PUREBRED STOCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3783, 14 September 1926, Page 13

PUREBRED STOCK.

FiNCOURAGEMENT OF HIGHER STANDARD.

INVERCARGILL, September 6. LTnder the will of the late Mr Reginald MacKinnon, of Invercargill, a fourth of the income from the residue of his estate was set aside for the encouragement of agricultural and pastoral pursuits in the province of Southland covering the area from the Mataura River on the east to .the Waiau River on the west. At the annual meeting of the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. Association on Saturday last Mr J. L. M‘G. Watson, one of the trustees of the estate, submitted proposals to give effect to the terms of the will, and at the same time to encourage the breeding of a higher standard ot stock in Southland. The conditions proposed by the MacKinnon trust and submitted by Mr Watson for the consideration of the association were as follows:—

"I. Animals must be purebred sires registered in the herd or flock book of their respective breeds. “2. Animals must have been imported into the province as defined within 12 months immediately preceding the date of the Invercargill Snow at which they are being exhibited.

“3. Animals must be owned by a farmer or pastoralist working a property in Southland. “4. Animals must gain first award .at the Invercargill Show in their respective classes. “5. Animals must be retained in Southland for two years after the date of the Invercargill Show for stud purroses and the owner shall be required to give an undertaking accordingly. “6. Subject to the foregoing conditions and provisos, the trustees will set aside for the purposes stated the sum of £l5O per annum for the next three years.” Mi Watson made the further suggestion that the association should award bonus prizes to successful exhibitors in the forthcoming summer show, each bonus prize for New Zealand-bred stock to be fixed at £25 and in the east of stock imported or bred elsewhere than in New Zealand at £IOO. The association should, out of its own revenue, make up any anm-nt awarded-in excess of the sum contributed by the trust, and if the amount should be less the unexpended balance should be carried forward for subsequent shows. The president. Mr Jolm Gilkison. formally accepted the gift on. behalf of the association, and thanked the trustees for the magnificent bequest made in the interests of agriculture.

CATTLE IN DOMINION. NUMBERS IN PROVINCES. WELLINGTON, September 6. The number of cattle in the Dominion on January 31 last is given at 3,452,664, but the figures are subject to revision. This is about 50,000 less than last year. The figures for the different land districts are:—North Auckland 477098. Auckland 706,127, Gisborne 340.471, Hawke’s Bay 1 246,421, Taranaki 374,184. Wellington 679,848, Nelson 65.692, Marlborough 45,681, Westland 42,207, Canterbury 187,281, Otago 128.773, Southland 158,875.