Commercial.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1060, 13 April 1882, Page 2

Commercial.

HAWKE’S BAY STOCK AND STATION REPORT FOR MARCH, 1882. Mr. M. R. Miller, Stock and Station Agent, Auctioneer, etc., reports as follow : — The demand for store sheep during the past month continued as great, as in Jan. and February. but the supply has been much diminished ; indeed there is very little now to oiler in female stork except aged and culls. In store wedders the market has been nearly cleared, and the few lots remaining are held firm for an advance ; in fat wedders, “ boiling-down ” has already relieved holders to a large extent, and prices have consequently advanced. Large drafts of our surplus sheep have been absorlied bv the Auckland, Wanganui, and Wairarapa districts, and the carrying powers of our own district continue to increase. Prices of cattle have recovered to a certain extent, which no doubt will be maintained, there being an increasing demand, especially for young stock of both sexes. We have had favorable autumn weather; feed plentiful for the season and stock healthy. This, with the steady advance in the wool market, gives a cheerful prospect to our pastoral community’. Current quotations for stock are for Sheep.—Store merino wedders, 2 and 4-tooth 7s; 6-tooth, 6s ; 8-tooth, 5s each. Ewes— Sales have been effected at 10s for 2-tooth, 8s for 4-tooth, 6s 6d for 6-tooth, 5s to 5s 6d for 8-tooth, and for aged, 3s to 4s each. Crossbred wedders, fat, Ils to 13s each. Store do., 2 and 4-tooth, 9s ; 6 and 8-tooth, 9s to 9s 6d -each. Ewes same class, 2-tooth, 9s 8d ; 4 and 6-tooth, 10s to 11b ; 8-tooth, 6 to 9s, according to quality; aged, 6s to 7s, do., do. Rams— Merinos, young, have ruled at from £2 10s to £3 10s each ; aged, £1 to £1 10s. Lincoln do., for flock purposes, from £3 3s to £7 7s each. Cattle.—Fat, 20s to 22s 6d per lOOlbs. Store steers yearlings 2, 3 and 4-year-olds respectively, £3, £4 ss, £5 10s, and £6 10s, with upward tendency. Female stock range from 10s to 20s under above rates. Dqiry cows, £8 to £lO each. Horse Stock. —Medium draughts fur the plough are in better demand, at £25 tu £35 each ; heavy do., £5O to £6O ; light harness, £l5 to £2O ; good hacks, £2O to £25, scarce ; useful do., £lO to £l5; light do., and packers, £5 to £7 each. Station Properties.—The high prices obtained by the Government at auction in February last for tho Otago leasehold runs have directed more enquiry to North Island properties, and from prices here being so much lower, there is every prospect of a considerable number of southern sheepfarmers investing here. Several properties are now in negotiation. I would call the attention of both pastoral and agricultural men to the large sale of the Rissington estate on the 13th April. Fifty-five thousand acres of freehold, in twenty-eight estates of various sizes, ranging from 330 to about 5,500 acres, all more or less improved, will be offered by public auction at exceedingly low reserves, viz., from £1 10s per acre upwards to £5 for the Rissington home block only, and these reserves are calculated considerably below the immediate interest that could be derived from each section. The unprecedentedly large amount of land thus put in the market at once will no doubt lessen competition, thus affording an opportunity for profitable investment on easy terms rarely obtainable. Immediately after the sale of the Rissington blocks, Mangaharuru leasehold and Springhill freehold properties will also be offered by auction, by instructions of executors.