HAWKE'S BAY STOCK and STATION REPORT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3694, 17 May 1883, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY STOCK and STATION REPORT.

Tenth Annual Rkvif.w for the Year Esdino- oOtii April, 1883. Tlio statist.icj-fanuexedot' live stock and produce of this "provincial district for the past year will bo found to give much. satisfactory and reliable evidence of its steady and material progress. This, one of the smallest though most_ naturally favored of the provinces, containing only about three million acres, of which two million acros are under occupation (the remainder being forest and mountain lands), maintains at the present over two and three-quarter millions of sheep, inclusive of lambs, although not quite onchalf of the occupied Linda have been permanently improved by grass seed sowing , , and as year by year the remainder of the land is reclaimed from fern, so will the carrying and producing power increase. To the adjoining provinces of Auckland and Wellington during the year wo have exported 98,1-18 sheep; during the same period we have boiled down and preserved 110,090 sheep, and after allowing 330,600 sheep for home consumption, mortality, and casualitics, we are grazing 303, GSG more sheep than at the same season last year. Our export of wool shows the samo marked increase, being in round numbers thirteen and a quarter million pounds this year against eleven and a half million pounds the previous year. The remarkable producing capabilities of the district may be more strikingly illustrated by the following results :— £020,000 worth of wool, .-£50,000 tallow, £15,000 preserved meat, .£55,000 value of sheep and cattle mid other produce sent to other provinces, say altogether a total of .£"50,000, have been exported from 2,000,000 acres only partially improved, being equivalent to fin average return of 7s Gd per acre. This is exclusive of the value of the increased number of stock, equal to £-225.000, or 2s ad, making a round average of 9s 9d per acre, beside home consumption. The average clip last shearing is a shade over 6?flb on 2,093,500 sheep (one-third being scoured, allowance for that is made), and it is estimated that -148,000 lambs have been shorn, averaging 2.Ub wool each, and the wool generally is in excellent condition. Since Ist May last wo have loaded twelve fillips direct for Britain, besides wool, tallow, and other produce forwarded bycoastal vessels to Wellington for shipment there to Britain. Our exports in value are equal to £30 per bend of the entire population, and yet with all this material wealth many of us arc "hard up " from several causes. The first cost of our fern lands was low; and settlers, tempto-1 by this, bought more largely than their means to improve could compass, and to effect this involved borrowing. Again, at times when money was abundant, and the banks were ultra-accommodating, _ energetic and sanguine men embarked in still larger squatting ventures, and that at a time when the wool market gave promise of at least 30 per cent, higher rates than lately ruling, while now and for months past the interest payable on money has risen to extreme rates, and prices of wool have kept low. Yet, withal, banks' and lenders' high rates could be met, but the accommodation bus been of late severely restricted. All this cramps the improvements necessary to the progress of the .settler; but asa matter of course presses chiefly on those—and they are not a few—who undertook ventures that their own capital did not justify. From these causes both leasehold and freehold properties are cheaper fit this time than they have boon for some years past, as may bo KcotL on pci-u.snl of my property list annexed. A very groat part of our freehold and the bulk of our leasehold lands are only awaiting more capital to bo employed in grass seed and fencing to develop them into the most profitable pastoral lands in the world. Better times are no doubt approaching—of which the great stride made in preserved meat export alone is an indication : for this wo are indebted to the liberally-directed energy of Messrs Nelson 'Bros, and Williams, of Tomoana, who at their works alone during the current year for making preserved meat and boiling down for tallow have consumed 45,500 sheep and 350 bullocks. Meatfreezing also will soon be added to our industries, as no doubt means will be adopted to make largo shipments, notwithstanding our present much-felt drawback, an inconvenient port; 200,000 sheep and about 3000 cattle per annum of the class fit for this purpose could be readily supplied. With land capable of producing wheat and other cereals of the highest class, as evidenced by the quality and quantity from the very limited extent cultivated, wo do uo|, yet produce sufficiently to supply our uwit wants. We require more population, we want enterprising agricultural fanners ; we are as yet only in the initiatory stage of settlement— that is, almost solely occupied in pastoral pursuits.

Business in store sheep during the earlier part of the season was checked by the high prices demanded by shecpfarmers, hut during the past few weeks there has been great activity in that line, but at prices not higher than had been asked four months ago. In connection with my branch firm, Messrs M. R. Miller and Potts, Waipawa, wo have sold during the year past (J3,500 sheep for Auckland and Wellington provinces, and 58,500 which changed owners locally.

Store cattle have been very unsaleableutoek lately, and prices have not been lower for many years than they are now ; and yet the quality is good, as the results of exports fo Auckland and Dunedin markets testify, but the cost and risk of transit is too high.

During April we have had a very heavy rainfall. Feed is abundant, and consequently a good demand for sheep of all classes. Fat wedders are in good demand at prices ranging from 13s to 15s each, with, still upward tendency. Quotations ruling during past month were—

Cattle.—Fat bullocks, 17s to ISs per 10011); cows, lGs to 17s Gd; store steers, yearlings, ,-Cl Ms to .£2 os; two-year-olds, k'.'J to .Co 10s; three years, .CI 10s to £') : heifers, ycarlimjs to eighteen months, £1 10s to .G2 10s ;'two years, £?, to £3 15s; cows, ,ci to -GO ; dairy rows, ,£6 5s to ,C 8 10s.

Sheep.—Merino wethers, 2 and -1-tooth, 7s to 7s Gd ; G-tooth, Gs ; 8-tooth, os to Gs ; old wethers, 2s Gd to -Is; merino ewes, 2 and 4-tooth, 0s Cd to 10s ; G-tooth, Gs Gd to 7s; 8-tooth, Gs; aged, 3s to -Is; crossbred wethers, fat, 13s to Its; stores, 2 and -liooth, 10s to 11s ; (i imd 8-tooth, lO.s t<. I Iμ: crossbred ewes, 2 and-1-tooth, 10s to 12s; G-tooth, 8s to 9s Gd; 8-tooth, Gs Gd to 8s Cd ; aged, 5s to Os.

Horses.—Good draughts, from ClO to £50 ; medium, £30 to £35 ; good hacks, £25 to £10 ; useful, £10 to £18 ; light, £5 to £8.

Wool.—The result of the approaching Home sales in May will be looked for with nome anxiety. There is a largo catalogue and there is little to indicate that there will be such active demand as will lead to any great recovery in prices. As a whole, the wool shipped from this port during this KoaHon is in excellent condition and should realise good value.

Station Property.—TTicvo has boon very little business done in sales of station property —during the past twelve months, and yet there could not Ijc a better time for investment, as from reasons already .stated prices asked arc very moderate. There in a better prospect, however, in tho immediate view. Attracted by quotations recently forwarded, enquiries from Victoria, South Australia, and the Middle Island are likely to lead to early extension of business. For the information of those avlio only receive my annual review, I quote the following transactions since my last: — Mr J. Weightman's rural section, Woodville, containing 40 acres 3 roods, at £3 10s. Mr D. P. Balfour's lease, 55 acres, Hastings, 5 years, to Mr T. Bishop, at £170 per annum. Mr John Hindmarsh's estate, Bakamoana, Pohui, SOOO acres freehold, fenced and subdivided, also 18,000 acres leasehold, rout £32 per annum, with 17,500 sheep, plant, See., for £35,000 to Mr J. A. Cunningham. Mr H. Baker's Wood"villo subdivision sections G and 175, 10] acres, £5 to £17 per section. Mr T. M'Konzie's rural section, "Woodville, 7 acres, situated on main road Napier to "Wellington, £100 sterling. Mr H. Baker's "Woodvillo subdivision section 10, six suctions, 20 perches to 1 rood each, £Hl tv -Cl-5 per section; subdivision sections 0 and 175, r> sections, ;} acres, £9 to £10 each ; 1 section, o acres, at £10, and 1 section, 5 acres, iit £!.'{ per acre ; »9 ; ] -acre sections from £1 to £'25 per section, and rural section 21, 10 acres 3 roods, at £5 per acre ; 3 scotioiis, 1 to 2 acres each, at £17 per section ; subdivision of sections 0, 7, and 175, 24 sections, ' from £5 to £1G 10s per section. Messrs Davidson and Irvine's station, Poverty Bay, 400 acres freehold and 1211 leasehold, with 1000 sheep and 10 horses and all improvements, for £5000 sterling, to Mr G-. F. Mackay, Mr It. Harding's blocks Mangahouhou, Poka Peka, unci Sraithfield, of

Kis-sington estate, containing 7-1-17 acres, for -!.' years, with purchasing clause, at £3 os per acre, rental £li-V2 per annum, to Mr E. D. Collison. Mr H. Baker's Woodville sections 103, loi, containing 190 acres, at £5 10s per acre, to Mr Campbell. Annual Statstics. ACRK3. Total acreage of provicc'.al dlstiot .. 3 050.00 Under occupation or por;illy so .. 1,94-JJ3 Land broken up, tmt not under crop, in llnwke'tf 15 iy, Waipawa, ad Wairoa Counties _ J*-' 1 ,? Do, do., uivl 1-crop, do do in-'rnQ Surfa Riasi, do. do bJj ' jJb saßßr. In TTavke'sßay, Waipawa, and Wairoa Counties on 31st Ma--, ISS2 - .. 2,392,312 IncrcaHO by ISB2 Inmblnif from 1.280.00U ewes, 70 per cent . • 896 000 Sheep exported by land and isci for the year ending 30th April, 1533 94,148 Boiled down and preperved do. do 66,090 District consumption do. do. 220,000 Mortality and casualties, 5 per cont, do. do. .. 119 016 — 500,434 Net district irprcaSo .. 305,540 Stud rams imported, 1111; ewes A0.,0\)0 2 > UO Net inci-case for year .. a'J7,(iaG 307/kj6 Estimated total sheep and lambs in district, average value, 30th April, '-)3 2,ißJ,Jbb c ittlx, iionsß?, nos. Eflttma!el great cattle, average valu'3 Horera, average vatuo £8 .. •• w ,™ " Pij-H, avern-je value 30-1 b.io) ».

3 = " 3 £ § ?! 2S ™ *!" '"" I 3"3"?■ $% K>" *%3S? 8 S§ S 0 |f . co Hi ;-< •* S-o 8 -v £ £ 6 ° S » »» ■: OP O" <M* «3 * I \ i i i 71 l\ lIIS ||S||| 1 I rf 314. "" *.* : •c .3 £ o co 3 ili "At* ■■■■■■ O « o ~ ci 6 i> * S .a A §' °" . . • i <a £ -.3 :■§ :3 : £35 o a s h.aq. j« . -r, . _-_- > I 1 s's'z'i 'IJ ! ° % J. st.g'33 sg, :: § 5 §. m o <-• So 3 |P8 §5: l≥ 22 si 5 2 b s Ili s§ Us si i o< « I § § -SS I _ _ ■- Woolasabovo 023,318 Casks owt £ Tallow to Britain direct 2,514 18.17'JJ 80.926 I'allow cojstwis-j fit Cubtoma .. .. 7SI 5,755 11533 Net Tullow exported 13;3 3.205 23,'j:2.i ■IS.IGI ■15,«4 Not Tallow exported 1852 2.588 19,002$ 32,885 InCrc.iso in quantity & VHinc 707 -1.030 15.579 Shiofjskliis to lirifcain 178 bales, 21,860 in number, and 105 caska polts 2,632 Sheepskins coastwise, 49 bales and 80 casks pelts sw Hides r-onstwise, 335S in number .. .. 2,iliS Oil, Bperm and whale, 255 casks—lo,93l gallons -i 3 ' 2l Oil, coastwise, 123 casks-5,250 srilloiis .. I.IIS Preserved mrats to Drllnln, 3.709.1- cwt .. 10.984 Preserved meats coastwise, 3054 cast's .. 6.207 Potatoes to Colonies, CA'i tons 1,733 Potatoes, co .etwieo. 2.262 eacks-ISSI tons.. ftre Maize, coastwise, 1633 facks-6,132 bushola 2,300 Grass seed, coastwise, 1,440 sacks .. .. 1,600 Produca exported £708,521 Total valueof 91148 shcep'xported—6ol32 to Anukland and 34,010 to Wellington district 42,366 Cattle exported to Auckland and Duncdin 12 501) Tolal value of exports from tlio provincial district, £763,390 OOMI'ARATIVK TV IJIiR. April, 1874 Sheep. Bal< p. lb. Sheop and lambs Bhorn 975,000 14,031 5,266,700 18S3. Shorn (2 093,539), anil lamb 3 (443,000) ahotu 2,541,530 37,-125 13,339,350 IncreaEOSincoApl.,lß7l 1,566,539 12,791 Population of provincial district, 17,309 Europeans; 46-12 natives; total, 20,9,51. Total value of exports, £76-1,390, equal to .C3G per head of the entire population. In compiling , the above statistics I have to acknoAvlcdgo with thanks the valuable assistance I have had from Mr Paslcy, Chief Inspector of Shcop, Mr E. Patten, Collector of Customs, and Mr Menzies, Secretary to the Napier Chamber of Commerce.

M. R. Miller, Slock and Station Agent, Auctioneer, ifcc Napier, N.Z., 30th April, ISS3.