OTAGO.

Southland Times, Issue 1175, 3 December 1869, Page 2

OTAGO.

Messrs Driver, Maclean, and Co. give the following quotations : —

Prime beef, 30s per lOOlbs ; do mutton, in the wool, delivered in town, 3d per lb. Store Cattle —Bullocks, 3to 4 year old, £5 to £6 ; mixed mobs, £4 to £4 10s. Store Sheep— Wethers, 4, 6, and 8-tooth, 7s 6d to 8s; ewes, 2, 4, 6, and 8- tooth, 8s to 9a ; mixed hoggets, 6s to 6s 6d. v Horses.*— We quote heavy draught mares and geldings at £45 to £50 ; medium, £30 to £40 ; first-class hacks and light harness horses, £20 to £25 5 inferior to medium, £7 to £15. Station Prop«rtirs. — The prices obtained for Boveral large properties which have changed hands during the past month, has not only established marketable values but has greatly tended to restore confidence in this description of investment. With a fair and equitable administration of existing land laws, the maintenance of present prices of wools, the realisation of anticipated recults from meat-preserving, combined with the -natural advantages of this portion of New Zealand for pastoral pursuits, we may reasonably expect a permanency in the present improvement, and that a large amount of foreign capital wUI find its way here for investment. We have to report the following transactions during the month, and to mention that negotiations are now pending for two or three other properties. Messrs Graham and Cook's run on the Waitaki to Mr Robt. Campbell, jun., consisting of about 30,000 acres leasehold, 5212 acres freehold, 22,000 grown •beep, and 5000 lambs, and all improvements, plant, kc, for £21,500. Messrs Low, M'Gregor, Clark, and Holt's runs, in the ttouth-western district, to Mr Robert Campbell, jun., consisting of 321,000 acres leasehold, 2300 acres freehold, 80,000 mixed sheep (including 27,000 lambs), plant, improvements, &c, for £73,000. Missrs H. and (J. Meyer's run, on me Waitaki, to Mr Bobert Campbell, jun., consisting of 77,000 acres leasehold, 41,000 grown sheep, and 13,500 lambs, for £40,500. Captain Win. Baldwin's run, Long Valley, to Messrs Campbell and Low, consisting of 76,000 acres leasehold, 27,000 sheep (mixed ages, including lambs), tor £24,500. WooL — Only a few bales of the season's wool have yet come in — not sufficient to warrant ua in hazarding an opinion as to the character or condition of the clip generally. We should certainly recommend those who can do so efficiently, and who have the paddock accommodation, &c, necessary to preserve the wool free from dust until shearing, to wash with hot water, or otherwise to wash with cold water where practicable. To those unable to adopt either method, our local market will be found favorable for the disposal of their clips, as we anticipate a greatly increased demand lor greasy wool by Fellmongers, many of whom are prepared to operate largely. The advices from England by last mail are on the whole favorable, the general expectation being that the rates current at the close of the August aeries, would be maintained. The Melbourne sales opened briskly, and at the date of last advices were well supported,- full prices having been obtained throughout. Well-grown Bound combing wools Were in excellent demand, the quantity offered being proportionately much less than in former years ; and we have advice that several Melbourne buyers intend to visit this market to execute orders for this description. It is estimated that the Victorian yield for this season will fall short of last, by about 30,000 bales, a deficit attributed to the combined effect of drought and the withdrawal of large tracts of <be best land for agricultural purposes from the stations o( the colony. Sheepskins are in good demand, at about 3s 6d each. Hides. — All that arrive are immediately taken up by local tanners, at 13s 6d to 15s. Tallow continues steady, at £32 to £34 per ton.

Mr John Brook, Manse-street, reports :» Wheat is, in consequence of the reduced value of flour, in lees demand, except at lower values. Flour is still further depressed in value, for Which it is difficult to assign any reason, other than, the wtakness of holders. Butter is declining in value, with little or no demand. Cheese continues saleable, but at lower rates. Roll bacon is scarce, and in active demand. Flour £14 per ton ; oatmeal, £22 do ; pearl barley, £28 do ; wheat, 5s 6d per bushel ; oats, 4s do ; barley, 5s 6d do; maize, ss° 6d do; bran, £7 per ton; pollard, £7 10s do ; hay, £6 do ; chaff, £4 10s do ;' Straw, £2 10s do ; potatoes, £3 do ; carrots, £3 do ;- turnips, £i 10a do j butter, 1(M per lb ; cheese, lOd do; bacon, 9d do; bags, 14s per dozen. -