LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 20

LOCAL A. AND P. NEWS.

A deputation representing the cattle-, drovers of the Peninsud* waited upon the 'General Committee of the City Council on Monday afternoon with a view to obtaining more convenient'hours "for driving their cattle to and from' Burnside. Alter hearing 'the deputation the committee decided to' recommend the council to permit cattle to be driven through the streets between the hours of 10 olclock on the night before aale day and 930 a.m. on the sale day. On the return journey between * p.m. on the clay of the sale and 8 a.m. on the morning following. ' ' '"" There is & much larger area of' wheat in throughout the Upper Clutha Valley this season than in any previous year, and the crops are (says the Cromwell Argus) looking exceptionally well. About 16,000 bags of wheat were grown last season, and this will be largely exceeded this year. At the present time there is a great difficulty in securing teams to cart the surplus' to the railway at Clyde for transport to Dunedin, and if it could be landed in Dunedin for anything approaching 9d a bushel from Hawca there would be 60,000 bags grown. The cost now to sell in Dunedin with the freight runs into Is 3d a bushel. We have been shown a sample of artichoke potatoes grown by Mr John MacFherson, of. Tolara, that have averaged considerably more than 30 tons to the acre. The pi'plificness of the plant is shown in the fact that each of two heads had ovpr 80- tubers, the combined weight of which exceeded 561b. It may be regarded as somewhat surprising that there is not a greater den.and tor tlds class of vegetable for human • consumption. Artichokes are greatly esteemed as an article of food by many people, and, given the demand for them, an abundant supply could be counted upon at modest prices. Three Bluff young men, Messrs J., W., and C. M'Quarrie. have recently gone over to Mason's Bay, Stewart Island, to take up a run of 7000 acres, formerly belonging to the Messrs Thompson. It is the intention of Messrs M'Quarrie Bros, to run sheep and cattle. Trapping started on Earuscleugh on Monday, the 16th inst. The prices range from 25s to 27s 6d per 100, which is a record price for the Mount Benger district. The past year has been the most successful in the history of the Stirling Dairy Factory. During the year no less a sum than £13,000 was paid out to milk suppliers for milk. The payments to the largest supplier amounted to within £2 or £3 of £1000; this for milk from a total herd of 90 cows and heifers. The past' year has been a splendid one to the milk supplier — plenty of feed and good prices. The factory has been running all the winter four days a week, but the supply of milk is nowincreasing rapidly, and by the first of this month the factory, it was expected, would be running every day. The prospects for the coming season are very hopeful. The annual report of the directors-of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company states that the, season just closed far surpassed any of the previous ones. The output of cheese amounted to 308 tons, and the cash paid for milk £14,343 10s 4d, as against 207 tons of cheese and £9675 15s for the previous year, the price paid for butter-fat being Is 2d to April 30 and Is for balance of season. In view of a further' increase in the milk supply the directors are making extensive alterations to the factory, which, when completed, will enable them to handle fully 5000 gallons of milk daily. The balance to credit of profit and loss account amounts to £229 12s 7d, from which the directors recommend that a. dividend of 6 per cent, be paid on the paid-up .capital. A Turnips may be had for the feeding off

in many places this year (says the Clutha Leader), and even then the sheep or cattle do not seem to be forthcoming.' The large area under turnips, the good crops, the mild winter, and the low prices ruling for mutton are causes which nave led to the supply so far outreaching the demand. On a farm near Beaumont last week we saw a large area of turnips being ploughed in to make ready for wheat; and we heard of another farmer who was prepared to give 100 acres of fine .turnips to any person who would bring the sheep along and eat them off. Farmers are making preparations for an extra big sowing of spring wheat, and merchants report (says the North Otago Times) that a much larger quantity of seed wheat is going out than usual at this period of the year. It is quite clear that there will be a very big area under this cereal, and the same condition prevails both north and south. So far as this district is concerned the area under .oats is likely to show a great falling off; at any rate, there is very little inquiry for - seed oats, and that may be accepted as a fair indication of farmers.' intentions in this matter.