WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 323, 4 August 1898, Page 3

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The monthly meeting of this club was held in the borough chambers at Cambridge on Monday evening. There were present : Messrs E. Allen (President), N. I. Hunt, H. Gillett, J. Gane, Jno. Fisher, W. Tucker, \V. G. Park, G. E. Empson, J. Barugh, G. Keelev, If. Kerr, J. Forrest, K. Fisher, G. E. Clark, J. Adams, S. Baldwin, T. Hartly, aud Archdeacon Willis. Nbw Members.—The following were elected members of the club : J. Matson, Chaa. Chitty, F. J. Vickers, T. W. Weatherill, and C. Jarrett. The lastmentioned was present.—The President stated he was pleased to say the club now numbered more than 100 members. Analysis ok Mantres.—The following letter was received from Mr J. A. Pond, F.C.S., of Auckland, re the dispute about his refusing to analyse some samples of bonedust that were sent from Ohaupo. It was addressed to the Secretary, under date of July 23rd, and was as follows : Your letter of May 11th is before me in reference to a complaint from Mr Turney regarding analysis of bonedust. I must apologise for not replying to this communication direct, but as just prior to the receipt of your letter I had replied to a communication from the Editor of The Farmer explaining the circumstance, and as this appeared in cxtenso in the May number of the journal in question, I assumed this explanation would have reached you and proved satisfactory. Permit me now to explain the position as follows : The samples of crushed bone, three in number, were brought to me by a gentleman with a request that I would make an analysis of them in compliance with the Act. I at once poiuted out that these samples—which were loosely tied up, the bonedust dropping out of the parcels—had not been taken in accordance with the Act, and requiring also the _ invoice certificate in conformity with the requirements of the Act, advising at the same time that the fee for each sample was 7s Gd. The gentleman then mentioned that they had no invoicecertificate, the manures being samples forwarded from Sydney. I explained the procedure for analysis in conformity with "The Manure Adulteration Act, 1892," and informed him further that the fee for a complete analysis of bonedust made irrespective of the Act was £1 lis Gd each sample. The gentleman left the samples, promising to let me know more about them, as they were for a friend in the Waikato, and the samples are still in my possession awaiting a completion of this promise. The next I heard in reference to the subject was from the editor of The Farmer, as already mentioned, to which I immediately replied and beg to refer you to the May number, page 170, for my reply. Now, if you will refer to clauses 6, 10,11 and 16 of "The Manure Adulteration Act," and also the schedule at the end of the said Act, you will see the necessity of my requiring the invoice-certificate if the analysis is to be made in conformity with the Act at the lower fee of 7s Gd. If this is presented with the sample then it is my duty to make the analysis at once, the onus of properly taking the sample in accordance with clause 7 lying with the person submitting the sample lor analysis, although I make it a rule to advise them of this necessity. I need hardly add that it is our desire to make as many analyses as possible, whether in conformity with the Act or irrespective of it, both for .the protection of the farmer as well as for personal gain. In the former case the fee is fixed by arrangement with the Government at 7s Gd to be forwarded with the sample and in-voice-certificate. Iu the latter case, as we have said, our fee is £1 lis Gd, which we reduce to £1 Is to members of Agricultural Societies and Clubs, such as your own, when sent through their secretaries. I regret there should have been any misunderstanding in the case in question ; but think benefit will be derived by bringing more clearly before the farmers the benefit of the Act in question, which is designed for their protection and benefit ; but is not taken advantage of to the extent which, in my opinion, it should be. In any way that I can advance this knowledge to the members of your Club and to farmers generally, I trust you will consider my services at your disposal at this end.— The President said that he and the Secretary visited Mr Pond when they were lately in town. It appeared the first letter sent to that gentleman had been mislaid, and was therefore not answered, which had caused the trouble. Ihey also saw the samples of bonedust sent by Mr Turney, aud they were certainly badly taken, or at any rate were badly packed, for they were leaking badly. Mr Pond did not like some of the remarks that had been made at previous meetings of the Club, but the breach bad now been healed and he was satisfied the remarks alluded to had been made under a misapprehension. The representative Mr Turney had sent with the samples had evidently not carried out his instructions, for he must have told Mr Pond that the manure came from Sydney, whereas it was intended to keep that fact a secret. Mr Pond said there had been a lot of adulteration of manures in years gone by, very much more than the farmers were aware of, but thanks to the Adulteration of Manures Act the farmers were not robbed now as formerly. Mr Pond had been the means of sending back whole ship loads of manure that had been consigned to this colony, and merchants had been made to refund handsomely. Seme of the stuff sent over Mr Pond described as "brick walls ground up." He (the President) thought the farmers did not take sufficient advantage of the Act re analysis, and he was pleased to say that Mr Pond had kindly offered to come and deliver a lecture on soils aud manures at the next meeting of the Club. That would be a very handsome way ot settling up any little difficulty that might have arisen between the fanners and Mr Pond. Mr Turney would doubtless be present at the meeting, and then he and Mr Poud could compare notes re the samples. • He then moved that Mr Pond's offer be accepted.—Mr Forrest seconded the motion, and said that whatever had been said about Mr Pond the farmers believed he was thoroughly to be depended upon.—Mr Barugh was pleased to hear Mr Forrest's remarks. Mr Pond had done many analyses for him, and ho believed him (Mr Pond) to be unimpeachable.— The motion was carried nem con. The Noxious Weeds Bill.— The President stated the Executive Committee had considered the Bill and had recommended several alterations to it, the chief being in the interpretation clause, where they asked that the .Minister should be replaced by Road Boards—where such existed, in Counties where the Counties Act was suspended. —The Executive of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association wrote stating that they objected to clause 2 (the one above mentioned), 4, which enables the Governor-iu-Couneil to declare plants other than those mentioned in the schedule noxious weeds, 5, subsections re the trimming of hedges, subsection 4, of the same clause, was appro. iß'-'f > n s 0 ar as ** compelled the occupiers of land to clear the gorse, broom, sweetbriars and blackberries for half a chain on either side of boundary fences and watercourses, but the rest of the clause was objected to. They also protested against gorse being included in the first schedule.—Mr Tucker asked what definition was given of trimming hedges They often wanted their hedges for shelter, especially at this time of year.—The President said it meant cutting the hedges at the proper season, but there was a saving clause where it would act injuriously 011 any particular hedge or fence.—Mr John Fisher would like to be in accord with the Auckland Association, but he did not see the use of

having the half chain cleared alongside fences and watercourses if the other parts of the ground were to lie lett to grow the plants, for the birds would carry the seeds all over the farms. Again the Aucklauders must have ehauged their opinions re gorse, for they were very stiong en that question some years ago ; but perhaps they now looked to it for fodder, but even then it required to be kept cut. He did not think they should alter the recommendation of their committee. —Mr Clark moved that the action of the committee be approved.— Mr Gillett seconded the motion. He was satisfied if th» matter of enforcing the trimming of hedges was leit in the hands of the local authorities. —Mr John Fisher pointed out that clause 16 of the Act empowered the Minister to have the work doiif, if the local authority did not attend to its duties.— Mr Barugh thought that clause a wise one, for he did not believe there was a Road Board in the district that would compel the hedges to lie trimmed, for they would not even enforce the eradication of gorse, etc., along the roads.—The motion was then put and curried. The Dairy Industry Bill.—There not being time to discuss this measure, it was referred to the Executive Committee, together with Mr J. Gane, to discuss and report upon. A Personal Matter.—The Secretary, Mr Butler, stated that he hud been much annoyed by the action of Mr J. W. Soutcr, of the firm W, Souter and Co., of Cambridge, who had publicly stated in the train when coming from Auckland that he (the speaker) had charged Souter and Co. entry fees at the late root show and had not charged Mr G. E. Clark for similar entries. Mr Butler said he told Mr Souter that he had only carried out instructions, but that gentleman persisted in saying that it was solely his (the secretary's) action, for the then President had told him so. Continuing, Mr Butler said if he was guilty oi such action he was not fit to hold the office of secretary and would resign.— I he President said there had been a lot of talk outside which was calculated to injure the secretary. He was present and heard the remarks in the train, and say what he could he could not convince Mr Souter that Mr Butler was not to blame. He went to Mr Souter that day and told him the matter was coming up at the meeting, and asked him to be pre sent, but he declined. The secretary had always performed his duties faithfully and well, and to the satisfaction of the Club. He thought it would be best to appoint a small committee of, say, three independent members to enquire iuto the matter and report to the club.—Mr R. Fisher thought the whole Root Show committee were the right individuals to attend to the matter.—Mr Gillett pointed out that there was really nothing before the club, and he moved that the Secretary write Mr Souter, asking him to put any complaint he may have to make about the late Root Show in writing.—The President said he had asked Mr Souter to do so, and he refused.—The motion was seconded by Mr J. Fisher and carried.— The Secretary said he brought the mat ter forward in the interest of die club. As far as be personally was concerned, he could stand the racket and knew the remedy. Mr Barugh's Pai'Eß.—Mr Barugh's paper, " Gleanings on a journey from Canterbury to New Plymouth," was then read. (It will appear in full in our Supplement on Saturday next). —At the conclusion of it, the President said no doubt Mr Barugh had travelled about with his eyes open, and he must have teen some good land when a farm of 150 acres could carry 100 cows, but he was glad their friend had returned still satisfied with the Waikato, Talking of freezing reminded him that when in Auckland he was introduced to Mr Houghton, of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and that gentleman informed him that he" would shortly visit Waikato with two buyers of stock to try and purchase 30,000 lambs for shipment to the Old Country, but they muse be crossbred ones. He told Mr Houghton that he was afraid they could not be found in the Waikato tin's year, as nearly all the farmers went in for the longwool breeds : but if they would take the erossbreds next season the farmers would doubtless arrange to have them on hand by then. Mr Houghton told him that his company had shipped from Waitara during the past season 4000 frozen bullocks, 40,000 lambs, and 20,000 legs of mutton. One of the farmers stated that the bullocks he sold had netted him £8 each on the farm. Fancy what a difference that amount of frozen meat meant to the Auckland market, where it would have been sent if it hud not been shipped to England. It seemed an attempt had previously beeu made to get crossbred lambs in the Waikato for a client of the Auckland Freezing Company, who ordered 2000, 1000 to be delivered in November and the other in December. When November came round only 39 were forthcoming. The matter was referred to the purchaser, and he agreed to forego damages if 500 prime ones were delivered in December. The number agreed upon were duly delivered, but only 283 were prime crossbred lambs, and the rest weie long-legged Lincoln?, the result being a loss of between £SO and £OO, and that purchaser did not want any more. The manaucr ot the freezing works told hini that Mr Wilson, of Mangawhara, whose lambs they had frozen, netted 103 each for him on the farm. They were shipped in January, the average weight of them being 351 b. He understood it was the intention of the dealers who were coming to visit the Waikato to drive anything they might purchase to Raglan, and there ship the stock to Waitara.— Mr Gillett asked if it would not be possible to consign lambs, after being frozen, to the care of some freezing company in Canterbury for shipment to England. —Mr Barugh thought it would, probably the Islington Company, but they would not get the beuefit of being graded that the Canterbury farmers had, for their stock was graded into perhaps nine or ten classes, and each farmer's lambs were not disponed of separately, as he expected the Waikato farmers would require it. He suggested that the secretary should write and ask if the lambs could be graded when they arrived in Lonoon —Mr Gillett wondered if the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Society could be prevailed upon to open a branch in Auckland. If they could, it would mean a great saving, us they had the experience and evidently managed their busiuess iu a very successful manner.—Mr Barugh said they had an agent in Auckland, and would, perhaps, be willing to open in that city, if the farmers would take shares.—Mr J. Fisher thought the branch was ouly for the sale of Canterbury produce, which they did not much care about.-»-Mr Barugh said the Canterbury Co-opera-. tive Society should push the sale of Waikato seed wheat in their part of the Colony, for he felt convinced it would ripen fully a week earlier after being grown a couple of years in the Waikato. Mr Gaue trusted the matter of freezing lambs would not be lost of. They should see if the Auckland Freezing Company—who at last had sold a, line of lambs from the district with apparently satisfactory results—would come up and arrange tor shipments in future years. If they could get as satisfactory a price as they did for milk —lew as it was—he was sure many breeders would go in for the erossbreds.—Mr Barugh stated Mr Btetham netted 15s Gd for his first shipment of lambs last year, and he did not see why the farmers of the Auckland province should not be the first in the market.—Mr (jane then moved, " That the Executive Committee take action in the matter of freezing lambs, as brought forward by the delegates who have been South, and obtain all possible information relating thereto."—Seconded by the President, supported by Mr Gillett, and carried. —Mr Forrest said they bad two members present that evening who had

come to have a little talk about chad, lie referred to Messrs Baldwin and Jarrett, who both have chaffoutting machines.— Mr Baldwin stated he saw by the papers Mr Fisher had said that in the South 120 bales of straw were put upon a 1 at!way truck, while here, with a similar machine, they could o» ! y press it sufficiently to get 70 hales on. _ (leadnutted they wi re low managing the chaff better,"and were now putting nearly 1001 bin a bag. He would like to know how that straw was loaded. - Mr Fisher said he did not know himself, but it was done, for he had his informal ion from three sources : first, from the records of the Minister for Railways, which stated the trucks held from 120 to 125 bales ; secondly, from a man at the Christehurch station, who made a similar statement; and thirdly, from Mr Gisborne, who said each bale weighed from fewt to Icwt, and a truck load was 120 to 125 bales. The chaff was now being cue much better, for the machine was now at his place, and they had put 8 tons 17cwt into 170 bags, but that was with using the rings. He was paying 8s per ton.— Mr Baldwin said it cost the machinist more than formerly, and he thought the merchant and the owner of the machine should each contribute Gd per ton of the extra cost. He had consulted Mr Wells, and he was agreeable to do his share towards it.—Mr It. Fisher was ot opiui n that the merchant should pay the shilling, as he would save it in the freight.— Mr Jarrett said the waggons used in the South Island must be those known as the doable R, for he was certain 125 bags of chaff could not be put upon the waggons used on the Auckland railway. Again iu the South the chaff was cut much longer ; indeed they had to get special extra cogwheels made in order to cut it as short as it was required in this district. It was useless to put too much in the bags, for then they would not load well ; iu fact, there were already complaints about the bags being too solid to pack well, and he should not be surprised to hear of a truck ioad coming to grief and capsizing the train. He was now using the patent bagging rings ; but the farmers should recollect that it took considerably more coal to drive the pressor than the cutter, in his opinion one pressor was equal to three cutters. If the farmers would say what they wanted they would try to accommodate them.—Mr Gane stated he was now having some chaff cut and it was being done in a satisfactory manner. No bags were breaking ; but still they were well filled. There was no use in cramming 1301 b into each sack.—Mr Gillett said if the bag 3 went 25 or 26 to the ton he should be satisfied.—The President then moved a hearty vote of tliauks to M r Barugh for the excellent paper he had prepared for them. It was very fewfarmers who would have, taken the trouble both Mr Barugh and Mr Fisher had done to let those whom they represented know not only what had been done at the Conference ; but also make them acquainted with what they saw en route to and from Christehurch.—Mr Fisher seconded the motion, and said Mr Barugh had afforded much information that he (the speaker) could not possibly have given, for he returned much earlier than Mr Barugh. It was very gratifying to him to know that when he left Canterbury be was leaving behind a gentleman who would give them the, benefit of any information that cams in his way, and he was more than pleased at the very able way in which that information had been imparted.—The motion was then put and carried by acclamation.— Mr Barugh said he was pleased to find his efforts had met with their approval. They were doubtless aware that in other districts it was customary to speak of the Waikato as a second-rate place, and of the farmers as being behind the times. He had returned from his trip well satisfied with the Waikato land. They could grow turnips second to none, and in other districts they were beginning to find they had to use manure, as they had in the Waikato ; and from wdiat he had seen on his travels the farmers of Waikato were as well up-to-date as any in New Zealand. Manures.—Mr J. Fisher said he had promised a member to bring forward the question of the Club getting periodical analyses of manures made for the benefit of the farmers at large. It was too late to go into the matter that evening ; but he mentioned it so that the members might think it over.—Mrßarugh thought the idea an excellent one, even if the members had to subscribe to do so. He should be willing to give bis quota. THE Ohaupo Meeting. A very lengthy and desultory discussion then ensued as to the meeting at Ohaupo, aud what status the meetings there would have. The minutes of the meeting lately held at that place were not read ; but the business done there was confirmed, with the exception of one motion which was referred back, and will be brought up at the next quarterly meeting.—Matters connected with'' this became very mixed ; indeed, it was a mixture such, as Lord Dundreary would say that " no fella " could understand.