GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1199, 7 August 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

During the past .three years, according to Mr. T. W. Kirk, of the Agricultural Department, there has been added to the area of commercial orchards in this country a total, of 5000 acres. This does not include domestic orchards, and the latest return published by the Government, which was in 1903,- show that there v;ere thou 25.000 acres of land laid out in commercial orchards in New Zealand.

"'•ln*.'an. address before tho Dannevirke A. and P. Association, Mr. "\V- Perry, of Penrose, Masterton, remarked that differences in climato and soil made a vast difference to sheep, and tho moral was when buying to try and buy sheep from a similar class of country to what they were going to be used on. He had sent purebred sheep from him own place (a clay soil) on to limestone land, and this had completely changed the character of the wool, and When shifted back to his farm, the v/00l went back to its original form. Mr. G. F. Horrell stated that he had -plac?d three ounces of earth containing.six. grubs in a tin. free from moisture, throe months ago. That day he had shaken out tho earth, which had turned to dust, and found that three of the grubs were still alive. Another man had placed grubs in a saucer of water and left them exposed on a frosty night. AVhcn the water had thawed he was surprised to find thq insects still alive. . A shipment of thirty horses, including five half-draught colts, was taken .to Sydney from Lyttelton by the Manuka. Tin: shipment was valued at jCMOO. A farmer in tho Temuka district (say? the Tim-aru "Post"J has been hoping for a rise in good eating potatoes this winter, to £10 per ton, which price they reached about five years ago. "When digging hU crop, which yielded IS toils to the acre, he refused-'the.'substantial offer.of £i 10s. per ton, but after some .time was persuaded to part with several tons, aftd at pre? sent, therefore, lias left pitted on his fa'nn over lflOObagS-of first-class potatoes,' foi which he cannot now .obtain' .£5 per. ton. During.the. recent cold weather in the S-taveley district, Mr. H. H. Sharplirt lost' three cows ' owing -to tho extreme cold. Mr. O. Diqby. of- Winchmore, in tho Ashbnrton County, reports the loss ot threa valuable draught horses. The animals had bo6u suffering from influenza, and during the cold snap which was experienced at tihe -beginning of last week pneumonia sot in, tho. horses dying suddenly. ' ' A The plight of the' sheep farmers ou the. higher country in the Geraldine district continues serious (says a Christchurch paper), owl many arc at their wits' end to provide feed 'for their stock. One farmer, wliilo out ou the hills, w.ts seized with cramp, and became helpless, but, fortunately, some of his neighbours came across him and he was helped. Those, who have roots' are unable to get at them,, for they aro covered with a' foot or more of frozen slio\v : . One man states that with twenty-six years' experience the present winter is t-iie most serious lie has had. Inquiries for feed continue to, bo made. • V COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES.

A fair numb or of transactions in investment shares were recorded oil ■ Saturday. There were sales of X.Z.' Insurance' at .£4 ICS. a"d £4 lis. 9d., two ' sales'of Christctmrcii Meat at. £15 each, and a sale of Leylar.d-o'Brin at. Ms. 6rl. The buying and -selling quotations .were as under:— Buyers. fellers. ' ts 1!. ' £ g.d. Natioml Bank ....' 9 19' 6 ■ — National -ifortsrnje 3 10'0 • — N.Z. lioan and Mercantile — 018 0 NX and ISiver Plsite -2 0 9 Wellington Investment ... D U 6 —. Well. Trust and Loan ill 0 Christchurch lias ' 9 13 6 — Fcildins CI as — . 1 2 6 cii.audard Insurance .1 11,, Meat Export (£3) 6' 7..i76 — Meat Jixporl l'2s. 6d.l ... ' 3 5 0 Well. Woollen lord.) ...... 400 Well. Woollen (pref.) 3 1 ij Jlikwiniri Coal 0 18 3 0 19 3 Taupiri Coal 1 1 6 119 Westport Coal 18 9 13 3 Wcstport-StocMon ....; — . C " 6 Leylani-O'Brien 18 3 — Manning nod Co — ' 4 6 0 N.Z.' Con. Dental — ' 13 6 New Zealand DruE ■ J 10 0 — N.SS. Paper Hills" n , 119 Sharland's ordinary —... 15 0 Tarinsnmutu Totara 2 6 0 Z 8 0 Taranaki Petroleum 0 16 6 0 17 0 Ward and Co 5 2 6 — Well. Opera House — 7 5 0 ASSUBAKCE FOE M.P.'S There is now seldom anything r.cw to say about life assurance, even by';'thosc who sell it, but there is still room for fresliim~S' of statement, and thi? the Clerical Medical and General have attained in one of their latest, leaflets. Tho nroposal to pay the members of tho British Home of Commons £400 lias been seized tipon for the test. Starting, with the idea that as members of Parliament, have hitherto got alons without beins paid for their services, tho suEscsted £410 a 7eor will in most casis bs

s rurplus, it is pointed nut that if Iho sum be nppliod nf. life premium it vnul.l 'atfc -lI at entry) produce a guaranteed amount- of piu-tieally i'lii.CCO a: which sum at 4 per tent. would provide in perpetuity an income to (lie licnr-li-ciarios of about- ."6';o a. year. Should the ICKisailar eome to uri-jf a', a. fubscciurnt election, arid thus St. S'.cnhcn'* be deprived of his wisdom and he of hi* .E4CO. e. proportionate frco polity would te in hir, option. Thus put. the great value of the proposed payment is made very clear, and most people who are familiar with the. House of Commons will be of opinion that- romparathely few of the member? arc worth the money; lliat of tho?e who are, laree proportion do int require it, and that most of thn-e who do would be amply satisfied with less. NATIONAJj RANK. The balance-sheet of the National Bank of New Zealand. Limited, for the year ended March 31, 1311, submitted to the shareholders in. London on. July 4, shows that, after making provision for bad and doubtful debts, and all expenses of management, the net profit amounted to £106.094 15s. 6d., and there was brought forward from the previous year £17,909 145. 3d., makinc a. total available balance of £124,024 10s. 9(1. This has been allocated as under:— £ Written-off premises account... 10,000 Reserve for depreciation of investments 7,500 Bonus to staff 6.0C0 Officers' pension fund 3,0C0 Eeacrvc fund 20,000 Dividend and bonus 57,500 Carried forward .„ 20.0C4 124,004 The dividend and bonus together amount to 13 per cent. The reserve fund now stands at £480,000. The assets include coin and cash, at bankers and at short ca.ll, £1,331,f64 17s .6d. investments, £443,132 6s. 6d. bills ajid advances, £4,367,396 9s. 6d.; landed property, premises and furniture, £71,692 4s. 3d.;- total, £6,215,785 17s. M. CUSTOMS. . The , Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington oc Saturday totalled ££86 10s. 6d., the amount for the week being. £11,507 19s. 7d. The returns for the the past eight weeks compared with figures for the corresponding periods of last year show as under:— 1911. 1910. £ £ .Tune 17 15,570 15.482 June 24 9.565 9,578 Julv 1 9.C95 17,434 July 8 '....'. 21.444 10.250 .Tuly 15 27.889 22.232 July 22 13,426 9.C81 July 28 21.343 2^362 August 5 11,508 18.232 129,840 122.7C0 The beer duty for the week amounted to £196 135., as against £216 lis. 6d. for the corresponding week of last year.

AT OCR MARKETS. New potatoes, French beans, tomatoes, and cucumbcrs figured amoagst the offerings at the week-end market in Bnir and Allen Streets, and these, with a plentiful supply of other vegetables, met with pood competition and satisfactory prices. The French bcaDS sold at 9d. per lb., the new Potatoes brought BSd. per lb., and cucumbers sold at 6 r !. to 9d. each. Tho tomatoes wc-nt at 7s. to Cs. per box. Cauliflowers sold at from j3s. to 2.35. per sack; cabba~es. 7s. to 12s. 3d. per snck; pumpkins ss. to 6-. per sack; marrows, 4s. 6d. to ss. 6d. sack; spinach, 65.. per case; swedes, 2s. to ■ is. 2d. per cwt.; potatoes, 4s. 6d. per cwt.; parsnips. ss. to 7s. p?r sack; cc.rrcts, 6s. to Bs. per sack; white turnips, ss. to 7s. per sack: beetroot. 4s. to ss. per sack; artichokes. 3s. per part susrar bag: celery. 2s. to 3s. 6d. per dozen; radishes. 4a. to 6d. per dozen.

Some 12C0 cases of apples from Tasmania, ox Ulimaroa, all choice fruit, brought fair prices. Superior French crabs, Bs. to 8s -6d.; inferior, 6s. to 75.: and choico Scarlet Permains brought 9s. £<I. to lis.; and prime, 9s. Golden Hu;sct3 weiit at 9s. to 1C3., and good Stunners, 7s. to 9s. Good values are obtainable for the small supplies from Jlotueka, which continue to reach the local market. Epps's scedlins mH at 6s. to 6?. 3d.; Washingtons and Lord Wolsleys, 7s. to Bs. 3d.; Stunners, 7a.' to Bs. 6d.; red dessert, 7s. 6d to 9s. Egg 3 are firmer, at Is. _2d. to Is. 3d.- for well-known lots. Fowls, ss. 6d. to 4s. per pair; ducks. ss. to 6s.

FEIIiDING MARKET REPORT. _ Messrs. Atkinson and Co., Ltd., of Feildins, report on Friday's market as follows: —A large pjdinft of stores and slips, mostly of indifferent Quality, came forward. No weaners were offered. Llsht-wcisrht porkers made to 235. 6d. Poultry sold well at above lately-ruling; values. Potatoes were dull of sale, and era ill and chaff values wore uschanced. Quotations:—Pijrs: Slips, 65., 7s. 6d., Bs. 60 10s. 6d.; stores, lis., 135.. 155., 16s. fid.; licht porkers, 18s., 21s. to 235. 6d.; sows. 19?. to 2Js. Poultry (at per pair): Hens, 2s. 9d.. 35., 3s. 6d„ <s. to 4s. 3d.; pullets. 4s. to 55.; corkorels. 2s. 9d„ 35.. 3s. 6d.. 3s. 9d.. te. to 4s. 3d.turkey gobblers. 125.; ducks. 4/. 6d. ; geese, 3s. ,9d. to 65.; drakes, 75.; potatoes, 7s. 6d. to 9s. per sack; seed do., 9s. to' Us-; parsnips, 2s. 5d.; carrot, 3s. to 3s. 9d. ; onions, Bs. to 9s. per cwt.; wheat, 4« 3d per bushel; Nelson apples, 6s. to 7s. per case; oranges, 3.-. 9d.: pumpkins, 4s. to ss. per bag; marrows, 2s.

FROZEN MEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. August 6. 5.5 p.m.) London, August 5. The Frozen M»a.t Trade Association's .IniithHeld market quotations for the un rtcrnscntioncd classes of frozen meat aro based on actual sales of not less than ono hundred carcasses of mutton or lamb, or twenty-five quarters of beef of fair average quality. The quotations are not for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of the shipments now on the market. The Drices which follow are on an averace a farthing per lb. more than the value ex ship, this difference representing an averago cost in expenses, handling; conveyance, and selling the meat:— July 29. Aug. 5. Mutton— (1. d • Canterbury, light J2 3i; Canterbury, medium 3j 31! Canterbury, heavy 311-16 311-16 Southland — — North Island, best 3 U-16 3i North Island, ordinary ... 3J 31 Australian, light 3J Si ' Australian, heavy. 3i 3i River Plate, light 33 3 9-16 River Plats.-heavy 3 6-16 33 • New Zealand ewes 51-16 31-16 Australian owes 3f 31 River Plato owes 31-16 31-16 Lamb:— Canterbury, light 53. 5 3-16 Canterbury, mcuium s 51-16 Canterbury, heavy <13 4? Southland : 4| il North Island, celected ... 413-16 413-16 North Island, ordinary ... 43 ' 4} Ausiralian. best — Australian, fair — — Australian inferior — _ River Plate, first 4J 4J River Plate, second 4j 4j ■Beet:— New Zealand, ox fores ... 21 25 Now Zealand, ox hinds... 3S 33 Australian, ox fores 2!, 2 3-16 Australian, ox hinds 3 35 River Plate, ox forc3 ... 21 River Fiatc, ox hinds ... 31-16 SiRiver Plato, rhi'.kd fores 21-16 21-16 River Plate, chilled hinds 39 16 39 15

New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the'following cablegram from their London house, under date August 4:—"Frozen Meat: The market, ir- slightly better for beef, firm for lamb, but the i.'iQuiry for mutton m. limited." SOUTH AMERICAN CHILLED MEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Eec. August 7, 0.35 a.m.) London, August 6. South American chilled meat: Fores, 3d.; hind?, 4jd. THE COTTON CROP. By Telegraph—Press Assoc iation-Conyrlghi Nov; York, August 4. The American cotton cron is officiilly forecasted to exce?(! all previous records The estimated value of the crop is a thousand million dollars (about JC2CO.CCO.CC?'. SILVER. Ui r Teleffraoh-Pi-esi Association-C-oDrriehl " London, Aueust 4. Silver is quoted ,it 24 3-lfici. per ouacc. KAURI. . At t.ho kauri -ale c 416 cases were offered and 162 sold. Price; were unohansed for fair and fine. Three-quarter scraped, 160s. to l£Cs. Stock. 437 cases.

• XOIiTH CTAGO GKAJX. (Ky Te-Iczraph,—J j tcs- Association.) . . . Oamaru, An^u.s. .\ littlo bur.-nos.- h:t- hem dene during tl!3 week in wh'W.. for w!ii:.*h a. good innuiry still continue s . If anvthins, price." arc n. shn<l2 liiphev. but still r.ut lone cnouch. to induce holdm soli For mixed lin?;-, 3:-. <Ud. net. and 3?. M.. lc:*s coromisshn, h.is been 'jivrn. and in one instaacf 1 , 3=-. G'l. flov" commission! war* p:i.irl for a liv.e, with rMiverv .it a hawlr mill. Ycrv littk l Ins bien. none in toe> for newly picked- I ; p-*.*vdatC5. 12 lfl». net. war. rriven on truck-. LOXDOTC MARKETS. Messrs. Dnlgcty and Company. Limited, have received cnblcd adrieo from their London office, dated Au?u?t 3, as follows: —Frozen Meat: Market i= ouiei. and pricp} unehmspd. Tallow: Price* are 3d. *o fd. per cv.t lower, and there is a. very small demand. Xcw Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenc.v Co., Ltd., have received the followir.s cablegram from their London house.under dato August 2:—Tallow: We rjucte pre-c-ont spot values for the following descriptions Gccd mutton, 345. fid. per cwt.-, pood beef, 32«. per cvrt.; mixed, 295. 6d. per ewt. The market ia inactive. Wheat: We have sold an Australian at s*«. c.i.f. The market is firm but inactive, and crop reports are unfavourable. American market not likely to improve at present. MINING NEWS. WELLINGTON" SHARE MARKET. Only two sales of mining Ecrip were recorded on Saturday. > T e\v. Sylvia.s were sold on 'Change at 3s. 7d. at the mornim call, and there was a reported sale of Saxons at 2s. 5Jd. at the midday call. The buying and selling quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s. d. Con. Goldfields — 10 3 Kuranui Caledonian 0 13 — May Queen 0 2 6 0 2 7 Ken- Sylvia '. 0 3 3 0 3 5 Saxon 0 2 5 0 2 7 Tairua, Mines 0 1 11 0 2 1 Talisman 2 11 3 — Waihi i 1 9 3 2 6 Wailii Grand Junction ... 1 7 3 17 9 Waitangi ■. 0 3 2 0 3 4 Wailii-Pacroa 0 12 6 — The Wellington Stock Exchange- received the following telegram; on Saturday:— From' Worksop Dredging Co.:—Ket-urn 15663. Bdwt. for 127 hours. From Saxon Gold Mining Co.:—Splendid country in face of crosscut. ■ STOCK EXCHANGE. fliy TeleEraptj—i']*es3 Association.! Christchurch, August 5. The following sale v.as reported on the Stock Exchange of Canterbury to day— Christchurch Uas, £9 lis.

□ uncdln.: August 5. Stock Exchange sale:—May Quc.jn, 25.6 d. Auckland, August 5. Business done on 'Chanse this morning:— May Queen, 2?. "sd. to 2s. 7d. Monowai, 2s. 7d. Xcu' Sylvia, 3s. sd. Saxca, 2s. cd. Hauraki Reefs .(con.), ICid. to lid. liendigo, sd. ilaoviiaud, GVd., 6d. Waihi. £3 2s„ £3 Is. 9d. New Zealand Insurance. £'! lis.

CONSOLIDATED GOLDFIELDS. {By Telegraph—Press Association.! . . Rsofion, August, 5. The following arc the crushing returns of tlio Consolidated Goldfields group of proportics:— ■ . Prderess:-Crushed 4023 tons, yielding 1059 07.. 12dwt. of bullion, valued ;\t £<*32< Bs.: cvandided 2795 tons. yielding. 3390z. ISdwt. of bullion, valusd at £IKI Bs. 3d. 'Smelter IjulLioil realised lC3oz. 17d%vt.. valued at ,£«5 7s. The estimated value of sulplnirets is £795. Wealth of Nations: Crushed 2192 tons, yielding 9350z. Bdwt of bullion, valued at £3852, 14s. 2d.; eyanided 1292 talis,. yielding ZtQoz. of bullion, valued at £!2CO 135.; estimated value of culphur?!s produced ,£l7O. Blackwater: Crushed <210 tons, yielding: 1E730.t. 12dwt- of bullion, valued at £7672 Is. 6d.; cyandidcd 2915 toils, yielding' 3690z. 6dwt. of bullion.' valued a.t £1026 2s. 9d.: estimated value of sulphurets produced, £435.

GOLD AT DEEP LEVELS. (Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.! Auckland, August 5. Although comparatively no interest: was manifested on tho exehance on Saturday in the two telegrams posted on the bullcan board, still it was apparent to anyone acnoainted with the past history of tho Thames that each was of considerable importance, and might have a ereat beannK on tli'! future of tho mining industry here. The first was from the supervisor of the crosscut at lt'COft. from the oottom of the Quoen of Beauty shaft, which is now pcnotra-tinE the area, held by the Saxon Goldmining Co. For some time past a. hard bar lia3 been penetrated, in which it was hopeless to expect to meet with payable reef s or, in fact, any ouartz formation at all." Something like Cflft. has been driven through this rock, and on Saturday the welcomc news was received that, splendid country was showinit in the face. If tlu3 continues, a known reef worked m tho Saxon mine in the upper level should be met with as the drive proceeds. Durins; tho week the reef cut in the main tunnel before the hard liar was met with wa3 broken down,, and the stone showed strong blotches of gold, thus provine that the precious metal existed at, IDOOrt. The seoond telegram was from tho May Queen mine. When cutting out tile chamber at the bottom of the Queen of Beauty shaft a reef was disclosed which showed a littja Bold. As that was in the Government reserve of the shaft it could not bo worked from the chamber, but when the tunnel was far enough along in the May Queen cround, a, drive was put in. and the reef was again picked up. The telegram this morning states that five pounds of picked stone had been trot from the' Exchange leef, the one previously referred to. Thus it was demonstrated that not only is there cold at a depth of 1000 ft, but also that the reefs can Droduce picked stone. This is a matter of tho utmost importance to those' interested in mining, as it affords reason for the hope that as the main tunnel a.t 1000 ft. crosses the flat to underneath the Kurnnui Caledonian shaft the lodes which yielded such wonderful returns in the early davs from the upper •vorkincs may be picked up and once'more found to be valuable dividend-payers. If snch wore the case, then it would mean a bis thing'for both Auckland and Thames. Jn the oarly days an area of 2CO acres on the Thames yielded jrold to the value nf £4,500,000 with the roush-nnd-ready methods of saving in vogue at. that time, and yet none of these reefs have been worked below KMt. DREDGING. (Br l'elesraDli—l'rc-i. A c sociation.t Dunedin, August 6. Dredging returns:—Sailor's Bend, 1590z. Jdwt;. 909 Dredge. 620z. 15dwt.; Kise and Shine No. I. 61 0~.o ~. lOdwt.; Lady Roxburgh,' floz.; Rising Sun, <!loz. 15dwt.; Knrauui, 2507.. ISdwt.: Waikawa United Xo. I, 13oz. lOdwt.; Waikaka. United Xo. 11, J3oz. 9dwt.; Golden Suu. lloz. 17d-,vt. Olric. 9oz. 9dwt.