TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 October 1930, Page 8

TARANAKI STOCK MARKETS.

PAST WEEK’S SALES. NEWTON KING ’S REVIEW. The inclement weather during the past week lias resulted in the spring teed having a further setback, and any buoyancy in the stock market, lias as yet not taken effect, reports Newton King, Ltd., which adds that since tast week little alteration in the market, can be reported.

Stability in the beef market is still in evidence, although reports from other centres show prices have a fluctuating tendency. This can perhaps lie applied to the small offerings submitted under the hammer in Taranaki, but as the finished article is still far from plentiful prices for best ox and cow beef through the medium of private treaty remain Jinn, and butchers’ requirements are beiilg filled at the following rates: Heavy prime fat oullocks up to £ls, medium weights £l3 to £l4. lighter and unfinished sorts £ll 5s to £l2, good quality heavy young cows £ll to £l2, lighter sorts £lO.- killahlc cattle £7 to £S 10s.

'.Supplies of mutton in the northern part of the district arc not plentiful. However, the southern graziers arc quoting fairly freely and the majority of requirements of consequence arc fulfilled from these supplies, the range of prices being-: Heavy -prime l fat; wethers 29s to 30s, lighter sorts 20s Gd to 2Ss, prime fat ewes 25s to 265, lighter conditioned sheep 22s to 23s Gd. The store sheep section still lacks enthusiasm and sales of consequence are not frequent. Quotations, however, remain on a part with the figures mentioned in the last report. A limited number of quotations of 4 and 5-year-old ewes for forward delivery sales lias come to hand, and the prices for these are about 15s, but as yet no sales eau be reported. Little interest •is displayed in quotations of store cattle and paddock business is practically at a standstill. There are. however, fair entries of oddments still being submitted at the various sales, but with the exception of good paddock cows, for which there is a good demand, competition is dull. Hold-over cows and two-year empty heifers are yarded in fair numbers, but an easing in the demand for these two classes must he reported. Prices of late have ranged as follows: Good young .Jersey cows, £4 os to £5, others £3 10s to £4, lest quality two-year empty heifers £5 10s to £6, mixed coloured sorts £4 to £5, according to quality. Good numbers of yearling heifers find their way to the open markets, hut owing to the scarcity of feed prospective buyers are not keen and competition leaves much to lie desired. There are still good numbers required and a hardening in values should not be far distant. Prices range as follows: Best quality fawns of size and condition up to £6 os. cattle of similar quality in lighter condition £5 to £5 10s, wellgrown crossbred cattle in good condition £4 to £4 10s. Cattle in low condition are not sought after, and sell at from £3 to £4 os, according to quality. Good quality hold-over heifers have held their ground, and are still being readily absorbed, best fawns making up to £3 os. The mixed coloured and poorer conditioned sorts, however, do not find a ready market and change hands at from £1 10s to £2 ss.

Dairy cattle are still being yarded in good numbers, but no improvement in prices can be reported. However, the figures being offered are in accord with the outlook. Vendors appreciate the position and, generally speaking, full clearances are made. Few topqualitv cattle arc .offering;, and where good sorts are submitted competition is a little more animated than for other sorts. Following is a range of prices: Good quality well-grown fawns at the drop £ll to £l2, medium sorts £8 10s to £9 10s. Smaller and lighter conditioned sorts are dull of sale and change hands at from £6 to £7. At the Haymarket .sale on Friday a good yarding of pigs was submitted to a strong bench of buyers. Again the supply seemed insufficient to meet the demand and prices made a further advance on last week’s rates, a full clearance being effected at the following prices. Sows in farrow £5, unfinished porkers up to £2 2s, wellbred slips in good condition 33s (id to 34s 6d. choice weaners 28s to 29s 6d, smaller sorts 23s to 265.