COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8061, 7 January 1887, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

LytieUm Timet Office, Thursday Evening. LOCAL MARKETS. Messrs H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock markets, fee., for the week ending Thursday, Jan. 6,1887, as follows . The inaugural stock sole of the New Year opened at Addington on Wednesday, under circumstances the reverse from favourable. In fat sheep there was a large entry penned, but the general inferiority of the quality offering was in keeping with the i ales lor some time past. Taking out of the day's numbers some halt a doien lines of decent wethers, chiefly crosa-brods, the rest of the supply consisted chiefly of cross-bred ewes of various ages and descriptions. Week after week of late has the same order of thins a prevailed, until our “ local distributors ” have become completely glutted and overdone with mutton of this class, lo say that values for second and third rate sheep were low, -would scarcely give a correct idea of the market; it was simply a question cf forcing inl rior sheep upon unwilling buyers, who only took them simply bx'au»e compavnt-veiy liitle else was procurable, and then at their own vdues in saying th s, however, it must not be interred that the few good sheep brought high figures, as vi*h ewe mutton at about id or Id per lb, it could tcaicily be expected that anything like 2d per ib would hi reached f r the best w-there, ,id being nearer the average quotation for such than any other figure. On the whole, we may say that we ha»e scarcely ever seen a worse sheep market, or a more drugging s?K than that of Wednesday, alike in the matter of quality, demand, or prices. The q motion, then, arises. what are wo to do with our surplus l Hit stock, i.e , the quantity over and above what is required for loc -1 consumption. There is but one outlet as far as we can see, -viz., the Engii li mtrket for frozen mear- and tallow, quotations f -r both of which ore at p-esent at a very low ebb. What is no doubt helping to deluge our markets to such an extent with old «wea is the continued dry weather and scarcity of feed, whereby owners are compelled to quit some of their stock to make room for the remainder, and they naturally elect to dispose of thrir bid sheep first. That want of feed is to a great extent the cause of tjiis is proved by the the state of

store sheep market, business |in which is exoop. tionally dull. Useful lines of are being sold at from 2s fid to 3s fid; 2and 4-tooth wethers, three-quarter fat, to 4s fid and Ss; crossbred couples in low condition, all counted, at about 2sner head. &o. Although the major portion of yesterday’s entry consisted of young sheep, uy far the hugest proportion were withdrawn. On account of Mr John Grigg, we topped the market with a very nice well grazed line ot wethers at 9s 9d, this lot going to a freezer. Wa ala " sold, for the same owner, cross-bred ewes at 6s fis7d, and 7s fid; account Mr G. D. Greenwood cross-bred wethers at 7s fid, merino wethers, nice anally, at 5s fid ; account Messrs King, crossbred wethers at 7s lid and 8s; account Mr J. Murray, cross-bred ewes to 5s 7d; account Mr J. M. Furze, cross-bred wethers at 8s lOd ; account Mr Marks, orost-bred ewes at fis fid; account Mr Anderson, cross-bred ewes at fis 3d, mixed twotooth cross-breds at 7s; account Mr H. Garland, cross-bred wethers at 8s 3d, ewes at 6a; account Mr H. uverton, oross-bred ewes at Ss fid ana oa ya ; account Messrs Fisher and Goldsmith, cross-bred «ethers at 7s, owes at 5s 9d; account Mr J. a. Campbell, light-weight mixed cross-breds at 5s ad, awes at 4s 9d to 5s ; account Mr C. Hurst, crossbred wethers, prime quality, at 8s fid, ewes at 7a 3d; account Mr T. nobinson. cross-bred ewes at 3s ; account Mr J. Copeland, cro s-bred ewes at &s; account Mr Nelson, mixed cross-breds at 5s 3d; andfor Messrs M'Qoire, Neave, Griffiths, Hailey, Osborne and Muirhead. light-weight crossbreds and ewes at prices up to 4s fid. In fcior s we so d, on account of Mr W. Coop, iresh conditioned wethers at 4s 8d to ss, owes at 2sfid; two-tooth cross-breds at 2s fid; and for Mr J. N, Tosswill, two-tooth wethers at 2a 9d. The entry of fat lambs was somewhat in excess of the requirements of the trade, and prices consequently were decidedly lower than for some weeks piat. A few of the best sold up to 6a 6d and 7s fid, but for average lota prices ranged from 6s to fis; inferior to medium, 3s upwards. Cl beer a fair supply was penned, but the quality, with few exceptions was of a very indifferent class. Buyers were decidedly apathetic, and values lower than last week; 16s 'to X7a fid per 1001 b tor light weights, up to 20a for fair quality, being ruling rates. On account of Mr F. Tavender, we sold heifers to £6los; account Mr Grantham, 3 steers at £7 2s fid, 2at £6 ss, 5 at £6 15s, 2at £5 and 2at £sl7s fid: account a Temuka, client, 2 steers at £6 15s, 3 at £5 10a, 6 at £6 2s fid,,4 at £5 10s; account Mr Green, 3at £5; account Mr H. White, 5 steers at £7 2s fid, sat £5 ss; account Mr Barrett, heifers at £4 ss; and for Messrs Chambers, Stewart, Brown, Giles and Johnstone, cows and heifers up to £5 Ss. Business in store cattle, though quiet, was not, perhaps, the worst feature of the day’s sale. Any good lines of 3 yearold steers met with a fair enquiry at from £llos to £5 15s, according to size and condition, heifers and younger ages of both sexes being less free to move off at p.-ioes as under, viz.—2 to 3-vear-old heifers to £3los; 2-year-old mixed sexes, £3 10a to £3 10s; j earlings, 18s to ISs. Pigs generaUy are dull of sale, small stores and porkers to a less extent, being the only clos es for which there is any real demand. The totals yarded for the day comprised 7794 sheep, 467 head of cattle and 85 pigs, of which onr entry comprised 3032 sheep (including 601 fat lambs), 209 head of cattle and 44 pigs, for Messrs G. D. Greenwood, John Grigg, V 7. Coop, J. H. Campbell, J. Copeland, J. and E. King, M’Galre, John Murray, J. F. Neave, E, Griffiths, H. W. Turner, P. Bailey. T. Robinson, C. Hurst, Fisher and uoldamith, H. Overton, P. Osborne, J. Mcirbead, H, Garland, J. Harding, J. N. Tosswill, Henderson and M’Beath, H. Marks, J. M. Furze, J, Hindman, F. Tavender, J. Wright, A. Grant, J. Green, tl. White, C. Barrett, J. Luke, J. Johnstone, W. Chambers, E. Stewart, H. Brown, Giles, J. Wolff. J. Patrick, J. Davis, M. M‘ i e *gue, G. Weston, G. T. White, J. Dooherty, J. Tweedy, H. -Larcombe, G. Savage, P. Manion, A. Bell. J. Knight, G. F. Church, G. Stanhury, W. Jones, Pearce and Dowling, H, Smith, J. Simpson, J. Stace, J. Tuft, 11. E Hicks, J. Allen, J. Down, G. Robinson, H. Brown, J. Hunt, J. Triggs, M. Bussell, T. M’Callum, J. Smith, J. Parish, T. Gudeell, Mrs Qiiu", and others. Oaniebbubt Hobse Market,—ln horses the ordinary routine of business has been considerably interfered with during the last fortnight by the holidays. Owing to Christmas and New Year’s Days falling on Saturday, onr soles on each occasion have been altered to the day previous, and this, together with the foot that the public have been engrossed in keeping the festive seasons, has affected both the supply and the demand. Apart from this, however, the enquiry for any class of horses just now is of a limited character, very little cultivation being done at present, while second-cla-s hacks, as is usually the case, are more plentiful than buyers. First class weight-carrying hacks and harness horses are always saleable at a fair price, and under these conditions buyers could readily be found. Wool. Sheepskins, Hides and Tallow.—Wool is arriviag daily for the next auctions, to be held about the middle of the month, only small bag lots being submitted in the meantime. Sheepskins. &c.—On Thursday we held our usual weekly sale at the Canterbury Wool Stores, submitting a catalogue of 3368 skins, 293 ox hides and calfskins, 60 bags of Tough fat. There was a full attendance of the trade, and biddings were spirited throughout the saiu, every lot being sola at the following rates: —Butchers* oro-s-bred pelts, Bd, lOd lid to la each; butchers* merino pel’-s, sd, 8d to lOd each; lambskins, 9J, Is, is 3d, Is id, Is fid, Is 8(1 to Is lid each Com, try Skins. —Some well saved hues to hand, which sold readily at -For full wool, 2s to 4s each ; small, la fid to Is lOd ; pelts, 2d to 7d each. Factory Skins.-During the week we have disposed of several large lines at prices ranging from 7a to Is for pelts. Rough Fat. — at this time of the year, owners would do well to look to the packing of their consignments, as heated and scrap parcels will not realise high rates. We sold all to hand at from |d to lid per lb. Hides at late rates.

The New Zealand Loab abd Mercantile Aoebct Compabt, Limited, report on the live stock markets for the week ending Jan- 6, 1887, as follows:—Totila yarded nt Metropolitan Salejards. Addington, on Jan. 5-Sheep, 7794; cattle, 467; pigs, 65. Sheep.—ln the fat pens an unusually large number came forward, all the available space being occupied. Fat ewes again formed a large proportion of the total, and, though there was a good attendance, the supply was far too heavy lor the demand, and prices even receded from the low values lately quoted. For Mr A. M. Clara, Elvers!ea Estate, we sold prime cross-bred wethers, 8s 6d to 9a; for Messrs Holmes, Bangor Kstate, prime heavy wethers, 8s 9d and 9s, and owes Ss iid; from Baynham Estate, ewes. 6s; for Mr J. Buddenklau, light-weight wethers. 5s lid and 6s Sd; and, for various owners, owes at 6a 6d, and mixed sexes at 7a 3d. Wa quite ordinary mutton {d and Id po- lb, prime lid per lb. Transactions ruled as fol.ows: —Prime heavy cross-bred wethers. 8a to 9s 91; medium weights and mixed sexes. 6s to 7s 6d; light weights and ewes, 4a to 6s 9d; medium merino wethers, 4a to 5s fid. Fat Lambs.—These were again to hand in quantity beyond requirements, most of tbe lots showing a laoa of quality. One or two of the best pens mvie 7s; o 7s 9j, but the majority were quitted at 4s 61 to 6s. > ecoad rate lots making 3s upwards. For Messrs Hurse, Sayers, and others, we sold at 3s to 4s, Store sheep.— A numerous entry was penned, but the demand was not so good as it had been at the previous sale, though several 1 >ts changed hands at prices which, in comparison to values for fat sheep, mast be deemed satisfactory. We sold lair.uondit.ioned 2-tooth cross-breds at 3s Sd ; others m ,du 2s 6d ; and also quitted forward 2 and 4-tooths at ss, those being mostly wethers. Several other lots we were compelled to withdraw, having yarded in all 1553 sheep and lambs. Cattle.—in the fat pens there was a full supply, and here, also, business was s'ack and sales difficult to effect, values having a downward tendency. Fat bullocks made £5 15s to £7 2s fid, c nvs and heifers £l to £6 ss, equal to 17s to 20s per 1001 b. n the store pens, too, there was a large entry, and basinets was quiet. We sold, account Mr John Ferguson, 2-year-old steers at £3 12s, and yearlings at 22a j grown bullocks, in forward condition, made £5 15s. Figs —Only a moderate entry, and values unchanged. District Fades —At Lreston yards, Deo. 31, there were numerous entries of stock, and a good attendance; but business was quiet throughout, and values remained at a low ebb. For Mr Edwin White we soli forward cross-bred wethers, 7s; fat do made 8j ; and ewus, 5h ; forward 2-tooth cross-breds, 4s and ss. We sold medium sized store pigs at ss; forward heifers made £3 10s; and steers, £4 2s fid; springers, £3 to £5 10a. Ac Ashburton yards 3m- 4, there were but small entries of stock, prices being low and the sale one of the worst that has been experienced. Fat heifers brought £5 Is, only a few store cattle bsing placed at nominal values; fat cros:-bred ewes, 6s; fat mixed 2-tooths, 6a 8d; fat lambs, 3s 8d; small cross-bred hogget",',2s Id to 2s 8d; aged ewes and lambs. Is and ls7d, counting all. Private Bali B.—We have good enquiry for fat lambs for export, having placed several hundred during the week at 6s to 6s 6d, and have other large transactions pending on the same basis.

Messrs Mii.es akd Co. report upon the loca markets for the w> ek ending Thursday, Jan. 8, 1887, as follows, viz.:—Addington —A very large number of fat sheep came forward for Wednesday’s market, a good proportion being of very prime quality. It was apparent from the very beginning of the auction that vendors would be compelled to accept a further redaction in values, as the trade requirements were most limited, and buyers for export had, with but few exceptions, supplied themselves outside. The market opened dull, with a decline of folly 6d par head for best lots in last week's rates, and this decline was even more pronounced as the sale went on, medium quality and owe mutton suffering even more in proportion. We wish most devoutly that we could hold < ut hopes of better prices in the near future, but with so large a quantity of fat stock in the country, and hut limited export, we fail to see how batter prices can he reasonably expected. The station drafts will now very shortly he coming forward, and we shonld recommend those interested to bring the melting pot in'o operation, and so reduce the very large surplus which we shall have to deal with this autumn. (Irons-bred wethers realised from 8s 6<l to 9s 9d for bast quality, heavy, weight cross-bred wethers, and from 7s to 8s 3d for medium do; fat cross-o. ed ewes sold ft’ from 4s 3d to Gs 91. Pat Cattle—A ronridemble entry came to hand, and proved somewhat in excess of actual requirements. ‘lhe trade evidently held sufficient for present need, and were averse to further operations. The sale was a very dragging one. and a fan her decline has to he recorded. W e quote beef at. from 16s to 18s per 1001 b. Store Sbeop - A somewhat more numerous entry than has been the ease for a few weeks, the principal proportion being 2-to"ths. If sales of fat sheep were unsatisfactory, the prices obtained for stores were very much worse, considerable difficulty being experienced in placing them at anything but ruinously low rates. This is, to some extent, owing to the dryness of pastures, and consequent disinclination of graziers to stock up at present. This state of things we should expect to see improved upon as the stubbles become available, as there, can question that some lots changed ownership on Wednesday at prices a Inch, after making all due allowances, were undeniably below actual value. The principal sales wore—Cross-bred wethers, 3s Gd to ss; cross-bred 2-toothed mixed sexes, 2s 6d to 4a; ewes and lambs, all counted, 2s. Fat lambs.—The trade had a large number and considerable variety to select from, but, as is

usually the case, many pens contained lambs which had no right to be called "fat,’* and owners could only be convinced ot this fact when _ their entries were penned alongside of a lot which afforded a contrast that was a trifle less pleasant than forcible. Prices for best lots reached to 7s fld, but the average was from about 5s 6d to 6s 6d 5 inferior sorts were difficult to quit at any prices, but sales were effected at from 2s 6d to 3s 6u. Pigs* very small market. Baooners and other heavier sorts were neglected, hut nice light-weight porkers had good enquiry. Our entries were account the New Zealand, Alford, Cashmere, Waireka and Lowcliffe Estates, Messrs J. Studholme, J. Barker, E. Uillanders, O. Stewart, J, O. Amyes, W. Baxter, J. M. Duke, J. Counsell, J. Thompson and others, our principal sales being—Cross-bred wethers from 8s to 9s 6d 5 do ewes, 6s 9d to 6s 6d; mixed cross-breds, 7a 9d to fs9d ; steers from £5 to £5 17s 6d; springers to 453, &o , We held onr usual monthly sale at the Courtenay A. and P. Association’s Yards on Monday last. Stock of all descriptions came forward in good numbers, and although prices were somewhat lower than had been anticipated, owners, acting under our advice, determined to face the inevitable and take what they could get. Our sales, therefore, were in very good proportion to the number entered, and what was of infinitely greater moment to vendors, hore favourable comparison with rates obtained for similar stock on Wednesday, Our principal sales were—Pat owes, to os 3d; merino ewes, to 48 6d; 2-tooth cross-breds, 8s 6dto 4s; cross-bred hoggets, 3s 2d to 4s lOdj merino wethers, 7d to Is; merino ewes, at Is 4d; fat heifers, £5 6s to £6 15s; fat steers, to £6los; cows, to £5 ; springers, to £4 15s; yearlings, to 255, &c.» &o, L and.—Privately, during the week, we have Jet 96f acres of land at the Tai Tapu for a term of years at 30s per acre per annum, bkins, Pat, &o.— We held our weekly sale of the above on Thursday, when we submitted a good catalogue to the ordinary attendance of the trade. We sold pelts up to Is 3d; lambskins, to Is 2d ; country skins, at late quotations; fat. Id to Ifd per lb ; hides at late rates.

Mr Charles Clark reports the sale of the Ngapori Station, Cust, which was offered hy him at auction on Dec. 9, and then withdrawn. It was imperative that the property sold for cash, owing to dissolution of partnership, and this condition somewhat hampered the sale. That there is some go still left in Canterbury, some willing Investors, it may be noted that no leas than four resident farmers had a good try to secure the station, but English capital was to the fore, and M> Edmond Wilder, a new arrival, secured the station, and enters into immediate possession. Mr Clark reports having let the following residential properties:—The late Archdeacon Harris house. Park terrace; Sumner Lodge, Cashel street east; Tavistock House, Hereford street; one of the houses in Hereford terrace, and house in Chester street east.

Mr F. Cotton reports upon bis sale of horses at the Horse Bazaar yesterday afternoon as follows: Thera was a large entry of all classes of hacks, dogcart horses, &0., including some well-bred young horses the property of the executors in the estate of the late C. Newton, Esq. These were a wellgrown and shapely lot, and realised from at to 13 guineas each, the whole being sold to Messrs Jackson, Tabart, Blacky, F. Ford, D. Orange. A.liyqn and G, Gonld. Amongst the remainder of the lots offered purchasers were found for ponies at from 6 to 18 guineas, and some good sorts of carriage horses changed hands at 18, 15 and 20 guineas respectively. Curing the sale the auctioneer oom'inented upon the improvement in sales, auguring well Ifor the future of the horse market in Canterbury, and referred to the successful sale he bad conducted at Waimate, particulars of which are given elsewhere.

Messrs James "Wilkin and Co. report that at their usual weekly skin, hide and fat sale, although their catalogue was a email one, the trade was well represented, and biddings were spirited throughout, with the following result: —Butchers’ woolly crossbreds, none to hand; do do merino, none to hand; country cross-brods, medium, 2s 2d to 3a 3d; do do, small and inferior, is 6d to 2a 2d; pelts. Id, 2d, and XOd; lambskins, 6d, 9d, and Is 2d. Hides—About 80 to hand, and we have to call attention to the alteration in prices, namely : Heavy hides, 601 b mid over, 4ld per lb instead of 4d as hitherto, and a reduction of id per lb on all weights under 601 b. Pat, la to lii per ib.

Messrs W. A. Brown and Go’s weekly report of sales of live and dead stock, at their Lichfield street saleyards:—To oblige many of oar numerous clients, we held our weekly sale on Friday instead of the usual day, in consequence of New Year s Day falling on the Saturday. Our yards were well attended, and, although it required considerable effort to place all the lines, we, however, managed to do so at fairly satisfactory prices. The pig market still remains about the same as the last lew previous, and there is very little alteration, if any, in the prices. (Jood well-bred sows and suckers will always sell well, and are realising good values; but inferior ones are difficult to quit at any price. Of poultry, there was a good entry, which sold well. Morses, cows and calves a small entry, and were disposed of at satisfactory prices. The following are ft few of the prices realisedPigs.— Suckers, 4a 6d, 6s. 7s. to fcs; weaneis, 7s 63, 9s, to 10s 6d j stores, lls, 14s, to 15s 6d; porkers, 14s, 15s fld, 19s, to 2\» 6d; Bows, in pig,. 19s to 20s 6d. Poultry —2s 6d. 3s, 3s 63, to 4s for good table fowls j inferior kinds, 2s to 2a 3d per pair; chicks. Is 6d, is lOd, to 2a 9d per pair s Polands, 5s 6d to 7s por pair; bantams, is to Is 64 per pair; ducks, 3s id, 3s 93, to 4s 3d par pair; ducklings, 2s 93 per pair; geese, 4s 3d, 4s 9d, ss, to 7s 6d per pair. Pigeons, Is 6d to 2s par pair. Ferrets, Ss 6d to 7s. Babbits. Is 3d to 2s per pair. Produce.—New kidney potatoes, *d to Id por lb; old potatoes, 2a to 2s fc'd pec sack; bacon, 3d per lb.