LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

The present dry 6eason is, as might only be expected, having its effect on the dairying industry generally. Fortunately matters are by no means so bad as they ■were last year. There is really very little grass in parts of Otago, more especially in ihe Oamaru district, but the experiencing of a favourable spring meant that hay and oat crops were good practically over the whole of the South Island, and that has to a large extent saved the situation. Still there is a shortage in milk supplies in every direction, and then it must be remembered that even should the weather break now it is somewhat late in -the year for grass. From information to hand from a source ■which may be considered reliable, the Oamaru Mail is able to give an estimate of the average grain yields per acre throughout the district as follows: —Wheat, from 35 to 37 bushels; oats, 4-0; barley, 35. 'Another fortnight should see harvesting almost through. Slaughtering operations at the various freezing works in Southland are not in |ull swing yet, though some killing has ceen done. A number of men are awaiting the commencement of the season, which is expected to open in a week or two. A settler who resides near the bush skirting the Longwood, Southland, while out rabbit-shooting, had his attention attracted by tlie cries and strange actions of a tui. On investigating the cause, he ascertained that a stoat was making its way up the tree to the bird's nent. Being a lover of New Zealand bird*, he instantly dr=patclio<l the stoat, and thu« s;ncil a ne-t of beautiful pardon birds. Tui=. niockn- fantaiU. tomtits, and iobin= aio the Wcstlcin StZr) becoming \ll? .v-arc, un* 1 \hcie i* «J3

, alarming increase of stoats and weasels. The latter were introduced to keep down rabbit, but they do very little in that direction. All is food that comes within their reach, and they seem to prefer nativebirds to rabbit. Mr G. O. CasseK secretary of the Aparima Dairy Factory Company, ha 3 i received advice that 12 tons of cheese coni signed to London have realised top market price. At the Magistrate's Court, Waikaia, on I the 4-th inst.. James A. M'Lean (Mr Bowler) | pleaded guilty to not destroying rabbits on his run, and was fined £10. A meeting of the committee of the Clutha and Matau A. end P. Society was held on the 31st ult., Mr W. J. Keys (president) in the chair. Mr J. E. Renton wroce resigning his position as a member of the societj in consequence of removing from the oisi i iot — Mr Clarke moved that tbe resignation be accepted with regret, and that the president and secretary draft :i letter and forward It to 3>lr Renton, conI veying the society's appreciation of his I services. — Seconded by Mr Petrie, and i earned The question of holding a winter show was discus93d at some length. Eventually it was decided, on the motion of Messrs Petrie and Dalgliesh, that the society hold a winter show and Bruce auction combined during the winter, date to be fixed later on. Several members expressed their willingness io collect produce and forward it to Balclutha for the purpose of the auction. The secretary (Mr Thomas M'Dor.a'd) stated that there was about £80 outstanding for members' tickets, subs, and entry money. This sum, if it could be got in, -would about clear the society from debt. — The secretary was instructed to have the money collected as soon as possible. It was decided to meet again on February 28. The Kelso correspondent of the Mataura Ensign writes : — Tho stock market is very quiet at present, sheep in particular being at a standstill ; and there is little doubt that, unless a big downpour of rain sets in in the north, a tremendous slump in prices of store sheco is «ure to eventuate. As :t i= . Ashburfon is the cheapest place in the Dominion at tho present moment, and ft&~- r store laj»>s can Le V i casU." F+- fcpsa

7s to Bs, with relatively low prices for other stock. Prices are likely to be good for oats, for while the area under this cereal is very large and the yield in most districts will be good, it is quite possible that oats may again have to be used' throughout the winter for stock-feeding purposes. Prices of farm lands around here have not reached top yet, evidently. Four farms in this immediate district have changed hands this year already, and at record prices. Moa Flat settlement is looking we 1 ! — particularly well. Tbe State misled a nice little "divy" of £100,000 by not acquiring this property. On most of the farms grass-cutting is finished, and the fine dry weather has made the " leading in a veritable pleasure. Any samples I have seen of this year's seed are beautiful and' "'shotty." and are bound to command a good price.

Tho Fairfax correspondent of the Western Star reports: — The grass har\cst is o\er and rhe mills busy threshing, in most crises out of (he stook. which is a great ad-van-tage, particularly in windy weather. Grass yields are fairly good and the prices satisfactory. The appearance of the oat crops is quite- equal to past seasons, and tr.3 same applies to wheat, which in some instances are splendid, and the farmer who 1 owns a good crops of w heat may rest assured that he owns a payable asset, as wheat at 4s 6d or 5s per bushel gives a very handsome return. Although the severe heat we have had considerably parched and dried the grass, yet stock on the whole a.'c looking well, particularly so where water is plentiful: and. strange to say, although the vats in the" different dairy fac lories are affected through a shortage of milk, yet dairy cows are looking well, and no doubt milk production will revive again when the stubbles are cleared. In many cases turnips are much affected by the drought, but the earlier-sown are looking fairly well, and give promise of a good crop. In nearly every instance lambs are being weaned, and put on to rape or sold as stores. The fat lamb market is expecte i to open at 14s to 15s. A number are buying stores for fattening purposes at 12s 6d. which leaves a very small margin of profit, and allows for no deaths through scour o- loss by rejects. Sheep-dealing in Southland i? a very risky game to follow. Irr cattle there are inquiries for forward three-year-old steers, but younger sorts are neglected, and when the coupling season commences two tooth ewes may be expected to reach 16s to 18s. according to quality. The wool sale just passed has not been so disappointing to many as previously expected in some ca«es prices for fine quality exceeding last year, and those who had not the quality had the weight, so that they were fairly compensated. At the conclusion of the Tuappka Agricultural Society's meeting on Thuisday afternoon Mr A. Fraser. president of the Lawrence Branch of the Farmers' Union, mentioned that he and the secretary (MiBrowne) had waited on the Wairahuna Farmers' Club at its last meeting for the purpose of urging the claims cf the unjon on the members, and that they had received a very favourable hearing. It was their intention, he said, to similarly visit Tuapeka West and Evans Flat at an { early date, when they hoped to induce , the farmers in these districts not already j identified with the union to become members, and so assist in presenting a united front to the demands of other combinations, and at the same time enable them to deal effectively with other matters of common interest. He suggested that they might, as in other districts, unite in getting a price from the owners of threshing machines for threshing and chaff cutting. Mr James Fahey opposed any interference by the union in this connection, -while others present thought the matter was one in which combination would be beneficial. It was ultimately agreed tlvar <h© deputation should visit Tuapeka West on Saturday. 15th inst. Notwithstanding the exceptionally dry weather experienced throughout tine district for weeks past (6ays the Lake County Press), on several farms there- will be some . vei-\ t?ood yields. The dry weather has not affected the crops at Malaghans naa-rly a,-: mupb HrS lias heen the <&r\ ipun^ Lov£9t

Shofcovor. Both Messrs Reid Bros, and Hunter have splendid wheat crops on their farms. Had the season been more faviurablo the district would have had some record yields.

We (Southland Timee) are advised that Messrs Henderson and Co. have sold privately to Mr Robert Anderson, of Kauana, Mr George Button's faun at Centre Bush. The farm contains 138 acres, and the price stated is £20 an acre, which must be something like a record for Southland farm land. The top price when sales were going merrily latt year was, if we remember right, somewhere in the neighbourhood of £16 an aore.

It is estimated (says a Hakatara.mca correspondent of the Oamaru Maul that some of the crops will yield fully 40 bushels, while 35 will bo threshed by others. This yield, together with the prices that ai - o ruling, will make the year a profitable one to those who are fortunate enough to bo Topping in wheat. Oats ai'e seldom grown in this district for export, farmers merely confining then 1 growing operations for their own requirements for immediate and winter feed, so that although in most cases the crop is on the light side, the deficiency will not be scvorely felt by producers. Rape is feeling the effects of the drought very badly, and will prol^ably succumb to blight if rain is not soon forthcoming. What turnips there arp, especially on the upper reaches of the valley, are holding their own wonderfully well, and if given a chance will become a valuable asset for winter feed. Grass is becoming very scarce, and what is left of it is so parched up as not to contain any great amount of nourishment. As a consequence, lambs are not fattening so readily a-s the grower desires. What have been consigned to the freezer •are of fii-et-cla«e quality, and fully up to the Hakataramea standard. Taking into consideration the mixed class of farming that goes on in that district and the fair prices ruling, tho farmers ha\ c not a great deal to complain of at present, but of course they are naturally concerned about the prospect* of wintering their stock successfully if rain does not come before the period of growth is stopped.

Mr J. C. Thomson, M.P.. who some time ago made strong representations to the Hon. R. M'Nab, Minister of Lands, about the immediate necessity for grassing the burnt-out bush areas in the Western District, has been informed by the Minister that the importance of the work is recognised, and that the attention of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Invercargill, has been directed to the matter. Mr Wilmot, the commissioner, has been in the district ma-king an inspection. Mr Thomson thinks the work will -cost a thousand or two, but the State will be amply recouped when the land is open for selection, and that should bo about the end of the yevr, the Minister having given a promise to that effect. Most of the land was of excellent quality, and would be eagerly sought a-fter when open. As to the cost of grassing, that would only be a short loan from the State, as the sums expended could be added to the capital value. Were, the work of sowing neglected, much of the land, owins to noxious weeds, would be worth very little, and few there would bo who would care to take it up.

Despite the unwonted drvness of the season (says the Wyndham Farmer) faithful old " Crummie " still maintains her veil-won Teputation as a farming asset. At Seaward Downs Dairy Factory, for instance, on Tuesday last, the amount pa^d out for January's milk supply was £1160 cash. This is the bi^ge^t monthly disbursement"" in the factory's history, and "was made (owing to the company having consigned their cheese Home, and thus a further payment is confidently expected) at a rate of Id less per lb of butter-fat than was paid out last year, wher the compaxiy made a straight-out sale. The £1160 was divided among 34- patrons, in sums ranging from £9 to £98.

The Knapdale correspondent of the Mataura Ensign writes- — We have had a spell of exceptionally dry woather here lately, with dry, scorching wind-, and rain is wanted very badly. Water is fretting scarce. Springs and wells never known to go dry before are ghing out, and the effect of the drought on the crops and crass is simply appalling — the grass is all withered up, and (ho turnips, especially the lato ones, seem to be dying out. The oat crops, that promised sc well in the earlier part of the year, are broken down, and in some places shaken, with the high winds we have had, and are ripening too quickly to yield well. Everything prodtired on the farm seems to have a downward tendency this year compared with last. Wool is down 3d or 4d per Ib, grass seed is just about half the price it was last year, and oats are al*o down la or more a bushel. The lamb market is the only thing that is keeping up to former years; 13s 6d is the price. I hear, that is being given to start with.