MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9426, 29 May 1891, Page 3

MARKET REPORTS.

Messrs H. Matson and Co. (associated with tho National M. and A. Company of N.Z., Limited) report on the live slock market, &c. as follows:—The entry on Wednesday at Addington was of a most mixed order, average mutton being the rule—very few extra prime lines, while many inferior and low-clasa consignments filled the peas. The buyers for “ the Great House of Islington” made things hum again; for be it said that were it not for the level, well-judged competition brought to bear upon market values by the experts engaged in supplying this agency of export, the Canterbury producer would most certainly not have that happy facial expression which of late years has been a characteristic of our sons of the soil. The competition was noticeable in all the best lines, while for inferior and light-weight sheep there was a natural hesitation in bidding and consequent reduction in values. We notice, as ihe years roll by, a tendency to produce lighter-weight sheep. The cause is so patent that we request again the attention of our sheepfarmers, and in their own interests, to bring into action the only remedy, remembering.ever that every pound of mutton or wool per carcase produced means additional annual returns. Verb sap.

Pat Sheep.— Large entry. Competition for all good sheep was very firm, prices ruling on a par with late quotations. Best cross-bred wethers sold at from 17s 6d to 22s Gd; beat freezers sold at from 16s (id to ISs 6d; fat cross-bred ewes realised from 10s to 17a lid ; merino wethers sold at from 10s 6d to 15s 6d, as per quality. Our sales were as follow:—A lino of cross-bred ewes at from 12s to 13s 9d, aud half-bred ewes at from 10s lOd to 13s Sd, cross-bred wotbera and maiden ewes at from 12s 9d to 14s Id, fat cross-bred ewes at from 16s lid to 17s 6d, fat cross-bred owes at 17s Id, cross-bred wethers at from 13s 4d to 15s, a splendid lot of half-bred ewes at 16a 6d, half-bred ewes at 13s 3d, cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes at* from 14s 5d to 15s sd, and cross-bred ewes at from 10s 4d to 14s, cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes at from 13s lOd to los lid, and cross-bred ewes 10s lid to 13s 4d, mixed sexes at 12s Id, cross-bred ewes at, from 12s lid to 15s sd, a nice lot of freezers at from 15s lid to 17s sd, half-bred ewes at 13s Id. Store Sheep. —Only a very mixed entry to hand. Competition was very irregular. Sheep suitable for feeding off turnips were most inquired after, and these sold freely at fiom 11s to 13s 6d.

Fat Limbs. —Only an odd pen to hand. Best corts sold at from 9s to 11a. Private Sales.— During the week we have disposed of 1900 freezers at full market rates.

Fat Cattle.— About 160 head yarded. Biddings were fairly brisk, and a shade better prices were obtained for bust lines. Quotations pur 1001 b would be about 16a to 20s. Boat bullocks sold at £7 to £7 10s, heifers at £6 to £7 7s 61, cows at £4 to £3 10s. Our principal sales were as follow : Cow at £4 ss, steers at £6 7s Gd to £7 7s 6d, steers at £6 2s Gd to £7 10s, cows at 40s to £3 ss, cows at £3 to £4 17s 6d, cow at £2 12a Gd, prime heifers at £5 17a Gd to £7 7s 6d, steers at £5 17s Gd to £6 16s, cows at £4 12s 81 to £5 17s Gd.

Veal. —Small entry. Best calves 15s to 28s, others at 7s to 10s each. Stoke Cattle. —Small entry, which sold at about late rates, all classes of stores being at very low prices. Feed being scarce, there are few buyers. Dairy Cattle. Small entry. Good cows sold fairly wall at from £G 10s, £7 10s to £3 10s each; old and poor-con-ditioned cows are difficult to quit at from 20s to £2 10s each.

Pigs. —Smaller entry than ot late, and slightly better values were obtained. The appearance of an outside buyer helped prices. Bacon pigs sold at 27a to 38s, heavier sorts 40a to 455, choppers £2 10s to £2 15s, porkers 14s to2os. Our principal sales are as follbw :—Two pork st£l 3s, 7 bacon at £1 10s, 2 bacon at £2 2s, 2 at £1 13s 61. 13 at £1 13s, 3 at £1 7s, 1 at £1 12; Gd, 1 at £1 12s Gd. 7 at 17s, 3 at 14j Gd, 1 at £1 10j, I at £1 IGs 6d. 4 at £1 18s, 3 ah £1 13), 7 at £1 7s Gd, 4 at £1 ss, 4 porkers at £1 2s, 4 at 17s Gd, 1 at 13d, 2 bacon at £2 Is, 4 at £llls, 6 at 18s,

2 porkers at 14s, 5 at 17s, 5 at 16s, 5 at 15s. 5 at 13s. 3 at £2 4s 6d. 2 at £2. Wool, Sheepskins, Hides, Fat and Tallow. —On Thursday last we held : our usual weekly sale of the above. Biddings were fairly brisk, and prices obtained were fully eqv'J. to late rates—rough fat to l£d for Lest lots. Hides at last week’s rates, Canterbury Horse Market. —At Tattorsall’s on Saturday last we held our usual weekly horse sale. Thera was again a fair average entry submitted to auction. Competition was spasmodic, and, if anything, irregular, buyers not being inclined to speculate, and confining their operations to that of present requirements only. The scarcity of feed and the consequent use of dry fodder and cereals generally which, at this time of the year, range very high in price, caused nob only a reduction in. the value of the live stock market it most directly affects, bub also cramps the buying capacity of thoao interested. At Tatteraall’s on Saturday, draught and farm horses sold at £l2 to £l7 10a each; hacks and light horses realised from £lO to £2O each, according to quality.

Messrs Miles and Co. (per Mr J. T. Ford) report on the live stock market for tho week ending Thursday, May 28, as follows :—Canterbury Saleyards, Addington, Wednesday. May 27. The total number of stock penned for the day’s sale comprised 305 head of cattle, 7811 sheep and 226 pigs. _ Opening with the fat cattle, of which the entry was somewhat limited, with several lines of rather inferior sorts, the biddings on the part of the trade were nob brisk, and wa cannot quote any improvement in values, from I6s to 19s per 1001 b being the average price obtainable. Store Cattle. — A small entry, and tho prices obtained very disappointing to vendors. Three-year-old steers in forward condition brought £3 12s 6d each, eighteen-month-old heifers £1 Bs, calves at 6s upwards, dairy cows and heifers from £2 10s to £6 each.

Store , Sheep. —An average entry, of which the principal feature was a line of XOOOjcrOBS-bred ewes, which we sold at from 10a 3d to 10a 9d each, and would have brought a higher figure could they have been, placed in the market at the end of March. Cross-bred ewes of mixed sexes, with failing and broken-mouthed sheep among them, brought from 8s to 9s Id; small tyvo-taoth crosa-brsds, XOs fid to 10s lid ; merino wethers, 5s 9d to.7s ; crossbred lambs 6s 8d to 7s sdeach.

Fat Sheep.— A full entry, with but few lines of. prime sheep suitable for export. All such brought prices fully on a par with former rates, but all second quality mutton was - more difficult to quit, and a reduction in values was generally noticeable. Pigs.—An average number penned, and about the same rates were obtained all round.

Our sales were as follow: —55 crossbred wethers at 16s lid to 18s 3d, 200 cross-bred ewes and wethers at 16s od to 17c, 114 cross-bred wethers at 14s 9d to 16s, 1000 half-bred ewes (four, six and eight-tooth) at 10a 3d to 10a 9d, 59 cross-bred wethers at 16s 3d, 23 cross-bred ewes at ISs lid, 44 merino wethers at 14s to 14s 7d; 40 bacon pigs, tho line, S9s each. Tinwald Fortnightly Market, Tuesday, May 26.—There was again a moderately ■ large entry of sheep for this sale, and as there were buyers in attendance the prices still remain very satisfactory to vendors. All well-grown cross-brads, two and four-toothed sheep, are largely bought up, and if the winter feed holds out wo may expect to sea good mutton selling at prices that will pay the exporter. Our entry for the day’s sale comprised 2750 sheep, and our sales were as follow: 485 two-tooth cross-breds 15s 3d, 73 do 14s 9d, 50 merino wethers lls Bd, 100 twotooth cross-breda 10s 10d, 60 do 10s sd, 194 do 9s 7d, 21 croas-bred ewes 9s 6d, 192 cross-bred ewes in lamb 9s Id, 199 crossbred ewes 9s, 30 croas-bred ewes 9s, 61 do 8s lid, 35 do B's Bd, 107 merino ewes Ga Bd, 227 woolly ewes 7a, 205 merino wethers ss, 445 merino ewes 4s 6d, 21 iambs 4s, 54 merino wethers Is 9d.

Skins, Fat, &c. —At our weekly sale there was a good attendance of the trade, and our catalogue was disposed of at satisfactory prices. Butchers’ cross-breds we sold up to 5s lOd, do merinos to 4s Gd, country skins to 5a 6d; fat I+d, Ifd, IJ-d, Ijd aad per lb; hides and calfskins at late rates.

The Hew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on the live stock market for the week ending May 28, 1891, as follows: Stock at the Addington Saleyards totalled, viz., sheep 7891, cattle 305. pigs 22G. Magnificent weather prevails for the production of fat stock, and full entries are the order of the day. Fat Sheep. —Although a large entry was penned, an exceptionally large proportion consisted of ewes and second-class mutton, for which competition was, with a few exceptions, extremely languid. In this respect merino ewes suffered most, the market being rather heavily supplied with them, and generally of an inferior character. The few lines of prime crossbred wethers and maiden ewes which graced tho market were well competed for, both by the trade and for export, and late values were well maintained. Prices for merino ewes were Is tola Gdlowerthan those obtaining for some weeks past. Our sales included the following:—4o cross-bred ewes at 14s 3d, 30 do at 12s 7d, and 30 half-bred do ac 15s Id, mixed balf-breds at 12s 7d and 40 cross-breds at lls lOd, a line of mixed half-bred two-toolhs at 10s 9d, 40 half-bred wethers at 13s sd, 37 cross-bred ewes at 5s lid, 20 cross-bred ewes at 9s 2d, 14 do at o 3 4d, 24 crcss-bred ewea at 10s 4d, and 38 do at 9s 3d to 10s lid, 35 merino ewes at Ga 3d, 27 do at Gs 2d, 78 at 6s, 30 merino ewes at 6a 2d, 50 at os 6d to 5s Bu, 70 two-tooth crossbred wethers at 13s lid, a line of ewes at 7s. Heavy weight cross-bred freezers brought 18s to 19s 4i, medium do 16s to 17s Bd, light dp 14s Gd to 153 6d, crossbred ewes 12s to 17s 2d, merino wethers 10s to 14s 9d, do ewes 5s to 10s. Store Sheep. —Small odd lots characterise the entries in this class at this season, aad yesterday’s business consisted of a number of lots amounting to about 1860 all told. There was a fair attendance, and for fresh-conditioned young sheep a good inquiry manifested Itself. To those lacking these qualifications, however, buyers were wanting, and several lota were passed in. We sold 200 mixed aged half-bred ewes at 9a Id, also 108 small two-tooth halfbreds ablOs lid, merino wethers brought 5s 9d to 7s ; cross-bred lambs, small, 7s 6d; cross-bred ewes, mixed ages, 8s to Ss Id ; two-tooth crossbreds, 10a Gd. to 12s, We sold a line of fat lambs at 9s 6d to lls 2d, Fat Cattle.* —The beef market was well supplied, both as regards quality and quantity, and included a number of prime bullocks, for which there was good competition ; no change in prices, however, is to be recorded, values remaining about 17s to 19s per 1001 b; best bullocks bringing £6 10s to £7 7s 6d, do heifers £4 10a to £7 7a Gd, do cows £4 to £6 10s. Store Cattle. —Odd lots constituted a moderate entry, there being nothing of special merit yarded. In the dairy pens, which were fairly filled, some good sorts changed hands at good values, viz., £6 to £7 10s; fair springers brought £4 to £5, Px GS> —The entry was lighter than usual, and mainly composed of baconers aud porkers. A little' " foreign” competition considerably assisted the eale of prime baconers, aad yesterday’s values show an improvement on current rates. Porkers also met a good inquiry, aud sold well. District Sales. — As the Tinwald saleyards on May 26 the entry of sheep consisted of about 5000 of various descriptions. The usual good attendance was present, aud a general clearance was made at satisfactory values. We sold a line of 1040 merino lambs at 3s 7d, fat merino owes brought 5a 6d to Gs Bd, do cross-bred ewes 8s to 9s 9d, do cross-bred wethers 14s 9d to 15s 9d, forward cross-breda 12s to 15s 3d. merino owes 4s 9d, do wethers sa.

Mr F. C. Tabart reports on the live stock market for the week ending Way 28, as follows:—The total number of stock yarded at the Addington yards comprised 7811 obeep,_3Os.bead, of -cattle anOSG

pigs. Fat Cattle.—About 160 head were brought forward for the week’s supply. The quality generally was below last week’s average, and inferior cattle were neglected. Good quality sold well, and a fair clearance was effected at the following pricesßest bullocks made from £6 5a to £7 7a 6d, medium £5 upwards; best cows and heifers from £6 to £7. Medium and inferior £3 103 upwards. Store Cattle. —This market is without any improvement. Good dairy cows are still inquired for. Fat Sheep.—There was again a full yarding of fat sheep, and amongst them were some prime lines of freezers. Of the market generally, prime sheep were iu good demand at a shade over laafc week’s values, and fat ewes aud medium quality were dull of sale and were a little easier in values. Beat pens of croas-bred wethers made 17s to 19s 3d, medium 15a to 16a 9d, and light-weights 12a 6d upwards, best pens maiden ewes 14s 6d to 16s 4d, fat ewes—l3a to 15s Gdfor heavy-weights, lls 6d to 12s 9d for medium, and 9s 6d upwards for light - weights, top pens merino wethers 13s to 14s Gd, medium 10s to 12s 6d, interior 7s 61 upwards, fat merino, ewes 5s Gd to 8s 6d, and one small pen of very prime quality mado 10s lid. A good clearance was effected. Store Sheep.—A moderate entry of very mixed descriptions. Good crossbred lambs made 10s Cd, medium 7a to 8s 6d, two-tooth cross-bred ewes 11a, old 7s to 9a Gd, merino wethers 4a 9d, 5s 6d, 7s to 7s 6d, according to age and condition, merino ewea in lamb 3s to 4s 6d. Pigs.— A small yarding compared to the past few weeks, which sold at about last week’s values. Sheepskins, Wool, Rough Fat, Hides and Calfskins.—My sales for the week comprised 2980 sheepskins, 85 bags and packages of rough fat, and about 65 bides and calfskins. There was the usual attendance of fellmongers. Competition was very irregular, aud prices fluctuated considerably, especially for skins that were not in good condition. Butchers’ best cross-breds made from 5s to 5s 5d and 5s lid, medium4s to 43 lid, small 3s 3d upwards, butchers’ best merinos 3a 9dto 4a 3d, medium 3a to 3s 7d, small 2s 3d upwards. A few double fleeces made 6s 3d to 6s Bd. Bough fat and l|d for best parcels, lid and Ifd for medium. Id for inferior. Hides and calfskins are without alteration.

Messrs Pyne and Co. report for the week ending Thursday, May 28 : The total number of stock yarded comprised 7811 sheep, 305 cattle, 226 pigs. The attendance at the market was fully up to the usual average, and the weather all that could be desired. In store sheep there nag no lino worthy of special mention, and had there been any useful lines of young cross-breda yarded they would no doubt have sold at full market rates. Aged merino ewes in lamb sold at 3s, young mixed cross-breds at from 10s to lls, forward merino wethers at up to 9s, cross-bred ewes from 7s 6dto 8a 9d. The fat sheep pens were not filled by anything like such good quality as on the previous Wednesday, with the exception of two or three lines of freezers, which sold at prices equal to late quotations. Fat ewes and second-class wethers and inferior merinos varied in price considerably, and late in the sale were difficult to quit. Best freezing wethers brought from 17s to 19a, second quality and light-weights 13 9d to 15s, ewes 10s to 14s 6d, merino wethers (prime) np to 14a 9d, inferior 7s to 10a. There was barely such a keen inquiry for fat cattle as at the previous market, the quality being poor and the demand fer second - class beef very slack. Best bullocks made np to 18s per 1001 b, fat cows and inferior steers 15a to 16s 6d. The store market held nothing beyond the usual supply of old cows, with the exception of one line of useful cattle, which sold at £4 5s per head. Thera appeared no extra demand for pigs, even with the scarcity of supply. Best baconers made 3d per lb, others 2d to 2jd. We have during the week placed several lines of store sheep and a line of forward cattle, all at market rates. We offered and sold on Saturday at our land salerooms, Cashel street, the Loburn property, consisting of 485 acres. There was a large attendance of farmers, and after some competition the property was knocked ■down to Mr Robertson, of Ashley, at £5 5s per acre. At our skin sale to-day there was an average attendance of fellmongers, but th 4 prices obtained were most irregular. Best cross-breda. realised from ,4a 6d to 5s 6d, medium 3s 6d to 4s, merinos up to 4a 2d, 'country skins 6d per lb. Hides and fat at late quotations;

Messrs Wilson and Sons, in trying to represent the pulse of the market, say live stock are lively. On Saturday we toed the mark for over four hours like a steam hammer. The chickens aroused our tempers, as we fought the devil of selfishness, who has the impudence to show up even at a sale of chickens. However, we were fairly landed winners last Saturday, as we crowed over old hens while they laughed out over 2s, and said if any buyer is not breeched up to that we bow him out of the back door ; besides the eggs they laid. What fun for a winter cup of tea—a fresh laid ’un. Cockeys, too, they crowed, although not so loud, bnttbe fat fellows yelled 3s to 3s 3d. The ducks quacked wildly at 3s to 3s 9d; goosey made a fresh start, like all others; size did the business. With a sprightly hit of fighting netted 83 6d per pair. Turkeys.Fat turkeys from Greenpark. See the scramble going on! Hens 9s, cocks from 15s to 20s. That is the way to do it, and no nonsense. If you do not behove it come and see from 1100 to 1200 put through in one hour.- The swine herd came next, and business got hot at times. The youngsters cracked jokes at better times coming, and set straight their tails, while 4,3, ss, 6a and 7s 6d, with a blue stroke went down the backs, and they said spuds, spuds, 12a par ton; they must have us to save them from crying. Stores, for finishing, went at a rush. Sows in pig, early springers, told off at 30s, 35a, 36d to 37s Sd, as fast as the auctioneer could wipe the sweat from his brow. Pork did duty well; some of tho Addington rejected at ISs went smoothly at 22s 6ri, What an eyeopener! Y/ilson and Sons for ever. Horses did their best, and the best was—most were sold well; a better class at better prices. Sundry sales of traps, drays, Ac., from the coarse to the fashionable, came and went, just as we like to see them; of course, better than brass buttons were left behind. Of produce we have nothing fresh to sav, except wo urge all and sundry to live on spuds for six months; you can live cheap. The property wants cash, and Mr Gash says no, I will rust out in my coffers. The only additional bit of lively news is 24s for 401 bof apples; about 7£d per lb. Well done, Styx Apple Company, you will want a double crop next year for the London market.

Messrs Todhunter and Jennings report on the live stock market for tho week ending Thursday, May 28, aa follows: A very fine day on Wednesday at Addington saw 7811 sheep, 305 head cattle and 226 pigs yarded for the day’s supply, the attendance of those interested being just about an average one; and business throughout the day was done at about on a uar with late values. Store Sheep,—The entries were fairly large, but good young sheep were scarce, and any lot of such was well inquired for, and good values paid. • Old sheep, both cross-bred and merino, were moat difficult to place, and most of the lots offered went away unsold. Lambs sold at from 7s 3d to 10s 6d, cross-bred ewes 8s to 10a 9d, soundmouth merino wethers 6s 3d to 7s 6d, and young cross-breds from 10a lOd to 12s 6d. Y/e sold about 1000 at current rates as already reported. Fat Sheep.—A very good entry yarded, the quality on the whole being something above the avsrnge for all descriptions, but more particularly for the primest quality. The demand was again good, late values being quite upheld, the market finishing up firm. Prime, heavy-weightcross-breds sold at from 16s6d to 19s, medium weights 14a Gd to 16s, ewea (heavy weights) lls Gd to 15s Gd, merino wethers Bs, to , 14a Gd. • Our sales have already' appeared in your columns. Fat Cattle.— A more than average entry, with anything but a good demand, and consequently a dragging sale. Steers sold at from £5 10s to £7 15s, heifers and fat cows £3los to £6

ding to quality. W© Bold a fair entry at current rates. The entry of both stores and dairy cattle was limited,.and very' little business was done. Tallies unaltered.,; Pigs.—A smaller entry than of late, with; no better demand, two' or three of our beat i local buyers being absent, though, to make some amends, a fresh buyer froth South Canterbury put iu an appearance and helped matters a little. Eaconers sold at from 80s to 43a per head, lighter sorts 24a to 28s 6d, porkers 16s to 23a 6d, and stores Sb to 12s 6d, being at from 2.}d to 3d per lb for baconers and porkers, according to suitability of weights. Sheepskins, Hides and Pat.—AttheNew Zealand Wool Stores this day we held our usual weekly sale of above, submitting an extremely heavy entry of both green and dry skins. The attendance of fellmongera was fairly good, and biddings were fairly keen and extremely even; and. as far as we are concerned, we consider wo had a most satisfactory sale. Per a small line of extraordinary skins, of great weight and quality combined, we obtained as high as 8s 4d; prime cross-bred skins fetched from 5s 3d to 5s 93, medium do 3s 3d to 4b 3d, merino skins at from 2s lOd to 4b W, country skins at from 2a 3d upwards. Pat.—Best rough fat Jgd aud It'd, medium Id to lid per lb. Grain, Produce, &c.—During the past week we have sold privately for various clients lines of wheat, oats, barley, cocksfoot, potatoes, &c., at full current rates. Landed Property.—During the past week we have sold privately for Mr W. M. Burke, of Messrs Burke Bros., Halawell, his splendid freehold property of 500 acres at Halswell for the sum of £II,OOO cash. We are also in treaty respecting several farms, sales of which we expect to make in a few days.