FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

BUSH SICKNESS. AN INTERESTING THEORY. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Dec. 9.. Giving evidence for the defence in the case in which Frederick Freeman Rogers is suing the Matarawa Land Company for £IOOO damages for alleged misrepresentation in the sale of a farm at Tokoroa, Samuel Burton, for over 20 years a Government veterinarian, and now in private practice, said that in 1919 he investigated bush sickness at Mamaku. He discovered that the disease was due to the presence in the soil of oxide of silica, a 10-sided glass particle. These crystals were exceedingly hard, next in hardness to gems, l’he soil in the district was very friable, so that cattle, sheep and goats pulled their feed, dislodging some of the soil, and took in ouantities of silica, which was really ground glass. This set up an inflammatory condition of the intestines, until it irritated to such an extent that they were unable to digest food. Oxide of silica had been discovered in the excreta of cows fed on the land. In all post-mortem examinations of cattle which died from bush sickness he found from one to two handfuls of ground glass in the fourth stomach. Cattle thrived for a time on this land. After they sickened cattle should be removed to another district, when they would recover after a few weeks. His Honour: Has your theory been accepted ? Witness: Not by the Government. Other scientists have, however, agreed with my theory. The disease is not known anywhere else in the world, but is peculiar to the Tokoroa district. DAIRY CONTROL BOARD. NORTH AUCKLAND SUPPORT. CRITICISM DEPRECATED. Per Press Association. WHANGAREI, Dec. 9. A meeting of the North Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union passed a resolution supporting the Dairy Control Board and deprecative of Sir George Elliott’s criticism of the board.

THE DOMINION’S TRADE. EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. The exports from the Dominion for the ten months to October 31 amounted to £39,020,207 which contrasts with £46,149,945 for the ten months of last year, there being a decrease of £7,129,738. The imports for the ten. months totalled £41,741,128 against £42,980,176, a decrease of £1,239,048. For the ten months the imports exceed the exports by £2,720,921. Last year the exports exceeded the imports by £3,169,769, so that compared with last year we have had a set back of £5,890,690. The heavy decline in exports is due principally to the fall 'in wool values. The values of the principal items of export compared with tlie figures for the corresponding term of last year are as follow: 1926. 1925. £ £ Wool 10,732,761 16,078,384 Butter 6,533,871 7,246,794 Cheese ■ 4,807,173 4,141,504 Casein 72,614 81,364 Dried Milk ... 211,927 299,823 Frozen Beef 490,806 699,614 Frozen Lamb 5,415,860 6,389,527 Frozen Mutton 1,987,095 2,500,547 Apples 363,810 116,088 Sausage Skins 741,974 640,431 Calfskins ... 115,633 171,204 Hides 486,595 626,461 Opossum Skins 54,896 71,087 Rabbitskins 653,896 764,474 Sheepskins 1,426,065 1,758,393 For the calendar year, 1925, the exports Were valued at £48,132,534, and for the exports for the current year to equal thqt total the exports in November and December would need to be as much as £9,112,327, which is a physical impossibility. The number of motor vehicles imported during tho ten months was 18,598 valued at £3,041,809, compared with 17,749 vehicles valued at £3,349,604, in the corresponding term of last year.

CANADIAN ENTERPRISE.

RICE SOWN BY AEROPLANE. In an effort to increase the _ numbers of ducks and muskrats in the northern area of by providing additional ‘sustenance, the Manitoba provincial Department of Agriculture has sent north sacks of w3d rice to be sown by aerojjlane over the vast duck marsh known as Moose Lake and Cedar Lake. This vast marsh, 20 miles wide by 90 miles long, is the largest duck marsh on the continent, and. also constitutes tho largest muskrat harbourage.

DAIRY PRODUCE. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house under date of the Bth inst: Butter: Market firm. Control prices have been advanced -a further 6s per cwt. Now Zealand finest now 1765, first grade 1745. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., Ltd., has received the following cablegram from its London house under date Bth inst:. Butter: New Zealand choicest, stored 164 s to 168 s per cwt; controlled, per lonic, commenced at 168 s to 170 s, now 6s higher. Cheese: Controlled 95s to 96s per cwt.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. Wheat.—Growers are showing a greater disposition to market stocks, though storage is still in progress freely. Millers are offering about 4s lOd per bushel at country stations. Flour.—For export, £l2 5s per ton; local, £l3 10s. Oats.—Tasmanian Algerian, 3s lOd to 4s per bushel; white, 4s 3d to 4s sd. Maize.—South African, 7s 9d per bushel. Potatoes.—Tasmanian, £23 to £27 per ton; local, £24 to £25. Onions.—Victorian, £l2 10s to £l3 per ton, local, £l2 to £l3. —Press Association. ADELAIDE, Dec. 9. Wheat.—Growers lots, 5s 4£d per bushel; December, 5s 3d to 5s 3£d. Flour.—Bakers’ lots, £l4 to £lB per ton. Oats,' 2s 4d to 2s 6d per bushel. — Pres 3 Association.

CALCUTTA TEA SALES. CALCUTTA, Dec. 8. At 'the ■ tea sales there was a strong active market at satisfactory rates for good classes, other sorts being irregular at average prices. Commonest leaf fetched 9 annas 6 pies to 10 annas 6 pies; ordinary common Pekoe Souchong, JO annas to 10 annas 3 pies; lowest even leaf Pekoe, 11 annas to 12 annas. Dusts wore fully firm.—A. and N.Z. cable.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS AND PRICES. At tho morning call yesterday on the Wellington Stock Exchange a sale of Bank of New Zealand shares at 59s 6d was reported. At tho afternoon call a sale of Wellington Gas ordinary shares at 26s 3d wus made on ’Change, and tho sales reported were 5£ per cent, stock at £IOO 17s 6d- and New Zealand and River Plate at 23s lid. There was an all-round good demand for stocks and shares. For the ,4£ per cents, there were bids of £96 12s 6d, ! for tho 5 per cents. £99, and tho 5£ per | cents. £IOO 15s. Bank shares were stoady and in fair demand. Buyers offcrod £7 19s for English, Scottish and Australian Bank shares, £7 Is 6d for National Bank of New Zealand, 59s for Bank of New Zealand, and 6e 6d for Bank of New Zealand rights. Sellers quoted 32s 6d for .Commercial Bank ordinary £45 for Bank of New South Wales, £ls 5s 9d for Union Bank, and 54s 9d for Western Australian j Bank. There were buyers of Equitablo Building at £9 2s 6d, Metropolitan BuildI ing at £l3, Wellington Investment at 10s | 6d, and Now Zealand Guarantee Corporation ordinary at 10s 3d. Gas shares were steady, with buyers of Auckland Gas at 23s 1 6d and Wellington Gas ordinary at 265. New Zealand Refrigorating, 10s paid wore wanted at 6s 6d, and Gear Meat shares at 37s cum dividend. There were buyers of New Zealand Shipping preference shares at £9, and Union Steam preference at 20s 4d cum dividend. Timber shares were slow, but there was a bid of 14s for National Timber. Browory shares were firm, with buyers of New Zealand Breweries at 525, Staples and Co. at 37s 6d, and Ward and Co. at 42s 7d. A fair business was offering in tho miscellaneous section. There were bids of 50s for British Tobacco ordinary, 39s for Burns, Philp and Co., 70s for Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering, 22s for Now Zealand Milk Products, 20s 6d for Wellington Queen’s Theatre, 33s for Wilson’s Cement, and 10s 4d for Amalgamated Zinc. Yesterday’s buying and Belling quotations were as under:

SALES IN OTHER CENTRES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Deo. 9. Sales.—lnscribed Stock (1938 4£ per cent.), £97; ditto (1939 4£ per cent.), £97; Auckland Hospital Board debentures (1947, 5J per cent.) £101; Commercial Bonk of Australia, 325; Bank of New South Wales, £45 2s 6d; Bank of New Zealand, 59s 6d; Now Zealand Insurance, 37s 9d; South British Insurance, 55s 9d; Now Zealand and River Plato 245; Loan and Mercantile, £96; Taupin Coal, 21s 9d; Auckland Gas, 245; Moanataiari (contrib.), 5s 9d, 5s 9d, 5s Bd, 5s 7d, 5s 3d; Lucky Shot (contrib.b Is 3d. DUNEDIN, Deo. 9. Sale.—Kawarau 3s 3d. Sales Reported.—P. and O. deferred, £250; Milburn Lime, 30s; Kawarau, 3s 3d. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 9. Sales Reported.—Standard Insurance, 58s; Now Zealand Government, 4£ per cent. Inscribed Stock, 1938, £96 17s 6d, £96 15s. . , Sales. —Kaiapoi Woollen 17s paid, 3s.

MELBOURNE HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE, Dec. 9. At the hides sales demand was general. Previous values were unchanged. —Press Association. P. AND O. COMPANY’S PROFITS. LONDON, Dec. 9. The P. and O. Company’s balancesheet > shows a divisible suipias 01 £400,746. There is added to the reserve £200,000 and carrred forward *66,034. A. and N.Z. cable. LONDON TALLOW SALES.

LONDON, Dec. 8. At the tallow sales 1813 casks were offered, and 614 were sold. There was a general decline of 3s per cwt. Mutton, fine, 41s per cwt.; medium, 365: beef, fine, 40s; medium, 35s.—A. and N:Z, cable. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram under date of the Bth inst: Tallow: Prices are 3s per cwt lower; 1815 casks were offered and 617 casks were sold. We quote: Good mixed 39s 6d, low and inferior descriptions 33s 6d to 34s 6d, beef and mutton 40s to 41s nominally.

PRICE OF GOLD. LONDON, Doc. 8. The price of gold is £4 4s lljd per ounce,—A- and N.Z. cable.

THE WOOL MARKETS. SALES IN LONDON. GOOD SORTS FIRM.

'LONDON, Dec. 8. At the wool sales there was an average selection and fair competition. Good wools were firm, but faulties were irregular. The New Zealand lot PMD brought up to 16id per lb., and averaged lijd.—A. and N.Z. cable. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their.; London house under date of the Bth inst: The wool sales continue active for best merinos, but prices are scarcely on a par with lately reported rates. Inferior and faulty merinos are irregular and difficult to sell, and as compared with the opening rates of the present series are 2} to 5 per cent lower. There is a good demand for crossbreds from Continental and home trade buyers, and lately reported rates are fully maintained. The sales close on December 10.

Buyers. Sellers. N.Z. GOVT. LOANS- £ s. d. £ d. 4A p.c. Ins. Stk.. 1939 96 12 6 — 44 p.c. ditto, 1938 ... 96 12 6 — 5£ p.c. ditto, 1933 ...100 15 0 — 5i p.c. ditto 1927/1941 98 0 0 98 15 0 5£ p.c. ditto, 1936 ... 4£ p.c Bonds, 1939 ... 96 12 6 100 17 6 4£ p.c. ditto, 1938 ... 96 12 6 — 41 p.c. ditto, 1930 ... — 98 0 0 5£ p.c. ditto, 1933 ...100 15 0 — 5 p.c. P.O. Bonds, 1927 99 0 0 — DEBENTURES— N.Z. Breweries (bonds) BANKS— 1 4 6 1 5 0 Commercial of Aust. 1 12 6 Commercial of Sydney English, Scottish, and ■- 26 15 0 Australian 7 19 0 — National of N.Z 7 1 6 7 2 6 New South Wales ... — 45 0 0 New Zealand 2 19 0 2 19. 6 Ditto (rights) 0 6 6 — Union of Australia ... — 15 5 9 Western Australian ... FINANCIAL — — 2 14 9 Goldsbrough Mort ... — 2 10 9 Equitable Building ... 9 2 6 9 15 0 Metropolitan Permanent Building N.Z. Guarantee Corp. 13 0 0 — (ord. 8s) 0 10 3 — Wellington Invest. ... 0 10 6 — Wellington Deposit ... GAS0 10 4 Auckland (paid) 1 3 6 — Wellington (ord.) ... 1 6 0 1 6 6 Ditto (pref.) 0 16 6 — MEAT PRESERVING— N.Z Refrigerat. (10s) 0 6 6 — Goar (cum.) TRANSPORT— 1 17 0 1 17 9 N.Z. Shipping (pref.) Union Steam (pref., 9 0 0 — 1 0 4 P. and O. def. stock 250 0 0. WOOLLEN— Wellington (ord.) — 6 12 6 Ditto (new issue) ... COAL- — 6 10 0 Taupiri (ord.) — 1 2 9 Waipa TIMBER— — 0 15 6 Leyland-O’Brien — 2 2 6 National BREWERIES— 0 14 0 0 16 0 Manning and Co. ... — 1 1 0 New Zealand 2 12 0 — Staples and Co 1 17 6 — Ward and Co 2 2 7 — 1 1 6 MISCELLANEOUS— British Tobacco (Aust.), (ord.) 2 10 0 — 1 0 9 Burns, Philp and Co. 1 19 0 — Farmers’ Co-op Aact. 3 10 0 Howard Smith N.Z. Milk Products 1 12 6 (bonds) 1 2 0 1 2 6 _ 1 2 6 Wairarapa Farmers’ (£5) 3 19 0 Ditto (£1) — 0 15 10 Ditto (pref.) Wellington Queen’s — 0 16 0 Theatre (cum.) 1 0 6 — Wilson’s Cement 1 13 0 — Amalgamated Zino ... MINING— 0 10 4 0 10 6 Blackmater Mines ... 0 5 0 — Mount Lyoll (cum.) ... — 1 9 2 Kawarau 0 3 2 —