HOKITIKA.

Press, Volume IX, Issue 1090, 7 May 1866, Page 2

HOKITIKA.

The fallowing ii ICtHts. Jones, M'Glashan and Oo.'s report of the Hokitika lire stock market for the month of April:— Jonas, > M*Oiwhsn and Co. report the market as furnished with the following live stock during the month, vi*.:—Fa* cattle, 724; calves, 6; sheep,B3oo; and pigs, 104. Hie supply of sheep was considerably in excera of actual requirements, so very much so that prices for this description of stock did not «qaajl the quotations of the stock salesmen either in Christchurch or Dunedin. Such an unprecedented ghit also operated most unfavorably on the accepted value of cattle. In fact, the whole of the transections in stock throughout the month hare been of the most Trasatis&ctory nature. Wβ attribute the unwise and most injudicious flooding of our cattle and sheep market to a desire on the part of stockholders and dealers to aTail themselves of the wonderfully fine -weather which we hare of late been blessed, and which has enabled them to hurry forward eTerything believed to be &t and marketable, without Eying the slightest attention or giring the ist heed to actual consumption and demand. In the course of nature, we must look for the almost advent of winter, when it will be a Tery difficult matter to drive sheep to the West Coast. Even now, we believe the Bakaia route to be dosed by the late snow storms, so that a more healthy state of things may be shortly anticipated. Scarcely any sales of stock took place by auction, the importations being mostly by dealers. The principal sake throughout the month were by private treaty. Fat Cattle.—Wβ sold through our yards only 87 Wd -.62 head, the property of Messrs Evans and Co of Cttristchureh, at about £18 an round, aad 2S,lCrßatyX from Napier by ~'£ *""£ * w « t y-«e»fc daj« «t asa) at about £19 per head. These cattle were very good indeed, especially when fatting into ronsirloi a tion the length of their passage. We quote prime cattle at 75*, and good medium at 66a 8d per lOOibt, and the probability of such prices cootinuing for some little time, as there are plenty of cattle to hand and to arrive. Calve*,—Only tix introduced, which sold

well. We quote prime calves as worth £8 to £9, and medium £5 to £7, with always plenty of buyers at these figures. Fat Sheep and Sheep.—Altogether 3300 •were brought forward and sold, of which only about 900 were really prime, about 1500 medium, and the balance poor stores. We sold 450 (mostly Nelson) sheep at prices ranging from 25s to 425; and some overland sheep— large framed, but poor wedders—at 17s 6d. With the existing and probable continued glut, we cannot quote otherwise than cautiously, say—for best prime heavy weights, 3Os to 34s ; high medium, 18s to 255; medium, 12s to 16s. Lambs—None; but always saleable when procurable. Pigs—lo4 brought in, the whole of which sold readily at very satisfactory rates, and a good demand still existing. We sold all round at an average of 71s 6d. Hones—No transactions to record. They are- getting scarce, and there is every probability of a brisk trade throughout the winter. OTAGO. The "Daily Times," of the sth instant, reports:— A considerable amount of small trade is doing, and business wears a little livelier appearance, though we hear of no large transactions among importers, or of any operations calling for special notice. It u> generally understood that there will be no further difficulty in the way of despatching goods for the interior, and in all probability the country trade will be again brisk for a time. There are no auction sales of importance taking place. OJLHABtT. We take the following from the " Oamaru Times," of the 3rd ineatnt:— Business continues without any perceptible change. The Triton has completed the discharge of her cargo, and will immediately take on board building stone for Dunedin. We learn that there is a scarcity of vessels for this trade, and we hope to hear soon that every encouragement will be given for its development. The Mary Ann Christina is loading for Wanganui '■vith wheat, the produce of the district, and will have early despatch. The shipment of wool at this port is now all but ended. We find that our estimate of 6000 bales will be pretty near the mark as the total produce of the district for the season. Oamaru flour, £20 per ton. Considerable enquiry seems to be maintained for stations, and all descriptions of stock, in this quarter and in the Canterbury province. The influx of sheep to this province during the past two months has, we think, been quite unprecedented. No less than 41,000, principally ewes and mixed lambs, have in that period crossed over from Canterbury, and, inclusive of 16,500 on the way and 12,600 under negotiation, the addition to the flocks of Otago and Southland in this way alone may be put down at 70,100. These figures are supplied to us by Messrs. Boyse, Mudie, and Miller, stock and station agents, who report that all these sheep have been sold at satisfactory prices to the holders in Canterbury.