HAWKE'S BAY STOCK AND STATION REPORT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3838, 3 November 1883, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY STOCK AND STATION REPORT.

Octohbh 1883,

In commencing the eleventh year of this circular, it is gratifying , to report that us against other depression we have had a most favorablo winter for stock, and on the wholo a good lambing. A considerable additional acreage of the inland country having been sow.i during the past season, our carrying and fattening power still continues steadily to increase. This is so far satisfactory, but the low prices ruling at home for tho bulk of our staple, longwool, has been very depressing, and the scarceness and clearness of money all over the colonies has been embarrassing, and has caused a good many station properties to bo put in the market at lower prices than have ruled for years past. One great redeeming featuro is the realised hope in a great market at Home for our frozen meat. This district will be able to fiparo a largo number of fat sheep for Auckland and Wellington, as well as a local outlet expected soon to be ready for a large amount of work, viz., Messrs Nelson Bros, and Co. (Limited), Meat Freezing and Preserving works at Tomoana. M. R. Miller and Potts, of Waipawa, -with myself, report that during the earlier part of this month there was a largo enquiry for store wedders off the shears, also for fat sheep, and wo have already placed a little over 20,000 of these classes at prices ranging from Is 6d over last year's rates, but tho demand has slackened greatly, buyers not being inclined to take more than absolutely wanted at tho advanced rates, and holders not being inclined to take less on account of the splendid spring having given them abundant grass. In cattle there is very little doing. Prime fat bullocks are offered as low as 15s, por 1001b. Store cattle have been almost unsaleable, but from tho abundance of feed more activity in sales of this class of stork may be immediately expected. The following aro our quotations for Cattle.—Fat, 15s to 16s per 1001b ; 3-year-old steers, £4 10s to £5; 2-year's-old £3 to £3 lfis; yearlings, 35s to 50s Cows, £3 to £4 ; good milkers, £7 to £8 10s Sheep.—Crossbred wedders, fat, 11s Gd to 12s 6d ; merino do, 4s Gd to 5s for Btooth, 7s to 7s Gd for 2 and 4-tooth ; do owes, 2 and 4-tooth, 9s 6d to 10s ; G-tooth, 7s to 8s; 8-tooth, Gβ; aged, 4s to ss. Horses. —Medium draughts, £25 to £30 ; heavy do, £40 to £50 ; light harness, £15 to £25 ; good hacks, £20 to £25 ; ordinary do, £10 to £15 ; light do, £5 to £7. Wool.—The extreme low prices at which Lincoln and heavy crossbred wool has been Belling at Homo for tho past two years is very crippling to growers of that class. However, it is now reported that these continued low rates have had their usual tendency, and aro now a strong inducement to manufacturers to reintroduce these wools into fabrics, which will bo pushed into consumption from the cheapness of the material produced, as was tho case in 187S-79, when from tho same causes largo orders were taken; thence arose the high price to which this class of wool rose in 1880, almost at a bound from an average of 8d to 113 d per lb. This_ high rate promptly checked tho consumption. The prices ruling for merino have remained more steady. By telegraph to-day from Melbourne tho

accounts of the wool sales there are very encoura-vino-. Messrs Goldsbrough and Co. report that' of their " catalogue of 9000 bales, 8000 wore sold. Medium to superior greasy brought 10d to 13-gd, and'ordinary to tfoocl scoured lid to 20d. Brisk competition was experienced." Several growers here intend this season to ship to Melbourno for sale there. Station Properties.—There has been very little business doing- in sales of station properties during the past winter, although from causes already named a great number of pastoral freeholds and leaseholds arc now in the market, and at prices which have gradually weakened down to lower rates, especially for improved country lands, than have been current for many years past. The opportunities thus presented to capitalists are lately leading to more enquiries, but we cannot expect any great revival in business till wool recovers. Our Annual Show.—The Agricultural and Pastoral Society's show was held at Hastings on the 1 lth instant. The number of exhibits were 119—in sheep there were 20 more entries than last year, in other classes less—but the quality of the stock exhibited were of the highest. _ In Merino and Lincoln sheep, competent judges state that they could not bo surpassed in the colonies. The shorthorn cattle also maintained their usual high position, and thoroughbred and draught horse stook_ arc now classes to be proud of. In Merinos, ill though a good many imported sheep were exhibited, local bred she op took precedence in prizes, after most delicate of every poirifagainst Tasrnanian arid Victorian bred'rivals. Douglas McLean took chief honors, Eoysc and Anderson a good second, followed by D. Gollan, T. P. Russell, and Stokes' estate. The previous day's rain had much injured the appearance of several lots. In -Lincoln.s T. Tanner took champion v.-illi a rain imported from Vessey, England, and a large number of prizes by bis local brod sheep, P. Dolbel, J. N. Williams, and 11. 11. Russell coming well to the front with cross-bred sheep. Southern Island Lincolns took a fair .share of honors— J. Reid, Oamarn, first, second, and third prize; N.Z. and A.L. Company, two first and a second, and Mr Holmes' Oamaru flock a prize by a ram bought by P. Dolbel. Undermentioned I give an abstract of the various prize takers for live stock: — Merinos. —Rams: Champion ram, R. Douglas McLean, and the greatest number of tlic other prizes, also took Mr M. R. Miller's silver cup, for best pen of ten ram hoggets (fed on oats and chaiF, mangolds, and hay) : other prize tnkers, Royse and Anderson (both ten prizes) and T. P. Russell. Ewes: Champion ewe, R. D. McLean, also took Mr M. R. Miller's silver cup for best pen of (en ewe hoggets, (fed on oats, chaff, mangolds, and hay); other prize takers, Royse and Anderson, D. Gollan, also took Mr T. Crosse.'s cup for the best pair Merino ewes (grass fed, unhoused and unclothed since last show), T. JP. Russell, and Mr llastic for Stokes trustees. Lincolns. — Rams : Champion ram, T. Tanner : other prize takers, P. Dolbel, J. N. Williams, Ellison and Chit, Russell Bros., W. Rathbone, and G. and P. Hunter ; Mr Well wood took Mr Tanner's prize for best pen of twenty wethers most suitable for freezing purposes. Ewes: Champion ewo, T. Tanner; other prize takers', J. N. Williams, 11. R. Russell, G. P. Donnelly, It. Wellwood, and F. Sntton. Cotswolds. —Rev. S. Williams took first, second, and third prizes. Loiig-woolled Sheep of any kind. —T. Tanner took Messrs Hoadley, Lyon and Co.'s cup, and also those given by Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. and the New Zealand Loan, and Mercantile Agency Company. Horses.—Thoroughbred sire : Champion P. Gow ; other prize takers, W. It. Russell, W. Douglas, J. Ileslop, P. J. Murtagh, R. Wellwood, and W. M. Broughton. Prize takers draught horses ; T. Tanner (champion mare), J. D. Ormond (also taking Mr J. Heslop's special prize and those of Mr Boyle and Mr Peat), R. D. McLean, J. Ileslop, R. Wellwood, 11. R. Russell, M. R. Miller, J. Beatson, and J. Anderson. Miscellaneous horses: First prize takers, G. P. Donnelly, A. McLean, 11. Gaisford, M. 11. Smith, J. J. M. Mackie, D. Cotton, W. Nelson, R. D. McLean, and J. D. Ormond. Cattle.—Champion bull, 11. R. Russell; champion cow, A. Mcllardy ; other prize takers, J. D. Ormond, Rev. S. Williams and It. Wellwood. Grade cattle: prize takers, A. Mcllardy, W. Douglas, Nelson Bros. (Mr Bishop's" special prize) and Rev. S. WilHams. M. R. Miller and Potts, Waipawa ; M. R. Millkr, Stock and Station Agent. Napier, 31st October, ISS3.