FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 742, 15 February 1910, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

NEWS AND NOTES.

"TRIED AS;BY FIRE."

PONGAROA 'SCENES;' '■ What a difference " one sees- in a twe years' absence' from any particular locality (writes our travelling corns.pondeSt).7. This'is.noticed in a wonderful degree, in the Pongaron. County. When 1 was there last, the smoke from burning logs and stumps was still hiding the; land in a blue hazo; thousands of acres were one- huge black scene,,.'fenced were tiestrayed, 1 , and; everything; was looking .most desolate and! forlorn. \To-<lay it is.a new land entirely; the. country has been remade, the r. thousands;-of acres are now almost- clear of' timber, :and are. clothed with the- gTeenest of• grass.,. The : fires have done an Jmmc.nseyampnnt < good . :in cleaning up lrtrid' 'ori'M i rhieh''it; was frequently a difficult matter-to get a decent burn. - Soon after leaving the township and riding- on-the main Alfredton-Weber road, one turns off to the left on the way to.Pukehinau and Horoeka. As there are a good many patches of bush. left standing, it can easily '. be seen where the fires of;..two" years;"ago raged so fiercely, but the paddocks. _are iu 7 .splendid state now. outsider to be the present difficulty is the over-abundance of feed and; shortness'of /stock sto eat it off. could b&iljy.c£rrs-. double the cpfantityiof ariimalsiseen:.'at.'the, time of iiy "visit. .V-.",'" beneficent Bush, Fires. vAnpther.Tileiislrig' feature is the knowledge that the settlers have got over their brave lives, in protecting their oral-property, and that of their neighbour?;was V, very hard', pinch indeed, a case;&f "ibuch and go." iinwoycr,';.airis well to-Hay';everybody wears it more ' orMess' confident aiiy'and everybody states that the 1 fires were the best thing 'that;could have: happened. Of course, however;; this can /hardly be said of those who suffered,heavyfflosses in sheepJf,Such.';w/iMcssrs.;-;B.i|hop Brothers, of I'ukeltinau, "and Mr. "G. H, Gillrim, of Ho'ro'bka:-. !.And v yet' theifland'is now so clear (compared. with- 'what'it ;was before the', fires)'Cttaf^'even:*'they.;,say, now;tlie pinch is; over,-.that tlioy -can smile when they look back and .ride , over .land which previously, could-' hbrdly' be''-'scrambled ncross.'K>Anbthery'oi3odii!thing,>. which ;,has b'een,*th'e*a'itect. t; b«tcomo;''dfvthe' firrfsj' is thO;-bGtter iences : the .settlers.-.liave -put up. IJsually/ . wH'eni a .'poor, "man- takes up a bush;sectionyv'his"fencCs 'are. stab staples to a :top";wire._ Now, there are; seven or eighttwire .fence's'.which, I ,'of course, give the' place a muchi better look. It ;is really splendid to see • tlie",way the >settl'ers iir the-burnt-out districts of the Ponga'roa County ,!have overcome the difficulties and troubles with, which , they had'to contend; Improved, Properties, The fires have done good in another ivay; they have „ .wonderfully: sweetened the land, .making ;it more healthy for stock. For instance,. Mr. Gillam told me that he had only lest two out of -five hundred hoggets, and .twelve ewes out of five. hundred and thirty; he put it down ii-good deal-to-.the. sweetening of the land'..,.-His sheep, have clipped well'also, Sis;,bales averaged forty-ono' fleeces; with &irclglit i of; > 3cirt.'.3qr; 261b.-... •- :| Further .on and up the Towai Bond," on' rounding a .point,: -( is .. seen Mr.; Stephen Whitt'a's, enlargecU'dwelling. VHe has very much improved ■ his -'property. ' The fires. ;ave him; a good i scorching, , but now his paddocks look;:beautiful!"'from the road. W'heu' I was thore 'ilast;.tim'c:,'fhis.house ivas stayed on.;the;;lM''si'dei' as the. fierce jiists' ; ,of.;jvindj; from (theiiPuketoi ■ Range swept down ;,ths. valleys with great force. However, - iio'w.Vthat ihis .shelter' belt'of pines is making such quick growth, * lie already feels the benefit. Further on, snd.tho last house'towards the range, is the handsome;■ new dwelling of Mr. Henry Ellingham.. Ho -is .tho'representative., q£. tho:.,Crown tenants lon ; ,■ the, Land. Board;/' It"' ; wourd ''lie. difficult to chbosb' i iriorb commanding position for one's hom£._.lt is: as ayfn.end once' said'to me nrheii"l.,was living.in.the' bush,' and was selecting ;d':site for .-tho'- new. house, which ivas. to , the .slab'.'- wharo .stage: fWhat.:'is the gopd'.of having Ja; fine site f ..you i'don'ti moke , usb' of it?" Well, Mr. iHenry ..Ellingham; has .not'fonly the, !it6issbnt. ; .dias. ,^used'iit,;',thei; result being rplendid. ;;>To' anyonb. who .'is.-'a'-lover-of latere,, it would be a constant delight to >a..'.able ;.to. -enjoy! suchlfine -.views as ;can ]e,seeh from the dwelling away among ;he ,'hills. .vjlr..'Ellingham.'. had started ;ree-plantiiig 'some -time' before; he co.ninenced to'build, so that. Jie.'will not have ong to waitifor completeTsheHerirom'thja Puket'oi 'blasts;'.. ;' :1 - ■ There is; a bloclt 'of-.country : in the- east iide.rof the Pnketoi Ktinge, through which i heavy fire swept several years ago, Jelling all the big .timber"as .'well, as the Scrub.'- It is now all thick underscrub igain, and becoming full: of noxious weeds uid'. a ; for- rabbits, All requests by-tlie'-'settlers to havejit thrown ipen— reserve, no: use : as inch now—have-.teen futile." the iew. : Cto'rtajifsner; has", seen 1 -' at,', and. he ihinks.-it- should be opened! '.' .-' PAHIATUA DISTRICT NOTES. SOME OPTIMISM special attendance at the Pahiatiiaand: Pi'-Spciety's show on tho ■acecburse 'on' Wcclii&'day-' last'-serves to oui-l/lociil ffidi'rgsp'ondent) that those'who were responsible lor the initia:i6n; of the association , had evidently jauged the thing correctly,; for-peoplo were present' from: every .noo'tf 'rind corner of ;he Pahiatua Countj. - Many-of tho visi:ors were more than surprised •'at the splendid display of JiorsesV-'aild in> dairy sattlei good' beasts were'vexKibited./ - Although many; .nreTgojiig in^far. Jerseys in, this', district, some of thb '-older farmers ire stickyigT tq ! , ithQ/' harflieicSnnd larger liorned beasts; anil'the;,little'-'Jersey has not yet been■ long enoughyhere .to.ptovo whether or hot slje will • tye. s'ue:ess'.' 'l'ho'.sheep- there ivere bnly,'..a,-iew,;,wero the least ,reprcsnted at the 'show, : but'if all ;6n'o hears s pens wilf,have to bo iiext« year. ' .'One rather; seriousomistake.;whiiili* ,the society nade Avas-iiL'■''liot';apply .excursion fares, i'as' if this had bwn'idono ; there ivould' probably have t|eeii:!;inaliy..;inore present from outside " However, there oiilyrbne "man; that bad', had 'any'-fiast of shows— the president, Mr. .J. C.~C6opefc-and ho bad; his h'an'ds'"Tsry''full-of:;,work in con[iection with ' ; the- : -recehtlyffoVhied:-'' Wellington Farmers' Meat CXijijpaiiy;"- In iconof 4 this 'he could'-iiardly; be' expected to give'the time :which";he''would have, liked to the sociolyi.';,',However, taking ,'overything into-: consideration, tho show was a success.''-' "' - : : ; In symiiathy with tho rise in ' bacon' pigs, all kind ;of,. pigs have .hardened somewhat in price, and the farmers who are engaged: in pig-raising are , very pleased, as np to the presprtt,'pig-rtiising lias,not been a .'profitable industry 'tbis year. One : does not'-'often' hear-'of "blight attacking the hardy swede turnip, yet only the other day.a farmer, stated ,that one Df-his neighbours,had a'kind of .blight attacking a.crop of- swedps, for ivhiehiho could not account.; ; The .farmer who informed me of the -above has about 25 acres 'of turnips (green-topped yellow Aberdeen) rather ■ badly; , affected. with blight.,,' " ; ' Tho dairy farmer in .this, district, is; itill getting good .returns from his cows, and the milk supply lit the -various factories is keeping up:- fairly • well. The past ivoek here, however, has been ex:eedingly hot; and will no'.doubt' have n tendency to diminish, the quantity ;of oiilk taken'daily to the factory;' •• ' Mr. Stan. Wliyte, who had a nasty spill in Lady Ona in. the steeplechase leaping :ompeti'tion at -the Pahiatua show, has guite recovered from his accident and. ible to leavo town on Saturday. The annual, report' of the Manawatu i\. and. P. Assbciation statesi that Mi'; E. Short, of Waituua West,- deserves the sincere thanks of the association for the handsome nlid'generous offer he has.made', them of ,£loo' cash '■ prize, to be competed for at the spring show of 1910 in the Ltomuey classes. It the report adds, lo be trusted that his generosity will set an example ,lo other breeders to follow suit.

MASTERTON A. & P. SHOW. OPENS. TO-DAY. This morning the Masterton A. anil P Association will open its twenty-thin: annual Showy which, it is stated, ■ wil. show still further advance on its pro docessors by reason both of the excel lonce of tho exhibits and' the complete npss of the .arrangements made for'vis itors and • exhibitors. The competition. l aro likely to bo an exceptionally strong feature, and .it is .expected l that aboul forty, jumping horses will be on th< ground. .; No fewer than eleven cups have been pre sented for competition, the list being a; followsßuick Memorial Challenge Cuj (hunters), 20 -guineas!; Dixon Investmenl Co.'s silver bowl (fat cattle), 30 guineas. Wolseley Sheep-shearing Machine . Co.'s silver-cup (English Leicestors), 12 guineas; Cooper' Cup (Romney Marsh), 4C guineas; Bidwill Cup (hacks), 20 guineas; Quibell Cup (purebred sheep), 10 guineas; Barton' Cup (maiden hacks), s'guineas; Lawes'; Cup (Lincoln rani), 35 guineas; Brancepeth Cup (Romney Marsh), 25 guineas; Brancepath Cup (freezing sheep), 2C guineas; Henderson Bowl (lady's hack), 3'guineas. r :The full list of judges is as follows:— Harness classes, Mr.-: T.' Newman (Nelson); Shorthorn, Mr.. Wm. Taylor (Te Awamutn);. Hereford?, Mr. Hector Booth (Fiilding); .fat cattle,' Mr. H-i, Stevens (Dannovirke); dairyi cattle, Jerseys and Ayrshires,';Mr. J. A. M'Crea (Whakorongo); Lincolns, Mr. B. Barribnl (Wai■uku); Lfcicesters, Mr. J. Reid (Darfield, Canterbury); Romney rams, Mr'. D. Murr ray (Clydevale, Otago); Romney ewes, Mr. H. V. Fulton (Dunedin); Southdowns, Mr. J.'.'. Johns (Belfast, Canterbury); Shropshiresy 'Mr. Wm; Little. (Argyle East, 'Hawke's Bay); freezing, and fat sheep, Mr. 1 M. Baird (Hastings); pigs, Mr. R. Perrett (Sanson);, dogs, Mr. S. Johnston (Palmorston North); , agriculturalproduce, Mrl , J. E. Macassey (Napier) ; dairy produce. Government grader; horticultural (vegetables),' Mr. E. Hale (Masterton);, horticultural .. (fruit . and flower's), Mr; It. Poole (Wellington); bread, cakes, preserves, and scones, MesdamesWm. Perry and W. Mlvenzie, and teacher of cookery, ' Education Board; knitting, Mrs. A. Turner; school plots, Messrs. C. I''. Vallanco ar.fl A. B. Wood; Judge's in the . thoroughbred aiid light horse,, draught 1 horse, and farmers' classes have yet to .be appointed. . i GENERAL, JF ARMING NEWS, On his .dairy, farm'' l 'at. Waitolii,, Mr. A. C...Perry has been experimenting with summer feeding' for his', cows. Ho is riow feeding them with maizo of which ho has a splendid-icrop, standing over seven feet high.'-- Tho -results 'have quite exceeded his expectations and he intends to plant a -larger area next year. It is argued by somo dairymen that when green feed is given, the cows hang about ally,day waiting for thennext.'.' rations'.' Mr. Perry's experience is that if a satisfying ration is fed to thorn:,the cows do not . fret. No record ,of the\ yield per acre or -the., amount , given to "the'-'cows' daily has been taken. 'No doubt - Mr. Perry will be' - pleased to supply those interested with .the- results of :his:-experi-rince. - ■ : ,; .., . ■Mr. S.- R. Lancaster, .president! of-tho Manawatu A. and .P. Association, has been appointed -to judge at the Raetihi, Pukekohe, and Cambridge shows. i Our .Correspondent states that a very largo quantity of etock was dispatched from that town on Monday for, the Masterton show aiid ram fair. Many Manawatu breeders; are- exhibitors at the show, and the principal breeders iv.ill bo represented at,£ho ram.fair. A: requisition -signed. .by shareholders in. the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company' has been forwarded to the directors them to convene an axtraordinary. general meeting of the company to consider ■ whother tho capital at present subscribed is, sufficient .'to .warrant , the directors in., proceeding. as > they propose with, the erection" of freezing ivorksi and, if not, then to instruct tho lirectors to desist -thercfroiu. ' At the meeting of -the' committee of the ilanawatu-A'.;-and-P..Association-on-Sat-urday . morning, ' tho rotiriug ' president, Mr; S. R. Lancaster, thanked members for . the , courtesy during.his year of. office, and hoped that they would extend the same to his sucsessrir, Mr; C-.' A; J.fLcvett.' . : Tho Hawko's .Bay Association's l spring show will be held on October 1? and-20. ;j!The South Wairaropa Poultry Association has applied to'the'North Island Association for Juno 29 and 30 for. their anaual show dSte; v,'. v . • Heavy crops- of' grass seed ,hava 'been fathered around Manga-weka this; .year.-, ,=•; I According - to the;' lo,cal' .paper, -no . fewer ;han 4300 bales of .wool \l\ver6_ dispatched i'oin tho Ealiiatua;Statioii during, the .last.three months;', y ;■ iy The Wnikato-'Winter Show;. Association' has 'fixed, itsfdat'e? •'for',.this year, from luly 5. to' 9. v - 'A' :big, show: is - expected, v. . To the last ; very mild'.-winter is attributed, the increase iii the.number of rablits, at present .nqticeable in many por;ions of-'the'-;North' ! lsland. Tho rodents ire' most numerous --'adjoining ' river-bed moperty, but' with the poisoning opera-' lions, now going on it is understood that :here will' bo a- big• shortage of "buiiny'i ill tho fpw, months; V 'V, '• The farmors in-tho Marlborough Sounds ire endeavouring to-form, a company to ;ake over the freezing .w'orks at Whata:atiuri. The, works .were .principally used 'or . the freezing of fish; but if the company is successfully, .floated more , sheep ;han*fish will be frozen.. . Paiaka, thevwell-known flax and dairy property of 347 acres freehold and 160 acres leasehold, some' of the richest land tin the Manawatu, : with flax cutablo this fear, will be sold at auction by Dalgety ind Co., at Palmerston North on Saturday,'2oth February. The terms may be lrranaed.—Adyt.-. .... .; : BENEFIT OF EARLY PLOUGHING. TRIEDvBY DEPARTMENT. An interesting experiment is being conlucted by tho Department of Agriculture jn Mr. W. Brookie's property, at Saiidon.The object is to demonstrate ■ the benefits )f early ploughing and allowing the soil to sweeten, before sowing. The. paddock in question, was formerly in grass. During, the 1 wet..-'-months of winter, when other :land' was .too .soft: to work,; i start was made in ,tho. lea land. After striking out and .ploughing a' few: acres,, the paddock was ,left, and two months' "lapsed before the: remainder was finished. During January tho field was.sown; with turnips. It .will interest ,'farmers -to know that,, according to the "Rangitikei Advocate," the portion ploughed early bas a growth over three inches long, while the remainder scarcely- shows any growth whatever. " , WOOL-CLASSING 'CLASSES.. ;' . ! AN OFFER. , At the monthly meeting of the Palmerston branch' of tho Farmers' Union on Saturday, 'a letter,, was read from, Mr. M. U'Nauglit, technical-wool' expert; stating that ho proposed to open up classes for technical wool .instruction amongst- the rarions branches of the- union throughout tho Wellington t jirovince, and was prepared to deliver instructive lectures and demonstrations, ono per month, tho branch to guaranteo the fee 'as . well' as provide hall, lights, and advertising, etc. Mr. M*Naught proposed, to start about February 21 in this province. After i discussion, it was resolved that Mr. M'Naught's proposal bo • favourably jonsidored, , and Captain 'Hewitt, Mr. 3tiibbs, .aud tho chairman': were appointed to confer with'-Mr. Ojiie; director, of tho l'echnical School with a view to arranging i lecturo'iii-conjunction with tho Tcchni:al School. wool-clivssiug scction. . The chairman announced that tho inuunl meeting of the branch would be bold shortly, and the question of holding tho annual dinner would coino up lor coniideration at tho nqxt meeting, ' '

LIVE STOCK SALES. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report oi the ram fair, held by them at Dannevirk< last Saturday, as follows:—Our catalogu comprised 352 rams on account of notei Wairarapa, Manawatu, South Island, 'am Dther breeders, and, as the offerings weri mostly of superior, quality, bidding wa. spirited throughout our sales, and wit! two .exceptions ovory line changed hands Some vory satisfactory prices were real ised. A shearling stud ram, on account o Mr. W. 11. Buick, Masterton, was knookei flown to Mr. M'Kenzie, of Paimerston, at 2 juineaa; A shearling stud Komney ram m account '.'of Messrs.' Slack Bros., o Paimerston, was secured by Mr. M. Vose )f Longburn, at 15 guineas, and a. shear ling stud Lincoln rain, on account o Messrs. M'Gregor, of Masterton, was pur aliased by Mr. T. Hunter, of Otopc, at ' guineas. . In flock . Roraneys, the highes price for tho day was for a lino on ac :ounfc Mr. W. H. Buick, sold to Mr. M'Lood )f Ti Tree Point, at 93 guineas. Anothe: line on account Messrs. M'Gregor Bros. >f Masterton, was sold to Mr. G. .CharteriE )f Mangatoro, at 7i guineas. A lurgi lumber of other shearling Romney: reached from 3i to 5 guineas, and for in terior sorts from 2 to 2£ guineas. Englisl Loicesters were not much in demand, j 'ew shearlings selling at 2 guineas. Bor ier reached from 2 to 2 guineas ind shearling L'incolns, on account Mr. W Perry, of Masterton, sold from 42 toruineas, and on account ! Messrs. M'Grego: 8r05.,-of Masterton, from 4 to 5 guineas 3n -aecount other breeders prices rauget 'rom 1 to 23 guineas.. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd.', report hav ing held their usual fortnightly sales a ffanganui on February 9, aud.at Waverlej >n February 11. At Wanganui-we yardcc •2CO sheep and 500' cattle. The bulk of thi warding of - sheep : consisted of lines o' Jack-country" ewes of rather rough class vhich met ,with a ; good demand; Ther< vas also good.' competition for wethers, ani ambs, and all .classes of sbecp showed ai idvance in prices. The btilk of tho catth warded consisted of lines of two to tw< ind a half-year steers,'which were rathei luller of sale than of late. All othei :lasses of cattle were in good demand. Ai .Vaverley we had a Bmall yarding of sheej ind cattle, which met with a brisk com letition. Quotations:— '• Wanganui.—Two and four-tooth ewes, 12s id.; six-tooth ewes, 9s. 9d. to'l2s.; f.f.m swes/ Bs. 6d. to 10s. 2d.; Bound mouth ewes is. 3d-, 6s. lid;, 3a., .to .Bs. 4d.; cull ewes Is. 6d;; 3s. 6d.,45. 4d.,'to 4s. 7d.; mixed two .ooths, 95.. 3d.; forward wethers, ,10s. Id. Ds. 6d., lis.-4d;, to 125.; woolly lambs, 6s ,o Bs.. 9d,shorn ewe lambe, 7a.; inixet ambs, 7s. to 7s. 3d.; .cull lamhs, 3s. 4d 0 3s. 9d.; full mouth Romney rams, 1, 1J ,o, li guineas. = Cattle—Forward bullocks B5 .155., 6d.; two' to two and a half-yeai iteers, £4 3s. to £4 7s. 6d.j 18-month to two rear steers, £2 10s. to £3 2s. 6d.; cows anc :alves, £4 10s, 6d.forward cows, £3 to £i Ob,;'.forward heifers, £3 9s.': 6d.;'two-yeai leifers, £2 55.; forward speyed • cows, £i a.; fat cbws, £4 45.; wean,era, mostly steers 21 3s. 6d. lo £1 95.; cows in calf, £3 10s o£4 2s. 6d.j heifers in calf, £4 Is.; bulls iZ :6s. ' Waverley.—Forward owes, 7s. Id;;- pix ooth and f.f.m. ewes, rough, Bs. 3d.; mixec ige wethers, lis. 7d.; mixed lambs. 6s. 7d.: :ull lainbs, 3s.' Cattle—Heifers and'calves >4; weaner steers, £1 lis.; mixed weaners Bs. 6d. to £1 4s. 6d,; i four-year - hack and larness mare,. £8. . . . r-- : . COMMERCIAL ITEMS. , INVESTMENT SHARES. Tho investment .ishare market was quiel r esterday, a characteristic feature of Honlay. There were . few quotations', and earcely any' change in values. Bank o) few Zealand, sellers. £9 155.; National *ank, sellers, £6 3s. 6d.; New; Zealand an<i liver Plate/ buyers £1 l&s\ 6d.; Wellingon Investment, buyers lis.; Gißborne Gas, iuyers-£l Is., Gd,; Union Steam, buyers £1 Is.; Wellington Woollen, sellers £3 Is. 6d.; Vestp'ort Coal, sellers £6 25.; WestportItockton, buyers .7s. 3d.,;.sellers 7s. ,9d.; Ley-arid-O'Brien. Timber, 1- , -buyers £1 3s. 3d., ellers £1 3s;,^9d.;' New-'Zealand Drug, iuyers'£2 75.;. New Zealand Paper Mills oilers £1 3s;,* Sharlaitd's, preference, scleral! 3s. 6d.; Taranaki Petroleum, seller? Os.; Whitcoinbe- and . Tombs, buyers £<! Bs, 6d. . , .. • - • * . WELLINGTON WOOL SALES. . The ; fourth of the series ' of Wellington rool sales will begin ,at 2 p.m. to-day, in ho Concert Chamber -of the' Town Hall, ifhen some 16,000 bales will.be catalogued, ?herc will. bo. a largo quantity of lambs' fooKand; a. fair proportion of bright clean -/ A.' littlb seedy wool from-way-back tations. .will;;also be submitted. The atendanco'of buyers will be practically as 'ood; as : it' 'was},at the last sale, and, aQ aost of them have excellent limits,- good 'usiness should: bo done on : tho basis of ist. sale;values. -Neither brokers nor uyers-expect to see any advance, at the ame time* no one anticipates a' decline, 'he 'only;'drawback is the late hour' of tarting, which will necessitate • soiling to e carried on in tho, evening. ' f , ■ - V ■,TfiE-MONEY MAHKET. ■ ■/. Tho cheapness of tho London money iarket ; -will; of* course, lead'to the flotaion of a number of .loans. Auckland City 1 issuing £343,000 in' 4 per cent.'debentures, nth,a currency of 21 years, and the issue J certain to be a- success. It is believed liat the,' Bank -of Now Zoaland. is placing iiisUoan;6ri' thei market/: .The New South Tales loau of £2,750,000 is. partly for conersion purposes, and as'it ia offered at a omparatively cheap rate should meot with uccesS. It must,'however, 1 be' admitted hat British investors aro looking for a igher rate of interest, and just now tho isposition ris* to invest-in foreign Moans ather -than .'British or. colonial.-' Thero liißt be considerable borrowing on tho art of Australia during/'.the next few 'eeke. The Commonwealth requires about 13,000,0(10 for its ' naval policy, and this mount will probably be'raised in London r hen the High' Commissioner reaches tho [etropolis. >New., Zealand .-also o go ; for 1 , the money for is defence scheme, : while l some, of: the .ustralian States aro certain to. be borowers. v\ s ;;\ r •...•/•• ■>. STEAMSHIP- 1 SUBSIDIES, ' -■ , Iti is Jthe*pop^afrbelief'. that 'German shipting', is 'increasing 'through' being-;consist-ntlv 'spoonfed' with-, subsidies.' The . facts, lowpver; arev against ' this • view. •: A ' docu 4 nent :has.been .by,.the Ham-urg-American '• Steamship;.; Company and he Association of Hamburg-Shipping Comlanies,. dealing with tlie'subsidies of for-ign-'merchant marinus.-.and , • thieir' bearing n the : .dovelopment of/'oe'ean ehippirig. Tho document' attompts the artiicifll ,'meanß of Bubsidies .toiich'os .the interiational freedom k of movement of shipping ompaiiicfe, and Bubmits'{that; they.t must inally damage -their,'internal strength by lampering ..them;—tfhe- subsidies paid to ho principal commercial fleets in ■ the irorld are set forth as follows:—. ; •; Tonnage. Subsidies. Great Britain .* 17.378.CC0 1,700,000 ■ Austria '. •' 750,000 1.000,0C0 : France ' (. 1,894,000 .; 2.650.000 Germany" '...V. 4,267,000' 400,000 Italy .v......,,; 1,320,000 800,000 Japan" 1,153,0C0 '' i;425,C00 : .Russia . 972,000' . . 550,000 -Spain . ' " '710,030 . 775,C00. : The table is said to work out at a- Bubidy..of,ls; lid., per; registered, ton in the :aso' of Britain, as compared with is. CJd. in;;. Germany.'. Uussia -occupies third jlace 'with lis. per . registered- ten, and .'taly fourth;with 125., 'whilst Spain is represented t'by 215... 8d.,. Japan by 245. 6d:i Viistria.by 265. 6d-, and France by 28s.,per ,on. It is concluded from the figures, that 3reat-Britain and Germany,.both .of which lave' largely , extended- thoir. merchant marines during tho .past-decade, havo...bceifc ible to secure success Tat. sea, which other jountrics .with larger subsidies havo been mable to? acquire.;; The, subsidies make -he recipient a l .State pensioner, and Bavb lim the troublo of earning his own living, tn order to. maintain firat-class mail services, the .German Government pays £350,000 per. annum..., The lines which receive; this run! to <East Africa, Australia, and .the east of Asia, and could be carried'on withaut • State payments, if ..the Empire .were satisfied-with more steamers on these routes, if definite demands for the servi<ss wore, not; made,, or. if they'were, allowed la free passage through the Suez 'Canal. It ia'suggested that the.problem is worthy pf consideration'-.aa. t to wjiother tho great shipping nitio'ns should not adopt common measures in order to prevent the unfair treatment .of .their merchant steamers in other countries. . j Customs revenue collected at Wellingtin yesterday, amounted to £1675 6s. t 3d. . I WELLINGTON MARKET,. ISEPOItf | . Messrs. Laery and Co., Ltd., Wellingtin, report wholesale prices ruling on tho market:—Wheat, fowl 4s. 5d., to 4s. fid.; feed •oats, 2s. 2d,, to' dun oats,l2s, 4'd. 'to 2s. 6(L; seed- oats, 2s. 4d. to 2s. Bd.; algerian.' oats, 2s. •; 4d.,' to' 2s. 6d.;. iinalzo, 3«. lid. to.4s. Id.; crushed malt, 75.; fowl barley, 2s, 4d. 'to 28. 6d.;'Cape barley s«cd, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.; flour, New Zealand ; £li ss. to. £11 106., Australian £11 15s. to £12; bran, £4 to -£4..;105.; ; pearl ' barley, 155.; peas, Prussian blue,' ss. 3d. to] sg, 6d,; fowl peas,'4s.; split, '£17 10s.; bbnedust, £5 155.; superphosphates, £5 tq £5 55.; pollard, £5 ss. to £5 10s.; basic ilag £4 105.,• chaff (oaienshcaf), £4 to £4 10s.; oatmeal, £11-. to £11 10s.; potatoes, tablo £3 to £6 ; ton; onions, 5sJ to 6s. cwt.;-molasses fodder, £5; bacon (factory), Bides.63d., hams • 7Jd., rolls i7Jd.j butter," prime bulk, Bd. to BJd., Poultry; Hcns,3s.;'ducks,33; 6d. to 6d. per pair- turkeys. gobblers, 18s. - to- 205., liens 10s. to 145.; fresh eggs, Is. 6d. to Is. Bd. cbzen; 'cheese, 6d. to 6Jd. per ,lb., loaf 7d. Akaroa machine-dressed '.cocksfoot, *fd: t'o 7d. per lb.; farmotH I 'dressed cocksfo6t. 4d. to sd. per lb.; ryefCrass, 3s. 6d. to <s. 6d." per bushel; Italian, ryegrass. 3s. (d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel; white clover, 70a. to 755. per. cwt, ' I

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S. CABLE. The Commerce and Tourists' Division of the Department 'of ' Agriculture has re--1 ceived the following cablegram from the 2 High Commissioner, dated London, Febru--2 ary-12:— 1 The mutton market is steady, but there I is less demand; the market is speculative. > The stock of New Zealand mutton on hand a consists entirely of North "Island,' which i is widely distributed and pushed for sale. . The average price for North Island mut- . ton is 3|d. per lb. i, ! [ ' Tho lamb market is quiet but firm; there 1 is- a better demand. The average price 3 of New Zealand lamb,-other than Canter- , bury, is 5Jd. per lb. I The beef market is firm, but no advances. , New Zealand hindquarters average 3Jd, per . lb., forcquartcrs 2gd. t The butter market' remains firm, al- . though buyers are holding back expecting j prices to go lower. The average price t of choicest New Zealand butter is 120s. per . cwtl.; Australian, 118s.; Argentine, 118s.; Danish, 1275.; Siberian, 117s. The cheese market ,is firm, with harden- , ing tendency. • Finest New Zealand white , cheese is averaging 595. 6d., and coloured j 58s. 6d. 5 The hemp market is lifeless. Prices aro • as follow:—On ' spot—New 'Zealand ; good i fair, £27 per ton; fair, £26; Manila' fair i current, £26 10s. Forward shipment—Good . fair, £26 10s.; fair, £25 10s.; Manila,-. £25 , 10s.; The output of Manila hemp for tho . week was . 20,000 bales, . • i The cocksfoot market, on spot, is steady, • and prices well'maintained. ' The. price of , bright olean 171b. New Zealand seed,, on I spot, is 745. per cwt. For new , crop forward shipment the.markot is dull and prices .irregular. . Tho wool market remains firm. . • ' The hop market-is firm, with a hardening tendency;-, thero is a great demand in the market. The grain market in general is quiet; there is little doing, but a good feeling prevails.' , Arrivals of River Plate mutton and lamb at ports of the',Tlnited Kingdom during January were as follow:— Mutton. Lamb. London ....................' 27,268 8,891 Liverpool ......—81,191 6,079 '• Hull 7,225 17 Newcastle -~••.5,000 Southampton' 9,647 . 2,365 Cardiff. 2,115. 596 1-^2,... . .230,-. Ireland '-. i ......' 1,260 , - 25 ■ v . " THE 'METAL MARKETS. " By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, February .13. "' Silver is quoted- at 23 13-16 d.. per ounce standard... - , Antimony, £8 '10s. {nominal). Copper—On spot, £59 Bs. 9d.; three 1 months, £60 ss.' x • Tin—On sßot, £148 12s. 6d.; three months, £150 ss. ■ • ' ' Lead, £J-5 7s. 6d. Imports,'. 19,012 tons; Australian,. 5064; exports, 4606. • : . : . ATiNINQ NEWS. WELLINGTON SHARE- MARKET.• A' fair'. ; a*m6unt of business was'-done in mining shares yesterday. Old Haurakis closed at Cs. 3d.,, but Talismans showed a. flight' weakening tendency.: -Waihi - Grand' Junction , advanced 'about 2s. on the day, and Consolidated Goldfields changed hands' at 22sr, theVliighest'prico'realised for many months. : The day's Bales were.as under:— New Sylvia, 3s. ,BJd. (third call); Old Hauraki, 6s. 6d., '6s. Bd. (first. call); 6s. 9d. (second call); 63. 3d. (third call). Saxon, Is. Bid. (third*call). . .■■ Talisman, 525. 6d..(ilrst call); 515. ; 9d., 51s. . (third caU). .! . Waihi,' £9 19s. (first call). Waihi Grand Junction,-'SIb: 3d. (first call); 335. 6d., 335. 3d., 33a.. (third call). . Consolidated' Goldfields, 225. (third call). Progress, 14s. 9d.; (secoud call). , 7, QUOTATIONS. /,'. , ...'Buyers. Sellers., Sales. ...v.. / . £s. d. .£ s.,d. •'£ a. d. Dominion — '00 ,2 ' r~. Kuranui Ciiledon'n 0 1 6 0; 110. — May Queen i 0 4 9/0 5 0; —' N.Z. Crown — 0 4 6 ■ — New Sylvia' 0-3 8 0, 3 9. 0 38i Old Hauraki,':';.:...o 6. 3 0 .6. 3 Saxon v.. 0: 1 7. 0 1. 9 .'0 I.BJ Tairua Broken Hills ,01, 0 — — Talisman * .2 10 6„ .2 11'. 0 , 2 U/0 Waihi 9 18" 0 ', 9 19 0' ,919,0 Waihi G'd ouncti6ri — . '115 0 113 0 Waitangi 4 0 • 1"* 9 v Old Kapanga.o 10 ; 0 1 1; 3 — . Blackwator 1 8 o'., — < — Con. Goldfields,: 1 1 9= 1 2 0 ,1 2 0 Progress 0 15 ,3 .' .0 14 9 Ross Goldfields'....... 0 7 ,6 , 0 8 6 , .STOCK EXOIIANGE. ' • / (By Telegr'aDh.—Press' Association.)! . Auckland, February 14. . The j following' business was done, on 'Change up to the poon call to-day:—\ Mayi Queeh< ; '43';:lCld.' :\ ; Victoria, Is; 7d. Waiotahi, 4s. 6d. Mount Zcehan (con.), sd. .(paid), 7d., 7id, Consolidated Goldfields, 2s. 3d.,. ; Golden Pah, 4d. 1 1 1 Hauraki 1 Freehold,' sd; • • - 63. ,9d. to 6s. fid. . \ Ivapanga Xcon),' Is. Id.. • • , ' '' . 'Talisman, 525. fid., 51s. fid. Grand Junction, 335. 6d„'34s. • . .Taupiri Coal,' 19d. 3d. ' - • Tho following, business was dona, at tho , afternoon call to-day:—,, - . • * May.. Queen, ,45.-,ICd. . •- .... New. Sylvia,. 3s.- 9d„ : 3s. Bd. . I. Mount Zechan (con.), 6d. 1 .. Old Hanrahi, ,6s; 6d. f 6s. 7d,, ,6s. fid., fi3.'sd. j'.Ngatiawa, ljd.'' I" Crown,"4s.'6d:'*- : / N ;-v • I Tairua Golden Hills',. 3s. 9d. 1 'Talisman, 61s.- •• V • . Wailii, £10. . > . •. Waihi.Grand,Junction, 335, to. 31s. 6d. . Saxon,,ls. Bd. :' .. Dunedin, February 14, Stock' ExchangO:'sales ••Old Hauralsi, 6s. 6d;,. 6s. 7d.,'65.'7d.- . Talisman, £2:ils. 9d., £2 10s. t '£2 9s. , J Waihi Grand : Junction, £1.125. 3d. v •; Wailii Extended, 3s. sd. , V'rWestport-Stockton, 7s. 3d. . ] •J.Salcs reported:-: ~ 'Union Steam, '31a. 9d. v Waihi Grand Junction, 31s. 6d., ,31s. 6d.. ! Consolidated Goldfields,, 21s. 4d. ' , N.Z..;Drug, 475. ._, . . . ■ ; The-'following , are the, latest Stock Exchange Quotations:—.. -' Dredging stocks--- . : Alexandra Eui'oka, sellers 2s. 9d. Blackwator,-. buyers 4s. 6d. i Electric, sellers 4e.*."'" : ' Enterprise, sellers 4s. 9d. Golden Bed, -buyers • £1, 2s. Hartley and' Riley, buyers 16s. '• , i Island , Block, buyers 2s.'. m _ • ! Koputai, sellers £1 Bb, 1 Mystery Flat, sellers.£l 25. ( 6 d. Pactolus, buyers ss. •