THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2735, 15 August 1906, Page 22

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Messrs Wright, Stephenewn, and &>. (Ltd.) report as follows: — Far Saturday's sale there waa a rather poor entry of horses, both in respect -to numbers and quality.- There were several buyers in the yard on the look out for first-class draughts fit for town work, but as our entry did not include any of this description very little business was done. The demand for second-class draughts is very slack indeed, but there are still good buyers about for really first-class young mares and geldings, heavy and staunch, and we can confidently recommend vendors having such for sale to try ourmaiket. Good young upstaja&cg sprjng-

cart and spring-van horses are also scarce, and any corning forward are easily placed; at full rates. The demand for first-class light harness sorts has improved of late, and at the present time we have inquiries for |» few reliable animals, and could place several to advantage. The market art the present*time is very bare of young horses of jiH classes, and/ any such coming forward are eagerly competed for, and realise excellent values. We quote: Superior young draught geldings at from £45 to £52; extra good do (prize-takers), £55 to £60; superior young draught mares, £55 to £65; medium draught mares and geldings, £30 to £40; aged do, £15 to £25; well-matched carri?ge pairs, £76 "to £100; strong spring-van horses, £25 to £30; milk-cart and butchers' order-cart horses, £18 to £25; light hacks, £10 to £15; extra gocd hacks and harness horses, £20 to £25; weedy and aged do, £5 to £8. IMPORTANT LAND SALE. Messrs Todd Bros, and Co., Heriot, report: We sold, on account of Messrs Wilkins Bros, to Mr Wm. Barron, the Moa Flat homestead block, being allotments 19 and 20, containing 968 acres of first-class agricultural land, distant about three miles from the Edievale Railway Station. Mr Barron is to be congratulated on securing such a. valuable property, which in such experienced and capable hands must prove a profitable investment. PROPERTY SALES. The Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Company erf New Zealand (Ltd.) submitted to auction at their rooms yesterday, part of section 11, block XXII, Dunedrn, with a frontage to Castle street of 66ft and to Hanover street of'74ft. Bidding started at" £400, and went up spiritedly- up to £800, at which figure it was. passed in, as not reaching the owner's reserve. • The National Mortgage and Agency Company advise the sale of the following properties:—On account of the Otago and Southland Investment Company, 249 acres near Waimate to J. O'Rourke; on account.'of F. Hercus, Christchurch, 1657 acres at Pareora to J. W. Timmins, Ashburton. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. (Ltd.) report the sale to Mr Peter M'Leod, of Islay Downs Estate, at, a satisfactory price, of Mr David Muir/s Glenburn Farm, being sections 8 and 9, block 111, Highlay district, and containing 564 aOr 37p, more or less. The same company has also effected the sale on account of Mr George Cross, Shag Valley, of his Gtenpark Farm, containing about 140 acres, being sections 79, 81, 89, and 90, block VII, Moeraki Survey District. The buyer is Mrs Margaret Jones, of Kaikorai.

John Skene and Son report under data August 14 as follows:—The heavy demand still continues for sound agricultural labourers, especially so for smart, ablebodied young fellows, with a piactical knowledge of country work, tip-top wages being offered to such. Reliable active shepherds used to high country and with a trusty team of dogs are easily placed, the demand for them being brisk. The fact of several flaxmills resuming operations hps caused heavy orders to come in for smart naxmill hands; also flax cutters, engine and hor?© drivers for same. Other lines are a little slack, with the exception of milkers and labourers. We quote wages p.s follows:—Competent ploughmen, 255, 22s 6d; useful farm hands able to plough, 20s; flax cutters, 6s, 7a ton; mill hands, 6s, 7s daily; shepherds, £65 to £70 and £78; station couples, £80; milkers, 15s, 17s 6d; flaxmill cooks, 255, 30s; labourers, 7s, 8s; quarTymen, 9s; fencers, 22s 6d, 255; farm and station lads, 15s, 17s 6d; gardeners, 255; housekeepers, 15s; female cooks, 20s.