COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1055, 20 December 1862, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH,

Messrs. Miles St Co. report the sale of 107 head of imported cattle (mixed ages) at £d per head; eight working bullocks, at £44 per pair, deliverable near Christchurch; between two and three hundred head of mixed cattle, south of the Orari, at £8 15s per head; 1000 ewes, in the Otago. province, at 3ls per head} 10 southdown rams, delivered in Lyttelton, at £6 per head; and half interest in a flock of sheep on terms at current rates all round. Fat Cattle—During the last week we have had several enquiries for anything approaching to fat stock for the Otago market. The demand for our own province is also brisk, and notwithstanding the recent importations from Gipps Land to Otago, prices are firm and are likely to continue so,: we quote from j£l6 to £17, per head. . Store Cattle are rather more difficult to quit, although considerable quantities are constantly changing hands at satisfactory prices: wear© still prepared to supply store , cattle from Wellington in mobs .to suit purchasers. Ewes are m good demand, and may be quoted from 80s to 31s fd per head according to quality and place of delivery. We know of one or two buyers who would be inclined to operate largely if any inducement were offered by a slight concession in price. Ewe Lambs are much enquired for, and would meet with a ready sale, at from 20s to 22s 6d per head. Wethers are in good demand, and present prices are likely to be fully maintained.

Messrs. Luck & Clark report the following sales, &c. ; —683 acres of rural land, purchased for £1,366, and let on lease for three years at arental of £ 170155, with a purchasing clause at the end of term at £2j049. A plot of'freehold land, having frontages on Colombo street south and. on the South Christchurch road, being part of rural section No. 227, three acres, sold for £210. Four building blots on &e Papanui road, close to the town belt north, let on lease for 21 years at an average rental of 7s ftd per foot. Messrs. Burnell, Bennett and Sprot have to report an increased desire on the part of traders to purchase cattle, but without causing any alteration in price. They have placed under offer 1400 head, which they, hope shortly to report as sales. Sheep.—The contract for 3000 to 10,000 wether?, delivered in Lyttelton, formerly reported, is now Completed, and the first draft of 3000 will arrive per Prince Alfred, on or about the 30th inst. A small lot of good ewes have been bought to remainjan terms, price 30s per head, 40 per cent, increase, 2s 6d wool money. Runs.—The important run of Messrs. Dowling Brothers, situated on the Ashburton, was sold on Wednesday, the 17th inst,, by public auction, at Messrs! Burnell, Bennett and Sprot's rooms. The $ale room was well attended by runholders, and there were present representatives from all the hnntra and leading mercantile firms. The bidding was as-usual in such cases, quiet, but determined, and the result precisely realised the expectations of aU parties interested, being satisfactory to both seller and buyer. The last bid was £9900, at which price the run was sold. There is a strong confirmation of the opinion expressed in a former report, viz,, that back country runs would be found of immense value for the depasturing of cattle, owing to a rapidly increasing population of , consumers. This has been verified by the fact that four runs offered for side for some time have been accepted, subject to approval, an<| that in the event of non-approval, other parties are ready to enter into the transactions. This must continue with the accounts from Otago.