MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9760, 24 June 1892, Page 3

MARKET REPORTS.

Messrs H. Matson and Co. (associated with the National M. and A. Company o£ N.Z., Limited) report upon the Jive and dead stock, land and general' markets tor the week exuding Thursday, June 23, 1892, as follows*, viz.;—The continued demand for mutton for export is the theme of conversation in all' bucolic circles. The whirligig of trade seems to hover around the price obtained for sheep at the several centres, and the fact that, how different the sheep trade is now since “ Our New Zealand atoms go ” to feed the people of Britain instead of being tinned and boiled down as of yore at Templeton. The music was played fully up to ordinary concert r pitch during the week. The audience was good, the supply was full, and tho demand was insatiable. Wednesday’s Addington auction of fat - sheep was a treat to all those who are interested in the stock trade. There were sheep in large numbers of superlative quality; grand prices, good bidding, contented vendors, and satisfied buyers. Ten years have altered things a little. As intercommunication forms closer friendship, so distance and cost of transit make “man think.” Now, .without appearing fulsome in our appreciation of men, let us quietly and sensibly consider this vital subject- What is the question at issue ? To-day we have an inflated demand. To-morrow, when contracts are fulfilled and a lull ensues, what then ? A blank astonishment takes its place, and, like bats in daylight, our farmers will be found groping about for that light which they cannot understand. More anon. The entry for tho day comprised 11,181 sheep, 348 head cattle and 260 pigs. Our entry comprised 2250 sheep, 120 head cattle and 90 pigs. Bat Sheep,—-Very large number yarded, comprising some extra prime linos of freezers. Bayers were, as usual, limited;: but competition was very brisk. Exporters’ demands were evidently large, and biddings for every line of freezers were animated. Full values were obtained in nearly every instance, and an almost total clearance was effected. Our quotations are as follow ;—Best freezing crossbred wethers are worth from 19a 6d to 22s per head, medium do 16s 6d to 18a 6d, best freezing cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes realised from 17a 6d to 21s, medium do 16a to 17s per head. Prime fat cross-bred ewes made from 17s to ..19s, medium do 14s 9d to 16e 9d each. . Merino wethers sold at from 14a to 15s 9d for best, medium sorts making from 10s to 13s 6cl per head. Oar principal sales were as follow :31 cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes at 18s lud, 93 do at 18a, Bcl, 30 at 18a 6d, 60 at 18a 9a, 30 at 18s sd, 2;7 cross-bred ewes’-at. 16s 108, 30 merino wethers at 14a 7d, 30 at . 12s, 41 merino wethers at 12a 3d, 45 merino wethers at 11s Bd, 22 half-bred wethers at ,19s Id, 21 half-bred wethers and maiden ewes at 18s, 17 cross-bred ewes at Tls 2d,’50 merino' ewes at 11s 3d, 46 at TOs, 17 half-bred wethers at £1 Is lOd, 12 half-bred wethers at 20s, 20 half-bred maiden ewes at 20s, 40 at 18s, 20 merino wethers at 13s 4d and 15 at 13s od, 20 cross-bred wethers at 20s 6d, 20 at 20s 4d, 19 at 19s 7d, 31 merino wethers at 9s 6d, 60 at 8s Id, 22 at 7s 9d, 122 cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes at 17s, 169 ceosa-bred wethers and maiden ewes, at. 19s 2d, .60 cross-bred wethers at .21 Is 6d, 106 cross-bred wethers at 20s each. : :

, Stoke .Sheep.— The entry under this heading was large and Varied. Buyers were numerous and competitiongood. All ealeable sheep found ready buyers and remunerative values; but, we noticed., several lines passed unsold, on which prohibitive values must have been required when they were unable to sell in a market like Wednesday’s. Our quotations are as follow:—Large-framed cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes, half fat, two and fourtooth, are worth from 15s 6d to 16s 6d. two-tooth do 14s to 15a; large-framed cross-bred breeding ewes, six-tooth and sound-month, realised 13a to 17s, medium do 12a to 13a; well-woollsd sound hoggets made from 10s 6d to 13a 6d per head, medium do 9a to 9s 6d; merino wethers, sound-mouth, are worth from 5s to 7s 6d each. Fat Cattle.-— Pair entry, no extra prime lots yarded. Competition was fairly active. Bullocks sold at -85 16a to -£7 2a 6d, cows £3 10a to £7, heifers £4 to £7 each. Our principal sales were as follow: —Cows at £4 12s 6d to £4 15a, £3 15s, £4 to £6 17a 6d, £3 10a to .£6, steers at £7 2s 6d to £5 15a, heifers at £5 2s 6d, cows at £3 to £6 2a, heifers at £4 5a to £5 10a, £G 5s to £3 17a 6d, cows at £5 7a Gd, £5 12s 6d to £6 sa. Yeal. —Large entry. Best calves 20a to 80s, stores 8s to 15s. Store Cattle.— Small entry. Competition was fairly active, most lots changing hands. No lines yarded worth reporting. Dairy Cattle. —Large entry. Biddings were spirited from the start to finish of sale, and good prices were obtained. Best cows £B, £9 to £lO, others at proportionate rates. Pigs.— Large entry. Biddings were spirited throughout. Baconers sold at 27a to 455, choppers sold at 50s to 555, porkers 15a to 25s each. Wool, Sheepskins, Hides, &c. —Our usual sale was held; there was only a limited entry at auction. Buyers stood firm and gave fairly full values. In country and factory skins our entry was large. We quitted lines equal to 1000 in number np to 5s 3d each for choice cross-bred a; merinos of superior quality up to 3a 8d each. Hides and fat sold at late rates. The demand is good, solid and firm. Clearing Sales. —The sale of Messrs M'Drury and fii'Goff was a success. Ail lots under offer found ready purchasers. Biddings were brisk, continuous and satisfactory. Barfield— I This centre of market

achievements is one of the attractions where men do congregate. The prices realized were fully upon a par with those of ruling rates. It only remains for us to compliment the custodians of the yards upon the admirable condition in which the yards are kept, and the facilities that are rendered to the visiting and trading public. Our salsa produced a good average, many thanks to Messrs Holmes (Clinton), Mills, Patterson, Lace, Logesen, Maddrell, Eoi, M’Phedron, Peary and others. Canterbury Horse Market. —At Tattersall’a on Saturday last we held our usual weekly horse sale. There was a very heavy entry to hand, including several consignments of fresh country horses, which gave a stimulus to the trade generally. It is now a well-recognised fact that a new and fresh consignment of horses will always command the competition and attendance of the trade generally. Such was the case on Saturday, and we have to chronicle a decidedly better demand for good, useful stamps of all denominations, whether draught, hackneys or carriage horses. On Saturday oivr entry comprised light horses, nearly all of which changed owners at full market quotations. ; Things in General. —In our opening remarks we have referred to the sheep industry of “ our dear little Colony.” Facts, as at present, are of a glowing character, and wo have had the impudence to prognosticate * f a grit in the gutter.” Yea, we have.; and we do so advisedly, for too much success leads to ruin*. Yet, may we ask , you to consider things in general in a calm spirit, with a view to the future. Many men ask, “ Why are you eo hopeful of the future?” Our answer is simply : “We are one nation, one whole; and it is only of late years that such is recognised.” Steam and intelligence and the foundation of knowledge, and this, combined ' with the fact that |he many must be fed, answers the question. Here in -New Zealand our climate works out the problem of production; our only distress is consumption. The master of Longbeach has solved this parallelogram. We are gradually getting nearer and nearer by cheap freights and cheaper' charges ; and the sooner we understand our petition and stop the fleecing at Home, the sooner our Colonial adjuncts recognise this the better.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on the live stock market tor the week ending June 23, 1893, as follows At Addington, on June 23, stock whs penned, viz. :—3heep, 11,131; cattle, 348; pigs, 260. Store Sheep.— More congenial weather 'than last Wednesday’s brought a larger attendance together. The yarding consisted of about 3000 of various descriptions, the bulk of which changed hands at late values, although competition was not quite so brisk ss we have bean used to lately; Cross-bred hoggets were moat largely represented, and were quitted at values, viz., 10a to 13s 6d. Small two-tooth crossbreds made 13s to 14s, forward cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes made 16s 7d, cross-bred ewes in lamb 11s to 16s Bd, according to age and quality, merino ewes in lamb 7a to 9s in small lots, and empty cross-bred ewes 12a 7d, at which figure we sold a line on account of the Cashmere estate. We also sold 240 two-tooth halfbrcds at 13a 6d, and cull merino wethers at 4s 3d. Pat Sheep. —lt is seldom that these yards contain so valuable an entry of fat sheep as was penned yesterday. The supply was the largest yarded since the summer months, and contained line after line of magnificent cross-bred freezers, several first-class lines of merino wethers and a number of pens of really good ewe mutton. Inferior sheep were decidedly scarce. Values all round wore about on a par with last week’s, although bidding was a trifle more deliberate, perhaps. Prices ruled viz., heavy cross-bred freezers 20s to 235, medium weights 17s 9d to 19a and light do IGs to 17s, mex-ino wethers 9s 6d to 14s 6d, and cross-bred ewes 12a to 15s 6d. Our estes included the following 21 cross-bred owes at 13s, 21 at 12s lOd and 20 at 12s 6d; 23 cross-bred wethers at 19s sd, 20 at 18s 6d and 15 at 17s lOd; 33 cross-bred ewes and wethers at 19s 7d, 70 at 18a 2d, 35 at 18s and 34 at 16s 3d; 20 cross-bred ewea at 19s 3d, 20 at 18s 9d and 20 at 18s 8d; 20 cross-bred ewea at 13s Id, 20 at 12a lOd and 20 at 12s 6d; 25 merino wethers at 13s 7d, 19 at 12a 9d and 20 at 12s; 122 mixed half-breds at 18s 9d; 20 cross-bred ewea at 16s 3d and 16 at 15s 4d; 40 merino wethers'at 13s 5d and 50 at 12s; 166 cross-bred ewes at 12s 7d; 20 croas-breds at 17s and 101 at 20s. Fat Cattle.— A fair yarding of average quality, with a steady demand at late values. Bullocks £G 5s to <S7s ss, cows and heifers M 15a to .£6 7s 6d, according to description. Stobs Cattle. —Only a few odd lots brought forward, which did not command much competition. Good dairy cows ate in request, at. full rates, but inferior sorts are difficult to quit.

District Sales. —At Darfield oa June 17 a good entry of about 5000 sheep wag brought in, and included several first-class lines of prime crosa-breds, The attendance was good, competition keen, and a very satisfactory clearance was made. Lines of freezers brought 18s, 18? 2d, 19s 4d and 19s 6d, cross-bred hoggets So do 12a Bd, crossbred ewes in lamb 12s to 15s 7d, merino ewes in : lamb of an inferior description 7a to 7a 6d, fair to 8s 7d, two-tooth crosb-breds 14s to 16s, and merino wethers to 11a. We sold 148 merino ewoa at 8s 7d, M hslf-brod wethers at 14s 4d, 54 half-bred lambs at 11s, 86 half-brad Jamba at 9s lOd.— At the -Tinwald yards on Tuesday there was again a very large yarding of sheep and cattle. About 10,000 sheep and 80 head of cattle came forward for the day’s market. Our entry comprised about 2300 sheep. The attendance was much larger than usual, and the bidding keen throughout the sale for all classes of sheep except forward merino wethers, which- were very dull of sale, nearly all the lines being turned out unsold. Our sales were as follow : —47 merino wethers. at 9s, 20 merino wethers ■ at Bs, 36 merino ewes at 6s, 35 merino 'ewes at sa’ lid, 30* merino wethers at 9s, 155 merino wefchera at 8a lOd, 183 croas-bred ewes in lamb at 11s Bd, 544 half-bred ewes in iamb at J2s 3d, 100 merino ewes in lamb at 8a sd, 78 merino ewes in lamb at 8s 9d, 250 merino wethers at 9s, 241 cross-bred ewes in lamb at 13s sd. Privately during the week we have sold 1000 cross-bred hoggets at lls 4d, 600 crossbred hoggets at 13s, 300 cross-bred ewes at 13s 6d.

Messrs Miles and Co. (per Mr P. A. Archer) report oa the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, Juno 23, as follows :—Canterbury Saleyards, Addington, Wednesday, June 22. The entry for the' day’s sale comprised: 11,131 sheep, 348 head of cattle and 260 pigs. Fat Cattle. —The entry for the day was an average one, prime quality being again scarce. The sale all through, was fairly brisk, and prices obtained were quite equal to last week’s quotations, viz., 18s to 18s 6d per 1001 b. Store Cattle. —Again a very limited entry cf this class, with nothing exceptional penned, springers and old cows being the principal feature. These sold, for the former M, £5 10a up to .£9 ss, for the latter £3 12a Gd and upwards. Stoke Sheep. — This department was well patronised j in fact, the entry was the best seen at the yards for soma time past. All descriptions were penned, including some lines of vary forward-condition crossbred lambs. These and cross-bred ewes in lamb mot with a lot of favour. Prices obtained were a little below late quotations, but few lines were turned out unsold. Cross-bred lambs sold at from 9s up to 13s 6d, old cross-bred ewes in lamb 12s to 14s, young do 16a 4d to 16s 83, merino ewaa in lamb from 7s up to Bs. Fat Sheep were in abundance yesterday; all the pens were well filled with sheep that do the country credit for weights and quality. The demand for export is still very keen, and most of the big lines of prime sheep wore snapped up by eager operators in this department of the trade. Our local butchers are always to the front, and get their share; few pens of good sheep are purchased for export without keen competition from the city trade. We sold for Mr G. H. Moore, of Glenmark, a very nice lot of half-bred wethers,Boo iu the line.

from 18a 2d to 18a 3d each. The top price for the day was 22s 9d, and for lighter weights 18s to 19a. Pigs.— A good supply came to hand, the sale of baconera being perhaps a_ little easier. The demand for porkers is still very brisk, sales being effected at from 16a to 29s each, baconera from 35s to 56s for heavy weights. Our sales were as follow 800 halfbred wethers at 18a 2d to 18s 3d, 323 cross-bred ewes 15s lOd to 16s Sd, 60 cross-bred ewes 12s 4d to 12a 9d, 20 baconera 41a to 56a each.

Darpield Monthly Sale, Friday, June 17.—We have the pleasure of recording a very successful sale at these yards. The entry for the day comprised about 6000 sheep, about 30 pigs, 13 horses, 6 head of cattle, and a varied assortment of sundries. The bulk of the sheep yarded were prime cross-bred freezers. These were purchased at top values for export. The store sheep, although good, were a little easier in price, but most lines were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Tbe top price for fat sheep was* 20s 2d. Our sales were as follow:—42 cross-bred wethers and ewes 18s Hd, 199 cross-bred lambs 9s 6d, 137 cross-bred ewes and wethers 15s 9d, 103 cross-bred lambs 12s, 600 merino ewes, in lamb, 7s to 7s 2d, 226 do 6s 7d, 18 ram hoggets 20a, 12 store pigs 9s to 15s. Tinwald Sale yards, June 21. —The pleasant weather, and also the continued interest in stock transactions, brought together a large gathering of the public at Tinwald on the above date. A moderate demand prevailed throughout for all offerings of prime quality sheep, which changed hands at prices somewhat easier than those of recent auctions, and possibly owing to weaker competition amongst buyers for freezing. A notable exception was, however, made in a line of cross-bred freezing wethers, which brought 21a 64 after spirited bidding. On account Chatmoss estate we had the pleasure of offering a really excellent line of nearly 500 cross-bred ewes in lamb to English Leicester rams. These were large-framed sheep in splendid condition, and well merited the highest prices paid for this class, 18s, being the best lot of owes offered in the district for some time past. We also realised the best figure of the day for merino ewes in lamb, 9a 6d being obtained for good, strong, well-conditioned ewes. Fail-ing-mouthed merino ewes brought from 4 3 7d to 7s, and cross-bred do 10s 9d to 13s, according to quality; Hs 6d and 10s lOd was made for good quality merino wethers, but second-class lots which were freely entered were difficult to place at about late quotations. Our sales for the day comprised: 467 cross-bred ewes in lamb at 18s, 36 fat cross-bred ewes at 14s 7d, 150. cross-bred wethers, two-tooth, at 16s bd, 59 merino ewes and 13 cross-breda at 6s, 106 merino ewes at 8s 4d, 100 merino ewes In lamb at 9s 6d, 1 four-tooth cross-bred wether 21s, 44 cross-bred Jamba at 12a, 521 merino wethers at 10s lOd, 77 merino wethers at 11s 6d.

During the week we have disposed o! privately, 300 merino wethers at 10s 3d, 100 fat cross-breds afc 19a, 352 cross-bred ewea in lame at 13s, 134 merino wethers at 12s, 250 hoggets at 12s. Skins, Fat, &c.—We held our weekly sale of skins, fat, &c., at our Colombo street store, on Thursday, when wa submitted a largo catalogue comprising some exceptionally good skins. There was the usual attendance of the trade, but we note a slight reduction in prices, more especially was this the case - witlx merinos. We sold butchers’ merinos to 4s 4d, do ctoss-breda to 6s 3d and country skins to 4s Bd. We also sold a good lino of factory cross-breds at up to 5s lOd ; fat, hides and calfskins at late rates.

Messrs Todhhnteb and Jennings report on the live and dead stock market for the week ending Thursday, June 23, as follows:—At Addington Yards on Wednesday 11,131 sheep, 348 head of cattle and 260 pigs were sent forward for the day’s supply, and the weather being gloriously fine, the attendance was above the average. Our entry amounted to 2763 sheep, 94 head of cattle and 116 pigs, for upwards of sixty-six clients. Store Sheep. —A larger entry than has been yarded for some time, the major part of which passed through our bauds. The demand, although not quite so keen for lambs, was still a good one, and nearly the whole of the entry was sold at auction and privately during the day. We gob as high as 16a 4d for a line of two and four-booths for turnips, up to 13s 4d for lambs, 12s 9d for cross-bred ewes, 8a for merino ewes, and 14a for two-tootha; our principal sales being 390 first-cross lambs at 10s 2d, 50 merino ewes at Bs, 450 lambs at 8a Id, 145 two and four-tooth cross-breds at 16a 4d, 95 merino ewea at 7a Bd, 89 crossbred ewea at 12s 6d, 74 ditto at 13s 6d, 150 ditto at 11s 3d, 50 two-tooth croasbreds at 12s 9d, 70 croas-bred lambs at 12s 3d, 400 ditto at 12s 4d, 21 ditto at 12a 4d, 15 fcwo-tooth crosa-breds at 14s, 124 ditto at 13a 3d, 100 ditto at 13a 4d, 158 ditto at 13a 3d, and 21 croaa-bred ewea at 9s 63.

Pat Sheep,— Another good supply oi fat sheep was yarded, the quality being varied, but on the whole.good., The demand wasagain animated, export buyers operating os usual, and values were just about on a par with recent sales, if, anything a shade in favour of buyers, more particularly for sheep of second quality. Values ranged from 18s 9d to 22s for primest cross-breds. 16s to 17a for lighter weights. Ewes, not maidens, sold at from I2s to 16s, according to weight land qualitymerino wethers at from 10s 6d to 15a 9d. Our entry was a moderate one, already reported. Pat Cattle.— The entry was not nearly so large as at recent sales, but thetdemaud was again anything bub brisk- Prime bullocks sold at from £6 12a 6d to £8 10s, heifers and fat cows A 4 to £7 ss, toeing at from 18s to 19a per 1001 b, according to quality. We sold for various iclients 3 heifers at .94 7s 66, 3 at £i, .4 at.A4 15s, 2 at JS4 17s 6d, 3 fit £o sa, 3 at £!5 2s 6d, 2 at £6 2s 6d, and 2 at .£4 15s to £to ss. Store and Dairy Cattle. —Moderate entries and not much business doing; values unaltered.

Pigb.t-A, larger entry than -usual, and a good inquiry at Jafce rates. We sold 3 haconera at 39 s 6d, 3 at 335, '3 porkers at 20s, 7 d0at.270,.8 baconerß at. 375. 3 do at 40s, 3 porkers at 16s 6d, 3 bayonets at 41s 6d, 6 at 40s and 6 at 36a 6d, 7 toaconers at 40s 6d, 3 baooners at 30a,, 2. baconers at 33a, 3 at from 34s to 39a, 6- bacoaera at from 29s to 345, &c., &c. District Sales, Daefieue*— On Friday last at this monthly sale the re was a good entry of sheep, and the nei lal attendance of buyers and sellers. TJie sheep, as a whole, reflected very greed t credit on the district. We think it would be hard to find in any market in Cant erbury a primer lot. Our entry numbered. close on 1700, and we succeeded in selif ng every sheep, our principal sales beiiq;—ll3 lambs at 10a 9d, 140 do at lls Bd, 150 do at 12a 6d. 96 cross-bred ewes in lacj ib at 9s lid, 174 first-cross lambs at 10s 9 d, 50 very prime do at 13s Id, 84 cross-bi ed ewes in lamb at 15s 7d, 290 cross-bred ( lambs at 12s 3d, 99 do at 11a Od, 200 do jat 12a 4d, 429 do at 12s 2d.

Sheepskins, Hides, & c.—At our auction sale this day we yarded; an average entry of green and dry aki( is, which mat the usual attendance of bu yera. Competition was fairly active, prim e< cross-bred skins meeting with the befits inquiry, merino skins being much easier. We sold prime cross-bred skins at fnsm 4s 9d to 6s 7d, medium 3s Gd to 4a 3d, merino skins 2s lOd to 4s 2d, dry country si sina 2a 3d to 3a lOd. Pat and Tallow.- - Best rough fat l£d to l|d, inferior Id to 1 ?fd. Hides and calfskins: unaltered in value. Grain and Projmjce.— Little or no alteration has taken jTlaoe in values daring the past week. We have placed several lines at current rates.

Mr F. C. Tababt reports on the live stock market for the week ending June 23 as follows: —The total entry of live stock at the Addington Turds comprised 11,131 sheep, 348 head of cattle and 260 pigs. Fat Cattle. —About 130 head were brought forward for the week’s supply, consisting of the usual assort). icafc of quality. There wan an improved /J emand for good cattle, but inferior quality sold at about last week’s values. Bast steers made from i!G to M 17s Gd, medium £5 upwards, best cows, and heifera ra.nged from J 65 15at0.£6

ISa 6d, medium and inferior £3 5a upwards. Store Cattle.—A very small entry and the business done unimportant. Good dairy cowa are in good demand. Fat Sheep.—A very large entry, comprising all grades from prime freezing quality downwards. There was a good demand for export, and values generally were firm at last week’s quotations. Fat ewes and merinos also met brisk sales throughout. Best lines of freezing cross-bred wethers made from 19s to 22s 4d, and lighter weights 16s upwards, maiden ewes of prime quality 17s 6d to 19a 6d, fat cross-bred ewes (heavy weights) 16a to 18s, medium 14a to 13s 6d, light weights lls upwards, top pens of merino wethers (very prime) 14a to 15s 4d, medium 10s upwards. A good clearance was effected. Store Sheep.—A good entry for the season, a large proportion consisting of cross-bred lambs, for which there was a good demand, as also for good sound-mouthed cross-bred ewes in lamb. Good cross-bred lambs made from 12s to 13s 3d; small 10a upwards; forward-con-ditioned two-tooth cross-breds, mixed sexes, 12a 6d to 14s, according to size, and good young crossed ewes in lamb, 16s to 16s 8d; merino ewes in lamb varied from 6s 7d to Ss, according to condition. A good clearance was effected. Pigs.—A better entry than last wtAk’s, but the demand for baconers was barely so keen, though fair prices were made generally. Bacon hogs made from 80s 43a, and porkers ranged from 18a to 235. Sheepskins, Bough Fat, Hides and Calfskins.— My sales for the week comprise 2379 sheepskins, 72 bags and packages of rough fat, and about 70 hides and calfskins. I had a very large entry at my stores, the whole of which were cleared at the following values: —Butchers’ best cross-breds ss, 5s 3d, 5s 7d, 5s 9d, and for one lot of large skins up to 6s lid; medium cross-breds ranged from 3s 6d to 4s 9d; butchers’ best merinos 3a 9d, 3s lid, 4s, 4s id and 4s 2d; small 2s 9d upwards; country skins in proportion. Bough fat Id, IJd, l|d, lid. If d and l|d for best, well-saved parcels. Hides and calfskins are without alteration.

Messrs Pyne and Co. report for the week ending Thursday, June 23: —The total entries of stock at Addington on Wednesday were 11,131 sheep, 348 head cattle and 260 pigs. The entry of store sheep was quite a good one for the time of year, and consisted principally of cross-bred hoggets vvfch. a sprinkling of two-tooths and ewes lamb. As a report of sales and prices has already appeared, it is only necessary to say that the demand was good for all useful sheep. There was an extra large yarding of fat sheep, and prime quality was in many cases well represented. ■ The market for all classes of mutton was irregular, but, taken right through, we think prices, not only for freezers but for cross-bred ewes and merinos, were about equal to those of last week. Two lines of heavy-weight freezers (in fact, rather too heavy for export) made 22a and 22a 4d. Other lines made from 18a to 21s, in proportion to weight . and quality. Heavy-weight ewes sold at Irom 16s to 18s 9d, lighter sorts from 12s 6d upwards; merino wethers from 10s to 15s 9d. An average entry of fat cattle of very ordinary quality was quite .(sufficient for requirements. The market wag only better than last week’s inasmuch as more aattle changed hands, but prices showed no improvement. Steers sold at from £6 to £1 2a 6d, heifers from £5 to £Q ISs, old cows from JB3 10s to JE6 15s. The store cattle market only contained odd lots, for which there was not much demand. Good sorts of dairy cattle continue to sell at satisfactory prices. An average entry of pigs met a good demand for well-fed baconers and porkers. The former sold at from 35s to 555, and porkers from 18s to 27s 6d. Skins, &c.—We have sold during the week 1576 country, butchers’ and factory skins. At to-day’s weekly auction buyers were not very been, and a redaction on last week’s prices of from 3d to Gd per skin had to be accepted. We quote butchers’ cross-breds at from 4s to 4a 9d, extra heavy from 5s to 5s lOd, light from 2s 9d to 3s 9d, merinos from 2s"6cl to 3s 9d. Hides and fat are without alteration.

The New Zealand Farmers’ Co-oper-ative ' Association of Canterbury, Limited, reports on the live stock market for the week ending June 23, 1892, as. follows The total number of stack yarded at the Addington yards comprised 11,131 sheep, 348 head of cattle and 260 pigs. Fat Cattle.—An average entry of medium quality met fair competition, and values remain about the same as last week’s. Best sorts of steers and heifers sold at from £3 10a to M 17s 6d, lighter weights from M to £3 10s. Fat Sheep.—A large entry, including some very prime quality, and competition was very keen for all freezing lines; prime cross-bred and half-bred wethers making from 19s to 225, wethers and maiden ewes from 18a to 19s 6d, best quality ewes making from 14s 6d to 17s 6d. Store Sheep.—An increased entry, for which there was a fair demand, particularly for good sorts of croee-bred ewes, and former values were well maintained; crossbred lambs fetching from 10a to 13s 6d, two-tooths from 12a 9d to 14a, cross-breds ewes in lamb from 15s to T6a Bd. Store Cattle,—A mixed entry of all sorts and conditions, for which there was very little competition, good dairy" cows only being sought for, which sold at from JJ4 to £7. Pigs.—26o were yarded, and competition was been for all good lines of handy weight bacon pigs, which sold at from 80s to 435, porkers from 16s to 275.

Messes J. T. Fobd and Co. report on the live stock market for the weak ending June 23, 1892 At Addington yesterday, Wednesday, June 23, the total number of stock yarded comprised 11,131 sheep, 848 head cattle and 260 pigs. The number of fat sheep on offer was far in excess of last week’s market, and consisted chiefly of grand lines of sheep, both of cross-bred and merinos suitable for export. Sheep of this description realised values up to last week’s quotations, hut lines of eecondclass were sold at a shade under last week’s rates, and one or two lots' not reaching owners’ reserves, were held over for another week. We sold two grand lines of merino wethers from Mr. E. W. Chapman’s and Sir John Hall’s estates. These sheep were well competed for by. exporters and the trade, the former being taken in a line at 15s 43, and the latter being purchased by the trade at from 14s 6d to 15s 9d, the top price of the day. Oar sales were—2sl merino wethers at 9s 9d to 11s 6d, 65 do at 11s to 12s 63, 65 two-tooth cross-breds at 18s lid, 86 six-tooth cross-breds at 18s 6d, 40 cross-bred wethers and maiden ewes at 17s Id, 140 merino wethers at 14a 6d to 15s 9d, 255 cross-bred wethers at 18s 9d, and a pen of cross-bred wethers at 21s 6d. Store sheep were well represented, both by cross-bred lambs and cross-bred ewes in lamb.' The attendance was good, and all lines of young sheep met with ready sale. We sold 238 cross-bred lambs at 13s, 34 shorn lambs at 9s Id, 50 cross-bred ewes in lamb at 10s. Fat cattle were plentiful, but prime quality scarce, values remaining about on a par with last week’s quotations. We sold fat cows at from A 4 10s to J 34 17s 6d each. Store cattle were not so eagerly inquired for as has been the case lately, and there being but a very inferior lot entered, sales were made with difficulty. At Barfield yards on June 16 we held our monthly sale, and were favoured with an entry of 900 sheep, 8 head cattle, 8 pigs and 4 horses, selling the whole of our entry at fully Addington yards rates. Our principal sales were; 541 cross-bred freezer sat 19s Id, 56 do at 17s 6d, 171 merino ewes in lamb at 6s Sd, 50 fat merino wethers at 12a, fat cross-bred ewes at 13s to 14s Id, springers to £s los, two-year-old heifers at £2 ss, draught horses at £i to AS, and the usual entries of timber, sundries, &c., at full values.

Messrs Wilson anx> Sons report:—A man cannot possess anything better than a good woman, nor anything that is worse than a bad one. To be deprived of the one we love is a happiness in comparison to living with the one we hate. It’s as bad as a salt sea bath, which does not drown, but threatens. While life is a riddio with many sides, the best side is the aide of a duck, worth last Saturday 3s 6d to 4a per couple, and our old friends, the hens, 2s 3d to 2s 9d. The young gentlemen roosters dodgpd us atJfeto 3a 3d,

geese 4s 6d to 6s j turkeys, hens 7s to B»,’ cooks 18s to 19s 6d; all at per pair. Mind, we want flesh, not tooth-pickers. Tea hogs—wall, they came in by hundreds, and burnt the pockets of the buyers. All round every class did good work, and wej believe they will continue to do Breeders, now is your time. Well, a bad market; good entry, but »; hard-up lot of onlookers. Carts.—Well,: they rather astonish us. We are fairly getting into this line—new, middle-aged, and old, of every description that we canthink of, being this day aixty-two in nnm-; her, with a number of sales and prices to please everybody, from £2 up to £BS. The; sundries sale covered the usual mix-up ;i as a whole, things are not so bad. Never; say die, is our motto. Tuesday’s Skin; Sales—Quantity yarded was larger than; usual, but there was an absence of very! heavy skins. The medium tamed over late rates from 2s 9d to 4s. Dry, of which; there was an unusual quantity, sold as per] quality. Fat and Hides.—At these, usual! prices, there being competition. It’s al matter of custom and conscience; times one sometimes the other takes the; lead. Produce.—Nothing fresh to report.; Chickwheat wanted. Property ia being] sought after, with a few sales.