Commercial. SKENE'S LABOR EXCHANGE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 366, 20 June 1874, Page 2

Commercial. SKENE'S LABOR EXCHANGE.

DiTNSl>iN,.iJune 18th.

The full flow of emigration is on us now in earnest. The Atrato's people came up to town yesterday ; other ships are about due, and the barracks are quit* full. If it were not for the winter being on us, things would work quite smoothly ; vbut as it is the bad ■roads and short days dishearten new arrivals. Still the demand is good, and wages are high, and the cry from • the country is " more ploughmen, farm hands, and shepherds." Females are still wanted ; but no more of such aa came by the Asia. The sending of such females as were sent by her from Queenstown is an everlasting disgrace to the senders, and a curse to the colony. We have not heard the last of them yet. The decent people who came in the same vessel must have been much shocked. "It is a -great pity such a quiet industrious colony should be poisoned by such fallen beings. But there are other shipments atioat from the same quartor. Wages are about the old figure: — Grood house general servants get from £35 to £40 and £45 ; housekeepers, cooks, and barmaids, £52 and upwards ; nurse girls, Bs. and 10s. per week. The wages are seldom grudged, if anything like a fair return is given. Farm hands able to do ploughing are scaree — from £55 to £G5 is the present wage ; if married aud wife to help, £75, £80, and £90 is quite common j shepherds are asked for, and get £60 to £65 — the time ia generally for six months, men do not like to bind themselves for a longer period ; gardeners are busy. Indoor and skilled labor ie in full swing.

Messrs. J. and A. Maclean report as follows, for the week ending June 18th :—: — Fat Cattle. — The market was well supplied again on Wednesday — over 100 head being forward — nearly all medium quality, the demand for win h was poor — 20 head being turned out unsold. A few prime bullocks realised from £12 to £14 ss. per head. Our sales consisted of 30 head, on account of Messrs. Lindsay, Petrie, and others, which were taken by trade at prices ranging from £6 to £8 per bullock, and from £5 to £7 for cows. We quote really prime beef 225. 6d. to 255. per lOOlbs. ; medium and inferior, 15s. to 20s. .

Fat Sheep. — 900 (principally cross-breds) were penred, which realised from 14s. to 14s. 6d. ; merinos, 9s. to 10s. . Our sales consisted of 300 fiross-breds, which were taken by the trade at quotations. We have also delivered, during the week, 500 half-brods, at full market rates. We quoto prime quality crossbred mutton, 2f per Ib. ; merino,- 2 Jd. Fat Calves. — A small lot of medium quality was forward, which were' placed at prices ranging from 15s. to 20s. each. We sold a few really good ones at 355. to 475. 6d. each. Store Cattle. — Good well conditioned cattle are in demand at from £3 10s. to £4 for bullocks, and from £2 10s. to £3 for cows. Mixed herds, 40. to 505., according to breeding and quality.

Store Sheep. — We have no transactions in this class of s,tock to report. There are still a few enquiries for merino ewes and wethers, and 2 and 4-tooth cross-breds. We quote full-mouthed merino ewes, in lamb to Leieesters, 4s. 6d. to ss. 6d. ; 4-tooth half-bred wethers, 9s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. ; cross-bred ewes, 12s. to 13s.

Wool and Sheepskins. — At onr sale ,on Tuesday, a few " odd lots of wool were catalogued, which realised full rate? ; also, a large number of, sheepskins, which realised : for green haff-breds, 3s. 7J. each ; merinos, 39. 3d. ; dry station skins from Is. 6d. to 45., according to quality. - lli'les. — ;We have sold, privately and at auction, during the week, about 100 medium weight, at prices ranging from 17s. to 20s. Grain. — Prime samples wheat are inquired for at from 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. per bushel ; medium and inferior samples, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 4d., at which price we have sold 400 sacks during the week. Oats are inquired for at 4s. 3d. to 4s. 4d. for prime milling samples; good feed, 4s. to 4s. 3d. Prime samples barley, ss. to ss. 3d.; medium, 4s. 3d. to' 4s. 9d.