INVERCARGILL HORSE, CATTLE, AND SHEEP MARKET.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 64, 18 June 1863, Page 2

INVERCARGILL HORSE, CATTLE, AND SHEEP MARKET.

" Caebt and Gilibs Report — Since our last monthly report horses have changed hands freely, and continue in active demand, notwithstanding there was a slight decline in their va'ue last week, in consequence of the fall in carriavge to the Lake Digging*. Shipments afloat will come to a good market^ and we have little lear of any serious decline, unless the market is overstocked ; g.iod draught will always command their value, and if importers are not too eager to forco sales, the result will be satisfactory to them. Weight carrying hackneys always find buyers. The only arrival of horses from the other colonies during the month has been the Indii, from Hobart Ti.wn, which we offered on the 10th, on which day the weather being unfavorable, and the stock of a light and inferior description, biddings vrere not brisk, the prices realised being from L 35 to 165. The fall in carriage in the early part of the month induced teamsters to offer their horses for public sale, and in all instances we placed them at most satisfactory prices, ranging from L4O ui> to LlO6, but there being an improvement in cartage this week, there are now few offering. We have advices of shipments to our care per Creole and Sea Breeze daily expected, of a very superior description. The ruiing prices are, firstclass heavy draught horses, L 95 to LI 10; second, do do, LOO to L 80; third, do do, L 35 to 50. Working Bullocks. — For first-class teams an active demand exists, and good cattle find ready purchasers at from L 65 upwards, per pair. Wa have sold imported at LCO to L6s,but thiir condition was not suited to our wants, and only the scarcity of good cattle enabled us to obtain such rates. A vessel from Hobart Town has been very unfortunate with, her cargo of bullocks, which the the importer informs us were of a superior description. We are daily expecting a consignment from Launceston, per Sea Breeze, selected for this market. Store Cattle. — There has only arrived one shipment, the Juno, from Hobart Town, now landing, and we hope to make sales at full prices, but cannot give a quotation until we see them. We have sold Provincial at Lll to Ll2, and report our market as firm at these rates. Cows. — Quiet cows are wanted at Lls up to L 25. Fat Cattle. — The market has been poorly supplied the past, ten days with beef. Our last sales were at 70s ppr 1001 b, and we expect at least this rate for the stock we will offer next week. Fat Sheep. — Fat wethers are worth 40s to 45a, with but a moderate supply. Store Sheep are worth from 20>s to 28s for imnorted, hut afc this period of the year there are no fresh shipments. These are tho rates for any on hand.

Messes. Robertson and Co. report — Since the departure of the last mail the weather has continued, almost without intermission, of a most un propitious character, and the very small demand for goods at the Lake district, has, together with that cause, had the effect of most unnecessarily depressing trade in general, and, as a matter of course, operating in some morssure upon the demand for horses. The rates of carriage from hence to the Lake has been gradually falling, and although at this time the roads are nearly, if not quite, as bad as they have ever been, the decrease in the demand above alluded to has not only prevented the rise that was anticipated, but has occasioned a reduction from £70 to £35, at which rate there is hut very little loading offering. In the face of all this the market price for really good staunch heavy draught horses is well supported, and we see no reason to change the opinion wo have expressed for some time, nmnelj, that a fair margin of profit will be left, after all expenses, on the importation of this description of stock. Light draught and harness horses will also realise a fair rate, nnd the demand for fir^t-class (^ever hacks continues good, there being fey or nnne of them offering in the market. We ein safely direct attention to our quotations, which are the prices at which wo have positively sold, and apply to all horses coming under the class named. When an extraordinary price has been obtained for something beyond the usual mark, we make it a rule to quote it as a solitary instance, so that our friends mny not bo misled by seeing such prices as LllO or Ll2O affixed to anything but perhaps an individual horse something beyond the average of really first-class heavy draught. During the last month our sales have been, to a great extent, private, as we have had and still have so many purchasers waiting for really good cattle, that very few have come to the hammer but those that have b.'cn freely cleared at quotations. We again recommend our friends to pay particular attention to the shipment of their horses, and to be very careful in seeing them properly attended to on the voyage, as very much will depend upon the condition they are landed in, and if due cure has not been exercised, it is possible that instead of a profit being realised a loss may be sustained. We quote sales as follows, namely : — Very superior heavy draught horses, £75 to £90, and an excellent demand ; good second class no, £55 to £70; lierht harness hordes, £30 to £40 ; superior hacks, £35 to £45; inferior ditto and unbroken colts of some description nominal, and utmost impossible to move at any rate. Workingßullocks. — These are in great demand, nnd we expect they will continue to sell well for some time. We have sold two teams, averaging £63 10s per pair. Cattle. — Market very bare, a good mixed mob of store cattle would realise from £11 10s to £13 per head; calves, under six months, givea in; fat cattle very scarce, first-class beef we quote at from 65s to 70s per lOOlbs. Station Property. — Very little offering; no alterations in market value since our last report.