CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 328, 30 November 1865, Page 2

CANTERBURY.

Press Office, Nov. 20,1865,

Business continues much the same as heretofore. The only events of the week has been the arrival ef the Blue Jacket, from London, White Star liner. She brings a large and seasonable cargo, the manifest of which, however, has not as yet been published, although the ship’s letters are in the consignees hands. The marked rise in the price of flour, which took place last Monday morning, owed its origin to the news brought from Australia by the Albion. Prices are not firmly setttled at the full rise, as some holders have heavy stocks on hand.

Flour, wholesale, from £24 to £25 per ton for superfine Canterbury ; Chilian is held for £27 per ton. The demand for both qualities is a fair average, for current requirements.

In oats, the market is quiet; no large transactions taking place, and prices remain nominally at last week’s quotations 6s per bushel. Barley is not offered. , Peas and beans would have a fair demand if any stocks were on hand, considerable enquiry being made for them for horse and other feed.

Hay is delivered in considerable quantities at £4 per ton. In horses, no attention is paid to any sorts but heavy draught stock that are thoroughly staunch, the prices for which vary from £45 to £65. Light hacks are quite unsaleable, except at very low prices.

Cattle are still in great request; both fat stock and stores are placed at high rates. Considerable enquiry is made for large paddock accomodation near Christchurch, supplies of stock being expected from Napier shortly.

AUCKLAND. LIVE STOCK MAEKET. Messes Huntee and Co.’s report for the week ending November 17. We have to report that the fat cattle market has remained steady as to price; for the last three weeks there has been no further decline in price, and the next two or three months will be regulated by the shipments that may arrive from the other colonies. The market is fairly supplied with Provincial fattened cattle, we had a good show on Monday last; all to hand were sold, at from 45s to 50s the 100 lbs, according to quality. Dairy cows are in fair demand and bring rather improved prices on the rates ruling for the last few months, the supply to hand was scarcely equal to the demand. We had a tolerable market of store stock, but rather inferior in qualify; prices were not quite so good as they have been, but the inferior description of the stock was the principle cause of the decline. Veal calves: the market was yell supplied, some of good quality brought £2 10s each, all to hand were sold at good prices. Sheep Market.—We had a full market of fat sheep, principally with the wool off; prices are not so high in proportion to the clipped sheep as those with the wool on. We sold a few pens of medium quality with the wool on, at 27s 6d each; good qualities clipped, 25s each; some half-breds clipped, brought 28s 6d each. Lambs, in good supply, worth from 17s to 22s each.

Horse Market.—We had a show of horses on Saturday last, both of heavy draught, medium ditto, light harness, and saddle horses, nearly all were sold ; we consider the horse market slightly improved as to prices, sales are more easily effected and at rather an advance on rates lately ruling; anything fresh and good sells readily. We sold some heavy draught horses at £45 each; good serviceable hacks were bringing from £l2 to £2O each; any horse that can jump will bring a good price; light harness horses, good are worth from £ls to £2O each. We sold several lots of maize at 5s and 5s 6d per bushel. Hay was in good supply and brought from £5 to £7 10s per ton. Straw, from £3 to £4 per ton.

We sold some inferior made new buggies at £25 each, English dog-carts at £3O. Otahuhu Sale.—There was a fair show of store cattle on Tuesday, the remarks we have made on the Newmarket Sale are applicable to the Otahuhu Market; prices were a shade lower, and the store stock inferior.

Drury Sale.—We held our monthly sale at this market on Wednesday, there was a large show of cattle, principally store and dairy cows; a considerable number changed hands at satisfactory rates.

The following are quotations for the week: — Fat cattle, £2 5s to £2 10s the 100 ibs; store .stock, £3los to £7; dairy cows, £l2 to £ls, for first-class cows; inferior ditto, £6 to £2. Sheep : stores, £1 2s to £1 4s; fat, shorn, best quality, £llos ; with the wool on, half-fat, £1 7s. Horses; hacks, £l2 to £2O; harness horses, good, £ls to £2O; daaught horses, heavy, from £4O to £SO; medium, £2O to £25. Mu Buceland’s report for the week ending November 17. The hay brought forward on Saturday last was in less quantity than usual; but prices were without alteration. Maize is dull of sale; Auckland grown brought 4s 6d ; Sydney maize, 4s 9d to 5s the bushel. The horse market was very depressed ; there was a large number sold, but prices obtained were low. At Otahuhu there was a full supply of cattle. Prices rallied perceptibly from the sprevious week, and all at hand were sold freely. There is an improved inquiry for dairy cattle and quite young stock for the interior. The Merino ewes brought 26s 6d each, lambs given in. At Newmarket, on Thursday, there was a fuller market of fat cattle than for some weeks. Towards the end of the sale prices lowered for inferior quality, but well-conditioned animals maintained their price throughout. Dairy cows offered in good numbers, but there was a steady demand, and prices were higher than have lately ruled for this description of stock, best animals bringing from £l4 to £l7 each. Not many store cattle offered, and those were of an inferior description.

The sheep market was well filled. Tire half-bred ewes brought 42s the couple ; fat merino wethers, from 20s to 28s each ; half-breds, from 28s to 355. Lambs were very plentiful, but of good quality and request j they were all sold, and brought from 16s to 42s each. Calves were in full suppply, and without alteration in price. Pigs were short of requirement.