The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2631, 23 May 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1890.

Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

We have several times directed the attention of farmers, and particularly of those who have only a limited area of land upon which to earn their livelihood, to the fact that, by means of improved machinery, tho raising of cereal crops bids fair to become revolutionised in such a manner as to exclude all but tlio.se who have large estates with big paddocks, from gaining therefrom adequate remuneration, commensurate with their outlay. We are aware that farmers are, as a rule, somewhat conservative in their opinions, and very naturally apt to stick to the " bridge that has carried tlioin safely over " the past, year or two ; consequently, we can understand that they may feel a diffidence about relinquishing the growing of cereals. In these days of advancement we must not be, as our forefathers were fifty years ago, content to follow in the footsteps of our predecessors, but must be prepared to meet the times that are coming, fully equipped, so that we may meet our competitors on even ground, and thus gain a fair share of the spoil. Although we have so far been merely gauging the future in a somewhat prophetic spirit, yet it is well for us to discern the shadows of coming events. It is not solely on account of the improvements in machinery A'c., that small faimers may be driven to relinquish growing grain ; for there are

several other cogent, reasons why it may bo to their benelit to do so. At tin. l pi ('sent time the fanners of Waikato are virtually in the hinds of the Auckland millers. One, after another the Waikato mills have been dosed until there is only one .slill at work", and that, one will consume hut.fi very small portion of the grain grown in Waikato during the past season ; consequently, the farmers must sell to the Auckland millers, or ship their wheat to Sydney or other Australian ports. Several farmers have forwarded their grain to Sydney to he sold there by an agent, with what result wo have not yet heard ; but there seems cause to doubt that the price realised will hardiy meet their expectations, as the Americans have been sending several heavy shipments which will flatten the market. That the Waikato will grow good wheat is an undoubted fa t, but it is also indisputable that it cannot compute with the plains of Canterbury. The other day we were shown a sample, of Tuscan wheat, taken from a cargo lately arrived in Auckland from the South, such as we have never seen grown in the Waikato, The, freight by water being small, the Southerners have us at a disadvantage. Then again, Waikato wheat is most dillicult grain to grind. When ground it makes very strong flour, but the colour is not so white as that made from Southern wheat, and, therefore list so marketable, for it has unfortunately becomc the fashion to give the preference to the whitest possible bread, the question of its nourishing properties being totally disregarded. A mixture of Waikato and Canterbury wheats, will make flour second to none, as it has both strength and colour; but here, again, the Southerners have the advantage, for the freight from Auckland precludes local men from getting Southern grain. In the face of all these impediments to the successful growing and disposing of cereals, it naturally behoves the fanners of Waikato to turn their attention to something that will pay them better, and which is not beset by so ninny stumbling blocks. As we said in our leader on Tuesday, that is to be found in breeding and rearing sheep and cattle. About, a month ago we published a circular received from .Messrs Nelson liro.<., offering L' j<! per lb for carcases of unit ton delivered free on board st e; inters, w i th a n ad d i tionnl percentage, if (he meat brought above a certain price in the English market. These terms were subject to a three yearn' agreement. In the next issue was a letter from "K,inner," in which hestrongly counselled the farmers not to enter into any such agreement. Knowing that it is a matter of vital importance to the farming community that they should have a ready market for their stock, and this being the

first definite offer to pay cash as soon as the meat was delivered on hoard the boats, we felt anxious to find out if it would prove lucrative, or otherwise. In order to ascertain the opinions of the farmers, we determined to interview a number ef them, and, having done so, may state that nearly every one of them expressed themselves pleased with the oiler of Messrs Nelson Bros., and did not endorse the views of "Farmer." .Many thought that better offers would be forthcoming, in which opinion they were clearly right, as an English Company lias determined to give 2kl per lb., though some time must ela; sn before they can be ready to commence operations, whilst, as wc before stated, the freezing trade itself may soon be superseded by the newly-discovered fumigating process. One gentleman we interviewed, said that if farmers did not do well it was their own fault, as he was convinced that every ewe sheep would return £1 per year each, if wool kept its present price. Venturing to suggest that he had rather over-rated the profits, he contended that he had not, and referred to a thousand ewes that had cost the Thames Valley Land Company £336, and in one year had returned a net. profit of £7 - 29. In order to verify his statement wo wrote to the Secretary of the Company, who kindly furnished us with a copy of the account, which we give in extenso : — Mk.mo. kk 1000 Loxu woor, Kwks nought FROM MK Hakdv, XAIMKK. 18S8. £ s. d. March 5. To 1,000 long wool ewes in Napier at lis... ... 300 0 0 Driving to Lichfield at Sd ... 33 IJ 8 188!). March 10. To balance, less charges, shearing, keep, etc. 7211 2 S 1002 <J 4 ISSS. Cr. Dee. 31. By wool, 8,0001 bs. shipped per Zealandia at Sd 2lili 13 4 ISS'.I. Jan. 1!). By 2!)S lambs frozen and shipped pet Taioui per Freezing Co.'s account 12,.'!)2 111 at 2d 104 IS 8 SliDibs. fat at 113 lliths (i 1L 3 2!IS skins at 2s OAd 30 8 5 Maxell !). 3IIS lambs frozen and shipped p"r Tongariro per Freezing Co.'s account, Hi,231) li s. at 2 1 135 II C l.fiUTlbs. fat at 113 lliths ... 12 14 10 31IS skins at Is 10d ... ... 3l> !' 8 .fan. 7to Feb S. By 320 lambs sold in Auckland market, price from 13s lid down to 7s iid, averaging nett Ss(id ... 13(5 0 0 Maich 10. 1000 ewes on hand at cost Gs Sd 333 (i 8 10152 !) 4 Now Zealand Thames Valley Land Company (Limited). Auckland, 10th March, 188!). The above magnificent results, although not reaching our friend's ideas regarding what the profits should be, are nevertheless, considerably over 200 per cent on the outlay. From this there is, of course, to be deducted the share of charges, the .shearing, and the keep of the sheep, a no inconsiderable item, but still in the-ie times of depression is not by any means bad business. A few facts, such as these, must be comforting to farmers, and points out what, at the pr. sent prices of meat and wool, is the direction in which to turn their attention now that there is a probability of grain crops proving unremuuerative. A copy of tlie account should be forwarded to some of the English agricultural papers, and we would not be surprised if it caused applications to be made for Patetero land.