —at. least that is the department’s estimated number—as against 5.659,355 in 1921, 5,135.524 in 1920, and 5.143,779 in 1919. It will therefore be seen that the expected increase will be over 459.000 as compared with the previous year. When compiling the returns the number of lambs tailed had not. been completed, but as the season has been . such a mild one and the stock generally in such good condition, it is more than likely that the returns will be well sustained. As there were 6,771,482 breeding ewes last year, the estimated average percentage works out at 90.36. which is a slight improvement on the previous year, when the percentage was 89.65. In the South Island the number of breeding ewes last, season was 5,724,572, with an estimated total of 4,724,475 lambs, or an estimated average percentage of 82.53. THE BUTTER MARKET. Very optimistic views are still expressed concerning the market for New Zealand butter, and it is considered that the position in regard to dairy produce should continue to be quite satisfactory for the next three or four months. It was thought that as the shipments arriving and on the warer were in excess of the anticipated demand there might be a slump on account of a congested market, but that position is being successfully coped with, as may be gathered from the fact that buyers are still very active. Recent cables indicate that a rising butter market is expected, and that prices will reach a higher level than obtains at present. TARANAKI DAIRY PRODUCE. Improved farming operations in the Taranaki province are contributing largely to the increased exports of dairy produce, which have been so marked this Season. The testing of cows is making its influence felt;

dtoues are being discovered, and only heifers form the heavier producers are being drafted into the herds. The butter price ruling in the Hone narkets for butter has encouraged factor.es with dual plants to continue the manufacture of butter much later than usual this season, and the total increase of this commodity, based on the figures of the grading stores, represents 75,748. boxes; while there is a decrease of 22,502 ' crates of cheese. Recognising that the same amount of butter-fat required to manufacture a pound of butter is equivalent thereabouts to twice the weight in cheese, it will be seen that the net increase is a very substantial one indeed. The total quantity of butter received into the works at Moturoa up to January 12 of this year was 152,946 boxes, compared with 115,355 for the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 37,591 boxes. At Patea 70,501 boxes of butter have been received, compared with 32,344 boxes for the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 38,157 boxes. The total increase in the quantity of butter for the whole district is therefore 75,743 boxes. The average price for the season is approximately Is 6d per lb of butter-fat, so that the increased production of butter means an additional £260,876. Cheese shows a decrease of 20.414 crates.