HAWKE'S BAY STOCK and STATION REPORT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3532, 2 November 1882, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY STOCK and STATION REPORT.

October, 1882. In resuming for this the tenth annual season of the publication of my monthly circular, it is satisfactory to report the steady advancement of this provincial district. During the past autumn a large additional acreage has been surface sown — converted from fern to pasture. We had an abundant winter rainfall, and, although the strong drying westerly winds in the latter end of September and early in October caused a good deal of apprehension that feed would be scarce, the check to growth •was only temporary, as the rain that had fallen during the past fortnight has been general throughout the district, and the effect on the pastures is already apparent. The lambing this year has been very good— strong and generally even lots of lambs. It is estimated that the average will range between 80 and 94 per cent., and that this weaning will give in round numbers an addition of nearly one million to our flocks, less our exports and consumption. Our export of wool from this shearing should be about 35,000 balee. My Waipawa firm, M. E. Miller and Potts, report with myself that transactions in sheep are very limited at this season from the high prices asked by our sheepfavmers. Although there is a large number for disposal, we have only sold to leave the province about 9000 crossbreds, against 23,000 at this time last year ; and 5000 merinos, against 11,000 afc the same period. We have had numerous buyers from the other provinces for store weddors, but they cannot buy at the present prices demanded, there being only Is 6d to 2s difference in the prices asked for stores and that obtainable for fat sheep. It was expected that from the late dry windy weather holders would have been glad to quit their surplus stock on account of preserving feed for the remainder, but from the prospect of getting their sheep frozen or preserved by the new company (referred to in another place) they are asking from 2s to 2s 6d a head more for sheep this year than last, and notwithstanding a disposition on the part of buyers to advance there is at present at least Is per head between buyers and sellers. Cattle stores have been very difficult to sell, but from feed getting plentiful at several recent sales of fat stock as these move off they will have to be replaced by stores, which will tend to make the price of stoi'e cattle advance; indeed, a good, demand may be looked for if the weather continues favorable. Present quotations are for — Cattle.—Fat, 17s 6d to _ 20s, upward tendency. Store steers, yearlings,?£ 2to £2 15s ; two-year-olds, £3 5s to £4 2s 6d ; three years, £4 5s to £5 each. Heifers, eighteen months, £2 to £2 15s ; two-year-olds, £3 to £4. Cows, £3 10s to £8. Dairy cows, £7 to £8 10s. Sheep.—Merino wedders, for 2 and 4tooth 7s to 7s 6d each is demanded ; 6tooth, 6s 6d ; fresh 8-tooth, 5s 6d to 6s. Merino ewes, 2 and 4-tooth, 9s 6d ; 6-tooth, 6s 6d to 7s ; 8-tootb, 5s to 5s 6d ; aged, 3s to 4s. Crossbred, fat, lls 6d to 13s ; stores, 2 and 4-tooth, 9s 6d to 10s 6d each ; 6-tooth, 10s ; 8-tooth, 9s to 10s each are the prices asked. Ewes, 2 and 4-tooth, 4s to 9s 6d ; 6-tooth, 8s 6d to 9s ; 8-tooth, 7s to Bs. Horses. —unless good of their class, are almost tinsaleabJe. Medium draught, £25 to £30 ; heavy do, £40 to £50 ; light harness horses, £15 to £25; good hacks, £20 to £25 ; ordinary do £10 to £15. Wool.—Accounts from the home market are more encouraging, and at the last Mcl- 1 bourne sales Messrs Goldsbrough and Co. report buyers from all quarters and brisk competition for greasy at from to 13£ d per lb. The first of the Hawke's Bay clip for the Melbourne market will be shipped be next Saturday's Union steamer to Melbourne. Our Annual Show. —Judges from various parts of the colony who were present stated that at few if any shows in the Southern Hemisphere could the exhibits of Lincoln or merino sheep be surpassed. The shorthorn cattle also held their usual high position, and there was a marked increase of high-class draught and thoroughbred exhibits. Locally manufactured agricultural implements, waggons and buggies, and general farm produce were better represented than hitherto. Although the Lineolns, especially those exhibited by Mr Tanner, were admittedly of the highest class, and Messrs M'Hardy, Dolbel, Williams, Collins, and Eussell took honors, yet the most marked improvement has been in our merino exhibits, and that, although there were sheep exhibited, from the best flocks of Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia, it is gratifying to report that locally-bred sheep were conspicuous as prize-takers. The competition was exceedingly close, with the result that the chief prizes were taken by Douglas M'Lean, D. Gollan, and Boyae and Anderson. Undernoted I give an abstract of the various prize-takers for live stock. Merinos. —Rams : Champion Ram, Douglas M'Lean ; also taking Mr M. R. Miller's silver cup for best pen of 10 ram hoggetts. Other prize-takers were A. K. Lyons for D. Gollan, and Royse and Anderson. Ewes: Champion ewe, A. K. Lyons for D. Gollan ; also taking Mr M. R. Miller's silver cup for best pen of 10 ewe hoggets. Other prizetakers were Royse and Anderson, Douglas M'Lean, H. R. Russell, and Mr Hastie for Stokes' trustees. Lineolns. —Rams : The champion first prizes were taken by A. M'Hardy and P. Dolbel. The other prize-takers were T. Tanner, R. P. Williams, J. G. Kinross, and J. Collins. [Chambers Bros, took Mr T. Tanner's silver cup for best 3 Lineolns from rains bred by the donor.] Ewes: The champion and first prizes in all classes were taken by T. Tanner. The other prize-takers were A. M'Hardy, J. N. Williams, R.f P. Williams, and H. R. Russell. Cotswolds. —The only exhibitor in the class was Mr G. D. Hamilton, who took the Ist and 2nd prizes. Longwoolled Sheep of any kind.—T. Tanner took Messrs Hoadley and Lyon's silver cup, also those given by Messrs Murray, Roberta and Co. and [the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. The other prize-taker waa R. P. Williams, also taking another cup given by Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co.

Horses. — Thoroughbred sire Champion and thoroughbred mare Champion, both cups awarded to Allan M'Lean. Ihe other prizetakers were C. and J. Nairn, R. Wellwood, W. Douglas, and C. C. Murray. Champion draught sire, J. Heslop. The others were J. D. Ormond, T. Tanner, R. Wellwood, H. E. Russell (also taking Mr ficslop's special prize of £3 3s), Douglas M'Lean, J. Don, and J. Boyle. Miscellaneous horses : Ist prize-takers, A. M'Donald, G. T. Scale, J. Lyon, H. Gaisford (also taking special prize, given by MrM'Vay), W. Beamish, Douglas M'Lean, Reihana (also taking special prize value 12 guineas, given by Mr Douglas M'Lean), J. Ford, and ¥. Peacock. Other prize-takers : Gγ. P. Donnelly, Allan M'Lean, W. Douglas, H. A. Duff, Chamber Bros., T. Grracie, J. Heslop, and A. Hopkinson. Cattle. —Champion bull to S. Williams and M'Hardy, and champion cow to A. M'Hardy. Other prize-takers : Rev. S. Williams, J. D. Ormond, Mr Hastie for Stokes' trustees, H. R. Russell, .T. Heslop, A. M'Hardy, T. Tanner. Grade cattle prize-takers: N. E. Beamish, Rev. S. Williams (also taking special prize, value 5 guineas, given by Mr T. Bishop), J. Heslop, J. D. Ormond, and J. Bennett.

_ Station Properties.—Enquiries and negotiations were numerous during the winter months, but the gradual tightning of the money market has permitted very few transactions to be closed. Since issue of my ]a->,b circular I have effected the following sales : —Mr Eater's 263 acres. Korikipo, to Mr Wm, Heslop at £16 10s per acre; 40 acres at Woodville at £3 per acre ; Mr J. Hindmarsh's Rakamoana station, 8000 acres freehold and 28,200 acres leasehold, ■with 17,000 sheep, 150 cattle, horses, plant and stores, to Mr J. A. Cunningham, for £25,000 sterling ; lease to Mr Bishop from Mr D, P, Balfour, 96 acres near Hastings,

at £170 per annum • lease with purchasing clause to Mr Collison from Mr R. Harding, 6810 acres at £6 per cent, on purchase money; several allotments of the subdivision of sections 6, 175, &c, from £9 to £17 10s each, and at Ormondville allotments at £2 5s to £12 per acre; Messrs Irvine and Davidson's Reay station, Poverty Bay, 400 acres freehold, 4214 acres leasehold, with 1000 sheep, 70 cattle, horses, and plant to Mr G. Forbes Mackay for £5000 sterling. Meat Export Company, Limited.- The successful formation of this company has been the most important event of the year, and the chief factor of the increased price demanded for sheep. It marks an era in our provincial history, and its future beneficial influence in steadying the value of our land and stock can hardly be realised. _ A few gentlemen entered into negotiations with Messrs Nelson Bros, and Williams, of the Tomoana meat preserving works. The result was laid before a meeting of sheepfarmers and others interested, and it was decided to form a joint stock company, with a nominal capital of 650,000 sterling in 500 shares (all of which have been taked up) for the purpose of exporting meat frozen or preserved, tallow, &c. Nelson Bros, and Williams' works, land, and plant were purchased for £30,000 sterling, the management to be in the hands of Mr Wm. Nelson, who now is, with the directors of the company, taking active measures to enlarge the present working plant to a minimum capability of 2000 sheep per week, besides cattle. The mutton and beef hitherto preserved at these works are in the highest favor with consumers, and it is a moot point whether preserving as done here or by the freezing operation is the lnoßt profitable. At all events we will soon have the opportunity of putting both processes to the best test. M. R. Millee and Potts, Waipawa ;

M. R. MILLEB, Stock and Station Agent Napier, N.Z., 31st October, 1882.