GLEANINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8353, 13 February 1913, Page 2

GLEANINGS

Mrs X>. McLaren, of Homebush, Mastertou, and Ngakonui station, has presented a handsome silver challenge cup (valued at ten guineas]) to tho Masteiton A. and H. Association for competition at tho forthcoming show at Solway. Tho cup is given for the best pen of five Down cross iambs most suitable for freezing and tho London market; to bo won three times, not necessarily in succession, and the award is to bo made on tho London report. Tho Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union has a standing reward of £IOO payable to persons (other than the actual offenders) whoso evidence secures the conviction for stealing sheep owned by any member of the union. At a recent meeting of the committee it was reported that protection should he afforded to members in regard to cattle, and it was decided that the reward in future should apply to cattle as well as to sheep. A notable feature of tho past year (savs “ The North British Agriculturist'”) has been the shrinkage in supplies of beef from both the United States and Canada. Tho former seems to have got up to about the limit of production, while the population _is graduallv increasing ana requiring more an 3 more of its own supplies. Indeed, tho States are now beginning to draw upon Canada, and this is a feature which many expect will bo accentuated father than otherwise in the future. South America, on the other hand, is only beginning to develop her vast resources. But with higher costa of freight, higher rates of wages, andhigher charges all round, it is not expected that even this country will bo able to land excessive supplies in Great Britain, at any rate, at the old cheap prices. The butter-boxes manufactured by tho Egmont Box Company in January numbered 20,664, and the cheese cases 49,100. The figures for the corresponding month last year were as follow: Butter-boxes, 26,815; cheese cases, 24,125, showing a decrease of 6151 but-ter-boxes and an increase of 24,975 cheese cases. In some parts of the Wairarapa great difficulty is experienced' in obtaining suitable labour for harvesting. Many farmers are reported to be offering Is 9d por hour for competent men. 1 Tho Masterton Co-operative Dairy Company has decided to cease exporting butter at the end of February, in order to provide for local consumption during tho winter. A curious feature in connection with tho dairy industry in the North Wairarapa this season rs tho lowness of the tests. Factory managers and. 2. are unable to account for this state of affairs. For the month of January, the amount paid to cheese Suppliers by the Eltham Dairy Company was £10,742. The cheeses manufactured numbered 6982, the average weight being 831 h. Tho quantity of blitter manufactured in January was 74921 b, and the payment amounted to £290.