Commercial. SKENE'S LABOR EXCHANGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 354, 9 May 1874, Page 2

Commercial. SKENE'S LABOR EXCH ANGE.

Dunedin, May 5. '' The labor market is very active ; work fqr all, and good hands short. The emigrants ex Asia are already scattered abroad, and' getting mixed up with the population. There are great complaints as tp their quality, and there is reason for it — thanks to our bungling Agents at home. But tbis is' not the place to moralise. The Cily of Tanjore is just in from Glasgow ; she has only a few passengers, who have paid their own passages. They are the right sort. Colin Allan's work is no sinecure at present. There is not much to note in the -way of change in wages this week. Shepherds are less sought after ; but ploughmen are readily picked up at good wages. The Asia has not reuored tho cry for country laborers. Servant girls are scarce, and as dear as ever, getting from £45 to £52 ; ploughmen, shepherds, and skilled laborers have not cifbiged' One good thing to mention is that Dunedin is actually short of clerk&and shopmen, which is a blessing. ▼ <*_ Messrs. Driver, Stewart, $&\d Co. report as follows for the weelr%iiding May Gth :— - m Fat Cattle. — A very full supply, say, 200* head, were yarded at the Kaikoria to-day, a large proportion of which were of from 'fair to prime quality. 140 were taken by the trade at about Our quotations, the balance being bought by graziers'. ' We sold 60 head at the yards, and have placed for forward delivery 40 head. We quote prime beef at 22s to 23s per lOOlbs ; ordinary quality, 17s to 20s. Pat Sheep.— There was also a very large supply penned, say in all, about 2QOO. Of this number the trade took between 1000 and 1 1 00, at 7s to 9~3 for merino wether, and 14s for half-breda. We sokl 250 at the yards and have placed 600 for private delivery. We quote prime cross- bred * mutton at 24d, do merino, at 2^d. Fat i.anibs. — None were penned, and as the season is getting far advanced, we do not anticipate many more offering. Store Cattle. — There is a very good demand for well conditioned, quiet stpprs aud cows for paddock graziug, at from £3 10s to £i> for the former, and £2 10s to £3 10s for the latter. We have sold about ]50 head in various lots. Store Slieep. — There is a good deinnnd at our quotations for young merino ewes in lamb, 2, 4, and (5-tooth wethers and cross-bredsYwhile-full-mouthed wethers and old ewes, 2, 4 and 6-trtoth, 7s Gd to 9s ; do wetLers Cs 6d to 7s ; cross-brede, 4. and 6-tooth, 9s to lus ;do 2 tooth Ss 6d to 9s Cd. We have sold during the' week, of various sorts, about 2500, Woffl^— The great bulk of the seasou's produce Is now-afloat, and only odd parcels of wool remain for ioffer in this market. We held a sale to-day at our warehouses, and submitted 70 bales and a number of bags, The attendance was not large but competition was fairly spirited, and good prices were ■- realised for all the lots disposed of. Sheepskins. — At our usual weekly sale this day we sold ahout 800,. at prices ranging from Is lid to 2s 2d for butchers' green merino skins, and 2s 6d to 2s 1 Id forcross-breds : lambs up to 3s lOd. Dry skins reliased Is 7d to 5s 3d, according to quality. Hides an T<a]low. -None offered. Grain.— Wheat continues in good request, both for shipment and local requirments, at 4s 9d to ss. . Oats are in fair demand, and freely saleable, at last quotations, viz., 4s'to. 4s 3d for good feed, and 4s ,4d for milling samples. - -Mr- Bradsiiaw reports the following transactions for to-day : — Sales : National Insurance Company, £1,12s to £1 135. ; Standard Insurauc'o Company, I6s. 78011 th British Insurance'- Company, £2 10s.; Shotover aiming Company, £11 fully paid up, £1 35.; 10s .paid.up 12s 6d. Sellers : Standard Insur- , anee .Company 10s ; , National , Insurance Company,' -£1 135. ; South P.ritish Insurance Company, £2 1 Is. ; Water-works Company, £lb" ss,j Shotover Mining Company, £1 paid up £1.35. ; ".Otago Daily Times " and " Witness" t ompany, £50 ; Bank of New Zealand • £16 12s 6d. The above are cash tarntfactions.