OTAGO.

Southland Times, Issue 1221, 11 March 1870, Page 2

OTAGO.

The Daily Times of the 9(h inst. reports: — The markets still continue quiet, little of any moment occurring from first.hands, and the business doing furnishing scarcely anything of interest. In the transactions coming under notice most of the staples have been dealt in, but only in sorting up parcels, prices shewing no sensible variation from last quotations. In the produce market there is nothing of importance to note. The demand for flour and grain continues moderate, but the late depression has somewhat worn off, and though better prices are not at present likely, a large business is probable. By auction to-day Messrs M'Landresa, Hepburn, and Co., placed a considerable parcel of sugars, the balance of the Annie Brown's cargo, prices comparing favorably "with recent sales made both by auction and priTately.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report, for flre ending the sth inst., as follows : — Fat Cattle — We yarded two drafts which maintained about last week's rates. Prime quality beef, 25 -> ;' middling, 20s to 22s 6d per lOOlbs, Fat Sheep. — One small draft brought at auction from 7s to 78 6d each, equal to from %& to 2Jd per lb, at which price we quote best mutton. • Store Cattle. — Very little enquiry ; no transactions to report. Store Sheep. — We have enquiries for store wethers and half-breds. No change in value. We quote ewes, 2 and 4-tooth, 4s to ss ; 6 tooth, 4s ; full mouthed, 3s ; 4, 6, and 8-tooth wethers, 4s to 4s 6d each ; lambs, 7s per pair ; half-breds, 2-tooth, 5s each ; lambs, 8s per pair. Horses. — Business was not so brisk as on the previous week. On Saturday we sold a shipment, ex Ahuriri, from Wellington— chiefly inferior to middling hacks — at an average of £7 10s. Heavy draughts are still enquired for, but none offering. Quotations : — Heavy draught, nominal ; medium, do, £25 to £30 ; good hacks and light harness horses, £15 to £21 ; useful do, £7 to £13; inferior, £3 and upwards. The Oamaru Times of the 4th inst. reports : — The grain market- -still continues very quiet, although buyers are offering more freely for good samples of wheat. First-class wheat is worth from 3s 3d to 3s 6d. We have heard of a large parcel of inferior being sold for 2s 2d. The price of oats is as last quoted. Some very fine samples of barley is being offered at 4s to 4s 6d. General business still very quiet. The same paper of the Bth inst says :— . . There is no change in the state of the markets to' report, and quotations for grain remain unaltered. A good deal of corn is yet out, the high rate of wages disinclining growers to the employment of labor, the farmers generally depending upon their own strength to bring' in their harvest. Carrying is consequently going on but slowly. There appears to be an excessive quantity of oats grown this season, and prices consequently rule Tery low.