STOCK AND STATIONS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 232, 8 October 1878, Page 2

STOCK AND STATIONS.

The nor'-wester gales that have prevailed '.since our last report have done considerable damage to the farmers in many of the agricultural districts.. We hear of land and seed being blown away from fresh sown paddocks, causing serious loss both of time, seed and land. The weather is also having the effect of drying the pasture lands too rapidly. There is considerable uneasiness felt as to the prospects of the coming season, and rain now anxiously, looked for. Although the farmers generally have had a most favourable seed time, such another drought as last year would be most disastrous. : 7 At Ad'lington, on Wednesday, 5100 sheep, 344 head of cattle, and 108 pigs were yarded for the week. Fat ShekPj—A large number of fair quality were offered, and elicited good competition, prices reaching in some cases as high as 4d for good mutton, the bulk being cleared at from 3£d to 3§d. * Beef.—The bulk of'the cattle yarded were but of inferior quality, the exceptions being a few heavy weights of extra prime cattle, which barely- reached owners' expectations. Best useful' trade weights made equal to 4_s 6d ; inferior quality,. 35s to 37s 6d. Stores were in more active demand than for months past, good young steers arid heifers readily finding purchasers at advance prices. Old cows only saleable at nominal prices. Messrs R.. Wilkin and Co. report :— Sheepskins.—We.catalogued on Thursday and sold 2350 sheepskins': There was a fair attendance of the trade, and biddings were spirited, the prices ruling the same as at last weeks'/sale. ; 'Butchers? crossbred. 1 ?, largei full-woolled, 6s 6d, 6s 9d, to 7s Id each ; do, medium, three-fourths to f uli-wooiied, 5s sd, 6s, to 6s 6d each ; do, medium, two-thirds ito . three-fourths woolled, 45'10d,.5s 2d. to 5s 5d each; do, medium, half to' two-thirds woolled, 3s Bd, 4s 6d, to 4s lOd each ; do, small and inferior, 2s, 3s, to 3s 8d each. Butchers' merino, large, well-woolled, ss, 5s 6d, to 5s lid each; do, two-thirds to three-fourths wooDed, 4s, 4s 6d to 5s each;; ditto, half to two-thirds woolled, 3s Id, 3s Bd, to 4s each ; ditto small and inferior, 2s 6d, 2s 9d to 3s Id each. Country cross-breds, 2s 6d, 4s, to 5s lOd each. Country merinos. -2s,'' 3s 6d to 5s 9d. Pelts Id to 3d each. Lambskins, 6s 9d, and lOd each.—Tallow.--We catalogued a fair quantity of. fat on Thursday, all of which was sold at fair prices; the trade was fairly represented, and prices ware firm as follows :—Best clean, well saved, 2|.d to 2|d per lb; second quality. 2d to 2f*i per lb ; inferior and heated, l_d to 2d per 9d, Tallow, 2d.— Hides—We catalogue about 400, which" v,-< re all passed in unsold.; A sale, however, was afterwards effected privately, at 3£d per.lb.