COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 938, 31 October 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

BOURKE & SMITH'S MONTHLY REPORT.

Cattle. — During the past month, several mobs of cattle,' m all about 470 head, have passed through our hands at satisfactory figures. One mob of 120 head mixed — chiefly steers and heifers — were purchased by Mr. R. C. Jordan, of Tauranga, at £5 per head. This mob are now on the way overland to Taurangß, and by last advice we heard they had reached Taupo, with the loss of only one beast. This goes to prove that cattle may with safety be driven to Tauranga, Waikato, and the Thames districts with a very small per centage of loss, and we think that this first experiment, having been so far successful, will lead to further relations between this place and the Northern markets. There is no doubt that the question of driving these long distances with satisfactory results is merely a matter of care m the selection of competent men, and that the cost being so much less, this mode of transit should commend itself m preference to shipping, which is nearly always attended by the loss of a few head. The only other buyer has been Mr. Robert Cooper, to whom we have sold over 300 head. This includes Mr. G\ G. Burnett's mob of 150 head of mixed steers, cows, and heifers, at an all round figure of £4 per head. Mr. Cooper has now on his run a mob of over 1300 head of cattle, and as most of the other available cattle are held m few hands, and feed is now abundant, we surely look for an improvement m prices, especially as cattle are both scarce and dear m Northern markets. The balance of the number mentioned have .passed our hands at auction. We quote as follows :— Yearling steers and heifers, £2 15s to £3 Is ; two and three-year-old steers, £5 10s ; dry cows, £2 to £4 1 5s ; dairy cows, £3 to £8. Horses. — Either light or draught quite unsaleable. A large mob has just left for Auckland overland, and we hope to see other mobs following, two or three hundred of the class of animals at present m the Bay could very easily be spared. Sheep. — No of any consequence during toe past month. Scab, we are are sorry to say, has made it appearance m one or two flocks, but strenous efforts are being made for its immediate suppression. : Produce. — We have sold during past two months about 50 tons Oamaru potatoes at JS9 os perjton (none on hand at present.) There will probably be a scarcity m market until new ones come m. Oats, (good feed) 3s 9d per bushel ; maize, 4s ; chaff, £8 to £9 per ton ; hay, (delivered, £5 to £6 per ton. The commercial depression during the last 3 or 4 months, and the failures which have occurred, have engendered a feeling of insecurity, which tends to paralyze healthy business. Things ought to mend soon, however, and once these inevitable failures are over, the atmosphere will be cleared, and business generally will be conducted on a sounder and safer basis. We then|hope that the inflated and ruinous system of indiscriminate credit will never be again revived m the Bay. The country never looked m more splendid order, the lambing has been good, wool is now fast coming off the sheep's back, and the clip promises to be a large one. We hope that the improved tone m the London and Melbourne markets will keep up, and realise for our wool-growers a figure more cheering than last season's account sales showed. The sudden excitement m the iron and tin market at Home, after such a period of depression, will, we hope, usher m a revival m general trade m England, which trill speedily extend itself to our Colonies.