AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2095, 20 January 1879, Page 2

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

Messrs Fleming and Hedley report that they held a sale a good draught hnrsos ab the Commercial Yards on Saturday, at prices ranging from LOO to L 73 10s. Mr A. H. Maude reports having held a sale of cattle on Saturday, at M 'Kay's Yards. Milch cows brought from Lo to LlO, according to quality. The bidding was extremely languid.

CHRISTCHURCIL— The Tress of the 18th reports ; — The ram this week has clone a large amount of good to the late crops, and although harvesting had been stopped for a few days in the earlier districts, no damage has been done to what was cut Farmers oh tho light lauds are now more hopeful, and altogether matters are greatly improved since the new year opened. Judging from various accounts from the country, the aver.ige will be but little inferior to last season's, and the quality of the grain is also reported to be excellent. I*l ew wheat has not yet b^en offered, an 1 traders have scarcely made up their minds as to what price they are prepared to pay. It is, however, feared that with continued low prices ruling in England, there will be but little margin over 3s. A few sales of oats have been made at 3s to 3s 3 1 for early delivery, and some large forward sales in the South are reported at 23 9d. In l>a.lrley we Kare Hea.rxl o£ no transactions yet. Some parcels have been offered in town, but prices asked have been such as to preclude any idea of business. Flour continues at late quotations of L 9 10s to LlO. Br.m and sharps are unaltered. Butter is apparently becoming firmer, and holders ask 9d. The same remark applies to cheese, choice quality b?ing now saleable at 6*.d. TlMARU.— The 'Herald of Saturday reports:—No transactions in grain -have been reported during the week, though a slight feeling of enquiry is shown on the part of local millers. Farmers have not yet quitted the stocks held over from last season, and •we expect to see their anticipations of high prices at harvest time destroyed. From all we can gather, the merchants are very much disinclined to operate in the face of such low Home and American markets, except at rates very much under what wo have been led to believe would rule at harvest time ; and unless they can buy at 3s or 3a 3d for Home shipment, they will not buy at all. That their deductions are sound must be admitted, and it i 3 devoutly to be hoped that a change for the better may arise between now aud the end of the month, though it is almost hoping against hope to effect it. The oat crop will not be so deficient as was anticipated, and prices, consequently, will not be so hard a3 .w a* thought they would. We expect to see oats rule at about 2s 6d. There is not much barley in the place, but what there is will fetch good prices, as this cereal will be in request ; and we already hear of two cargoes being on their way from San Francisco.