THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 16

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The past week has been miserably cold, wet. one. Rain has fallen in fairly large quantities, every part of the island receiving a gdod average quota. In addition, snow fell in the higher country, as well as rain and sleet combined. It was very iiard on young iambs, a good many of which are now to be seen. The snowy conditions prevailed on Monday only, and by mid-week the sun was again shining brightly There is still a good .deal of feeci about, and pastures are certainly of better quality this year than last, not being nearly so mushy.” On tire whole, stock are wintering well, and provided there is not too much cold rain, there should be a good yield of lambs. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. The dairy year having ended, the various companies are now holding their annual meetings, and generally speaking the past season was a good one lor all concerned. Ihe Lepperton Dairy Co., in Taranaki, reports a record quantity of cream and milk. -;o: to Marco -924, the company’s output was shipped on open consignment, and fair prices were realised, the remainder of the output being sold on short contract. The total quantity of cream received at the factory was 908,9391 b, and t.>e total bu!ter-;at amounted to 352.5291 b. The average test for the company was 3.87 per cent. —that is, covering cream and milk, 'the cmantity of butter made was 415,8501 b; overrun 17.96 per cent.; lbs. of milk to lib of butter, 21.851 b; total cost of manufacturing of butter, 3.41 d. During the year £24,055 15s 5d has been paid to suppliers, being equal to 16.37 d per lb of butter-fat. Casein manufacture was commenced on September 24, 1923, and continued until the end of May. During that period 69.2691bs of curd was made, of which 60.7411 b were graded superfine, and 552 lb first grade. The Casein Company advanced £3O per ton for superfine, and £23 per ton for first grad? to January 31, 1924, and £27 per ton and £25 per ton respectively for the remainder of the season. Sixpence per 1001 b of milk was advanced to suppliers during tho season, which left a small debit balance of £26 10s 2d. The Casein Company hoped to be in a position to distribute a further advance this month, and a further payment will he made to milk suppliers. JERSEY INTERESTS. The annual report of the Stratford Jersey Club, presented at the annual meeting, held at Stratford on Wednesday last, pointed out that among other movements initiated during the year was the inception of the Taranaki Provincial Council, which met from time to time, arid was the means of securing uniformity of action amongst the different clubs in Taranaki, and generally stimulated interest in the breed. The strong financial position and the increased membership evoked congratulatory comment. VETERINARY SURGEONS. The need for more care being exercised in the treatment of cattle was discussed at the annual meeting of tho Stratford Jersey Club, and it was decided that the Provincial Jersey Council of Taranaki be urged to make representations to the Government pointing out the desirability of prohibiting unqualified persons from practising as veterinary surgeons. MEAT PROSPECTS. Some very interesting remarks concerning the prospects cf the meat industry were made by Mr W. Perry, president of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture, at the annual conference of that body. The last two seasons, he said, have been very unfavourable for the fattening of lambs, and “ during tlie year,” he continued, “ exceptional dryness was experienced right throughout the Dominion. The effect of this drought, particularly at the commencement of the season, was shown on the general condition of our lambs shipped, and has been a big factor in the large number of second-class lambs killed. By the lambing returns last year it is pleasing to note that there has been an increase of 655,451 lambs born as compared with the previous season, and it is to be hoped that there will be a- further increase when the returns come to hand at the end of this season. As compared with our other primary products, it is very interesting- to note the steady prices realised in Smithfield during the last two years for lamb and mufton, particularly lamb, there being practically little fluctuations whatever. This is most gratifying to the producers, for nothing so enables a farmer to see davlirrht and to make arrangements for the future so much as a steady, stabilised market. There has been practically no improvement in the beef market at Home owing to the large quantities of chilled beef eoestantiv being shipped from South America. With the development of our dairying industry a largo number of cows are coming forward for killing at the different freezing works and are being shinned as boneless beef, there being a good demand for this class of beef from the different manufacturing centres of Great Britain. “ The killings of wethers this veer.” continued the president, “ will he slichtlv under last vear’s figures. The decrease in the killings of wethers is becoming more marked each year, as might Vie expected consequent on the develooment of onr kumh exnort, trade. There Ihm'p. heen considerably more ewes killed this Tear for pxnnvf than last season, as mifrht. he owing- to the laree nnmher of ewes hr*in" retained for breeding fho previous season. Tt is cirmri«s?nfr to note tho small of artificial feed that is £rrown in tho ‘NTopth Tsi and as compared with the ffonth nnr. Hanterhnrv. F*»*om the district* rnnet attention is "iven to tho nrtificial feedinsr of la.mhs iho results hv the rvvirnher of lamhs. and nnrtiprd.n.vT'rr tho oiialit.v turner! out. ore rnusiderahlTf ahpnr] of other districts where tho nature* of poll nrvrl other natural features arp practically identical. Tt IS most essential that ewes shnnld he Vent, on good feed net onlv after thev lamb bnt for ~-noh« before the lambs are, drooped, particular attention beine mid to winter feed.” COWS COMTNG TN.

In some districts farmers are arranging matters that cows shall come in earlier than usual. In the Morrinsville district a good deal of success is attending the opera-

tion. Last year many cows came to profit a month or so earlier than was their accustomed time. This year the number of early milkers has been considerably increased, anil already the farmers are busy with the new season’s milking. One farmer has 35 cows in his herd, which are again in service producing milk and butter-fat. The same thing applies at Levin and in some parts of the Taranaki and Wanganui districts. A number of the early cows have calved, and though there will not be anything like a big flow for tile next few weeks owing to the continued coldness of the weather, the improvement will, no doubt, be steady. In the Levin district, despite the mildness of the season, paddocks are unusually bare this winter, and dairymen are being compelled to rely almost entirely upon supplementary feed. PIX3UGHING IN HAWKE’S BAY. Hawke’s Bay possesses some of the best ploughmen in the Dominion, and a ploughing competition invariably evokes the keenest interest in the surrounding district. The Takapau Club held its annual competition last Wednesday, and it proved a great success. The Oroua district was represented by Mr W. A. Keith, of Halcombe, who won the cup for the “Go-as-you-please” class, and as this is his second win in succession, the cup becomes his own property. The details of other results are as follows: — Class A, double-furrow ploughs. —D. McMillan (D. McSporran’s team), 44 6, —, 4, —, 54, 1; C. J. Smith (N. R. Nelson’s team), 38, 5, —, —, —, 43, 2; H. Thompson (F. A.. Thompson’s team), 37, 3; C. Smith (own team), 36, 4. Seven entries. Class B. double-furrow ploughs.—R. A. Pearson (N. M. Paulsen’s team), 36, —, —, 3, —, 39, 1; M. Thomsen iJ. Thomsen's team), 34, 2; P. Maloney (T. Power’s team), 'Sc., 3: F. Morion (own team), 30, 4. Seven entries. Special prizes were won as follows: —- Challenge Cup, £lO 10s, donated by R. A. Fraser and Southern Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Union, for best nloughing in Classes A and B.—D. McMillan. Best ploughing under 20 years, Mr A. Bquld’s £1 Is. —P. Maloney. Oldest ploughman, Mr R. Watter’s £1 Is. —T. Burgess. Youngest competitor, Mr R. Irvine’s £1 Is.—P. Maloney. Best feering in Class A, Mr G. W. May’s £1 Is.—C. J. Smith. Best feering in Class B, Williams and Kettle’s £1 Is.—A. J. Campbell. Best feering in go-as-you-please class, Mr P. O’Brien’s £2 2s.—W. A. Keith. „ - Best finish in go-as-you-please class, Mr J. Winlove’s £1 Is. —W. A. Keith. Best finish in Class A. Mr H. Mancastor’s £1 Is.—D. McMillan. Best finish in Class B, Mr S. Walker’s ; —R. A. Pearson. Straightest ploughing in Class B, Mr J. McKenna’s £1 Is.—A. J. Campbell. Straightest ploughing in Class A, Mr D. Cochrane’s £1 Is. —D. McMillan. Best ins and outs in Classes A and B, Mr A. Saunders’s trophy.—D. L. Glenny. Best four-hofse team. —C. Smith (Mr G. Stacey’s £1 Is), 1; E. A. Thompson (M. A. E. Anstice’s 10s 6d), 2. Best mare competing, Mr A. W. Thompson’s £1 Is. —C, Smith. Best gelding competing, Loan and Mercantile’s special.—C. Smith. Best draught mare, most suitable to breed from, Mr M. McKay’s £2 2s. —C. Smith. Best turned-out team. Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ £1 Is.—C. Smith. Best kept harness, Mr W. H. Edkin’s £1 Is. —C. Smith. Team showing most care and attention, W. Jackson’s £1 Is.—C. Smith. Best hand-plaited decorated team.—C. Smith (Messrs W. B. Campbell and L. Senior’s £6 6s), 1; D. McMillan (Mr W. . & boon’s £1 Is), 2. In addition to the ploughing there were some horse events which created interest. In the Maiden Jump Miss Paton’s Robin was first, Miss L. Manson’s Ragtime second, and Miss Stubbs’s Rambler third. In the Open Jump W. Aldrich’s Patches was first. Miss Paton’s Robin second, and 11. Hobson’s Flashlight third. WOOL STORAGE AT NAPIER, Owing to the continued increase and expansion of the wool departments of some Napier firms extra storage is being provided to deal with the showing and display of large wool clips more efficiently. One firm alone is making provision for a further 4000 odd bales of wool, in addition to the accommodation for the reclassing and grading of wool, which has been found to be of great benefit to growers as regards mixed and odd lots. HAWKE’S BAY SHOW LAMBS. The Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association has received from Messrs Henry Felter and Sons, of London, the following report on two classes of freezing lambs most suitable for the English market: Class 84. —Three fat freezing lambs, any breed, for the best pen of three lamhs most suitable for the English market. Lambs not to exceed 421 b in weight:— C. R. Edgecombe, Pen No. 7, first.— These were very well-made lambs, short in leg. thick shoulders, good backs, and full of meat. In our opinion most suitable for the Loudon trade. H, M. Rathbone. Pen No. 2, second.— Very good lambs, short legs. thick shoulders, with plenty of meat. One not quite finished on the legs. T>. F. Wall. Pen No. 6. third.—Two good eualitv larrbs. short in the leg,, with thick shoulders. One rather plain and unfinished R Haldane. Pen No. 4, fourth. —Fair lambs, rather plain and unfinished on legs. A. F. Cook. Pen No 9. fifth —Tim so lambs were plain, unfinished, and slight of meat. Class 8-5. —Three fat, freezing lambs. For the best pen of three large lambs most suitable for tb° English market. Weight from 431 b to 601 b* —- T? Haldane. Pen No. 3. first —Good lambs, short in the leg, thick shoulders, and full of meat without, being too fat, T n onr oriinion most suitable for the Londlou tra d e. TI M. Rathbone, Pen No. 1. second.— Good lambs, short in the leg. thick shoulders. and full of meat. One not quite finished on the leg. p F. Wall, Pen No. 5, third.—Useful lambs, but two not finished on the leg. A. F. Coon, Pen No. 8, fourth.—These lambs were verv plain and unfinished. A GOVERNOR-GENERAL ON FARMING. His Excellency the Governor-General has endeared himself to all peoples of the

Dominion, and general regret is being expressed that ho is about to return to the Old Country. One of his latest acts has been to attend the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers Onion, sitting at Wellington. In the course of a very happy speech at the opening ceremony, his Excellency referred to the difficulties farmers have to face. “While not being a farmer —though I wish I was one,” ho said, “I am not entirely unconversant with the difficulties of farmers. They are continually fighting against enemies of all sorts. 1 have been reading about rabbits lately, and when it is remembered that two rabbits can multiply into two and a-half millions in three years, one can well understand the inuignation of the farmer against the gentleman who first introduced the rabbit into the Dominion. Then there arc noxious weeds to be fought. There are blackberries. It is a peculiar thing that the two things I am fondest of eating—-rabbits and blackberries—are the very things the farmers are most up against. When I get my farm, most likely I will be prosecuted for net keeping the rabbits down and for cultivating blackberries. — (Laughter.) Ehiiry farmers are people to be pitied, because cows insist upon being milked at such unreasonable hours. 1 have searched the agenda paper in vain for any proposal making it compulsory for cows to be milked at more convenient hours.” — (Laughter.) Speaking in more serious vein, his Excellency said that in spite of all their difficulties the farmers always came up smiling. This was the reasofl win - it was always a pleasure to meet farmers. Perhaps it was because they vrere always fighting against something that farmers were so self-reliant and resourceful. It was the privilege of farmers and sailors to grouse. All the time, however, farmers were out to do the best for themselves, for those who came after them, and for the Dominion as a whole. Referring to the tendency to drift to the towns, his Excellency said that be sympathised with the movement to check this. The country was much the healthier spot in which to live and bring up one s children.