DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 784, 18 June 1864, Page 4

DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK MARKET.

Driver, Macman- and Co.'s Report, 18th June, 1864 : - ~

We hare no material ohange to notice iv our stock market, transactions during; the past month have been extremely limit3(l, -with, but slight improvement in prices obtained.

It is, however, noticeble that importations have been much le?s than for some months past, and we anticipate but few shipments for the time to come, as sheep cannot for the present be imported without heavy losses, and cattle are prohibited by law from being landed from any of the Australian colonies and Tasmania.

Stocks Osoth sheep and cattle) are very difficult of sale, except at extremely low rates, to which holders are not inclined to submit.

Fat Stock.—We hive to notice a decided improvement in the demand for this class of stock, but as yet cannot report any important advance in prices. We think that prices will continue to improve throughout the winter, and we do not think the supply in the Province will be found equal to our requirements. The Cattle Bill, which was brought forward during the late session of the Provincial Council, has been thrown out, and the regulations relative to this class of stock remain in the same unsettled and unsatisfactory state. The Province is still divided into small proclaimed districts, causing great loss and inconveuience to both stock owners and storekeepers within these districts ; while there is no doubt that disease is far more prevalent beyond the boundaries, where cattle are allowed to stray, and be driven without even the form of inspection. It is to bs hoped that ere long the whole, or greater portion of the Province will be placed upon the same footing. The only arrivals by sea I have been— Sheep. Lord Ashley, from Napier .- M 100 Star of the South, do do 9 Mi Island City, from Phillip Island. .'. 2300 Fat Cattlb.— Until wittiin the past week our market has been well supplied with cattie of mi idling quality; but bad weather preventing one or two lots from coming forward that are row due, has greatly reduced the stock in the hands of the trade. Any lots near to hand will meet a good market. We anticipate fair prices throughout the winter for good quality, which we now quote at 553 to 60s per lOOibs; ordinary, 45s to 503. Our sales during the month, at the yards, realised about these prices. I?at Cai-yes —Are in good demand at from £1

to £6, according to size and quality. Store Cattle continue quite unsaleable fit anything like their former value; consequently, transactions are limited. We feel confident that

this cla?s of stock. mu«t come into better request ere long, as {we shall require all and more fat cattle than the Province can produce. We quote cattle over two years old, at from 16 to LlO 10s, according to breeding and condition. I Pat Sheep —The market continues glutted ! with sheep,but little better than stores. Prime mutton is in fair demand, and would realise about 6Jd per lb. As soon as the present inferior stock is worked off, we look for an improvement in demand and prices. We have disposed of a lan>e number during the month, at from 22s to 29,■ 6.J. Mr Rich's shipment, ex Star of the South, from Napier, realising the latter pric^. Stork Sheep.—With one or two exceptions, the market is quite now bare of imported sheep, and;we do not expect further shipments. Youug Provincial bred ewes are enquired after, with few offering. We quote Provincial bred ewes, (good quality, in lamb) 2, 4, and G-tooth at 80s to"32a 6,1. Wethers, 4 to 6 tooth, 23j to 25-. We have disposed of a lar-re number of imported wethers at 17s to 225, and 1200 Provincial bred ewes at 30s.

Station Propertifs.—First class properties are ingooi demand, without any change in value. We beg to eill attention to the sale by auction of the Black Mount and Wai ori stations, at our rooms, on 14(h July. Messrs Douglas, Alderson, and Co have taken delivery of the Kakateramea Station, Canterbury Province, containing 160,000 acres with 23 000 sheep, 40 head cattle, 23 horses, at L 48.122 15s.

Horses.—Messrs Milner and Learmonth report this market greatly depressed, which they attribute to the departure of many of our dig-

gers, and the low rate of carriage to the mm- I ing district?. Draught stock is quite unsaleable, the demand being principally for packers and low priced hackneys. They quote-fir«t-class heavy draught horns at L 45 to L6O • s-cond class do, at LSB t L4O. First class hackneys (none). Good packers and light harness horses J,23 to JL80: 2nd class do, at Ll2 to L2O • inferior do, at L 8 to Llo.

Driver, Maclean and Co., Stock and Station Salesmen, Dunedin,

Wright, Robertson and Co.'s report:— We have very little change to notice in the stock market since our last report, few shipments have coma forward, and we may consider importations at aii end for the present. The heavy (o>ses that hare been incurred latterly will tend to make shippers more cauiiojs, and as squattetg are now disposed to accept lower rates, we may expect that prices for fat stock will not exhibit that fluctuating charactsr for which they have for sjme time since been remarkable. Fat cattle are in good demand at our quotations. Fat wethers are offering freely, and to make sales, low prices have been accepted. Store Cattle are unsaleable. Young ewes are much enquired for, but few sellers. Store wethers are difficult to quit, exceot at low rat s. The arrivals by seaboard since our last, have been—

Ship. From. With. iStar of the South, s.s. Napier .. .. 900 do. Island Lity W'estn. Port... 2510 sheep

Fat Catilb.—The market is only moderately supplied, and a continued upward tendency may be anticipated through the winter, as very few really prime lots come forward. We have yarded, and disposed of, during the month, at our quotations : 210 head oows and bullocks, from the stations of Messrs M'Gregor, H. and M. 0 Orbell, G. Cameron and Phillips and Seal. We quate prime quality beef, 50s to 55s per lOOlbs; spcond ditfo, 40s to 455. Fat Calves. -A brisk demand for prime quality veal continues. We yarded 42 head pood qußlity, which sold readily at from L 5 to LlO e«ch.

Stohe Cattle.—No transactions. Fat Sheep.—The market is nearly cleared of imported wethers, the trade having made heavy purchases, which are likely to supply them for some time. Our sales comprise the following; : — lliOO wethers, ex Hero, from Melbourne, middling quality, at from 2ls to 25s each; 500 Provineialbrfd welhers, middling quality, 23s each, and 140!) ditto ditto, at 253 each. We quote prime quality mutton, 61 to 6£l; second ditto, not saleable Stork Fheep.—Good young ewes are still in request, but v..-ry few are offering. Sales could ibe readily made at our quotations. Wethers are not much in clemaud. We sold 2700 mixed sh ep on terms at 20* each; .900 wethers, from the Northern Provinces, at 17s each. We quote 2, 4, and 6-tooth ewes, Provincial bred, 28s to 30s each; wethers, 2ls to 235; imported sheep, not saleable. Station Property.—No transactions. Hors£3.— The horse market has been well supplied with a fair quality of stock. The setting in of wet weather, and extremely low price of cartage to the various gold fieils, have caused teamsters to fill the market -with draught stock, jn consequence of which there have lately been more sellers than buyers. First-class hacks and Jierht harness horses are the most saleable kind at present, and a few of this description coming to hand would realise g-ood prices. Our quoratio^s are for heavy draught from L 5) to 1.62, medium do, from L3O to L3B ; inferior do, LlB to L 27; first-class hacks from L 33 to L4O ; medium aud useful do from L2O to L 3 9; inferior dofromLlO to Ll7Wright, Robsrtson & Co., Stock Salesmen and station Agents. Dunedin, June 17.