COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 945, 8 November 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

MR. M. R. MILLER'S HAWKE'S BAY STOCK & STATION REPORT FOR NOVEMBER, 1879.

It is satisfactory to report that notwithstanding the .depressed feeling arising from the low price of wool, yet there never has been a more promising season for grass m this Province ; ample winter rainfall, succeeded by a genial spring, has clothed our hills and plains , with luxuriant feed, and the lambing is above the average of past years. Shearing is already well forward on our lower and seaboard runs, and from all local districts reports are received of the wool being m good condition, and of the certainty of a good clip this Beason. Although a considerable additional extent of land was turned to grain growing lafet year, and both the wheat and oats produced were of the highest class, we are far from self-supporting m this branch yet ; this is more to be regretted, as from reports received regarding samples of our wheat forwarded to the south, it has been quoted at from 6d to 9d per bushel more than southern wheat. We have many thousands of acres available for cereals waiting for the plough ; and no doubt a very much greater breadth would have been cultivated this past season, but for the pressure of the times, scarcity of money giving little heart for any expenditure amongst our sheepfarmers beyoud what was absolutely necessary. Amongst our agricultural farmers, few as they yet are, there is a cheerful feeling from the promising appearauce of the crops. Cattle.— Fat, 25s to 27s 6d per 1601 b. Store Steers for individual ages, 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, £3 10s, £5, £7, and 10s ; female stock, same ages, range from £3 to £7 each ; dairy cows, £9 to £7 each. Sheep.— FatMerino Weilders, 6s ; shorn, little demand ; for 8-tooth, no enquiry. Merino Ewes — Sellers ask for 2-tootb, 9s ; 4-tooth, 8s; 9-tooth, 7s; and fresh Btooth range from 5s 6d to 5s ; buyers offer 6d less, and at this price business will be done. For Cross-breds. — Wedders, fat, 7s 6d to 8s 6d ; store, 2 and 4-tooth, 6s 6d to 7s asked, but sellers likely to yield ; 6 and 1 8-tooth, 7s asked, but no business: buyers limited and holding off. In Crossbred Ewes, 2 and 4-tooth, 8s asked ; 6 and fresh 8-tooth, 6s 6d asked ; souud fullmouth offering at 4s each. Earns— Merino are likely to be m fair demand at from £2 2s to £3 3s. from good flocks ; sales have been already effected, for Mr Hugh Campbell's flock, SO first-class 2-fcooth at £3, and 30 second-class at £2 2s ; iv Lincoln and Romney Marsh Bams, a considerable number will be wanted, as owners of well-bred flocks will maintain their quality notwithstanding present low price of Longwools, but only first-class Rams will meet sale, and at moderate prices ; several owners of Cross-bred ewes used Merino rams last season, apparently satisfactorily, and will with others follow the same course this season. Horse Stock. — Heavy Draught, £45 to £55 ; Medium, £25 to £30 ; Light harness. £15 to £20. Good Hacks, £20 to L 25 ; Medium, Ll2 to Lls ; Light. L 6 to LB. Station Properties. — There has been but little business doing lately m Station Properties, and -the few that have been placed are at extremely low rates — say thirty to forty per cent, less than they would have realised eighteen months ago. The low price of wool and scarcity of , money, |have caused a larger number of these properties to be placed m my hands for 'sale than is at all desirable for the sellers, though of course this presents the most favorable opportunity for purchasers. Leasehold runs are even more depressed than freehold, from the present difficulty of obtaining loans on the former at moderate rates. Freehold Station Properties, partially improved and about half stocked, range at from 15s 20s 30s to 40s per acre according to locality, etc. ; ' "Wool! — Though the Home Sales, more especially m Longwool and Cross-bred, again resulted m much disappointment to our growers, there is a feeling gaining ground that we have seen the lowest ; trusting that this feeling is well fotin.led few of our larger growers care to sell here at prices offered, but a few small clips have j been purchased at prices ranging from s£d ' to 6} per Ib. Skins realise high prices compared with other provincial markets, and sales are effected at an average of s£d for Merino and 4gd average for Cross-bred.