MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9994, 24 March 1893, Page 2

MARKET REPORTS.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on the live stock market for the week ending Maroh 23, 1893, At Addington on March 22, stock penned totalled, viz., sheep 15,414, cattle 343, pigs 294, Store Sheep. Hare, as elsewhere throughout the country, heavy entries in this c'aaß are yarded weekly. We regret to say, however, that the predominating element in many of the sales is the worn-out-old-ewe class, which militates against the sale of better sheep, thus creating a temporary wave of dnlness. Store crossbred lambs are also being forced into the market in large numbers, and are consequently slightly in excess of present requirements. Good young ewes of all descriptions, and forward cross-breds, however, meet a steady demand; but the merino wether market is more depressed than anything. The attendance was large, including many buyers, but the state of the market ruled as above described. We sold for Mr F. C. Murray, a line of four, six and eight-tooth three-quarter-bred ewes at 14s lOd. Quotations were, viz., sound-mouth cross-bred owes 8s to 12s 6d, two-tooth do 13s to 14s lOd, cross-bred lambs 6a to 9s 3d, two and fonrtooth cross-bred wethers 10a to 14a od, and merino wethers, fair to exceptionally good, 4s to 8s Id.

Fat Lambs.— Only a moderate supply penned, the quality as a whole not being Al. For primest sorts bidding was good, but second quality commanded little competition. Values ranged as follow; Prime 11s to 14b 9d, others 7s to 10s. We sold as follow :— BO at 10s 2d, 20 at 14s 7d, 20 at 13s lid, 20 at 18a 9d and 20 at 18s 7d. Fat Sheep. —The fact of both our factories being in a comparative state of block probably accounted for the entry—an average-sized one—containing so few lines of prime quality cross-breds. It also answered for the depression in values of these, as well as second quality in turn. Our principal sales were—2o cross-bred ewes at 13a 2d, 24 at 12a 4d, 20 at 11s sd, 24 at 12s, 44 at 10s, 40 at lls, 26 cross-bred wethers at 16s Bd, 26 merino wethers at 12a 9d, 36 at lls 9d, 26 at 10s 4d, 65 at 9s lid, 32 at 10s. Fat Cattle. A small and inferior supply of beef met brisk competition at the hands of the trade, and everything was cleared at very satisfactory values for vendors. Prime steers brought £5 5a to £7 17a 6d, cows and heifers £5 5s to <BIO. We sold for a client cows at £6 2s 6d, and heifers at £5 2a 6d to <B4 10a.

Stoee Cattle, —With tha exception of one good lino of two and three-year-olds, which’ we had the pleasure of offering, the pens contained only odd lots of dry cows, calves end one and two*year-olds. As things have been going, very satisfactory business was transacted. We quitted our line, viz., 100 head two and three-year-olds at £S 2s 6d to J£s ss.

Daibt Cattle. —The entry contained but few good sorts, and valuea were on a level with those lately ruling.

Proa.—Above an average supply of various sorts. Porkers and baconcre were jealously competed for, but values for small stores were slightly depressed. Wo sold a line of mixed stores at from 12a to 435.

District Sales.— At Barfield, on Friday, March 17, the entry of sheep far exceeded the accommodation, some 18,000 being entered. A rough, aou’-wester made matters worse and very uncomfortable for the large attendance present. Business, however, was good, and we quitted our large entry at very satisfactory prices, viz., 70 half-bred ewes at 7s, 400 merino ewes at 3s 4d to 8s 6d, 300 half-bred wethers at 10s Bd, 700 merino ewes at 4* 2d, 100 ewes and lambs at 5a Id, 50 merino ewes at 2s 4d, 25 lambs at 10s 3d, 230 crossbreds at 15s, 250 merino ewes at 6s 4d, 60 half-bred ewes at 11s Id, 70 lambs at 13s, 370 at 8s 9d, 830 merino ewes at 6s 4d and 200 at 3s 7d. At Amberloy, on March 20, we held a fortnightly market, and yarded about 3200 sheep. In the absence of outside buyers competition was very limited and prices easy. With the exception of one pen of merino wethers, we cleared our entry at prices, viz., two-tooth half-breds, mixed, 10s 6d to 12s 6d; cross-bred lambs, 8s to 10a; cross-bred ewes, aound-mouth, 12s 4d; failing, 7s to 9a; merino ewes, sound-mouth, 6s 6d; aged do. Is 6d upwards; fat croas-breds, 15s. At Eangiora on March 21 the annual ram and ewe fair was pressed into the ordinary day’s business, which proved too great a tax on all concerned, and the necessity for a special day for each an important sale. The yards were full to overflowing with stores, and ISO pens, containing about 650 rams, carried the sale into darkness. For everything, except good straight station lines of merino ewes, bidding dragged. The latter, however, found buyers at 6s to 8s 3d, this figure being obtained by us for a large line. We quitted several lines of prime crossbreds at 15s to 16s, and good stores up to 14s 9d. Store lambs brought 7s 6d to 9s 6d. For all good young rams from reputed breeders, there was a good sale, but scrubbers and mongrels were at a decided discount. Our principal sales were:—33 English Leicestera at 2gs to sgs, 4 Lincolns at Ig to 2gs, 8 English Leicestera at Ig to 3fgs, 11 English Leicestera at 2fgs to Sfgs, 50 Border Leicestera at 2sga to B£ga, 4 Border Leicestera at 2fgs, 2 Border Leicestera at 2|gs, 8 Border Leicestera at Ifga to 2fgs, 5 Border Leicesters at Ifgs.

Land.-—We have to report the sale by public auction of Mr F. J, Hamilton’s farm at Courtenay, comprising 270 acres, at a most satisfactory figure, to Mr A. H. Gardiner.