MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17665, 18 December 1917, Page 6

MARKET REPORTS.

ASHBURTON. The grain and produce business locally has for a few months been of very small dimensions, and for the past few weeks dealings as between grower and merchant have been practically nil. Reaping of the new crop of oats has commenced, but these are Algerians, which were early sown for green feed. The recent heavy rains will now delay the ripening of tho crops and should also materially improve the yield and allay the rust, which was very prevalent. Wheat.—lnquiries are received daily from millers short of stock, or who have had to close down altogether, but none is available. Oats.—Values remain nominally at 3s 3d to 3s 4d for B Gartons, and 3s 5& to Ss 6d for A Gartons on trucks, but for retail trado several pence per bushel more is obtainable. Chaff.—The inquiry is considerably easier owing to the southern market being over snp-J plied. Prime quality is worth 90s to 955, anvrW fair average 85s to 90s per ton on trucks, ) country stations; inferior quality down to 20s ipor ton less.

" MOUNT POSSESSION" OFFERER BY

AUCTION.

An important sale of pastoral country was oonducted in the Ashburton Arcade on Saturday afternoon by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited, .on behalf of' Mr F. J. Savillo, o, Christchurch. Tho land comprises a total of 9006 acres of freehold, and has since the very early times been known as Mount Possession. It is.situated up the Ashburton Gorge, and the homestead is about thirty-five miles out from Ashburton. The whole property was acquired by Mr Saville twelve years ago. There was;.* fairly good attendance and the keenest interest was taken in tho sale both by tho Prospective buyers and the farmers p-enerally. Most of the property offered is what is known as high, country, but it is good, sweet sheep grazing land and by no means difficult ic muster or otherwise' work. - The first lot was the homestead, together with farm buildings, wool shed, etc., and 1274 acres of land, the upset price being; £5 10s pet acre. At first no bid was forthcoming, and it was passed. It was subsequently put up again, when the bidding was fairly spirited up to £6 5s an acre, at which figure Mr J. Brown, of Mayfield, became the purchaser. Tho block known as the Lake Emma Downs block, comprising 1783 acres, was sold to Canterbury College at the upset price of £2 5s per acre. The Pudding Hill Valley block, comprising 2150 acres, also nassed into the hand of Canterbury College at £2 7s 6d an eore, or 7s 6d above the upset. • ._ The Upper Clearwater Lake blook of 981 acres (upset £3 per acre), and the Lower Lak« Clearwater and Lake Emma block of 271-1 acros (upset £2 10s) were passed 1 in at £2 ac aC The Haketere block of 78 acres, with wool shed and men's quarters was passed in.a* £6OO. , ~ ..''■-,": , The Clent Hills accommodation paddoc* q* 20 acres was also passed.