COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7561, 28 May 1885, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Wednesday Evening. LIVE STOCK MARKET. ' Owing to Wednesday being a partial holiday only -moderate supplies of stock were sent to the. Addiagton Yards, and the limited attendance nifty be attributed to the same cause. Sheep.—Ttiere was again an exceedingly small supply of sheep, considerably less than half an .average entry of butchers' lines beingpenned. The small attendance, together with the prevailing weakness in trade, prevented any material rise in ■values taking place. Prime cross-breds sold at from 13s to lis 6d a few exceptionally heavy sheep realised 15s 6d; medium weights and mixed sexes brought from lis 6d to 12s 6d. Merinos of fair quality sold at from 6s to 7s 9d ; lighter weights penned as butchers' sheep, but scarcely fit for the .purpose, brought from 4s to 5s 6d. The rate per 3>ound for mutton is without alteration, and remains at a little under 2d on an average. The entry of store sheep was confined to a very few lota, and about the only business transacted was the disposal of aline of fresh-conditioned mixed 2 and 4-toolh oros?-breds at 10s 6d ; ewes in lamb at Bs, and 1 ambs at 7s. Cait&b.—On Wednesday, the inaugural sale of fat cattle took place under the new arrangement—viz., ai 8 a.m. ' The result was no doubt looked forward" to with considerable interest... It was somewhat unfortunate that the alteration should have come into force on a holiday, as of course it interfered with the attendance, and at the time appointed for the commencement of the auction but few of the "trade" were present. Despite this, however, the sale was proceeded with, and nearly every line was sold at prices which, although nothing extraordinary, were certainly quite -equal 10, if not in advance of, those ruling at the afternoon sales of late. Good lines of steers sold at from £6 to £7 12s 6d. Mixed classes and light weights brought from £4 to £5. We quote beef at from 16s to 18s per 1001 b. There was only a moderate supply of store cattle, and very little business was done. The demand was dull, and prices remain unaltered. A good demand however, Btill continues for dairy cows, which sold up to £B. Piss.—The entry of pigs, though large, \vas not so heavy as those of the past two or three weeks. A large proportion consisted of sorts somewhat too light for bacon purposes, and consequently did not meet with mnch competition from cttrers. Biddings showed no improvement on late rates. CUSTOMS REVENUE. The following 1 was the Customs revenue collected yesterday :—Spirits, £34; tobacco, £133 10s 6d ; wine, £ll 12s; sugar, £26 Is; goods by weight, £2l 2s 2d ; ad valo'em, £2 5s ; total, £228 10s Bd.