Commercial.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 192, 15 March 1878, Page 5

Commercial.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report 'or the week ending March 13, as follows : —

Fat Cattle. — To-day's market was well supplied, 170 head being yarded, the greater portion of which was only of medium quality. We sold 82 head on account of Messrs J. E. Palmer, J. Wright, D. M'Donald, Blueskin, Mcc Brothers, and George Wallace. Bullocks brought from L 7 10s to Ll2 10s; cows, from L 6 os to L 8 15s— prices equivalert to 27s 6d per 1001 b for good quality, and 24s for medium do. Privately we have sold 70 head at equal to 27s 6d per 1001 b. Fat Calves. — Only a few penned, whi^h sold at from 32s 6d to 355. '

Fat Sheep. —A full supply came forward, 1739 being penned, all of which found buvevs (with the exception of 350, which we turned out), but at prices at least Is per head under last week's quotations. We sold on account of various vendors, 1013 merinos and cross breds, the former bringing from 6s to 6s 6d, the latter from 8s to 10s — or say, 2d per lb. We have also placed privately 1300 at the above rates. Fat Lambs. — 396 came to hand, all of which were sold. We disposed of 120 at 7s 9d to 9s each.

Store Cattle. — We have no transaction? to repoi*t. Store Sheep. — There is still a good demand for all classes of this description of stock, but owing to the large numbers that have already changed hands, there are now but few offering. We quote merino wethers, 2, 4, and 6-tooth, at 5s 6d to 6s ; do full-mouthed, 3s 6d to 4s ; do ewes, 2, 4, and 6-tooth, 6s 6d to 7s ; do do full-mouthed, 3s to 4s ; cross-bieds, 4, and 6-tooth, 7s to 7s 6d ; do 2-tooth, 6s to 6s 6d ; do lambs, 5s 6il to 6s. We have sold at our quotations 4700 cross-breds and 2500 meiinos.

Horses. —Heavy draughts are in excellent demand. At our yards on Saturday we disposed of a fair number of medium draughts, but light and inferior saddle are very dull of sale. We quote first-class draughts at from LSO to L6O ; medium, L 35 to L 45 ; light, L 25 to L3O ; good hacks and light harness horses, L2O to L 25 • medium, LlO to Ll7 ; light and inferior, L 3 to L 7.

Wool.— The following cablegram has been received, under date London. Bth March :— " Since the opening of the wool sales 65,000 bales have been offered, and the bidding was strong thoroughout; inferior qualities slightly in favour of buyers." At our weekly sale, on Monday, we disposed of 70 bales of wool. There was a full attendance of buyers, and bidding was animated.

Sheepskins. — There was a full attendance of the trade at our weekly sale. Our catalogue was a small one. Competition was brisk, and prices obtained show an advance on late rates. Butchers' greenskins and lambskins brought from 2s Id to 2s 9d ; pelts, Is 4d to 2s : station skins up to 5s Gdeach. Hides are in fair demand. We disposed of 164 at from 14s to 21s ; for medium weights, equal to 4d per lb. Tallow. — There is good enquiry for lots suitable for shipment at from L3O to L 32 per ton for prime mutton, and L 26 to L2B for medium qualities. We sold several small parcels at above quotations. Grain.— Good samples of wheat for immediate delivery are in fair request. We have sold at 4s 6d per bushel, and quote prime at 4s 6d to 4s 9d ; good, 4s 4d to 4s 6d. Oats are in brisk demand, prime milling saleable at from 3s 5d to 3s 6d ; feed. 3s 3d to 3s 4d. Barley, prime milling, sought after, but very little offering.

The " iron horse" would seem to be a very appropriate name for a locomotive, and one fully appreciated by certain members of the equine species ; one of which, as it was quietly browsing by the road side on Tuesday last near Forsyth, must have considered itself challenged by the passing engine, which had the 7 a.m. train in tow from Lawrence ; for no sooner did it come along side than this worthy descendant of Bucephalus started off and gamely contested every yard of ground thence as far as Waihola, where it arrived neck and neck with its puffing brother, but where its further progress was after considerable difficulty stayed. It had therefore raced about thirty miles, and as its blood was properly up, there is little doubt it would have continued and have reached Dunedin in advance of its metal competitor. On several stretches where road and railway are abreast, interest culminated in excitement, as the driver of the larger horse rammed in his ebon spurs, and quickened the speed of his smoking charger, treatment that invariably evoked a spontaneous snd similar response from its flesh and blood competitor.