STOCK AND STATIONS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 246, 26 November 1878, Page 2

STOCK AND STATIONS.

'We are still without rain, and since our r last report there have been a succession of severe nor'-west and nor'-east gales, caus- . ing serious loss to all interested in agri- < cultural and pastoral pursuits, besides inflicting considerable injury on household and other property. From the South we are advised at" extensive bush fires, which, besides destroying and rendering homess less several families, have caused injury by the destruction of valuable timber in a large inland agricultural district that can scarcely be estimated, as the want of timber must to some extent retard settlement by making the district dependent on imported supplies The late sown crops on the light lands «how the greatest evidence of the want of v rain, and there is now but little prospect of any of them coming to even fair average crops, whilst in many places light late • crops and soil have been blown away tog: Ui--r. The early crops are looking fairly roll, f.".t there is a perceptible check in J ;i; growth, which it requires plentiful .-;. in to counteract.

Oar agriculturists who are expending their energies on light lands would do well to compare this season's early and late sown crops, and consider if it weuld not bo to their interest to adopt on all such lands autumn seed sowing instead of leaving themselves dependent for a crop on spring rains, which for the past two seasons have so entirely left up.

At Addirsgton on Wednesday last, 4460 shenp and lambs, and 467 cattle were yarded for the week.

Fat Sheep.—The market was fairly supplied, a large portion being fat ewes. Competition was not keen, and there was a decided decline on last week's prices. Fat Lambs.—An over supply of really good lambs, which with difficulty found purchasers at from 8s 6d downwards.

Fat Cattle.—The yards were filled with cattle of but very plain quality. The demand for prime butchers' beef was fair, at from 35s to 37s 6d, inferior 27s 6d to 30s ; many lines passed in unsold.

Stores in full supply, the bulk of which, as owners could no longer hold, changed hands, but at greatly reduced prices. The same applies to sheep, which were almost unsaleable.

We look for no improvement in prices 'in this -ilasa of stock untill we have a plenty! rainfall | last year's experience making tliose who have grass extremely cautious in these- operations.