NORTH ISLAND LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10768, 14 May 1913, Page 2

NORTH ISLAND LETTER.

[Fbqm Our Cobbsspondbnt] WELLINGTON, May 8,

The weather throughout the north has* suddenly chilled and plunged from a sqmmer suggestiveness straight into ihegrip of winter. What this means to crops and stock and milk yields can bo * easily gauged. The milk farmersara reporting progress downwards ■wholesale, and in view of the prospect of a very rapid contraction in the output it is gratifying to know that the butter stored is in greater volume than has been the case at this period last year. In these- cold days one eats a hit of buttar. All kinds of fodder are rapidly coming; into evidence, kA in pursuance of tha quickened demand the chaff and hay. markets have hardened conspicuously, Ihem will he no raoro perceptible growth, of the forage crops while this Antarctic climate holds sway, and! those of us who failed after the slaughtering strike to stock down our pasitiires to their proper winter capacitfes will he looking for outlets for the encumbraati surplus. Just now the. Btoie sheep markets axe not partiouTha Egmoat Agricultural and Pastoral Association made a profit of £261. 16s 9d last year, and elected 120 new members. The " pa«* U P members number 652. The secretary reports that last year was " a hard year to get The Hawera branch of the Farmers' Union has " come out square " on the year's funds.