MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16602, 14 July 1914, Page 9

MARKET REPORTS.

SOUTHLAND. [From Our Correspondent.] INVERCARGILL, July 13. Keen competition and high prices have characterised business in the stock market for some time. During the past week or so values ruling for certain classes of sheep have been somewhat phenomenal. The demand at present is much in excess.of the supply. Commenting on existing conditions one of Southland’s best known auctioneers remarked that there was an abundant supply of winter feed in all parts of the province. Naturally in view of the passing of the winter months and tho approach of spring ploughing farmers were unusually active in their endeavours to procure sheep to eat off their turnip crops. This was one of the enntributiftg factors to the present keen demand which, however, was not only local, as there were in tho district several Timaru and Oamaru buyers, who had been operating extensively in all-classes of stock, ewes particularly. Prices realised for hoggets at various public and private sales during tho past month or six weeks had advanced 4s per head, while aged ewes also showed an increase on values connnonlv ruling at this period of .the year. Frees in Southland had never beforo reached such a high level, AMBERLEY. The usual fortnightly sale was held at Amberley on Monday. Thoro was a small yarding, comprising 200 6heep, all of which were fats. Lambs ranged from 16s to 20s, wethers 21s 9d, ew<*a 2U« +« 21s 6cL