WAIKATO FARMERS’ CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 374, 1 December 1898, Page 3

WAIKATO FARMERS’ CLUB.

The monthly meeting of the above club was held in the borough chambers at Cambridge on Monday evening. There were present: Messrs E. Allen (President), N. I. Hunt, Jno. Fisher, W. Tucker, H. Gillett, J. Anderson, G. McCullagh, R. Fisher, G. Empson, D. Ross, S. E. G. Smith, Jas. Hally, W. T. Carr, J. Barugh, \V. Percy, R. Caley, J. W. Fisher, R. R. Hunt, J. Cane, S. Baldwin, W. T. Weatherill, C. Jarrett, J. M. Scott, W. Scott, J. Forrest, T. A. Hicks, Jan. Adams, J. D. P. Morgan, J. W. Souter, F. J. Brooks and T. Hnrtly. Damage to Stock in Railway Trucks.—Mr Robert Salmon, chairman of the Butchers' Association of Auckland, wrote :—" I extremely regret not being able to meet with you and discuss the important question of carriage of cattle to our markets, but owing to our Exhibition and having to be ready for the opening I cannot possibly neglect it. Re carriage of stock on our railways : Firstly, I would suggest that the cattle should be roped the same as is done on board ship. They could net then get down or knock each other about as they do at present. The head ropes could always be returned, and no doubt the Government would return them free, and with ordinary care they would last a long time. Certainly, the amount of bruised cattle that have come into our markets lately would pay for a great many hundreds of head ropes ; in fact, the ship cattle come into our markets in a more reliable condition than by train. A few weeks back I killed one from the Waikato which had no sign of bruise in the market. Owing to it being a wet night the dirt had all washed off, and when killed it was not fit for *ale, which means a great loss to us. Secondly, I would advise through night trains, as that would lessen the shunting. The only shunting that need be would be at stations where the trains would have to pick up cattle trucks. The cattle coming down by ordinary goods trains are shunted along the platforms and the cattle get excited with people climbing up to look at them, which I have often seen them do, and they get their heads down under the next beast and finally fclip down with the shunting under the feet of other cattle and are smashed up, and an ox that would fetch £7 or £8 is worth less than half, which means a serious loss to the owner, or is so smashed up that it has to be destroyed."—Mr Salmon also forwarded a sample rope for tying up the oxen.— Mr H. Wilding, Chairman of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said he had come to co-operato with the farmers in endeavouring to devise some method of sending cattle by train that would do away with the present cruelty to the animals in transit and the consequent lobs to the butchers and farmers. He then quoted a case that occurred at the Bucklaud station where he and the Inspector of Slaughterhouses witnessed what was done with a couple of cattle that were down in the truck. They were transkipped, one that was almost dead being put in a truck by itself, and the injured one being put with the uninjured, which was an error, as it of course got down again aud was further injured before it arrived at the Remuera Yards. He had thought of taking proceedings against the platelayer who traushippeu the cattle, but on second consideration had relinquished the idea as the mau had evidently done what he thought was best. The dead animal mads 255, the injured one £4 and the remainder brought £7 each. He had conferred with Mr Salmon and he believed that if she Club would make adequate proposals the Government would take the matter up and do all in its power to remedy the evil. He believed much of the injury to cattle was due to carelessness. He had never travelled by a cattle train, but the previous Saturday he had attended the Mercer Regatta and he fancied the train he returned to town iu must have been driven by a " goods" driver, for the thumps they "received would have knocked any cattle off their legs had there been any m trucks attached to it. The polled cattle did not suffer nearly as much as those with horns, which made him think Mr Salmon's idea a good one. He had seen cattle on board ship being brought from Holland to Dentford and they were all head roped. If the larmers, the butchers and his Society put their heads together they could surely devise some method of fastening the cattle so that they would travel without i D j ur y,_The President stated that when in Auckland he interviewed Mr Grant, the Traffic Manager, on the matter of the night tram, but that gentleman did thiuk it would answer, as the stations would be dark and it would be necessary to take a lantern to see if the cattle were all right, and that would scare them badly he was afraid. It would doubtless suit Cambridge, Te Aroha and Te Awamutu, as it would be light when the cattle were loaded at those places, but lower down the line, say at Huntly, the cattle would either be loaded in the dark or would be trucked a considerable time before the train departed. Again, if there was not a sufficient supply of cattle to make a train load, it would have to be made up with coal, which would necessitate a certain amount of shunting. If the Club was unanimous in asking for the night train he thought thb Government would put one on.—Mr Hunt said it would be useless trying to rope cattle that had not been used to it when they were young. Twenty yiars ago iu Napier he had done it, but those cattle were purposely used to it when calves. He believed the practice had now been discarded, and he was sure that animals off a run would be more likely to injure themselves if tied up than if left looae in the trucks ; in fact, they would ulmost go mad. —Mr R. Fisher said much damage was net usually done when there were eight in a truck, but, if there was a stag amongst them, it was the custom to tie his head up, for one rowdy one generally caused the trouble.-Mr John Fisher said the members would recollect complaints, had been made about this years ago, and then Mr Hudson blamed the driving, and complaints were made to the authorities in Wellington, but little satisfaction was got. Matters improved for a time, but now they seemed to have drifted back to the old state again. On his late visit to Auckland the shunting was very bad—enough to upset any cattle. He was afraid roping would not do. It had been proved by experience that if there was too much room the cattle were liable to get down. If the Government would find the ropes the system might be triod, but they could rest assured the farmers would not supply ropes, for they would never be sent back ; they were uearly always cut when the animals were being unloaded at Remuera. If the Government would provide all facilities and a man to take off the ropes, the farmers would doubtlets give it a fair trial. He thought Mr Hunt's suggestion about small pens a good one. The bogie trucks were divided now for cattle, and they might be again sub-divided, say, with a gate, which would virtually make four small pens. —Mr Gaoe asked Mr Wilding what bis Society thought of de-homing.—ln replying, Mr Wilding said he should hardly like to express an opinion. Iu the Old Country it was illegal iu some pavo and'not in others. It must be very painful to de-horn full-grown cattle ; but why not do it when they were young, when it could be done by an almost painless operation. It was not for him to mak« any suggestion, but if the shunting was remedied he thought it would, in a great incisure, meet the difficulty.—The President said Mr Grant had lately made a journey on purpose to see how the shunting was done, but, of course, there would not be any bad work when he was on board the train. He was pleased to le;irn that the Auckland auctioneers had lately forwarded a couple of guineas to a Huntly butcher who, a little time since, risked his life in traushipping tome cattle that

had cot down iu the truck.— Mr Barugh was of opinion that the buffers of the cattle trucks were not so good as those on the carriages, and consequently the concussion was worse. They should be just ns pood as on the first" class carriages.—Mr Gillett asked Mr Wilding what sort of cattle trucks were used iu England.—Tho reply was ranch the same as in this colony. Formerly the animals were much bruised about the rump, an important part to English butchers, but the Baroness Burdett-Goutts gave a large sum of money to have the trucks padded, and since then the railway companies had followed her example, and no complaints were now made about the animals being bruised. —Mr Gillett was in favour of the night train ; the cattle would travel in the cool and not be so long on the way, and he did not think the lantern would frighten them as much as passengers looking at them when travelling by day. He moved that the Traffic Manager be asked to endeavour to get a night train put on the Wuikato railway for cattle. — Seconded by Mr R. Caley.—Mr Hunt objected on the ground that cattle being driven to the station in the heat of the day and when everybody was about in the townships, would suffer much more than fct the present. Now they were taken along the roads in the cool of the morning and through the townships before anyone was about, and he thought it would not hurt, them nearly as much to stand in the sun iu the trucks while travelling, and in the daylight the guard would at once know if any of them got down. Tho President favoured Mr Hunt's opinion.—Mr John Fisher then moved as an amendment: " That this Club considers that greater care should be taken iu the trausit of stock on the railways ; the trains should be run in less time, greator care be taken in shunting and in preventing unauthorised persons from intorfering with the stock in trucks, and that the Railway Department should devise a better mode of carrying stock than the one at present in use."—The President seconded the amendment, but said he did not see what the latter part of it eould bring them if they could not suggest a better method.—Mr Fisher said he had lately seen in an American Magazine an illustration of a cattle truck where e»ch animal was in a separate stall.—Mr W. Scott stated he had lately seen one of the kind Mr Fisher mentioned in the northern part of the colony. (Chorus of voices: " Where it is not wanted.")—Mr Gillett said as it was not the unanimous wish of the members to have the night train he would withdraw his motion. —Mr Fisher's motion was then put and unanimously agreed to.— A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Wilding for having attended the meeting, for which he thanked the club, Baying he trusted thtir efforts would be crowned with success.

Frozen Lames for the English Mabket.—Mr Bevins, representing Messrs A. H. Turnbull, of Christchurch, who arc agents for Weddell and Co., the well-known importers of frozen meat into Britain, was present to confer with the members as to opening business with his firm. He stated he was authorised to purchase any number of suitable lambs at 2 ; [d per lb, delivered at the Westfield works. Those wanted wore the Shropshire Down cross, and must be from 301 b to 401 b each, which, with the skin and fat, would give the seller from 8s 9d to 9s each. It was not imperative that all should be purchased at the works, but, as it would not pay to travel over the country purchasing small lots here and there, he had arranged with Mr Storey, of McNicol and Co , to purchase on his behalf, and that gentleman would purchase in the paddock, if that method was preferred. Mr Bevins stated he had already purchased about 6000 lambs in the Auckland province, and his firm would also purchase cross-bred wether* weighing from 481 b to 721 b, say an average of 601 b, at lj'd p«r lb. The farmers should encourage exporting, as it would relieve the local market, and thus help to raise the price. The Canterbury lamb and mutton was known at Home, and had a good reputation, whereas Auckland had not; indeed, he was afraid there was a "dead horse" to work off in the shape of a record of some bad meat having been received from there. He had heard of lamb fetching as much as 6£d per lb in London, but that was for very early ones that arrived there just in time for the Christinas market.—Mr Barugh commended Mr Bevins for appointing a local man to purchase on the farms. He was sure but little trade would result if the farmers had to send their lambs to Auckland, for past experience had proved that many were refused, and were then put upon the local market and sold for what they would fetch.— Mr Bevins said there was a certain amount of risk by buying in the paddocks, but Mr Storey would purchase at so much per head, and then the farmers would know exactly what they were doing.—Both Messrs Barugh and Forrest said that was exactly what the farmers required.—Mr J. Fisher said that was a great improve ment on what Mr Bevins hail offered at the Auckland Conference. He trusted the farmers would encouraEe the trade as much as possible. —Mr Ganc also referred to the great advantage Mr Bevins' offer would be to farmers. He thought in future years there would be no lack of suitable lambs, for the farmers would doubtless lay themselves out to supply the demand, and there was not the slightest reason why Waikato should not get top price, for it could surely raise lambs as early as any other part of the colony.—The President stated that Mr Beetham, of the Wairarapa, had netted 13s Gd for 17,000 lambs he sent Home. They were of the Southdown cross, which he found matured quicker than the Shropshire. He had both Southdown and Shropshire flocks, but he found the Lincoln ewe and Southdown ram gave the best result. Mr Bevins understood that Mr Jas. Hume had also netted 13s 6(1 for some lambs he sent Home. They were delivered in Auckland, and out of 4000 only about 16 were rejected.—Mr Hunt asked if Mr Bevins' firm could do with an unlimited quantity next yeai, to which he received the answer that they could do with at the least 100,000. Mr Hunt stated he should prepare for lambs. One beneficial effect the exporting trade would have would be to make the Auckland market steady, whereas there was sometimes now as much difference as £1 iu a bullock between the Tuesday and Thursday's market.—Mr Anderson stated that two years ago he sent Home 400 lambs, and they were all passed in Auckland. Anyone going in for fat lambs should make them good, and then they would find they were equal to anything in the South. He had seen lambs weighing 401 b. already this season.—Mr Barugh thought the early lambs would be worth a bit inoie than the later ones. He asked Mr Bevins what he considered early. The reply he received was that in the South those shipped from Mic 12th to the 16th of November were considered early. They just got Home in time for the Chrismas market.—Mr Banks said he had seen lambs shipped from Longbeach (Mr Gligg's) at the end of October.—Mr Hunt said he did not wonder at Auckland having a bad reputation for lambs, for some of those that were frozen to send Home would have made very good lanterns if a candle had been stuck inside the carcase, and others had what was called the " bone stink." The lot he did best out of were thrown overboard in consequence of the machinery breaking down, and then he got the insurance.—The President understood some had the kidneys left in the carcases, but Mr Bevins said that lots were destroyed. Others, however, were allowed to get properly sta'c before they »vere shipped, some even being kept for as much as six mouths before being put on board. He believed a financial institution advanced as much as 10s each on one shipment, and the consignor had

to refund 9s sd, for they on'y made 7d each at Home.—Mr Kevins was then asked what prize he could offer for beef, but-he declined to give an answer mtil he had commuuioited with hisfi.m. Hestated that Mr Weddel was now in Kew Zealand and if the farmers wished to have an interview with him it would be well to invito him to attend a meeting ; but it really seeired useless to ask him to come unless there were mote animals for gale.—lt was resolved to ask Mr Weddel to attend, if couvenirmt.— Mr Bevins stated the Westfield Works could only treat With about 400 per day, and they would be full up from 19th December to the middle of January with what he had already purchased, uUt a 2 00(l "V- uy could be taken before that time.—The President moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bevins for attending. They could hardly realise what it would mean to have the Auckland market relieved of surplus stock.—The motion was carried by acclamation, and Mr Bevins thanked the members, saying he trusted his visit would prove to be to their mutual benefit. . The remainder of our report is unavoidably held over. QUARTERLY MEETING AT OHAUPO. The quarterly meeting of the Oliaupo branoh of the Waikato Farmers' Club was held on Tuesday. There were present: Messts Allen, President (in the chair), Turuey, Johns, R. Kay, McCullagh, Ryburn, Ross, Marshall, Jones, Burke, John Fisher, G. A. Runciman, G. Finch, Ohye, Edwards, J. H. Mandeao, and Potts. Analysis of Manure.—On the motion of Mr Fisher it was decided to follow the example of the Cambridge branch, and send samples of every known minurc to Mr Pond for analysis. Frozen Mctton Trade.—The Chairman introduced Mr Bevins, the representative of Messrs A. Turnbull & Co., Christchurch, agents for Messrs Weddell and Co., a London firm—Mr Bevins said the company he was associated with proposed to buy any quantity of lambs this season. They preferred the Southdown cross, and were prepared to pay 2 : }d per lb for lambs of from 351 b to 40lb, the seller deiling with the fat and skins himself; for any other cross they offered £d less for those that were suitable. For the convenience of those who wished it. they were prepared to take lambs when put on the trucks. He had arranged with Mr A. J. Storey, of McNicol and Co., to do that work, and also to purchase lambs. He was not prepared to quote a price for next year, but would take any quantity from November up to end of February.—Reyplying to Mr J. L. Maudeno, he said the by-products of lambs averaging 351 b would be about 2s. Mr Jas. Hume had dealt pretty largely in lambs -during the past fewyears, and had averaged about 2s, the lambs bringing from 7s 6d to 9s. He (the speaker) had purchased some lambs this season—a prime lot at Bs. The company had to risk the freezing works " rejects," that is those bruised and bitten by dogs, etc., and of course they could only offer a corresponding price ; but if a little care was taken there would be a very small percentage of rejects. The company preferred the Southdown or English Leicester cross, and offered jd less per lb. for auy other.—The Chairman said Mr Weddell, whom Mr Bevins represented, was in Christchurch, and a telegram had been sent asking, him to visit Waikato and furnish information re beef, in which Waikato farmers were interested more deeply.—ln reply to questions, Mr Bevins said he thought if the trade warranted it the firm would te prepared to erect slaughterhouses in a central position iu Waikato, as the freezing works in Auckland could only deal with 400 a day, or about 50,000 in the season. He thought the Waikato trade would easily exceed that, and some increased accommodation would have to be provided for it. He thought Frankton would be a suitable spot for the works.—The Chairman said he thought the offer a fair one. They could rely on getting a certain price for lambs, while in Waikato the prices fluctuated greatly. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Bevins for his address.—This was all the business.