WEDNESDAY'S STOCK MARKET.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9327, 30 January 1896, Page 4

WEDNESDAY'S STOCK MARKET.

_ _3» s (r.T OCX COMMEUCIAL EDITOH.) .Again we have to notice less than the I average of country folk at tho Addington ; market. No rloubb tlte faob of harvest operations being iv "full awing" i& largely responsible for tbis, bus an the shidd litnc j , we are inclined to think that the tmali c attendance of farmers was significant of tl their temporary indifference to the fate of ' n the sheep market generally. Tho slorn sheep entry wa9 large, and at the opening of the sale it seemed quite probable that late values would be improved upon. We thiuk that in some > instances the values realised showed aa improvement on late rates for - forward sheep, buc as the Bale progressed we cannot pretend that this better demand was maintained, aud alto- . gotlier we think the dry weather and doubtful feed prospects acted as a diatiacc check d on many of the keen buyers who ware present. Any good lines of store lambs received attention, owing principally, it must be mentioned, to the competition of Mr Henry Chamberlain, of Leeston. But taking the store sheep market as a who'e, we d are nut prepared to quote any particular animation, and everything considered we think the sale was not over encouraging. Possibly some of the sellers will differ with us. Nevertheless we are of opinion that the prices disclosed in our market report are not quite as good as could have been expected. Some rain aud a discontinuance of dry weather n and nor'-weeb wiuda will, wo are sure, ij quickly alter the general tone of graziers' ideas. As things arc at present/ no oue can blame them for being cautious. In the fat } sheep department the pens were fairly filled with a miscellaneous collection. The proportion of export cheep was painfully small, and while the sale was in progress such well known buyers as Messrs L. C. Gardiner, _. W. B. Ciarkson, E. 0. Cox, A. L. Joeepb, and Colin Stewart were to be observed " killing time" and waiting for the few lots equal to export requirements to come on. Many of last week's "past in" lots were again in evidence, and it is a little consoling to know that the greater portion of these were quitted under fairly ' good competition from the i butchering trade, headed by Mr James Knight. It is evident, however, that the - time is rapidly approaching when vendors of ancient ewe mutton must face the fate , A which the "boilers" are prepared to mete •. out to them, and, therefore, we warn the _ holders of old ewe mutton that they must not in the future expect; to realise eensa- ■'. tional prices at Addington Yards. A fair number of merino wethers were offered, but - the demand for these was distinctly disape pointing, and come lots had to be turned r out for the want of a bid. Amongst ;_ the sales of fat sheep we .noticed :— Mr M. J. Hoban, crossbred wethers at 12s . 3d to 13s 2d; Mr R. M. Morten, crossbred fc wethers at 10s to 13s 3d ; Mr J. H. Davison, i merino wethers at 6s lOd to 7s 6d; Mr E. * Herring, crossbred wethers at 14a 9d, ewes ', at 12s 3d ; Mr W. Boag, croaebred ewes at '* 12a; Executors late John Coe, crossbred ewes at 10a 2d; Balmoral Estate, halfbred wethers at 12s 3d to 13s, merino dp at 1 7s 2d to 93; Mr J. R. In wood, cross--9 bred wethers at 12s 7d to 13a 9d; Mr J. S. Holmes, Oamaru, crossbred ewee at 14s; Mr F. J. Milton, halfbred ewes at 10s 9d, merino do at 5s 2d; Mr R. W. Chapman, ballbred wethers at 121 Id, four and six-tooth ewes at 9a 7d ; Mr W. F. M. Buckley, crossbred ewee at 9a 61; Mr J. C. 1 Wason, do at 83 3d to 9a 3d ; Cashmere ? estate, do at 9s to 10a; Mr R. Oxley, Orari, crossbred wethere at 12a 4d; 14r H. J. Hal!, crossbred ewes at 8s 2JL to 9i Id ; Mr > J. Scales, crossbred wethers at 12s 10i. Any good lots of prime fab lambs sold treely, but the proportion of export quality was so small that the competion for this description cannot be reckoned aa of any serious significance. In very warm weather bn tchers are naturally anxious to obtain lamb 1 in preference to mutton, and as a coascquence 1 a fairly good demand was experienced throughout the last market. " Thin lambs/ however, received but scant attention, and as a matter of fact lambs in. tho store pens sold at better prices than the »tores penned as "fat. Some of the principal sales were—Mr J. Kennie at lie ; Mm Cordy at 9s 7d to 10s; Mr J. Frebble, 8s 6d

to9s2d; Mr A. R. Invrooii at 8* 10*1 to 10-3 2d; Mr YV. J. Hobao at 9i 6ii; Messrs Sutherland and Gray, 9a Id to lla 6d; Mr T. Harland. 10a. The beef sale was a moefc dragging afF-tir, aod th* least said about it the better. Tiie very beeb quality did not, under the hammer, realise more thau 18a 6i to 193 per 1001b, and cow beef vras sold at prices whioh we cannot pretend to estimate the per 100 ib value. A very good all round demand was the result of the pig eale, and up to 3£d per lb was paid for best baconere aud porkers. In the store and dairy cattle pens there is nothing of moment to note. Oar market report supplies full quotations.