Commercial.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 998, 12 November 1881, Page 2

Commercial.

MR. M. R. MILLER’S HAWKE’S BAY STOCK & STATION REPORT. (October, It 81.)

We have had a most genial winter, and a generally good lambing. This, combined with a very active demand from other provinces for store stock, and our own largely-increased carrying capabilities, has given great confidence to. runholders. The late high home quotations for tallow have also had a strong influence in advancing the price of store sheep already bought largely for delivery after shearing. Cattle have also shared in the general advance, and are firm at undernoted quotations. There have been vague proposals about starting a meat-freezing company, but nothing definite has been attempted towards forming a company. The good price of tallow and encouraging demand for store sheep remove any possible anxiety about the disposal of surplus stock, although it is expected this weaning will give 750,000 or thereabout addition to our flocks. In Station Property, though enquiries are increasing, little actual business has been done. Several offers for properties of importance have been made, but in nearly all cases, at some difference under sellrrs’ ideas, and the latter are getting more and more firm ; indeed it is much more probable that soon an advance may be looked for in price rather than any fall,' as the prices of station property here at present, are verv low’ compared with those obtained three years ago. I have lately sold four-fifths interest in the Te Haroto Run, 130,000 acres leasehold, rent £2lO, 12 years unexpired, with 14,000 sheep and plant, at rate of £15,000 for the whole, to Messrs. Anderson & Co., and half interest in Waikari Run, 20,000 acres, rent £l3O, 14 years unexpired, with 7,500 sheep, at rate of £BOOO for the whole, to Mr. G. Bee, the owner of the other half interest. At my sale of the Moteo' and Korokipo estates on the 25th inst. there was a good attendance. The bidding was spirited, the whole of the sections being disposed of. Total amount of sale £67,794. Present quotations for stock are as under: — SHEEP. —Store' Merino Wedders, 2-and-4-tooth, 7s, 6-tooth, 6s ; Ewes, few offering, 2-tooth, 9s, 4-tooth, Bs, 6 and fresh 8-tooth, 6s ; Crossbred, Fat Wedders, 10s 6d to Ils ; Store Jo., 2-4-and-6-tooth. In conjunction with my Waipawa branch firm, Messrs. M. R. Miller and Potts, I have already placed for

future delivery over 22,000 of this class, at prices ringing from 7s to 9s each ; Ewes, same class, prices range from 8s to 14s ; ac cording to quality. There was only a smali attendance at the sale of the Moteo Lincoln sheep on the 28th inst-., but though the competition was limited the whole of the ewes were sold at fairly satisfactory prices. All the ewes were sold in the wool, and in good condition ; 26 rams were sold. The only lots passed were 55 rams. The prices realised were as under :—l9 ewe hoggets to Mr. Lyon at 25s each ; 176 4-tooth ewes, with 141 lambs given in, to Mr. Anderson at 21s each ; 310 4-tooth ewes at 15s, and 600 ewe hoggetts at 12s, to Mr. Anderson ; 680 6-and-8-tooth ewes, with 500 lambs, to Mr. W. Heslop, at 17s each ; and 68 choice ewes, with 55 lambs, at 265, to Mr. Anderson. Stud Sheep—l have to report a valuable acquisition to the already high class Riverslea Lincoln flock, ■viz : —the purchase by Mr. Tanner of the whole of the pure Lincoln ewe flock belonging to the late Philip Russell, Esq., of Timaru, in number 13q, price £1987 10s, delivered at Timaru. These sheep are considered the mostvaluable of their class in the southern hemisphere —three rams and three ewes ordered for the same flock from Mr. Vessey are also to be handed over to Mr. Tanner on their arrival from England at cost price. CATTLE. —Fat, 22s 6d per lOOlbs ; Store steers, 1,2, and 3-year old, £3 15s, £5, and £6 15s respectively, may be taken as the average rate at which Messrs. M. R. Miller & Potts, with myself have placed about 850 head during the past six weeks ; Female store stock average £1 to £1 5s per head under above rates ; Dairy Cows, £7 to £lO each. HORSE STOCK- —There is a moderate demand fbr medium draught at £25 to £3O ; heavy do., £5O to £6O ; light harness, £l5 to £2O ; good hacks, £2O to £25 ; useful do., £lO to £l2 ; light do., £5 to £7. WOOL."Shearing operations have commenced on several stations, and a good clip, though light in grease, is expected. Several growers intend shipping a portion of their clips to Melbourne, with a view of comparing that with the home market. The shipments from this to Melbourne in the earlier part of last season, were very satisfactory, and Messrs. Goldsbrough & Co’s telegraphic report of last Wednesday’s sales were encouraging—“ Catalogued 16,600 bales yesterday. Crowded attendance. Spirited competition. Greasy value 8d to 14$d- Sold 10,000 bales.” OUR ANNUAL SHOW, held at Hastings On 12th and 13th instant, was a marked improvement on any of the last three years, the total entries being 534 against 401 in 1880. The increase was the greatest in sheep, cattle, and horses, and it was most gratifying to learn from competent judges that in every respect there is a. marked advance in Merino exhibits, hitherto our weakest feature. Our Lincolns could not be excelled, even in their own country, and the shorthorn cattle were as heretofore of the highest class. The only feature to be regretted was the paucity of exhibits of farm produce : —we trust to see greater attention bestowed in inducing this valued class of settlers to take a livelier interest in a society, founded as much for their benefit as for its pastoral supporters. »