DUNEDIN.

Southland Times, Issue 1535, 9 February 1872, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

Messrs Driver, Stewart and Co. report for week ending 3rd February, as follows : — Fat Cattle — Only ten head were yarded, and BiW at quotation. The low prices lately ruling | prevented one or two lots from coming forward ; but we anticipate a fair supply for the next two or three weeks. We sold at Meadow Bank, on 30th ult., 50 head at from £5 12s 6d to £8 5s ; and have also sold 200 head privately for forward delivery in town. We quota best quality beef at 20s per lOOlbs. Fat Sheep — 280 sheep were penned, consist--1 ing mostly of old ewes, which brousht 6s to 7s 9d ; a few wethers realised 8s 9d ; 39 lambs brought 7s 9d. We have sold privately 3000 merino wethers at 2d per lb., delivered in town. We quote prime mutton at 2d per lb. Store Cattle — We have no transactions to report. Store Sheep — A good demand continues for merino wethers, 2-tooth or 4 and 6-tooth, and ewes 4 and 6-tooth ; also, for cross-breds of any description. We hare sold 3000 2, 4, 6, and full-mouthed merino wethers at 4s 6d to 4s 9d each. Cross-bred lambs are saleable at 5s each, and 2 and 4-tooth ditto at 6s each. Country Sales— On 30th ult. we held a sale of growing crops, Btock, &c, at Meadow Bank, East Taieri. There was a large attendance, and very fair prices obtained. 90 acres of wheat brought £3 5a to £5 11s ; 40 do oats, ac £2 4s 5 500 old ewes, half fat, at 4s 6d ; 15 head fat cattle, at £5 12s 6d ; 5 head do, at £6 12s 6d to £8 ss ; 31 head do, at £6 10s ; and 40 head one and two year olds, at 25s to 70s each. Also several horses, implements, harness, &c. Station Property — There is a dcci led improvement in the demand for good properties, and several transactions are pending, while we have to report the following properties having changed hands (prices and terms withheld.), viz., the " Ardmore Station," near Tapanui, to Mr George G-unn ; and the " Beaumont Station," Southland, to Messrs R. Campbell, jun., and Co. Wool — Only one public sale was held during the week. The attendance was not large, but the biddings were fairly spirited, and about 630 bales were disposed of at prices a shade in advance of late quotations. Privately, several clips have been taken for America ; prices and particulars withheld for the present. The demand for that market continues active, and any suitable wools now to be offered cannot fail to command full rates. Our private advices from London are not yet to hand, but the favorable import of the public telegrams via Hokitika have been fully confirmed by the more ample reports received from Melbourne per Albion. The November sales opened on 23rd of that month, with a very large attendance of both home and foreign buyers. Competition was exceedingly spirited throughout the series, and the advance of Id to l£d per lb for most descriptions was maintained with but little fluctuation to the close of the series on 7th December. A total of about 70,000 bales was quitted, of which a comparatively limited quantity was taken for export. Trade in the manufacturing districts was unusually active, while the stocks of the raw material on hand were but barely equal to immediate requirements — facts which leave but little room to doubt that these enhanced values will be maintained for a considerable time to come — the more especially as it is now pretty certainly ascertained that the quantity of Colonial wools for offer iv London during the current year will not exceed, if even it be equal to, the quantity offered in 1871. This, combiaed with the cheerful aspect of the preserved meat, tallow, hide, and general Colonial produce market, cannot fail to have a most beneficial influence on the value of pastoral properties, now slowly recovering from so long a period of depression. Sheepskins. — No alteration to note in prices ; demand active. Flax. — The business done in thi3 staple for some time past has been very trifling. Well dressed parcels in shipping order are wanted, and for such a slight advance on late quotations is obtainable. Horses. — We quote first-class draughts, £45 to £50 ; medium do, £25 to £30 ; good hacks and light harness horses, £16 to £20 ; middling do, £10 to £12 ; light and inferior, £3 to £6. Grain. — Wheat is in good demand, and worth 5s 3d for prime samples. Oats are not quite so firm, the trade being unwilling to operate in expectation of the new crop coming into the market immediately. Barley remains without change.