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Patea Mail, 10 May 1881, Page 3

Absolute free trade in bargaining for native lands, the Government standing on one side in favour of private individuals, gives direct encouragement to companies of capitalists to enter upon a field of speculation at the expense of settlement. The United Alpine Company, Reefton for the week crushed 156 tons of quartz, the result being 206 ozs of amalgam from the top plates only. It is intended to start the low level at an early date. The mine looks well.

PATEA STOCK Messrs Nolan & Co., Hawera, report We held our first sale of stock on Thursday. There was a large attendance, and the bidding was spirited. There were 390 head of cattle, 250 sheep, and about 25 horses yarded, which were, with very few exceptions, disposed of at very satisfactory prices for the vendor. Cattle. —Fat bullocks, £6 17s Gel; wellgrown steers and heifers, £4 12s 6d; yearlings, £2 5s ; stove cows, £3 15s ; cows and calves, £5 ; weaners, 35s ; 18-inonth-old steers and heifers, £3. Sheep. —Very few yarded. Cross-bred ewes, 7s 3d. Houses. —We quote heavy draught mares at from £2l to £35 10s ; medium draught, £l6 to £22 ; hacks, £4 10s to £l4. Land. —A few sections at Manaia changed hands daring the month at satisfactory prices. TARANAKI CATTLE MARKET. Messrs Bauchope and King, New Plymouth, report : Cattle. —On Thursday we held our fortnightly cattle sale at the Waiwakaiho yards. The attendance of bnj'crs was small, probably owing to the Hawera sale taking place on that date, and bidding flat, though a number were placed after the sale. The following prices were obtained :—Steer calves, £l, £1 12s 6d, and £1 15s ; heifer do, £1 10s, £1 16s and £1 17s 6d ; 2 heifers, £2 5s ; 5 do, £2 15s ; 2 do, £2 7s ; 4 steers, £3 15s ; 1 do, £1 12s ; 7 do, £3 5s ; 8 do, £2 15s ; springing cow @ £8 5s ; heifers, £3 ss, and £3 17s Gd ; do, in milk, £4 17s 6d ; cows, in milk, £6, and £5 10s ; cows, £6 7s 6d, £4 and £5 ; pair bullocks, £2l 10s. WELLINGTON GRAIN AND PRODUCE. On the 6th inst. the N.Z. Times had not heard of any sales of milling wheat, or of any alteration in ([notations, viz., 3s lOd per bushel. Local brand of flour is quoted at £lO. Grass seed is dull of sale, as the season is almost over, llye is very scarce and our Southern advices predict higher prices for the spring season ; cocksfoot is plentiful, and worth from 3-|d. Oats arc quoted at 2s for good feed. Potatoes have been sold during the week at £2 per ton, and we look for an increase.