COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 26 May 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

ME M. E. MILLER'S Annual Bovicw tor the year ending April, 1882. The past year's statistics of live stock annexed, showing such a large increase, will tie found highly satisfactory. After deducting -131,101) exported to other districts, and for consumption and mortality, there remains in this provincial district at date 2,392,312 sheep, showing a not increase of 347,566 sheep for the year ending 30th April, 1882, But although the oxport of live stock to other provincial rlatiists shows a satisfactory iacieasj on previous year, uver 2a per cent,—i.e., last year 8-1,460, this year 107,000 sheep our exports of wool and tallow are far from showing such a favorable comparison upon last year's returns, from the exceptionally dry summer of 1881, followed by a very wet winter, the olip from this provinco is lighter.bynearly7 percent, than those of any previous yesr since these returns were first compiled. We have exported 11,636,10611), Wool, showing only a gross increase on last year's exports of 459,22/lb., while the increase in the number of sheep shorn amounted to about 162,500. Our export of scoured wool for the past year is very much under the returns of thn previous ! years, so that, making due allowance for all I tbese items, as well as for the number of tabs shorn, included in the gross estimates, the average clip of the province this season would be equal to an average of a . shade over 6Jlb. greasy wool against 71b. last year. There has been a decrease also in the quantity of tallow exported, to the ' extent of 30 per cent., on that of last year, iut this to a great degree is compensated by the largely-increased export of live sheep above noted. But if tho clip of 'tho past season has been light, we have every prospect of an exceedingly good clip next shearing, as has not been known a more favorable season for leed than the summer and autumn grass ot this year, By reference to the statistical tables it will be oSserved that the lands under .nw' 1 "' 1 ! freehold ancUcuaeiiuidj" amount to 1,942,998 acres, now carrying 2,392,312 sheep, 41,000 head great cattle, and-5,750 horses; and taiing into consideration that not quite onethird of tho occupied lands are improved by grass'seed sowing', it i« not too much to claim that no other district or colony in the world is, from a pastoral point of view, as productive as the provincial district of Hawke's Bay. A very great part of our freehold, and the bulk of our leasehold lands as yet are comparatively undeveloped, waiting capital to grass-seed and fencing, to convert from waste lands into most productive pasturage. Wo are still making but slow progress in agricultural pursuits. With land capable of producing wheat equal to that of South Australia we do not yet produco enough to supply our own -wants. Our district is much in want of a greater number of enterprising agricultural farmers—the comparatively easy life of the pastoral, farmer naturally finds most adherents. Business in Store Sheep has been very active during the pastseason, as independent of the very largo numbers sent to the districts of Wanganui, Waikato, Wairarapfl, as usual there were a great number changed hands locally, and prices were at an average advance of fully ten per cent, on previous year's transactions. My branoh firm M. R. Sillier & Potts, Waipawa, report having placed 66,000, while this office has placed nearly 61,000 during the past year. In Cattle very considerable imports' at Store gt<],ok from other districts, combined-with tha' limited demand for fat stock, haye weakened prices to an extent fully as much in the opposite direction, In produoe ryegraft ie»d hM ranged irom 2/6 to 8/- per

bushel;' cooltsfootj -/4J- to >/Sj per lb; 1 clovers, -/10 to 1/1 per lb, The gram crop,. though limited in extent, gave good, yield and quality. Wheat is quoted at 6/-; per bushel, hardening, and oats firm at 4/3,t0-4/6. 4/6. The following are the quotations thrit we ruling for stock during April Shkep.—Store Merino Wedders 2- and 4tooth, 7/• to 7/6; 6' and fresh 8-tooth, 6/6; aged, nominal; do. Ewes, 10/- for 2- ma 4tooth; 6-tooth, 7/-; fresh, 8-tooth, 6/■; aged, 4J- to 5/- each, Crossbred Wedders, fat, 11/6 to 14/- each. Store do., 2- and :4tooth, 10/- to 11/6 i 6- and 8-tooth, 9/6 to 10/6. Ewes same class, 2-and 4-tooth, 10/toll/•; fi-tooth, 10/-j,B-tooth, 8/- to 9/-; about 2/■ to 2/6 additional for ewes that have been served. Rams, Merino,' ruling during past season at from £2 10/- to £3 10/-; aged, £1 to £llO/-; Lincoln do., for ilook purposes, from £3 3/- to £7 7/• eaoh. Cattle,—Fat, 17/6 to 20/- per 1001b, dull of sale. Store steers: Yearlings, 2-, 3-, and 4-year old respectively, £3, £4,.£5 fi /- and £6 10/- oath; market fully supplied, Female stock, same ages, range from 10/- to 20/- under prico of steers. Dairy cows, £8 to £lO each, Horse Stock,—Medium draughts are in fair demand at £25 to £35 each; heavy do,, £SO to £6O; light harness, £ls to £2O; good hacks, £2O to £25; useful do,, £lO to £ls; light do. and packers, £5 to £7 each, Wooi,.—The annexed tables contain full particulars of our exports to Great Britain, Yicto.i i, and to other New Zealand ports. Though' but a small quantity has been shipped from this port to the Melbourne market this sesson, yet from Messrs Goldsbrough k Co.'s report, of the largely increased sales held there, and the satisfactory prices obtained, especially for merino clips liiiht in grease, several merino growers here contemplate consigning their whole dips to that market next season, Station Pkoperties.— Although a considerable number of properties have been in negotiation, fower transactions bavo been completed than might hnvo been fairly expected from the comparatively low prices asked for station properties hero, to those obtained in the Southern, and more largely populated Island; though the high prices obtained by Government in February last for the Otago leasehold runs has led to more numerous enquiries for runs here, where they arc so much lower in prico and the leaseholds much longer in tenuro,. The sale of 55,000 acres of the Eissington.estate held on the 13th inst, was a disappointment to the vendors, very few from outside the pr«vince attending the sale; and though from the large extent of lands put in the market high prices were not anticipated, the bidding was even less brisk than expected. After a few blocks had been sold at prices very much in favor of buyers, the greater portion was withdrawn, but is now in private treaty, (Concluded in next issue.