WEDNESDAY'S STOCK MARKET.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9596, 10 December 1896, Page 4

WEDNESDAY'S STOCK MARKET.

BY Oirß COMMERCIAL EDITOR.

The store sheep entry was confined to about half a dozen lines of qrossbreds, all of . which sold at rates which compare favourably with those of the past two markets. However, the small entry cannot reasonably be taken to furnish any idea of the general feeling of possible buyers, and comment, therefore, would be uninteresting and of no service to readers. The fat sheep entry was of that character we are accustomed to look for at this time of year, viz,, a full supply of old crossbred ewes and but few good lines of superior sheep. So far as old crossbred ewes are concerned, we need only say that they were hard to'sell at the beginning of the auction, and towards the conclusion quite unsaleable save at figures which would have tempted the most diffident of buyers for boiling down. Really, it seems that holders of crossbred ewe mutton must prepare themselves to face 5s and 6s a head- for best sorts, and lower figures for inferior sheep before they can consign their sheep to market-without experiencing great disappointment at their returns. Some slight competition was experienced for sheep suitable for export, but on the whole no improvement was discernable in values. It'is qxiite refreshing to find a return to healthy competition in the yards, and that which was exhibited in the fat lamb market was so like a return to " old times" that vendors felt quite at home again. Mr L. C Gardiner, who has just returned from England, quickly made his presence felt and was a large buyer during the day. Mr P. J. Fryer also made the bidding lively, and the combined efforts of these gentlemen 'materially tended to awaken some of the buyers who lately have professed great desire, but have nevertheless exhibited very little energy. The entry of lambs was large and the fact of 12s, 12s 6d and up to 13s lOd being frequently called, certainly evidenced some animation. The Heslerton Estate draft of some eighty lambs made 13s lOd all round, a by no means bad figure it will be agreed. Amongst the sales of the day were:—For Mr T. Armstrong, Waikari, crossbred wethers lls 2d to 12s 2d ; Mr J. Weld, Oxford, merino wethers 4s lOd to 5s 6d; Mr Jag. Stringfellow, Chertsey, crossbred wethers 12s 4d ; Messrs Stringfellow and j Copland, Rakaia, crossbred wethers 12s; ! Mr W. Boag, Burnside, crossbred wethers j 10s Bd, ewes 8s 3d; Mr D. Dohrman, Bennetts, crossbred wethers 103 7d to lls Id; Mr A. Cunnington, Dunsandel, crossbred wethers lls Id, ewes 9s 3d; Mr J. Boag, Middlerigg, crossbred wethers 10s sd, ewes 9s Id ; Mr Jas. Brown, Dunsandel, ewes 8s 4d; Mr ,T. Copland, Chertsey, crossbred ewes 8s 2d to 10s Id ; Mr T. Harrison, Hackthorne, crossbred ewes 8s to 8s 6d ; Mr J. T. Wright, Dunsandel, crossbred wethers 10s 4d ; Spreydon client, crossbred wethers lls 3d to 12s 3d ; Mrs J. Jones, Dunsandel, crossbred ewes 10s sd; Mr W. Sheate, Greendale, crossbred ewes 7s 7d to 9s Id; Mr G. A. Lindeman, Tai Tapu, crossbred ewes 7s lid to 8s lid; Mr Bradshaw, Oamaru, crossbred wethers lls 2d; Mr L. White, Rakaia, crossbred 7s 10d to8s IOd; Fernside client, crossbred ewes 10s lid ; Mr J. Hill, Shirley, crossbred ewes 8s to 8s IOd ; Cust client, crossbred wethers 10a 9d to lls 9d, ewes 8s 6d; New Zealand and Australian Land Company, crossbred ■wethers lls; Chatmoss Estate, crossbred wethers lls 9d; Mr G, D. Greenwood, Teviotdale, ewes 8s 3d to 9s; Mr Thomas Baker, Amberley, crossbred wethers iOs 6d to lls 3d; Mr A. Tod, Waipara, crossbred wethers 12s to 12s sd; Mr G. G. Holmes, Little River, ewes 9s 4d to 9s 6d; Mr C. Voice, Templeton, crossbred wethers 12s 6d; Mr J. Grigg, Longbeach, crossbred ewea 7b lOd to 9s6d; Mr E. Saville, Yaldhurst, crossbred wethers 10s Id to 12e8d; Mr H. Watson, Middleton, crossbred wethers 10s 6dto 12* Id; Mr J. Gemmell, Duncandel, crossbred

wethers 125;,, Mr J. Mcßeath, Pleasant Point, crossbred wethers lls 2d; Mr J. McCrory, Rakaia, crossbred wethere lls 4d ; Mr C. Hurst, Oakleigh, crossbred wethers 12s 6d'to 12s lid ; maiden ewes lls; Mr J. Striiigjfellow, Rakaia, crossbred wethers* and owes 9s; Mr G. Mangin, Yaldhurst, crossbred ewes 9s Id. Regarding the other departments "f the market we need only refer our readers to the quotations given in our market report appearing elsewhere.