COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 3 April 1863, Page 2

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

DTJNEDIK LITE STOCK MARKET.

Deiver, Maclean and Co’s Report for week ending 21st March, 1863.

Pat Cattle. —The market has been but poorly supplied ; during the week only 60 head have been yarded. These were all taken by the trade at a considerable advance upon our last quotations. Our butchers are now quite bare of stock, and we have several enquiries from the diggings for fat cattle, which inclines us to think that cattle are becoming scarce throughout the Province. We sold at our yards 60 head, ex Corio, from Wanganui, at at least 60s per 100 lbs, and we can scarcely expect a decline from this rate during the winter months.

Pat Calves continue scarce. W\j have sold at our yards this week, 20 head, at from £4 to £6 10s, according to size and quality. Store Cattle continue in good demand, and several large sales have been made during the week. We quote well-bred stores, over 2-years old, at from £l2 to £l4 : mixed herds from £lO to £ll XOs, (prices governed by ages, condition, and place of delivery.) At above rates we have sold 150 head. We beg to call at tention to our sale of 400 head, at Tokomairiro, on 9th April, and 300 head at Omaru on the 14th April.

Working- Bullocks and Dairy Cows. —The former are in very active demand, and saleable, say, first-class acclimatised bullocks at £6O per pair; fair conditioned, imported do, at £ls to £SO. Good dairy cows, with calf at foot or springing, are at all times saleable at £lB to £2O.

Fat Sheep.— Although the market continues to be well supplied with inferior imported sheep, prime mutton is becoming very scarce. We have sold at the Yards 750 wethers (imported) at from 25 to 29s ; and 3,000, delivered on the South side .of the Waikati, at 30s. Really prime mutton would demand 71 d delivered near to town.

Store Sheep. —We have numerous enquiries for both ewes and wethers: also for lambs (ewes or mixed). The market is now quite clear of imported sheep, although we are daily expecting a further consignment from the well-known flocks of Messrs. Henty, Portland Bay district. We have sold during the week, 1,200 Victorian wethers at from 21s to 245; and 2,000 ewes (New Zealand bred), delivered south aide of the Waitaki, at 30s. We quote acclimatized wethers, 4 tooth to full mouth, at 24s to 265. Imported ewes, at 255. Stations. — We have withdrawn the Moa, Flat Station from sale, Mr. G. A. Chalmers, the pre-

sent proprietor, having purchased his partner’s interest. We have for sale a very fine property in Southland, 50,000 acres, with 7,000 sheep. We hear of a very extensive purchase on the north side of the Waitaki, price and terms not vet made public. J Horses.— The market continues well stocked with light, inferior horses, and sales of this class can only be effected at prices barely covering freight and expenses. First class draught, horses and strong well-bred hackneys are very scarce and in active demand, and we do not anticipate any reduction in prices for this class for some time to come. During the week we have disposed cf 155 horses, including Messrs. Phillips, Beaver’s, Walker’s, Holley’s, and Johnston’s lots, at prices as follows: —First-class draught horses, from £75 to £95 ; second do, £56 to £6O; inferior do, from £25 to £4O; first-class saddle and harness do, £4O to £55 ; second class do, £25 to £35 ; inferior hackneys, £8 to £2O. Driver, Maclean & Co., Stock and Station Salesmen, Dunedin.