OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO. Climatic conditions in Otago were generally pleasant, if somewhat mixed, during the week, and there has been considerable growth of grass and autumn-sown cereals during the past few days. BURNSIDE MARKET. No improvement in the demand for fat stock eventuated at the recent Burnside sale; indeed, values were somewhat lower in most sections. No fault could be found in the quality of the fat stock yarded, but with hides, sheepskins (practically full-w-oolled) and fat making reduced prices, the demand was naturally enough very indifferent.

An entry of 258 fat cattle (287 last sale) proved over many for the moderate demand experienced. The quality was again good, and comprised some excellent prime heavy bullocks, a fair number of prime heifers and cows, and a number of useful steers. The earlier sales were “sticky,” and throughout there was little life in the demand, and values generally '’were easier by £1 to £1 5s per head, heavy bullocks receding more than average weights. Beef sold to 40s per 1001 b.

The supply of fat sheep totalled 1903 (2727 last sale), and comprised a fair number of medium weights, some fair to good pennings of heavy wethers and prime ewes, and a sprinkling of light sheep. In a dull market values were irregular, and heavy wethers declined about 9d a head, good ewes receding Is 6d to 2s a head, with medium and fair sorts unchanged. _ Some slight firming for the last-mentioned class was apparent towards the close of the sale. Butchers’ wethers made around 41d per lb. Some 100 fait to good hoggets sold to 23s and medium ports at 16s to 19s.

The store cattle section was fairly well supplied, about 250 head being yarded. Of these about 100 comprised year-and-a-half-old steers and heifers with an odd pen of mature bullocks, the balance being cows and mixed cattle. The demand was dull, and values of young stock lower. A pen of four-year-old bullocks made £ll 15s, very fair one-and-a-half to two-year-pld steers £6 7s, and yearlings £2 4s to £2 14s.

Fat pigs totalled 95 (70 last sale), and prices ruled on .a par with those of the previous sale, while the 90 stores (78 last sale) changed hands at rates much the fame as a week ago. Bacon pigs sold to Pid and porkers to 9|lb per lb. COUNTRY STOCK SALES. GORE. The fortnightly stock sale was held at Gore on Tuesday before a good attendance of farmers and buyers. The entry comprised about 800 sheep, over 200 or which were fats. From the outset the demand was brighter, and with fair competition practically the whole of the offering was disposed of. Some good fat -wethers were forward and these made good competition at prices ranging from 27s to 30s 6d, while fat ewes made 15s 3d. The store section, which was made up of old breeding ewes and hoggets, also met a fair inquiry, and only in odd cases vendors’ reserves were not reached. Ewe hoggets realised up to 16a 6d, and mixed hoggets averaged about 9s Bd. The entry of cattle comprised 45 head, a number of fats being included The fats met with a ready market, and prime heavy bullocks made from £l2 17s 6d to £l6 ss. and lighter sorts £9 2s 6d, while fat cows made from £6 12s 6d to £ll 17s 6d. In the store section yearling steers and heifers realised £3 15s. BALCLUTHA.

A highly successful sale of store cattle was conducted on Friday at the Corporation Yards by the Otago Farmers’ Cooperative Association on behalf of Messrs P. Laughton, Lindsay Bros.. Allan Miller. Robert Hislop, and John Hogg, from the Owaka district. Three hundred head were yarded and all were quitted under the hammer, except two pens. Three and four-year-old bullocks sold at £ll 15s to £l2 12s 6d two and three-year-old bullocks, to £11; two-year-olds, to £lO 12s. Some of the cattle were in poor condition. but it was very evident from the demand for forward stores that the market is improving. SOUTHERN DAIRY FACTORIES. THORNBURY. The output for the season was 408 tons 3cwt 721 b, approximately 26 tons more than the previous season, the increase in two years being 55J tons. The whole of the company’s output of cheese has been on consignment during the year. At the outset the market was very buoyant, and BJd per lb f.o.b. was freely advanced on consignments. By the time the cheese reached London the market had undergone a great change, and the sales effected were not sufficient to meet the advances made. There are still 891 crates unsold, on which an advance of 61d per lb has been received, and they have been taken into stock at that value. The total number of crates exported was 5671, and 75 per cent, was graded finest and the remaining 25 per cent, first grade. There was no second grade cheese. A return of Is 6d per lb for butter-fat was paid to suppliers for milk received during September, October. November, December, and January, Is 4d for February, and Is for the remainder of the season. The plant is in good repair, and during the season the directors had to install a new Wilkins pasteuriser, at s cost of £250, to meet the increasing supply of milk. At the annual meeting a dividend of 5 per cent, on the paid-up capital was sanctioned. Messrs Wohlers and Fallow were elected directors, and Mr C. R. Foster was re-elected chairman, a position he' has held for 27 years, a Dominion record. STUART WILSON CUP. The Stuart Wilson Cup for 1930 has been awarded to Master James Giynn. Eastern Bush School, Southland, for the Crop of potatoes grown by him yielding 33

tons 2cwt per acre. The cup has been suitably inscribed and is being forwarded, together with a suitably inscribed gold medal for presentation to Master Glynn. The cup does not remain in the custody oi the winner, but has to be returned to the Department of Agriculture for safe custody. this being one of _the conditions upon which the cup was given. An enlarged photograph of the cup is to be handed over to Master Glynn. A copy of the letter addressed direct to Master Glynn by the Director-General, reads as follows:—

“ Dear Master Glynn,—lt has -been decided to award the Stuart Wilson Cup to you as winner of the Boys and Girls’ Club Competition for 1930. I wish to congratulate you most heartily upon winning the cup, the thorough and painstaking work done by you in producing such a very finecrop of potatoes rendering you in every way deserving of the honour. The result obtained by you is an outstanding one, and your achievement affords a good objectlesson in the results of good farming methods based upon the application of agricultural science to the everyday work of the farm.

“ I do not know whether you intend to become a farmer when you grow up, but if you do become one I hope you will always act on the lines of never neglecting opportunities of acquiring sound knowledge and applying it to your work. “ The cup will shortly be sent to the fields superintendent of this department at Dunedin, who will arrange for you and your friends to view it, when it is to be returned to the department’s custody As a permanent record of your having won the cup, however, a suitably inscribed gold medal Will be presented to you, together with a photograph of the cup.

“ With very best wishes, “ C. J. Reakes.”

STUD SHEEP FOR EXPORT. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report having shipped to Buenos Aires, by s.s. Mamilius, on the 17th instant, 15 valuable stud Lincoln ram hoggets from the flocks of Messrs A. E Anderson and L. R. Wilton, of Masterton. These hoggets were exceptionally well grown and carried very even fleeces of true type Lincoln wool. There is no doubt that these high-class rams will give satisfaction to the Argentine purchaser, and prove a good advertisement for New Zealand stud sheep.

New Zealand-bred Southdowns will be represented this month at both the Melbourne and Perth Royal Shows, Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., having shipped (say’s the Dominion) on account of the well-known breeder. Mr Arthur Wheeler, Leedstown, Marton, two stud rams for exhibition at the Melbourne Show this month and purchased for a client in Perth a stud ram from the same breeder, which it is intended to exhibit at the Perth Royal Show. In view of the over-production of Southdown sheep in New Zealand last year, the export of Southdowns to various parts of Australia during the past season has been a very valuable one. In all, Wright Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., have shipped on behalf of the breeders the following con> signments: —-24 Southdown ewes ex Mr J H. Grigg. Longbeach, Canterbury, to M> P.- H. Osborne. New South Wales; 40 Southdown ewes ex Mr R. M. Perry. Masterton. to Mr P. H. Osborne, and 15 Southdown ewes ex the same breeder to Mr G N. Magill, New South Wales; 100 Southdown ewes ex Mr W. G. Shannon, Palmerston North, to the Australian Mercantile Land Finance Company. Ltd Melbourne; 70 Southdown rams ex Mr R F. R. Beetham. Masterton, to Mr P. H Osborne. New South Wales; 90 South down ewes ex Mr W. James. Masterton to Mr 'W. M'Namara, Melbourne; 95 Southdown ram lambs ex Mr R. F. R Beetham. 18 Southdown ram lambs ex Mrs E. E. Wilson, Masterton, 45 Southdown ram lambs and 68 ewe lambs ex Messrs Ellis Bros., Bulls, and 60 Southdown ram lambs and 54 ewe lambs ex Mr C. D Handley to Messrs J. M'Namara and Co Pty., Ltd., Melbourne; 240 Southdown ewes ex Mr W. G. Shannon to the Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Company, Ltd.. Melbourne; 30 Southdown ewes to Mr W. G. Burgess Perth; 290 Southdown ewes and 15 ram hoggets to Messrs Goldsbrough, Mort, and Co., Ltd., Sydney; 50 ram hoggete to Mr Hugh Munro. Bingara. N.S.W.; and 20 Southdown ewes to Messrs Elder, Smith, and Co., Ltd., Perth. In addition’to the consignments sent to various parts of Australia. a line of in-lamb ewes was also shipped to Tasmania, where the breed has been established for a considerable number, of venrs. NATIONAL JERSEY SHOW. The eighth annual" national Jersey show and sale, conducted by Wright, Stephenson and Co.,* Ltd., opened at the Claudelands show grounds; Hamilton. There was a large attendance, buyers representing every part of the North Island. In the three days’ sale 235 bulls were disposed of at an average of £34 10s. Although very substantial prices were obtained for outstanding bulls in the cata- , logue, eight of which averaged 169$ guineas, it was very apparent that buyers as a whole had not the cash at their command of a year ago, when 201 bulls were sold at an average of £43 10s. Mr C. G. C. Dermer, president of the Jersey Association, who at the present time is on a visit to the island of Jersey, had the honour of securing the two highest prices. His two-year-old champion bull, Waipiko Love Boy, a grandson of the famous cow Viviandiere, 10561 b fat, and line-bred to the great imported sire Eminent’s Fontaine was purchased by Mr A. Crowther, of Matamata, at 270 guineas, while Mr J. B. Aiekin, of Pukekohe. purchased the same breeder’s Waipiko Caravel, an eigh-teen-months-old grandson of Viviandiere, for 235 guineas. Mr M. S. Smith, of Hastings, received 270 guineas for his six-year-old bull Meadowvale Oxford Sultan, a son of Xenias Tlxford Lad. and the famous cow Sultan’s Daisy. The purchaser was Mr C. Stevens, of Whangarei. The senior champion bull, Mr. J. A. Mitchell’s Santa Rosa Golden Chimes, a four-year-old. realised 135 guineas to the bid of Mr J. Crookes, of Auckland. Mr H. Salway, of . Bell Block, had only one two-year-old son of his famous imported bull, Victor’s Handsome Prince, for which he secured 102 guineas. Mr John Robb, of Westmere, Wanganui, also secured a threefigure price for "another son of Victor’s Handsome Prince in Gowanlea You’ll Do. a three-year-old bull. Mr J. S. Jones, of Bell Block, sold his grand champion yearling bull, Silverley’s

Regal Mixture, for 170 guineas, to Mr W. Mears, of Walton. Mr Jones also secured the top average for yearlings of 86J guineas, for four sons of Sybil’s Volunteer. The top price for yearlings was secured by Mr J. A. Mitchell, of Longburn. This was 175 .guineas paid by Simmons Bros,, of Hamilton, for " Santa Rosa Combination, an cl even-months-old son of the imported sire Oxford Beau’s Combination, and out of Volunteer’s April Lady. For three yearling bulls and a four-year-old Mr Mitchell secured an average of 94J guineas. Victor’s Handsome Prince,* whose sons made the top average at last year’s sale, was represented by four sons, and these averaged guineas. The top average of the sales was secured by Mr Dernier, whose consignment consisted of two bulls only, which averaged 252) guineas. The realisations again totalled over £BOOO. DAIRY MARKET. In order to maintain New Zealand’s sound reputation on the dairy produce markets of Great Britain it is essential that every producer and marketer should make certain that nothing but finest quality produce leaves the Dominion. This was emphasised at a conference of the Auckland provincial branch of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association. It was the statement of Mr A. C. Rose, who in an address indicated the requirements of the markets for butter and cheese in London. Mr Ross was for four years attached to the office of the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London as inspector of dairy produce from the Dominion.

In grading New Zealand had a system which had played an enormous part in raising the dairying industry in New Zealand to its present position, said Mr Ross. Buyers were induced to make purchases by well-packed and neatlyfinished produce In London much importance was attached to appearance. No other country enjoyed such an enviable position on the British market today as New Zealand. New Zealand must be certain to export only the best produce.. The Dominion’s cheese should be held in store longer in the Dominion. Mr Ross believed that a great deal of it was marketed in far too “green” a con dition. There was still room for great improvement in New Zealand cheese, and the producers should do everything to make a product desired by English consumers.

“ The uniformity of New Zealand butter surpasses that of any other country in the British Empire,” said Mr Ross. “ While New Zealand butter is clean and attractive, some brands tend toward a lack of the true butter flavour. There has been a certain amount of irregularity, while a flavour of soda is present ih the product of certain factories. Though some butters are inclined to be weak and insipid in flavour, in other respects they fulfil the requirements of the British trade.

‘" Managers and directors should not be satisfied if their produce is being exported as first grade, and not finaff. No matter what the grading is in New Zealand. the produce should stand up to its Dominion grading when it reaches the marketing country. Our grading system has been a big factor in building up the industry. Buyers have been reaching the state where they will buy New Zealand butter on the grade * stamp, which is regarded as a certain mark of quality. It ie very difficult for mer chants to dispose of New Zealand butter and cheese without a grade stamp, except at considerably lower prices.” Mr Ross said New Zealand was the greatest contributor of imported cheese in Great Britain. New’ Zealand Cheddar commanded the greatest retail sale there. It had always Been of good quality, but the mam complaint was that the texture was too open, and the cheese was likely to crumble when cut for retail purposes. Mr. Ross thought the cheese should be kept longer in store in New Zealand. When, in the 1926-27 " season, the Dairy Produce Board had paid a premium for the highest quality cheese, there had been an improvement in quality. In the spring cheese of last season a number of brands showed a weak, pasty, and doughv body, with open texture. The cheese soured on exposure to the air; some of the poor quality cheese had been found to be made with an excess of moisture. Tlv.s trouble had resulted in a prejudice against New Zealand cheese. Cheese was waxed too green in New Zealand, too. This resulted in a slimy rind under the cloth and on the crown. Stamping and branding should also be carried out carefully.

The producers should make every effort to manufacture cheese which the consumer wanted, not what he thought the consumer should buy. JOTTINGS. Although the attendance at the recent Horse Show at Tahuna Park was not large, there was no lack of interest, and comments were freely made touching upon the quality of the Clydesdales coming on.

The abolition of the Arbitration Court was favoured by the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its meeting recently, and a motion to this effect was passed during a discussion on the amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.

An astonishing freak of Nature was brought to the Mataura Ensign office recently by Mr J. Kubala, Upper Charlton. It was a newly-born lamb with eight legs. Two hindquarters were joined to the body of the lamb, which, had it lived, would have enjoyed the sensation of walking forward when it walked backward.

Some of the butchers usually in evidence at the Burnside sale were not keen buyers on Wednesday, having supplies of fat sheep on hand, purchased at the sale the previous week. This fact served to depress a demand at no times keen, despite the buying of an outside speculator and an odd country butcher.

Allington Kirklevington, a pedigree dairy Shorthorn, which was taken by Mr Alexander Maclaren, of Buckingham. Quebec, from the herd of Mr E. Macintosh'at Dorking, now holds the Canadian milking Shorthorn record with a yield of 20,5431 b of milk and 7541 b butter-fat Duriqg this lactation her highest daily yield was 79.91 b. -- .

The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr E. A. Ransom) announces that the Government has approved the purchase of the property near Te Aroha of Mr James M'Nicol and family of about 2028 acres. Half is rich flat and the rest good pasture. From 12 to 14 good farms will be the result, and these are to be offered for selection in March.

At the last meeting of the Clutha branch of the Farmers’ Union Mr Christie introduced the subject of a Farmers’ Union newspaper, which had been favoured by the executive of the Provincial Union. After some discussion, on the motion of Messrs J ensen and John Copland, it was agreed “ that this branch does not think the proposal a desirable one.”

Major C. F. Case’s remarkable British Friesian cow Blickling Mist, that averaged over 2000 gallons with each of her first four calves, and that won the last Harold Jackson trophy competition, died recently from the effects of eating too much spinach (says the Scottish Farmer). She was in perfect health, and was well on the way to her fourth consecutive 2000-gallon yield.

A flock of sound-mouth Romney ewes lambing to Southdown rams on the property of Mr. Donald Bruce (Otama) al this early stage in the season gives every indication of returning the owner a very satisfactory lambing percentage (say’s the Mataura Ensign). Mr Bruce reports that there have been several cases of triplets, whilst the majority’ of the ewes have twin lambs.

Farmers on Banks Peninsula have had one of the worst winters for many years (states the Christchurch Times). The southerly rain and snow storms have been very hard on stock and the spring is very much later than usual. Cattle are backward in condition, and there have been considerable losses of ewes and lambs, during lambing. A spell of warm weather is much desired. Greasy wool is extremely cheap just now, and its very cheapness ought to prove attractive, but this cheapness disappears by the time the finished product reaches the consumer, for .retail prices show very little if any decline on the prices ruling in the early post-war years. If retail prices were brought more into line with the cost of the raw material, consumption would improve, and the surplus stocks in users’ hands would soon disappear.

“ Two sheep and a-half country is not worth more than £7 to £9 an acre today,” said Mr T. W. Iloivie at the Development League meeting in Wanganui the other night. .Mr W. R. M'Elwaine said that he was pleased to hear farmers express their opinions on matters of that sort. He thought the league would be well advised to set up a committee which could offer advice to young men about to take up land, and guard them from pitfalls. Mr Howie: And they wouldn’t take it.

The use of Hawke’s Bay perennial ryegrass is increasing in Canterbury (states the Christchurch Sun). There is now a large number of fields sown in the province, and some of them will be seeded this year. The seed, if up to standard, will be certified by the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch. Arrangements in connection with this work werefinalised some months ago, and an examination of the fields will be carried out about December next. In permanent pastures, Hawke’s Bay ryegrass is regarded as being of exceptional merit.

In connection with the movement emanating from the Department of Agriculture to hare the embargo on stock (due to foot and mouth disease in Britain) lifted, it was stated at the last meeting of the Clutha branch of the Farmers’ Union, that Jersey cattle from the Island of Jersey in the English Channel were being taken to America and then shipped to New Zealand. Tlie same thing, it was alleged, was happening with stock from Scotland taken to Canada and then to New- Zealand.—lt was decided to make inquiries on ~ the subject. A.. representative of the West Australian Government has been buying dairy

stock in T ictoria, and altogether has secured nearly 400 head. On the female side he has been interested in heifers, cnefly giade Jerseys, and his purchases of males have been confined to productionbred pedigree Jerseys, of which he has obtained 60 Of the first 300 heifers tested tor tuberculosis none reacted, and all ot the bulls have received clean certificates. The stock are to be distributed among the farmers in the south-west of Western Australia, where the demand for dairy cattle far exceeds the supply. Mr Runciman, of Buenos Aires, has bought two Shorthorn bulls from Rossshire herds. From Mr William MacGillivray, Glastullich, Nigg, he has bought a well-bred Rosebud bull by Naemoor Jasper; and from Mr A. P. Gordon, Bindal, Portmahomack, he has bought the rojm yearling bull Balmuchy—that was third in his class at the Dumfries Highland Show. These transactions, following on the purchase from the Calrossie herd during the Highland Show week of a young bull by Naemoor Jasper at £3500, indicate a renewed activity from the Argentine for Scottish Shorthorns. The imported Clydesdale stallion Bold Boy realised 360gn s at the dispersal sale of Mr G. Oxley’s stud in the St. Arnaud district (says a Victorian weekly). The purchaser was Mr N. Proctor, of Yarra Glen. Satisfactory prices were realised for several other animals, showing that many men still have confidence in the future of the horse-breeding industry Parkhill Lady Craigie was sold for 150gns to Mr L. Mitchell, of Kyneton, who also paid 130gns for Rosedew. Korongah~ Vinian realised lOOgns, Korongah Rose 72gns, Korongah Alice 67gns, Moaua Craig, and Jean Craig 60gns each. Bold Pope was sold on account of Mr W. G Pope to Mr R. Ferrier, of Birchip, for 185gns.

A new method of preparing dried milk, the result of work by Mr H. E. West, chemist to the New Zealand Wheat Research Institute, has been approved by the New Zealand Co-operative Daii'y Company. In a letter the company said a product had been obtained superior to anything that had been made before. The chairman said that as a result of Mr West’s tests the quality of dried milk for baking purposes had been greatlyimproved and it was equal to ordinary or condensed milk. It was one of Mr West’s most important pieces of work, and provided an outlet for another dairy product.

“ I think that the general feeling here amongst those who support the present sliding scale of duty on wheat is that we cannot very strenuously oppose barley corning in free for pig feed, as such action would only tend to increase the present opposition against the wheat and flour duties,” wrote Mr J. Bitehener, M.P., in acknowledging receipt of the resolution ' passed by the executive of the South Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union, protesting against the removal of the diftyon the importation of barley. “ Personally I do not think that we are warranted in doing anything that will give those opposed to us an opportunity to suggest that we will not try to meet them in the way of securing cheaper pig feed. These are only my own opinions in the matter,” concluded Mr Bitehener.