MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9724, 13 May 1892, Page 3

MARKET REPORTS.

Messrs 11. Matron and Co. (associated with the National M. and A Company !of N.Z., Limited) report upon the live stock market as follows : —The Addington market was only fairly supplied with stock on Wednesday fast; prices throughout tho sales were good, in fact competition at I times was “red hot.” The impression in some minds leads to the idea that so large a number of sheep are fattening on tur- ! nips than values are bound to come down. We can hardly recognise this version, for what.with au ever-growing fleece, and so long as the bottom is not knocked out of Loudon values and our Freezing Companies stand upon their legs in the same manly way they have done in the past, we see no reason for the cry of peccavi. The entry for the day comprised 484 cattle, 66C9 sheep and 241 pigs. Fat Sheep. —Small number yarded, i freezing sorts being especially noticeable by their minority. Buyers were numerous, and very avaricious in their demands. This was noticeable from the start of tho sale, and continued so until tho end. Prices were in sympathy with the demand, and show an improvement on late quotations, if anything. Best freezers "made from 18s to ISs 9d, medium do 16s to 17s 6d, prime fat cross-bred owes made from 16s 9d to 17s 3d, medium do 14s to 13s 9d, other sorts from 11s to 12s Gd, merino wethers realising from 10s 6d to 14s. For the benefit of freezers and others interested we will here insert a paragraph taken from a letter from our London i agent?, which reads as follows ;—“ Frozen Heat. —Tho market has been fairly steady fcr mutton, though with tho approach of more liberal supplies there is a greater disposition to push stocks off, and prices sre down Id per stone; best Canterbury sheep are scarce, and command 3s to 3s id. Best sheep from other parts make 2s 10d, ordinary 2s 9d on the I market. The trade m lamb has been interfered with by the cold weather, and prices to- day are not more than 4s aad 4s 3d. Beat is weak at 2s lOd for hinds and 2a 4d for fores. The chilled American is worth only 2s 4d aad 2s Gd, fores; hinds. 3s 3d. Queensland beef is coming in freely, and will also interfere with the New Zealand supply. A feature to be noted is that very good merino sheep are being laid'down from Newcastle, New South - Wales, and can be sold to a profit at la ICd to 2s, so it is increasingly evident that New Zealand shippers must keep to their prime crcss-bred mutton if they mean to have the preference in the trade.” This information, coming from such a reliable source, is worthy of the attention of frozen meat exporters, and we trust it will prove a word to the wise.

Store Sheep. —Limited entry in this department caused increased demand. Buyers were numerous and prices realised very high. Cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes, two and four-tooth, gold freely at from 13s 9d to 14a Gd to 13s 3d each. Breeding ewes are fetching excessive values, viz. from 15s Gd to 17s 91. All sorts of store lambs a;e realising wonderful values, namely, from 9s Gd to 11s to 12s Gd per head. We ask, “ Where is the margin in such prices ? ” and echo answers “ Where ? ” and yet there are plenty of buyers left who have to be supplied. When and where and at what values these will secure aheep to stock their various pasturages is at present an enigma. Dairy Cattle. —Tho demand continues very brisk, aad in some instances values are very much in advance of late rates. Fat Cattle. —The prices realised on Wednesday last wore of a pleasant nature, and the “ fats” from Mr William Birdling shone out in resplendency. Store Cattle.—-Some buyers are getting as rabid as they were morbid a few mouths since. Vemj Calves. —A much better class was upon offer, and considerably better values obtained. Wool, Sheepskins, Hides, Ac.-—This interesting portion of our weekly turnover is becoming more and more interesting. Tho division of the trade and prices realised is a subject deserving of much worthy consideration. Prices are fully up to par. Things in General are still torpid.

Canterbury Horse Market. —At Tattsrsall’s, on Saturday last, wo held our usual weekly horse rale. There was a large entry to band, including some fine, upstanding sorts. Competition was firm, and prices realised show au advance on late quotations. It has been stated that it is a good sign for tho couutty when horses realise good values. Well, if this is so, we are pleased to chronicle not only an advance in prices, but also a consistent inquiry at full values. The demand for draught horses is especially keen, and really good sorts realise from AlB to £25 to A 27 per head; medium do, Al-4 to AIG; hacks and harness horses arc su requisition, and all goodeoiv find ready buyer; at full market values.

The />;aL,4.fjTi Loan and Meb.CAMTUtE Avi’KCS COWAHY, LIMITED,

report on the live stock market for tho week ending May 12,1832, as follows At Addington on May II totals penned were, viz,, shp.ep Goo 3, cattle 484, pigs 241.

Store Sheet.— I The small total of about -oUO stores were yarded. The attendaface was good, including mauy buyers. Business was restricted to small lines, though la several instances exceptionally good lots changed hands. The prices obtained throughout the sale plainly indicate the teen demand that exists for sound young cneep everywhere. Two lots of young croas-brcd ewce, to lamb in July and August, brought respectively 17s Od and IGs 4'd. Cross-bred lambs brought 8s to Ha Gd, two-tooth cross-breds to 14s 3d. We sold 250 cross-bred lambs at lls 5d and culls at 7s lid.

Fat Lambs. —Business in this class, to some extent, appeared to regain life, a fair entry being penned and met good competition from the different sources of the trade.

Fat Sheep. —A rather larger supply than those of the last two weeks was penned. The quality was very mixed, and included several consignments of Chatham Island sheep. Merinos also formed a prominent feature of the market. Prime crosa-breds were scarcer than usual, while ewes were more plentiful. Competition appeared less spirited than of late, and prices in cros?bred ewes and merinos show a slight falling off as compared with last week. For prime quality little or no change is to be recorded. We sold 75 merino ewes at 7e lid to Ss 7d, cross-bred wethers at 14s 3d to 18s 7d, merino wethers at 10s 7d to lls Id and merino ewes at 9s 3d, merino wethers at lls Od to 12s lOd, cross-bred ewes at 15s 9d to 17a lOd, half-bred ewes at 13s Gd to IGs 7d and aged ewes at.l4a to 14s 7d, cross-bred ewes at lls lOd to 13s 10d, cross-bred ewes at 12? Gd, merino wethers at lls 44, merino ewes at 10s 7d, cross-bred ewes at 10s 3d to 14s 10d, merino ewes at Gs 9d to 8s lid, and a line of heavy cross bred ewes at 14s lid to 16a 4d. Fat Cattle. —An average supply of beef was offered, including two lines. of prime heavy-weight bullocks.' The rest of the entry . was principally composed of heifer and cow-beef. The trade competed freely, for everything, and prices ruled on a par with last week’s. Heavy-weight bullocks brought AS to A 9 sa, medium steers A 6 to £7 10s, heifers and steers A 4 10s to AG 10a, beef making 18s to 20s per 1001 b.

Store Cattle. —A similar eairy to last week’s was yarded, viz., a number of odd lots of dry cows and a few small pens of young cattle. Business in this department was as keen as ever, and all lots changed hands at prices favourable to growers. , Pigs. —A rather light entry for this season of the year met improved competition for baconers. Porkers also were in good request, and made values quite up to late rates. Baconers brought 24s to 435, porkers 14s to 23, Privately during the week we have placed 1000 lambs for export, and disposed of about 2000 store sheep at full rates. District Sales. —At tho Kirwee monthly sale on May G, a fair entry of about 5000 sheep was penned, mostly useful iots. The day was cold and uninviting, consequently the attendance was limited to those on business bent. Competition was lively, and little difficulty was experienced in effecting silos satisfactory to vendors. Fab cross-breda brought IGs to 17a Sd, twe-tooth cross-breds 14s to 14s 7d, cro-s-bred lambs 9s to 13s, merino wethers 3s to Bs, and cross-bred owes in lamb 13?. We sold 800 two-tooth half-bred wethers at 14s to 14? 7d, 200 merino wethers at 3;, and 350 cross-bred lambs at lls 3d.—At Tinwaki fortnightly sale on May 11, between 3000 and GOOO sheep were yarded. Farmers were in good attendance, aad spirited competition met all lots, resulting in a slight advance in most values.

Messrs Miles and Go. (per Mr J. T. Ford) report on the live stock mnx-ket during the week ending Thursday, May 12, as follows :—Canterbury Saieyarcs, Addington, Wednesday, May 11. The slock penned for the day’s sale comprised 481 head cattle, 6G09 sheep and 241 pigs.

Fat Cattle. —There was a moderate entry, the prices all through being very good. The feature of the market was a line of bullocks sold by ua on account of the Chatmoas estate. These brought from ABtoA 95a per head. With the exception of laese there were lew lines of good quality penned. Store Cattle were not so well represented, very few lines of young being yarded, but these were eagerly sought for and met with keen competition. Old cows also sold well, and dairy cows, though few entered, showed an improvement on last week’s prices. For steers £3 2.? Gd to A 3 15a ; for young stock 32s to A2 6a j cows up to A 4 15c. Stoke Sheep. —There was again a good yarding of this class, and buyers being plentiful, sales were effected with little difficulty at prices that ought to be very sat is factory to vendors. Cross-bred ewes were well supplied, aad sold up to 14s 6d, cross-bred lambs to 11b 4j,’ and merino wethers with fairly sound mouths from 4s 9d to 7a 3d; crose-bredo suitable for turnip feeding received good attention. We sold several lines from the Chatham Islands at 13s up to 15s each.

Fat Sheep. —An average entry, with a few lines of really prime freezers. These received good attention, both from butchers and, the export trade. Thera are still a large number old cross-bred and merino ewes filling the pens, with odd limes of half-fat merino wethers. It seems curious that the last-named cannot be topped off considering the abundance of feed there is in tho country. The Chatham Island sheep were in full force, and sold at a-good figure. We .obtained for a line ISs to 18s 9d.

Pigs. — A larger entry ,-and prices firmer than last week’s. Baconers from 23s up to 44?, porkers from 15a upwards. Our sales were as f0110w320 cross-bred ewes at 13s to 13s Id, G 3 cross-bred mixed sexes 17s and 127 merino wethers at 13s 9d, 82 cross-bred ewes aad wethers ar. IGa lid to 17s 2d, 31 cross-bred ewes at 13s to 13s 4d, 131 merino wethers at 10s 9d, 12s 5d to 12s lid, 21 merino wethers at 11a Gd, 203 cross-bred wethers from 15s to 18s 9d, 69,crossbred wethers at 14s, 38 cross-bred wethers at lls Sd, 13s 3d to IGs 3d, 3 fat bullocks from A 8 to A 9 3s,

Thursday, May s.—We held a sale of live and dead stock at Me George Jameson’s Rakaia yards. There was a fair attendance of the surrounding settlers, but the sale generally was certainly not brisk, although tho sheep sold at current rates; 250 cross-bred owes and wethers, of medium and heavy weigh: a, brought 15s 9d each, 200 merino ewea in forward condition 7s each ; Border Leicester rams up to 2gs, springers A 3 to A 5 10s • good farm hors 1 ;?, of which there was a large entry, from AlB lo A 23 ; pigs up to 28s Gd. The sundries, comprising all sorts, were not eagerly competed for; but a fair clearance was effected at satisfactory rates. This monthly sale has nob long .been inaugurated, but if persevered with it will, without doubt, succeed, aad prove a great boon to His settlors in the immediate neighbourhood of the Rakaia township.

Friday, May (J.—Wo held our usual monthly sale at the Kivweeuow saloyards, which are well situated and moat conveniently arranged. There was s very Isrge attendance and a really good entry of firstclass lines of sheep. We penned 1065, and cleared every line at the undermentioned prices :—Bl4 two-tooth cross-breds at 16s, 65 cross-bred lambs at 0* 7d, 506 cross-bred lambs at ISs, 106 cross-bred lambs at 10s lid, 00 two and four-tooth cross-brcds at 16s 2d, 10! merino ewes at 6s 2d, 108 twotooth croas-breda at 17s Bd, 27 two-tooth cross-breda at 15s lid, 10 merino ewes'at 6s 2d, 45 cross-bred iambs at 12s sd, 83 merino wethers at 4s Id, 33 cross-bred lambs at 10a 2d, 33 cross-bred lambs at 11s Id, 11 store pigs at 4s 9d to ss, 8 store pigs at 5s 3d, 1 horse at <£B, and 1 horse at <£l. Tuesday, May 10.—We held our usual fortnightly sale at the Tinwald Salcyards. The entry comprised about 5000 sheep, and ns good buyers were in attendance, buskers was, on the whole, fairly brisk, and good values were obtained. Wo permed 1800 sheep, and sold every line as follows:— Merino ewos, os 6d, 6s lOd to 7a Id; merino wethers, 8s 8d for a good line of turnipers; fat cross-bred ewes, 10a 3d to

10a fid each; cross-bred lambs, 8a Bd, 9s 8d to 10a 2d.

Land. —Wo have this weak sold Grant’s farm, near Ay 1 anbury, 981 acres, at a satisfactory price. This completes the sale of the whole of the farms in the estate of the late Mr William M'Lennan, comprising over 2000 acres, which have changed hands through our agency during the past six weeks. On Saturday, May 7, wa submitted to auction the -Trehalswell estate and the Old Show Grounds, neither of which were sold, but wo have inquiries, and hope to report sales very soon. We have also sold privately 181 acres of Chatmoas estate at .CIS per acre. Skins, Fat, &c.—We held our weekly sale on Thursday, and submitted a good catalogue, including 30 packages wool. There was a good attendance of buyers, and skins sold on a level with last week’s values, while the wool offered brought fair prices. Fat and hides at late rates.

Messrs Todhuktbk and Jennings report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, May 13, as follows . "With the exception of the rough southwester of Saturday last, the weather for the past week has been all that could be desired for tho pursuit of both agricultural and pastoral labours : the land is in grand condition for ploughing, feed is most abundant, and the threshing machines, having loat but little time, are drawing to the close of another season, with results, we fear, that have not borne out the anticipations formed at harvest time; at tho same time we believe that 1891-2 will not be found among the worst years our farmers have experienced by a very long way. To come to the immediate present, 6609 sheep, 484 head of cattle and 241 pigs were yarded, of which number our entry

consisted oE 1573 sheep, 121 head of cattle and 71 pigs for upwards of 62 clients. The weather was on the dull side, but the attendance was good, and business right throughout was brisk, with values quite on a par with those ruling at recent sales, and if anything firmer. Stoke, Sheep.— The entry was not nearly so large as wo. have lately been accustomed to see in these yards, and a far greater number could easily have been placed. Quite the feature of tbo entry were two linos of four and six-tooth cross-bred ewes, iu lamb to Shropshire Down rams, offered by ourselves on account of Mr Charles Lewis, of Halswell. They were sent forward in splendid order and condition, and reflected great credit on their management. It goes without saying that they met with good competition, the lot to lamb in June-July fetching 17s 9d per head, and for July-August lambing 16s 44 per head. Our other sales of stores were 60 merino ewes, in lamb, at 7s sd, 160 merino wethers at 8s 3d, 90 lambs at 10s Id, 113 ditto at 8s 7d, 95 cross-bred ewes at 10s 9J, and 43 lambs at 10s fid. Fat Lambs. —A few keep coming in every week, and, if very good, are eagerly snapped up for export. We sold for Mr G. Osterlelz a grand line of 70 at 13s Gd per head. Fat Sheep. Near about 4000 were yarded, the scarcity of good cross-breda being again noticeable. The demand was good and late values firm, 17s to 18s 9d being reached for prime cross-breds, at which latter price we topped the market with a line of two-tooth wethers on account Mr Swain, Greenpark. Crossbreda of lighter weight sold at from 14s to 15s 3d; owes, mixed ages, 11a fid to 16a; merino wethers 9s 6d to 13s. Our sales were 27 cross-bred ewes at 13s Bd, 26 at los Bd, 26 at 14s 9d, 26 at 14s, 20 at 13a 9d, 18 at 13s 3d, 45 merino ewes at Ba, 33 at 9s lid, S 3 at 8s 4d, 21 at 3s Bd, 23 merino wethers at 10s lOd, 15 uvo-tooth wethers at 18s 9d, 23 cross-bred ewes at 14s 2d, 20 at 13s, 25 at 12s 2d, 31 at 11s, 23 cross-bred wethers ;at 15s 4d, 31 at 15s 2d and 23 at 14s Bd.

Fat Cattle.— Rather more than the average entry, with a very fair demand. Steers sold at from £7 5s to .£9 5s for prime sorts, heifers and cows £4 10s to £i. Wo sold a very nice line of bullocks at £7 13s per head, 3 heifers at £5 7s Gd, 3 at £5 13a Gel, 3 at £4 10a and 10 at from £3 12s Gd to £G 2s Gi per head, Stoeb. Cattle.—A. fairly large entry met with a good inquiry at fully late rates. Wo sold 12 yearlings at 32s per head, 6 heifers at 445, 6 do at 535, 12 do at 38s, 16 yearlings at 31s, 6 heifers at 525, 3 at 58s, G steers at G2s and odd lines of store cows at from 44s to 70s per head. Dairy Cattle.— For good sorts of springers there is a capital inquiry. We sold medium sorts at Irom £4 to £G os per head, and really choice young cows just calving down at up to £9 per head. Pigs. —A fairly good ■•entry and a slightly better enquiry. Good baeoners, heavy-weights, sold at from 31s to 42s per head, medium-weights 2 is'to 28s, porkers IGs to 235. We sold 12 baeoners at 31s Gd, 23 at from 23s to 245, 9 at 24s to ,355, 5 porkers at 20s, 4 at 245, 7 baeoners at 28s, G at 23f, baeoners at 445, 5 at 24s and 4 at 21s Gd, 3 at 30s Gd, AcDistrict Sales.— At Kirweo oh Friday last was held the usual monthly sale, when the good entry of between SCOO and 6000 sheep were yarded. There was a capital attendance of buyers, and the best sale that we have seen for a long, time- past. Prime fat cross-breda sold at from 15s 6d to 17s 3d, eroas-breds for turnips 13s to 14a Bd, lambs at from 9s 9d to 13s.\ Our sales were as follow 2G3 merino ewes at 53 Bd, 69 cross-bred ewes at 9a 3d, 50 twotooth cross-breds at 15s lOd, 213 hah-bred lambs at 9a 9d, 163 do at 10s lOd, 85 merino ewes at 5s 3d, 117 cross-bred ewes at 12s 4d, 11G cross-bred ewes at Da ,3d, Ac. At Prebblaton on Tuesday we held a clearing sale of live and dead stock on the farm of Mr Thos. Gabbatis, Prebbleton, and favoured by fiqe\ weather and, a good attendance of buyers! we held a most successful sale. ; Sbjsepskins, Hides, Fat, Ac,—At our 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. Values were about on a par with last week's rates. Prime cross-brads sold up to 4s Gd each, medium 2s lOd to 3a 4d; merinos Is 8d to 2s 3d. Fat.—Beat rough lid to lid, medium lid to Grain and Peodoce.— During the past week a good volume of business has been done in wheat, buyers and sellers having got more within touch of each other. We have sold several large parcels of wheat at from 3s 5d to 3s 7|d f.0.b,, sacks extra, according to .sort and sample. We. have also sold lines of feed oats at up to Is C£d per bushel ex store.

Land and Pjkopeeties.— Though we have effected no actual sales during the past week, we have several fairly large transactions pending, which wa hope to bring to a point, in the course of a few .days? We can safely and truly say that there is a'very healthy inquiry for farms of good land. In addition to the private sales we have in hand, we shall offer on Saturday, May 21, land that on all sides is admitted to be without an equal in Canterbury, viz., part of the Lanadowne Estate, Halswell, besides a farm of lighter land at Weedons.

Mr P. C.Tahart reports on the live stock market for the week ending May 12, as follows:—The total number of stock yarded at the Addington Yards comprised 0609 sheep, 484 head of cattle, and 241 pigs. Pat Cattle.—>lss head were brought forward for the week’s supply; competition was far from active, except for choice lots, and several pens were passed unsold. Top lots of very prime bullocks made from TS to TO 5--, medium T 6 10s to T 7 15s, and light-weights T 5 upwards, best cows and heifers £5 to TO 2ri Oil, medium and inferior JS3 2s 0d upwards. Store Cattle.—About 320 head, including dairy cattle, were on offer. There was nothing very good on offer by auction. Best pens of steers from two-and-a-half to three-year-olds made from T 3 to T 3 10s, and eighteen - month cattle from 38a to 465, and yearlings from 16s to 32s according to condition. A good clearance was effected. Pat Sheep.—There was a good entry in numbers, but prime freezers were not largely represented, a good proportion of the entry consisting of merino wethers of medium quality and fat ewes. There was a strong commission in the market for freezers, which sold freely at an advance on last week’s quotations, best lines selling

at from 16a fid to 17b 9d, a few extra heavyweights from the Chatham Islands making up to 18s 9d, medium weight freezers 153 upwards, maiden ewes 15s fid to 17s, fat ewes 13s fid to 14i fid for top pens, medium weights 12s to 13s, and light weights 10a upwards. Merino wethers made for top pens 12s to 13s 9d, medium pens 8a 6a upwards. A good clearance was effected. Store Sheep.—A small entry, amongst them two lines of especially good cross-bred ewes in prime condition and to lamb early, which made respectively 16s 4d and 17a 9a ; ordinary cross-bred ewes, mixed ages, making from 10s 4d to 11a fid and 13s 10d; two-tooth cross-bred ewes made 14s 3d, and cross-bred lambs ranged from 9s fid to lls fid according to quality and condition. Pig g . —a good entry of baconers, which met an improving demand, and a clearance was effected at an advance on last week’s values, beat hogs making from 35s to 40s, and lighter weights 28a upwards. Porkers also sold more freely. Sheepskins, Rough Pat, Hides and Calfskins.—My sales for the week comprise 2017 sheepskins, 68 bags and packages of rough fat, and about 40 hides and calfskins. There was the usual attendance of fellmongers. Competion wai fairly active but irregular, and all , lots cleared at following values:—Batchers* best cross-breds 4g, 4s 2d. 4s 4d, 4s fid to 4; lOd, medium 2s 9d to 3s lid, butchers* best merinos 2s 3d to 2s lid, small ls4d upwards. Very few dry skins forward; Rough Fat.—Best parcels Ijd to l|d, medium l|d to l£d, inferior Id. Hides and calfskins are without alteration.

Messrs Ptne and Co. report for tha week ending Thursday, May 12: Tha total number of stock yarded comprised 6609 sheep, 484 cattle and 241 pigs. The weather threatened rain during the morning, but towards midday cleared up and remained flue daring the afternoon. There was a capital attendance of farmers and the trade, and competition for all classes of sheep remained firm on a par with our last week’s quotations. The store sheep market held a small supply, though what lines came to hand were, taken all through, exceptionally good, notably a line of ewes due to lamb early to Shropshire Down rams, sent in by Mr Charles Lewis, of Halswell. These brought from 16s 3d to 17a 9d; other lines of ewes brought from lls to 14sfid; hoggets 9s to lls fid ; merino ewes up to Ss sd; maiden ewes 14s 3d. The supplies of fat sheep dribbled in during the morning by road and rail, and by the commencement of the sale an average supply was yarded. Competition for prime freezing quality remained firm, best pens bringing from 16a fid to 18s fid; medium quality 15s fid to 16s fid; prime heavy ewes from 15s to 17s 5d ; lighter weights all prices from lls to 14s; merino wethers 10s to 14s. A small supply of fat lambs sold well, when prime, at late rates. The fat cattle market, owing to tho fact of two successively large supplies, was somewhat easier. Best steers brought from £7 to £9 5s for some extra fine quality; medium sorts, sold from £3 15s to £6 10s. Heifers, all prices from £4 to £7, fat cows £3 15s to £6 ss. The supply of store cattle held a larger assortment, than has lately been the case. For healthy young cattle and springers the demand remains firm. Yearlings brought up to 32s fid, from two years to two years and a half £2 15s to £3 12s fid. Cows, dry, up to £4 15s, to calve and springing all prices to £9. Prices for baconers, porkers and store pigs hardened slightly. Porkers brought from 16s to 245, and baconers up to 40g. Privately we have placed 500 freezers, 600 breeding ewes, and 70 head of cattle. . Skins.—Our sales for the week: 1971 country, butchers* and factory skins. The local demand for butchers’ lots was decidedly weaker. For factory skins, prices remain level, with late quotations. Best cross-bred skins made from 3s 3d to 4s 3d, medium 2s fid to 3s 3d, merinos 2s to 3i, lambs’skins, best, 3s 3d to Ss 10d. Hides and Fat.—Late

The New Zealand Faemehs’ Cooperative Association of Canterbury, Limited, reports on the live stock market for the week ending May 12, 1892, as follows -.—The total number of stock yarded at the Addington yards comprised GGO9 sheep, 484 head of cattle, and 241 pigs. Pat Cattle.—About the usual entry, of which there were some very prime steers, and competition wasfairly keen, best steers making from £6lss to £9 ss, lighter weights and heifers from £5 to £7 10s. Pat Sheep.—A small entry, with a large proportion of merinos, which met with a ready sale. All prime cross-breds met with keen competition, best peas bringing from 16s Gd to 18s. lighter weights and cross-bred ewes making from 14s to 16s, merino wethers from 10s 6d to 14s. Store Sheep.—A small entry, all- of which met with keen competition at about former values. Store Cattle.—An average' entry of store and dairy cattle, which nearly all found purchasers at satisfactory prices, best steers making up to £3 12s 6d, dry cows from 30s to £4 ss. Pigs.—About 200 baeoners and porkers were yarded, which met with fair competition, and former values were fully maintained.

The Farmers’ Co-operative Saletahds Company (H. B. Sorensen, manager) reports:—We held our sale on Saturday last. Though the weather was somewhat rough, we had a. large entry of poultry, but tbe pigs were very few, and they sold well at 5s 9d to 9a 6d; hens from Is 6d to 2s 6d, roosters Is 9d to 3s 3d, ducks Ss to Ss 6d. We sold a quantity of produce at low prices, and quote potatoes 20s to 345, onions 2as to 43s per ton, carrots 14s .per ton. We held bar usual skin sale on Tuesday, when we realised full prices. Hides and fat brought full values, and were well represented. We also held a very auccessful sale of furniture and effects in Lyttelton, and have added another to the list of pioneers in farming going from Lyttelton to the North Island.