INVERCARGILL HORSE, CATTLE, AND SHEEP MARKET.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 65, 19 June 1863, Page 2

INVERCARGILL HORSE, CATTLE, AND SHEEP MARKET.

Carey and Gillks Report — Since our last monthly report horses have changed hands finely, and continue in active demand, notwithstanding there was a slight declis.e in their va ue last week, in consequence of the full in carriurge tothe Lako Diggings. Shipments afloat will come to a good market, and we have little lear of any serious decline, unless the market is overstocked ; g >od draught will always command their value, and if importers are not too eager to force sales, the result will be satisfactory to them. Weight carrying hackneys always find buyers. The only arrival -of horses from the other colonies during the month has been the Indii, from Hobart Tuwn, which we offered on the lUth, on which day the weather being unfavorable, and the stock of alightand inferior description, biddings were not brisk, the prices icalisi/d ueiugfrom L35 to L65. The foil in carriage in the early part of tho month induced teamsters to offer their horses for public sale, and in all instances we placed thorn at most satisfactory prices, ranging from L4U uj> to LlO6, but there being an improvement in cartage this week, there are now few offering. We have advices of shipments to our care per Creole and Sea Breeze daily expected, of a very superior description. The ruling prices are, firstclass heavy draught horses, L95' to L 110; second, do do, LtSO to L80 ; third, do do, L35 to 50. Working Bullocks.— For first-class teams an active demand exists, and good cattle find ready purchasers at from L65 upwards, per pair. We have sold imported at L6O to L6o, but their condition was not suited to our wants, and only the scarcity ot good cattle enabled us to obtain such rates. A vessel from Hobart Town has been very unfortunate with her cargo of bullocks, which the the importer informs us were of a superior description. Wo are daily expecting a consignment from Launceston, per Sea Breeze, selected for this market. Store Cattle. — There has only arrived one shipment, the Juno, from Ilobart Town, n \v lauding, and we hope to make sales at full prices, but cannot give a quotation until we sec them. We have sold Proviucial at Lll to LI 2, and report our market as firm at these rates. Cows.— Quiot cows arc wanted at Lls up to L25. v Fut Cattle. — The market has been poorly su .- plied the past ten days with beef. Our last sales were at 70s per 1001b, and wo expect at least this rate for the stock we will offer next week. Fat Sheep.— Fat wethers are worth 40s to 455, with but a moderate supply. Store Sheep are worth from 20s to 23s for im- ■ orteti, but at this period of the year there are no fresh shipments. These are the rates for any on hand. Mkssus. Robehtsox and Co. report — Since the departure of the last mail the weather has continued, almost without intermission, of a most unpropitious character, and the very small demand for goods at the Lake district, has, together with that cause, had the effect of most unnecessarily depressing trade in general, and, as a matter of course, operating in some me -sure upon the demand for horses. The rutes of ourriage from hence to the Lake has been gradually falling, and although at this tune tho roads are nearly, if not qin'e. as bad as they have ever been, the decrease in the demand above alluded to has not only prevented the rise that was anticipated, lut hns occasioned a reduction from £70 to £35, at which rate there is but very little loading offering. In tho face of all this the market price for really good staunch heavy druight horses is well supported, and we see no reason to change the opinion we have expressed for some time, namely, that a failmargin of profit will be left, nt'ter all expenses, on the importation ol' this description of stock. Light draught and harness horses will also realise a fair rate, and the demand for first-claiS clever hacks continues good, there being fe v or none of them offering in the market. We can safely direct attention to our quotations, which arc the prices at which we have positively sold, and apply to iA\ horses coming under the class named. When an extraordinary price has been obtained tor something beyond tho usual mark, we make it a rule to quote it as a solitary instance, so that our friends may not be misled by seeing such prices as LllO or Ll2O affixed to anything but perhaps un individual horse something beyond the a\erago of really first-class heavy draught. During the last mouth our s des have been, to a great extent, private, as we. have had and still have so many purchase ra nailing- for really gos*i cattle, that very few have come to the -h'arriiner but those that have bjen freely cleared at quotations. We again vceomrnshd our friends to pay particular attention to the shipment of tbcvf- horses, and to be very careful ill- seeing them properly attended to on the voyage, as very much will depend upon the condition they are landed in, and if due cure lias not been exercised, it is possible that instead of a profit being realised a loss may be sustained. We quote sales as follows, namely : — Veiy superior heavy draught horses, £75 to £90, and an excellent dcman.l; goud second class qo, £55 to £70; lijrht harness horses, £30 to £40; superior hacks, £<3o to £'45 ; inferior ditto and unbroken colts ot' some description nominal, and almost impossible to move at any rate. Working Ballocks. — These are in great demand, and we exptvt they will continue to sell well for s >rn" time. We have sold two teams, averaging £&i 10s per puir. Cattle. — Market very bare, a good mixed mob of store cattle would realise from £11 lOi lo JJIO per head; calves, under six months, give'i in; tat cattle very scarce, first-class beef wo quclo ul from Cjs to 70i per lOOios. Station Property. — Very little offering; no alterations in market value since our last report.