LATE COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 129, 13 March 1931, Page 6

LATE COMMERCIAL.

GULVERDEN EWE FAIR.

lAIPROVEAIENT IN PRICES. (Special to “The Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. There was another distinct improvement in prices at the Culveden Ewe Fair yesterday, following the improvement at Waiau on Tuesday. For both two-tooth sand older sheep the market was much better and the tone of the sale throughout was a very great improvement on the earlier fairs. The entry was 25,000. head, compared with 32,000 last year. As was the case at the three main fairs, there wasa distinct falling off in. the quality of the sheep entered. Most of the prominent breeders were represented: Culverden attracts a class of sheep bred and reared on hard country, and these find favour with people from further down, as they do well without a great deal of attention. This class was well represented yesterday, - very few paddock ewes being offered. The demand for unpampered ewes lias been fairly steady "at all the fairs, and was stronger than ever yesterday. Compared with Hawarden, where much the same class of ewes are offered, values at Culverden were 5s a head up for two-tooths and 3s a head up for older ewes. The demand was brisk and auctioneers had little of the difficulty they experienced at the earlier fairs. Entries of the class of sheep offered at Culverden have been considerably lighter this year than is usually the case, and up till yesterday they were hard to sell. Culverden is the last fair ac which ewes of the type can be bought, and this combined with the brighter outlook for wool undoubtedly influenced yesterday’s bidding. The range of prices was Extra good 2-tooth Corriectale to 18s. Good 2-tooth Corriedate 15s to 16s 9d. Average 2-tootli iCorriedale 13s to ].4s 6d. Inferior 2-tooth Gorriedale 11s 3d to 12s 6d. Extra, good 2-tooth halfbred to 17s lOd. Good 2-tooth half bred 14s 9d to 16s 6d. Average 2-tooth halfbred 12s 6d to 14s Gd. Inferior 2-tooth halfbred 9s 6d to 11s 9d. Extra good 4-vear Gorriedale to 11s. Good 4- Gorriedale 9s to 10s. Four and 5- year Gorriedale to Bs. Extra good 4- halfbred to> 11s. Good 4-year halfbred 8s to 9s 3d. Average 4-year halfbred Cs to 7s Gd. Inferior 4-vear halfbred 3s Gd lo 5s Gd, Best 4 and 0tootli hallbred 11s to 12s Gd. Good 5vear halfbred Gs to 7s 3d. Average 5- halfbred 3s to ss. 9d. Soundmouth merino to 2s 2d. Best Gorriedale ewe lambs to 10s Id. Good halfbred owe lambs 8s 8d to 9s 9d. T LONDON WOOL SALES.

(Received This Day, 12.15 p.ni.) LONDON, March 12. At the wool sales, bales were offered, including. 1154 New Zealand, and practically all were sold. There was an excellent selection of grear.v crossbreds. The market was very firm, competition being strong. The Bradford market is firm, following the advance in London and overseas. Quotations are: —-70’s, 27d; G4’s, 25Jd; GO’s, 22d ; 56’s, JGd; 50’,s, 13d; 4G’s, llid; 40’s, llid. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated March: 11, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London: — Wool. —Sales opened yesterday. Catalogues were very representative and the attendance was very large, with keen competition 1 , the Home trade securing the bulk of the offerings. Compared with closing rates last series, merino and crossbred 15 per cent, to 20 per cent., slipe 15 per cent, higher. There are 171,000 bales available for the series of which 57,000 halos are New Zealand wool, 90,000 Australian and 22,500 South American.

AMERICAN WHEAT CROP. ESTIMATE OF CARRY-OVER, v (Received: This Day, 10.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 12. Mr Stone (chairman of the Federal Farm Board) estimates that the domestic carry-over of wheat on July 1 will he 275,000,000 bushels, the same as last year. SALE OF PIGS AND POULTRY. A sale of pigs and poultry was hold in Ashburton to-day, when the following prices were realised:— * Ponltrv.—Roosters, 3s 4d to 3s IQd a pair; Pens, 2s 7d to 8s 7d a pair. Pigs.—Wennors, 3s Gd to 19s Gd.