WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 775, 9 October 1900, Page 3

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Tin: monthly meeting of the above was hel'l at Cambridge last evening, Mr J. Barugh (President) in the chair. Nkw Members.—The following were elected members of the Club:—Messrs T. C. Bhckett, Thou. Jones, H. Hiuton, J. Davis, W. fl ; Hall, It. Weiser, S. McKnight, F. W. Thomas, C. Terraut, S. Straw bridge, R. Peterson F. R. Noble, A Corbett, 0- Given, J. F. Goodwin, Thos. Heslep, J 3. W. Beer, J. D. Mc.ville, Jno. Primrose, James Primrose, Geo. Parker, J. Guest, W. J. Richardson, Andrew Ramsay, A Ramsay, junr., Geo. Grigsby, Robt. Ramsay, B. S. Jones, C. Shaw, If. Johnstou, \V. Brouph, Jno. Murphy, and J. IT, Niccols.

Tauwiure Branch.—Mr Morgan reported that a branch had been formed at Tauwhare, and that officers had been appointed. Many of the above newlyelected members are members of it. Tho formation of the branch was approved. Grasses.—Mr W. Sturges had written to Messrs A. Yates and Co. suggesting that they might find it lo their advantage to supply the club with a case of grasses to be kept in the club room. Messrs Yates replied they would be glad to comply with the request, but as it would take some time to get the specimens, they could not supply the case for some little time—Mr Morgan thought other firms might object us the case would act as an advertisement.— Several members said : " Let them do likewise." Votes of thanks were accorded to Messrs Yates and Mr Sturgess. Wairoa South.—The following letter was leceived from Mr R. W. Mears, of Clevedon :—" As there is a prospect of a Farmers' Club being formed in this district, I have been requested by the committee to ask if you will kindly supply them with a copy of the rules under which you have been working, aDd also of the proposed rules which you are about to adopt. At the same time I would ask if it would be feasible, or advisable, to form this into a branch of the Waikato Club, or into a separate one. I understand that Mr J. 3. Wilson may written to you also. This application is to the same effect, and is not antagonistic to his."—The President thought it would be better for the Wairoa farmers to form a separate club and affiliate with this club.—Mr Sturges hoped all the Farmers' Clubs iu the colony would affiliate, and then they would be a power in tho land.—lt was left to the secretary to write Mr Mears giving the opinions of the members on the matter. The Meeting of Delegates in Auckland.—A circular was received from the Auckland Agricultural Association asking tho Club to appoint delegates to the meeting to be held next month, also to suggest any subjects for diecussiou. 1 - The President said there was the matter of the auctioneers' fees to be settled, but there would be plenty of time to give notice of the subjects at the next meeting of the Club.—Mr Forrest 6aid thero were several matters that he should wish discussed at the Auckland meeting. First was the matter of the reports given by the veterinary Burgeons from Home, which were most unsatisfactory. He had lately been reading the reports issued by the Government, and in them these men imported from the Old Country seemed to be able to deal with any ordinary matters, but when it came to such diseases as the TauraDga one and that in the Rotorua bush, they were held over for further consideration. There was also the matter of the gorse grown for feeding sheep. In the Government reports there were elaborate photos of Mr William's phce, and Mr Clifton wrote most highly of it, and yet a friend of his had been up to the Bay of Islands to see Mr Williams' farm of gorse, and he wrote that it was a fraud, and also said that the young Williams said it was a nuisance. In lace of this the Government were quoting how many sheep could be carried to the acre, and were cracking up Messrs Williams and McLaughlin as benefactors to the country. Another matter that should be discussed was compensation for cattle destroyed by order of others than the Inspectors, and also the prices of bonedust in the north as against the south. He was told that ceitain farmers in the Waikato had agreed with Messrs Hellaby to sell them their cattle and take bonedust in return, at a reduced price. Why should they not all fare alike ? In Auckland the price of bonedust was £7 ss, and at Wellington Freezing Works it was £4 10s to £5 ss. Month by month they were told the merchants had to put up the price of bonedust 5s per ton, and at the same time in the South it could be obtaiued at ' pounds less. He moved that these matters be brought before the Auckland Conference—Seconded by Mr Milne—Mr J. Fisher said ho believed the Government had agreed to allow compensation in the direction indicated by Mr Forrest, and a Bill dealing with the matter was passed. With regard to gorse he understood it had done all that was claimed for it, and in refer* ence to Messrs Hellaby's bonedust, he used it and Mr Hellaby bought his cattle, because he was the chief buyer at the Auckland auctions, but there was no compact between them. He paid Mr Hellaby for the bonedust and Mr Hellaby paid him for the cattle.—Mr R. Fisher made a similar statement.—The President said a friend of his had thirty acres of gorse which carried eight ewes to the acre, and he had sold fat lambs. He was now going to put in 500 acres of gorse.—Mr Forrest said all he wanted was the statements re the gorse substantiated. His friend must have been very much mistaken and could not have had his eyes open when he went to Mr William's place. He accepted Messrs Fishers' statement about the manures, and was pleased to know he had been misinformed regarding a compact having been entered into. On the motion of Mr Morgan the matter was adjourned till next meeting. Bones From Australia.—The Auckland Agricultural Association drew attention to the following resolution that had been passed at a late meeting : " That no bonedust or bones be imported from Australia except after proper treatment in a digester and under competent inspection on arrival in New Zealand, and that under these conditious bones and bonedust should be admitted from any Australian port."—The President thought they should also stipulate that the bones be put in new sacks.—Mr J. Fisher pointed out that the motion was a similar one to what was passed when first the tick appeared.—The motion was then endorsed. Fat Lambs.—Mr Milne had drafted the following letter to be sent to the Auckland Freezing Company :—" As the season is advancing when lambs will he ready for freezing, the Waikato Farmers' Club deem it advisable to write you in reference to the unequal prices offered here last season, corr.pired with Southern quotations. There are a great many farmers from the South now in Waikato who claim we arc breeding frcm a better class of ewe than are used in Canterbury, and that tho name " Canterbury " is a; cd as a trade mark on the Home markets, for the test quality from any part of New Zealand. The farmers here fully recognise the pood the company has done for Waikatn, And only ask for a fair price both for the company ar.d the prcducer. After consideration, we should be glad if you could advise us, at your earliest convenience, the prices likely to be offered this year from your eompauy for lamD3 fit for freezing."— Mr Milne &aid last year the Waikato farmers were receiving from 3s to 3s 6d per head less than the Canterbury people. If they were not to get more this, year it would pay them to keep them and sell them as stores.— Mr Morgan said he believed the price this year was to be 9s Cd.—Mr Forrest said last year when 1 lib'advocated other companies being en-

oouraged to start iu Wuikato, he was sat on The farmers seemed lo run away with the idea that the companies came for their beuefit.— On the motion of Mr Fisher, it was resolved to add to the letter drafted by Mr Milne, that the farmers would he glad to have the type of lamb the company require pointed out.—Mr Milne did not think the type mattered so long as the lamb was fat and of tho right weight. Roles.— The Club then proceeded to discuss the proposed new rules.