NOTES AND COMMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 13

NOTES AND COMMENTS

High Price For Pig In a recent Press Association message from Hastings it was stated that what was believed to be a record price for a pig was realised at auction in Hastings when £54 Is 6d was paid for a champion sow and litter of seven. However, this price has been exceeded several times in the Waikato during recent years. 46s For Wethers No bigger sheep have been seen in the Te Awamutu yaids than the pair of wethers that excited so much in terest at the sale last Thursday. They were both in che wool and guesses as to their dead weight varied from 170 to 2001 b. They were sold on account of Mr C. W. Swainson by the New Zealand Loan Merc m tUe Agency Company. The secret of their phenomenal size was that they had actually been pet sheep.

Large Clearing Sale One of the largest and most successful clearing sales yet held in the Waikato was that conducted last week by Messrs Newton King, Ltd., on the property of Drs. Rogers and Hiskens on the Te Kawa-Otorohanga road. Competition was particularly keen for all classes of stock and for the many sundries that were offered. It was estimated that close on a thousand people attended the sale.

Irresponsible Shooters Back country runholders who have sustained losses of stock and damage to property through the acts of irresponsible shooters can invoke the aid of the law' much more easily than is generally considered. The expense of issuing warnings and posting notices can be avoided under the 1927 amendment to the Stock Act, section 4 of which states: — Every person commits an offence and is liable to a fine of £5, who, without the authority of the occupier, goes upon any private land with dog or gun and disturbs any stock depastured thereon. Proceedings under the section shall be taken only on the information of the occupier of the land.

Suggestion For Showgrounds A southern visitor to the Waikato Centennial Show, after enthusiastically commenting on the high stanl dard of the show, suggested that to let show visitors know just where everything was on the extensive grounds flags of an explanatory nature should be flown over the various pavilions. Not only would the flags add to the appearance of the pavilions, he said, but they would act as a very useful guide to those I who were not familiar with the I grounds. Show At Paeroa The 41st annual show of the Hauraki Agricultural and Pastoral Association to be held at Paeroa on Saturday, December 2. promises to be an outstanding success. The schedule of prizes is an attractive one and exhibitors of all classes of stock have been well catered for, while the programme of public entertainment leaves nothing to. be desired. Intending exhibitors should note that entries close on November 22. Dominion Rams In Britain The Kent Sheep Breeders’ Association recently considered an application to enter in its flock book two one-sheer Romney rams bred in New Zealand by Mr R. W. Matthews, and entered in the New Zealand flock book. It was decided by the council that while these rams cannot be accepted for registration in the flock book, if either of them is purchased by a member of the association, arrangements will be made so that they can be used in the purchaser’s flock and the progeny be eligible for registration. New Product From Whey Scientists in the United States report having perfected a new transparent, rubber-like substance from lactic acid of whey. This is known by the somewhat formidable name of polymethylacrylate, and is closely related to the so-called organic glass made synthetically and used for highway reflectors. It is. however, softer and more flexible. The new substance is said to have many unique properties—transparency, elasticity, toughness, ease of solubility and stability to sunlight and ultra-violet rays.

Waikato Chiller Cattle The comments of the judge who made the awards on the hooks to the chiller cattle exhibited on the hoof at the Waikato Centennial Show must be an encouragement to all those who are engaged in the production of beef in the district. Except that some of the entries were a little on the heavy side, the line of cattle looked particularly well on the hooks and the judge described many of the carcases as ideal for the export trade. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good for while the war has necessarily prevented the English hook judging this fact enabled the show carcases to be made available for local consumption. Hoof and Hook Judging

In quite a few instances the hoof judging of the export pigs at the show coincided with those later made on the hooks at Horotiu. In the bacon class Mr J. Mead won both at the show and on the hooks, while Mr G. H. Barton, who won the second award at the show was placed third on the hooks. In the porker classes, pigs which won at the show were invariably placed also on the hooks. The results on the hooks were certainly a tribute to the ability of Mr T. Marks, of Auckland, who did the judging on the hoof at the show. It was unfortunate that one of the best porkers on the hooks, which had been placed first by Mr Marks on the hoof, could not be considered by the hooks judge, Mr H. Kneebone, because it was just one pound over-weight for its class.