HOKITIKA LIVE STOCK MARKET REPORT, FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 202, 12 May 1866, Page 4

HOKITIKA LIVE STOCK MARKET REPORT, FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 1866.

Jones, M'Gxashan and 00. roporfc the markofc as furnißlied with tho following livo stock during tho past month, viz, :— Fat oat« tlo, 724 ; calves, 6 } sheep, 8300 j and pigs, 104. Tho supply of shcop was considerably in oxcoßß of actual roquiromonts — so vory much so, that prices for this description of stock did not equal tho quotations of tho stock salosmon either in Ohristohuroh or Dunedin. Such an unprecedented glut also oporntcd most unfavorably on tho accepted value of oattlo. In fact, the whole of tho transactions in stook throughout tho month have boon of tho most unsatisfactory nature. Wo attribute the unwiso aud most injudicious flooding of our cattlo and shoop markot, to ft doiiro on tho part of.stook holdors aud doalers to ovail thornsolves of tho wonderfully fine ireathor with which wo havo of lato boon blessed) and which has enabled them to hurry forward everything believed to bo fat aud marketable, without ! paying tho slightost attention or giving tho least heed to actual consumption and domand. In tho course of nature, wo must look for tho almost imniodiato advont of winter, whon it will bo a vory difficult matter to drivo shoop to tho Wost Coast. Even now, wo boliovo tho Rakai route to bo' closed by tho lato snow storms, so that a more healthy state of things may bo shortly anticipated. Scarcely any sales of stook took place by auotion, tho importations boing mostly by doalers. Tho prinoipal aalos throughout tho month woro by private troaty. ' Fat Oattlh.— Wo sold through our yards only 87 head, 62 hoad tho property of Mossrs Evans and Co., of Ohristchuroh, at about £18 all round 5 and 25 Mr Baty's, from Napier by ship, (and twenty-oight days at sea) at about £19 per head. Those cattlo woro very good indood, especially whon taking into consideration the length of their passago. Wo quote primo cattlo at 763, and good modiums at 66s 8d per lOOlbs, and tho probability of such prices continuing for somo little time, as thero are plenty of cattle to hand and to arrive. OAIiVES. — Only 6 introduood, whioh sold woll. Wo quote primo calvos as worth £8 to £9, and medium £5 to £7, with always plenty of buyers at those figuros. Fat Sitkbp, and Sheep. — Altogether 3300 woro brought forward and sold, of which only about 900 woro roally primo, about 1600 modium, and tho balance poor stores. Wo sold 450 (mostly Nolson) sheep at prices ranging from 25s to 42s 5 and somo overland shoop — largo framed, but poor wedder9 — at 17s 6d. With tho existing and probable continued glut, wo cannot quote otherwiso than cautiously say — for boat prime hoavy weights, (Nolson or sheep, by ship), 30s to 35s ; high moclium, 18s to 25a ; modiuni, 12s to 16s. Lambs. — None j but always saleable whon procurable. Pias. — 104 brought in, tho whole of which sold readily at very satisfactory rates ; and a good domand still existing, Wo sold all round nt an average of 71s 6d. Houses. — No transactions to record. Thoy are getting scarce, and thero is every probability of a brisk trado throughout tho winter. Jonhs, M'CHashan and Co., Live Stook Saleamon, Rovoll street, Hokitika. May Ist, 1860.