A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 19

A. AND P. NEWS.

Rumour has been busy for some little time on the subject of the sale of the South Otago Freezing Company’s business and plant to one of the larger concerns in the meat trade. Similar rumours were afloat a year ago, but nothing eventuated, and the subject was not even discussed at the annual meeting of shareholders. Now, however, it is said that there is something approaching definiteness in the proposal. Mr John Christie, one of the company directors, who, it is understood, is opposed to the works passing from the farmers’ control, is calling a meeting of the most prominent shareholders in each district to discuss the situation in regard to the company, when it is believed the matter will be

thoroughly gone into, with a view to finding out what attitude the majority of the shareholders are likely to adopt. An exceptionally good crop of Velvet wheat was reaped this season bv Messrs Cadwallader Bros, on their farm at Clanceboye. 150 acres yielding an average of 70 bushels per acre (reports the Timaru Herald). The wheat was of, excellent quality.

A visit to South Canterbury last week by Mr L. Paynter, Government orchard instructor, showed (reports the Lyttelton Times) him _that the fruit crops there are clean and fairly good, although the fruit is small, parched and dry, as a resuit of the drought conditions that have prevailed this season.

The Waipukurau Dairy Company paid out £9796 18s 3d for butter-fat for January, on the basis of Is 5Jd superfine and Is 5d first grade. The total output for the season so far shows the satisfactorjincrease of 23 per cent, over the same period of the previous year. The installation was completed recently at the Wheat Research Laboratory at Canterbury College of a miniature flour mill, which will be used in ascertaining the milling and baking values of wheat. Good results are expected from the mill, which, when in working order, will be utilised in testing a large number of 51b samples of wheat. When the ovens which have been promised gratis by an English firm arrive, loaves will be baked for purposes of a more complete test. Other material is expected from Home shortly. Recently an innovation has been made by the broadcasting from Christchurch at noon of a special weather forecast for Canterbury farmers. This experiment on the part of the Meteorological Department has been very much appreciated, as it is of the greatest assistance in harvesting operations. Many letters of thanks have been received from farmers, who say that the forecasts have been ol very great value. The experiment is to be continued for another fortnight.