STOCK AND STATIONS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 288, 22 April 1879, Page 2

STOCK AND STATIONS.

Since, our last report this district has been favored with some rain, which fell eteadily on Monday for several hours, and this being supplemented by another good shower on Tuesday night, we may reasonably hope for an improvement in our pastures, though we still require more rain to enable the farmers to get on satisfactorily with ploughing. But Httlo business has been done during the Easter holidays ; and the long continued drought prevented any transactions in stock, excepting of a most limited nature. On Wednesday last, 5844 sheep and lambs, 190 cattle, and 8 pigs were yarded for the week's supply. Fat Sheep.—Some lines of very good quality were brought forward, but being in excess of trade requirements they elicited very little competition, consequently prices receded on last week's quotations. Best butchere' mutton made about equal to lfd per lb; boilers, Id to l^d. Fat Beef was in fair supply and of superior quality. The trade was poorly represented, and exhibited no disposition to operate except on a very limited scale. Best beef made equal to from 23s to 25s per 100; inferior, from 21s to 235. Store Cattle were only saleable at extremely low rates, and but few were offered; in fact, only those that owners found it impossible to keep for want of feed. With rain there may be an improved demand ; at present there is but little except for good, forward three-year old bullocks and clean heifers. Store Sheep.—There is an improved demand for lines of good ages and fair condition for turnips. Cull ewes and weedy lambs are only saleable at skin prices.