COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4572, 15 November 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington on Saturday, was as follows £ s. d. £ a. d. Spirits .. 17 4 5 Ad val. goods 503 12 8 Ale .. .. CO 0 0 Goods by wg*.. 30 3 7 Tea .. .. 3114 0 Other duties.. 12 17 0 Sugar.. 45 19 0 Cigars .. 7 10 0 Total ..£744 22 Coffee .. 15 0 0 HAWKE’S BAY STOCK AND STATION REPORT. The following is Mr. Miller’s report for the month of October:— Since date of ray last report, business in stock has been, as usual during the winter season, very limited. In the earlier part of this month, inquiries for store cattle were more numerous, and a few hundred head have since changed hands at rates somewhat under for female stock ; but steers above last autumn quotations; the number of stock of this description likely

to be offered is very limited, and from that reason will maintain value, although fat cattle have not realised so high an average as was expected. In store sheep a considerable number will be in the market, as though fears were entertained from the inclemency of the weather at the earlier part of the lambing season that there would be a low increase, it is now apparent that generally over the province there is a better percentage than expected, and several large flocks are reported as having docked from 80 to 90 per cent. Although the carrying capacity of the country increases so rapidly, yet from the rather depressed news of the wool market, prices may be expected to rule somewhat lower than last year; inquiries for immediate purchase of stores after shearing are chiefly as yet confined to weddera for feeding down fern country. Shearing operations have commenced on several of the lower stations, and a good average clip is expected, as the flocks have been in good healthy condition. Fat stock are plentiful and prices moderate ; the criterion of price for fat sheep will be equal to what they can realise for boiling down. As very few transactions have yet been closed or finally arranged for the season, quotations uudernoteu may be only considered approximate, unless where sales arc actually quoted. Cattle.—Fat, 255. to 275. Cd. per lODlbs. Stores, mixed ages and sexes, about equal proportions, £4 ss. to £4 15s. each. Steers, one, two, three, and four year old—Sales have been effected at £3 10s., £5 12s. Gd., £Gl7s. 6d., and £B, giving general average £O. Female stock, same ages, ranged from £2 ss. to £G each ;at latter rate I sold one lot of CO head. Dairy cows in demand at £8 to £ll each. Sheep.—Wedders—Fat, merino, nominal. Stores, after shearing, four and six tooth, in demand at Gs. Gd. to 7s. 6d., latter price for superior lots ; four, six, and fresh eight tooth, Gs. to 75., according to proportion of ages; aged do, nominal. Cross-bred stores, two and four tooth, Ss, to IDs.; at latte? prices a superior lot of 5000 have been sold. ' I have sold 2500 mixed hoggets to six-tooth in wool at 12s. Gd. Ewes— There will be good demand for two, four, and six tooth merinos at from 10s. to 11s., fresh eight-tooth will also be readily saleable, but in aged ewes the market is likely to be very full. From present inquiries, a fair price may be expected for young crossbred ewes. The annual show, held on the 14th inst., was decidedly the most successful as an exhibition of stock that has yet been held here. The very marked advance in all exhibits was gratifying, and the liberal enterprise of our breeders in hitherto importing such high-class stock will bear satisfactory results. Although purchasers generally prefer waiting till the February ram fair, there were a few sales at the show that, though not equal to last year’s rates, were quite satisfactory to the vendors. I sold one of Mr. Marcroft’s Canterbury Lincolns to Captain Russell for £2O; No. 6, do do. £l2; No, 11, do do, 12gs.; No, 14, do do, 20gs.; No. 7, do, to Mr. Nelson, £25; No. 10, Mr. McHardy, 10gs.: one of Messrs. Sutton’s Invercargill rams to Mr. IVm. Douglas, at 39g5.; one of Mr. Threlkeld’s Canterbury rams was bought by Mr. J. N. "Williams, atG2gs.: and No. 19, do do, 25g5.; No. 16, do, Captain Russell, 25g5.; No. 18, Mr, Duff, 25g5.; No. 20, do. Captain Russell, 33gs. Horse Stock. —The market is very dull, but there are signs of coming business apparent in enquiries for draught stock, but holders of good class will not part at present rates, which may be quoted at —Good medium draught, £3O to £35; heavy do, £SO to £OS. Good hacks are saleable at £2O to 25; with light weedy hacks and trap horses, the market is glutted. Wool. —Although last account sales from home should be on the whole satisfactory to the careful wool-growers, yet any fall in the market causes depressed feeling in every branch of business. By the New Zealand Loan and* Mercantile Agency report of August sales to 24th, it will be observed on comparison that well-bred, or rather regularly-bred, clips have suffered little depression ; irregular flocks, on the other hand, have suffered considerably. It states that “ the course of the market, as indicated by the results of first few days’ sales, is certainly less favorable than had been anticipated, and would appear to show that the recent commercial disasters have exercised wider range in shaking confidence than previously thought possible. Apart from, this consideration there is nothing in the actual condition of the manufacturing industry abroad or at home since the spring to account for so considerable a fluctuation in our staple.” It should further be observed that scoured wool and greasy shares more in the decline than fleece, and with the evidence always before us of the much greater profit derived by washing wool on the sheep, every effort should be made to get this generally and well done. . , . Station Property.—There is continued demand for moderate priced properties both large and small. For the latter I have very numerous inquiries for blocks of from 500 to 2000 acres. During the past month a number of visitors have been attracted by the advertised sale of Mr. Maney’s Wairoa properties, and a considerable amount of business has been done. My sales 'are —Mr. Maney’s Pakowhai estate, 527 G acres freehold, with 5G2 leasehold (superior country and commanding other advantages), with 7000 sheep, to Henry Nairn, Esq., for £14.300; same time the Te Kapu estate, 4G77 acres, to William Couper, Esq., at an average of 355. Cd. per acre—£S2SG ; Sir. Dolbol, Mangaharurumun, 20,000 acres leasehold (9 years to run, low rental), with SOS to 1000 sheep given in, price £I4OO, sold to Messrs. J. Gemmel and Co.; the Glengarry estate, Mr. William Couper’s, 7500 acres freehold,*with 3000 sheep, &c., sold to Taylor White, Esq., for £8500; part of Mr. James Tod’s Homewood property, 2000 acres, to Messrs. Duncan McLaren and William White, for £9250 sterling ; Mr. McDougall, Dunolly estate, Pohui, 4750 acres freehold and 25,000 acres leasehold, with 5000 sheep, 40 cattle, and a few horses, to Mr. Hugh McLellan, for £9500. I have leased Mr. Chapman’s Poukawa leasehold, 500 acres, at £375 per annum for three years, and £450 per annum for next nine years, with a further GSO acres adjoining at £3OO per annum from termination of present lease, stock of sheep, cattle, &c., at valuation, to Mr. J. Franklin White.

MELBOURNE STATION PRODUCE REPORT. Wool.—The opening sale of the season, which has been looked forward to with a large amount of interest, has been held to-day; the attendance of buyers was very large, and good competition existed, the various lots realising very satisfactory prices, clearly showing that notwithstanding the heavy decline which has taken place in the London market, the buyers are prepared to pay such prices .here as renders shipping upon growers’ account very speculative in the present aspect of the Home markets. The sales at our warehouses will commence next week.

Sheepskins.—We have held our usual sales, and have disposed of a large supply at about last week’s rates, viz:—Common butcher’s green skins, 4s. to 4s. Cd., and extra, 7s. each; common superior skins, dry skins, 2s. to 6s. 6d. each, and station skins in bales, 6d. to Bd. per pound. Hides.—The market continues firm and supplies not large. We have sold green at 235. to 355.; cow, 10s. to 235. each; Victorian (wet salted), 4£d. to 5d.; New Zealand, o|d. to s£d.; and calfskins, sd. to Od per pound. Tallow.—The market has still further advanced during the week, and the quantity offering does pot meet requirements. Our sales have been, for inferior, £27 to £3O; mixed, £3l to £37; mutton. £3O to £4O; beef, £33 to £37 per ton. Leather. —We held our usual sale on Tuesday; the attendance was large, and we notice a better demand for dressed leather than there has been for some weeks past, and will no doubt improve. We sold crop, 10£d. to 12d. ; kip, Is. 6d. to Is, lOd.; runners, 2s. 4d.; calf, 2s. to 3s. 9d,; wallaby, 2s. to 3s, Id.; waxed kangaroo, 2s. to 2s. 3d.; and harness, 13d. to 14ld. per pound; and Basils, 4s. to 20s. per dozen. Kangaroo-skins we have sold at 6d. to 13d. per pound, according to size and quality. Bark.—We have to report a decline in price of this article, more particularly for ground, which is now only worth £7 per ton, bags charged; chopped, £6; and bundles, £5 per ton, J. H. Clough & Co. Melbourne, October 27.