ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1913, Page 2

ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET.

[press association.!

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 29

At the Addington live stock market' to-day there was a. large yarding of .store sheep, including a considerable number from Chatham Islands, but entries of' fat sheep and lambs were small, and were not more than sufficient for local butchers' requirements. Fat cattle were in moderate supply, and sold at rather better rates. The late- rain improved the demand for store sheep, and all good stores sold well. Fat lambs made about last week's prices, and fat sheep opened with little or no change, but ewes sold better towards the end of the sale. Pigs were in short supply, and sold at improved rates. The entry of store sheep was a large one, quite the largest seen at Addington during the current season, and no doubt marked the opening of the season proper. All classes were represented, and oversea sheep represented a considerable proportion of the day's offering, Chatham Islands being strongly in evidence. There was a much greater; proportion of wethers than for some weeks past; in fact, they represented a considerable share of the total. The balance consisted of ewes of mixed ages and store lambs, the latter ranging from medium to very forward. A large proportion of the wethers were not of the best class, and the supply somewhat exceeded the demand, with the result that for this description prices were easier and in favor of buyers. Very forward lines experienced a slight drop. Only forward lines of lambs sold well up to" the previous week's prices ; in fact, the top price obtained was about the best on January 22nd, but this was mainly accounted for by the better quality of the line. Lambs of poorer classes met with a fair demand, though probably a shade below values ruling a week earlier. In ewes nothing of special quality was offered. ■ Al- ; though the demand has not yet become general, there waa a fair entry, and sales made were at satisfactory prices considering the quality of the offerings. Very few lines of any description were passed. Although the ' sale did not conclude until 4.30 p.m. prices were well maintained1 on the I basis of opening rates. Following ' was the range of prices: Lambs,-for-ward rape sorts, 13s 3d to 13s ■ 9d, I extra 14s Id to 14s 9d, medium 12s I3d to 12s 9d, good sorts 11s to 11s 6d. j fair 10s to 10s 6d, smaller sorts 9s 3d jto 9s 9d, small 8s 6d ( to 9s, ewe lambs lls to 13s 9d; wethers (including many from the Chathams) four and sixtooth 14s to 17s 2d, four-tooth 14s to 15s lOd, two and four-tooth 13s to 16s, j two-tooth 13s to 15s sd; merinos (very good) 10s to 10s lOd; ewes (good twotooth) to 19s 3d, medium 17s 6d to 18s (passed), two, four, and six-tooth 15s 2d to 17s 7d, four and six-tooth 13s to. 16s 9d, six and eight-tooth (principally Chathams) 12s 6d to 15s , 6d, mixed ages 13s to 13s 6d, good sound-mouth local sheep 16s 3d. The yarding of fat lambs totalled only 1056, a considerable proportion being little better than forward stores, as farmers are evidently holding back their best freezing lambs. Prices ruled about the same as last week, one large line being bought for further finishing. Towards the end of the sale, when some better pens were offered, prices improved somewhat. Best lambs made 16s 6d to 18s, and lighter 13s 6d to 16s.

There were only about 3000 fat sheep penned, and they were of a very good quality. The market opened at about last week's rates, and, butchers being the only buyers bidding was somewhat slack and the sale irregular throughout. Wethers, or which there was not a very large number of prime heavy weights, sold relatively much cheaper than store wethers, and several lines were passed in. Ewes brought about last week's rates till towards the end of the sale when they improved considerably' Prime wethers made 18s 6d to 23s 3d lighter 15s to 18s; prime ewes 16s to 22s others 13s to 15s 6d; merino wethers 12s to 12s 3d. Tho entries of fat cattle totalled 193, against .22/ on January 22nd and 148 a week earlier. Generally speaking the quality compared unfavorably with recent sales, and a greater number of entries were sent forward by dealers. The demand was again w«ak> although a shade better than at tho previous sale, except for cows, which formed a largo part- of the entry. There was no quotable change from 22s to 30s per cwt., according to quality. Cow beef formed the bulk ?L + I?5 di"r g' , Steer 3 raised £7 10s to £12 15s, heifers £6 13s to £9 mu aiKl cows £6 7s M to £9 5s .There was a relatively small entry or store cnttlo, including: a few useful lines of fifteen to eighteen-month? ports, and a few nice two-year heifers Ihore was a good demand, although thwo was not the some keenness as n week ago. Fifteen to eighteonrnonths sorts made £2 10s to £4 2* 0(1 (according to quality), two-year steers £5 7s 6d to £5 10s. two-year heifers £4 15s, and cows £2 to £6. Dairy cows wero h\ oxiod demand and mado £5 to £9 17s Gd. J

Fat pigs were yarded in small numbers, entries being much below Jiose of the previous week, and the consequence was that competition was .cvjener and prices better. Choppers ■ ■ealisod 5s to 90s, heavy baconers 56s to 645, and lighter sorts 48s to 55s— lie-so prices being equivalent to 4-2 d ~o 5d per lb. Best porkers brought .ids to 445, and lighter sorts 33s to j/s—or equal to S^-d to oi|d per lb. i he yarding of store pigs was also a j.nall one, and all descriptions met with good competition. Best sorts niade 28s to 345, and smaller sorts 22s .0 275. Weaners, for which there was 1 good demand, made 12s to 17s, the latter price being obtained for extra pigs.