COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1995, 12 December 1863, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK MARKET. We quote the following from Messrs Wright Robertson & Co.'s report for the week ending December 5, 18G3 : The market this week has been animated on account of the moderate supplies to hand. Fat cattle and sheep still remain in active demand. For store cattle, however, the inqniry ia not so brisk. The Dudbrook, from Newcastle, arrived during the week with the first cargo of stock imported since the rescinding of the prohibition upon importation from that port, and we anticipate from the exce'.lent condition and quality of the cattle landed, that considerable shipments will be made thence. The arrivals during the week have been — Dudbrook, from Newcastle, with cattle and sheep ; New Great Britain, from Twofold Bay ; and the Star of the South, s.s., from Wellington, with cattle. Fat Cattle continue in good request, both for the up country and town trade. The only lot landed were 100 head cows and bullocks, ex Dudbrook, from Newcastle, of fair quality, which sold at from £16 to £25 10s per head, averaging £22 round. We quote prime quality beef, 60s to 65s per 100 lba ; second do do, 00s to ooa. Fat Calves none on hand. Would sell readily at from £4 to £6 each. Store Cattle— The demand for this class of stock is slack. Our sales consist of 139 head, mixed pi'ovincial cattle from Canterbury province at £13 5s per head ; also the shipmants ex Dudbrook, froni Newcastle at £12 per hejid. We quote provincial cattle over two years, £13 to £14 ; mixed do £11 to £13 ; ship bullocks, 3 to 5 years old, £12 to £13 ; mixed do. £9 to £10. ' Working Bullocks are little in demand. Good workers may be quoted at from £45 to £50 per. pair; inferior do, £30 to £35. Milch 6ows in full milk are much inquired for. and sell readily at from £20 to £25 per head. Fat Sheep are in active request, the trade having very meagre supplies on hand. We yarded two small lots of imported sheep (shorn) of good and middling quality; 100 head, ex Dudbrook, from Newcastle, which realised 33s each, and 100 ex Phoebe, from Wellington, brought 40s each. We quote mutton, prime quality, Bjd to 9J per lb ; second do, 6d to 7d. Store Sheep — Few Provincial sheep have chaugod hands this week. We have to report tho demand lively for both ewes and wethers. We quote 2, 4, to G tooth Provincial bred ewes, after shearing, 30s to 325 ; do do wethers, 28s to 30s!; ship ewes 2, 4, and 6 tooth, 25s to 27s ; do wethers 22s to 245. Horses— Our yards have been fairly supplied with all descriptions of horses. Tho extremely low price of cartage to the various gold fields has caused teamsters to fill the market with heavy draught stock, in consequence of which there have lately been more sellers than buyers. The sort mostly in demand are the medium priced miggetty kind adapted for packing and up-country work. Tho flno weather has caused the market to assume a soundness which for some time has not characterised it, with every probability of a good trade to continue. The following quotations may bo taken as ruling rates : — First class heavy draught mares and geldings from £75 to £80 ; second class do do, from £35 to £50 ; first class harness and saddle hacks, from £40 to £50; second class do, from £25 to £30 ; nuggcty packers, from £25 to £30 ; common hacks, from £12 to £20.