MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9510, 4 September 1891, Page 3

MARKET REPORTS.

Messrs H. Matson and Co. (associated with the National M. and A. Company of N.Z., Limited), report , on tha live stock market for the week ending Thursday, Sept. 3,1891, as f0110w58946 sheep; 332 head of cattle .and 354 pigs , formed the entry for the day’s auction, of which wo offcred-3376 sheep, 163 head of cattle and 176 pigs. ' ~ , Fat Cattle.— Large entry, which was made up chiefly of prime steers and heifers. Biddings were brisk, and a general clearance was effected. Prime beef sold at 20s to ‘22 s per 1001 b, other sorts at proportionate rates. Our principal sales were as follow:—A very prime line of bullocks, which sold at £9 15s to £9 17s 6d, balance at £8 17s Gd to £S ss; steers at £5 to £5 10s, heifers to £5 13s Gd, steers at £5 12s Gd, heifers at £5 15s to £6 15s, steers at £4 10s, cows at £G 17s Gd to £7 7s Gd, steers to £5 10s. heifers up to £6 12s Gd, cows at £3, cows at £4 7s Gd, heifers at £3 17s Gd to £4 13s, heifers at £4 12s Gd, cows at £3, cow at £7 ss, cows at £3 15s, a line at £3 10s to £U 10s, cows at £4 10s. Yeal.—Full entry. Beat calves 25s to 335, others 10a to 15s each. Store Cattle. Small entry, which met with a poor sale. No lines offered worth reporting, but during the next week or so things in this line should be in full swing. Dairy Cattle.—Small entry, mostly of the worn-out class, for which biddings were very slack. A few good cows sold at £5 to £G.

Store Sheep.— Fairly large entry. Biddings were brisk, and a shade better values were obtained than those ruling at the previous week’s, sale. Hoggets sold from 7s Gd to 12s Gd; cross-bred ewes with lambs sold at 15s to 20s Gd; cross-bred ewes in lamb at 10s Gd to 14s Gd. Our principal sales were as follow : —IOOO merino wethers at 5a Gd, 204 two and four-tooth ewes and wethers at 13s lOd, 93 crossbred hoggets at 10s lid, 376 cross-bred hoggets at 10s, 100 cross-bred hoggets at 12a 4d, 347 croes-brad hoggets at lls Id, G 7 cross-bred ewes in lamb at 13s Bd.

Fat Lambs. —These are coming forward every week in larger numbers ; best sold at 15s to 18s, others at 12s to 13s. Fat Sheep. —Largo entry, every pen being well filled ; biddings for prime sheep were very brisk. Very few really prime cross-breds (freezers) were yarded, but in merinos several lines of wonderful sheep were offered. Notably among these were a line which topped the market at 19s 7d, one pen of extra size sold at 20a, the balance of the line sold at 17s 8d to 16a 9d, pen merino ewes at 15s 7d, half-breds from same owner at £1 Os 4d. AVe sold a grand lino of cross-bred wethers at £1 3s 7d, pen maiden ewes at £1 Is, pea half-bred wethers at £1 Is Gd, pen at £1 Is Id, also pen at £1 Oa 7d, pen cross-breds at 17s Gd, 30 merino wethers at 10a 9d, a line at 17a, croaa-breds at 15s to 15a Gd, cross-breds at 18s Id to 18a 7d, cross-breds at 15a sd, cross-bred wethers at 14s 4d to 15s 3d, cross-bred wethers at 14a Gd, cross-bred wethers at 18a 4d, cross-bred wethers at lls lid to 13a4d, merino wethers atlOa lOd to lls 4d. Pigs. —Larger entry than of late. Biddings were dull, and a shade lower prices had to bo accepted to effect sales. Bacon pigs sold at 27s to 355, choppers 40i to 50s, porkers 14s to 23s each, stores at 9s, 10s to 14s each. Our principal sales were as follow: —Porkers at 14a Gd, porkers at 21s, lighter at 13s Gd, porkers at 16s 3d, 4 at 235, porkers at 17s Gd, pen at IGs, pea at 25a, pea at 255, 5 at £1 4s, 5 at £1 3s, 3 at 20s, 7 at 16s, Bat 14s, 2 at 20s, pen at IGs, pen at 14s Gd, pen at 12a Gd, pea at 15s Gd, 6 at £1 Bs, 8 at £1 ss, 8 at £1 2s Gd, 7 at £1 2s, 7at 17s 3d, 10 at 15s Gd, 7 at 13s Gd, 7 at £1 4s, 7 at £1 Os Gd, G at 17s Gd, pen at £1 7a Gd, pen at £1 15s, porkers at IGs.

Canterbury Horse Market.— On Saturday lust we held our usual sale. A small entry of about 55 horses was yarded. "Biddings were decidedly brisk for good sorts. We sold 47 , out of 53, yarded., Good hacks sold well at £l6 ta £2O, draught horses, at £ls to £2O. AVe have a good inquiry for good harness horses, also well matched pairs, which could be readily placed at good fair prices. Wool, Sheepskins, Hides, Fat and Tallow.— On Thursday last we held our# usual weekly sale of-the , above.- Biddings were,fairly brisk throughout. Butchers’ cross-breds sold up to Bs, merinos to 7s lid, country skins s£d per lb. Factory Skins— Wo have sold a large number at full market rates. Rough fat l.]d to perlb. Hides at late rates.

Leeston Market.— On Friday last the entries at tha above market were very light, about 1500 sheop, 100 cattle and 300 pigs. Biddings for sheep were brisk, and good, prices were obtained. Two and fourtooth wethers sold at 14s, hoggets at 9a to 12s 7d,cross-bred ewes (in lamb) IGs 4deach, merino ewes (in lamb) at 6s lid. Cattle.— Nothing worth reporting. Pigs.—Stores sold well at 7s to 13s, porkers 15s to 20s, bacon pigs 23s to 335. Land Department. Since our last report on this department of our business, we have been kept fairly busy in transactions relating to land; and we can say with confidence that, in spite of the cries aud warnings to Canterbury as to tbe exodus of population, &c., there are plenty left to stand by tho good old ship, who would sooner risk their dollars and their labour in this land they do know something about, and where, at all events, contentment and the best of climates can be found, than in a country where everything is left for the future to prove success or failure. AVe ask those who are wavering to remember the old nursery tale of the dog and the shadow, as a proof that there is this confidence in the superior quality of the Canterbury soil. We would point out the readiness with which buyers come to the front when anything in the shape of good land is put upon the market at fair and reasonable prices. We bad no difficulty m disposing of a farm of fifty-eight acres, between Laestoa and Doyleston° for the sum of £IO2O, the purchaser being Mr Thomas G-reenan, of Leeston; and on Saturday, under instructions from the executors in the estate of Jennings Moffett and other'vendors, we sold every lot at auction, a farm of 149 odd acres in the flue district of Killinchy bringing £25 an acre, the purchaser being Mr Edwin Greaves, of Springston; another farm, of 116 acres, at Southbridgo, also noted for the excellence of its soil, at £lB 10s an acre, the purchaser being Miss M. Moffett; and we"maintain that both these farms are good investments at the money. Than, again, we sold about five acres, with tannery buildings and plant at Woolston, to Miss Moffett for £750, and about half an acre close to the above at £4O. We also sold house and land on Preston road, Papauni, for £133. We have several sales pending, which we hope to report in a day or so, and while upholding tbe value of Canterbury lands in comparison with other parts, we would ask those who are wishing to dispose of their properties to kindly take pencil and paper, aad after ascertaining the productive powers of tho soil they wish to sell, to work out the annual return ; set this against the expenditure, and see that there is a fair margin, as we find in many cases this, and this only, is the drawback in finding purchasers, and not as people suppose, the quality of tho soil offered.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the live stock market for the week ending Sept. 3, 1891, as follows:—At the Addington Saloyards, on Sept. J, the totals of stock penned were —8946 sheep, 332 cattle and 354 pigs. Store Sheep. —An. entry of about 3500 was penned, mainly consisting of merino wethers aud cross-bred hoggets. A good attendance mustered, including a fear sprinkling of buyers, but not enough to cause anything like keen competition. It is possible, however, that some ot them may stand out too long, f° r F e apprehend that after the warm weatocr wo are getting a good rain might alter the aspec, ot things. Good hues of sheep at the present prices should not be neglected, os they an* none too plentiful. Prices realised yesterday were as follow :-Cross-bred ewes and lambs brought 15a to 20s Gd, do ewes in >mb lOs.Gd to cross-toed hoggets

8s to 12s Gd, merino wethers 5s 6d to 7s, two-tooth cross-breds 12a 8d to 13s lOd.

Fat Sheep. —Another heavy supply was penned. Astonishing as it is where they all come from week after week in such large numbers, it is very noticeable that a decrease is gradually taking place in the proportion of prime cross-breds. The predominating feature in yesterday’s entry was merino wethers; and a very creditable feature several station lines, fattened by their respective breeders, formed. Prime cross-breds were scarce,.but among them were some lota of especial merit. Threeparts fat sheep were fairly numerous. Competition opened briskly, but was not maintained throughout, except for tbe primest pens ; even these among merinos suffered from what may fairly be called a surfeit of merinos. Our sales comprised tbe following:—7o merino wethers at 7s 7d, mixed cross-breds at 17s 7d, 200 mixed halfbreds’at 15s to' 15s Gd, and merino wethers at Ips Od,. cross-breds at 17s, and halfbreds' at'lsa 9d, and 2 cross-breds at 265, mixed cross-breds at 16a 9d, aad halfbreds at IGs, cross-bred wethers at 18s 3d, and 80 half-breds at 16s Gdto 17s Bd, mixed cross-breds .at 21s, and ewes at 19s 3d to 19a Od, 140 merino wethers at 15s Gd to 18s 9d, half-bred Downs at 17s Id. Fat Lambs. This entry increases weekly, both as regards quality and number, and is met by better competition. Yesterday’s values ruled at from 12s Gd to 18s.

Fat Cattle.' —An average yarding, including several pens of good sorts. These met keen competition from the trade, and sold .on about a par with last week’s rates. We sold 3 steers at £9 15s, 2 do at £8 7s do at £G 10s, 2 do at £S 2s Gd and 3 do at £5 ss. Best bullocks made £6 10a to £9 17s Gd, do cows and heifers £5 to £7 7s 6d.|

Stop.e Cattle. —Business was not so good again in this department. The entry was small and inferior.

Pigs, —About an average supply came forward. Competition for stores was fair, buff Joorkers' and baconers—especially the latter—met - one of ’ the dullest sales on record. We sold porkers at.l3s to 15s 3d.

: District! Sales. —At the Leeston saleyards on August 28, about 1200 sheep, 70 cattle and 200 pigs constituted the supply. The attendance was good, as usual. A fair inquiry existed among the sheep, and a good clearance was effected, except in merino ewes, at prices as follow: —Two and four-tooth cross-breds 12s 8d to 14s, crossbred hoggets up 13s 4d, sound-mouth crossbred ewes, in lamb, up to IGs 5d and fat merino wethers 12s Gd. Tho sale of pigs was dull on the whole, but cattle showed au improvement. We sold two-tooths at from 12s 8d to 14s.—At the Tinwald saleyards on Sept. 1 a moderate entry of sheep was penned, about 3500. The attendance of farmers was large, but a dull tendency prevailed, and for indifferent lines low values had to be accepted, consequently several lots were unsold. We sold 350 cross-bred hoggets at 13s Gd ; other prices were, viz.: Fat cross-breds 15s 9d, do merino wethers 13s 9d, cross-bred ewes and lambs 13s Gd, merino do do lls, four-tooth cross-bred ewes, in lamb, IGs Gd, cross-bred hoggets lls to 13s Gd. Privately, in conjunction with our Rakaia agent, we have placed 1000 merino ewes, in lamb, at a satisfactory price.

Messrs Miles and Co. (per Mr J. T. Ford) report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, Sept. 3, as follows: Canterbury Saleyards, Addington, Sept. 2. The number of stock yarded for this sale comprised 894 G sheep, 332 head of cattle, and 354 pigs. Fat Cattle.—Taken as a whole there was a decided improvement in the quality of this class of stock penned for the day’s sale. Competition was good and prices a little better than we have been accuatomeed to of late.

Store Cattle.— Most of the pens were full but the demand was weak, with no improvement in prices; dairy cows were neglected and vendors suffered accordingly.

Store Sheep. —A moderate entry, with prices on a level with last week’s. Hoggets sold at from 9s to 12s Gd, meriao wethers from 5s 6d to 7s 4d, merino ewes in lamb from 4s Gd upwards, cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes 13s to 14s.

Fat Sheep. —A fall market, the noticeable feature or which was the large number of lines of merinos, mostly of grand quality. All sheep fit for export sold at full rates, several lines of heavy cross-breds being soldatfrom 20s to24s; lighter weights of both merinos and cross-breds were dull of sale with a decided drop in values towards the end of the market.

Pigs.—A medium supply, with dull sale, and venders had to put up with a further decline.

Our sales were : —l6 S - bred wethers and maiden ewes, 14s 4d, 15s 9d 13s Gd to 22s 3d; 60 half-bred wethers, 20s 4d; 420 merino wethers, 14s, 15s to 16s 7d; 198 merino wethers, 143 9d to 15a 8d; 62 cross-bred ewes and wethers. , IGs to 18a lOd; 2G merino wethers, 14a 8d; 130 cross-breds, mixed sexes, 14a 9d to 15s -id; 140 merino wethers, 10a 7d to 12s Gd; cross-bred wethers, 14s Gd; 70 merino wethers, 10s 7d to 10s lOd; 6 bacon pigs, 21s; 6 bacon pigs, 19a Gd. Tinwald Fortnightly Market, Tuesday, Sept. I.—There was only a small entry at these yards, comprising 2534 sheep and 16 head of cattle, and our share consisted of 1303 sheep and 5 head of cattle. There was a fair attendance, and prices were on a level with those ruling a fortnight since. Skins, Fat, &c. —Wo held our weekly sale of skins, &c., at our Colombo street store on Thursday, when we submitted a fair catalogue to a large attendance of the trade. Competition was hardly as good as las'; week’s, no doubt in sympathy with the late cablegrams with reference to the Antwerp sales, and prices were a shade easier. Cross-breds brought up to 7a lOd, merinos to 7s, country skins to Gs 8d; factory skins —several lines at prices equal to the above ; fat, Rid, IJd, lid, l|dand Ifd per lb ; hides anti calfskins at late rates.

Messrs Pyne and Co. report for tho week ending Thursday, Sept. 3 : The total number of stock yarded comprised 5946 sheep, 332 head of cattle and 354 pigs. The attendance throughout the day was large, and the weather as fine as ever. The store sheep market held a very fair supply of young sheep, and regained somewhat its briskness. From the outset there were purchasers prepared to ■ give good values for cross-bred hoggets and young ewea in lamb or with lambs at foot, and a small lino of the latter brought up to 20s Gd. Hoggets realised all prices from 9s to 13s, two-’tooth stores from 12s Gd to 14s, merino ewes in low condition 4s Gd, wethers from 5a to 7s Gd. There was but little: alteration in tbe value of fat sbeep, really prime quality selling as well as ever. There was, however, a greater • proportion of inferior quality yarded than qven at last week’s sale, aad these suffered a decline. Merinos ware largely represented, some specially good quality coming forward. Prime cross-breds brought from 18s Gd to 23a, medium 14a to 16s, ewes all prices from 10a to 18a, merino wethers as high as 19s 7d and from 10s up to this value. Several lines, however, were passed out unsold. The fat cattle market consisted of, as usual, from fourth-rate quality to prime. We do not, however, consider that prices were the least degree in advance of our last week’s quotations. Best steers made from £7 10s to £9 10s, inferior £5 5s to £6 Ga, heifers £5 to £7, cows £3 to £7 10a. The store cattle market was bare of any useful lines of young stock. A few young cattle, mixed sexes, brought 25a. Aged cows aud dairy cattle were difficult to dispose of at late rates. As each Wednesday comes round the demand for prime baconers and porkers grows weaker, and there appears no bottom to the drop values have taken. Best baconers made up to 30s, whilst porkers sold at 15s to 20s. Stores are in better demand, and sold fairly well. Privately during the week we have placed a line of 2180 forward crossbred wetbors at a satisfactory figure. In properties we have placed the Glenthorne Station with a|l stock and plant. Skins.— Our sales for the week comprise 3003 country, butch ere’ and factory skins. The demand is barely as firm as of late, especisto- for cross»bredßr . Merton .however,

maintain their value well. Best crossbreds bring from 6s fid to 7s fid, medium 5s fid, merinos all prices from 4s 6d to Bs. Fat and hides late rates. ,

Mr F. C. Tababt reports on the life stock market for the week ending Sept. 3 as follows:—The total number of stock entered at the Addington Yards comprised 8946 sheep,. 332 head of cattle and 354 pigs. Fat Cattle.—About 175 head were brought forward for the week’s supply. There were several pens of extra good quality bullocks, for which there was good competition from the trade, and they sold freely from JBB 5s to ,£9lss per head, medium weights and quality .£5 15s upwards; best cows and heifers £Q to £7 7s 6d, medium and inferior .£l3 15s upwards. A good clearance was effected. Store Cattle.—-There, was only a small entry, for which there was a poor demand. Last week’s inquiry was not maintained. Fat Sheep.—There was again a good yardiug, but fully one-half of the entry consisted of merino wethers, the bulk of which were exceptionally good quality. The scarcity of prime cross-breds had the effect of forcing a further rise in value on this class of stock, but medium and inferior remained at about last week’s values. Pens of best cross-bred wethers made from 20s to 245, medium 17s to 19s 6d, and light weights 14s upwards. Best pens of merino wethers 16s to 19s 6d,. medium 12s to 15s 6d, inferior 9s 3d upwards. A good clearance was effected. Store' Sheep.—A good entry, a large proportion consisting of hoggets,, for which there was an improved demand, and sold freely at from 9s 6d for small hoggets, up to 12s 3d for fair-conditioned lots. Two and four-tooth- cross-breds, mixed sexes, made from 12s to 13s, and cross-bred ewes in lamb 10a 6d to 11s 3d; a small'lot of cross-bred ewes, with 125 per cent: of lambs, made '2oa' 6d, bub they were exceptionally good; merino ewes, poor, 4a 6d, and jinerino wethers from 5s 6d to 7s 4d, according to condition. All lines'were cleared. Pigs.—A fair entry, the whole of which were cleared at a-decline r on- last week’s values. Sheepskins, Bough Fat, Hides and Calfskins.—My for- the week comprised 2604 sheepskins, 4-7 bags and packages of rough fat, and about 40 hides and calfskins. There was the usual attendance of fellmongera. Competition was fair throughout, and all lots were cleared at the following values:—Butchers’ best cross-breds 6s 9d, 7s, 7s 3d, 7s 5d to 7s 8d; medium and small 4s 6d upwards; butchers’ best merinos 6s, 6s 4d, 6s Bd, 6s lOd, 7s to 7s 3d; medium and small 3s 6d upwards; very few country skins in. Bough fat Id, lid, IJd to lid for best parcels. Hides and calfskins are without alteration.

Messrs Todhunteb and Jennings report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, Sept 3. as follows At the Addington Yards, on Wednesday, 8946 sheep, 332 head of cattle, and 354 pigs were yarded, of which our entry comprised 1670 sheep, 81 head of cattle, and 137 pigs, for upwards of forty clients. The weather was exceedingly fine, and the attendance of those interested was fully an average one. Fat Sheep—More than an average yarding, merino wethers, ranging from very medium to very prime quality, forming a large proportion of the entry. Several lines of very prime cross-hreds were also on offer, but a good part of the cross-breds required further preparation, and were taken by graziers for topping off. We sold lines of cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes at from 15s to 18s 9d per head, merino wethers at from 9s 6d to 12s lOd, and fat ewes at up to 14s 6d per head. Store Sheep.—Another large entry on offer, a large proportion being hoggets. The demand was, perhaps, a shade better than at the two previous sales. Lines of merino wethers sold at from 6s 3d to 7s 6d per head, hoggets from 9s 7d to 12s 3d, two arid four-tooth wethers arid maiden ewes 13a to 14a 3d, cross-bred ewes in lamb 11s 3d to 12s 6d, ewes with lambs at foot up to 20s 6d per head. , We sold for various clients, 179 . merino ewes at 4s 6d, ,193 merino wethers at 7a 3d, 139 cross-bred ewes in,lamb at lls 3d, a line •of ewes in lamb at 20s 6d, 120 hoggets at 9s 4d, 286 do at 9s 7d, 74 merino wethers at 7s, 130 hoggets at lls 2d, 689 do at lls 6d and various small lots. Fat Lamb A—We sold the major part' of the‘entry;" one line at from 16a to -18 s per head, and another at from 12s to 12s 6d per head.' Fat-Cattle. —A fairly large entry, quality ranging from very medium to very prime. The demand was not very keen, values ranging from TBs to 20s per 1001 b; prime steers selling from £7 to £9 17s 6d, medium £5 to J 26, heifers from 10s to £8 12s 6d. Store Cattle.—A small entry; moderate inquiry. We sold . a line .of three-year-old steers at JJ4 5s per head, two-year-olds .£2 12s 6d to • J 23, and sundry small lines at about late rates. There was only a moderate entry of dairy cattle, and rather a dull sale. Pigs.—A large entry, and an extremely poor inquiry, sales being made, even at ruinous rates, with great difficulty. We sold a large entry as follows :—9 baconers at 25s 6d, 12 porkers at 16s, 14 at 13s 6d, 4 at 23s 6d, 2 at 21s, 4 at 21s 6d, 3 at 16s 6d, 9 at 12s 6d, 6 at 19s, 2 at 18s, 12 at 335, 28 at 12s 6d, 6 at 275, 5 at 20s, Bat 18s 6d, 25 at 9s 6d. Sheepskins, Hides, Fat and Tallow.—At the New Zealand Wool Stores this day we held our usual weekly sale of above, submitting a good entry of green and dry skins to the usual attendance of buyers. Biddings were keen, all lines selling at fully late rates. We sold our entry as follows: —Heavy cross-bred skins 6s lOd to 8s 3d, prime do 5s lOd to 6s 6d, medium 4s 6d upwards, merino skins at from 5s 2d to 6s 3d, country skins 2s 3d upwards, and small parcels of wool at up to 7d per lb. Fat and Tallow. Values unaltered; best rough fat l§d to I|d, inferior Id to lid; hides and calfskins at late rates. Land and Property.—During the past week we have sold privately a valuable freehold property near town, particulars of which will appear later.

Messrs Wilson and Sons report as followsßusiness last Saturday stood well on the register, about 150 pens chickens, &c., and hog-pena all full and doublebanked. Horses—Fifteen passed the hammer, beside traps, carts, drays, buggies, &c., &c. Inside sale stood at 30 sides mutton, quantities of bacon, cheese, furniture from a tin pot to a chest of drawers, &c., &c. Now no trial for the., present seemeth to be joys, but there are exceptions, and we had it last Saturday. The trial of finding shouting power, which is a heavy one, has even a bright side to it, if every time you open your mouth someone shoves half a crown in. We leave the reader, especially if he believes in the almighty dollar,' to say if he would not like to open it often and long. Well, so it was. Chickens went as if electrified, old hens 2s 3d, to 2s 6d, roosters 3a 3d to 3s 6d, ducks 5a to 5s 6d, geese 6s to 7a, turkeys'Ss to 18s, all in leas than one hour. We took fright at ourselves in thinking we had done it. The fright being over, we collared a cake, and drew ourselves up for’ - a - 'second attack, this time on pork. Piggy had the command of ‘lots- of admirers, and we had a warm time of it mostly. All through pork cracked away by the hluecoatfl to full prices, from 3d upwards.' Stores were swept off to the Peninsula. Belfast is hungry. Offal cannot swelter, in the sun ; we convert it into pork—nothing is lost; so we eat one another. What the last generation will be, which has lived on all the rest, it is difficult to say; we leave it to the gentlemen of science. Horses did a fair share towards the day's bread and butter. This trade is growing. Prices as per quality. The market is very low at best, but the shipments going to India will help to clear the market. We still sell nearly all kinds of traps, even beautiful new sulkies for JSIO 10s, &c., &o. Produce is turning over. Oats, slightly damaged, we cleared at Is 6d; and potatoes as you like them; it’s a matter to see what length the buyer’s conscience is, and how much of the screw he is. He can become a Christian by your giving him your coat, and he takes the cloak also; if you ask 20s, he can offer you 10s. Ypu turn on your heel with a feeling that you could kick him if you dare, but there it ends. You take what you can get. Land is moving, and it annoys us to see the mad brains some possess on this question,- giving . J 825. for. laad-^hjch.aoy

sober, sensible man would think half the amount was a living, price. We sold 500 acres at SOs per. acre, and we can sleep over such a sale, believing we have not robbed anybody^. and we have a few thousand more at,the same rate.

Messrs J. B. Kiha and Co. report for week ending August 29’on the live stock, grain and produce market:—Saturday’s; sale was a moat successful ' one, the supply exceedingly good, prices up to highest expectations and the attendance of buyers unusually large. The poultry pens were filled to the utmost holding capacity. ' So great was the supply that it was. anticipated that reduced values would be the order of the day, but the very reverse wan. the case. When the last pen was sold the 1 competition was as keen as at the onset of i the sale, and prices throughout were very ; evenly maintained. In the present struggle for existence; when all sources of employment have become the scenes of fierce coni-; petition; when people are pushing and striving against each other, and onlythe strongest survive; when women with 5 their circumscribed chances in the greatl battle of life, notwithstanding that often-1 times they are physically incapable, mustl enter the lists along with the proverbial! bread-winner, and engage in occupation*! that are altogether unsuited to the weaker! sex, it is surprising that more attention! is not paid by them to the breeding and* rearing of poultry for the market. Setting, 1 ; aside the political economy point of th® : real gain which it is to a country to supply; the actual necessities rather than the; luxuries of its people, the innroiun>g.' demand in this and in all large towns in' the Colony for a more plentiful supply of! every class of poultry, a demand now; far exceeding the limited supply, and l ensuring therefore a certain profit; to anyone engaged in breeding, iti makes ua very strong advocates for! this branch of, industry. It is not; derogatory to who lay claim to the! term “lady.” Certainly it is a healthy! occupation, and infinitely more profitable' than sittin^.'^mi till latest night stitoh'iijgiboot uppers or overcoats at sweating prices. The price list supplies' a practical commentary on, our advice. Hens,, 2s, 3a id, 2s 3d, 2a Gd, 2s 9d, 3s, 3s 3d, 3s 6d per pair; roosters, 2s, 2s 3d, 2s 6d, 2s< 9d, 35,-3a,3d,.3s 6di 4a 6d, sa, 7s 6d per pair; fowls,.2s, 2s 3d, 2s 6d, 2s 9d, 3s, 3s 3d, 3s 6d, 5s 3d, 8s per pair j chickens, la 6d, la 9d, 2s per pair; ducks, 4s, 4s 6d, 4s 9d, ss. 5a 3d. 5s 6d 5s 9d per pair; geese, 4s, 4s 6d, 4a 9d, ss, 5s 3d, 5s 6d, 6s, 6s 3d, 6a 6d, 6a 9d per pair; hen turkeys, 6s, 8s per pair; pigeons. Is 6d, la 9d per pair. Pigs.—A good supply yarded and sold fairly well, quite up to recent markets, and in many instances better. The recoil of the low rates, ruling in the Addington; market was, to some extent, noticed in regard to porkers. However, we can.safely say with regard to this class that our sales have shown better results. . We know of some having been bought there and fetched to our market that : have shown. a fair profit. Small and strong stores are in good demand and command a ready sale. Weaners are also attracting more attention. Prices—Weaners 6a to 10s, «m*ll stores 10s 6d to 12s 3d, large kind 18s.to 16s, pork pigs 20s Sd to 26s fid, equal to 3Jd per lb, heavier sorts at market value. Horses and dairy cattle were not in large supply, and call for no special remark. Grain and Produce.—The encouraging news of higher values ruling for wheat is the late cable information. Notwithstanding this, prices in the local market remain as reported last week. A much firmer tone prevails with holders who refuse to sell. In all probability we shall witness an advance in prices very shortly. Oats.—Quotations nimilar to last week’s. Potatoes.—As predicted by us ah advance in price has' taken place ,in the Sydney market, and it is also a noticeable fact that quotations for Circular Heads and WarrnambooT potatoes are not given; evidently they are out of the market. Following our advice of last week, we think that even better prices will be reached in a week or two, but excessive shipments must not be sent. Latest Sydney quotations, 45s to 50a per ton; local prices 12s fid to 13s per ton at country, stations. Onions—The market is uncertain; good, sound samples still command a' fair price, but inferior ones are difficult to' sell. Land.—A good demand is still'going on. Anything offering, the value of which is based by sellers on working results, and showing a fair percentage on money invested, is readily placed. Landholders in Canterbury are viewing with considerable alarm the exodus of our farming population, and in many instances; are taking lower prices in order to retain our population. We have a good many of these reduced value farms on our books for sale on easy terms.