DRIVER, MACLEAN and CO.'S LIVE STOCK, STATION AND WOOL REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1553, 20 December 1866, Page 4

DRIVER, MACLEAN and CO.'S LIVE STOCK, STATION AND WOOL REPORT.

Since the issue of our lagfc we havo been pleased to. notice a steadily increasing demand for store stock of all descriptions; and notwithstanding the large numbers offering, prices have if anything ruled firmer during the past fortnight. We do not, however, expect any material alteration, exc:pt; perhaps in mixed lambs, which mnv command slightly higher rates as the s.;.sgj lulvances. From ouc advices from the various parts of the Province, we are gratified to find; that, owing; to the very genial season experienced, the psrcenta re of increase is most sa isfaetory. This is more especially the case in the Southern districts. Our transactions during, the month have been very numerous, at prices which we quote below. Fat Stock.—The market has been sparely suopUed with ordinary quality beef at from 50s to 55s per lOOibs. A few very choice heavy-weight bullocks brought L4O each, or a shade over 60s per IOOIbs. Fat sheep have not been offering ia large numb-srs, and the quality generally has not been first-class. Prime mutton' has slightly advanced, and is now worth 5Jd per lb, delivered in town and in the wool; shorn, 4£d to 4£d. We expect a more liberal supply of good quality, and consequently easier rates after shearing. Store Sheep.—Wo quote as follows for delivery after shearing:—Limbs, mixed sexes, 20s per pair; maiden ewes, nbout 17s; 2,4, and 6 tooth do., about 1.65; full mouthed do., 11s to 12s; wethers, 2 toothed to full mouthed, 11s to 12s. Store Cattle are much enquired for, and eligible lots are readily saleable at our former quotations—viz., mixed ages and sexes, L 8 10s to L 9 10s; bullocks, two to five year 3 old, LlO 10s to Ll2 12s ; do., 2 to 5 years old, imported, L 9 10s. Dairy Cows. — Are in good demand, at from Ll6 to L2O. Horses.—The demand for gool, useful horses is still brisk, and we see no reason to alter our former quotations. A well selected shipment of 3ound heavy draught horses and stylish wjight-carrying hacks, would find readj T s<ile. Stations. —Wo are in treaty for the Bile of two very desirable properties, but have no transactions to report. There are numerous buyers in the market, but holders do not seem inclined to name terms till after shearing. Wool.—Shearing: operations ba7ing been retarded a week or t?n days by wet weather during the early part of the month, wool has not come to hand so quickly as was expected; and consequently, no public sales have taken place, nor have any transactions of moment been entered into. We have about one thousand bale 3in store, and shall have eight or nine hundred to catalogue at our opening sale, on Friday next. 21st curt. ; when, from the desire manifested by buyers to examine each lot as ifc ariivt s at our warehouses, as well as from the ki owledge that large buyers on foreign account are only waiting the opportunity to secure tli3 best clips in the Province, we feel certain that sales will be easily effected at most satisfactory rates. Sheep-kius are bringing very high rates, 5s 9d to 6* being paid for full woolled skins. We sold at auction, on the 24th inst, a shipment from the West Co.isfc at very extrein-j rates/equal to from 7d to 83 per Ib. We will offer about 1500 station skins on EMday nexo. i Hides.—Since our public sale on the 24th ult. we have no sales to report; we realised then from 9s to 15s 3d for a parcel irom the West Coast. Tallow.—Market flat, and prices a shade lower. Driver, Maclean, and Co. Liye Stock Salesmen, Station Agents, and Wool Brokers, ■ Dunedin, N.Z.

Weight, Robertson and Co.'s Live Stock and Station Report ':— ■ The business of the past month baß been of a-most-satisfactory character. The demand for sheep of every class has not been adequately met by the supply, which may be partly attributed to theifact that flockowners are busy with their shearing, and have notyet decided what stock they will dispose of. Mixed lambs are difficult to obtain, which is somewhat surprising, considering the very favorable lambing that has taken place over the country. We fancy holders auticipate high prices ; buyers, however, if they cannot get them at about 20s per pair, prefer to buy good full-mouthed sheep, of which there are plenty for sale at moderate prices. The demand for large f ranied old ewes for paddocks is considerable;.-."young ewes are not so much in request. Good store wethers are wanted, with few lots offering. By thebeginniog of ! the year buyers and sellers will have made up their minds, and we expect a large'business will be the consequence. Cattle continue iv great request, and prices continua firm, There are few good herds offering; but probably the setting in of importation which has again commenced may induce some holders to realise. The first of a series of cargoes of store cattle has arrived at Invercargill from Newcastle, N.S.W., and they have been landed in good condition. If t aa it is. reported, good stor<; bullocks can be landed at from L 7 toLB a

head, we anticipate an active shipping business will be the result. Fat Cattle.—The market has been bara'v supplied, and prices have been maintained. We have sold, on account of Messrs Gillies, Tokomairiro, Douglas, Alderson and Co., John Gow, Taieri, and Calcutfc and Menlove, 183 head, at from Lls to L36 a head, giving an average of about 50s to 55s per 1001b, which we quote as present m trket price. Some fiae large bullocks, from Messrs Calcutt and Menlove's Hyde Home Station, fetched from L33 10s toL36 ahead. _ Store Cattle-In good demand. Few desirable lota offering. We have sold over 500 head, at from L 7 12s 6d to L9, according to age and quality. Mr Thomas Murray's fine herd of from 300 to 400 head we have sold at L 9 each. We quote bullocks, three years and upwards, Lll to Ll2 ; mixed cattle, two to five years, L9 to LlO ; one to two years, L 5 15stoL6. Working Bullocks we worth from L 35 to L4O per pair, and are in demand. We have sold a team of eight at the latter price. Milch Cows we have sold at from Ll3 to L 22. Really good milkerd are much wanted, at long prices. Fat Sheep.—The market has been fairly supplied 5 prices continue firm. We have solti, on account of John Jone?, sonr., Waikouaiti, Menlove, Gorge Shand, Alex. Shand, and O. Moore, 2300 head, shorn, at from 17s to 22s 6d, being an average price of 4d per lb shorn, and 5-^d in the wool,' which we givo,.as market rates. We consider 4d per lb will be about the prica ruling for sometime. Fut Lambs. —Tlie supply of lambs this season has been small. We have sold, on account of Messrs Tod<3, of the Taieri, and others, a few lots at from 14s to 17s 6d each. ' Store Sheep.—The demand hits been great, imd large ssies have been effected. Our sales during, the month consist of the following lots, viz :—3OOO full mouth ewres, at 11s ench ; 1500 do do, at V.b \ 4500 six-tooth and full mouth, equal proportions, at I3g ; 7000 four and six tooth and full mouth store wethers, at Us ; 1200 half-bred Leicester arid Merino lambs mixed, at 28s per pair ; 3500 mixed lambs, at 20s per pair. We quote1 ewes,, two end four tooth, 17s to 17s 6d { four, six, and eight tooth do, 15a ; full mouth, lls ; broken, from 6s to 7s each ; wethers, shorn, four and six tooth, lls ; two tooth, 10s to 10s 6d each.; mixed lambs, 20s to'2ls per pair; half-bred Leicester lambs. 283 to 32a per pair. We have some good lots to offer. i Imported sheep.—-We have now in paddock from Melbourne, some first-class Leicester ewee, and Cotswold rams, for sate, to which we beg to draw the attention of breeders. We 6old 18 imported Leicester rams, at L 7 10s each ; also 8 Cotswolds, at LB. Horse?.—ln C3nsequeoc9 of the arrival of three shipments the market is now fully stocked. The most saleable class at present are first- class and medium £acks~. and light harness horaes, arid good draught mares. We7 quote :—First-class draught. fromL.6o toL7S;--medium do, L3O to L45 ; first-class hacks, L3O to L4O ; medium do and light harness horses, LIB to L25 ; inferior hacks, LlO to ■Lls. . .■.-■'. . ~', I Station Property.—There are buyers in the' market for run?, but no desirable properties; are offering at present. 'COUNTRY SALES. At Eist Taieri, on the 30th ult., we sold 2 to 3-year old steers at from L8 2s 6d to Lll; cowb,fromL7 123 6dtoLßlss; heifers, L 4 103t0L7. : At Tokomairiro, on the sth and 6th instant:—Horses, at from Ll3 10sto'Ii25 for hacks; medium draught, L 27 to L 45; -firstclass draught/ LSB 10s to L 80; store cattle, from L4 to Ll3v At Waikouaiti, on the 12th instant:— Horses, useful hacks and light harness, from Ll4 109.t0.L36' 103; store bullocks, 2to 3-year old, in good condition, at Lll. WOOL REPORT. There aro numerous buyers in" the market, but the prices asked, wa anticipate, will check sales. We expect, however, to see some spirited competition at the ensuing wool sales. We intend holding our first sale on the 28ch instant.