DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK, STATION, AND WOOL REPORT.

Southland Times, Issue 879, 10 January 1868, Page 2

DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK, STATION, AND WOOL REPORT.

DBIVEB, Macikas and Co.'s report : — Since our last issue a disposition has been shown to establish prices for various classes of sheep ; but as shearing is unusually late, on marjj stations not yet commenced, we are not able to report that activity in the market usually exhibited at this season. Although we anticipate an improving demand during the ensuing month, we feel convinced that it will be necessary for sellers to submit to a reduction from last year's prices, to induce transactions. We are justified, by our advices from Canterbury, in stating that comparatively few sheep will cross the Waitaki this season ; but, on the other hand, there is a considerable increase in number offering in this province, the holders of which Beem inclined to meet the views of buyers to the extent of a reasonable reduction. • ■ • We have placed a very considerable number of all classes of sheep and cattle during the month, at average prices as quoted below : — Pat Stock— The arrival of the Kate Waters and Hydra, from Australia, has fully supplied this market during the last fortnight with splendid quality of beef, and caused a reduction in price to about 40s for 100 lb ; this, however, may be looked Upon as merely a .temporary ease to the market, as the available fat cattle in- the Province are insufficient to meet our requirements throughout the year. Fat sheep . are in- better supply ; the quality being only ordinary, owing to a long contM?tffi'off^ti^;^^iV p riut^e?fiifng' I ' Tl^ forwar 4 summer, we do not expect to see any improvement in price, which' we now quote at 3£d to 4d for prime mutton. Fat calves are saleable at £4 to £4 10s for good qualify. Store Stock — Beferring to our remarks above, regarding the present position of our market for shfeep, we quote wethers at 9s 6d to 10s ; ewes, 2-tooth, at 14s to 15s ; do, 2, 4, and 6-tooth, at 13s to 14s ; ditto, full-mouth, at 8s to 10s ; ditto, broken, nominal; lambs, equal sexes, 18s per pair. Cattle continue in good demand, 3 to 5 year bullocks, at £9 10 to £10 10a ; mixed herds, at £7 10s to £9, according: to ages, sexes, &c. Horses — During the early part of the month horses of all descriptions were in a fair demand, and saleable at our last quotations ; but for the past fortnight, owiDg chiefly to the holidays, few have been offering, and little or no business has been done. The only arrival has been the Kate Waters, from Gipps Irtnd, on account of John Johnson, Esq., Trenburn Park, with several head useful hacks, which have sold at from £15 to £37. First-class heavy draught stock and stylish weightcarriers, are inquired for ; and although the demand is not equal to what we expected at the season, the market is so bare of these descriptions, that we do not look for any marked decline in prices unless exceptionably heavy shipments come o hand. Current rates are : For superior draught mares and geldings, L5O to L 7 5; ordinary do, L 35 to L 4 5; first-class hacks, L 27 to L3B j ordinary and inferior, Ll5 to L 25. Stations — Notwithstanding the late reduction in both the prices of wool and sheep, the greatest confidence is maintained !or investments in desirable properties, and but very few in thi3 province are likely to come into the market. Several very fine properties are offering in Canterbury, which we feel sure will realise full value, and would particularly note the sale of Mrs Hodgkinson's Bold Hill Buns and stock, at our rooms, on 6th February, 1868. Wool — We fully expected to have held our first sale of the season towards the end of last month ; but owing to the long continuance of wet weather all over the province, shearing operations were much retarded, and little comparatively of the season's clip had reached town, so that we deemed it best to defer it till the Bth inst., when we shall ba in a position to offer about 2000 bales. Latest advices from our London agents are not by any means encouraging. Prices had still further receded, and in the face of the high price of grain, the unsettled state of continental affairs, the unusually protracted dullness in all the manufacturing trades, and not least in importance, the immense increase in production of low class wools, with which only it is to be regretted many of the clips of this colony have hitherto been in competition, no material improvement could reasonably be expected. High class wools have suffered much less than others ; and in order to lighten, as far as possible, the effect of what we must look upon as a permanent reduction in price, growers must attend to the improvement of their flocks by the introduction of rams of pure and approved blood. We are advised that the sales both in Melbourne and Sydney have been well attended, buyers seeming inclined to operate up to the highest limits warranted by the Home rates ; but on account of the high reserves placed on many clips, transactions have not been quite so numerous as in former years. We have many enquiries for sound, light, wellclassed clips, and for such have every reason to believe full value — relatively to Home prices — will be obtainable during the season. Sheep Skins — Fellmongera bAng; now engaged in scouring, the demand has falleji off considerably. This, with the decline in wu>l, has caused a reduction to 4s 6d for full- woolle J. skins. Hides are not coming forward in any quantity, and prices are firmer, although we cannot alter our last quotations. Tallow is still scarce. Present rate for fair sorts, 27s to 29s per cwt,