COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1922, Page 9

COMMERCIAL.

THE MARKETS AT A GLANCE. FUTURE PROSPECTS GOOD. AMERICAN WIRH FIRM. "Auckland Star" Office, Thursday, May 4. lff-H. The outlook for the grocery trade is far more promising thau it has been for over a year, and it looks certain that higher prices are going to be named on a number of lines. The position is now an Interesting one. in that buyers are looking for advanrequiremeuts. This movement will do much io strengthen the markets, and should the present levels hold for our export trade trade during the winter. Reports are very satisfactory, the active conditions of last tiionth show nn fallins off: lv fact, collections show n irrowlug volume. Country dis tricts are not llndlng much Improvement as , \ery difficult to collect their accounts, but it is expected that improvement will be noticeable before very long, hut In the nipiir.rlme the extpuded terms operating arc having a detrimental effect on business. Tt>» luiu.'ujiciun that overtime Iβ being worked In some warehouses is ccrtaiuiy pvlue.. «■ of improvement, cjhlpmeuts arriving continue interesting, the Mukalla having supplied many wanteds. Competition is still In evidence, both in the wholesale and retail, ■but more care is being token to see that overhead costs are returned.

The selling of a lew iiues at cost has toeen generally Injurious to traders, forothe public, not being aware of the actual cost, look for a continuance of a price once named, and the action of one firm in startIng the ball roiling by selling a popular line of baking powder at cost soon found a geueral move by other traders to the same figure, and this price has remained ever sliu-e. so thai a line which was always looked on us a good seller with a paying return. Is now not even paying overhead expenses. Stocktakings are likely to persuade the trade that all costs must bear their proportion of overhead expenses.

■Almonds.—Advices from Palermo report that the falling exchange is having considerable influence on market quotations. Prices have receded somewhat, notwithstanding a healthy demand from the United ■States. Growers are impressed by the extremely good blossoming of the trees, and are consequently encouraged to sell their stocks, which are estimated to be about SO.OOO to -KI.OOO bags, old and uew crop. In the absence of statistical figures too matcg of stocks, production, etc., as it is a difficult task to ascertain holdings and production. There are still great dangers for the growing fruit, as a frost would be ruinous to prospects if it occurred In the blossoming period. A landing has been made this week which reflects the lower level now operating.

Filberts.—A recent arrival shows the market to have declined, and although the lucal demand Is extremely quiet, yet the low prices now being named by wholesale houses should do much to stimulate the inquiry. It Is still too early to speak of prospects for the new crop, but there are ttlll 25.000 to 30.000 bags of lairt crop yet to be disposed of.

Walnuts. —'An Improvement 1r reported in the demand, which is being met by Chinese. Stocks of local grown should soon be available, preference being given tc tflem.

Beans.—A very Drlek hueiness attaches now to this market, and as price! are much lower than obtained last season, the demand Is proportionately greater. Advices to hand report that last crops were unusually abundant, Portugal, Spain and France being big burers. Holdings Iα first hands are estimated at between 3.000 and 4,000 tons.

Essences.—Although the quality of local leaves nothing to Tie desired, yet a portion of trade is reserved for a popular hrand of English, which, however, has been in very snort supply for a considerable time, merchants believing that the high rates attaching would kill all 'business, but it has been found necessary to hold some stock, and an arrival Is notified on the Makalla now in port. The largest growing countries for essence supplies suffered considerably from drought last year, with the lemon crop resulting small, the production of lemon oil being estimated at a ninth only of last year's returns. Orange also suffered from drought, with consequent reduction in crop.

'l>a. —A conspicuous foalure at the Colombo tea sales Is the large amount of Inferior grade offerings, reports stating that quality Is Rβ poor as any that has been seen at this time of the year, when usually very good quality Is seen. Ing the drop In quality the market hns a firm tone, for while prices have eased for Inferiors It Is only In accordance with the quality. Retnllers are again he. cor buyers, quite a number availing themselves of the discounts atturhinj; to quantities. Cheap grades are upsleetfd. preference being given to the quality offerings.

Soups.—Business Is quite brisk for the numerous lines covered by this list, which ranges from tbe local and imported powder form to the Qnlehed soup ready for use in containers. An American favourite Is on the arrival list this week, "being Just in time to i-ntirh the winter demand. Large sites, suitable for caterers, are Included. All prices show lower levels than last year.

Singapore Produce.—Sago and tapioca are meeting with very brisk business, the arm nature of market influencing buyers. Pineapples continue to get a deal of attention, bnt lower rates being quoted for delivery aliont. the end of tbe present month are going to see big deliveries ex ship.

Washing Powders. — Sales are concentrated on about half n dosen favourites, one of which fcas been short of supply until an arrival was distributed at tbe beginning of this week. Health Foods. —Supplies are keeping well up to the demand, thanks to tbe advantage of a manufactory In our country, previous to which tbe position was aggravating owing to tbe uncertainty of supply, and often resulting in stocks 'being bare for weeks. Granose are growing Immensely popular, and the recent reduction has helped the move. Marmlte Is another favourite which tuts shown rapid growfh. Peanut butter Is quoting at lower rates, two or three packings now retailing at 1/. Breakfast Foods.—Arrivals from South have met a shortage and enabled all requirements to be met for the quickly prepared Hues we are" dependent on the South for. Loral oatmeals and rolled oats are meeting with big business, prices remaining unchanged. ■Rice.—The easier tendency of markets has caused merchants to reduce foldings to a price level with new offerings, consequently the new prices are making business. Evaporated 'Fruits.—Fairly heavy etocks of prunes are held, and this has resulted

In a shading of the prices lately ruling. The winter demand Is very promising, gauging by the heavy bookings being made to the retail. Apricots show rather a quiet bnslness. costs being a little od tile lilgn side. Apples and peaches both continue good sellers. Tinned Fish.— Lower priced Norwegian sardines are on the arrival list, end these are taking the business lately given to Canadian pack, but most sales are conllned to the finer quality. Herrings show a quieter *amand, althonph costs are slightly easier. Lobsters of first-clans quality are almost unobtainable on the spot. Reports from Canada are to the effect that the opening of the new season's operations tiaj ■been delayed by severe weather. Salmon stocks are on the heavy side, and this Is causing much cutting In quotations. Hardware.—Further lmprovemenT Is reported In this trade, tbe business In country districts showing a Clstlnct revival, and should good returns continue for farm products the hardware Is promised very active trade, as requirement*, owing to the lack of finance, have been allowed to set far Into arrears, not only In the building accommodations, bnt In the general necessities for farm Improvements. New York advices are a »urprl«e, reaction having occurred In American and Canadian wire goods, which ere now quoted .higher, and reported to have a very flrm tendency. POTATOES. Since last report sufficient supplies of potatoes for all requirement! of the local market have come to band. There are also plenty of potatoes arranged to be tent forward by regular shipments from the South. Reports are to the effect that recent fine weather has been experienced In tbe South, which was favourable to digging, with tbe result that potatoes are now offering freely, and prices were graded a little to clear lines. No less than 9300 sacks of potatoes

were shipped at L-yttelton for Auckland by the Wbangape and Opihl. Tbe latter vessel

also took more potatoes on board at Timarn for this port. Tbe quality of most lines of potatoes received recently from tbe South proved satisfactory, but there Is still

a percentage of very inferior potatoes which require replcklng. and are a loss to the Importer In consequence of the extra cost entailed. The general opinion appears to be that potatoes will see higher figures a little later in the year, as the area planted was smaller in the South, although the yield proved a satisfactory one. SEED POTATOES. A small inquiry has set in for seed potatoes, but It will be a month or six weeks before the principal demand begins. At the moment seed potatoes are in ratber short supply. ONIONS. The market for onions is reported extremely bare just now. Merchants have experienced considerable difficulty in securing sufficient to fullll orders received for the Island trade. It Is now reported that there is uot a great quantity of onions in the South, and the holdings at Pukekobc are now • pretty light. As v eonsequeuce. growers lv the South are now getting £5 15/ per ton for onions on truck at country stations. Under these conditions an advance in price locally may be expected In the near future. The Victorian Onion und Potato Growers' Association attempted to regulate the price of these articles, irrespective of tbe important factors of supply and demand. It fixe.l the price of Brown Spanish onions at £8 per ton. It was stated that price was reqniie'l to cover cost of production and allow a fair margin of profit to the grower. Rarly lv March, uowever, supplies increased, and. n< the local market could not absorb alt tbat was offering, prices began to ease. The Association, however, placed a lot of ouions in store. boldin K for £8 per ton when the market huyliiß was 20 y under that figure. More recently, in tbe open market in Melbourne. Brown Spanish which is a blc drop on the t'S aske.l and the £7 per ton offered. MAIZE.

Owing to arrivals of maize having been smaller the market is a shade firmer this week. So far, however, the consumption shows no sign of increase, owing to the larce quantity of fowl wheat offering. A little later In tbe winter a stronger demand for maize should set in. WHEAT. The first increment of three farthings per bushel In the price of milling wheat occurred on May 1. under the Government control of price of thnt grain. Naturally millers secured ample supplies beforehand. The opinion was expressed by a Southern grain merchant thnt the millers bnd already bought as much wheat as they bad secured of a shortage. FOWL WHEAT. Ample supplies of fowl wheat arc offprine from the South, as millers have rejected many lines of cram as not beinr up to the standard required. There is no danger of nnv shortage this year of either milling or fowl wheat. As shipments of fowl wheat are coming reeularly from the Soutli most of it is sold for delivery from ship's side. OATS. (Srowers in the Soutli still maintain firm in their demand for full prices for oats, but comparatively little business is lielns done. Locally the 'consumption of out* continues small, but a better demand should set in

with the wet season. Supplies coming to | hand are equal to all requirements. The I position Is that a large portion of the Southland crop was damaged during harvesting operations, when the weather wns unfavourable. This might have caused the market to linn, were it not for the fact that the drought having broken in Australia ' it is considered likely thßt oats bought In New Zealand with a view to export to Sydney may have to he marketed in the Dominion after all. Good dark Dun oats are reported to be in demand in the South at 2/10 per bushel at country stations, and light Duns at from 2/3 to 2/6 on truck. SEED OATS. ; A little inquiry has set in for seed oats, but the main sowing will not take place for h couple of months yet. Macliitie dressed clipped seed oats aredlfficult to procure of pood quality, as the bulk of the lines offering is of inferior grade at present. i GRAIN AND CLOVER SEEDS.

Cocksfoot and ryegrass seed are reported | quiet at late rates In the South. As the j result of a fairly keen iuquiry for red i and clover seeds down soutlrfSprlees have firmed. For linseed buyers are offering ill per ton. hut growers do not appear willing to accept that price. CHAl'l". \ A steamer arrived* .'at Onehunga from Ptcton since last report with supplies of chaff, which was sold ahead for delivery from ship's side. Heavy stocks of inferior chaff held locally are at present difficult to sell, feeders preferring to pay a higher figure for the better quality. A report from Lyttelton states that the market for chaff Iβ very dull, as local merchants cannot compete for the "North Island trade against Plcto'ii sellers at £4 15/ f.0.b., sacks In. The rates at present ruling for chaff are stated to be under the actual cost of production, i Local chaff Is offering freely, but meets '■

with little demand. . EGGS. The retail price of eggs still remain* at 3/4 per ilosipii. In Canterbury prices arc under the Auckland quotations just now. ruling at 2/6 for firsts and 2/4 for seconds per dozen wholesale. WHOLESALE CUWREXT rRITES. Farm rni'l Dairy Produce. — Crpninpry Gutter 1/5 per lb for prompt cash: farmers , separator. 10d to lid n<-r 11); cheese, first grade factory, medium size, lOd to lid per )li. export size lOJri per lb; loaf nine, 1/2 per In: bains. 11<1 to 1/ per lb npt; bacon, lid to 1/ per IT> net: lard, bulk lid, pate 1/2: honey, prime grade. 10d : eggs, 2/10 per doeen wholeeale. Flonr. £19 15/, loss dUcount of 2} per cent per ton. In 2001h snek*: ebarpsi. £0 10/: tran, £6 10/; oatmeal, 25 - s. £27 per Jton. . . Grain.—Oete, A (trade. 4/8 to 4/10 per bushel, ex store: Algerian sped oats. 6/; maize. 4/B per bushel, wholesale Uneß. el wharf: fowl whent. 6/9 to 7/ d<t bnshel. Chaff.—ißeet Southern, £9 to £0 10/. Onioni.—l2/ per cwt. ex store. Potatoes.—Beet quality, £8 10/ to £8 per ton, ex Rtore.

DUMPING DUTY. The Customs Department has decided Dot to charge dumping duty in future on goods Imported from Australia containing Rugrar u*ed either in the manufacture of canned fruits, jam. or other articles. The duty was charged formerly under the idea that bounty sugar was used liy the manuthat the price for sugar in Australia is above the figures ruling outside the Commonwealth. CONTROL OF COMMODITIES. Gradually but none the less surely the Government control of commodities which was inaugurated during the war, is being removed. Already control has terminated in respect to the prices of timber and cement. Control of sugar censes in a few weeks, but prices will require to be regulated until stocks are cleared. Farmers have been notified that the price of next season's crop of wheat will not be guaranteed by, the State, but the Government will havp to market the surplus for this season IJnder the tariff passed it is considered New Zealand growers are amply protected OX 'CHANGE.

Prices for many lines Improve*! on 'Change since last report.. This Indicate* an abundance of money available for investment, seeing thnt Government loans are selling at much hielier figures than was the case earlier in the year. A writer In the Timaru -'Posf suggests that i the recent nucc-ess-fu] flotation of loans not only in London but also in New Zealand polijte to an abundance of money, and nhould lead to a reduction in the rate of I Interest. Should that take place It will | result in more investment in frilt-edjred j secnrltles on "Change. Since last report Ihnyers of Bank of Sew South Wales advanced their offers to £36 15/. p. and O. Bank shares aleo firmed 5/. Commercial ' Banks could tie placed at 32/. and National i Banks sold up to £6. Transactions took I place in Bank of New Zealand shares at I 52/. and TJnion Banks are wanted at £13 '• 17/6. Insurance shares also firmed this I week. South Brltleh selling at 34D New ! Zealands at 29/, while Nationals could be placed at 60/8. and Standards at 53. a rise In each line. Hnddart-Parker Steam, after being transferred at 43,0. were Inquired for at «•/ yesterday afternoon. P. and 0. Deferred stock are easier, sellers being willing to accept £325. and sales being made at £3GI during the week. Auckland Trams firmed yesterday, ordinary etock selling at 1679, whUe 17/2 was offered for the preference issue. Merediths. Ltd., changed banda as low as u/6. Takapuna Tram and Ferry shares Improved 6d, being now wanted at 13/e. Wilsons Cement maintained the recent advance, several times being sold at 17/8. Mulr's Reefs are now offered at ±7/6, aa against 60/ a week ago. Walhi shares were placed at the third call yesterday at with no quoted seller. Government War Loans continue to firm in price. Soldiers' Loan of 5i per cent could now be placed at £BT 12/6 and 5 per cent at £9i 5,'. and for inscribed issne £W 10/ was offered yesterday afternoon. The 1988-1889 loans of 4} per cent conld 'be placed at £02. and sales were made at 4/6 advance upon that figure. City of Auckland 5J per cent debenture* are wanted at £83.

' AUCKLAND STOCK SALES. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile We held sales of dairy and store cattle during the past week at Westfleld, Kaukapakapa and Papakura. The yardlngs were large, and we report a better tone in the store cattle market. Springers are selling at late quotations. There Is an improved demand for dairy heifers. We quote: Springers, best £10 to £16. others £6 to £ft 10': aged cowe- and inferior heifers £1 10,' to £G: dairy ueifers. best £3 5/ to £7 IV. others £3 to £5 2/6; bulls, 10/ to £2 10.', according to weight; empty cows, 15' to £1 10.■; calves, best 17/ to £1 s', others 9/ to 10/; yeaning to 18-months steers £1 7.'6 to £1 13/; 2 to 2}-year steers, £1 17 6 to £2 12,6; 3 to 3J-year steers, £2 17/6 to £3 15/; 4-year steers, £3 17 '6 to £4 G. ; yearling to 18-month heifers, empty, £1 if to £2 5.'; an odd pen of Jerseys, £2 15/ to £3 10/; breeding ewes, f.f.m. It/ to m 6; f.m. ewes, 30/ to 136; store lambi, 9/ to 13/6; store wethers, Iβ.'6 to lfl>/e. J WESTFII&D FAT STOCK. I The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile ! At Weetfleld fat etock market on Wednesday beef was peuned in average numbers. Competition ni steady throughout. late values ruling. We quote: —Extra choice oxen to 24/ per IOOIti. choice and prime oien H>/ to 23/ per 1001b, rough and plain oxen 14/ to 18/ per 1001b; young cow and heifer beef 10/ to 10/ per 1001b, other cow beef Vl' to 15/ per 1001b; estra heavy prime steers £» 15/ to £10 17 6, heavy prime eteers if. ,y to £!) 10 . medium prime steers fO 17/G to £8 7/6, light prime fcteers £"> 10/ to i<s 17/0. sinnll and uußnished steers £3 10/ to £5 7/6; young cows and heifers £3 37/6 to ' £n, other cows £2 5/ to £3 15/; bulls 15/ to

£1 10/ i Inferior and poor cows 10/ to £1 17/6. Sheep were penued in scarcely average numbers. Competition was very keen, prices again advancing 2/6 to .'I per head. We quote: Extra heavy prime wethers £1 14/6 to £1 111/, for a pen of wethers fatted by Mr. James Douglas, I'uUekol-e: heavy prime wethers £1 10/0 to £1 14/0. ' medium prime wethers £1 8/e to £1 10 ft. light prime wethers £1 0/ to £1 8 !!, small iiud unfinished wethers fl 1/0 to £1 5,!>. Kxtra heavy prime ewes soM to £1 12 B. also for n pen fatted by Mr. James Douglas, heavy prime ewes £1 7/ to £1 8/i>, medium ewes £1 ;i to £1 iV, unfinished and inferior ewes 18/6 (o £1 1/!). Lambs were penned in average numbers and sold at late quotations. Heavy prime lanri>s £1 IS 0 to £1 <S . medium prime £1 to tl 3/6. light prime 17' to 10/9. store (best) 13/ to 10 T>. otners 11/3 to 12,1>. Calves fame forward in iarcc/iminbers and declined in prices. Runners, £J to £X s'. heavy ve.ilers £2 3' to £2 10. medium vealers t'l 15/ to £2 2/, light vcalers £1 Tito £2. smaller 10/ Io in', small and fresh dropped 4/ to ft/. I'lprs were penned In large numbers, selling under steady com , petition at improved prices. Choppers £2 10/ to £! 1/. heavy baconers £3 10/ to £} 16. medium haconers £M to £3 9/. light baconers and heavy porkers £2 16' to £3. medium porkers £2 "' to £2 15/, licht porkers £1 IB to £2 4 '. slips 15/ to £1 ii/, weaners 6/ to 14 '.

I Messrs. Daleety and Co. report as follows: : Beef.—A large yarding. Prices were about the same as last week, t'hiilee prime ox made up to 21/ per HX)H); prime. 20 to 22': plain. 17/ fh 111,'. Prime cow ami heifer. 17 to 18,; aged, down to 12/. 1 Sheep.—A small yarding. 1 'rices were up wetbers up to 39/; prime, 27 ' to medium. 23/ to 26/0; light, 22/6: prlnia ewes, up to 30/; medium 2:i' to 21!': light. is/c. Calves.—A very heavy yarding. Trices showed little alteration from l.ist week. Host, up to £2 "i; ordinary good. 30.' to £2: lighter, 25/: fresb dropped. r>/ to 8/. Pigs. — A heavy yarding. Prices were about the aame us last week. Baconers, l'\ to £3 10'; choppers. £2 3/ to £2 15/; porkers. !!5' to £2 12/. Lamb.—A small yarding. Prices were v 1 shade better. Best, up to 20/ ; good. ID/ to 22 ; light, 14/ to Iβ■'.

] Alfred Buckland and Sour, report: — i Yesterday, at our weekly Westfleld fat dtock market, we s.ild fat cattle to the nuuiAer of Mβ bead, comprising SSTi dicers, l.'i" cows, and heifers, and four hulls. There I ".is a keeti demand throughout, with value , * 'flrin at last weeks ijiiolutl'Jns. Extra cuol.-e lox sold to £1 S.-'fl) choice and prime. £1 to IX 2 0: ordinary and plain. 16/ to ly. ; prime youns cow iii.J Ueifcr beef. 17 to £1; other cow beef. 13/ to 16,: rough beef, 7 to 12 : extra heavy .steers to £10 17 8: heavy prime steers ranged In price from £i> to £H>; lighter prime, £7 13/ to £8 15/: prime, ffi to £7 10/; small and unfinished, £.'! to £•> I.V extra heavy prime young cotvs and u.-lfer*. £0 to £7; heavy fat cows and heifers. £4 10 to £5 15/s lighter. £3 10/ to £4 r> ; other cows, £1 5/ to £3 5/. The highest averages for steer* were: 13 from Mr. Benjamin Kee«l, iWaerenga. £!» 4/8; If) from Mr. C. G. Robert;son. Otaua, £8 W/4: 39 from the North, £S .V;

Iβ from Mr. Jos. McNleol. Te Arohn. £3 2/6; 8 ex Akii Aka. £7 6 3; 2\ ex Wnlkuto. £7 4 7; 8 cows same consignment, £."> 10 2; IK from Mr. Gp.o. I'roctor. Orlni. £7 II; 17 from Mrs. A. Mulr, sen.. Mangere. £7 ?,V: H from Mr. Alex. Bell, Pokeno. £6 19/.T: Xi from Mr. VT. Stretton. Waltakaruru. £« 18,4; 9 from Hoteo, £0 13/: 7 from Mr. D. Sinclair. Ongarue, £<1 H'3; 8 from Mr. J. Mc In tyre. Te Hoe. £<! 12/6; 9 from Mr. Henry Bayly, Tiran. £B 10/: 37 from ilr. Jno. Ambury. Roiipo, £6 46: 14 from Mr. J. B. .7t;<M. AVaitnkaruni. £J 105: 1C from Menu*. Hnrn

and Parker, Okabukura, £5 16/10; 10 cows ex Walkato £4 19/; 9 cows from Messrs. May Brew., Ohaupo. £4 16/4; 23 cows from Mrs. M Fleming, Tanmure, £4 12/10; 9 from Mr. , .T. M. Leight Matanuku, £4 5/10. jheep came forward in iucreased numbers. Ihere was again a keen demand, and all classes met with a further advance in values. Heavy prime wethers sold at from £1 9' to £1 13/ (uo extra heavy prime wethers came forward): me«ium to heavy prime. £1 6/tf to £1 B".t- light prime, £1 4/ to £1 0/; unfinished wethers. £1 to £1 4/: heavy primes ewee £1 6/ to £1 S.'H; lighter ewes. £1 4/ to £1 5/0- light ewes, 19-' to £1 S/; other ewes, 18/ to 18/ (1726 sold). The 511 lamhs which were penned also sold freely, ruling prices being easllv sustained. Extra heavy £1 8/ to £1 10/, heavy £1 5/ to £1 7. lighter £1 1/ to £1 4 light 18/ to £1; unfinished 14/ to 13/6; store*. 73 to 13/fi. Fat ami y.mujr ■r-alvee were again penned in large numbers. The demand was leas keen and values were lower for all classes. Runners made from £2 5/ to f4; heavy vealers £2 2/ to £2 15/. iiedlum £1 13-' to £2 1/, light IS/ to £1 10/ i small and fresh dropped. 4/ tv 14.' (210 eolii). Fat pigs were yarded in record numbers. Competition was* etead- and values receded slightly on last report. Store pies were dull of sale. Chopper, £1 lit/ to £2 15/: heavy '. beconere £H 2,<S to £'■'. 10,'; medium baconers, £2 14' to £2 17/fi; heavy porkers to light baconere, £2 S/ to £2 12/fl: light to medium porlsers £1 1"' to £-' unfinished porkers, fl to fl 5/; Slips, large 10/ to 15/; weaneM, C to 10/ (079 sold). ! During the week we held saleii at WestOeld anil Waltakaruru. There were average vardlnge nt e«ch place, and values were unchanged. Kest dairy cows and neifert brought' from £11 to £17. xood £7 10/ to £10 10.' aged and Inferior £1 to £4 10/: empty cowb, 10/ to fl 13/; three to foui-year-old steers. £3 to £4 1 : yearling to two-vear-old steers, £1 1/ to £:; %/; 18 months to iij-yeai-old in calf heifers, £3 10/ to £0 16/; ,bni:». 10/ to £1 V.

ADDIXGTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. At the Addington market there were heavy yard Ings of all sections of stock, par-tk-ularfy fat sheep. Store Sheep.—A large yarding for thle time of the year. A better class of ewes came forward, and with wethers. sold freely. Forwiird lamlis made lo'fl to 17/, good 13'tf to wa. medium 11/ to 13 3, small »,' to 1(>8. cull 0/ to ST>; good half■bred ewe lambs 19.'; good 4 and fetooth ewes. 2<> 8: goort 4 nnd frtooth hnlf-bred ewes, 22 0 to 24 H; orrtinnry 4. 6. and Btootli ewes 14.1) to 15, , : Inferior and low-i-oudltlolieil. K> to 14. -sound and fniling mouthed. I.'!' to I*V: good forward 4 and β-tooth wethers to 21 7. ordinary 12 0 to 17 6: B and ,S-!ooth wethers. 136 to 17'; forward 2-tooth wethers 172, ordinary 13/ to lGt 3.

Fat Lamb*.—A yarding or 0430, compared Willi GB(K> lilßt week. The bulk were only moderately finished. There was a weakening throughout, values averaging about 8d per lb. Extra prime lambs made 2i>,6 to 31 3 prime 22 6 t» 2f> 3. medium 1H,"9 to 223. light and inferior 16/ to 10 6. Fut Sheep. —An exceptionally heavy yarding. Values for pood mutton w«?re maintained until near the finish, when prices slipped back, but light million was weaker. Extra prime wethers. 28' to WS. prime 23. to 2Oe. medium 2(>' to 22'f>. light ie/0 to Ifl fl: extra prime ewes 23 6 to 27 ', prime 19/6 to SB'S, medium 1." to in/, lichter 11/0 to 14>6. old and inferior »' to 10. ti. 15 per head Secondary were unaltered. Extra prime steers £14 10' to £16 15/. prime AHO 10' to £14 5/, medium £7 12/6 to £10 V light and Inferior £4 15/ to £7 5/: extrn prime teifers. £8 10' to £13 15/. prime £6 to £S 0/, ordinary £4 10/ to £5 15 ; primp cows £o to £7 12.0, ordinary £S 5/ to £4 15/. Veßlers—(Jood calves sold well, but not up to lait weeks rates. (dinners. £4 16'; good vealers. £3 f>' to £4 R', medium £1 10' to £2: small calves. 4.' and upwards. Store Cattle. A large entry and a much better sale. Four-year etcers £7 1/. 3-year £4 12/ C to £.". 2-year £2 10/ to £3. yesr.ling £1 S to £1 12': 2-year heifers £5 6/, 18-month £4 IV. small £2 IS' to £3 .V. Dairy Cattle Cows, just calved or about to calve were in demand. Etttra good second and third calvere £11 to £1S 10.'. good £8 10/ to £13: good springing heifers, £8; cows, just calved or about to calve, i:s fo £13; aged and Inferior cows, 15/ to sale. Choppers. £1 10/ to £r> 14/; light bai-oners £.'> 10 to £4. heavy £4 5/ to £f>, extra heavy £.1 11': average price per lb, 6Jd to 7d:'llglit porkers 4C\' to s<>/. heavy r.'2 6 lo 67'; average price per lb 9d to od.

Store Pigs—Medium stores. £1 12/ to £1 1f» . small 10/ to £1 10 , weanere 7/ to »/.