TUAPEKA FARMERS' UNION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1815, 25 July 1891, Page 3

TUAPEKA FARMERS' UNION.

The usual monthly meeting of the above-named body was held in the schoolhouse, Tuapeka West, on the evening of the 15th instant. There was a fair attendance of members. Mr J. Smith (President) in the chair. ARTIFICIAL MANURES ADULTERATION BILL.

A circular was received from the Chief Inspector of the Live Stock Department intimating that a Bill dealing with the subject of artificial manures was to be introduced into Parliament by Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R. for Olutha, and forwarding a copy of same for consideration. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mullins, seconded by Mr Fahey : " That the Secretary write to Mr H. S. Valen- , tine, M.H.R., drawing his attention to clause 13 of Mr Mackenzie's ' Artificial Manures Adulteration Bill.'and pointing out that this Union considers it to be simply a loophole of escape for unprincipled vendors, leaving purchasers as badly off as ever." THE SHEEP YARDS AT LAWRENCE RAILWAY SHEDS. Mr Osborne moved : " That the Secretary write to the traffic manager of the Railway Department, Dunedin, drawing his attention to the unsuitable yards provided for trucking fat sheep at ' the Lawrence railway sheds." — Carried. RAILWAY CHARGES TOR LIVE STOCK. The President said there was a matter to which he would like to direct the attention of the Union. He referred to the exorbitant freights charged by the Railway Department for the conveyance of live stock. It was nothing short of a scandal to see trains running empty and large flocks of sheep driven alongside of the railway simply on account of the excessive freights demanded by the department. It was even cheaper to send small flocks of sheep by road than by rail. He would move : " That the Secretary write to the Executive Committee of the Itfew Zealand Farmers Union drawing attention to the exorbitant rates | charged for carrying live stock by rail, i and suggesting that at the next annual meeting of the Union the matter be brought prominently before the Railway Department." Mr Fahey seconded the motion, which was carried. THE UNION'S SHOW GROUND. Mr Fahey moved and Mr M'lnerney seconded : " That the secretary write to the Minister of Lands ' to ascertain the position in which the Union stands in regard to the sections at Tuapeka West set apart for a show ground." — It was pointed out that the present was an opportune time to have the sections cleared and cultivated. — The motion was put and declared carried. SIZE OF GRAIN BAGS. Mr Redpath moved the motion standing in his name to the effect that those settlers who use 46-inch sacks for holding grain pay for 23 sacks per 100 bushels of grain threshed. — Mr Redpath said this was a matter that called for at- ■ tention : indeed it was an appeal to their better natures. It was no uncommon thing for members of the Union — and, for that matter, farmers generally — to complain of the dishonesty of others. He really thought they should set a good example themselves ; for they were not without blame. By adopting the motion before the chair, it would show that they were conscious of the right of fair dealing. Mr Mullins seconded the motion. After some discussion, the motion, on being put to the vote, was declared lost. WHEAT CULTURE. Mr Jas. Fahey led off a discussion on the most suitable kind of wheat to grow in the Tuapeka West district. He read' a number of extracts from Home papers explanatory of the different varieties of wheat, the information thus afforded being of the utmost value. He pointed out that velvetee wheat took a deeper soil and longer to stool than the more common varieties of wheat. Pearl wheat was tojbe recommended for stiff land, but required a larger quantity of seed. The difference between the velvetee and the velet chaff varieties was that the former was plumper, and the latter larger and coarser. Red straw was the best variety to use where the soil had not been well prepared, and pearl velvet for light soil. Mr M'lnerney was strongly in favour of a change of seed. jA season or two ago he noticed in a paddock in the dis- j trict the difference between wheat grown from locally-grown seed and seed got from outside the district. In the c£se of the former, the grain was rusted, while the latter, although the varieties were the same, the grain was plump and hard and all that was to be desired. The President was in favour of white Tuscan for late sowing, A good sample always commanded a good figure. Mr G. Smith remarked that it required about four bushel of white Tuscan seed to the acre. Mr T. E. Williams moved to the effect that further consideration of the subject be adjourned till next meeting. — Agreed to. The proceedings then terminated. [The above report came to hand too late for insertion in our last issue.]