THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 4085, 28 June 1932, Page 19

THE NORTH ISLAND.

GENERAL. The beef market in Taranaki continues to be weak. Butchers take very little interest in ox beef, which work's buyers absorb at schedule price, viz.. 15s per 1001 b. It is expected that construction of the. first two cottages on land being settled under the small holding scheme in North Taranaki will be commenced very shortly. One of the holdings is in the Inglewood district (says the Herald), and the other on the Omata road. The white butterfly, which has proved to be such a pest amongst the cabbage and turnip crops, is said to have made its appearance in the Waverley district. How destructive the butterfly can be was shown in Hawke’s Bay recently, when 34 acres of chou mollier was destroyed by the pest. Recently a Westmere farmer disposed | of a small.line of lambs left over as culls at the end of the season. These turned the scale at 521 b (says the Wanganui Herald), and were fed on land that had been top-dressed. On another farm in the Wanganui district a line of two-tooth ewes left over as culls killed out at 731 b. Farmers in the Wairoa district, Hawke's Bay, are evidently going in more for dairying, and recently an order was placed with the chairman of the Heretaunga Herd Testing Association for 200 head of in-calf Jersey heifers. One of the stipulations made by the purchasers when the order was given was that the heifers should all be marked to show that they Were from high butter-fat producing stock. Dry weather in the spring and a consequent lack of feed, is stated by a Wanganui stock buyer to have had a deleterious effect on the mouths of sheep. He considered that owing to the weather the grass was short and stubbly, the result being that the mouths of the older sheep are “ lower ” than usual. He stated that eix-year ewes bought last year had far better teeth than five-year ewes bought during last week. “ I took over a 320-acre section three years ago at £8 per acre. My farm is for sale to-day at £3 per acre, notwithstanding the fact that I can call on my neighbours and previous owners to witness that I have put in three' years’ hard work cutting scrub, draining, ploughing, etc.,” stated Matthew Moynihan, a bankrupt farmer, of Pongaroa, placing his position before a meeting of his creditors. In the old days water troughs were very common on roadsides throughout the country, but with the coming of motor vehicles these troughs have in many cases fallen into disrepair or disappeared altogether. However, as the horse appears to be coming into his own again various local bodies are making arrangements to have the water troughs prepared for use once more. In the Taranaki district it is stated that twice the number of horses are to be seen on the roads to-day compared with two months ago. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, Hamilton, reports having held a clearing sale at Taupiri on account of Mr A. J. Charles. There was a large attendance of buyers from all parts of the Waikato. The cows were all young, early cal vers from some of the best herds in Taranaki, and came* into the . ring in the best of condition. Competition was very spirited throughout, the whole herd of just over CO being sold under the hammer at the very satisfactory average of £6 16s 6d. How the use of fertilisers and modern methods in farming have helped progresaive districts in leaner years is shown by the returns of the Uruti Valley Dairy Company (says the Taranaki News). In 1928 when butter-fat was worth Is 6d per lb suppliers received a total payment of £19,500. During the past season when only 11.76 d per lb was received for butterfat the total payments to the same number of suppliers was £18,500. The achievement was possible by the steady increase in production by 42 per cent, in the past four years.

In connection with Mr Coates's scheme for settling unemployed men on small holdings, Cr H. N. Kebbell pointed out at the monthly meeting of the Eketahuna County Council (says the Dominion's correspondent) that these sections became the property of the Crown and consequently they would not remain liable for rates. He suggested that it should be made a condition of gifts of sections that they should remain liable for rates. “That might, debar- the Crown from accepting the sections,” said the chairman (Mr J. B. Carruthers). “It seems that the matter can only be arranged by the donors of sections.”

At the monthly’ meeting of the Wairere Electric Power Board in the King Country, a settler wrote requesting the removal of a power pole which was close to

some shelter trees on his farm. It was stated that the pole was placed in its position. without the settler’s permission. The engineer stated that under the Power Boards' Act owners of properties were called upon to prevent trees coming in contact with power lines. Some members contended it was far from reasonable to ask farmers ‘to cut down shelter trees, which meant so niuch to stock during both winter and summer seasons. After further discussion it was resolved to ask the farmer to pay half cost of the removal of the pole.

Concern was expressed at a meeting of northern Raglan County ratepayers at Tuakau recently at the alarming increase in rabbits in a large area comprising thousands of acres situated on the west coast and south of the Waikato River. A proposal was made that a rabbit board should be established to operate over an area of 84,000 acres. During the discussion it was pointed out that a rate of about 2d. an acre would be sufficient to cover working costs, and that the Government would bear its share of the cost of destroying rabbits on Crown and Native lands. Eventually it was agreed to recommend the forming of a rabbit board and to circulate a petition in the district.

STUD JERSEY STOCK. At the annual winter Jersey show and sale, held at the showgrounds at Palmerston North, there were some 47 entries. These comprised 20 stud Jersey cows and in-calf heifers, 11 stud yearling heifers, and 16 stud bulls. The entries came forward- in good condition, but the prices were poor, and the bidding slow. Of the 47 head offered, only 24 head were sold, the remaining pens being passed in. The top price of 37gns was paid by Mrs Mosen, of Raetihi, for- a yearling bull offered by Mrs A. Banks and Son, of Feilding. Mr H. R. Masters, of Sanson, paid 30gns for a yearling heifer from the same breeders, and Mr Al. A. M'Leod. of Taonui, paid 29gns for a yearling bull bred by Mr H. J. Lancaster, of Glen Orona. The lowest price received was sgns. MANAWATU WINTER SHOW. Despite the fact that this year’s winter show was of only four days’ duration, compared with five days last year, the receipts for the fixture show an increase of £lO9. The takings for this year’s fixture from all sources were £1370 16s, and for last year £1261.. ' The actual takings at the turnstiles this year revealed a drop of £lOO, but the

charge for admission this year was Is, compared with Is 6d and Is last year. The art gallery and the sports stadium, two new attractions, accounted for the netting of £212. On Saturday, despite the rough weather, the receipts were £260 3s 9d, compared with £199 10s last year. During the four days of the show 36,697 people passed through the gates, the figures being made up as follows:—Wednesday, 12,983; Thursday, 9342; Friday, 7628; and Saturday, 6744. The number of people who paid for admission to the stadium was 5046, and to the art gallery 4040. The receipts were £llO and £lO2 respectively. LARGE-SCALE DAIRYING. One of the most interesting personalities in the dairy farming industry of the Dominion is Aly J. J. Paterson, of Manaia. Taranaki, who milks over 2000 cows On shares. Half this number is farmed in Taranaki, the balance being milked on his farm at Tatuamu, in the Waikato. Mr Paterson is by' far the biggest dairy farmer in New Zealand, and it is claimed that he is the owner of the largest dairy herd in the world. With the average man the control of these immense herds of dairy cows would be sufficient work, but

Mr Paterson also farms about 10,000 sheep. Left an orphan when five ydars of age, Mr Paterson, who is now 73, commenced work at the early age of nine, being apprenticed when 14 to a blacksmith. After his time as an apprentice was served, he commenced business on his own account in.Alanaia. In the early days of that district, considerable areas of Maori land were available close to Manaia at reasonable rents, which rents, in many- instances, were paid years in advance. Mr Paterson was successful in securing some of these blocks, on which he commenced cattle and sheep farming, gradually’ extending operations each year. About 25 years ago Mr Paterson decided to change over from grazing dry stock into dairying. Further purchases of land were made, in each case Native leases under the control of the Public Trustee being preferred. Under this system of purchase, the only outlay was for the improvements, thus leaving the purchaser a capital available for erecting the dwellings, sheds, and purchase of dairy' stock. Mr Paterson built up his herds until he had over 2000 cows milking. GERMAN OWLS. Further complaints against the destruction of small, birds by' imported German owls came before the New Zealand Native

Bird Protection Society, and it was decided to make representations to tiie Internal Affaifs Department on the matter.

A letter from Mr F. Milner, rector of Waitaki Boys’ High School, stated that every autumn it had ben a joy to have frequent visitations to their rooms from fantails and to hear the plaintive trill of the riroriro in the shrubberies, but this autumn a number of German owls had taken up their residence in a nearby' be.t of eucalyptus and had wiped out every one of these native birds. The whole of the district was being denuded of the small birds in the same way, Mr Milner said.

Writing later, Mr Milner mentioned that he had received many' distressing accounts of the depredation by these owls, which were now to be found on Stewart Island and had been reported as seen at Rotorua. He inquired whether the birds could be trapped, or reduced by the offering of a bounty without endangering the morepork, believing that something would have to be done quickly to remedy the position.

It was also reported that in the Waitaki district a hawk had been seen feeding on a bird carcass which had been identified by the few wing feathers which remained as that of a grey teal. One of the feathers showed distinct marks of a shot. The grey teal was an absolutely protected bird, but it had evidently been wounded by’ a sportsman. The secretary. Mr E. V. Sanderson, reported that he had approached the Auckland Acclimatisation Society with reference to the expenditure of' license holders money on the feet of hawks without any scientific research having been made as to whether the hawk was a benefactor to mankind or otherwise. In reply, he had been informed that the society had deci led to make research on the question. AGRICULTURAL CLUBS. The annual root-growing competition in connection with the Southern Hawke's Bay Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs has just been completed. Details of judging are as follow, the first column being the weight in tong and hundredweights; the second points for cultivation; the third points for quality, and the fourth, total points:— TIPAPAKUKL*.

SALE OF JERSEY HEIFERS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., held a successful clearing .sale of in-calf rising two-year-high-grade Jersey heifers at Raupare on account of Air A. J. Baird. The offering, which comprised a good number of ” marked ’’ heifers, came forward in excellent condition, and attracted a good attendance of buyers from AVaipukurau, 1 ukehou, and local districts. Competition was keen throughout, best sorts making from £9 to £l3 for grades, the litm of about 50 averaging £8 per head. Pedigree heifers, 7Agns to lOlgns.

Robert Gregg . SS.S 40 9 137 A R. Johannsen . 51.9 9 9 G G. Gibson . . . 26.14 39 6 713 MATAMAV. Joe Warrington . . 80.14 40 9 1293 Jack M'Donald . 54.7 38 8 100 A Roland Cammock . . 42.15 8 J Andrew Vella . 44.S 29 80A William Vella n 71“ Maurice Cam mock. ’. 26 35 J GS NORSEWOOD Betty Mearing . 79 40 9 128 E. Iggulden . . . 44.7 -1r1 7 86 A George Smith . 36.19 39 M. Burli ng . . . 31.17 34 7 1 73 S. Schofield . . . 29.IS 30 G * G5$ S. Ridge . 25.14 64£ G. Johansen . . . 27 3S g" G1 -■