FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 164, 7 April 1921, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

NEWS AND NOTES

AUCTION BALES FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. TO-DAY. 118 Elizabeth Street, Wellington, 10.34. a.m. —Furniture sale (E. Johnston and Co.). 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 1.30 p.m. — Sale of unclaimed goods (E. Johnston and Co.). TO-MORROW. 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington. 10.30 a.m. —Sale or corrugated iron (E. Johnston and Co.). 17 Hopper Street, Wellington, 10.30 a.m.— Furniture sale (Vine and Wilson). 141 Manners Street, Wellington. 10.30 a.m. —-Sale of soda fountain fittings (Wheatley and Co.). 141 Manners Street, Wellington, 2 p.m.— Furniture sale (Wheatley and Co.). SATURDAY. Martinborough Yards, 1 p.m—Sale of ponies (Wright, Stephenson). Otaki, 2 p.m.-rFur.niture sale (Joplin, Stallard and Carmichael). FREIGHTS ON FROZEN .. MEAT ANNOUNCEMENT OF REDUCTION SAID TO BE MISLEADING. (Rec. April 6, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, April 5. A cable message sent on March 23 stated that the London manager of the Commonwealth Steamship Line was introducing cut rates on frozen, meat cargoes. As a result of this announcement shippers operated, and then approached the Commonwealth Line for space at the reduced rates, but were informed that no space was available at these rates till next year. They complain that the misleading announcement had involved them in heavy losses."

It is now officially announced that the reduction hurriedly announced by the management of the Commonwealth Line was really made by the British Food Ministry on March 23 to operate until the end of the present month, and from then the shipping companies would be feed from control, and at liberty to fix their own rates. —Press Assn. NEW CATTLE DISEASE IN CENTRAL AND WEST QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, April 6. A new cattle disease of French origin, known as petechel fever, has broken out among stock in Central and West Queensland. It was previously known in Victoria. The symptoms consist of enormous swellings over the whole beast, the head assuming gigantic proportions, and the legs becoming as thick as tree trunks. The Department of - Agriculture advises isolation and fresh pastures as failure to comply will bo attended 'Ey death forty days after infection. —Press Assn.

LONDON MARKETS HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLED REPORT. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated April 2, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London: — Meat: Market still over supplied with frozen beef, but with removal of control lamb prices have advanced. Official quotations, average prices are: New Zealand mutton, . light-weight. 83d.; heavyweight, Bjd. per lb.; ewes, 7Jd. per lb. New Zealand lamb from U.S.A and also free lamb direct, Is. to Is. 2d per lb.; Australian lamb, new season, Is OJd. per lb., but sale has been made at 9)d. per lb. for New Zealand light-weight mutton, and as much as Is. 3d. per lb. for Australian new season lamb. Argentine chilled beef hinds Is. to Is. 2d., fores 7Jd. per lb ; New Zealand ox beef, average prices are hinds 7d., fores sd. per lb., but sale has been made up to 9Sd. and 61d. per lb. for best quality. No new season New. Zealand lamb on market, but expected next week. Nominated agent has agreed to sell surplus Government New Zealand meat at following prices ex stores, including 14 days’ storage, wethers, B}d.; eu’es, 7}d. per lb.; cut lamb, Is. per lb.; uncut lamb. Is. OJd. per lb. Butter.—Official quotations are —New Zealand, £l3 6s. to .£l3 10s. per cwt. (2s. 41d. to 2s. 4?d. per lb.): Australian, .£l2 Bs. to £l2 10s'. per ewt. (2s. 21d. to 2s. 2?d. per lb.'. Argentine, £l2 4s. to £l2 12s. per cwt. (2s. 2RI. to 2s. 3d. per lb.). Danish early this week, .£l2 16s to £l3 Its. per cwt. (2s. 31d. to 2-. sd. per lb.) Dutch. £l2 14s. to £l2 18s. per cwt. (2s. 31<1. to 2s. 3Jd. per lb.); English, .£l7 14s. per cwt. (3s. ljd. per lb.). Irish, demand is moderate, new, .£l5 18s. per cwt. (2s. lOtl. per lb.); old, from stores, £ll 14s to £l2 per cwt. (2s. Id. to 2s. Ijd. per lb.) Butter and Cheese Import Committee notify intention to sell stocks at following prices to first band buyers from stores, New Zealand. £l3 2s. per cwt. (2s. 4d. per lb.); Australian, £l2 4s. per. cwt. (2s. 214 per lb.); Argentine, £l2 per cwt. (2s. IJd. per lb.). Cheese.' English, less demand, £7 10s. to £7 13s. 3d. per cwt. (Is. 44. to Is. 44d. per lb.): Canadian, small supply, £7 10s to £7 16s. ner cwt. (Is. 4d. to Is. 43d. per lb.): white, £8 2s. per cwt. (Is. sd. per Ihb coloured, New Zealand demand is good, £7 2s. to £7 4s. per cwt. (Is. 3d to Is. 3J4. per lb.); white, £8 to £8 2s. per ewt. (approximately Is. sd. per lb.); coloured, scarce. Remaining stock. New Zealnjid, will be sold from season to first-hand buyers. White, £6 12s. ne'r cwt. (Is. 2|d/ per lb.): coloured, £7 10s. per cwt. (Is. 4d. ner lb.). Casein: Market weak and declining, quotations nominal. Rennet: French. £B9: N.Z., Ati« tralian about £75. British £lO5 ner ten. Lactic, French £BO 10s., Argentine £57 per ton Hemp.—Manilla market steadier. J grade, Janunry-Mareh shipment, sold £43 ner ton: February-April (shipment to April-June shipment, now quoted £4l per ton. Sellers more reserved. 'New Zealand market dull and unchanged; quotation* nominal, owing to absence of business March-May shipment row quoted £4l per ton* high-noints, £3B 10s., fair. Wool: Bradford market quiet,, and nt last quotations for tons, viz. —64's (merino), 3s 4(1.; 56’s (super halfbred), 2s. 5d.: 40’s (coarse, crossbred), prepared. Is. 2*4. per lb. LTVE-KTOCK DISEASES BRITISH AUTHORITIES CONCERNED According to advices received by the Agricultural Department, English authorities tire somewhat concerned over the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain. Live stock in the Old Country, it was recently pointed out, was never in griater danger than to-day. Disease of one kind and another was prevalent in nearly "very county. Most disastrous of all was tho foot-and-mouth diseaso, there having been 79 serious outbreaks iu 1920, and several more this year. No cure had been discovered, the only solution being the crude one of killing. For every animal slaughtered the Government pays compensation to the owner. This disease alone cost tho Old Country half a million pounds in compensation in one year, to say nothing of administrative expenses. The matter was discussed in. February last at an important conference in London. when it was stated that it was inconceivable that scientists able to combat all the diseases of war, could not eradicate foot-and-mouth disease. It was urged that, it was time the disease was stamped out. Not only foot-and-mouth disease, but anthrax was twice as prevalent at Home ns twelve months ago, while sheep scab and swine fever were as common, as ever.

EGG-LAYING RESULTS OF SIXTEENTH COMPETITION. Br Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, April 6. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club s sixteenth egg-laying competition has concluded. Following are the results: — Heavy breed sections, single birds—R. R. Christie, Melbourne, 236 eggs, Black Orpington. Heavy breed, teams of six—J. Gunn, Raycourse Hill, 1064 eggs, Black Orpingtons. Light breed section, single birds—A. C. Goodlet, Dunedin, 265 eggs, White Leghorn. Three-bird light breed, teams—Mrs. F. Gorinski, Invercargill, 725 eggs, White Leghorns Three-bird heavy breed teams—T. E. Conway, Bay of Plenty, 669 eggs, Black OrpingtonsLight breed flock teams—G. Bonnett, Spreydon, 1088 eggs, White Leghorns. Three-bird duck teams —W. Knight, Wellington, 821 eggs, Indian Runners. Single duck contest—A. F. Reay, Fendalton, 212 eggs, Indian Runner. Two-year duck test, six Indian Runners —W. T. Green, 2887 eggs (a world s record). ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET OVER SUPPLY AND WEAK SALE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, April 6. An over supply of stock at Addington to-day met a further weakened market. Lamb was a shade easier than last week, whilst secondary mutton and all classes of beef were also weaker. Store sheep prices dropped considerably, as tho lengthy dry spell is commencing to aff'ece feed supplies and influencing big yardings. Store Sheep—A big entry, which assisted in the reduction of values. Ewes comprised 90 per cent, of the yarding and showed a decline of_ss* to Bs. Lambs were practically unsaleable. Good lambs made 7s. to 9s. 5d., ordinary lambs 2s. lid. to 6s. 4d., good two-tooth ewes 19s. to 24s.,ordinary two-tooth ewes 7s. 9d. to 15s. good 4,6, and 8-tooth ewes 12s. 9d. to 18s. 6d., ordinary 4,6, and 8-tooth ewes, Bs. 9d. to Ils. 6d., good four year ewes 12s. 6d. to 18s. 4d., four and five-year ewes 4s. 6d. to Ils. 4d., aged ewes Is. 7d. to 5s 6d., good two-tooth wethers 9s. sd. to 10s. 9d., ordinary two-tooth 7s. to Bs. 6d. good 4 and 6-Tooth 9s .Gd. to 11s., ordinary 4 and G-tooth 7s. to 9s. Fat lambs—432s were yarded, 75 per cent, more than last week. Freezing buyers secured the bulk of the entry at sd. to 5Jd. per lb. Extra prime show lambs realised 235. 6d., prime lambs, 19s. to 225. 3d., medium 16s. 3d. to 18s. 9d., light and unfinished 13s. to 15s. 9d. Fat < Sheep—A big yarding. The low values for ewe mutton allowed freezers to buy tto some extent, and they secured a fair share of tho lighter mutton at about 2d. per lb., and in cases a shade over. There was an all-round drop of from Is. to Is. Gd. per head. Extra prime wethers 265. to 285., prime 20 s. to \23s. 9d,, medium 16s. 9d. to 19s. 6d., inferior 12s. to 16s„ prime ewes 15s. 9d. to 18s. Id., medium 12s. to 15s. 6d., light 9s. 6d. to 11s. 9d., inferior ss. 3d. tl> Fat cattle—The market receded for prime beef as well as secondary. Extra prime made to 38s. per 1001 b, medium 34s and inferior 20s. upwards. Prime steers £l4 15s. to £l7 17s. 6d„ medium £lO 10s. to £l4 55., light and unfinished £5 10s. to £9 155., prune heifers £8 to £l2, medium £5 to £7 10s., inferior £3 7s. 6d. to £4 17s. 6d„ prime cows £6 10s. to £lO 2s. 6d., medium and inferior to in -Vealers—A supply and a drop in values. Runner's realised £4. good vealers £3 2s. 6d., medium calves . -os. to £2 2s. Gd. calves ss. to 20s. Dairy cattle-A big yarding. There was a good demand for cows coming to profit. Jersey third .catvers Ms., springing heifers, first calvers £ll to £l5, ordinary third and fourth calvers £8 to £l3 cows in milk £3 to £B, interior C °Store° S Cattle— Throe-year-old steers £5 k i-rv •P'i 6d., two-year-old steers £2 16s. to £3 55., two-year-old heifers £2 10 Fat pigs—There was no alteration in - 31 weaners 7s. 6d.

BURNSIDE STOCK SALE

SOME LATE VALUES MAINTAINED. By Telegraph-Press Association. Dunedin, April 6. There were large supplies of fat stock in each department ut Burnside to-day. and prices generally ruled at late values. The store cattle market was particularly quiet, prices going from bad to " 01 ® • This was due in great measure to the prospective shortage of winter feed. Fat cattle: A. large yarding of 278 head, including a good proportion of prime heavf cattle. The-sale opened about 20s. easier than last week, ahd before the close dropped another 10s. A number of cattle, not reaching the owners ideas ot values, were turned out unsold. J ' l ™ 6 ox beef sold as low as 35s per 1001 b. and cow beef was down to 20s. L^ a prime bullocks realised £17 _ 10s. to £X prme, £l3 10s. to £l6; medium, £ll to £l3; lighter, from £9. Extra P”™ cows and heifers made £l4 to_ £l5 155., prime, £ll to £l4; medium, £8 Jo £11; lighter, from £7. , Sheep: A large yarding, numbering 44)00 head The quality was of the medium description, and the yarding was composed mainly of ewes, although a fair number of pens contained good wethers. Competition was not nearly so keen, and values for heavy-weight wethers were 2s. to 3s. a head lower; while prices for ewes showed a reduction of about 2s. ■’’ head as compared with wethers realised from 21s. 9d. to 2fls 6d medium, 17s. 6d. to 20s. 6d; light and unfinished sorts, from 14s upwards Extra prime heavy-weight ewes realised up to *’7s. 6d.; prime, 18s. to 245. Jcl.; medium, 14s. 6d. to 175.; light and aged from 10s upwards. c , Lambs: A large yarding of mixed quality, numbering 2292 head. The demand was not keen, and from appearances export buyers were not operating up to recent limits, the result being that the sale was weaker, and prices declined to tho extent of 4s. Extra prime sorts up to *>o= ■ prime, from 15s. to 175.; medium, l*>s tolls ■ light and unfinished, from Bs. ’Store cattle: A full'yarding was offered which met with a most inanimate cnie A number of pons contained good three-year-old steers in forward condition and these were sold nt prices ranging from £4 to £5 !>’. a bend. Inferior sorts were difficult to quit, at anv price and many pons were passed unsold. Pigs: A large yarding, which was somewhat eagerly competed, for. Both bnconers and porkers realised values equal to last week’s rates.

DESTRUCTION OF CALVES ON FARMS An investigation was carried out recently by tho Stock Inspectors of tho Department of Agriculture for the purpose of estimating the percentages of calves destroyed on farms throughout the Dominion. The matter is of importance as relating to the future maintenance of tho cattle-stock of tho country, especially in connection with the dairy industry. In the Auckland Province such slaughtering of calves was estimated at an average of 57 per cent, in tho dis-

trials where dairying is the principal industry, and 12 per eent. in the districts where grazing predominates. The following are the estimated percentages in other parts of the Dominion, the places named being the. headquarters of the respective stock-inspec-torates: Masterton, 70 ;Taihape, 5; Carterton, 75; Wanganui, 50; Hastings, 70; Hawera and New Plymouth, 65; Opunake, 66; Wellington, 80; Blenheim, 4-0; Palmerston North, 40; Woodville, 75; Gisborne, 40; Stratford, 70; Feilding 60; Nelson, 50; Kaikoura, 65; Rotherham, 1 to 2; Anvberly, 51; Christchurch, 75; Lincoln, 95; Ashburton, 45; Timaru, 75; Fairlie, 1; Westland, 35; Waimatc, 75; Invercargill, 90; Otautau, 80; Wyndham, 70; Milton, 75; Dunedin. 65; Palmerston 55; Balclutha, 50; Owak.a, 50, Oamaru, Lawrence, Kurow, and Roxburgh, 2 to 10. , In general the high percentages relate to districts where dairying is carried on extensively, while the lower figures represent grazing or fattening districts. COMMERCIAL ITEMS INVESTMENT SHARES. Bank of New Zealand shares have advanced steadily, and yesterday buyers were offering 45b., while on. the prev tous day the highest bid was 445. 6d. National Bank shares, neglected for some time were yesterday wanted at £5 55., but sellers were asking £5 Ils. Inscribed stocks and bonds other than the 5f per cents., show an. easier tendency. Yesterday’s quotations were as follow: Leu.., Buyers. Sellers.

CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs revenue collected at the nort of Wellington yesterday totalled £9992 6s. 7d. WAREHOUSEMEN’S DIVIDEND. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, April 5. The directors of Paterson, Laing, Bruce and Co., Ltd., merchants and warehoußCment. have recommended payment cf an interim dividend of 7J per cent., free of income tax. MINING NEWS WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. Yesterday’s quotations for mining shares were as under:—* Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s. d. Blackwater Mines . "X , 0 8 0 Waihi 17 3 Waihi Grand Junction ... — 0 7 0

STOCK EXCHANGE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 6. Sales—South British Insurance, 295.; Auckland Gas, 235.; Kauri Timber Company, 245. , Dunedin, April 6. Sales—Bank of New Zealand. 455. (three sales), 465. 6d. (two sales); Rise and Shine, 75.; Soldiers’ Bonds, £B9. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, April 5. Broken Hill, buyers 31s. lOd.; sellers 325. 3d.* Bauk of Australasia. £77 10s.; Bank of New South Wales, £25 7s. 6d.; Bank of Victoria, £4 3b. 9d.; National Bank of New Zealand, £5 7s. 6d.; Bank of New Zealand, guaranteed stock. £77 155., ordin. ary £2 2s. 6d.; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, Ltd. (pref.). £56 10s.. ex divident, and (ord.), £B9 55.; City oi Melbourne, £95, Board of Works, £9B, ex dividend.

Inscribed Stock, 1939 £ s. d. £. p. d. 79 15 0 Inscribed Stock, 1938 7 a in u /y io u Inscribed Stock, 1965 89 5 0 War Bonds, 1938 War Bonds, 1933 78 0 0 89 5 0 P.O.. Bonds, 1927 National Bank ............... Bank New South Wales 87 10 5 5 0 0 - 5 11 31 0 0 0 Bank New Zealand 2 5 11 6 0 0 11 11 0 Union Bank •••••••;: ••• Abraham and Williams 0 11 1) Well. Trust and Loan ... —— 5 1/ National Insurance ...... 2 15 N.Z. Refrigerating (lOsJ 0 15 0 3 16 Meat Export (£3 12s. 6d.) Huddart-Parker (ord.) ... Union Steam (pref.) ...... 2 1 0 2 1 0 19 0 Kelburn Tramway (ord.) — Kaiapoi Woollen (pref.) — 1 5 0 Well. Woollen (pref.) 0 14 6 8 0 0 C. M. Banks (ord.) 1 6 0 Sharland and Co. — — 1 2 6 Wairarapa Farmers (£5) Wairarapa Farmers (pref.) — 0 18 0