THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 14

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Winter time is usually expected to be wet, and yet when the rain does come there is growling from north, sc fill, east, and west. Such was the case last weekend. Boisterous weather set in on Saturday night, and for a couple of days and nights an abundance of rain fell. Not only was there an excess of moisture, but extremely cold conditions prevailed. This experience was not confined to any particular district. It was quite general, but in the Wellington a,tid Taranaki provinces most disagreeable conditions obtained. However, bad and all as the weather was. football still went on, so “all’s right with the world ” ROOKS IN HAWKE’S BAY. There has been considerable controversy in Hawke's Ray over the damage done by looks, and the question, which is a serious one, came up for discussion at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Farmer's Union Executive, held at Hastings last week. Mr G. Elliott mentioned that the life of a rook was somewhere about 60 years, and if never another one was hatched, there were enough in the country now to live for (be next 40 or 50 years. He said that in the rookeries at Fernhill alone there must be something like 20,000 or 30.000 rooks, and the only wav to reduce this number was to prevent them from breeding. It was decided to again bring the matter before the County Council, with a request that steps be taken to thin the birds out as soon as possible. QUALITY OF DAIRY PRODUCE.

In my last week’s notes, reference was made to the very line winter show that was held at Hamilton last week, and every day's attendance during the week strengthened the impression that some of our older winter show organisations could profitably take a lesson from the splendid management and initiative of the Waikato Winter Show organisation. As regards the quality of the dairy produce shown, Air VV’. Ah Singleton, chief of the Government Dairy Division, had something nice to .sav, and his opinion it, well worth repeating, particularly as he deals, in a. general way, with the importance of the grading of cream and the necessity of keeping up a high standard of production if our produce is to succeed on the markets of the world. ‘ The exhibits of butter and cheese at the W aikato Winter Show this year must, I believe.” said Mr Singleton, “for number of exhibits, qualify of produce, and uniformity of good quality, constitute a world’s record. Approximately 900 entries of butter and cheese would, so far as judging is concerned, constitute a formidable task. When the quality of those exhibits is uniformly high, and many exhibits in the different classes practically equal, the judges’ difficulties are further accentuated, and visitors to the show, who are interested in dairying, will appreciate something of stupendous task which the judges undertook. Fortunately, owing to the svrnpathetic assistance which the show president, secretary, and stewards afford, the work can be accomplished in a manner which is satisfactory to the exhibitor’s and show authorities as we!!. The high storing is indicative of a uniformly good quality, which is eontributive evidence to some extent of the high quality of our exports of butter and cheese. The quality and quantity of these commodities sent to the world s markets have been showing such improvement during recent years that New Zealand is not only the exporter of the greatest quantity of butter-fat in the world, but our best quality cf each of these products compares favourably with the best which the United Kingdom imports from other countries, such as Denmark and Canada. Probably no part of the Dominion has evidenced so much improvement, in quality during recent years as the Waikato. The grading of the cream and inspection of milk on the receiving stages of dairy factories, together with their complement of instruction on the farms, as

carried out by the farm dairv instructors appointed by the Dairy Division, in cooperation with a number of dairy companies, is responsible for much of the improvement, which has doubtless been worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to New Zealand. Good dairy factory equipment and intelligent! management generally speaking, has permitted the manufacture of trie best quality possible from the milk and cream received. Past progress has been gratifying, and dairy farmers should realise that with fluctuating prices it is essential tnat quality should be maintained, and, if possible. further improved. Faults ’ j,-, dairy produce, as well as in other produce ale . more critically looked for during a period of low prices than at'any other time. The Auckland Province has this season sent in for grading more ’ highscoring 94 point butter than did the whole io. New Zealand during the .preceding season. Furthermore, the average? grads for New Zealand butter lias, during this season, improved by half a point " Afav we hope to report a> satisfactory figures a year hence.” IN HAWKE’S BAY 1 he Hawke s Bay district- is at- present looking really well. It is in wonderful condition and gives an appearance of early spring rather than almost mid-winter. a his is due to the heavy rainfall, which lias been experienced during the year. From the present indications, it would seem as if there is very little likelihood of there nemg any shortage of feed during the winter. ELTHAM BACON COMPANY. 'J here appears to be every prospect of the hit ham Bacon .Factory operating next season, and the news has given a great deal of satisfaction to raisers of pigs. The opening of the factory will mean a great deal to the farmers and residents of the district, as a good number of hands are employed, in fact, something like 40 or 50. Ihe only killing done at present is for the butchers. MORRINSVILLE DOG TRIALS. The Alorrinsvillc sheep-dog trials, held under the auspices of the Albrrinsville Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Association, were held during the past week, and proved a highly successful event, a large number of competitors being present frcun Taranaki, Opotiki. Roelihi, Te Kuiti. Thames, and Hamilton. The judge' Afr Nolan, of Cambridge, spoke highly of the trials, and said the work of the dogs right through was good, especially that of the visiting dogs. The work of the winning dogs in the driving and yarding competition was of excep-

tional merit; The young owners performed well, but were lacking in generalship. The results were as follows: Maiden Event. —J. Marsden’s (Morrinsville'. Dick, 31 points, 1; S. Yovee’s (re Kurd) GJen, 30 points, 2; C. Cameron’s (Alorrinsviile) Coolie. 29 points. 3. Long Head.—E. Johnson's (Kiore, Taranaki) _ Larnmermoor Hemp. 37 points, 1; C. (I Neills (Ruakura Farm) Sweep. 36 points 2; S. Yoyce’s Gle.n, 34 points, 3; A. Russell s (ihames) Bruce, 33| points, e. Driving and Aardmg.—S. Yoyoe’s Glen, 63 points. 1: E. Johnson’s Lammermoor Hemp. 62 points. 2; S. Yoyce’s Trim. 61 points, 3; C. Cameron’s Jim, 52 points, 4. Special prizes were awarded as follows: Man_ from Longest Distance.—!-:. Johnson (Kiore, Taranaki). Oldest Competitor.—P. AlcNaughton. Dog Showing Most St-vle.—S. Voices Glen. M fan Working Dogs Alost Quietly.—F. King. “Ilard Luck ’ Consolation Prize.—G. Butler.