MARKET REPORTS.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7123, 20 July 1888, Page 6

MARKET REPORTS.

I Messrs Matson and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending July 19th, IBSB, as follows :— A full entry of all classes of fat stock was the leading characteristic of yesterday's Addington sale. In fat sheep there were nearly sufficient to hand the previous night to fill tbe pens, any little available room remaining being taken up before the last of the sheep came off the stock train. A noticeable feature of the market was the generally prime Quality of the sheep to hand, inferior and second rate lines being quite a rarity in the sale. There certainly were some few lines of ewes, but with few exceptions they were well finished oat, and commanded a ready sale. On the other hand, some of the wethers were almost "phenomenal" in their weights and quality, and sold in one instance up to 17*s, 18s, and as high as It's 6d per head, the average rate for pood freezers being from 14s to 15s 6d. As regards the tone of the market, opening as the sale did on a line of medium weight ewes, there was, perhaps, just a little weakness at the start, but this had quite worn off after the first line or two had been offered, and a free and healthy competition, with a clearance of pretty well every line, was the result up to within half an hour of the close of the sale. With so large a supply most of the buyers had then met their requirements, and second-class sheep again suffered a little in value. Taken on the whole, however, good lines of freezers were firm at late ruling quotations, buyers operating freely, and in the generally satisfactory quittance which took place for other classes (prices being quite equal to, and in some instances in excess, of last week's rates), we are no doubt in some measure indebted to the help of a buyer for tbe "Coast,*' who certainly assisted tOx_lleve"af_U'___ i _e_. "We quote the best wether mutton at 2%& to nearly per lb, average trade crossbreds and prime merinos to about 2Jd, ewes 2d to2Jd. _lr. Chas. Hurst's Oakleigh wethers were as usual vez-y prime, and sold at 15s 5d to Iss lOd, maiden ewes for the same owner selling at 13s 6d and 13s 9d. We also sold, *for Mr Fearon, a choice lot of halfbred 'wethers at 15s 3d ; account Mr K. Wright, mixed crossbreds (the ewes being maidens) to 13s 9d, ewes and light descriptions for the same owner at lis 6d and lis 9d; ac-

:ount Mr F. H. Brittan, Down ewes at 12s

Xp 13s 3d. crossbred ewes at lis 9d; ac.eoHnt Mr E. Washbourne, crossbred ewes _t lis 3d to 12s 3d; account Mr H. Campbell, light weight wethers at lis 6d and 12s 3d, ewes at lis and lis 3d; account Mr Dowling, merino wethers at Bs, light weight halfbreds at 7s 6d; account the N.ZTand A. Land Co., crossbred ewes at 10s to lis, one pen lighter sheep at 9s 8d; account Mr D. Cameron, two and fourtooth mixed crossbreds at 13s 4d to 14s Bd, crossbred ewes at lis 6d, merino wethers at 8s 9d and 9s; account Mr Jno. Rennie, crossbred wethers at 14s od to 14s 8d ; account Mr H. Washbourne, crossbred ewes at lis 9d to 12s 9d ; account Messrs Gould and Cameron, crossbred ewes at 13s 9d, halfbreds at lis 5d to 13s; account Mr J. G. RudtfenMau, medium weight crossbred wethers at 12s 9d and 12sI0d; acconnt Mr Is*.Elliot, crossbred wethers at 13s to 13s 9d ; account Mr B. Bayley, crossbred wethers at 13s 7d,to 14s / md for M__ I<ow, light welg_fc,w«t_ers at 12s 6d. •' Store Sheep—Just a medium supply, consisting chiefly of youngerossbreds of a fairly desirable class. Where owners were not anticipating unreasonable prices there was no difficulty in effecting sales, Most if not all the sheep submitted changing hands at values which would bear most favorable comparison with the current quotations of the day in the lighter classes of fat sheep. Useful lines of crossbred wethers sold at from 9s to about 10s; crossbred ewes in lamb (which by the way are in considerable request) 8s to 9s; good young lines being quotable at Is to 2s per head beyond these rates. > Our sales in store sheep, for the .day were a line of mixed crossbreds at 10s 4d, and 120 second class hoggets at 7s 2d. Fat Cattle—very large entry, the bulk ot which were only half fat, for which competition; was rather slack, bnt for prime lines rather a firmer tone was noticed. We quote prime beef 18s to 19s per 1001b7 ordinary 14s per 1001b. Our principal sales were-as follows: —Account Mr P. H. O'Neil, 15 head of very prime cattle, 2 steers at £8 as each, 2 at £8, 3at £7 12s 6d, 2 at £B 17s 6d each, sat £610s each.; account Messrs Pearson and Smith, 12 bullocks, light weights, at £8 each; account Mr Corbett, 4 cows at £4 12s 6d each, 3 heifers at £4 10s each; account Mr Sheppard, light weight heifers at £4 2s 6d each ; account Mr M-lichamp, cows at £3 2s each; account Mr J. Simpson, j-^s_ja&i£_J_---account Messrs Chapman Bros., 6head, 2 steers at £6 15s each, 2at£s 5s each, 1 cow at £6, 1 heifer at £4 17s 6d; account the Christchurch Drainage Board, 4 head 1 at £510s, 1 at £4 17s 6d, lat £5 ss, lat £3 15s; account Mr Washer, 4 head at £2 10s each; account Mr Hunter, 5 steers at £5 5s each; account Mr Dickinson, heifer at £2 12s 6d; also a number of odd cows at various prices. Veal—Only about 10 calves yarded: good demand, best 26s to 325, others 10s and upwards.

Store Cattle —Small entry, several pens of yearling to eighteen months old cattle, mixed sexes, selling at from 20s to 35s each, several three-year-old steers at £3 7s each, also a number of odd beasts at various prices. Dairy Cattle—Fairly large entry; class of stock fairly good; better demand, and a large number sold. Best cows, either just calved or calving down to second or third calf, sold well at from £6 to £810s each; inferior stock very unsaleable.

Pigs—A large entry, including various lines of good quality baconers, though, taking all through, there were more light pigs, i.e., porkers, stores, &&, than of late. The only class in which we could notice any improvement in values was the lighter weight bacon lines—say from 1201b to 1401b or 1501b—some of which sold up to about 4d per lb. Although there were other extra prime lota offering, ranging up to 1601b and-1801b, they were bought on easier terms, the average rate being about 3_d per lb. Our entry we cleared as under:— Account Mr J. T. P. Moorshead, 7 at 445, 6 at 41s, 6 at 375, 6 at 335; account Mr T. White, 2 at 535, 3 at 445, 5 at 33s 6d, sat 335; account Mr Wm. Boag, 4at 3Ss 6d; account Mr J. Wright, 5 at 565, 5 at 50s. 15 at 47s Gd, 3 at 555, 3 at 53s fid, 5 at 52s od ; account Mr S. Kelly, 2at 545; account air S. Burrows, 2 at 48s, 2 at 41s ; account Mr Townshend, 7 at 235, 7 at i%; and for various owners, 5 at 16s, 10 at 265, 4 at 31s, 5 at 21s, S at 335, 3 at 255, 2 at 21s, 4 at 13s 6d,&c The totals yarded for the day comprised 7424 sheep. 296 head of cattle, and 321 pigs, of which our entry included 20/8 sheep, 129 head of cattle, and 172 pigs—for the N. Z. and A. Land Company. Acton Estate, Messrs W. Bowron, K. Wright, F. H. Brittan, Gould and Cameron, E. Washbourne, D. Cameron, W. Campbell, T. Dowling, Jno. Rennie, C. Hunt, H. Washbourne, C. Washbourne, J. D. Ruddenklau, W. Elliott, B. Bayley, H. Laing, H. Smith, P. O'Neil, Pearson and Smith. A. Grant, J. Keogh, F. Millichamp, J. Simpsom, Chapman Bros., W. Birdling, J. Hunt, W. Graham, J. Barrett, J. Council, J. Green, W. Harris, D. Murphy, G. Dickenson, J. T. P. Moorshead, W. Swain, E. Clarkson, T. A. Dixon.J. White, W. Boag, Jno. Wright. T. S. Kelly, G. Burrows, J. Toss, T. Griffiths, G. F. Durey, J. Barker, J. Townshend, J. Hibbard, W. Wright, G. Wagstaflf, R. Dempsey, J. Manson, T. Higg**, J. Foster, Mrs Low, Mrs Dunford, the Christchurch Drainage Board, and others. Canterbury Horse Market.—Last Saturday's entry consisted of 59 horses only, the major portion of which consisted of hacks, light harness sorts, &c In point of clearance and values, the sale was much about the same as those preceding it for the last month, in fact, there was nothing to offer to call for special mention, or to warrant anything like high prices. Medium class hacks sold up to £10 and £12; inferior sorts, 50s upwards. In unbroken stock there were only one or two to hand, and these were somewhat nondescript sorts. For years we have not seen the market as bare'of draucht stock as it Is at present, the wherefore we cannot say, unless it be the slackness of the demand and the lowrates ruling. Apart from this we feel certain that a line of useful young farm horses would now meet with a demand at fair rates, as the limited supply of the past month has at last caused an inquiry, which would no doubt result in business being done.

Wool, Sheepskins, Hides, Rough Fat, and Tallow.—On Thursday last, at our Canterbury Wool and Grain Stores, we held our usual weekly sales of the above. Buyers mustered in full force. The sale of "sheepskins was most irregular and taken as a whole prices receded a little on last week's values, more especially in crossbreds. Our sales are as follows:— Butchers' crossbreds, best, ss, 5s 3d, os 6d to 5s 8d each ; ordinary, 4s 3d t 4s 6d to 43 lOd each; inferior up to 3s lOd each; butchers' best merinos, 4s, 4s Id, 4s 3d to 4s Cd each; ordinary, 3s 3d, 3s od to 3s 9d each. Country skins—Several large lots at various prices, equal to 4d to od per lb. Factory skins — Account various owners, several large lines at good rates. Rough fat, best, l_d; ordinary, l£d to l§d per lb. Tallow, medium samples, £16 I__

per ton. Hides at late rates. Our catalogue for the week comprised 2879 sheepskins, 52 oxhides and call:ski_ s, 62 bags and packages rough fat and tallow. Clearing Sales—On Monday last we conducted a> cle—ring sale of live and dead stock for Mr Georsce Kinge. There was a large attendance present, and we cleared nearly every lot at satisfactory prices. On Tuesday, under instructions from Mr A. A. Emery, we held a clearing sale of his live and dead stock. The attendance was large, and with good competition we sold nearly every lot. The following are some of the rates :—Piano, at 45gs; harmonium, 25gs. We also offered the property, which was passed in at £200. Land—We can focus a stir in the land trade, having of late had very many enquiries for land of all descriptions.

Thi New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, reports on the live stock markets for the weekly period ending July 19th, 1888, as follows:— Total yarded at Canterbury Saleyards, Addington, 18th inst.—Sheep 7424, cattle 296, Digs 321. Fat Sheep—Another very full supply came forward, requiring extra accommodation, the quality on the whole being good, indeed, for this time of year, especially so. The attendance was large, and considerable interest taken in the sale. Crossbreds sold readily, and for them values were quite maintained, particularly for prime quality up to export standard, for wliich there were several buyers present. Merinos were over supplied and consequently less in demand, while prices were somewhat weaker. Mutton ranged in value from 2d to per lb, according to quality. For Messrs Wareing, of Temuka, we soldprime crossbreds at 16s for wethers, and 14s 6d to 14s lOd for mixed sexes; for Mr Seth Kingsbury we sold prime wethers, 15s 9d and 15s 3d; mixed sexes, 13s and 13s 3d; for Mr Alex. McLachian, prime halfbred wethers, 15s and Others 13s od j for Mr H. Chamberlain, crossbreds, 12s 9d; for other clients, merino wethers, 8s 9d, and light crossbred, 10s3d. Generaltransactionsruledasunder: —Prime heavy crossbred wethers, 14&6 dto 18s 6d; mixed sexes and heavy ewes, 13s to 15s; light weights and inferior, 10s to 12s 6d; merino wethers, Ss to Us. Store Sheep—Also a numerous entry and good enquiry, especially for forward condition young crossbreds. Two and four-tooth wethers made 9s 9d and 9s lOd; ewes in lamb, 9s; mixed sexes, 8s 7d and 10s ; medium lambs, 7s 2d. Cattle—ln the fat pens there was a full supply, but the quality generally was only medium, and a dragging sale ensued. Prime heavy bullocks realised £7 15s and £$ ss; medium, £5 10s to £8 15s; cows and heifers, £4 to £6, being 15s to 18s 6d per 1001b. In the store pens there was only a moderate entry. Business was quiet and values unchanged. Good dairy cows brought £6 10s to £7 10s; superior, up to £9 10s "a piece. Pigs—A large number penned, including a fair proportion of good baconers. The sale went well throughout. Extra heavy sorts madeous to 645; medium, 38s to 4Ss; porkers, 18s to 30s. We sold heavy baconers at 57s and 61s. %. Private Sales—We pUwed 1000 m>"xed crossbreds, on' account a w&g't, at a satisfactory figure.- .;aSf*r'i'i-:,.'i District Sales—At Leeston yards, IVVh inst., there were moderate entries o*% sheep and cattle, arid a large supply of pigs. We sold halfbred Downs for Mr T. Hogg, 10s 3d; and superior lorig wool lambs for Mr J. Gallagher, 10s ; mixed forward crossbreds made lis; forward quar-ter-bred wethers, 9s sd; full mouth crossbred ewes in lamb, 8s ; merino ewes, ss. Pigs sold wqlL Baconers, 36s to 48s, at which price we quitted for Mr JR. Hogg, selling porkers for him at 15s to 245. Cattle improved both in value and demand. At Darfield Yards, on 16th instant, there were moderate entries of sheep, cattle, horses, &c We sold for Mr J. Illingworth mediumicrossbred lambs, 6a : 6a, a*d small two-tooths, 7s Id. The attendances/a 1 s' good and business satisfactory thrO-JShj,. out. At Tinwald Yards, 17th instant,- 1 there were fair entries, including about 4000 sheep, which brought good values, though competition was not quite so keen as hitherto. Fat mixed crossbreds, 12s 6d and 13s 6d; fat ewes, 9s 3d; forward crossbreds, 9s, 9s 2d, 9s 6d; fat mixed merinos, 7s 6d ; two and 4-tootb forward naif breds, 12s 3d;-crossbred lambs, 6s Id and 8s 4d; cull do, 3s lOd; mixed two-tooth half breds, lis 2d; mixed ages crossbred ewes in "lambTßs6d.

Messrs Miles and Co. (per J. T. Ford) report on the live stock market for for the week ending July 19th, 1838, as follows :—Canterbury Saleyards, Addington, Wednesday,- 18th ta-tK-t.**-—"The clay s yard comprised 296 cattle, 7424 sheep, and 321 pigs. Commencing with the fat cattle, of which there was a moderate entry, with but few pens of really prime cattle, the business was dull and spiritless throughout the sale, with the best quality former rate were barely maintained, while in middling and inferior sorts there was a marKed decline, and only a partial clearance effected. Of store cattle, a limited entry, and but little busiuess transacted, former rates being about maintained where sales were made. The demand for good cows Sad heifers for dairy purposes still exists, and anything exhibiting fair promise in this line excites competition; prices ranged from £5 10s to £9 10s for the best sorts ; old cows are difficult to quit, even at nominal values. Of fat sheep there was again a large entry, the bulk of which comprised sheep of extra quality. Owing to the exceedingly mild weather that has prevailed, the turnips and grass haveheldoutabundantly.largelyaugmenting the number of fat sheep usually in hand at this season, but with the absorption now going on for export we expect to see these numbers largely reduced towards the month of September, and at that time a slight increase in value over present rates will probably take place. Shippers are taking advantage of the low rates of freight now ruling, and their operations have had the effect of keeping the market steady. Every week we have seen the Addington yards well filled, and clearances have been made at rates that have left handsome profits to graziers who bought in stores' during the early autumn months. On Wednesday the demand for export was not quite so rife as it had been during previous markets, but the falling off in values was very slight indeed in all good quality sheep. Inferior sorts suffered a little, and were more difficult to quit, but most of the lines changed hands at fair rates. We sold a line of very prime crossbreds on account of Mr John Smith, of Leeston, wethers from 16s 9dtolßs6d,andewesat 16s 6d each, these were quite the best sheep in the day's market. We also sold prime merino wethers on account of Mr R. W. Chapman, from the Springbank Estate. There was a large entry of pigs, and as there were several buyers in attendance the demand was brisk, and formerrates were wellmaintained. The following will serve to show our sales for the day and prices obtained. We sold for Mr H. A. Knight, 181 crossbred wethers and maiden c A-es 14s 7d to to 14s Sd ; Mr W. S. Pearce, 122 crossbred wethers and ewes, 13s; Mr R. W. Wilding, 12 crossbred wethers 14s 9d. o< merino wethers 10s to lis 3d ; Mr John Talbot, 164 crossbred wethers and maiden ewes 12s 3d; Mr J. Lloyd, 60 crossbred wethers 15s; Mr Wm. Strange, 100 crossbred ewes lis Id and lis 2d ; Mr J. J. Hannant, 60 crossbred wethers with a few ewes 13s; Mr J. H. V. Dicken. 120 crossbred wethers and ewes, 8s 6d to 9s 8d; for a Southern client. 62 crossbred ewes 9_* 9d; 6S crossbred wethers 13s 3d; Mr J. Smyth, 16 very prime and heavy weight crossbred wethers 18s 6d, 15 do 16s 9d, 19 crossbred ewes 16s 6d; Mount Hutt Estate, 120 merino wethers at 9s ; Chatmoss Estate, 120 fourtooth maiden ewes 13s 3d; Mr Chas. Withell, 24 baconers 30s to £2 2s, 6 porkers 22s 6d ; Mr J. C. Wason, 6 baconers £2 9s, _ do £2 &s 6 do £2 Is, 5 do at 38s.

Darfield Saleyards, Monday, 16th inst.— A moderate entry of stock, comprising about 1300 sheep, 7 head of cattle, several lots of timber, and the usual odds and ends. There was a good attendance from the surrounding districts, but, notwithstanding the fine weather, the sale passed off heavily. Buyers were there, but were content with looking on and waiting for that which certainly will not take place, namely, lower prices during the early spring months. We sold crossbred twotooths, mixed sexes, at 10s each, crossbred hoggets at ss.each, and old merino wethers at 3s 6d each, forward conditioned steers at £5 10s each, Springers and dry cows not reaching owners* values, were turned out unsold.

Tinwald Saleyards, Ashburton County, Tuesday, 17th inst.—Moderate entry 6f sheep and cattle, and good attendance at the sale. Prices for sheep compared favourably In other markets, good forward crossbreds, mixed sexes, bringing from lis 6d to 13s 6d each; a well-grown line of hoggets up to Ss 4d each ; merino ewes, in lamo, from 4s Od to os 4d. Of cattle there was a small yarding, and but little business done.

Skins, Fat, &c—We held our weekly sale on Thursday, when there was only a small attendance of the trade, business, consequently, being a little quieter. We sold butchers' crossbreds up to os 6d, do merino to 4s, country skins to 5s 6d, factory skins equal to above pi ices. Fat, lid, lfd, and l_d _er lb. Hides, held over.

Messes Bennetts Bros, report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, July 19th, as follows: — The weather" was very fine at Addington on Wednesday, and the entries of all stock a large one, there being yarded 7424 sheep, 296 head of cattle, and 321 pigs. Fat cattle—The entry waa. on the whole, a good one in point of quality, some excellent lines ol steers being sold under the hammer, the demand was however anything but encouraging for graziers, though if anything it was a shade better than has been the case of late. Primest quality beef sold at about up to 18s 6d or 19s per 1001b; medium to inferior to about 15s. We sold for Mr J. Wills a line of f-and steers at £8 per head; for Messrs urke Bros., 10 head steers at up to £6 2s 6d per head, and heifers at £4 15s, while for other clients we sold steers up to £515s and heifers to £5 17s 6d per head. There was only a limited entry of store cattle, and anything but an eager demand shown. For Mr Stockbridge we sold a line of coming three-year-old steers at £3 7s Cd per head; for another client, 7 eighteen month-old heifers at 31s, and various odd lots. In the dairy market a pretty fair number of milch cows were yarded, business was, however, anything but brisk. For Mr Allan, we sold 13 head milkers at up to £5 per head, and various other lots at about that figure. The supply, of fat sheep was again a large one, the quality being on the whole exceptionally good. "Freezers" operated for all sorts suited to their requirements, and the demand though a little fluctuating, was well maintained throughout the sale, late values ruling with little or no variation, from 14s to l(ss 6d for the best of the wethers; maiden ewes, of equal weights, at up to 13s 6d ; good half breds sold well at from lis 6d to 14s; ewes of mixed ages at from 9s 6d to 12s 6d : merino wethers at from 8s 6d to 10s 9d; mutt-n ranging in price from about 2d to 2__l per lb. We sold.a fairly large entry as follows: — for Mr A. McLaohlan, 61 prime cjspsbred wethers at 14s 3d; for Mr W. B. -Jackson, 150 crossbred ewes of mixed ages ait from 10s Cd to lis 6d; for Mr Kinley we'siftd 123 crossbreds, mixed sexes, at from Bs-'to lis ; for another client we sold a line of crossbred ewes at 10s Cd, &c. There was another good entry of store sheep, the greater part of which passed through our hands. There still exists a healthy demand for good sound sheep, both .wethers aud ewes, and values show no signs of declinine. Our sales yesterday included a line of 640 mixed ewes and -wethers at 8s 3d, 53 of the culls at 7s Cd; we sold also a line of 155 four and six-tooth crossbreds at 9b 9d and 9s lOd ; a line of 204 crossbred ewes in lamb at 8s 7d, 178 do at 8s 6d, and 200 do at Ss 7d, 108 two-tooth wethers at from 7s Id to 7s Bd, &c. A large number of pigs were yarded, a fairly active demand being shown, late values- about ruling. We cleared our entry as follows : —5 porkers at 27s 6d, 14 stores at 13s, 11 porkers at 295, 28 stores *'_t 15s, 8 porkers at 255, 6 do at 235, 4 do at-188, 2 at 225, 2at 375, and Bat 32s 6d. Ofl&entry comprised 2748 sheep, 9S head of Rattle, and 89 pigs, for the following clp—ts:— Messrs Geo. Wenlock, A. Muir, J. Stafford, M. Horgan, W. Early, A. Lee, M, Sandford, D. Hurford, J. Stevens, J. Garnett, J.Tucker, R. Geddes, W. Allan, W. Shaw, G. Ferguson, W. Stockbridge, J. Carr, W. Murphy, W. Handron, Burke Brea, E. jClarkson, F.- W. Gerken, W. Tysagi A. »Eone, H. Peas-ram, J„ Robinson," W t . B. Clarkson, S. Wills, H. Bear man. J. Kinley, R. Latter, J. W. Dicken, A. McLachliri, F. Forrest, A. F. Bennetts, and others.

Sheepskins, Hides, Fat, Tallow, &e|—At our New Zealand Wool Stores this day we held our usual weekly sale of above, submitting a large entry. Skins came to hand in very good condition, and competition was fairly keen, but late were barely upheld. The best crossbreds sold at from 4s 3d to 5s 6d: medium sorts, 3s to to 3s 9d; merino skins, at from 2s lOd to 4s 6d; country skins, from Is 3d to 4s 6d. Our entry Qf fat was a large one, andcom"petition was good, best rough fat selling l|d and per lb; rendered\£at, If d ; and m casks 14s 6d per cwt. calfskins sold at late rates, delivery. this district sale cflßMlfay laSJfcere was a good number of but only a small entry active demand was store sheep; pigs also met and sold at quite late rate-f^HRgT _*-.C Tabart reports ifflrae, live stock market for., the week ejuiig 19th July,, as" follows:—The total'*||qHper of stock yarded at the Addington yj#sfccom--321 pigs. Fat Cattle—There was again an over supply of fat cattle, consequently several lines were passed out unsold. Amongst the cattle on offer were a good many pens of prime beef, for wliich there was fair competition. The trade generally were well supplied from last week's sale, and medium quality cattle were very hard to quit. Best bullocks made from £7 [to £8 ss; light weights, £5 upwards ; cows and heifers, from £3 10s to £5 ss, according to weight and quality. Store Cattle—A moderate entry, chiefly young cattle, most of which changed owners. Eighteen - months - old cattle, mixed sexes, made up to 31s, and yearlings from 15s to 20s. A few forward-condi-tioned steers were passed in at £5 os. Fat Sheep—There was again a very full entry, several of the store pens being filled with fat sheep. On the whole, the quality of the sheep were superior to the previous week's yarding. Better quality could not be desired. Despite the numbers forward a good clearance was effected at prices almost on a par with last week's values, though in some instances a decline of from od to 9d was perceptible. Sales all over, considering the large numbers put through the market during the past three weeks, cannot be considered otherwise than satisfactory. Best crossbred wethers, outside weights, made up to 18s 6d, freezing weights aud quality from 13s 6d to 16s, lighter weights lis upwards ; fat crossbred ewes, maidens, lis to 13s; heavy weights, 10s 6d to 14s; light weights, 9s upwards; merino wethers, 8s to lis, according to weight and quality. My sales were on account of Parker Bros., Elephant Hill, 58 crossbred wethers at 14s 3d ; GO merino wethers at 10s 9d and lis ; account of John Cameron, 112 crossbred wethers from 13s to 14s 3d : account of the Levels Estate, 103 crossbred ewes from 13s to 13s 9d; account G.W. M'Rae, Esq., 70 merino wethers at 9s 2d; account W. Ranahan, 60 crossbred wethers from 13s 91 to 14s, and ewes up to 13s lOd, aud fat lambs from 8s 6d to 9s. Store sheep—A food entry of useful sorts met with a good emand; crossbred wethers in forward condition made up to 10s 4d ; lighter weights, 8s 6d upwards ; hogeets from 5s 6d to 7s 2d; crossbred ewes Ss od, 8s 7d, down to 5s 9d. Pigs—A large entry, which sold freely, heavy made from £2 10s to £3 4s, lighter and more useful pigs sold freely from 35s to 1-ls ; stores and porkers are still in good demand.

Sheepskins, Rough Fat, Tallow, Hides, and Calfskins—My sales for the week comprise 2776 sheepskins, 83 bags and packages of rough fat, 2 casks of tallow, and about 75 hides and calfskins. There was a full attendance ot fellmongers and fat buyers. Competition was keen throughout the sales, resulting in a clearance of all lines at the following prices—Butchers' best crossbreds. Os, 5s 3d, os 6d, 5s 9d, 6s, to 6s 4d, medium 4s upwards ; merinos, 3s, as lid, 4s, to 4s 6d, medinm 2a 6d, up country skins equal to 4_d and sd. Rough fat, l|d to ljd. Tallow, medium quality, 14s 6d. Hides at their usual rates.

Messrs James Wilkin and Co. report on tbe live stock markets for the week endins 16th inst. as follows:—At Addington—There was a large entry of fat cattle, sheep and pigs, with a good attendance of buyers. Fat Cattle— Although the entry was large the quality was very uneven and prices did not showany improvement on late rates, one or two extra quality beasts bringing £8 os per head. Quotations are—Heavy weight steers, £6 to £7 ; medium, £4 10s to £5155; light and inferior, £3 to £4 ss. Dairy and store cattle remain at about late rates; very few of either class represented. Fat Sheep—The yarding for the week was rather larger than of late and the quality throughout even. There was spirited competition and prices remain firm. We sold oa account of a client, 80 lambs at 8s 8d ; SO crossbred full-mouthed ewes, at 9s Od, 10s 6d, and 10s 9d. The general quotations are heavy-weight crossbred wethers up to 16s 6d, and some special Unes 18s; medium quality up to 13s, ordinary sorts 9s Cd to lis, merino wethers 9s to 10s 6d. lambs Ss 4d to 8s Bd. Store Sheep—A fair number offered. The quality offered being rather an improvement on late entries, attracted attention of buyers, who operated freely. Pigs'—A large entry and good de mand, prices remaining firm at late rates. Sheepskins, Hides, Fat, &c-At the New Zealand Wool Stores we held our usual weekly sale of above. There was a very large attendance of buyers, and competition was keen, the prices being slightly in advance of last week's rates and are as follows: —Batchers' crossbreds, large and full-woolled, 4s 7d, 4s lOd, ss, 5s 6d, os Si : do do medium, 3s3d, 3s 6d, 3s Od, 4s, and 4s od; do do small, 3s and 4s; do merinos, 3s 2d to 4s 3d ; country crossbreds, Is up to 5s 3d according to quality • do merinos, Is op to 2s lOd. Fat, sound and well saved, l§d; do, shop trimmings,

13d. Hides, 601b and over, 4d; 511b to 591b 3Jd; 501 band under, 3d per lb; calisKins 4d per lb; cut hides and calfskins, -ha. ; damaged do do, l_d per lb.

Mr Charles Clark offered by_ auction at his rooms yesterday a block of ;>i acres, fronting the North road, north of the btyx railway crossing, and succeeded in selling it at £48 per acre. A quarter-acre and cottage on Bligh's road was withdrawn. Mr Clark report* holding two furniture sales during the week, one ac Fendalton on account of the Rev. J. Chaffers-Welsh, and on account Mr Jewell at his rooms, Hereford, street, when satisfactory prices were obtained.