SKENE'S LABOR EXCHANGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 348, 18 April 1874, Page 2

SKENE'S LABOR EXCHANGE.

Dtjkedin, April 16. We are quite ready to welcome the next ship load of immigrants. There is room for plenty here yet— that, is to say if they are tradesmen and handy people ; but no more of the sort which has lately been pawned off upon Otago. It is time to get riled when we are getting real English gypsies, and numbers of the most unsuitable " and helpless people our agents at home could get. Actually two live gypsies were passed on to New Zealand by our well-wishers at home, and no questions asked. A good many, are at present going about town crying for work ; but work is not their hobby. Every man, woman, and even 'youngsters' in the place who wish'em-- - pldyment'getit, and get well-paid too. The rates of wages do not vary much from late quotations. - Female helps are still scarce, and a good general servant is a treasure eagerly sought > after*. Tradesmen^ and farm hands get on very smoothly. Up-country friends will need to fill up the places of the foolish ones who are going away to privations and trials at the Palmer rush. They may get the gold, but will miss the fine bracing air of i New Zealand.

Messes. Deiveb, Stewabt, and Co. roport as follows for the week ending April 15 :—

Fat Cattle. — 120 were yarded to-day, which was rather an over supply, considering that 175 head came forward last week. The whole lot were, however, sold at near about our late quotations. The trade are not largely supplied with good quality beef, and any such coming forward will at any time meet with ready sale. W,e quote prime quality at 225. to 235. per 1001 b.; ordinary, 17s. to 188. We sold a few head at the yards, and about 20 fat calves, and have placed privately 50 head cattle at our quotations.

„ Fat Sheep. — About 1,000 of various isorts were penned, about one-half of which were withdrawn and placedjprivately after the sale. Cross-breds brought up to 12s. 9d.; merino ewes, ss. 6d. to 6s. 9d.; merino wethers, 7s to to 7a 6d. We have sold, for private delivery, 600 merinos and eross-breds, and quote best quality, the latter, at 2d. to 2id.; merinoes, 2d. to 2id.

Fat Lambs. — About 66 were penned, and sold at from 10s. to lie. each. Of the above we sold 52.

Stouts Cattle. — Wo have during the week placed about 100 head at prices ranging from £2 2s - to £4 10s', according to age and condition.

Store Sheep. — There are still buyers for -good full-mouthed ewes, but, as the season is far advanced, the demand is somewhat slackened. Young merino wethers and erossbreds, however, are much inquired aftor at 9s. to 10s. for cross-breds, 6s 6d. to Bs. for lambs ; and 5s 6d. to 6s 6d. merino wethers. We have sold 2,500 of various sorts.

Wool. — We have no further telegraphic advices of importance from the Home market. Priced catalogues of a few sales of the February series in London are to hand by the mail, but at these only a few bales of 1 New Zealand wool were offered. On Thursday, 9th inst., we held our ninth sale* of thiß season, the catalogue submitted embracing, besides several clips, a large number of odd lots, the bulk of which latter were sold at auction at satisfactory prices. Privately there has been a moderately good demand, and wo have placed several clips at fare rates. Our sales since the publication of onv last catalogue on 26th ult., aggregate 520 bales. Sheepskins. — Our usual weekly sale this day was well attended, and the competition fairly spirited. Full merino skins, medium quality, f eft-lied 4s 6d. to 4s. 10d.; medium skins,'2s. 3d. to 35.; pelts, Bd. to 13d. Hides. — We offered and sold about 50 light to medium weights to-day at from 13s to 19s. each. The demand is not so active as some few weeks ago, local tanners being pretty well stocked. Tallow. — None offered. Grain, — The market for all descriptions continues unchanged as regards quotations. Wheat is in request, and saleable for immediate delivery ab 4s. 9-1. to 4s. lOd. for prime samples ; onts at frojn 4s. to 4a. 2d. for new crop, and 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. for old. Mr. J. B. M'Culloch reports sales of National Insurance shares at 325.; Standards, 155.; National Banks, £3 165.; Arrow Rivers at par. Messes. Capstick, Dt/thie a>o> Capstick, report having sold by auction at their rooms and yards, Milton, Tokomairiro, on Tuesday, 14th April, 1874. Property.— On account of the trustees in estate of the late H. E. B. Gallon. Freehold section, with seven-roomed cottage thereon for the sum of £325, On account of Mr. George< Nicol, Kiness Farm, of 294 acres Tokomairiro district, at £7 2s. per acre, £2087 ; 85.' Sheep, — On account of Messrs. Andrew M'Laren and Co., to Mr. William Allison, 8 Leicester ewes, at £4 12s 6d each; do. Mr John Hislop, 12 do, £2 65. ; do do, Mr. James Grey, • 8 do, ewe lambs, £1 3s. On account of Messrs. J. and A. Gray to Mr. Wm. Black, 19 do, two-tooth ewes. £1 15s ; 27 Leicester rams brought 20s to 65s each ; 67 Leicester ram lambs 20s to 35s each ; 16 cross-bred ewes, 14s 6d ; 55, 13s ; 48. 12s 6d; 196, 9s 5d ; and 134, 8s each ; 267 cross-bred lambs, 7s ;. 133 do, 7s Id ; and 40 crossbred lamba (culls) 3s 9d each ; merino ewes, 172 sold at 5s ; 135, 5s Gd ; 149 3s ; 135, 5s ; and 34 at 2s 6d ; merino wethers, 250 sold at 4s 6d ; 100s 5s : and 50 at 3s 2d each. , Cattle. — 8 head of fat cattle, steers, cows and heifers, sold for £5 17s 6d each , on account of Mr. David Paton, 4 Ayrshire heifers brought £3 I2s 6d ; £4 18s ; E5 ; and £5 2s 6d, respectively ; one heifer was withdrawn at £1 10s. '

Horses. — On Wednesday, at Mr. Thomas Parker's sale — Bay gelding, 4-year-old sold for £40 10s ; bay brood mare, £27 ; foal .£l6 10s ; black brood mare, £12 ; ' foal £10 ; 2-year-old colts and fillies, by Marquis and Farmers' Favorite, £41, £40, £32, £2S, £30 ; 2 : year-old fillies by Stormlrird, £1 7 10s and £17; 2 yearlings, £15 and £11 each ; grey mare and foal, one month old, L 23 10s; riding pony LlO.

Barley,— 9 bags sold at 4s 3d, and 72 bags at 4s Id per bushel — bags, Is 3d each.

Cattle.— 2 dairy cows, £5 15s and £6 10s each ; 2 steers, £2 17s 6d each ; 4 fat bullocks, £6 5s each ; farming implements realised satisfactory prices. Bidding was brisk throughout the sale.