COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7865, 21 May 1886, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Thaivday Evening, CUSTOMS REVENUE. The following Customs revenue was collected yesterday Spirits, £291 13s 6d ; tobacco, £133 ; wine, £29 15s Id; beer, £8 14s ; tea, £7O 13a 4d ; sugar, £6O 16s lOd; goods by weight, £6 7s 4d; act valorem, £43 ; other duties, t 35 10s 5d ; total, £672 10j 6d. LOCAL MARKETS. Messrs H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock markets, 4c, lor the week ending Thursday, May 20, as to low B : For yesterday’s Addington Mabket a medium supply of beef and mutton came to hand, the quality of both, on the whole, being rather below the average. For the comparatively small proportion of good fat stock, i,o„ sheep and cattle, values are firm, and as regsrds the first-mentioned, there was, perhaps, a slight upward tendency noticeable in some instances' on Wednesday, though not sufficient to warrant ns in recording any general change from late ruling quotations. We shall, perhaps, convey a more correct impression of the sheep market by stating that the day’s values were irregular, a few of the boat lines at the opening of the sale meeting with a better demand end changing hands, in some instances, at slightly enhanced values-other descriptions selling nt about recent quotations. We noticed that there were several buyers present, desirous of purchasing for export, but we doubt if they were enabled to meet their requirements, bo few really prime sheep were there penned. On account of Mr Birdling we, sold cross-bred wethers at 10a 6d; wethers from Mr Boag at 10s 9d to 11s 6d; cross-bred ewes, from the.liongbeach estate, account Mr John Grigg, at B<>; one pen of smaller sheep at 7s 6d; heavy-weight cross-bred ewes, account Mr W. Holley nt 9s; 2-tooth mixed cross-breds, account Mr Anderson at 8s 6d; half-bred wethers at 9s 6d, and ewes at 6s to 7«, for the inmo owner; mixed cross-bred s for Mr W. H, White at 8s; lighter weights, for the same owner, np to 6s 9d; light-weight cross-breds, chiefly owes, for Mr Grant, at from 5s to 7s 6d; mixed cross-breds, for Mr Buddo, at 9a 6d; 2-tooth mixed cross-breds for Mr Andrews at 7s and 7s 3d, Ac. We give the average quotation for good cross-bred mutton at about l|d per lb; the best quality halfbreds to IJd. In store sheep a few lots only were penned, those, with one or two ■ exceptions, being cull drafts. On account of Mr W. Jones we sold a small line of cross-bred ewes at 4t, and for Mr D. Buddo lambs at 4s to 5s 6d 1o 6s 6d—those at the two lant-mentionoa prices going to the “ trade.** fn beef the foaling exhibited by those present was ab -nt the same as that experienced in the sheep market; for while the small proportion of good cartlq found buyers without much difficulty . -at values ranging up to 20s par 1001 b, light weights and inferior quality'-, were hard to Suit at 3s or 4s per 1001 K less money, m account 'of Mr E. E. JfllKart we sold a few dice steers at £8 15s an for Mr Anderson, at £5 12* fid V light•weights, foe Mesra Foro'-j^^^^^^^^Wright,

and Qoo'’ 4n i ftof at f rom £4 to £5 Sa. In otores, was, comparatively speaking, at a standB v 4 a Small entry only beiug penned, and to ? such as were offering very few buyers could oo found* There is no doubt hue that the late rain has destroyed a good deal of feed, or rather, m inundating the paddocks, left it unfit for use at present; and this, together with the soft and sloppy condition of the land, has for the nme checked all desire to purchase store stock of any hind* The entry of pigs again represented an important feature in the day's sale, though considerably less were penned than at the two previous auctions. First-class lines of bacon pigs meet with fair competition at the hands of the trade, although at low values; but for porkers and stores there is no real or recognised demand, and it is only with great difficulty that they are placed week by week. Yesterday we consider that trade for this class of pigs was a shade better, but this is attributable solely to the operations of an outside buyer, who relieved the market of a good few of the smaller sizes. First-classbaconers brought3-sto4os sUgntweights, 25s to 23b ; porkers, 10s to 15s, and up to 20s; stores, Is to Bs. Our entry we cleared aa under Account Mr W. Boag. So at Ms ; account Mr B. Davies, 9 at 40s; account Mr T. James, 4 at 35a, 12 at 335, 6at 28s, sat 21s; account Mr £. Orr, 7 at 21s, 9 at 17s, 12 at 17s 6d, 11 at 16s 6d, 20 at 13s 6d j account Mr Janies Gregg, 43 at 32s 6d; account Mr Cbillingworth, 4 at 425. 3 at 395; account Mr Leslie. >0 at 40s, 23 at 30s, sat 28s; account Mr Faulkner, 9at 19s, 9 at 13s. 7 at 15s ; account Messrs M’Gregor. 7at 16s, 8 at 12s, 10 at 7s, 8 at 6s, 27 at 3s 6d; account Mr Yobs, Bat 11s, 10 at 7s 6d, 9at 5s 6d; account Mr H. M’ConDell, Hat 16s, 12 at 9s, 10 at 7s, 10 at ss, 6at 3s; account Mr Kennedy, 7at 235; and for other owneis, weauers, &0., at ls_ upwards. The totals yarded for the day comprised 4239 sheep. 252 head of cattle and 529 pigs of which our entry included IK2B sheep, 96 head of cattle and 421 pigs for Messrs W. Boag, J. Grigg, D. Buddo, W. H. White, Henderson and M’Beath, A. Grant, B. M. Morten. W. Birdiing, W. B. Andrews, W. Jones, W. Holley, J. Wright, E. E. Stoddart, W. Smith, G. Parqnhar, S. Goodwin, M. Challoner, J. Knight, C. Ward, T. Orr, T. James, E, Davies, J. Price, J. Gregg, E. ChilUngworth, AW. Leslie, T. H. Green, C Faulkner, K. and A. M’Gregor, K. Gunlhart, J. Voss, H. M’Connall, J. Kennedy, J. F. Endd, J. Wallace, T. F. Wachsman, T. Eoskrnge, H. Douglas, G. Dickenson, H. Nuuweek, 1. Shields, W. Enssell, D. Gunn, and others. Canterbury Hobse Mabket. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, there was very little business transacted at Tattersall's last Saturday. Considerably over 100 horses were entered for the day's auction, including a special line of first-class young draught stock, from the Lowcliffo Estate, hut beyond this consignment, which were yarded the night before, and another lot from Dunedin, few, if any, others came to hand. The sale of the Xiowcliffe colts was postponed until next Saturday, and beyond the offering of a few lots, there was nothing done. Throughout the streets there was scarcely a sign of a single visitor from_ beyond City limrt lor the most part kept well within doors, so that the town presented a most uninviting and deserted appearance. -S' ’ J' ;• | r'-'/I. Wool, Sheepskins, Hides. Rough Fat and Tallow. —On Thursday we held our usual weekly sale of the above, but owing to the wet weather of the past week entries all round ware lighter than usual. Our catalogue for the day’s auction comprised 2136 sheepskins, 75 oxhides and calfskins, 73 hags and packages rough fat and tallow. In sheepskins prices advanced a little on last weeks rates. The following are the prices obtained by us :—Butchers’ cross-breds from Is 3d, Is Bd, Is lOd, 2s, 3s Id. 2s 3d, 2s 7d, to 2s 9d each, the latter price being obtained for a line of splendid skins sent forward by Messrs Brinkman and Skelton, of Sydenham. Butchers’ merinos from 6d, 9d, lid. Is, to Is tid each. Lambskins, Is sd, Is Bd, to 2s each. Country skins, very few to hand this week; realising, according to quality, from Id, 3d, Bd, Is, to 2a 6deach. Bough fat from .1, -Ja, Id, l»d, 1; I per lb, the hulk of our fat selling at Id per lb. Hides at current rates.

The New Zbaxand Loah ahd Meecantilb Agency Company, Limited, reports on the Live cstock markets for the week ending May 20, 1836 : Totals yarded at Addington Saletabdb ou May 19—fc’heep, 4239; cattle, 252; pigs, 529. Sheep— Notwithstanding the comparatively smajl number of fat sheep, the demand was not very brisk, except for best pens of cross»breds suitable for exportation, and generally speakiug there is no alteration to record in. values. There were few merinos yarded, the bulk of the supply consisting of medium quality cross-breds, which wore hard to place. Mutton remains at our previous quotations, Lid to l|d per lb. We had again the satisfaction to top the market, on account of Mr Johns, with some of bjs exceptionally fine wethers, which were secured by Mr Albert Bull at 13s 6d, For Messrs Gunn Bros., we placed nice quality twotooth cross-breds, 8s fid to 9s 9d. We yarded 1194 sheep, and transactions were as follows s—Fat cross-bred wethers. 9s, 9s 6d, 10s, 10s 9d, and 13s 6d; mixed sexes, 7s 6d, 8s fid, 9s 6d, lie, and lls 9d; ewes, ss, 6s, 6s 9d, 7s, and 8s 6d; medium merino wethers, 4b 6d; fat merino ewee, 2s 3dThese was a sparse supply, and but little animation in the store sheep, most of the lots on offer being of an aged or inferior description. For Mr John Holmes, 01.H.K. wo sold cull crossbred ewes, 2s 3d and 2s 6d, and merinos do, Is 7d; good merino ewes made 2s 9d, and well-grown crossbred lambs, 4s. The few pens of fat lambs yarded were of a superior description, and realised 6s 3d and 6s 6d. V igs. —There was again a full entry, and the tone of toe sale was quiet, values being unchanged for fat pigs, while stores were only saleable at nominal values, though if the potato crop be damaged to the extent commonly reported, the latter class should* be in request. Baconers made 80s, 345, 375, and 40s; porkers, 12s, i7s, and 21s ; useful stores, 6s and Bs. Cattle.—ln the store pons the entry was unimportant. tendanoo email. Judging from the few transactions that occurred, values are without i.ne demand for dairy stock wmeh; has for some time prevailed has slackened considerably, though the cause is not apparent. There was a full supply of beef, comprising a few prime lots, which were well competed for, but the medium qualities were difficult to place. We quote 17s to 20s per 1001 bas the rates ruling, according to description. Fat bullocks brought £6 t £7 sa, £7 12s 6d, and i2B 15a ; cows and heifers, £4 15b, £5 sb, £5 10s, £6 16s, and Sales.—The unprecedented severity of the weather during the past week has interfered considerably with business iu the outlying districts, many roads and paddocks being completely flooded. In consequence, the transactions at various centres have been trifling, and in some cases the sales have been postponed. At Leestou yards, 14th inst, a few sheep and cattle and alarge number of pigs formed the entry for the day. The severity of the weather almost precluded business. A few good springers made £6 10s to £7 5s a-piece; and heavy bacon pigs, 30s, 355», 38s, and 42s 6d. At Ashburton County S.ileyards, on May 18, only about 600 sheep and a few cattle and pigs came forward. The attendance was small, and little interest was taken in the sale. Fat crossbreds realised 6s 6d ; aged merino ewes, Is; forward 2-tooth mixed cross-breds, 6s 9d. Transactions in cattle and pigs were quite nominal, and values unchanged. , _ * , Pbivate Sales.—Wo have placed 500 fat sheep at current rates, and have other enquiries for export.

Messrs Bobt.bt Wilkin and Co. report for the week ending May 19The number of stock yarded at Addington was 4239 sheep aud lambs. 252 head of cattle and 529 pigs. Fat cattle opened with a poor attendance of the trade, and so little disposition was there to do business that several of the first pens offered were pas«ed out unsold. Towards the middle and end of the sale there was an improve* ment in the demand for good quality beef, which made up to 19s j medium and inferior, 15s upwards, store cattle were in short supply and with little demand. Pat sheep were not y irded in the usual numbers, and generally there was an absence of good quality. The bulk of the sheep offered was of inferior or only middling quality. Heat pens of heavy cross-bred wethers made up to 13s 6d; freezers, from 9s 6d to 11s Bd ; medium, 7s 6d upwards. Fat lambs.—But tew brought forward, which sold up to 6s, according to quality. Store sheep.—But few were yarded, and demand was very limited. Pigs were again brought forward in large numbers. There were a few lines of very superior bacon hgs which sold at from 35s to 45s each. Stores sold at all sorts of prices, ranging from 4s 6d to 20s, according to description. Sheepskins, Fat, Tallow, Hides, &o.—We held our usdal weekly sale of the above on Thursday, May 20. Only a moderate entry of skins came forward for the week's supply, amongst which were a few very good lines of butchers’ lots. Our entry of fat aud tallow comprised 77 bags and packages, and tor well-saved lots a slight improvement was noticeable; 192 oxhides and calfskins were also catalogued, which found a market at ruling quotations. Butchers crossbreds, Is 7d, Is 9d, 2s, 2s Id, 2s 3d, 2s Sd, 2a 6d, 2s 7d, 2s Bd, 3s 2d; butchers' merinos, 9d, lOd, Is, Is 3d to Is 6d; lambskins. Is 6d, 2s, 2s 6d; rough fat and tallow, fd, -Jd, Id, IJd, l§d to lid per lb; hides and calfskins at late rates recently reported.

Messrs Miles and Co. report npon the local markets for the week ending Thursday, May 20, as follows, viz.:—Addington.—The yards on Wednesday were only slightly supplied with fat sheep, but, if the quantity was short, the demand was equally so, the trade reqnirements being very limited, and as there was no enquiry for export no improvement in values can be recorded. For the best lines, which were few and far between, some little competition was exhibited, but, for the reasons above-mentioned, without any appreciable advance in rates. Good cross-bred wethers sold at from 9s to 13s 6d. Merino wethers wore present, but of interior quality, and for these low figures ruled. Fat Cattle.—A fair entry was penned, consisting chiefly of good well grazed lines of steers and heifers. The trade mustered in force, and for the purpose of buying, as was evinced by the prompt and brisk competition for all best lots. Best quality beef realised fully up to last week’s quotations, but for medium and inferior prices were rather weaker. We quote beef at from 16s to 18s per 1001 b. Store Cattle. —Only a few pens came forward to a very limited audience. Enquiry was almost nil, and the only lots which found buyers were a few pens of yearlings. Dairy cattle are still fairly enquired for, good cows fetching satisfyotory prices, bnt medium and inferior sorts are almost unsaleable. Store Sheep.—Only a few lines of inferior description were yarded. Buyers wore scarce, and the business done was restricted to a few of the best. Cross-bred ewes sold up to 4s; merino ewes at up . to 2s 9d. Pigs.—These again came to hand in large numbers, farmers considering the cost of feeding to be more than commensurate with any advantage which might accrue from holding on for a time. Porkers and stores were not in good demand, bnt good bacon pigs were enquired for and placed at from 35s to 455. Our entries for the day were—account the Chatmoss Estate, Messrs J. 0. Wason, James Connsell, O. Wansey, Colin Stewart, J, A. Pannett, D. Henderson, M. Weir, J, Kinley, J. G, Morgan, J. Holmes and others. Our principal sales being—Pat cross-bred wethers at from 6s 9d to 11s 9d j fat mixed crosa-breds, at from 8s 9d to 11s j store cross-bred wethers, at up to 7s; do merino ewes, to 2s 9d; fat steers at from £6 10a to £7 15s; cows from £4 17s 6d to £7 ; heifers, at up to £4 ISs j pigs from 33s to 38s, &o. Ashburton.—At the Ashburton County Saleyards, on Tuesday last, very small entries only of all classes of stock came to hand. There was a

very limited attendance, and business was very quiet, Forward mixed two-tooth cross-breds realised up to 6s 6d. There is no alteration in values as regards cattle and pigs. Special Sale.— On Thursday last we hold a special clearing sale ef Live and Dead stock, on account of Mr Thomas Brooks, at the Hilltop, Little Eiver, at which the residents in the locality mustered in considerable force. As the sale was known to be a bond fide unreserved sale, buyers operated with considerable spirit, and a most successful auction was the result, every lot changing hands at prices which compare most favourably with our local quotations. Land Sales.—Privately, during the week, we have sold further portions of the Marshland Estate, amounting to 89 acres, at prices ranging from £35 to £4O per acre. Skins, Fat, &c. —At our wool stores, on Tuesday, we submitted a good catalogue of the above to the usual attendance of the trade. Biddings were not so spirited, and a slight fall in values has to be recorded, We sold butchers’pelts at up to 2s 8d; factory skins, to 2s 7d; country skins at late quotations ; fat fd to Id per lb. Messrs Bennetts Bros, report ou the live stock markets for the week ending Thursday, May 20, as follows: — y ollowing on the storms and floods of last week, only very moderate entries of stock were sent forward to Addington, viz., 4239 sheep, 252 head of cattle, and 529 pigs. The attendance of buyers was almost entirely confined to local men. Beginning the sales with fat cattle, theie was found a fairly numerous entry of principally good quality beet. The demand was again fairly active, most lines being cleared at late rates. For steers, from £5 2s 6d to £8 :10s was paid; heifers, from £4 12s 6d to £6 10s, being from 17s 6d to 19s 6d per 1001 b. There were hut very few store cattle in the yards, and in the pens set apart for, dairy stock there was also very little business doing; in fact, the briskness that was to he seen in this class of stock only a few weeks since seems to have quite departed. In the fat sheep yards only a small number were on offer. For the best quality the demand was good, and values improved a little; other sorts about held their own. Cross-bred wethers sold at from 8s to 13s 6d, crossbred ewes from 6s 6d to 10s. There were onlv a very few second quality merinos on offer. A few lots only were entered in the store sheep market, the sales were as follows : Cross-bred ewes from 2s 3d to 4s; a line of lambs at 4s 3d. Pigs were again sent forward in large numbers, though hardly so numerous as the two previous weeks. We can, however, record not the slightest improvement in values, buyers having it all their own way. Bacon pigs sold at from 26a to 44s per head, .porkers from 12s to 20s, and stores from 4s to 10s 6d. Our entries were on account of Messrs W. Hamilton, A. Nicholls, F. Lee, Jos. Haydon, F. Haggleston, J. Burgess, F. Partridge, E. Clarkson, A. M’Gnire, W. Forward, F. Berry, A, Merrin, J. Dayton, G. Holson, F. Spencer, J. Hall, G. Wenlock, A. Bennett, w. ,3. - .Clarksou, £l, - OrliUtlit*,. It..- Robinson, P. Gerkin, A. Whitty, A. Grant, A. F. Bennetts, H. Bennetts, and others; our sales including 11 steers at £7 10s per bead, 2 at £6 12s 6d, 2at £6 ss, 2 heifers at £5 7s 6d, 3 at £4 17s 6d, 2 at £5 12s 6d, 2at £4l7a 6d; 3 fat cows at £5 ss. A line of 2tooth tat wethers we placed at 8s 6d per head; a line of fat cross-bred ewes, very heavy weights, at 10s per head, &c.; and during the week, privately, we have disposed of several lines of store sheep and cattle at market rates, Sheepskins, Hides, Fat, Tallow, 4c.—At our yards, on Wednesday, we held our usual weekly sale of the above, submitting a medium entry. Fellmongers continue very cautious in their biddings, but values for the different classes of skins were about maintained. Cross-bred skins fetched from Is 6d to 2s fid each; merinos, from Is to Is 6d; lambskins. Is 3d to Is 6d; country skins from 3d to Is 4d. Oar entry of fat was a good one, and we are glad to report a better enquiry. Wo cleared all lots at id, Idtoltdperlb. Rough rendered fat 13s per cwt. Hides remain unchanged. Country Sales.—The sale of live and dead stock advertised for Tuesday last, at the farm of Mr JohnMehrtens, T'ai Tapn, did not take place, on account of the flooded state of the country, and it stands postponed to Tuesday next, the 25th instant. We are this day conducting a sale of live and dead stock, furniture, &c., at the farm of Mr White, Killinchy, particulars of which in our next week’s report.