THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 21

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.)

Just before Christmas the general cry was, “When are we going to have some fine weather? ” It seemed as if the clerk of the weather heard the cry and decided to satisfy demands. Unfortunately the official has carried the matter a little too far, and what may be termed a drought period is being experienced. The very long spell is undoubtedly causing great anxiety amongst farmers, and although the pastures 'are not yet eaten right out they are dried up considerably. The country is looking very brown, the only green noticeable being the crops. Those, who are coming off best are those .who insured 'against such a contingency by growing supplementary feed. Dairymen who have been relying on grass are finding the output of milk- falling off considerably. This season the dry spell has come early, and owing to the wet early spring the majority of farmers had difficulty in getting in crops. Those, however, who sowed turnips and other green feed in the early part of the season are feeding it off, and reports received show that their output has fallen very little. Lucerne crops are rendering great service to those fortunate enough to have them. Farmers are now looking for rain shortly, but at the time of writing it seems as far off as ever. The trouble is that so many good seasons have been experienced that farmers have got careless or indifferent as to future provision, and the majority of them have been caught “on the hop.” Wool growers are quite jubilant over the advanced prices being received for their products, and the latest news from London is; such that there is every reason to believe that the good rates will be maintained for some time. IMPORTATIONS OF WHEAT.

There appears to be several anomalies that exist in connection with the present method of assessing the duty on wheat, and occasion was taken at a meeting of the Auckland Grain and Produce Merchants’ Association to discuss the position. The Chairman pointed out that under the tariff revision proposals a sliding scale was adopted so that Australian grain landed in Auckland should always cost 7s 9d a bushel. The sliding scale acted well at the outset, and wheat was actually landed at that figure. Since, however. a different interpretation had been applied to the tariff proposals, and their wheat cost from 7s lOd to 8s 2d a bushel to land. On wheat that cost 5s 9d f.0.b., the tariff was Is and the freight Is, making 7s 9d at the time of shipment. The domestic value of the produce was not based on the actual cost of the produce, but on the cost at the port of shipment at the time ot shipping. In cases where the market might have dropped down to 5s 6d, importers would have to pay an extra 3d a bushel duty on the sliding scale. The Customs Department, it was understood, was anxious to remedy any defects, and he suggested that representatives be appointed from the meeting for the purpose of combining with the Wellington and other North Island associations in a movement to have the anomalies removed. Members considered that the Customs Department should give some definite ruling as to what the Home consumption value was, and how it was arrived at. It was suggested that the department arrived at its estimate by perusing Australian newspapers, whereby it should be insisted upon that it should accept the value declared by the importers’ shippers. One member said that he had had wheat for which he paid 5s lid, assessed at 5s sd, while another’s experience was that he had received wheat costing 6s Id, assessed at 5s 6d. After lengthy discussion it unanimously decided to ask the Comptroller of Customs to accept the f.o.b. invoice price as the current domestic value. WAIROA ANNUAL SHOW.

The twenty-ninth annual show of the Wairoa County Agricultural and Pastoral Society was held on Wednesday. The attendance was very good, and the affair passed off well. Draught horses, which in former shows were much neglected, showed a very decided improvement, in number and quality, despite the advent of the motor car. The East Coast makes a strong point of her horseflesh, and saddle horses, cobs, and ponies were strongly represented in the several classes. The same may be said of the competition in cattle, with the exception of Shorthorn and Friesian. There was a fine showing of cattle and pedigree stock, dairy exhibits being considerably in advance of those penned last year. Sheep classes were well filled, and the display of pigs was also good. By the time export has been placed on a good footing Wairoa and Nuhaka should occupy an important position in the pioneering of the pork industry. On the whole the show was very creditable to the East Coast district. The championships were awarded as follows:—

Hack, G. Coop’s Locarno; pony, Miss Shirley Ormerod’s Tui.

Sheep.—Lincoln: Ram champion, T. Davey (Frasertown) ; ewe champion, S. Crarer (Wairoa). Romney Marsh: Ram champion. E. J. Swan (Marumaru); ewe, W. M. Stokes (Morere). . Cattle.—Hereford: Bull and cow champion and reserve champion, E. Jefferson (Wairoa). Jersey: Bull champion. G. F. Jardine; reserve champion, A. T. Carroll. Pigs.—Champion boar, E. Gilmore (Nuhaka); champion sow, K. Winiata (Wairoa) . MARTON SHOW. While a good district show was being held on the East Coast a similar function was taking place on the opposite coast, the venue being the Agricultural Society’s grounds at Marton. Rangitikei usually offers 'good support to its agricultural shows, and there was no exception this year. The weather was gloriously fine, and the entries were numerically equal to those of last year, which constituted a record. The sheep, horses, and pigs sections were in advance of previous years, and as the gate receipts were in

excess of last year’s takings the Marton Agricultural Society is highly elated at the success attending the 1928 show bheep classes were well patronised, but tat lambs were not up to the standard ot last year. Cattle sections, though not as large as previously, were of excel lent bleed and quality, . Jerseys being the strongest, while keen competition wat forthcoming in the Friesian. Challenge cups and medals were awarded as follow^: —

A. S. Coleman and Sons, Silver Challenge Cup for the most points in sheep and lamb classes.—A. S. Coleman and J. Brice.

Silver Challenge Cup for Open Jump,ng~b. Hammond and W. F. Stevens. Silver Challenge Cup for Points Prize in Romneys.—H. B. Johnston and H. T Whale.

- kih’er Challenge Cup for most points in I'nesians, Ayrshires, Milking Shorthorns and Red Polls.—R. A. Wilson and A. S. Coleman.

Silver Challenge Cup for points prize in fat sheep.—A. S. Coleman and A. D Cockburn.

Silver Challenge Cup for most points in Southdowns. —C. E Vile and George Galpin

Silver Challenge Cup for most points in Jerseys.—J. A. Nicholson and Edgar R. Galpin. Silver Challenge Cup for most points in Berkshires and Tamworths.—J. A. Russell and R. A. Wilson.

Silver Challenge Cup for most points in Grade Jerseys.—Mrs I. W. Spiers and A. D. Cockburn.

Silver Challenge Cup for most points in Crossbred Dairy Cattle.—W. E. Gibbons.

Pryce Cup.—S. Hammond, Rex. Marshall.

Silver Cup for best pedigree milking cow. —J. Nicholson, Whale Bros. Silver Challenge Cup for most points in Draught Classes.—J. M'Cool. Keith Stevens.

Irophy for most points in Romney Marsh in the wool and in natural condition.—H. Bowen, E. Thoms. Trophy for most points in Farmers’ Classes (Sheep).—F. B. Dexter, A. G. Simpson.

Silver Cup for best grade of Cross bred Milking Cow on the showground.— R. Laird, Hon. E. Newman.

Silver Cup for Open Pony Jump.—W J. M’Dowell.

, New Zealand Friesian Association’s Gold Medal for points prize in Friesian Class.—R. A. Wilson.

J. H. M'Lean s Gold Medal for the rider of winner in Open Steeplechase.— C. Hammond.

CHEMICAL FERTILISER WORKS.

A proposal that the Napier Harbour Board give ’ts assistance to a scheme of establishing chemical fertiliser works at die Napier port was made to the board by Mr Eustace Lane, and in order to carry out his poposal he asks for 70 acres of mud flats referred to in the Royal Commission’s recent report as the West quay reclamation block. The matter is to receive consideration.

SHOW LAMBS IN LONDON

A -able received from Messrs Weddel and Co.. London, shows that Waikato Show lambs turned out well at Home. The cable said:—“Waikato show lambs exhibited today.; quality, condition, and turu-out wonderfully fine. First prize perfect. Thirds rather heavy. Congratulate all concerned.” The names of the prize winners have not been received, but the awards in the export classes at the show were as follow: — White-faced pen of five suitable freezing and export: J, H. Good 1, Neil Reid 2 and 3. Pen of five Down cross lambs, most suitable for freezing and export: Neil Reid 1, Te Mimi Estate 2. Vcre*Chitty 3. From the show lambs killed, dressed on hooks at Auckland before freezing White faces: Paerangi Estate 1. W. Chitty 2. Down crosses: Whewcll Bros. 1, P. T. M. Martin 2.