Commercial.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2999, 4 February 1881, Page 2

Commercial.

HAWKE'S BAY STOCK AND STATION REPORT, JANUARY, 1881. During tho past month business has continued active in sheep at rates slightly in advance of those ruling in December, and young sheep, whether cross-bred or meniroi ■ are now difficult to obtain. Fat sheep are plentiful, and relatively lower in price than stores. In cattle there are few transactions, and business in that description of stock likely to continue quiet till March. The weather has been all that could be desired for harvesting, and there is ivn increased yield of grain this season. Grass seed is also abundant; a considerable quantity has changed hands at 3s to 3s 4£d for rye grass, 3d to 3j-d for cocksfoot. The following are quotations for Block :— Cattle—Fat, 20s to 22s 6d per ; stores, steers, 1, 2, and 3-year-old, £3 5s to £3 10s, £4 10s to £4 15s, and £5 15s to £fi for respective ages ; female stock, £2 15s for yearling to £6 10s, according to age and breeding ; dairy cow 9, £8 to £11 each. Sheep—Fat, merino weddera, full mouth, 5s 6d to 6s 6d ; store, do., 2 and 4 tooth, 6s to 6s 6d; 6 and 8 tooth, 5s to 5s 6d. Merino ewes, 2 and 4 tooth, 8s to 9s ; 6 tooth, 6s 6d to 7s ; fresh, 8 tooth, 6s : full mouth, 4s to 5s ; aged, nominal. Cross-bred wedders, fat, at 9s 6d to 10s ; store do., 2 and 4 tooth, 8s ; 6 and fresh 8 tooth, do. Cross-bred ewes, 2 and 4 tooth, Ids ; 6 and fresh 8 tooth, 73 to 8s ; full mouth,'ss to 6s each. Of merinos I have placed, in conjunction with M. R. Miller and Potts, 21,916 from tbe stocks of Messrs S. Johnston, F. H. Meinhertzhagen, D. M'Lean, H. Campbell, Royse and Anderson, H. Handyside, J. Crosse, J. P. Russell, A. St. Bill, Stokes Bros., W. Speedy; and of cross-breds, 14,850 from the flocks of Messrs J. N. Williams, S. Johnson, J. Harding, W. Rathbone, W. White, and A. R. Lyons • being a total of 36,766 sheep sold by us during current month. Ramß. —At the annual Ram Fair held at Hastings on Thursday, 27th instant, the sheep yarded were not so numerous as last year, but the general average was of a higher standard. Biddings were decidedly brisk, and high prices were the rule, a sterling evidence that the depression under which the pastoral interests have been laboring is fast passing away. The attendance was large, and competition for well-bred Lincolns especially active, the prices obtained for this class ranging from 50 to 100 per cent, in advance of last year's prices for similar stock. In conjunction with M, S. Miller and Potts, of Waipawa, I sold at the Fair 351 Lincoln rams "and 413 merinos (145 only of the latter yarded). The other auctioneers report sales effected by them together same day total 263 rams, showing business done through Society's yards 759, and privately 268, being a "total of 1027 rams for the day's transactions, 764 of which were sold by Mr Potts and myself. We also sold Mr Threlkeld's bulls Puke of Waterloo, Lord of tho Isles, and Pirate together for £125 to Mr Harding, of Mount Vernon. The following are particulars of the various sales through my offices: — Breeder, Mr James Collins: 22 two to six-tooth Lincoln rams—6 at £6 each, and 4at £7 7s each, Mr Knight; 4 at £6 6s each, Mr Chambers ; 3 at £5 5s each, Mr Beamish ; 2 ot £6 6s each, Mr Bridge j 3 at £6 6s each Captain Russell. Mr J. Sutton's 45 1 and 2 shear Lincoln rams—l at £18 18s, 1 at £15 15s, 1 at £14 14s, 1 at £13 13s, J. Collins; 1 at £19 19s, P. Dolbell; 2 at £10 10s, lat £7 7s, Meredith and Wyndham ; 1 at £6 6s, 1 atj| 8£ guineas, 1 at £8 Bs, 1 at £8, 7 at £9 9s, 1 at £14 14s, 3at £10 10s, 1 at £11 lis, Mr Newman ; 10 at £14 14s, L De Pelichet ; 1 at £21, J. Holder ; 1 at £12,>Tr A. Small; 1 at £9 9s, Dillon ; 1 at £11, 1 at £10 10s, 1 at £13 13s, Mr J. Evison ; 1 at £18 18s, 1 at £11 lis, Mr J. W. Wilson ; 1 at £12 12s. 1 at £11 lis, Mr W. J. Hoslop ; 1 at £12 12s, Mr D. Fleming. Mr P. Threldkeld's 92 two-tooth Lincoln rams.—s at £6 10s, 5 at £7 ss, 5 at £7 15s, 5 at £8 10s, 5 at £6 ss, 4 at £8, 5 at £7 ss, 5 at £8, C. Evans ; 5 at £7 ss, 5 at £7 15s, 4 at £815s, 5 at £7 7s, 5 at £8 10s, J. W. Wilson ; 5 at •£B, Mr House ; sat £8 15s, Mr Small; lat £21, 2at £6 6s, Mr F. H. Drower; 1 at £15 15s, S. Johnston ; 1 at £11, Dillon ; 5 at £8 10s, Mr Newman ; 5 at £7, Meredith and Wyndham ; 4 at £8 ss, Mr J. Mackersey. P. DolbelPs 78 two and four-tooth Lincoln rams. —5 at £3 10s, L. De Pelichet; 15 at £3, Mr Taylor; 5 at £3 15s, H. Bridge; 15 at £3 ss, 5 at £3 10s, 3 at £3, J. Orr j 6 at £3 10s, 10 at £3 ss, 5 at £3, Tod and Cockrane. Mr G. Peacock's 45 two to six-tooth liineoln rams. —8 at £2 15s, J. Orr ; 10 at £2 15s, J. Bennett, 5 at £2 10s, 5 at £2, J. Gemmell; 2at £3 10s, W. Cook ; 3 afc £2 15s, H. Bridge ; 3 at £3 ss, sat £2 ss, J. Pettit; 4 at £3, Mr Bazil. Hon. H. R. Russell's 10 Uncoln rams. —10 at £2 10, J. Gemmell. Douglas M'Lean's two to sixtooth Merino rams.—lo at £3, 10 at £2 10s, Messrs Elder-arid Co.; privately, 100 to Messrs Richardson and Coleman, and 168 to Mr Moorhouse. Messrs Stoke Bros. 35 two-tooth Merino rams at £2 Mr MTvor. Messrs Royse and Anderson's 50 two and four-tooth Merino rams.—3o at £3, Mr J. Gemmell ; 20 at £3, J. Webb. Mr S. Johnston's 10 two-tooth Merino rams at £2 2s, J. Webb. Hon. H. R. Russell's 20 Merino rams at £2 10b, J. Buchanan.

Horse Stock. —Tor good useful draught there is a fair demand. Heavy draught, £45 to £55 ; medium do, £30 to i;3fj; light do, £15 to £20 ; good hacks, £20 to £25,; useful do, £10 to £15 ; light do, £5 to £710s.

Wool. —At last week's Melbourne wool market, Messrs Goldsbrough and Co. report 1,400 bales sold market firmer. There is no change to report from the home market. It is net out of place here to give an instance of the value of the Melbourne market to New Zealand wool-growers. On tho 20th instant I received a note from a local firm that they were advised of sale of a certain clip, the greasy wool, in London on the 29th November last at 9Jd per lb, account sales expected next mail. This was the c'ip of 1879-80. On the same day. 20th inst., I received a telegram from Messrs Goldsbrough and Co., that the name brand, this year's clip, had been sold in Melbourne at 9£d, the same price, but a year in difference in the grower learning the value of his production.

Pheep-skins, Hides, and Tallow. — The market is quiet; for super merino sheepskins, B£d per lb ; medium do, 7£d ; super cross-bred skins, 6§d to 7d ; medium do, 5d to 6d ; inferior, 3d to 4d. Wool, crossbred locks, 4d to ssd ; inferior, 3£d to 3fd. Hides, 6s 6d to 14s. Tallow, 2d, 2£d per lb.

Station properties.—Restored confidence and an easier money market have induced increased enquiry for station property, and there is good ground for expectation of fair prices being obtained. There are at the present moment several transactions pending, and since my last report I have sold Mr Gavin Peacock's Pakowhai estate, about five miles from Napier, containing 613 acres, alluvial land, to Edward Gilbert-son junr., and E. Dix ■■■■-. ,-..■ .<: .5 per acre, inclusive of all im pro Y>K>: :i ii, £9,808 cash, also, 3,500 long-woolled sheep, more or less, now thereon, with all other stock and plant on the property by valuation, also for cash. M. R. Miller, State and Station Agent, Napier, 31st January, 1881.