COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8557, 10 August 1888, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Thursday Evening, LOCAL MARKETS. Messrs Matson and 00. report on the live stock markets, &0,, for the woek ending Thursday, August 9, 1883, as follows:—Contrary to general expectation, there was again a limited supply of fat sheep on Wednesday, iho sudden jump in prices last week failing to augment yesterday’s entry to any extent. This, as at tho previous sale, no doubt arose from tho rough weather at the early part of tho Treat, owners from a distance basilatiug to make arrangements for forwarding stock under such unfavourable circumstances. Thi sheep that came to hand yesterday, however, were, on the whole, of a superior class, secondrate lines being few and far between. Opening a little weak, in comparison with the previous sale, the auction improved slightly as it proceeded, being firmer at the close than at any other period. But although the day’s transactions were eminently satisfactory, and a clearance marie of all lots at decidedly high values, there was certainly an absence of that keen cornput ition which characterised tho previous week’s sale, t xport buyers took out a large share i f tho best wethers at from 14s 6d t > 16s exceptional 1 ts going up to 17s and 18s, the trade also opeiating iu mmy instances at 16s an We. Do-pite this, wo are of opinion that the day’s transactions were a little more in favour of bu era th n last woek, though we stid leave the quotation for best wether mutton at 3d per lb, other descriptions from 2id to 2,-d. As a large proportion of the weekly entries ot rat sheep now arrive by train from n <iista ce, and, as a rule, without anyone in dirge, wo desire to impress upon owners the nao a-ity of adviting us full. prior to tho sale as to the particulars of their sheep, more especially having reference to sexi-s ana ages. As ame ium of purchasing for export, tha Addington Yards have been largely taken advantage of lately, and it iso the utmost importance to us—and others as agents—in the interest of vendors, to be in a position to correctly describe tho sheep under offer, either as wethers, wethers and maiden ewes, or whatever they may he, VV e mare those remarks ns it sometimes occurs that lines of sheep come to hind consigned as wethers but through which have bean found a number of ewes, quite undistingulsnahle, as far as brands or ear-marks go. from the other sex. Under tho circumstances such lots cannot he guaranteed as freezing sheep, and tho export buyer is thereby shut out from c. mpeting. What we would suggest to i ur clients is—when you are sending sheep of mixed sexes and can gu-raut-e he ewes as “maidens”—advise us to that nffeot, stating any dis inguishing mark there may be, so that it it is thought to t e owners interests to draft, it may be dona the mi ra readily ; bat where the ewes are of a class other than maidens, have them marked by all means, that they may be taken out at the yards, and the consignment sold to the best advantage. ■ Some few years since, when tho local “trade" wholly absorbed the. weekly supplies, these matters wore ret of such mom nt, hut under existing circnms ances they are all important, and will well repay attention on the part of owners. Prime cross-bred ewes on Wednesday sold at from 13s to 14s 6d; lighter classes, 11a to 12s 6d; prime merinos 12s to 14s 3d j medium, 9s to 10s 6d, On account of Mr Seaward, wo sold some exceptionally heavy-weight wethers at 19a 6d; account Mr A. Grant, prime wethers at 18a, e«ea at 15a; account Mr W.Mxon, cross-bred wethers at 15a 6d and 16s 6d; account Mr Gndssll, cross-bred wethers nt 13a 3d to 15a 9d; account Mr J. G. i uddonklau, cross-bred wethers at 14s Sd and 14s lOd; account Mr Ackroyd, crossbred wethers at 1 s 0d 'o 16s 9d; account Mr W. M. Thomi son, half-bred wethers at Us ; account Mr H. M’l.ean, cross-bred wethers at 15s 4i to 16s 9d, maiden ewes at 14s ; account Mr John Bong, a first-ossa lino of wethers at 16s 7d to 17a; account Mr E, T. Button, two and fourtooth half-bred Downs at 12s Id to 13s 4d; account Mr J. Baker, cross-bred wolheis at 14s, ewes at X3s to ISs 9d; account Molars Gould and Cameron, cross-bred ewes at 13s to 15s 2d ; account Mr S. Heywood, cross-bred wethers at 12a 3d to 14s, merino wethers at 9a 3d and 9s 6d ; acc- untMr P. Simmons, oroas-bred wethers at 16a 6d and 17s 9d; acoennt Mr W. Gill, cross-bred wethers at 14s 6d. mixed two-tootha at 14* 9i; account Mr P, H, Brittan, cross-bred wethers at 12s 4d to 13s lOd, 1 ght-weight merinos at 6s 4d ; account Mr John Miln, c oss-bred wether* at 13s 3d to 14s, ewes at 12s 6d and 13s: or equal to quotations per lb as given above In st re sheep there were only a few pens yarded. The demand was good, and ail lots sold at full values; cross-bred owes in lamb, at from Ps 6dto lls; mixed cross-breds, to 10s 3d, &c. The totals yarded for the day comprised 8633 sheep, 300 head of catt'o, and 269 pigs, ot which our entry included 1676 sheep (all butchers’ lots), 140 h«ad of cattle, and 144 pigs, tor Messrs ■». Grant, W, Nixon, J.Cudsell, J. <4. Euddenklan, VV. Ac royd, W. M. Thompson, H. M‘Lean, J. Bong, B, T. Button, J. Biker, Gould and Cameron, G. Heywood, f. Simmons, W. Gill, C._ (Stewart, F. H. Brittan, W. Brick, J. Knight, J. Lyness, J. Hansmann, Bourn and M'Donald, 8. Poarson, W. Ball*nco, W. Dean, E. Clartaon, E. Campbell. R. Nosbit, J. Heywood, J. Grant, K. M’iutosb, P. Mason, W. M alley, J. Green, H, Vale, T. M'Calluro, E, Spencer, G. Vale, H, Harris, W. Hawkin', J, Foster, J. Williams, J. Hunt, S. Gallagher, W. Kilday, J. Martin, J. Stephenson, D. Moorhonse, G. Dickinson, W. Rountree, D, Smith, J. T, Corlett, J. Micklo, J. Hazlett, W. Walls, W. Hall, J. Stevens, P. Campion, E, Thompson, M. Foley, A. Bergman, T. Arouiba'd, J. Wright, A, Ashworth, T. Poster, Mrs O’Neil, and others. Pat Cattle.— Of tha above, there was about an average entry, including some fair lines of prime steers and heifers, for which brink competition was experienced, price > for such ranging from £7 to £8 for bullocks, cows to £7 Sg, heifers to £6 7s 6d, equalling about 20a per lOOlus. Ordinary cow beef and balf-fat steers sold at about 16s pec 100, the market all round showing a decidvd improvement on late sal»s. Our principal transactions wore as follow-.—Account Mr K. fil’lmoeb, 5 steers at £6 lis 6d, sat £6, cows to £7 5s ; account Mr Stack, heifers at £1 12a 61; account Mr Mitchell, heifers at £4los; account Mr Matibows, cows at £0 10s; account Mr Peters, 5 heifers at £3 12s 6d to £3 17s 6d; account Mr H, Valo, 3 wo 1-grazed -teorsat £B, heifers for tho same owners at £6 2s 6d; account Mr E. Spencer, 4 heifors at £3 10s to £5 15s; account Mr G. Dale, cows to £6 7a 6d; account M r Northcote, 5 heifers at £5 2s 6d and £5 7s 6d; account Mr Poster, oows at £6 10s; also a number of odd beasts at proportionate rates. Veal. —About 20 calves yarded. Bernard good; bes- sold up to 18s to 255, ordinary 6s to 12s. Stoke Cattle.— ln this class of stock tho yards wore fairly wod tilled, i ut with the exception of two pens of three and four-yoar-oid bn locks—which faded to i each owner / reserves—the entry consisted of odd cows and heifers, all of which mot with a fairly ready rale. Daibt J-TOCir.—Market well sunphed. Demand scarcely as bri kas of late. Good cows dropping second or third calf may be quoted at fiom £3 10s to £9; medium sorts, £3 10s to £5 10s; aged and inferior Vasts, 20s to 40s. Pros.—A large supply, prime bacon lots being in a minority. Buyers for tha same operated freely, quite up to the standard of into ruling rates, and for the lighter weights ihote was a slight improvement in values. We quote bacon lines at 3)d to Bid; porkers, 21s to 32a per hu-id. Our entry w* cleared os under : —Three at 395, 6 at 34s 61, 6 at 325, 6 at 29s 61, 6 at 30s. 6 at 295, 5 at 26. J, 2 at 325, 2 at 28s, 2 at 345, 7 at 15s, 7 at 15s, 12 at 1 5s, 3at 325, 6at 21q 6at 16s, 6at 15s, 6at 13s, 7 at 13a, 14 at 395, 9 at 27a, 1 at 365, 5 at 235, 3 at 21s, 4 at 18s 6d. Wool, Sheepskins, Hides. Fat and Tallow.— At the Canterbury Wool and Grain Stores on Thursday last wo held oui- usual weekly sa o of tha above, e ntries all round were considerably lighter than usual, caused no doubt bv the rough weather of the last few days. Our catalogue f-r the wo' k comprised 1076 sheepskin*, 45 hides and ca fskins, and 71 bags and packages of rough fat and tallo w. Competition was baiely as active as of late, due to the same cause ns ihe shortened supply. Best butchers’ oross-biods brought 4s lOd. ss. to 5s lid; second quality. 4s to 4s 6d ; in o for Jots, 3s 6 I; best merinos, 4s to 4s 6d; medium classes, 3s 6d to 3s 9d; country skins—Several lots at prices equal to 4£d per lb. Bough fat, lid to J-Jd per lb. Hides at last week’s rates. Canterbury Hoebk Market. —For our last Saturday’s entry 62 hon es came to hand, including about 20 plough horses; the balance light stock of a varied description. A slightly hatter enquiry was experienced than for some few weeks past, and tho bulk of the lots offered changed owne<S. Horsee suitable for ploughing brought £l4 to £ls; aged sorts, £S to £l2; good light harness horses, £lO to £l4, according t> »ge, description, and character; light hacks, £7 to £lO ; inferior sorts, £4 to £6; weeds, 40s upwards. During the day we submitted the racehorse Waitungiand tho trotting horse !he Rogue, hut the former was passed in at 80gs and tho latter at 45g„. A quantity of harness and odds and ends were also sold, and the sal? generally was more satisfactory than any held for the past mouth. Little Kxveb.— At the nsw.y-eroc ed yards, l ittle River, wo be d our usual monthly sale on Friday last. About 300 head of cattle were pm nod for auction, and a few lots of sheep, all ot winch (with the exception of two old cows) found buyers at fall mamet rates.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Compa*y, Limited, report ou the live stock market I or the week ending Thursday, Augimt 9. as fellows TotUs yarded at Addington Fab'yards, August g.—-heep, 3»38; catt.e, 300; pigs, 259. Pat Sheer.—Thera was only a moderate supply forward, rai sing in quality from prime to medium. Though there was ah r demand throughout, both for local trade and shipping rcqaii omenta, yet business was cot so brine as the wo k before, and value) wore certoialy easier. Still, in oeo or two cobcs where quality was good and weights tuitablo, 8d per lb was o< tained; but the bulk of the mutton in the yards was disposed of at aid to 2|d per lb. Our owu entry was a light oae, and we sold for various cliouts mixed o oss’btO'ls 19* lOd anu. 13a Bd, qnarttr-back wethers at 133 7d and 11s Sd. and light half-brtd wethers 13a Id. General trams act ion a wero as follow : Prim© heavy crossbred wethers, IS* to 17s Cd; mixed eoxe* and huavy ewes, 13* to 15a 6dj medium and inferior crossbred*, 11s to 13s; prime merino wethora, 12ri to 14a 3d ; one or two peas of exceptionally coavy cross-bred wethers renlisad 18a to 19. 6d. Store Sheep.—Only a few lots penned, which sold readily. In fact, the demand ior good store cross-breds both forward wethers and breeding ewes continues strong and in excess of tho numbars coming forward. Mixed croes-breds brought Its 6d; cross-V-red ewes (sound mouths), in lamb, 11s ; hoggets, 8s to 9s. Pigs.—A largo number sent to hand, and a good enqui y, with yalues quite up to last quotations. Wo sold for various clients:—Bacon.r», 37s to 47b ; heavy porker*, 335; stores mada 12s to 17s ; porker*, from 18s upward*, bsing 3;d and 3-2-4 per lb. Cattle, —In fat cattlo the supply was equal to requirements. The sale opened with a better trade, and gomt what improved values, but dragged as it progressed, and clesad at 'be level of recent markets, viz., 15s to 19* per lOOlbs. We sold for Mr Edgar Jones, medium weight steers, £5 to £5 15a; audforo-her clients', steers £i 10s, and heifers *£s 10s. Wo also placed some stores of various descriptions at ruling rates, which practically denote no change. Hairy stock springing or m immediate profit, continue) to meet a good demaud. Lo us hope that the establishment of dairy factories in_ the near future will place ti is branch of the business on a more reliable and profl'ablo bath* for the producer. District s-alks.- At tli® Aslibnrtoxi vurds oa Aagustt 7, the ©atri s (probably ojr'm<? to the rouL'li weatlior or the pracadingr day) few in nwnbor, *1 bo attendance vr aa good, bat bnwnesa was limited. Prime lisavy cross-brcda Gd: fat merino mitboxs, iOa; six-tooth.half-bred ewes, in lamb, 10s 6d« X J igs wero dull of sale, and • cattle also. . ... . < . %)uuxr. conjunction wta ; on*

Timarn branch, we placed a line of half-bred ewes in lamb at a satisfactory figure.

Messrs Mines and Co., per Mr J. T. Ford, r«P«t on the Jive stock mar- ot for the week ending Thursday, August 9, 1883 na follows: At the Canterbury saleyards, Addington, on Wednesday, August 8, the stock brruyht in for the day s salo comprised 300 cattle, 3838 sheep, and 269 pigs, a full entry of fat cattle, with several pens of good quality, for which the competition was somewhat more spirited, and slightly better prices were obtained. Medium and interior beasts were on a p*r with former markets. Of store cattle there was only a moderate entry. Wi' h but two good lines, the balance was made up of odd lots, iho demand was not brisk, and but few sales were effected. Go d dairy cows are still enquired tor, and those brought forwa d mot with ready sale at full rates. There was another short market of tat sheep, owing, no doubt, in a great measure >.O the heavy weather which has prevailed for some days. Taken all over, the quality was not so good as on the previous week, and there wore fewer buyers for immediate export purposes, consequently prices were somewhat easier, <mr sales we e as follows Ob account of the Chatmoss Estate, 112 ci osE-bred two-tooth wethers ISs 6d to 15s 9d ; for a client, medium mixo ■ oross-breds lift 5d to 11s lOd; (or Mr Joi n Fiulayson, W’aikari, SCcfOssbred wethers at IPs 3d, and Cl prime merino wethers at 13j (id. Tbo latter bred, by the Hon W, Robinson, at Cheviot i-iills, were of excellent quality, and had been well grazed by Mr Finlavson. For Mr J. C. War on, 121 oross-breds mixed sexes, medium weights, at 14s 6d each; on account of the Alford Forest Estate, per Mr Homing, 119 merino wether ■> as I2s, 13s 3d to J4s 3d oacli—really wall-grazed sheep with good skins; for the Culver den Estate, 70 shearling cross-bred ewes, medium weights, at 13s 7d each. Of store sheep there was a very small entry. We sold, on account of a client, 156 mixed cross-hred two and Bur-toothed sheep, at 10s Sd each, and a small lino of cross-bred am es, in lamb, at Its each, (if pigs there was a large entry with fairly good demand, and former rates were about maintained. Kirweo. —On August 6, owing to the very heavy weather prevailing, the sheep entered were not brought forward, and buyers who wore in artenduiico were disappointed in consequence. We sold a tow springing heifers, but there waono business woi th recording. A shburton, ‘1 nesday, August 7. There was a good attendance, with several buyers of store sheep, and only about 2009 yarded to meet requireme ts. The bulk of these found ready buyers at the following prices:—Medium sized two-tooth cross, hreds at 13s Cd; light weight two-tooth cross-bred *-we», each, 10s 6d; oroas-bred ewes in lamb. 10s 9d to 11a 61; merino ewes in Dmb,; 00 at 6a 6d each, 800 at 7s 6d each—tbo latter were placed privately, and were not in the taleya/ds. Of cattle, there were but few entries, and no transactions worthy of note, bkins, Pat, ir.-We held cur weekly sstle on 'lhursday, when wo submitted a catalogue comprising 621 skin-, owing to the wet weather duritg the past few days, the skins came to bund in a very ha-, condition, and prices suffered in consequence. There was a smaller attendance of the trade than usual, with very little competition. Our sales for the week, both privata y and a - auction, compris* 2351 Bkins, at tho following prices:— Butchers’ oross-breds to 5s Id; do merinos to 4s 2d; factory o oss-breds to 6s; do merinos to 4o 6d: country skins, held over ; fat, lid to lid per lb.

Mr F. C. Tabart reports on tho live stock market for tho week ending August 9, as follows The total numbers of srtek yarded at the Addington Yards comprised 2838 sheep, SCO bead of oattla, and 269 pigs. Fat Cattle.—The number brought forward was below tho usual aver*go. Am -ngat them were a few pens of good quality cattle, for which there was keen competition. Ordinary cattie were without any improvement on last week's quotation. Be i t bullocks made from £7 t > £4 par ho.rd, medium from £5 upwards, cows and heifers from £3 16s to £7 13a 6J, the la trr price being paid for a pen of four superior quality oattla. S -ore Cattle.—There was again but a small entry. There was an improved demand f r useful sorts of f rvrard-conditioni d tsois and clean heifers; other descriptions, prices are very in egular. Fat Sheep.— There was again a rather small entry, and the quality generally was below the usual average, Thu general tone of the market was wanting In last week’s spirit, but croa -bred wethers fur freezing purposes maintained a firm and steady value, best pens mating from 15s 6d to 17s; medium weights, (or trade purposes, 13s upwards; cros -bred ewes, 10s 61, lls, 123, 13s to lis 6d for freezers ; merinos, 8s 3d, 9s, 10s, lls, 12s to 14s 3d for exceptionally good quality sheop. A cleara.no of alt linos , forwarded was efueled. Store Sheep.— A very small entry, for which there wai a keen demand, every line finding purchasers. Sheepskins, Rough Fat, Hides, and Calfskins. - In conseqne ,co of cha wot weather, there wss a imallur entry of Thins than usual, and the oonditi<m suffered to eome extent from iho same cause. 'Jharo was a fall attendance of fellmougors, and fair prices were realieod. Butchers’ beetcio-s-broda made ss, 5s 3d, 5s 6d. to 5s 8d; medium size, 4s upwards; merinos, 3a 9d, 4s, 4s 3d, to 4s 7d. Rough fat, lid to IJd for beat lino?, and >d tor inferior. Hidts, 601 b and over 4d, unuer6olbSd. calfskins 4d, cut and damaged IJd per lb. All lines cleared.

Messrs Bennetts Bros, report on the live and dead stock markets for the week ending Thursday, August 9, t'S follows At Adding!on th.s week there was but a very moderate entry ot sheep. Cattle and pigs, however, w* re in good supply, the numbers being 3833 sheep, 300 head of cattle, . nd 2C9 pigs. Tho weather was fairly fine, and tho attendance quite an average one. Fat Cattle.— Very varied in quiliiy. A few nice medium weight steers andi heifers met with pet haps a sha a htttar enquiry than of late, and values slightly improved. Taken all round, howoier, things were much about tho same as for weeks pasi. We sold a few nice lines of handy-weight heifers at up to £6 10s per head, steers soiling up to £8; and from )5s to 19s psr 1001 bis about current values. The - store cattle market was faiily well-filled, mostly, however, smril lots of twos and tbroos. Tho only two good iinesof steers ware passed, and there was a duinsss about business. In tho dairy cattle yards a good erquiry was as usual shown for immediate md .ers. Other sorts were dull of salo. Our sales ineludod springers at irom £1 10a to £7 sa, Ac. Fat toheep.—A small supply, principally of good quality. Tho market open*d firm, and throughout sales were made at about on a par with last week’s values, a predicted and expected shirp rise in values not taking place, the tone if anythi ig being slightly easier. Our sales included a small line of very heavy crosg-breda, on acc uut Mr Walter Collins, at 20s per head, 49 crose-bred ewes at. 12s 9d; for Air W. htacey we sold 19 cross-bred wethers at 14a 3d; for Mr W. B. Clarkson wo placed 175 owes at from 11a 3d to 12s 3d, 36 do at 10s 6a; and for Air ff, J. i-tabeuhauson 114 halfbred wethers at 13s 6d. trimo mutton was worth from 2)d to 3d per lb; m tlium and inferior 2d to 2JA There were oul? a few Jincw of stores on offer; a good demand shown, and hardening values. Wo placed for Messrs Hi.wtens Bros, a nice lino of croes-bred ewes, full-mouthed, at lls per he-.d, and a line of two-tootha at 9s. Pigs.- A large en ry of ad descriptions, a good demand shown, late values being well maintained- Wo sold a Urge entry as follows Baconers up to £3 par brad, on aooonn of Mr H. Kimber; porkers from2ls to 335. Our sales ware on account of Messrs W. Collins, A. L. Joseph, H. Stacey, J. J. Scj.benhauson, A. Muir, Hawkins Bros., W. B. Clarkson, K. Kou- e, J. Fergnton, A. Woodward, Burke Bros., A. Lee, M. Barni tt, E. Turpin, D. Greaves, A. Mealing, W. Booker, *. Sparks, W, T. Oliff, L. Howard, J, Qeifortb, J. Meadowcroft, E. Carter, N. Hail J, Hare, T. Johns, a. Hay, tho i hrittchurch > raicage Beard, W. Brown, J. James, G. Ferguson, K. Rowe, J. I.'athgun, J. W I roblde, W. Garbrell, H. Kimber, E. Vaughan, F. W, Gorkon, i). Gei ken, W. B nnatit, F. Dioacnson, D. Moorhotwr, F. Candy, M. Horgan, J. ■ *N«ili, E. Boon, C. Wr ght, A. B. Bennetts, and others, our entries amounting to 953 sheep, 76 head of cattie. and DS pig*. Shceprkirio, Hides, Fat, n»d irliow,—At our N»w Zealand wool stoics this day, wo held our t.snal weekly srle of abov-. Ale derate entries were tho rule to-day, tho aitsnaaneo of f«l mongers wjs good and compatiiion fairly active. Be»t crossbreds sold at. irom 4a 6d to 5s M, medium s its 3sSdto4sSd; merino skins nt from 3s to4s6d; country akins from 2a to 4s Cd each. Thera wan a tlighfcly improved toao in the fat market; rou, h fat, at from lid to lsd per lb, l idos at current rates with imatedlata delivery. Country males.— On Thursday last, on account of Mr Anderson, wo hold a clearing salo of stock at the FrebbUton hotel, Thera war a very Urge attendm eof tha public, and all lots sold remarkably vtoll; milch cows to £6 10s, horses up to £l7 10s, buggies up to £2O.

Messrs Wilson and Sons report of Saturday’s market, at their yards. Heavy entries of poultry and stuck, and pressure on our space was felt. The attendance was quite up to our best days. Everything sold a. d returned tatiafactory prices to owners. Our basln.ss ai these yards encourages us to beli vo the better times have commenced. Prices—Mens, 2s to 2s fid; rooidors, 2s Cd to 3 fid; ducks, 3;t to 8s fid; goose, 4s fid to 5s fid; turkey it, from 7s fid to 14s, all at por pair. Thrao quotations are our average, figs, 8s to 9e; suckers, I2i fid, 17s <sd, 20s fid, 255, Pork, 34d to 4d por lb. Horses, according to value, XT'Otluca.—Potatoes sold at 60s; rytgraso, small salva yat, though thn reserves vwre very low. We sold 2 trus bak-u s’ flour at £i ss; bacoii reached sd, hams l ; d; ci.eese, a quantity turned ov»r at from 2ci to SJcl per lb, MikCbllau«<-us goods found buyers. Proporty, — Tlo sold a 140-aer« farm, aid let ICO acres, in houses w« have a fair busn ess of lotting. There are a number looking for small farms.

Messrs J. 1». King and Co. report on the live stock and pr due.' B»r.rki..t for the week ending August 4 s -The unfavour)bl« w«atber rf Saturday last made it somewhat doubtful if full entries would be fonheo i ing. However, by tbo time our sals commmced, we bad little to complain of, as returns ibe general entries. The poultry yard in particular presented quite a lively soono. our increase 1 accommodation was more tb«u taxed and ws had to avail ourselves of a considerable number of loose pens. The prices realised ware vary good, arid iu several instances quite phemonsJ ; to wit: oeo pen of roosters, 16s por pair. Tho entries for pigs ware also fairly largo, and fetched high pri es, baconers and porkers being in especial request. Small pig* also commanded attention, and sold at fall ra’-sa. About ibo uiual number of horses w*ra yarded, and changed "hands at prices that fairly r. presented their value. The entries for cattle not so la. ga aa usual, many buyers going away disappointed at not filling their requirement'. Calves.—A fair number entered, and sold well. Goat*.— Quits an unusual entry was made, and found buyers at oatiefacteiy figures. The grain and produce market has had quite a flatter during tho weak, Tho recant changes in the prices of wheat in the English market, and tho firm tone that prevails, as regards the future values, has caused in the local market an advance of a.t least twopence por bushel, and still hardening in pries. Potatoes still command attention, and are readily sals .hie at prices slightly in advanca of lata quotations, their present value boing 53», bags included, at country stations. Onions ar ■ also more saleable, and for very good hard sampler full values can bo got. We have sold at £s l7* 31 per ton; inferior ones are difficult to pl.ee. > hickwhoat is also iu bettor demand, and is wor.h from Is lOd to 2s 2d per bushel. Oats are '*®rto 1b 10ii to 2a Id p r bus-hel. Barley remains at late quotations. Prime mailing is worth 4. per bushel. Por seed lots slightly hisdior figures can be obtained; feed parse h 2s to 2s cd per bushel. The-'O is a good demand for beins, and they are worth from 2* 51 to 2« 81 ; peas are iu good request, and fetch from 2s 3d to 2sß4pvr bushel, hyegruts,—tho spring sowing is causing an isjereating demand, and bant Simples lire more easily sold, 2s 6d to 3s is tho present vnluo; lowor grades arc worth la lOd to 2a Sd. Cheese, 3d to 4d per lb. Honey is in good request, and is readily saleable at Sid to 3id per lb. Beeswax, asked for, 7d to 8d por lb is the present rate. demand, JOd to lo 3d, per.

Carrots, 15s to 17s 6d per ton. Oatsbeaf chaff is worth, for good samples, £2 10a per ton. Oat straw, 35s to 40*. mucking pigs, 6s 6d to 10s 6d ; store pigs, 14s 6d to 21s ; porkers, 255, and for very good ones 32s to 35a is obtainable. Baooners. readily saleable at 36s to 50s, Fowls.—Mixed, 2s 3d to Sa 9d per pair ; pullets. Vs 6d to 3s Sd; hens, 2s 6d to 3a 6d; roosters, 2s 3d to 6s, one line bringing 16s per pair, liness, 3a 6d to 4s 3d. Geese, 6s to 7s per pair, f igeons. Is to Is 6d per pair. Ferrets, 5s to Baper pair. Goats, 5s to 17s 66, Dogs.—St Bernard pups sold at from 4s 8d to 80s each. They are in good request, and are readily saleable for export purposes. I'uring the week we have conducted several very important outside sales. We have had in every instance a ful attendance of buyers, and teaiised high prices. In our salerooms wo have had a fairly busy time of it. On Saturday we had n crushing attendance, and disposed of a largo quantity of furniture an i general merchandise at prices that have pleased vendors. We conduotea on Tnursilay, in conjunction with Mr A, Ayers, a most important sa « of standard legal hooks and a miscellaneous library of rare and valuable books for a gentleman holding a high position among the profession. Were wo to tell the uninitiated tho value of these works they might esaso to grumble nt professional charges, suffice it to sny, however, that for one set of I,aw Eoports we realised the sum of ;C89 f the lot falling to the hid of Mr Utanou. The Law Times Eoports fetched £32, Blr Bruges being the fortunate purchaser. Other lots too numerous to particularise brought equally high figures, _ and were fairly well distribu ed among the legal gentlemen who attended tho sale. The miscellaneous library also sold well at tho same time and place. Wo also conducted the sale of a number of very valuable sections, the biddings dragged considerably, and notwithstanding the inspiring eloquence of the auctioneer, Mr Ayers, buyers hardly reached owners' reserves, and they were passed in. We are expecting to negotiate the sale of at least three of these properties privately, and hope to report confirmation of this in out neit.