MANAWATU NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 12

MANAWATU NOTES

From Our Own Correspondent Palmerston North, April 1. The weather during the past week has been most suitable for farming operations. Following the rains of the previous week, some nice warm days have been experienced, which have been very favourable to the, growth of both grass and root crous, with the. result that feed is now more plentiful. This has been reflected on the stock markets, which show considerably more life than they did,, there being n. better inclination to purchase store sheep, although no improvement can be noted in prices. The. opening of meat sales in Palmerston North is giving the farmers an opportunity to dispose of some of their surplus sheep, and later on the producer maycome into touch with the consumer, but in the meantime it appears to be the dealer who is making the profit instead of the butcher. It is stated that the first lot of two-tooth ewes which were sold in quarters at prices.overaging about 265. fid. per carcase, without counang drawback from tho offal, were sold by the farmer at considerably less than halt that amount. Now that the grower has the chance of eliminating the middle-man bv sending his sheep through the abattoirs direct to the auction room, there is no reason why he should not take advantage of the opportunity io do so. He would, then net tho whole of the proceeds with the exception of the cos- of killing, delivering to the auction room, and sales commission. So satisfactory have tho sales proved already that another firm of auctioneers announce that from the beginning of next week they will hold auctions daily. Palmerston North was quite lively for th<? Easter holidays, and accommodation was taxed to its utmost. The principal attractions were the annual tournament of the Manawatu Bowling Centre, th# championship meeting of the Country Clubs’-Athletic Association, the annual sports of the Manawatu Caledonian Societv and the annual convention of Sunday’ school teachers connected with the Presbyterian Church. Business, which was practically suspended during the holidays, has now l>eon resumed, but a quiet tone pervades all classes of trade.