THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 4 March 1882, Page 15

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Mr Skene reports :— February, has been a good month for all out-door labour. . All classes gave up work to iridulge'iti tlie races and town pleasures: " Now' we have got over these things, all are Bottling down to the usual overy-day work. ' It is quite impossible to supply the prosentdemand for station hands, single and married— males and females are equally inquired for now, and we necd'.not look for any relief until Parliament meets, when it is to be hoped that serious attention will be paid, to this matter. A Government is of no use without population. A large population means large revonuo returns.- Wages : Couples, £70 to £85 : day labour, 6a, 7s, and 8s ; hotel men, £IJ2 to £104: hotel lomales, £40 t0, £78; dairymen, 15a to 255 ; lads and' girls, 10s, 12s, and 15s ; general female servants, 12s and 15s ; nurseghis, ' 6s to 12s ; harvesters, 30a to 42s (but wages very irregular) ; ploughmen, '£52 to £65 ; station cooks and bakers, £52 to £65 per year ; short engagements do, 30s to 40s per week ; grooms and gardoners, £1 5s to £2 ; carpenters, 9s to 118 per day. * ' •' ' •P. M. Grant reports :— Curront rates of wages : Couples for stations and farms, £60 to £75 ; shepherds, £00 ; ploughmen, '£52 to £55 ; gardeners, £60 per annum ; station cooks, 25s to 30s ; blacksmiths, 30s to 40s ; grooms, 20s ; barmen, 30s ; waiters, 20s, 25s ; boots, 15s, 20s ; milkeiß, 255 ; station hands, 20a ; boys, ss, 15a per week; bricklayers, masons, plasterers, l"s, 14s ; carpenters, Bs, 10s i>er,day,; female cooks, 20s, 40s ; housemaids, waitresses, laundresses, dairymaids, general servants (town and country), 12s, 158 ; nurseguls, sa, 10a per week ; governesses and tnusekeepers, £40 to £60 per annum. j Mr Donald Stkonaou (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending Ist March as follows ' — Fat 1 Cattle. —Tho market to-day, though not quotably better, showed a decided improvement in spirit. 246 head wore yarded, of which about 70 were stores, a.n<j[ were boW at the iollownrg'prico^ i; -Bullocks, £0 ,

to £11 10s ; cows, £i 123 6d to £7 10s por head. Today's qxiotation for prime beef may bo givon as 203 per 1001b. jjgFat Calves.— Twelve were sold at from 4s to 40s. Fat Sheep.— 223s woro penned (including nearly 800 stores). Prices, under good competition, ruled ao follows :— Ciosabrcds, 8s 3d to 12s 9d ; merinos, 7s 3d — about supporting la3t week's values. We sold drafts on account of Meosrs John Duncan (Cherry Farm), at 99 9d to 10s 3d ; and J. D. Anderson (Wyndham), at 9s 3d. We quote crossbred mutton 2d per lb. Fat Lamb?.— S6S sold i& frow 8< CI to 10.-; Gil. We solo 111 1 draft on account, of Mr J. O. Grey.

tat Pigs.— Scvenoy-i'ix were disposed o f at from (is to 4H3.

; Store (Mile. — We rail otlentiou to our 'sale at Stilling to-morrow (Thursday), wbon wo shall offer about 50 head, mostly bullocks, fnt and half fat, on account of Messrs Wilson Brothers.

'Score Sheep.— Crossbrcds.for fattening- uro in good demand, and there is a moderate inquiry for young merinos. We report sales of 3500 head. At Stirling Yards to-morrow (Thuruday), wo puruos>o offering 2000 wethers— half merinos and half crossbred - on account of Messrs Wilson Brothers. „ 'Station Properties.— We offered this day (Wednesday) the following stations with stock and improvements :— The Wolds, Paterson's, and Mary'a Range/in South Canterbury. ; Clifden, in South Otago ; and' Centre Hill, in Southland. Thero was a large attendance, but biddings were by no means brisk, and tho properties were pasaed in. ' Privately wo have had sdvotal offers, and oxpoct to cloeo immediately for at loast one of the properties , :Sheepßkins.— Our catalogue on Monday consisted largely of butchers' pelts. Thero was a good attendance of buyers, and prices well supported last week's values. . Full-woolled crpssbreds fetched 4s Id to 5s Bd, and merinos 3s id to 5s 7d. Lambskins, Is 2d . to U l"d ; a- d pelts, 6d to 2s Id each. lllides.^-The market continues about same as last week. We quote 4d per lb for heavy hides in good i condition and well trimmed, and 3d to 3^l for inferior i or light, at which prices wo have cleared all to hand. ) Tallow.— Wo did not offer any at auction this week. Butchers'- fat, under a good demand,' realiacd up to 20s 6d per cwt. " Grain.— Wheat : Thero is no feature of interest to report, nor any change since last week in the condition of the market. Prime milling- would find buyers at 4s 4d to 4s 6d without difficulty ; but there are at present no samples offering. Other sorts arc i limited supply, but the demand is also restricted, as usual at this season of the year. Wo quote prime milling 4a 4d to 4s 6d ; medium, 4s to 4s 4d ; inlerior and fowl feed, Is Cd to 3s 6d per bushel. Oats : The demand continues active for all coming forward, and the upward movement in prices continues, 2s 5d to 2s 6d per bushel having been paid for bright feed. Barley : No transactions.

Messrs Wright, Stkpiienson, and Co. report for the week ending Ist March as follows :—

Fat Cattle.— A fair supply came to hand, 178 head being yarded, consisting for tho most part of medium quality. Butchers' stocks having becomo low, competition was keen, especially for any pens of good quality, and for these an advanuo of at least 2s 6d per 1001b on last week's quotation was obtained. We yarded and sold 105 head as follows :— On account of Mr W. Moore (Southland), 20 bullocks at from £3 to £10 10* ;on account of E. A. Chapman, Esq. (Coombe Hay), 20 bullocks at from £6 to £8 12s 6d ; on account of E. Palmer, Esq. (Otakia), 7 cows at up to £6 15s ; on account of Mr James Wright (Langlea), 13 cows at from £4 15s to £5 16s ; on account of Mr T. Geary (Portobello), 16 bullocks at from £5 to £6 ; on account of Mr C. Jenkins. 2 bullocks at £11 10s ; on account of; Messrs C. Smaill, John Holmes, W. A. Todd, C. Bunbury, and othera, 22 head at quotations. We quote prime beef at fully 22s 6d per 100 lbs. Fat Calves.— l 2 penned, and sold by us at from lls to 40s eaoh. , Fat ' Sheep.— The number penned (1950) proved hardly equal to the trade requirements, prices in conBequencewere higher than, last' week's by fully Is per head. We penned 1105, and sold them as follows :r— 'from Qreenfield Estate, 404 prime merino wethers at 9s"; oh aocount of Messts Ross Brothers (Meadowbank), 19U crossbred owes at from ,9s 3d to 10s 9d ; and on account of Messrs M'Auley' and M'Donald, 505' crossbred wethers at from lls to 12s 6d. We quote prime mutton at 2d per lb. Fat Lambs.r-There was 'an abundant 5upp1y,. .368 belng'penned. Prices,, on the whole, were if anything easier- than last week. .We sold 167, on account of Messrs James Allan (Hopehill), and Ross Brothers (Meadowbank), 1 at from 8s 6d to 9s. Store Cattle.— Sixty-eight head, mostly cows and young stock, were offered at Burnside to-day. Prices we're low.- We sold 26 at from £4 to £5 6s for two 'and three-year-old bullocks, and from £1 10s to £3 7s 6d; for cows. On Friday,. 10th", instr, at the pound yards, Outram, wo shall offer 160" head bullocks and OOWB.

Store Sheep.— We have inquiries for full-mouthed merino wethors for-'turnip"feedinpf;also for young of both sexes, and- crossbreds all ages and : both sexes; The number offering is, however, limited.Since our last report we have sold 10,000 as follows :N-5000'full-mouthed: N-5000'full-mouthed merino ewes, 2000 ' full-mouthed, mdrino wethers, 600 cull two-tooth merino e\ves •„ 2000 84oothcr'os8b'red ewes, 'and 600 §-bred Lincoln ewes. Country Sales.— We would direct attention to our sale at the Wyndham township to-morrow (Thursday), when we shall sell ,they whole of Mr John Anderson's pure shorthorn cattle (100 head), fat and storo cattle (800 head), and over 100 head draught and lightharnois horses. Horses.— Saturday , last being a, race r day, our weekly sale was held 'on Monday instead. There was an' unusually large number of horses forward (mostly light-harness sorts), in, two drafts. from the 1 North, which sold at from £5 to £14. We sold the late Hon. H ' S. Chapman's carriage and ' pair as follows :— Landau for £86,, and horses for £46. We quote first-class" draughts at from £30' "to £38 ; medium, £20 to £26 ; good hacks and light-harness horses, £lfe to £25 ; medium, £10 to £12. ; light and inferior, £&to£7. ' '' '" Sheepskins.— We-held our weekly sale on Monday last as usual. There was the customary attendance of buyers, who competed with spirit for the various lots offered. Butchers' fetched—pelts, from 7d to Is lid each; lambskins, from 8d to Is lOd; full-woolled skins, 3s Id to 5s 4d.' • ' Hides.— -On Monday we sold 130 at 4d per lb for sound wet-salted, free of offal, which quotation we give as present market value. Tallow. — We did not offer any on Monday. Grain.—W heat: There is a fair demand both for local use and for export. Samples of the new crop are now to hand, and several sales have transpired at from 4a 3d to 4s 6,d" for first-class qualities. ,At these •quotations we have placed 20,000 bushels. -We quote prime milling at froni 4s 3d to 4s 6d ; second quality, '38'lOd to 4s 2d ; inferior, 2s 6d to 35. 4 d.' Oats are in improved inquiry, vye quote j3rime v mi]ling, at , from 2s 6d to "2s 6d, and good feed the same. Barley : 'No transactions. Messrs Maclean AinrCorreport for the week ending Ist March as follows,:— ' > • ■ ',?;:]■' Fat Cattle.— For to-day's 'requirements 170 head were yarded .. at Burnside, „and ,vith;;the';ex-" ceptio'n of about>,so"hea'd, (being prime,' the remainder consisted of from ' fair tq . good . qualiy. 1 For thoso ' that wero of a prime ' description there : was 'a- good demand, and prices ■ somewhat hardened compared! with last week, but ordinary lots showed no Prime bullocks brought from £7 15s to £10 17s 6d ; fair to good, £4 17 aCd to £7 ss ; cows, from £4 10s to £7 10s. We yarded 70 head, and sold them as follows: -On account of Mr John Bruce (Brighton), 26 head medium weights at for bullocks, from £6 15s to £7 2s (Id, and for cows, from £4 to £5 12s 6d ; on account of Mr R. Totld (Riccarton), 8 head at— for bullocks, from £6 to £7 17a 6d, and for cows, from £4 12a Gd to £5 12s Cd ; on account of Messrs A. and'W. O. Todd (Taiori), 4 head at from £6 7s Cd to £10 17s Cd ; and on account of various othor vendors, 25 head at quotations. We quote prime beef 20s per 1001b. Fat Calves.— Twelve were forward, and sold at from 4s to 40s. Fat Sheep.— Tho number forward to-diy was 1935 crossbreds. Thero was a good demand, and the improvement observed in tho price last week was fully maintained to-day, crossbreds fetching; from 9a 3d to 12a 9d. Wo sold 80 on aceouns of J. Rutherford, Esq. (Su'mmerhill) at from 10s 9d to lls 9d ; on account of Mi- J. Davidson (Herbert), 80 do at from 9s 3d to 9s 6d~; on account of Mr A. North (Peninsula), 115 do <it from lls 3d to 12d 9d ; and on account of Messrs A. and W. C. Todd, 100 do at lls 6d. Wo quote primo mutton 2d per lb.' Fat Lambs.— 3oß were penned, and sold at from 8s ( fid to 10s 6d. We sold a draft on account of Mr A. North (Peninsula), at from 8s 9d to 10s Cd. Fat Pigs.— Scvonty-six wore forward, and sold at ! from Gs to 465. We sold 13 at from £1 12s to £2 6s. Storo Sheep.— 3oo merinos were penned at Burnside to-day, and sold at 7s 3d. Crossbreds continue in good demand, and young merinos are also inquired for. We have sold several lots during the week at satisfactory prices. s Country Sales. -Wp havo to draw attention to our i sale ftt our'Balolutba Yards on Friday' first; the 3rd

inst., when we {shall sell 2000 mixed sheep and 270 head cattle.

Horses.— Last Saturday being a race day we held our weekly sale on Monday. We had a large number of entries, and disposed of several lots, comprising a handsome carriage pair at a satisfactory price. On Saturday first we shall offer a number of Hght-harnesß and heavy draught horses. Wool. -Our next sale will be held to-morrow (Thursday) at 3.30 p.m.

Sheepskins.— We submitted a full catalogue at our sale on Monday last. There was 'the usual attendance of the trade, and with keen competition, prices ,im proved considerably on previous week's values. Full-woo led crossbreds brought from 3s lid to 5s 6d ; merinos, 3s 6d?to 4a lOd; butchers' pelts, from Is 4d,td lo lid ; lambskins, Is 5d to 2s 2d.

.Hides. — Thore is no alteration to report, and 4d per lb continues the value for heavy bides. ■Tallow. — There is a <^ood demand, and well-rendered tallow commands 293 Od, and rough fat 20s 6d. ' - Giain. — Wheat: There is no alteration to chronicle in this cereal. Primo sauiplos would command 4a 6d ; fair to good, it 2d to 4s 4d ; and 2s 9d to 3s 3d for fowl feed. Oats : Tho demand that has been experi-i-riued for several weeks past continues, and during the week wo have mido considerable sales at up to 2a fid per buahol for bright feed for shipping purposes. Barley : No alteration.

Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report for the week ending Ist March as follows :—, , . .

Fat Cattle.— Again a very large supply came in, 246 being yarded. Included in these were 86 stores ; most of the rest wore medium, with a, few pens prime. There was a fair demand for the latter, but inferior and medium were dull at low prices. ' Bullocks sold at £4 ' 7s, Cd to £11 ; cows, £3 7s 6d to £6 15s— or equal to 178 Cd,to 20* per 1001b for beat quality. We yarded : 67 • head, and sold on account of Jjlr: J. M f Cabe, s'cdws'at ' ! * £5 to £7 10s ; on account of Mr J. M Nab, 20 head at £3 10s to £5 2s Cd ; on account of Mr W. L. Riddell, 7 head up to £4 ; on account of Mr W. T. Shand, 10 bullocks up to £8 ; on account of Mr Jas. Oughton, 3 cows at £3 17s Cd ; on account of others, 12 heal up to' £7 ; and at Mosgiel yesterday we sold 20 bollocks up to £8.

Fat Calves. — Twelve yarded, and sold at 9s to 21a each.

Fat Sheep.— 223s penned ; excopfc 285 stores, these were all good to prime crossbreds. There was brisk demand for all lots at prices fully equal to those obtained last week. Prime cossbreds (heavy, weights) ' sold at 10s 6d to 12s 3d ; good do, 9s 9d to 10s ; others, 1 7a 6d to 9a. We sold on account of Mr J. Clark, 70 crossbreds at lls ; on account of Messrs C. and A. ' - Smaill, 39 crossbrods at 9s 8d;, on account Mr W. Barr, 10 Tosabreds at lls ; on account Mr W. L. Riddell, 1 crossbreds at 12s 3d, 14 merinos, 7s 3d ; on accouut Air G. Cockerill, 42 at 6s 6d to 8s 3d ; on account Messrs Clegg Bros., 39 crossbreds, 10a 3d ; on account Mr VV. Kell, 70 crossbreds at lls. We quote prime mutton 2d to 2£d per lb.

Fat Lambs. - 368 penned. These proved a short supply, and the rise reported last week was fully maintained ; best sold up to 10a Gd ; good, 8a 3d to 9s 9d ; others, 7s 6d to 8a 3d. We sold for Messrs C. and A. Smail (Ineh-Clutha), 40 at 0s ; on account Mr Hugh Frasor (Waihemo) 52 at 8s 6d to 98 ; on account Mr W. Barr (Wairoa), 37 at 8s 6d ; and on account Mr J. ForsytK, 40 at 9s 3d to 10a. 1 " ' ' Fat Pigs.— Seventy-six penned ;. these were nearly all suckers. A few porkers sold' at slightly better prices, wo sold 10 at 30s to 425. We quote pork, 3Jd per lb.

Store Cattle.— During the week we placed a mixed mob, 100 head, at £3 10s, We have a draft of quiet bullocks for sale privately. > , ' ,; Store Sheep.— At the yards to-day we sold 140 crossbred hoggets at 7s 3d; 165 broken-mouth merinos, 4s lOd ; and privately we placed several lots at satisfactory prices.

Wool.— We hold our seventh' sale, of ithe season at our wool stores, High street, to-morrow (Thursday), at 3 o'clock sharp. i •','".,/ ":,V I Sheepskins. —On Monday we Held^ bur usual weeklysale, and submitted a full There' waa"- : brisker competitien and higher prices. Crossbreda 'sold at 2s.ld to 5s 3d ; merinos, Is 9d to 4s lid ; pelts, •. is 2d to 2s ; lambskins, Is 4d to 2a Id : skins in balei, Bid per , . „ „ . „_.,._, Hides.— On Monday we sold'all lots forw'ard'at— foif ' .sound salted, 4d; inferior and faulty,,, 3£d per lb; butchers' green bides, 18s to '23s each', ' Tallow continues in brisk demand, any lots coming in finding ready sale at fo'r-best rendered, £28 : t0i£29 10s ; medium, £26 to £27 10a ; inferior, £21 to £25 J butchers' rough fat, £17 10s to £19 per ton. . . Country .Sales. —At Mosgiel on Tuesday w.e held a . clearing ( sale oh account of Mr A. Marshall. 'There . was a numerous' attendance, and spirited bidding for each lot. Seventeen' dairy cows' sold -at £5 6s to £9 "■■ 7s Cd ;20 bullocks, at 'an average ot £7'6s; 6 steers, <' £3 15 a; heifers; 40s to 6&s ; yearljngs, j3os to 355 ; f implements, &c. all fetching satisfactory/ prices. - . „", Freehold Property. — We would direct attention, to . ourJßale to.be hejd at Watson's Hotel, Dunediri, "to- - (Thursday), when 'we shall I ' ciffor, by 'auction,'that very desirable property known as Mount 'Benger ' Station, comprising 1900 acres -freehold and 25,731 leasehold, together with JL4,O f OO superior- merino sheep.; Grain. -Wheat: Owing to harvest operations, which • are now in full swing, thee is little "doming "in. Samples of new crop whiclThave arrived are readily pldced at full prices. ''Oats: During ; the^ week the'^ arrivals have^been umaU, consequently the market, has •ste'adilyf improved, aijd for best milling 2s 6d is* easily obtained, good 'feed fetching within a shado of thia , price. Barley ia in fair.requesb at— for malting, 3s to' ' 3s ,6d ; milling and feeuV 2s 6d to' 2s 'Bd. Potatoes. — This market is fairly glutted, and prices very low. At- auction, parcels havo been disposed- of . at : £2losto.42l6s. •-"••" r * ■• ..

', Messrs Stbhibnson'and Co., Bond street, report for ihe week ending Ist March,:— s , t Fat Cattle. — 246 were yarded, of which 70 were stores. Bullocks sold from £6 to £11 10s ; cows sold from £4 12s to £7 103. Prime beef we quote 'at 208 perlOOlb, . „ .. „ Fat Calves.— l 2 yarded, sold at from 4s to 403. '

Fat Sheep.— 223s penned, of which about 300 were stores ; fail- competition. seld at 9s 3d to I2s 9d; merinos sold at 7s 3d; We quote mutton at 2d per lb. Fat Lambs.— 3GB brought from 8s 6d to 10s 6df Fat Pigs.— 76 sold from 6s to 46s Store Sheep.— Crossbreds in good demand ; merinos not much sought after. ' • Grain.— Wheat : Primo milling finds buyers at 4s 4d to 4s Ctl— limited supply ; fowls' foed, Is Cd to 3s 6d. • Oats are in good demand, 2s 5d to 2s 6d per bushel for good samples. . . ,