MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15861, 26 February 1912, Page 5

MARKET REPORTS.

HOME MARKETS.

HORSES. There was an entry of forty horses at Tattersall's, mostly of poor quality. Droughts brought up to £22 and hacks to £l2 10s. PIGS. There was a fair entry and the sale was brisk. Suckers and weaners ranged in price from 13s Gd to 18s. and stores from 18s 6d to 245. POULTRY. The entry was large and the sale keen. Ducks brought from 3s 9d to 7s per pair, hens from Is 6d to 3s Bd, pullets from 3s 6d to 7s 9d, and chickens from 4s 6d to Bs. * LEESTON. Owing to harvest operations being in full swing on Friday there was a smaller attendance than usual at the fortnightly sale at Leeston. There was a good entry of sheep, a fair yarding of fat pigs, but only a .small entry of stores. Fat lamhs were in good demand and values showed some improvement, fat ewes and wethers showed practically no change in values, while store. and forward lines of sheep and lambs met .with. a good sale. The demand for fat and store pigs was very brisk, and there was keen competition. Practically all the cattle yarded were young sorts, which met with a fair sale. The prices for fat lambs ranged from 13s 4d to 16s lOd, a lino sold on account of Mr 'John M'Cartin fetching the latter price. Forward lambs made from 10s 4d and backward stores from 7s 6d. A nice line of 146 two-tooth ewes, the property of Mr A. M'Pherson, realised 19s. Other fat ewes made 13s 3d, fat wethers 14s to 14s 9d, and a .lino of store ewes and lambs (all counted) 7s 6d. The fat pig pens did not contain many well finished sorts. A nice pen of baconers belonging to Mrs M'Cloy made 80s. The general range of prices for baconers was from 61s to 795, equal from 6Jd to 6Jd per lb. Porkers fetched 37s to 58s, equal to 6£d per lb. ' La.rge stores realised 25s 6d to 635, medium 15s 6d to 21s, and small from 9s. Fat cattle brought £5 10s to £7'ss, and yearling to fifteen months old heifers £3 7s to £3 16s. SHEFFIELD. At the Sheffield market on Friday the yarding of sheen and lambs totalled 6800, including 1800 fats, of which 923 were lambs of good freezing quality. There were a few pens of extra wellfinished, and two or three small lots of light, unfinished sorts. There were 170 wethers, the balance being ewes. In the store ponß all classes were represented, but cross-bred ewes formed about half the ontry. The majority were in low condition and dealers' lots. The balance was made up of 950 crossbred wethers, 1380 rape and store lambs, 300 merino ewes, 580 merino wethers, and a few odd small lots. of ewes (cross-breds and merinoes), with, lambs at foot. Owing to harvest operations there was only a moderate attendance of farmers, but freezing buy- . ers were well represented. Bidding for fat lambs was brisk, prices given being quite equal to values ruling at other centres during tho last few weeks. Aged and backward sorts, both sheep and lambs, were dull of sale, particularly aged ewes and low-condition wethers, the bulk of the latter class being passed at auction. The following wero the prices:—Fat lambs 15s 6d to 16s 4d. with part tegs to 17s 3d; unfinished and light. 13s lid to 14s 6d; fat cross-bred wethers lGs 2d to 17s 9d, fat cross-bred ewes 10s 6d to 14a Id, inferior 7s Gd to 9s sd, fat merino ewes 8s four-tooth cross-bred wethers (low condition) lis 7d, rape lambs lis 6d to 12s 6d. ewe lambs 13s, store lambs 7s to 9s 9d, culls fis to 6s 6d, soundmouth merino wethers in forward condition 7s 6d, four-tooth cross-bred ewes 15s to 17s,' two-tooth 14s 3d to 14s Gd. mixed -ao-es 12s 7d to 15s, sound-mouth lis od to 14s Bd, failing to aged 8s Cd to lis sd, aged 5s Id to 8s Id, failmstmouth merino owes ss, culls Is ad, sound-mouth merino ewes with lambs 8s aged 5s 6_d (all counted). Noticeable sales were:—4B four-tooth crossbred ewes at 17s, 48 at 16s Bd, o 3 at 10s Id, 123 four and six-tooth at 14s 4d 248 six-tcoth Down cross at 133 3d; for High Peaks Station. 154 cross-bred wethers at 16s 2d and 682 soundmouth merino wethers in forward condition at 7s 6d; C. Gamble- fat lambs at 175.3 d; A. M'Donald 83 at Ifis 4d- W. Humm, /2 at 16s 3d; W. J 6S Jenkins, 70 at 16s; D. Humm. 44 at J6s- E. Butler, 33 at los bd; H. D. Ncutze, 231 at 15s 2d. KANGIORA. Business has been quiet during the week. A few lines of new wheat were offered, and sollers quitted at 3s 3d and 3s -Id for Hunters and Tuscan first grade. Other kinds have not been placed on the markejt yet. Tho oats market continues firm in consequence of quantities being required to fill prompt shipping orders. Gartons were purchased at 2s for best lines and Is lid for lower grade. Duns and Algerians Is lid to o, = " A small line of new Partridge peas was sold at 2s 3£d on trucks at country stations, and a small line of linseed was secured by one of the merchants, but the price paid was not ob-

tainable. If tho weather keeps flue, large lines of grain should bo on offer next week, and it is probable values will decline. Chaff and potatoes are not being inquired for, but the market should open shortly. ASHBURTON. Wheat.—Old wheat is practically now off the market. There are still odd lines held in stores on growers' account, but the total quantity cannot be very great. Whatever business is doing is on the basis of from 3e Gd to 3s 7d on trucks, the purchasers boing millers, who are only buying to keep, up stocks until tho new grain is reudy. Odd lots of new wheat threshed out of stook are offering, and for these sales are.being made at from 3s 3d to 3s 4d for immediate delivery. Oats.—The market remains firm, and 2s on trucks is tho ruling price being paid for good quality Gartons, Duns and Algerians. Chaff.—Smo,ll lines of new chaff have been sold at from 60s to 55s per ton for local use. Good quality old chaff is worth 10s to 12s 6d per ton more. Tho weather during the week has been favourable, and good progress has been made both in stook threshing and harvesting; and, given another fortnight of suitable- conditions, tho bulk of tho grain will be in st-fcek, excepting in tho later parts of tho district. TTMARU. "Wheat.—Owing to the eentinued broken weather, harvesting operations aro being much retarded. It is becoming apparent that real harm has been dono to the now crop, and it will bo some time before there can be any new wheat in milling condition on tho market. This has had the effect of firming up prices for old wheat, and to-day's value is 3s lOd f.0.b., sacks extra. For whole fowl-wheat the market is bare of old crop, but it is expected that there will ba now wheat on the market shortly, or wheat out of condition at from 3s Gd to 33 8d f.0.b., sacks in.

Oats.—A good number of sales have been innde from farmers to merchants at prices varying according to quality. So far very little has been delivered from the country. To-day's values aro: —B. Grade Gartons 2s 4d; Duns 2s 4d, Algerians 2s 5d f.0.b., sacks in. Potatoes:—There is a little inquiry for forward delivery, but merchants in the present state of tho weather are not keen upon taking up forward contracts. Nominal value is £3 ss-f.o.b.,'saclc6 in.

NORTH OTAGO. [From Our Correspondent.] OAMARU, February 24. More business has been transacted in this market during the week than for many weeks past. .As to wheat, business has been mainly in last season's grain and a number of lines have changed hands. These have, however, been of small dimensions, the basis of business being 3s 7d net at country stations. The chief sales were:—looo sacks Velvet at 3s 7d net, 280 sacks Velvet and Tuscan combined at 3s 6«d net. and 240 sacks Velvet at 3s Sd, less commission, all at country stations. Threshing is backward, and consequently few samples are yet forthcoming. The only sale of new wheat reported is one of 1200 sacks of Velvet at a country station at 3s 6d net. The sample was, however, a remarkably good one, the grain being hard and plump and the prico conceded was about 2d a bushel over the general quotation. Another lino was offered, but the seller's estimate of value was sbavo buyers' limits and no sale took place. From 10,000 to 12,000 sacks, of new oats, which aro offering fairly freely, changed hands, the sales including several substantial lines. All the business done was on trucks at country stations, and the prices ran from Is lid net for licht Gartons to 2s id net for heavy Algerians. The chief sales were:—2ooo sacks'of heavy Duns at 2s Id, 1700. sacks of Gartons and Algerians combined at fis, 1000 sacks of B grade Gartons at 2s, BCO sacks of Algerians and Gartons at 2s, and 500 sacks of Gartons at 2s, all subject to brokerage; and 1000 sacks of Algerians at 2s, 680 sacks of Gartons at 25," and 500 sacks of Gartons at 2s, all these being net to grower. Tho market was topped by a heavy sample of Algerians, for which 2s Id net was given at a country station. A good sample of ryecorn was submitted, lor which the grower asked 2s 7d, but a sale is not recorded. There hos been no offering of oateusheaf chaff. Two nice, lots of perennial ryegrass were taken, one at 2s net delivered in Onmam, and the other at Is lid net at a country station. There has not been mucft doing in potatoes, but some sales have been made at £3 net; on trucks.

SOUTHLAND TFrom Our Cokkespondent.j INVEHCARGILL, February 24. Fat Cattle—Butchers have not been doing much during the past week, having bought fairly extensively at Wnilacetown sale in the previous yveeK. Good iprime beef is worth from oUs to 32s per 1001 b, heifers 26s to 28s cow 21s. Store cattle—These are still selling well, and large numbers are changing hfljids, manv still being sent nortll. Well bred well-conditioned t'u-ee-yeai-olds £6 10s to £B, two-year-olds £4 lUs to £5 10s, yearlings £3 to £8 10s, calves £2. Fat sheen—There is a normal demand, and prices continue good. Butchers' primo wethers 17s to 1/s M, lighter 16s, prime ewes 14s to 14s oa, others down to 12s Gd. Fat lambs— llie Bupply is limited; butchers 13s to 14S, freezers' 4Jd per lb. Store sheep— i&o market is easier, but it is thought that it will right itself in three or tour weeks' time. The demand from the north has fallen right off in consequence of the continued bad weather, wiuen has retarded harvesting operations ana there being no stubble ready. W°T tooth ewes 15s 6d to 16s, four-tooth ewes 17s to 18s, six-tooth ewes 16s bd to 16s 9d, sound-mouthed ewes 13s to U£ 6d, lambs of mixed sexes fit for rape 10s 9d to lis, ewe lambs, mixed lines, If to 12s 6d, wether lambs 9s to 0s bo, two-tooth wethers 12s Od to 13s, tourtooth wethers 14s 9d to 15s. Oats.—The market continues i eij quiet, and, owing to the heavy rams in New South Wales and Queensland, there is not now the keen demand tram Australia that was tho case previously. Locally the boisterous weather fens senously interfered with tho ripening <" grain, and it is probable thai.the liarvest will not bo general in Sontwona for another fortnight- Merchants generally are very reluctant to scllA.grade for forward delivery, fearing tbnt t quantity available this soasoivwin. "-., far below the average. Old oats are

| very short supply, and, while it is probI fWo that from fis to 2s 2d would he the j highest price obtainable by farmers on I trucks, merchants aro asking considerI ably higher prices, believing that the j bulk of the supplies offering will bo rej quired before the new grain is threshed. I Prices to farmers aro purely nominal at I from 2s to 2s 2d on trucks at country 1 stations. Chaff—The market continues | over-supplied on spot, and buyers aro I extremoly cautious, believing that prices will come lower. Merchants are offering from £3 5s to £3 10s on trucks. CHAD-DOCK, M'CROSTIE CO. WEEKLY SALE REPORT. Messrs Craddock, M'Crostic report having sold, on account Fr Sherten, his farm at Upper Riccarton, comprisI ing 1G acres, together with near!}'' new homestead, to Mr Lyford; on account Mortimer estate, 2 building sites fronting Woodhom Road. Lin wood, to Mr A. Davis; also, by public auction, on account of the owner, i-acrc and house of five rooms, etc.. situate Slater Street, Redcliffs, lots 45, 42, 29. 30. 31, 39, 51, 52, 53, 64, 37, 38 and 41, Celia Street, Redcliffs, to various buyers, the whole of this subdivision boing disposed of with the exception of three sections. which are how for private sale; also having hold a very successful clearing sale on Thursday last on account Mr G\ W. Wade, on the premises, Brittan Street, when there was another record i attendance. We wish to draw attention |to the clearing sales of furniture and effects as now advertised to he held on -Tuesday next on recount Mr Dickens at No. ICO, Bealcv Avenue: on Thursday next, on account Mr S. Harris, at his residence. No. 144, Kilmoro Street, near Manchester Street; on account Miss Sheehan, on Thursday, March 7, at her residence, Montreal Street, Spaethe piano, etc. 630