AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5679, 30 November 1883, Page 2

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

Mks-rs H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market, &c., for the week ending Thursday, November 29th, 1883, as follows: —For yesterday's sale at Addington an average, supply of stock came to hand, mutton, beef, and store sheep being well represented, with store cattle in somewhat reduced numbers. The fact of shearing being' now general with fanners and small sheep owners, accounts for the fact that a large share of the day's entry came through second hands, though the quality was, with few exceptions, ill that could be desired, most of the lines being out of the wool. In value there was considerableirregularity, the opening being marked by a feeling of hesitation on the part of the " trade." and, as a result, several lots were withdrawn. Despite the discouraging news re the Doric's shipment of meat in the home market, there were buyers present with engagements to fill, and several of the best lines of mutton were secured for export purposes, thus for a time giving a tone to the day's sale, whichit would not otherwise have had, 15s 6d, 16s to 17s 3d being paid for some of the most suitable lines on our catalogue. With this outside relief local competition' for a time became somewhat brisker, and in a few instances late values were fully upheld. Towardsthe close dullness again prevailed, and the general summary of the day's transactions in fat sheep must be—*" a decline of Is per head in values for any but the choicest lines." As specialities of our entry we effected sales in shorn crossbreds for the following owners. Account Messrs Campbell and Co., Bellfield, at 15s 6d,for Mr B. Wilson at 17s 3d, for Mr J. Judge at 13s to 15s 6d, ! for Mr Mathias at 133 6d, account Mr Mason at 12s 9d, account Messrs Trent Bros. 2-tooths at 13s, and for Mr Fessey ewes at lis Od, equal to a quotation of from 2id to 2f d per lb out of the wool, shorn 3d to 3id. In store sheep there was a better class on offer than for some weeks past, a line of well-grown shorn --tooths, another superior lot of wooßy 4 and 6-tooth crossbred wethers, and several lines of merino ewes and lambs, making up the entry. The rapid growth of feed during the last ten days brought more buyers into the market, and nearly everything in the shape of store stock was sold—the woolly crossbreds and shorn --tooths above-mentioned {offered by other firmß realising 15s 9d to 16s lOd and lis 6d respectively. Of our own numbers we placed about 1000 merino couples at from 9s 6d to 10s 3d, and a few small lots of dry sheep at proportionate rates. With fat lambs the market was rather overdone, and as a consequence prices ruled Is per head under late rates—Bs for inferior lots to lis 6d for the best pens, being the ruling prices. The beef sale in point of competition was the slackest that we have experienced for many weeks, most of the trade being evidently filled prior to the commencement of the auction. Several lots of good cattle were turned out unsold, and we cannot quote higher than 22s to 24s per lOOlbs as the current rates for the day. _ In stores there was rather a keener enquiry, most of the better sorts being placed either privately or at auction during the day. Pigs made a larger entry than usual, plenty of competition with higher rates being the order of the day. The totals yarded for the day comprised-—738. sheep, 370 head of cattle, and 233 pigs, of which our entry included 2285 sheep, 236 fat lambs, 192 head of cattle, and 76 pigs, for Messrs Trent Bros., W. L. Allan (Acton), L. Mathias, Mason, Jas. Kinley, Campbell and Co., J. Judge, Jno. Overton, Gould and Cameron, J. B. Fessey, H. J. Shepherd, Jno. Davis, E. Garr, C. G. Scott, E. Wilson, Jno. O'Neil, M. Hogen, J. Andrews, T. Owens, K. Magow, T. S; Kelly, A. Bainton, T. Green, Jno. Tomes, Jno. Fergusson, T. Tubman, Jno. Fergusson, F. Birdling, Mr FergussonJ (Lansdown), W. Hocking, P. Marrion, J. Preece. W. Caycell/W. Gilmour, Tuft Bros., F. Delamain, T. Claridge, J. Johns, F. Redmond, R. Haskett, T. Dench, J. Heinzmann, G. C. Smith, J. Mangle, Thos. Boyd, J. Tait, J. Morrison W. Allen, C. Frazer, W. Saville. Jackson, Jno. Wright, A. Maher, C. Vigors, F. McFadden, Jno. Ronntree, and others. In fat sheep our principal sales were —Shorn crossbreds, 140 at 13s, 101 at 12s 9d, 40 at 13s 6d, 55 at 15s 6d, 112 at 15s 6d. 40 at 12s 6d, 153 ewes at lis 6d, 84 at 17s 3d, 90 at 14s 9d, 78 at 13s 9d, 44 cull merino wethers at 7s 6d. Stores—loo aged crossbred ewea out of the wool at 8s 9d, 343 aged merino in the wool, with 40 per cent, lambs at foot, at 10s 3d ; 220 do, with 50 per cent, lambs, 9s 6d; 287 do, with 60 per cent, lambs, at 10s ; 80 dry merino ewes at 5s 6d. Fat Cattle—Steers from £6 to £8, cows and heifers equal to quotations as above. Stores —Two to three year old steers £4 to £5 ss, eighteen months to two-year-old, mixed sexes, 40s to 60s; yearlings, 153 to 30s. In fat lamb 3 we cleared our entry as under— 14s at 10s 6d, 15 at 9- 6d, 21 at Bs, 18 at 9s 6d, 10 at 9a, 19 at 10s, 31 at lis 3d, 20 at 10s, 12 at 9s, 16 at 7s 6d, 15 at 103,15 at 9s 6d. 12 at 10s. Pigs—2o at 40s, 10 at 343, 7 at 32s 6d, 9 at 355, 10 at 19s, 4 at 425, 5 at 375, &c. Canterbury Horse Market—For our last Saturday's sale at TattersalTs we catai logued the largest entry of the past twelvemonths, between 150 and 160 horses being submitted during the day. The usual representatives of the trade were present, together with a fair mustering of outside and about half the entry changed nanus at-prices as per description. In ue ** there is no improvement to report, £?.JKS*.."Sales are beinsr made at prices more , m faTor of buyers, with a fair &££&£* thoß , e te J ms - Of our entry on £^_~-__ re Plaoed draught and plough 1 to jflS^iSK? f 2O to £- 7 * ord__a-ys?2-_ •to^-l?lwS-l Un -f ok J ! ? draught colts £12 . * to __*0. lighter sorts JJ3 to J_lo. ud to -215 for well bred upstanding hackcoUs. On the

whole, though prices were low, we report a satisfactory sale and a clearance of a good proportion of our lots. _ „ , Wool, Sheepskins, Hideß, Tallow, and Rough Fat.—The wool sales of this week have passed off fairly satisfactory, about £22,000 worth having changed hands, 1 though at less rates than our growers have been in the habit of receiving, yet the rates given and taken are justified by the late London sales. A full report lumng already appeared it is unnecessary for us to refer further than to give the name of Mr Leigh, of Springston, as the owner of the highest priced crossbred at the opening sales viz., Bjd per lb. At our stores we catalogued 260 bags of wool, 3296 sheepskins, lambskins and pelts, 170 ox-hides, 138 bags of rough fat, and several casks or tallow of various qualities. Every line in our catalogue was cleared at, for wool in bags, id to 2£d, and up to 7d per lb. Butchers' merino skins, 43, 43 6d, ss, to 5s 5d each; crossbred, 43,4s 4d. 4s lOd, to 5s each. Lambskins, 4d, Bd, 9d, lOd each. Pelts, 4d, Bd, lOd, to lid each. Country skins sold well at about Late rates. Bough fat, 2d, 2id, 23rd, 2_d per lb. Cask tallow, 24s to 28s per cwt. Ox hides, 3,d, 3id, 3id per lb; calf do, do. Land and Properties—No transactions of any importance have taken place during the week. Suburban sections are selling at fair rates, while good farms are still in demand, especially farms from 150 to 200 to lease, of which a number could easily be placed at once. Houses of five and six rooms within the belt are constantly enquired for, and will easily le; at fair rentals.

Messrs Miles and Co. (per J. T. Ford), report on the Addington Yards stock sales as follows:—A fair supply of both fat and store sheep penned. At the opening of the sale 3 the biddings for fat sheep were languid, and several lots were withdrawn, but these were afterwards sold privately. As the auction sales progressed a few lines were bought for freezing purposes, which helped to raise prices, so that on the whole there was no material decline from previous quotations, but it is evident that when sheep are not wanted for export values will recede. Prime crossbred wethers (shorn) sold at from 15s to 18s, and crossbred wethers and maiden ewes in wool at from 183 to 2ls; light crossbred wethers and ewes at from lis 6d to 15s each; fat merino wethers in wool from 12s 6d to 15s each; shorn do from 7s6dtolos6deach. A large line of crossbred 4 and 5-tooth ewes and wethers, first-class stores in wool, brought from 15s 9d to 16s 6d; and shorn merino wethers, stores, sold at 6s 3d each. Fat lambs, of which there were a large entry, sold at from 7s 6d to lis 3d each. Fat cattle, a moderate entry (but quite sufficient for requirements), met a dragging sale throughout, with a slight decline on former rates. Store cattle—A somewhat lighter entry, and the demand more brisk, but prices about the same. Pigs—A large number brought forward. Large bacon pigs selling at from £2 to £2 10s; porkers, at from 24s to 37s 6d; stores, at from 13s to 235. We quote mutton in wool at 3id per lb; shorn, at from 2d to 3d per lb, according to quality. Beef, from 20a to 23s per 1001b. The total numbers of stock yarded were 7384 sheep, 370 head of cattle, and 233 pigs. Our entrieß were on account of the Lowcliffe Estate, Messrs Lee and Co., T. Robinson, J. Hart, J. Brabazon, M. Studholme, W. B. Clarkson, H. Smith, J. Kinley, J. T. Ford, W. C. Webb, J. Haydon, and others. Privately during' the week we have sold 700 sheep for freezing at prices equal to above quotations. Wool.—We held our first wool sale on Tuesday, 27th inst., when we submitted about 600~bales. There was a large attendance of local buyers, and competition was fairly brisk at prices from Id to l.d lower than last seasons. A full report of prices realised appeared in Wednesday morning's "Times" and Pbess. Our next sale will be held about 18th December, when we expect to catalogue a far larger number of bales. Sheepskins, Hides, Fat, Tallow, AcOwing to the late hour at which our weekly sale of skins, &c, was concluded, we are compelled to hold over our report until Saturday.

Messes C. Newton* and Son report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, the 29th of November, as follows :—At the Addington sale yards yesterday, 7384 sheep, 370 head of cattle, and 233 pigs were yarded for the week's supply. In tat sheep there was a fair entry, the quality taking it all through being very good, prices ruled a shade lower than last week, merino wethers in their wool especiaßy being difficult to quit. We notice that shorn sheep are selling a good deal bettor in proportion than woollys, butchers not taking the skins into much consideration. In store sheep there was a medium entry, and good competition for.anything like quality. A line of four and six-tooth crossbreds, mixed, in their wool, brings 16s lOd each; a line of shorn crossbred ewes with lambs sold at 15s each, and a line of well-grown shorn hoggets sold at lis 6d each. In fat cattle there waa a small entry, and biddings were anything but brisk. In store cattle there was a light entry; for well-grown steers, three years old, there is a good -demand, but for yearlings and eighteen months' old cattle there is very little. A nice line of four-year-old steers in good condition sold at £6 2a 6d. The greater part of the smaller cattle were passed in unsold. In pigs there was a large entry, good porkers bringing from 30s to £2 each, and smaller pigs in proportion. Our entries for the day were on account of Messrs J. Fantham, Allan, Derrett, Watson, Aitken, Sutherland, McKay, Brake, and others. On account of Mr Watson we sold a line of shorn cro.sbred ewes with lambs at 15s each. On account of Mr Joseph Fantham we aold fat lambs at 9s each. On account of a client we sold merinos in their wool at 14s 6d each. On account of another client we sold shorn crossbred ewes at 13s- 3d each, and shorn merino wethers at 10s 6d each. On account of Mr Aitken we sold a nice line of porkers at 30s each ; also, on account of Mr Derrett we sold larger pigs at 37s each. These were our principal sales for the day. Privately during the week we have sold on account of a client 60 head of two and three-year-old steers at £4 123 6d each.

Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co. report:—At the Addington yards on Wednesday, 73?4 sheep and 370 head of cattle came forward. Fat sheep—The supply was fully equal to the requirements of the trade, the quality of which was above the average. Prime wethera, shorn, sold readily at from 2_d to 2.d per lb; ditto, in the wool, at 3Jd per lb. There was an over-supply of fat lambs, for which'description the sale dragged, and late prices were barely maintained. Stores, met the usual keen competition as experienced for some months past. A special line of crossbreds in the wool realised from 15b 9d to 168 lOd. Fat cattle—A moderate supply offered, and late quotations barely reached. We sold, on account of Mr S. Buxton, of Rangitata, an even line of shorn crossbred wethers fit for freezing purposes at 15a 3d each; on account of Messrs Inwood Bros., of Southbridge, a draft of prime shorn ewes at 163 6d; account of various owners, crossbred wethers (in wool), at 17s 6d and 18s; fat lambs, from B_6d to 9s 9dj fat cows, from £5 to £& 5s j ditto, calves, to- 16s/ Sheepskins, Hides, Fat, &c.—We held our usual weekly sale on Thursday, when we catalogued 2178 sheepskins, 60* bags fat, and 53 hides. There was amarked improvement in the prices for skins compared with last week's rates. Our highest price realised was for a heavy line of Mr H. 18. Lane's crossbreds which reached 5s 4d, and the top price for butcher-,' merinos was 5s for Mr W. H. Cooper's line. We sold country merinos Is lOd, 2s 6d, 3s 6d, 4s, 4s 7d to 5s Id; country crossbreds, Is 9d, 2s 6d, 2s 9d, 3s Bd, 3s lid to 4s Id. Butcher's merinos, 4s, 4s 8d to ss; butcher's crossbreds, 4s, 4s sd, 4s 9d to 5s 4d,- lambskins,. 7d to Is; butcher's pelts, 3d to lOd. Fat we disposed at from 2d np to 2|d per lb, all the lots offered commanding keen competition. Hides, green, 3|d; wet salted, 3_d; dry salted. 3Jd- cut and damaged, 2id- calfskins, 3|d per lb.

Mbssrs H. Bknn-tts aud Co. report as follows:—The Addington Yards on Wednesday were well supplied with stock, and the attendance of buyers was quite an average one. In the fat stock markets business was only middling, and the store markets were hardly what might be looked for, considering the abundance of feed, andthe prospects before graziers and breeders. The fat sheep were on the whole of very fair quality, the greater part shorn. The sales opened, and continued for some time, very dull, and salesmen withdrew the first few lines. On coming tithe first lot of extra quality, buyers for export operated, and values rose instantly, were sustained for a time, only to drag again towards the end. In such an up and down market it would be difficult to quote the price paid per lb. Buyers for freezing paid quite 2|d per lb for shorn crossbreds - local buyers obtaining their supplies from 2£dto2_d. Sales were as follows:—From 13s 3d to 18a 6d for shorn crossbreds; shorn merino, 9a 6d to 10s 6d; merino in the wool, 128 6d to 133 9d; ditto crossbreds, 18s 3d. In the store sheep business waa moderately good, and the following sales were effected: —A line of 800 mixed sexes 4 and 6-tooth crossbreds at 16s lOd ,* a line

of 600 shorn hoggets at lls6d; a line of 500 full-mouthed shorn merino wethers at 6s 3d; merino ewes and lambs at 93 6d, 10s, and 10s 6d. The fat lamb market was well supplied, and sales were made to a good demand at from 8s 6d to 12s. Pigs, both fat and store, were sent forward in Large numbers, and met with a fair sale; porkers from 22s to 37s 6d; stores, 14s 6d to 245. Fat cattle—Only a moderate snpply; enquiry very dull at a reduction on last quoted rates, from 17s 6d to 23s 6d per 100 lbs as per quality. The store cattle market was not bo full as of late, and the enquiry was a shade more active. The total entries for the day 7384 sheep, 370 head of cattle, 233 pigs. Our sale 3 were on account of Messrs A . PoweU, M. Barrett, S. Casson, F. Davis, C. Buckley, H. Hoft, J. E. Bashford, J. Lester, H. Neill, J. Fergusson, B. Simmons, G. Vinsen, A. Chick, H. Gabites, J. Murphy, A. F. Bennetts, Bennetts Bros., and others, and our principal sales were fat sheep at 143 3d and 14s 9d; 600 shorn hoggets at lis 6d; 500 merino wethers at 6s 3d ; fat cattle at .£6 ss, £6 17s 6d, £7 ss, and £i 10a; lines of young cattle at £1 9s 6d, £1 17s 6d, £2 2s 6d, J62 7s 6d, £3 ss, and £4 7s 6d. Wool, Sheepskins, Fat, Hides, Tallow, &c. —Our usual weekly sale of the above took place to-day, and attracted a large attendance of fellmongers and wool buyers. Prices for all kinds of skins were about on a par with last quoted rates, an exception being made to two lines of extra superior merino skins, on account of Mr John Mann, and which after keen competition, were knocked down at 6s 9d and 6s respectively, the highest price we believe obtained for butchers' skins this year. They were however cheap at the money, considering that for weight, density, and fineness they could not be surpassed; our other consignments sold at 43 3d, 43 6d and 4s lOd; crossbreds, 3s lis, 4s, 43 3d, 4s sd, 4s 7d and 4s 9d; pelts 8d to Is, lambskins 9d to Is 3d, and various lines of wool we quitted at 7d and 7fd merino, crossbred 6d, 6_d, and 6jd per lb. Fat and tallow —We offered a heavy entry, which was cleared at 2s Bd, 2id, 2sd, 2Jd, 2sd per lb. Hides unsold. Poultry and Produce—A large entry of poultry of every description came to our yards on Saturday last, a special feature of the day being various lines of ducklings and goslings. These were keenly competed for, the former fetching from 5s 6d to 6s 9d per pair, the latter 7s to 8s 6d; best table fowls went from 339 dto 4s9d perpair; medium, 2s 9d to 3s 3d; ducks, 5s to 6s. Derwent potatoes are selling at from 30s to 40s per ton. Chickwheat, cheese, &c, at about last sales. Brown and Baibd's weekly report of sales held at their Lichfield street Saleyards and auction rooms: — Horses — A •rood entry at prices varying from £3, £7, to .£l2 10s. Pigs — A very large number yarded; late high prices fully maintained, with a brisk demand. All sold at following prices: — Suckers, 9s 6d to lis 6d; weaners and porkers, 12s 6d to 18s; stores, 21a to 36a; sows, 30s to 50s. Poultry—ln fair supply, and sold readily at, for good table fowls, 33 9d to 43 6d per pair; inferior birds, 2s 9d to 3a 6d per pair; black Spanish (pure breed), 10s per pair; Houdans, 5s per pair; Cochins, 7s 6d per pair; ducks, 43 6d to 4s 9d per pair; turkeys, 9s 6d per pair; geese, 7s 6d per pair. Several lots of hens with chickens and ducklings sold well. Pigeons, Is 9d per pair. Calves—A large number offered, and all sold. Good calves brought prices from 4s, 6s, Bs, 9s 6d to lis. Produce—Potatoes sold freely at from 3a to 3s 6d per sack. Timber brought satisfactory prices. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the live stock market for week ending 29th November: — Entries at Canterbury Saleyards on 28th inst.:—Sheep, 7384 ; cattle, 370; pips, 233. Sheep—A fceavy supply of all descriptions to hand. Mutton plentiful and generally of good quality, mostly shorn. The market opened quietly, and several lines were withdrawn, values firming consideiably after one or two buyers for export had made their presence known. We quote prime shorn mutton 2|d per lb on the average, aud in the wool 3,{d. We cleared a consignment of shorn ewes from Longbeach estate at 143 6d to 15s 3d, woolly crossbreds at 18b 6d. and merino wethers in wool at 12s 3d. Store sheep met a ready sale. We sold 450 mixed crossbreds, 4 and 6-tooth in wool, at 16s lOd, and 140 at 15s 9d; aged merino wethers at 4s sd, and fat lambs from 9s 3d to 10s, account Mr William Jones. We record actual transactions: — Shorn washed wethers, 15s 3d, 17s, 17s 9d and 18s 3d; mixed ewes, 12s 9d, 13s and 15s; ewes, 8s 9d, 14s, 15s and 16s 6d; woolly crossbreds, 18s, 18s 6d and 20s 9d; shorn merino3,los to 103 6d,- do in wool, 12s, 12s 3d and 14s; fat lambs, 8s to 12s. Store sheep—Merino ewes, with crossbred lambs. 9s 3d, 10s 3d and 14s 3d; shorn crossbred ewes, with lambs, 15s; woolly crossbreds, 4 and 6-tooth, mixed sexes, 15s 9d and 16s lOd; shorn merino wethers, 6s 3d. Pigs—A large entry, with a good brisk demand throughout. Medium stores, 14s, 17s and 18s ; porkers, 21s, 235, 28s, 30s and 355. Mr Edgar Jones* consignment realised from 23s to 28a a piece. Cattle —Beef to hand in large quantity; quality chiefly medium; demand only moderate, some pens being returned unsold. We quote 23s per lOOlbs on an average. Fat bullocks made £7, £7 ss, £7 7s 6d and -S3; cows and heifers, £5 12s 6d, £6 17s 6d, £7 15s and -310 15s. An average supply of stores, and prices on a level with our recent quotations. District Sales—Ashburton yards, at 27th inst., were well filled, both with sheep and cattle. The condition of most entries was only medium, and business remained quiet, for cattle particularly so. Shorn crossbreds brought lis 6d and 13s 6d; hoggets in wool, 10s lOd and 12s; wooUy merino wethers, 8s 9d and 10a 6d; merino couples, 9s; crossbred couples, 13s lid. Cattle —Fat heifers, £5 7s 6d and £6 2s 6d; dry heifers, £3 17s 6d; medium springers, £4 10s; mixed sorts, eighteen months and two years old, 50s; yearlings, 33s to 40s. Privately during the week we placed 100 head, and 18 head store cattle, at market rates; also several line 3of sheep for freezing. Shorn crossbreds from 14s 9d to 175.. We have unlimited enquiries for all store sheep.