OTAGO.

Southland Times, Issue 1202, 28 January 1870, Page 2

OTAGO.

The Daily Times of the 22nd inst. reports: — The improved value of wheat, flour, and oats in the Melhourne markets, will probably check any farther decline in those staples here for the present. Generally in the produce market busintfsHs 'quiet -for any change in minor staples, see quotations.—Flour, £12 per ton; oatmeal, £18 do; pearl barley, £28 do ; wheat, 4s 9d per busbel; oats, 3s do; maize, 5s do; bran. £5 per ton ; pollard £5 do; hay, new, £4 to £4 10s do; chaff, £4 10s do; straw, £2 10s do; potatoes, new, £5 do; onions, £15 do ; butter. B£d per lb; cheese, 8d do; bacon and hams, lOd do ; bags, 14s per dozen. Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co. report on Jan. 24th :— "Fat Cattle —The market; continnea fully supplied with beef of good quality. Wo may' now, however, expect a gradual falling off in the supply and consequent a-ivance in prices, as there will be no further improvement in pasture during the season. We qn^te present value prime beef at about 25s per lOOlba. Fat Sheep. —Our remarks relative to beef are quit* applicable, to good mutton ; indeed the lots coming to hand nlreadv show a falling off in qnnlity. The present value of muttoD ranges from l*d t« 2d per lb. Fat lambs of medium quality are plentiful, and realise from 6s to 9s earh. Store Cattle. —There is a limited demand for superior stock, particularly hnlWks 3 to 5 years old, which may be quoted at £4 10s to £6. Mixed lots, £3 to £4! Store Sheep. —Although actual transactions have as yet been limited, we have to note an evident inclination on the part of holders of partially unstocked country to purchase, the enquiry being more particularly for lambs and wethers. Prices at present are nominal, as nearly every flickowner is busy with shearing. Half-bred ewes are in fair demand at say 4* to 4s 6d for lambs; 5s to 5s 6d for well grown hoggets. Station Property. —We see no reason to withdraw the opinions expressed in our last report, to the effect that investments in tlu3 description of property would come into greater favor. The fact that large purchases hn.ve lately been made in this province at the most satisfactory values, by gentlemen of long colonial experience, who are m a position to obtain the best and most reliable information, coupled with improved prices for wool, should, we think, tend to increase confidence, so , that any good property offering will find buyers at fair and reasonable values. On the 11th Feb. we will offer by public auction the Islay station; and we would also call attention to the proposed <ales ci Mr F. D. Bell's merino rams, at Meadow Bank, Shag Valley, on Wednesday, 9th prox., and Mr Reynold's imported Spanish rams, at the stores, High-street, on Wednesday, 2nd prox. WooL —Since the issue of our report on 23rd nit., we have held two sales of wool, skins, &c, but had but a limited quantity to offer, in consequence of the late floods interfering with shearing :and transit. The catalogues comprised about 1020 bales, of which 670 changed hands at auction or privately. The prices realised were in all cases satisfactory, buyers seeming to have great confidence in the future of the home market, and "being evidently in some measure actuated by a «pirit of speculation. Greasy wool fetched from ssd, for inferior heavy, to 7£d for well-grown fairconditioned. Cold water washed, from Is to 14Jd; and spout-washed, from 16d to 16£ d. The clip throughout is marked by great soundness of staple, and is in general very deeply grown, which is to- be partly accounted for by the magnificent weather enjoyed Tor months before shearing ; and we feel assured many flocks will compare favorably and compete with the best combing wools in Victoria. Spout-washed wools, so fer as we have seen, although in some cases not so bright, are softer in fibre, and will doubtless commend themselves more to the attention of buyers than the dry harsh-conditioned clips of this class which were shipped last season; all descriptions are better got up, and only in a few exceptional eases can fault be found with the classing and skirting. Our next public sale will be held on the 2nd February, when about 1000 bales will be submitted to competition. Flax. —The Bales of this staple that have been held during the month brought together a large attendance of buyers, and the prices realised were fully up to former quotations, scutched fetching from £23 15s to £30 ss: for a superior parcel unscutehed, £19 15s to £23. Tow, £4 10s to £7 ss.