COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 108, 20 April 1863, Page 2

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK-MARKET.

Dbxveb, Maclean & Co. report for week ending 4th April, 1863. We have on several occasions expressed an opinion that fat stock (particularly cattle) must become very scarce in this market during the winter months, for reasons that are plain to all, viz., the several diggings requiring all and more than can bo produced in the Province. The Wellington district is quite drained of fat cattle for a time, and “ Gipp’s Land,” the onh foreign country from which cattle can be imported, finds too good a market at home to ship largely. We, however, did not expect to feel the effects of this so soon. At present our butchers are comparatively without stock, and do not know where to look for further supplies. We notice butchers have raised the price of beef to Is 4d, and mutton to Is 2d per lb:, and unless the supply is larger and more regular, wc may not expect to have it lower than this for some time. Good' mutton is also likely to be scarce, as holders find a good market in the country, on account of the scarcity of cattle.

Eat Cattle. —The few that were offered at the yards met with ready sale, at prices higher than we had ever known in this market. We sold all offered, say 50 head, ex Carlo, from Wanganui,._at from £29 to £34 10s each.

Eat Sheep. —But few have come to hand, say 400 (inferior), which we sold at 28s to 3 Is. We do not hear of any near town, and anticipate an advance in prices. W e sold 600 for the diggings at 8d per fb., delivered on the run. Store Sheep. —We have a good demand for young ewes and large framed wethers. During the week we have disposed of 6,500, of various classes; say 3,800 Victorian wethers, in weak condition, at 36s ; 1,300 acclimatised do, large pronortion fat, at 2Ss 6d ; 1400 do ewes, 2-tooth, at 3*ls 6d.

This week has shown decided improvement in trade, as the majority of the late shipments have been cleared off, and the class of horses coming to hand being of a much better description. The demand for draught horses and strong useful hackneys is very brisk, and prices ruling higher than our last quotation. The week closing with every appearance of a continued improvement. The current prices are for first class heavy draught horses, from £BO to £lO5 ; second class do from £ls to £75; inferior do do, from £25 to £35 ; first class saddle and iiarness do. from £55 to £65 ; second class do do, from £3O to £42 ; inferior hackneys, from £l2 to 2al. CHRISTCHURCH LIVE STOCK MARKET. Mr. W. D. Barnard’s weekly report of Horse Sales, &c., ending 7th April. Eleven draught horses have been disposed of at prices varying from £4l to £7O ; twenty-eight saddle and light horses, from £l6 to £55, averaging £2B 5s ; one pony, £l2 ; twelve cows, from £7 10s to £26 5s ; one young bull, £6 ; several heifers and steers, at an average price of £7 15s. The market still continues dull, but enquiries after real good stock continue very numerous.