MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11537, 25 March 1898, Page 6

MARKET REPORTS.

ASHBUETON EAM AND EWE FAIE. There was a fair attendance of farmers and breeders at the ram and ewe fair, held at Tinwald yesterday, but the sale itself, as was expected, in the absence of rain and feed, was one of the dullest that has ever been beld in the district. About 7500 ewes and 500 rams were yarded, and a considerable amount of business was done privately, but at auction the prices offered were only such as could be accepted for boiling down, and many of the best breeders did not sell a single ram. Amongst the ewes offered there were a good many low-conditioned lots, but a line from the Alford Estate attracted great attention, being one of the evenest, best grown and best woolled lots of ewes . ever . offered in the yards. They were said to'. be out of Canowiemerino ewes by Lincoln rams. They easily topped the market at 10s each, other lines of ewes not realising much more than half the money. Ordinary cross-bred ewes made from 3s lid to 5s lOd, merino 2s lid to 3sV fid. ’ .Earns sold as follows-. — Lincolns from f g to 4-J-gs, English Lecesters from Ig to 2-ifgs, Border Leicesters from to Ig, Hampshire Downs from Ig to 2gs, Shropshire Downs fg to A large number were passed. OXFOED. Messrs H. Matson and Co, held their second weekly sale of stock at Oxford yesterday, -when there was an entry of about 2000 sheep. The rains which have fallen there during the past few days caused a very fair inquiry for store sheep, and every line was cleared at a shade over prices ruling lately. Forward turnip wethers brought 9s fid to 10s fid, not quite so good 7s to 9s; mixed two-tooths of good quality, 7s fid to 8s fid; fat lambs, 8s fid to 9s fid; store lambs from 5s to 6s for good sorts and up to 3s 3d for cull lots; soundmouthed merino ewes. Is 3d to 2s fid; four, six arid eight-tooth breeding.ewes up to 7s; sound-mouthed ewes in backward condition, 2s fid; boilers from Is to Is 8d; and rams up to 2igs.,