FAT STOCK MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20820, 12 March 1931, Page 7

FAT STOCK MARKET.

WEEKLY WESTFIELD SALE.

SMALLER YARDING OF CALVES.

SHEEP PRICES FIRMER. Prices for fat stock at the Westfield salo yesterday were slightly erratic. Beef held on a par to slightly below late rates. The market for fat sheep opened with prices a shade above last week s levels. Veal was also slightly firmer. Fat pigs were yarded in large numbers and sold on a weaker market.

The following is a summary of the prices realised for fat stock for the last, two weeks at the Westfield fat slock sales: — _ . , This Week. Last Week. BEEF (per 1001b.) — Extra choice ox . 26/- 26/-

Choice and prime - to 24/- 22/- to 24/Choice and primo cow and heifer . 17/- to 20l- 17/- to .51Boner and rough 10/- to 16/- 10/- to 16/SHEEP (per head)—

Prime wethers . . 10/6 to 14/- 9/- to 13/Unfinished wethers 7/- to 9/6 6/- to 8/9 Primo ewes . . 5/6 to il9 4/- to 8/Unfinished ewes r 9 , t0 .? S Prime lambs . . 9/- to 16. 3 9/- to 16 6 Unfinished lambs 3/b to 8/6 3/6 to 6/3 CALVES (per head)— Runners . . . 39/- to 71/- 42/- to 67/6 Vealers . . .. 18/- to 41/- 18/- to 40/-

PIGS (per head)— Baconera .. .. 40/- to 54/- 46/- to 56/Porkers .. . . 20/- to 39/- 20l- to 44/ Weaners .. • • 5/- to 11/- 6/- to 1-/-weaneis _ 12/ . to 16/- 13/- to 15/Largo stores . . 18/- to 23/- 16/- to 23/-

Following arc the latest quotations for New Zealand meat on the London market: — Pork.—First quality, 601b. to 1001b., average 901b., s|d; 1011b. to 1201b., 4id. B ee f.—Ox fores, 1601b. to 2201b., 2 3 d; other sorts, none offering. Mutton.— Canterbury and North Island saleeted crossbred wethers and maiden ewes, 481b. to 561b., 3 7-8 d; 671b. to 641b., 3gd; 651b. to 721b., 3id; North Island crossbred wefhcrs and maiden ewes, 481b. to 561b., 3 5-8 d; 571b. to 641b., 3'd: 651b. to 721b., 3 3-8 d; ewes, under 481b., 2£d; 481b. to 641b., 23-8 d; 651b. to 721b,, 2id. , ~ Lambs. —Canterbury, 361b. and under, and 371b. to 421b., 6gd; 431b. to 501b., 6 5-8 d; second quality, average 301b., sgd; other South Island brands, 361b. and under, and 371b. to 421b., none offering: 431b. to 501b., none offering; selected North Island brands, including Downs, 361b. and under, and 371b. to 421b., 6 5-8 d; 431b. to 501b., 6 5-8 d; second quality, average, 301b., s£d; other North Island" brands, first quality, 361b. and under, and 371b. to 421b., 6d; second quality, average 301b.. 5 l-Bd. Good Quality of Bee! Ofiered.

The quality of an aggregate yarding of fat cattle of approximately 625 head was good, several lines of well-finished steers coming by rail from distant parts of the province. All the choice quality cattle was sold to butchers for thp local trade, exporters taking an interest only in lines of inferior quality canning cows, which sold down as low as 10s. A few pens of extra choice quality steers made up to 26s per 1001b., but the average price for prime beef ranged from 21s to 235. Prime cows and heifers averaged 18s to 20s. Odd lots made well over 20s. Top price of the day was secured for a line of particularly choice prime Aberdeen Angus steers, on account of Mr. \ J. Hansen, Whangamarino. which made from £9 5s to £lO 17s 6d. Heavy prime steers, on account Mr. J. C. Rolleston, Waitomo, brought from £8 10s to £9 10s. A line of 26 well-finished cattle, on account of Mr. J. McNicol, Te Aroha, sold to £8 12s 6d. No extra heavy steers were included in the line. A truck of heavy prime bullocks from Messrs. VV. J. and H. H. Thompson, Te Awamutu, made from £9 10s to £9 15s. Ihree trucks of heavier steers from the Crossing Estate, Putaruru, realised from £8 17s 6d to £lO 10s. Heavy prime steers from H. E. Reed, Waerenga, of the quality which has topped the market for several weeks, sold at from £8 12s 6d to £9 12s 6d. The best price in the cow and Jieifer section was realised for an extra prime heifer on account of Mr. R. Harkness. Karaka, which'mado £7 2s 6d. A smaller yarding of calves came forward and met, slightly better prices There were fewer station calves, only about 12 trucks arriving by rail. Choice quality vealers mado from 30s to 41s. Heavy Yarding of Sheep. Well-finished wethers predominated in a heavy yarding of fat sheep. The market opened showing a decidedly firmer tone and several pens of big-framed wethers, which would have mado around 12s last week, sold at up to 13s a head. Good quality prime wethers averaged lis to 13s a head. Prime owes made from 6s to Bs. Any lines which brought over theSo prices were mostly special lots, sold in twos and threes. Heavy prime bigframed wethers sold at the start of the sale, on account of Mr. H. Bayly, Tiroa. made 13s. Similar wethers on account of Mr. G. Wellington, IV Awamutu, sold at the same price. A heavy yarding of lambs realised late rates, exporters keeping prices on levels where best quality sorts sold around the equivalent of 4|d to a lb. i The higher prices of last week, combined with the falling off in supplies of milk, helped to draw one of the heaviest yardings of. pigs of the season. Prices were decidedly weaker, and very few pens made over 4Ad a lb.

DETAILS OF SALES.

REPORTS OF AUCTIONEERS. ALFRED BUCKLAND AND SONS. Alfred Buckland and Sons, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: Beef.—Our beef pens contained 378 head, as compared with 266 head at last week's market, comprising 231 steers and 147 cows and heifers. The quality of the ox beef was quite equal to recent markets. The demand was less keen and. generally, heavyweight cattle were slightly easier. Extra choice ox sold to ill 6s a 1001b.: choice and prime, XI 3s to £1 ss; secondary and plain, £1 to £1 2s: prime young cow and heifer, £1 3s to £1 ss; ordinary cow, 10s to £1 2s. Extra heavy prime steers ranged in price from £9 17s 6d to £lO 10s; heavy prime steel's, £8 15s to £9 1554 lighter, £7 10s to £8 12s 6d; light, £0 15s to £7 7s 6d; small and unfinished. £4 10s to £6 12s 6d: extra heavy prime young cows and heifers, £6 5s to £7; heavy prime. £5 5s to £6; lichter, £4 to £5 2s td: other killable cows, £1 10s to £3 17s 6d.

Sheep.—Tho 6heep pens were well filled with a good class of mutton. There was an improved demand, and values foi all classes were firmer (1364 sheep sold). Extra heavy prime wethers, 13s to lis: heavy, lis 9d to 12s 9d; medium to heavy, JOs 9d to lis 6d: light to medium, 10s to 10s 6d; unfinished, 7s to 9s 9d: extra heavy prime young ewes, 8s to 9s 6d; one pen of prime maiden ewes made lis 6d* heavy prime, 7s to 7s 9d; lighter, 6s to 6s 9d: other killable ewes, 5s to Ss 9d; other ewes, 4s to Is 9d.

Ldmbs. —Lambs penned to the number of 1140 and sold steadily throughout without alteration in values. Extra heavy prime lambs, 14s 6d to 16s 3d: heavy, 12s Hd to 14s; lighter, 10s 6d to 12s 3d: light, 8s 6d to 10s 3d; small and plain, 4s to 8s 3d.

Calves.—Calves were again in full supply. Runners and heavy vealers were not wanted, but there was a better inquiry for prime, light and medium-weight calves, prices for these showing a slight improvement. Runners made £2 to £2 18s; heavy vealers, £1 17s to £2: light and medium £1 6s to £1 15s; small vealers. 16s to £1 Isrough calves, 6s to 12s; fresh dropped, 3s to Pigs.—There was a large yarding of pigs. The demand for good baconers remained firm, but prices for porkers were lower. Choppers made £2 to £3 12s; heavy baconers. £2 13s to £2 15s; medium. £2 9s to £2 Us; light. £2 4s to £2 7s: heavy porkers. £1 18s to £2; light and medium. £1 10s to £1 15s; small and unfinished. £] 4s to £1 8s ; stores. 18s to £1 3s; slips. 13s to 15s; stickers and weaners, 5s to lis; sows, duo to farrow, £2 5a to £3 si. A total of 674 piss was Bold.

LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on tho weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: Beef.—Fat cattlu were penned in average numbers. There was no improvement in demand and values remained the same as last week. Extra choice ox sold to »>s a 1001b: choice and prime ox, 22s to 255; ordinary and plain ox, l£s to 21s; prime young cow and heifer beef, 21s to 255; ordinary cow beef. 14s to 20s; heavy prime steers, £9 5s to £lO 17s 6d; lighter prime steers, £8 to £9 2s 6d; light prime steers. £7 to £7 17s 6d; unfinished and small. £5 to £6 15s; heavjr prime young cows and heifers, £6 10s to £7 15s; lighter, £5 10s to £6 7s 6d; ligh" cows. £4 to £5 ss; other cows, £3 to £3 17s Gd.

Sheep.—Sheep were yarded in large numbers. There was a steady demand with values firm at late rates. Prime wethers sold at from 9s to 13s 6d; store wethers. 6s 6d to 8s 9d: prime ewes. 5s 6d to 7s 9d: unfinished ewes, 3s 3d to 5s 3d. Lambs.—Lambs were penned in large numbers and sold at late values. Prime lambs sold at from 9s to 15s 3d. Store lambs. 3s 6d to 8s 6d. n

Pigs,—There was a heavy yarding of pigs with values showing an easing tendency, especially porkers, light porkers suffering most. Choppers sold from £1 2s 6d to £2 lGs; heavy "and medium baconeis, £2 5s to £2 12s; light baconers and heavy porkers. £1 18s to £2 2s; medium porkers and light porkers, £1 10s to £1 16s; small and unfinished porkers, £1 to £1 Bs. Values for store pigs were also easier. Large stores, 18s to £1 3s; slips, 8s to 14s; weaners, 5s to lis.

Calves.—Calves were penned in average numbers Values firmed on last week's Quotations. Runners, £1 10s to £2 lCs; heavy vealers, £1 18s to £2 6s; medium. £1 10s to £1 16s; light, £1 to £1 8s; smaller. 10s to 18s; small and freshed dropped. 5s to 9s; rough calves, 5s to 10s. DALGETY AND COMPANY. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report on the weekly Westfield fat stock sale held yesterday as follows: Beef.—We offered ox beef in well lip to usual numbers. Competition was steady and. with the exception of heavy-weight cattle which were easier in value, all classes sold at late rates. Second quality cows and heifers were easier in price. Extra choice ox sold to 26s a. 1001b; choice and prime. 23s to 255; just kilkble, 20s to 225, prime young cow and heifer beef, 23s to 255; just killable, 12s to 225. Heavy prime 6teers, £9 to £9 10s; lighter, £8 to £8 17s 6d; light, £(> 7s 6d to £7 17s 6d; heavy prime cows and heifers, £6 5s to £6 17s 6d; lighter. £5 to £6 2s 6d; other killable cows, £3 2s 6d to £4 17s 6d. _ Sheep.—Sheep were again yarded in large numbers, and sold steadily under a good demand at late rates. In odd cases values were firmer, especially for ewes. Extra heavy prime wethers made 14s; heavy prime, lis 9d to 12s 9d; medium, 10s 6d to lis 6d; light and unfinished, 9s 9d to 10s 3d; heavy prime ewes, 7b 3d to 7s 9d; lighter, 6s to 7s; other ewes, 4s 6d to 6s 9d.

Lambs.—A Heavy yarding of lambs, was penned. Competition was steady throughout and last week's values were maintained. Heavy prime lamb, lis 9d to 13s 3d; medium, 10s 6d to lis 6d; light, 8s 6d to 10s 3d. Calves.—Calves were yarded in average numbers, and again met with slack competition. Compared with last week's prices light and medium vealers showed little or no improvement, while runners were again inclined to be easier. Runners, £1 19s to £3 lis; heavy vealers, £1 13s to £2; medium, £1 6s to £1 13s; light, £1 Is to £1 Gs; rough, 8s to £1; small, 5s to Bs.

Pigs.—The yarding of pigs was above the average and. values were inclined to bo easier, this being particularly noticeable tbward tha conclusion of the sale. Choppers, up to £3 30s; heavy baconers, £2 10s to £2 14s; medium, £2 5s to £2 9s; light, £2 to £2 4s; heavy porkers, £1 16s to £1 19s; medium, £1 12s to £1 15s; light, £1 7s to £1 lis; stores, 18s to 5135; slips, 12s to 16s; weaners, 5s to 11a.

RATES AT ADDINGTON.

ADULT STORE SHEEP RISE.

[by telegraph.— press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday.

Prices for adult store sheep showed a rise of Is to Is 6d a head at the Addington market to-day, but fat lambs eased. Beef values were from £1 to £1 5s a head lower. Store Sheep.—There was the largest entry of the season, and a free sale. Valneii were: Extra good two-tooth Romney ewes, 15s to 16s; good, 13s to 14s 6d; extra good four and six-tooth Romney cross ewes, J.6u to 18s; ordinary, 10a to lis 6d: backward, to 7a 6d; extra good six and eight-tooth, lOu to 12s: sound mouth, 5s 3d to 6s 6d; extra good two-tooth three-quarter-bred ewes, 15u 3d to 16s sd; ordinary, 10s 9d; good four and six-tooth, 14s to 16s 3d; ordinary, to 8s 8d; good sound mouth, 7b to 8s; ordinary, 4s to 6s; good two-toothed halfbred ewes, 13s to 14s; ordinary, 10s to lis; backward, 7s to 9s; ordinary four and six-tooth, 10s 3d; backward, 6s 6d to 8s; extra good six and eight-tooth halfbred ewes, 9s to lis; good sound mouth, 6s to 8s; aged and inferior ewes. Is 6d ti 4s. Store Lambs.—There were very heavy entries and a steady sale. Values were: Good rape lambs, to 9s 2d; ordinary rape lambs, 7s to 8s 3d; small and backward, •2a to 6s: ordinary ewe lambs, to 7s 6d; backward, to 4s Gd. Fat Lambs.—There was an entry of . 4700 head. Values were: Extra prime, to 20s 6d; prime, 15s to 17s; medium, 12s 3d to 14s: light, 10s to l2s; store, 7b 3d to 9s 6d. Fat Sheep.—The entry of 5100 sold steadily. Values were: Prime heavy withers, 15s to 16s lOd; medium, 13s to 14s 6d; second quality, 9s to 12s 6d; light, 6s to Ss fid; prime ewes, 9s 6d to 10s 9d; medium, 7s 6d to 9s; light, 5s to 7s; aged, 2s Gd to 4a fid. Fat Cattle—There was an entry of 390. Choice beef made 29s to 32s per 1001b.; good medium-weight, 27s to 31s; plain heavy beef, 22s fid to Cf.s; cow beef. 21s Gd to 21s: secondary beef, ISs 10 21s; rough, down to 15s. .SOUTHERN WHEAT CROPS. NORTH OTAGO DISTRICTS. In the past week reports of some good crops of wheat have been received at Oamaru, but there have been a number of very small yields also. One outstanding yield was that of 50 bushels to the acre of College Hunters wheat from a property at Hilderthorpe, nine miles from Oamaru. Several smaller crops of Dreadnought have threshed out at 50 bushels to the acre, including one of 25 acres at Duntroon. In the same district sorno crops already threshed have worked out at 12 to 15 bushels to the acre. In sorno parts crops have matured unevenly, and it is difficult to estimate the yields. In the Otekaieke district, Waitake County, several crops are not expected to return more than 15 bushels to the acre. It is rather early yet to venture an estimate of the general yield for the district.

LEYLAND MOTORS, LIMITED.

DIVIDEND OF 20 PER CENT. The directors of Leyland Motors, Ltd., have announced a dividend of 20 per cent., less tax, on the ordinary shares, of which there are 900,000. The above dividend is (lie first to be paid since the per cent, distributed in 1919. Gross profit for the year to September 30, 1930, amounted to £699,000. as compared with a gross profit of £761,000 for the previous year. Out of this figure the directors recommend placing to general reserve £IBO,OOO and carrying forward approximately £66.000. In the previous year the general reserve was credited with £120,000 and £159,347 was carried forward,

In 1929 arrears of dividend on the 7£ per cent, cumulative preference shares, for seven years to December • 31, 1927, were paid, while in July last the balance, amounting to two and a-half years, was extinguished, thus paving the way for the resumption of dividends on the ordinary shares. HAMILTON SHEEP FAIR. The Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Limited, reports that it held the weekly storq sheep fair at Hamilton yesterday, when there was an averge yarding of breeding ewes, with a smaller yarding of lambs. Competition was dull on all sheep other than breeding ewes, which are still being sought after. The majority of the yarding comprised breeding ewes from Gisborne and Hawke's Bay districts, and a number of these had poor mouths and did not realise very high prices. Lambs were dull of sale. Prices were: Store lambs, 4s Id to -Is 9d; woolly, to ss: twotooth ewes, ex "Gisborne. 5s 7d to 9s;; 4, 6 and 4-year-old ewes, ex Gisborne, 8s Id to fls; 4 and 5-year ewes, 5s Ud to 7s 7d; 5-year ewes, 3s fid to 4b 6d: old-sr ewes, 2s to 4s; one-shear Southdown rams, ligns to SJgns; other rams, ign. to lgn. j