COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 120, 1 June 1863, Page 2

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK MARKET. Drives, Maclean & Co.’s Report, for week ending IGth May, 1863. Eat Stock is becoming very scarce throughout the Province; and we constantly hear of sales (near the diggings) of poor conditioned sheep and cattle at extravagant rates ; and many of our nmholders who are without wethers are killing [their ewes. Eat Cattle.— No fresh lots have come to hand during the week (except a few head, ex Lady Barlcly, from Wellington to-day. Many of our butchers are without stock, and have been obliged to supply themselves from the small herds near town at high rates. We have disposed of a few head from the paddock of Messrs. Mollison and Mitchell and [others, at the rate of 70s. per 1001 b. We will sell on Tuesday next (10th), at Waikonaiti, 200 head of very superior cattle, Provincial bred. We quote present town rates at 70s per 1001 b.

Fat Sheep. —About 600 have been landed this week, and realised 3)d to lOd per lb. The trade have little or no stock on hand, and are not able to contract for regular supplies. We are of opinion that good mutton will bo very scarce for some months to come, and do not expect a decline in price. We quote 400 wethers at above rates, and 50 lambs at an average of 27s Gd ; also, 500 wethers, near the diggings, at 335.

Sxoke Sheep. —We have to notice an increased demand for stores of every class, particularly for young ewes and healthy large framed wethers, of which the market is very bare, and the few offering find eager purchasers. We quote the ewes 2,4, and 6-tooth, at 30s to 32s 6d ; wethers, 4 to 6-tooth, 255, to 2Gs. We have sold 2,000 lambs, mixed sexes, delivered north side Waitaki, at 20s each.

lloeses. —Young sound draught horses, and weight-carrying hackneys continue scarce, and fresh importations would meet an active demand at fully our quotations. Prices current: —Superior draught horses, £95 to £120; medium do, £6O to £9O ; inferior do, £25 to £3O; superior light harness do, £SO to £7O ; 2nd class do, £3O to £6O; inferior, £lB to £25; weight-carrying cobs very scarce, and in great demand.

LONDON WOOL REPORT.— Maech 20,1863. The sales opened with a very fair attendance of buyers, both home aud foreign, and prices on the average were considered equal to the IS ovember sales, except for Port Philips, which, being in large supply, sold at about lid. in favour of buyers. So satisfactory a range of prices did not long continue ; it soon became manifest from the indisposition on the part of dealers to purchase that rates could not bo maintained, hence prices fityey the first few nights had a drooping tendency

which continued till the close of the series, the last night for Port Philip wools being decidedly lower medium to good flocks bringing no more than Is. 7d. to Is. lOd.